Chapter 22: Probing and Exchange

"Sudden Mutation. You can activate this by releasing one monster on your field as a Tribute. Special Summon one Fusion Monster from your Extra Deck with the same Level as that monster!"

"I release the Blue Sheep on my field," Tenjou Hikari released Senior Ryo without hesitation, then revealed a purple Fusion Monster from his Extra Deck, "Special Summon, Fusion Monster, Thousand-Eyes Relict!"

Violent collisions erupted from the body of the blue sheep, followed by a distortion; its body began to shatter, gradually sprouting eyeballs one by one, looking twisted and disgusting.

Thousand-Eyes Relict, Level 1, DARK Attribute, Spellcaster Type, ATK 0, DEF 0.

"Mamma mia!"

"Wh-what is that?! Such a disgusting monster—"

"It's Thousand-Eyes Relict, the legendary monster, Mr. Pegasus's card!"

"Wow, he can actually use a Token as material to Fusion Summon a monster of this caliber?"

Someone within the Fusion Department quickly recognized this monster and felt their earlier worries had been unnecessary.

This was a legendary-tier monster!

"It's actually Thousand-Eyes Relict?" Marufuji Ryo couldn't help but step forward, "I recall this monster's effect is..."

"I activate the effect of Thousand-Eyes Relict! Once per turn, I can equip one monster on my opponent's field to myself, gaining that monster's ATK and DEF!"

The eyes of Thousand-Eyes Relict emitted an eerie purple light, shining upon the Barbarian; moments later, the Barbarian let out a cry of shock, transformed into a shadow, and merged into the body of Thousand-Eyes Relict!

Thousand-Eyes Relict ATK 0 → 1500.

"This is bad!"

"At this rate, Judai's defenses are wide open!"

Tenjou Hikari noticed that while everyone else was panicking, Judai showed no signs of panic at all; instead, he seemed even more fired up.

A Set card?

Unlike Tenjou Hikari, although in his era Heroes were synonymous with "Fusion" in people's minds, in the original work, Heroes were actually a deck that relied on coordinating Spells and Traps to work together; it wasn't until Neos appeared that they fully transformed into a new-era Fusion deck.

Therefore, at this point, it wouldn't be strange no matter what Judai had Set.

After all, he had even used Blast Held by a Tribute earlier!

"I declare a direct attack with Thousand-Eyes Relict!"

Tenjou Hikari made no further moves, instead attacking directly with Thousand-Eyes Relict.

"I activate the Trap Card, Hero Comeback!"

Seeing Tenjou Hikari attack, Judai immediately flipped his Set card: "This can be activated when an opponent's monster declares an attack. Your opponent chooses one card in my hand; if it is a monster, Special Summon it!"

"Oh! So that's it—does that mean you currently have in your hand?"

"Haha, guess!"

"Then I'll pick the middle one!"

Judai looked at the middle card, the corners of his mouth lifting as he happily revealed it: "My middle hand card is Elemental Hero Sparkman!"

Zzzzt—

A fierce bolt of lightning flashed, and a warrior covered in electricity appeared on the field!

Elemental Hero Sparkman, Level 4, LIGHT Attribute, Warrior Type, ATK 1600.

"I see... in that case, the attack reverts, and I will not continue my attack!" Seeing his opponent summon a monster with higher ATK, Tenjou Hikari felt no tension, instead immediately Setting one card.

"Let's end it here."

He appeared exceptionally calm.

"What a brilliant exchange."

"Although the attack points aren't as high as in previous Duels, every single move was extremely rational, and neither Judai nor Tenjou showed any surprise at their opponent's plays!" Misawa Daichi watched clearly from below; he took a deep breath and sighed with emotion, "Both of them have already rehearsed various scenarios; no matter what happens, they are prepared! This way, no matter how their opponent plays, they can create a situation advantageous to themselves—"

He realized that he, who simply played counter-cards, might truly be inferior to the two on stage.

"My turn!"

After Judai drew his card, Winged Kuriboh began pointing and commenting from the side: "Judai, if you can't deal with Thousand-Eyes Relict this turn, next turn it will devour another monster! You must find a way to destroy it this turn!"

"Ah, I understand—" Judai didn't hesitate, immediately playing the card he had drawn, "First, I activate the Spell Card, Pot of Greed!"

Whoa—

A permanently banned card!

Seeing Judai use this card, Tenjou Hikari expressed that he was truly envious.

Predecessor, you bought so many cards, why didn't you know to buy a Pot of Greed!?

"Next—I flip my Set card, Fusion!"

"As expected, he Set a Spell Card to make Hero Comeback effective!"

"I fuse Sparkman on the field with Clayman in my hand!"

"Fusion Summon, Thunder Giant!"

Zzzzt, clay rose from the ground, continuously merging into the lightning; before long, a tall warrior crackling with electricity appeared.

Elemental Hero Thunder Giant, Level 6, LIGHT Attribute, Warrior Type, ATK 2400.

"Thunder Giant's effect: Discard one card from your hand to destroy one monster on the field whose original ATK is lower than this card's; of course, I'm destroying Thousand-Eyes Relict!"

Lightning struck down, and the Hero defeated the Evil God!

"Eh? Why didn't he use Thunder Giant to attack?" In the stands, Sho asked a foolish question.

"Thousand-Eyes Relict has an effect that allows it to use an equipped monster as a substitute, preventing it from being destroyed by battle," Maeda Hayato, very familiar with this card's effect, explained to Sho.

"Then couldn't he attack with both monsters to destroy Thousand-Eyes Relict? That would deal more damage."

"Perhaps... in Judai's view, compared to dealing damage, leaving Tenjou-kun with 【materials】 is more dangerous?" Maeda Hayato continued, "Also, I recall that while Thousand-Eyes Restrict is on the field, other monsters cannot attack. In that case, this must be the optimal choice."

"Ah—I see now..."

After Thunder Giant casually electrocuted a sheep, Judai did not end his turn: "I activate the Continuous Spell Card, Nightmare's Illusion! Then I Set one card and end my turn!"

Tenjou Hikari narrowed his eyes, looking at the Continuous Spell on the field, and couldn't help but sigh with emotion.

Another draw Spell on the level of a banned card, truly enviable.

My predecessor didn't bother buying the powerful Card of Safe Return, yet insisted on buying difficult-to-use materials; truly troublesome...

"My turn, draw."

"At this moment, the effect of Nightmare's Illusion activates; I draw until I have four cards in hand. Next, I flip my Set card, the Quick-Play Spell Card, Big Eat, sending one Spell or Trap Card on the field to the Graveyard, and recovering Life Points equal to 1000 times the number of cards sent to the Graveyard!"

Judai LP: 4000 → 5000

"Brilliant draw! It compensates for the cards consumed by Fusion while also recovering Life Points; as expected of Judai!"

In the audience seats, Professor Professor Dadesi, holding a cat, stroked it while wrestling with a dilemma: "Oh my, whether it's Judai or Hikari, I want to cheer for both, meow; it's truly hard to choose... Should Judai win, or should Tenjou win?"

"Go for it, Tenjou!" "Let that kid from the Red Academy know the power of our Fusion!"

"Don't lose heart!"

Below the stage, many students were still cheering for Tenjou.

After all, just moments ago, his Fusion Monster had been destroyed!

However, Tenjou Hikari felt no tension whatsoever; instead, he smiled as he glanced at the card he had drawn, then looked up at Judai: "Judai, using Traps, Spells, and monster effects, you did indeed destroy Thousand-Eyes Relict, but in doing so, your field now holds only one monster with 2400 attack points."

Hearing this, Judai also swallowed hard.

Yes, although 2400 attack points seemed quite high to others, he knew very well that a single Thunder Giant could not stop what was coming!

"Then, I activate the Continuous Spell Card, Swordspark Zone!"

Finally, it has arrived!

Swordspark Zone!

Seeing this card, Winged Kuriboh spoke solemnly to Yuki Judai:

"The true Duel has only just begun, Judai!"

"Ah, I understand," Judai responded enthusiastically, "It's getting more and more exciting!"

Asking for votes~

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(End of Chapter)