Chapter 320: 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 shameless, as a world-renowned duelist, the characteristics of his Ancient Gear deck were something any teacher should know.

Especially since his opponent was a member of the Fusion Army; they should be even more aware of it.

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

"My turn."

Cronos reached toward his chest. His massive Duel Disk, hanging like a blade, pointed toward the ground. As he moved, 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.

Oboro glanced left and right.

Naturally, he recognized this card.

While this card is on the field, the number of tributes required to summon Ancient Gear monsters is reduced by one.

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

It was a very powerful and dangerous card.

However—

As long as it isn't destroyed, it shouldn't be a problem, right?

Reducing the tribute by one wasn't particularly dangerous.

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 action, several Ancient Gear soldiers pushed a massive mechanical chariot—which looked somewhat like him—onto the field.

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

What!?

Oboro's eyes widened.

Everyone knew—

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

But!

This card allowed him to 【ignore summoning conditions】!

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

Come forth—

Ancient Gear Golem!"

The Catapult aimed at Geartown, and with a *boom*, the soldiers pressed a button, blowing Geartown to smithereens.

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

Ancient Gear Golem, Level 8, Earth, Machine, ATK 3000!

"Ancient Gear Golem, summoned so easily—"

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

"Hmm." Oboro's expression darkened.

"I Special Summon from my deck—Ancient Gear Wyvern."

A pair of crimson eyes lit up amidst the ruins of Geartown. Amidst countless gears, a pair of rust-covered wings suddenly spread, and it soared into the sky.

Ancient Gear Wyvern, Level 8, Earth, Machine, ATK 3000.

"Summoning two ace monsters at once... Heh, Professor Cronos, you certainly live up to your reputation." Oboro's expression was grave.

"Hmph, then let us enter the Battle Phase!" Fearing further complications, Cronos prepared to enter the Battle Phase immediately.

"Wait!" At that moment, Oboro flipped a face-down card. "Before that, I activate the Trap Card! Darklord's Divine Punishment!"

"Based on its activation conditions, 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!

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 original ATK!"

"I choose Ancient Gear Golem!"

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

Oboro, LP: 4000 → 7000.

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

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

Shuffle Darklord's Divine Punishment back into the deck!

Negate Ancient Gear Wyvern!"

Oboro, LP: 7000 → 6000 → 9000.

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

"... Then, Battle. Ancient Gear Wyvern attacks." Seeing his opponent's play, Cronos fell silent for a moment before declaring the attack.

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

"Attack regardless!" Cronos swung his right hand. "Ancient Gear Wyvern, advance!"

"Then let me give you a taste of pain!

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!"

*Caw, screech, creak—* Although the Mechanical Dragon didn't want to attack its master, it fired mechanical bolts. A massive magic cylinder appeared before the bolts, absorbing them all, then turned toward Cronos and fired them back.

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

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." Oboro was unbothered.

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 all at once was too much for someone as out of practice as him.

But before that, he was more curious about something else. Even as his head spun and his body felt ready to collapse, he had to ask: "Why? With this deck, this talent, and the ability to display such brilliant strategy in a duel—forcing my Ancient Gear deck, which excels at countering Spells and Traps, into a corner—

Why would you serve as a subordinate to Akaba Reo?

You could have been an excellent teacher; becoming a professor wouldn't have been a problem. Why?"

"Huh?" Oboro was stunned by Cronos's question. After a long while, he burst into laughter. "Hahaha, Professor Cronos, do you actually want to be a teacher?"

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

(End of Chapter)