Chapter 116: A Trap for Ancient Gear

It was Cronos's turn.

He stared at the two face-down cards on his opponent's field.

Though it might sound arrogant, as a world-renowned duelist, the characteristics of his Ancient Gear deck were common knowledge among any professional teacher.

Especially since his opponent was a member of the Fusion Army, they should have been even more aware of them.

Under such circumstances, to have two cards face-down...

"My turn."

Cronos reached toward his chest. His massive duel disk hung like a blade toward the ground, and with his movement, his deck automatically ejected a card into his hand.

"Hmm~ not bad. I activate the Field Spell, Geartown."

*Clang, clang, clatter, clatter—*

The sound of gears and metal colliding echoed around Cronos. Countless gears rose from the ground, and a luxurious, elegant Ancient Gear City replaced the entire dueling field.

Obaro glanced left and right.

Naturally, he recognized this card.

As long as this card was on the field, the number of tributes required to summon Ancient Gear monsters was reduced by one.

More importantly, if this card were destroyed, he could Special Summon one Ancient Gear monster directly from his deck.

It was a very powerful and dangerous card.

However—

As long as it wasn't destroyed, wouldn't that be fine?

Reducing one tribute wasn't exactly catastrophic.

Yet, Cronos's next card caught him completely off guard.

"When I control no monsters, I activate this by targeting one face-up card on my field!"

"Ancient Gear Catapult!" Cronos slotted a Spell card into his duel disk.

Following his movement, several Ancient Gear soldiers pushed a massive mechanical catapult that resembled him onto the field.

"I destroy that card, and Special Summon one 'Ancient Gear' monster from my deck, ignoring its summoning conditions!"

What!?

Obaro's eyes widened.

Everyone knew—

Because the Ancient Gear Golem possessed attack and defense power rivaling the Blue-Eyes White Dragon, it had a restriction: it could not be Special Summoned!

But!

This card allowed him to [ignore summoning conditions]!

"I destroy the Geartown on my field. I Special Summon from my deck!

Come forth—

Ancient Gear Golem!"

The catapult aimed at Geartown, and with the soldiers pressing the button, it exploded into dust.

Simultaneously, a massive robot launched from the distance and landed on the field.

Ancient Gear Golem, Level 8, Earth Attribute, Machine-Type, ATK 3000!

"Ancient Gear Golem, summoned so easily—"

"It's not over yet." Cronos held his finger in front of his face, wearing a comical smile, though his tone was stern. "When Geartown is destroyed, I can Special Summon one 'Ancient Gear' monster from my hand, deck, or Graveyard."

"Hmm." Obaro's expression darkened.

"I Special Summon from my deck—Ancient Gear Gadjiltron Dragon."

A pair of crimson eyes suddenly lit up within the ruins of Geartown. Amidst countless gears, a pair of rusted copper wings suddenly spread, and it soared into the sky.

Ancient Gear Gadjiltron Dragon, Level 8, Earth Attribute, Machine-Type, ATK 3000.

"Summoning two ace monsters at once... Heh, Professor Cronos, you truly live up to your reputation." Obaro looked grave.

"Hmph, then let's enter the Battle Phase!" Fearing that things might change if he waited, Cronos prepared to engage immediately.

"Wait!" At that moment, Obaro flipped his face-down card. "Before that, I activate the Trap card! Darklord's Descent!"

"Based on its activation condition, I send one 'Darklord' monster from my hand or face-up on my field to the Graveyard. I send Darklord Superbia from my field to the Graveyard, then its effect activates!

I target one Effect Monster on the field; that monster's effects are negated until the end of the turn, and I gain Life Points equal to that monster's ATK!"

"I choose, Ancient Gear Golem!"

Holy light shone from the sky onto the Golem, and its colors began to fade.

Obaro, LP: 4000 → 7000.

Cronos looked at the Golem beside him, stunned for a moment.

"It's not over yet, Professor Cronos!" Obaro raised his hand, black energy coiling around it. "I activate the effect of Darklord Ixchel! I pay 1000 Life Points to target one 'Darklord' Spell or Trap in my Graveyard! I apply that card's effect, then shuffle it into the deck—this effect can be activated during the opponent's turn!

I shuffle Darklord's Descent back into the deck!

Negate Ancient Gear Gadjiltron Dragon!"

Obaro, LP: 7000 → 6000 → 9000.

In this way, the monsters Cronos had Special Summoned had become nourishment for his opponent.

"...Then, Battle. Ancient Gear Gadjiltron Dragon attacks." Cronos remained silent for a moment after seeing his opponent's play, then declared the attack.

"Haha—Professor Cronos, your monster has no effects right now. That means even if you attack, I can still activate Spells and Traps!"

"I attack regardless!" Cronos swung his right hand. "Ancient Gear Gadjiltron Dragon, advance!"

"Then I'll let you taste some bitterness!

Trap card, Magic Cylinder!"

"When an opponent's monster declares an attack, negate the attack and inflict damage to the opponent equal to that monster's ATK!"

"Go, attack your master, Mechanical Dragon!"

*Roar, screech, creak—* Although the Mechanical Dragon did not want to attack its master, it fired mechanical bolts. A massive cylinder appeared before the bolts, absorbing them all before turning to face Cronos and firing them back.

Cronos was struck by countless bolts, his body covered in small red wounds, his uniform instantly shredded.

Cronos, LP: 4000 → 1000.

"Then, Ancient Gear Golem attacks Darklord Ixchel!"

This attack finally went through. The Golem struck in anger, shattering the fallen angel into fragments.

"Heh, it doesn't matter." Obaro was indifferent.

Darklords could be revived, so it was no big deal.

At least he hadn't lost any Life Points.

He wore a ferocious grin.

Cronos clutched his chest, gasping for air, his vision blurring. In a Shadow Duel, taking 3000 points of damage at once was far too intense for someone as out of shape as him.

Yet, more than that, he was curious about something else. Even as his head spun and he felt ready to collapse, he had to ask: "Why? With such a deck, such talent, and the ability to display such brilliant strategy in a duel—limiting an Ancient Gear deck that excels at countering Spells and Traps—

Why would you serve as a subordinate to Akaba Reo?

You should have been an excellent teacher; becoming a professor wouldn't have been out of reach. Why, exactly?"

"Huh?" Obaro was stunned by Cronos's question. After a long moment, he burst into laughter. "Hahaha, Professor Cronos, do you actually think I wanted to be a teacher?"

"What are you talking about??" Cronos stared at him in disbelief.