Chapter 528: Trapped in the Labyrinth (4k, seeking monthly tickets!)

"My turn, draw."

Jūdai drew a card, lowering his head to examine the six cards in his hand carefully.

Although he still dueled by instinct, he had been "tempered" enough by now that he wouldn't just play the first card he saw. Furthermore, he actually had something to say before the duel officially began.

Looking at the cards in his hand, he sighed, "Thinking back to our first tag duel, it feels like it was just yesterday."

That duel, which felt like destiny guiding him and Zhang Ka toward their respective "paths," played out in his mind like a replayed videotape.

"Why are you suddenly getting sentimental, Jūdai? That doesn't sound like you," or, "Didn't you say you were super strong now? Getting sentimental doesn't sound very 'super strong'."

"Ah, hahaha—" Jūdai scratched the back of his head, let out a dry laugh, and then straightened up, shedding his usual demeanor. "No, perhaps... this is the real me..."

Zhang Ka opened his mouth to speak but didn't say anything.

"However—regardless of anything else, one thing is certain."

A look of excitement appeared on Jūdai's face. "That is, Ka, I am super strong right now!"

"If you aren't careful, you could lose in an instant!"

"What are you two talking about? Are you going to duel or not!" shouted Wan Wan Wan Zhangmu's second brother.

"These two young men are just feeling sentimental," Mei said.

"Hmph, it looks like this kid has encountered a 'labyrinth' in his own life," Gong added.

Wan Wan Wan Zhangmu frowned, listening to Jūdai's words, feeling as though something strange and dangerous was about to happen.

He could only hope it was his imagination.

"Alright, I'll go first—" Jūdai knew a sentence or two of sentimentality was enough; there was no need to dwell on it during a duel. He immediately revealed his 【Ace of Aces】. "Normal Summon, Elemental HERO Bubbleman!"

The classic blue Batman-esque figure appeared, cape fluttering.

Even though his deck had changed significantly, some things never changed.

Like summoning Bubbleman on an empty field!

"A HERO deck?"

"A dime-a-dozen deck."

It's actually a HERO deck?

Ruri was surprised.

It was an ancient deck that existed even in her world; she hadn't expected Zhang Ka's companion to use it.

"When Bubbleman is summoned, if I have no other cards on my field, I draw two cards." He drew two cards from his deck and then flipped over a card from his hand. "Next, I activate the Spell Card, EN Shuffle!"

"Return one 'Elemental HERO' or 'Neo-Spacian' monster I control to the deck, and Special Summon a different 'Elemental HERO' or 'Neo-Spacian' monster from my deck with a different name.

I return Bubbleman to the deck and Special Summon Elemental HERO Stratos!"

The classic Stratos appeared, wings spinning with fierce winds.

Elemental HERO Stratos, Level 4, WIND, Warrior, ATK 1800.

"When Stratos is Normal or Special Summoned, I can add one 'HERO' card from my deck to my hand. I add Elemental HERO Liquid Soldier to my hand."

Not bad—

Zhang Ka nodded to himself.

Jūdai's special Bubbleman opening was much more comfortable than the "A Hero Lives" play that cost half his life points.

After obtaining Liquid Soldier, Jūdai chuckled and picked up a Fusion card. "This hero will send chills down everyone's spine—"

As he declared this, white frost filled the dueling arena, and the audience couldn't help but pull their clothes tighter. The Stratos on the field and the Liquid Soldier in Jūdai's hand merged, eventually becoming a pristine, frost-covered hero.

"Fusion Summon!"

"Level 8, Elemental HERO Absolute Zero."

Elemental HERO Absolute Zero, Level 8, WATER, Warrior, ATK 2500.

"Oh!"

"What a cool monster—"

After Absolute Zero appeared, even those uninterested in HEROes were captivated by its design.

"When Liquid Soldier is sent to the Graveyard or banished as a Fusion Material for a HERO monster, I draw two cards. Then, I discard one card from my hand."

Jūdai drew two cards, glanced at them, and sent one to the Graveyard.

"Spell Card, Neos Fusion! Send Fusion Materials from my deck to the Graveyard, and Special Summon one Fusion Monster that uses only 'Neos' monsters as materials from my Extra Deck, ignoring its summoning conditions. After this card resolves, I cannot Special Summon for the rest of the turn.

I send Neos and Elemental HERO Shadow Mist from my deck to the Graveyard.

Special Summon, Elemental HERO Brave Neos!"

Neos spun his body, leaping from Jūdai's deck, then struck a knightly pose, looking quite imposing.

Elemental HERO Brave Neos, Level 7, LIGHT, Warrior, ATK 2500.

"Brave Neos gains 100 ATK for each 'Neo-Spacian' and 'HERO' monster in my Graveyard. I have..." Jūdai picked up several cards.

Stratos, Liquid Soldier, Neos, Shadow Mist, and the discarded HERO—a total of five.

Elemental HERO Brave Neos, ATK 2500 -> 3000.

"Also, Shadow Mist's effect: when sent to the Graveyard, I can add one 'HERO' monster other than Shadow Mist from my deck to my hand. I add Elemental HERO Solid Soldier."

Although it wasn't quite right, Zhang Ka had to admit that compared to the "HERO deck" before he arrived in this world, Jūdai didn't seem to be missing any core cards now.

Even Shadow Mist was here.

"Set two cards, end turn."

After Jūdai set his cards, he smiled at Zhang Ka, seemingly asking if he was strong now.

"So strong, two high-level monsters summoned so easily," some onlookers exclaimed.

"Tch, as expected, Wan Wan Wan Zhangmu wouldn't just find a filler classmate... can't underestimate them." Wan Wan Wan Zhangmu's second brother also put aside his previous luck-based assumptions.

"Heh, is that it?"

"One with 2500 ATK, one with 3000 ATK—in the past, that would have been an iron wall, but now, it's nothing to us."

The Labyrinth Brothers said provocatively.

Zhang Ka glanced at Jūdai's set cards, slightly surprised, and then checked the Graveyard again, becoming even more surprised.

What is this?

Never seen it before—

He quickly scanned the card effects, and by then, it was the Labyrinth Brothers' turn.

"My turn, draw—"

Mei drew a card and sneered, "Activate the Normal Spell Card, Terraforming."

Wow.

Zhang Ka nodded lightly upon seeing this card.

If he could run this card, he would definitely put several in his deck; it was an excellent choice for searching both "Dream World" and "Fusion Recycling Plant."

"Terraforming's effect allows me to add one Field Spell from my deck to my hand."

"A Field Spell?" Jūdai was quite surprised. "I've never heard of the Gate Guardian series having a Field Spell—"

"Hahaha, this is the power we gained after our training."

In reality, it was a brand-new card they had supplemented their deck with after collecting it from various dimensions through the cooperation of various companies.

"I add Labyrinth Wall Shadow to my hand!"

The two brothers looked at each other, nodded, and then Mei held the card high, shouting, "Witness this! This is the labyrinth composed of your own confusion and bewilderment!

Activate Field Spell, Labyrinth Wall Shadow!"

Boom, boom, boom—

As he activated it, countless walls emerged on the dueling arena, gradually shrouding the entire scene.

Before long, Zhang Ka found that many labyrinth walls had risen around him, completely obscuring Jūdai from view; only "Gong" remained, looking at him with a smirk.

Zhang Ka frowned slightly, tried calling out, but found Jūdai didn't respond.

It seemed this "labyrinth" directly cut off communication between them.

Tag dueling really had a lot of depth. In this world, the Labyrinth Brothers were worthy of being famous tag duelists; they could even do something like this.

The spectators had broadcast equipment provided by KaibaCorp, allowing them to see the duelists through various cameras. Serena and Ruri saw that Zhang Ka was very calm after only a brief attempt to communicate, so they weren't too worried, while other spectators were surprised and delighted by this novel "duel."

It's different from previous duels—

"Labyrinth Wall Shadow's effect: once per turn, during my Main Phase, I can choose one 'Sanga of the Thunder,' 'Kazejin,' or 'Suijin' from my hand, deck, or banishment, and place it in my Spell & Trap Zone as a Continuous Spell.

I place Sanga of the Thunder from my deck into my Spell & Trap Zone."

A giant creature with the character "Thunder" written on it floated above the labyrinth, surveying the people within.

"Oh! Searching for Sanga of the Thunder directly from the deck like this? What a brand-new tactic!" Jūdai was excited.

Zhang Ka listened to the voice, deducing that only the voices of the duelists currently in their turn could be transmitted outside the labyrinth.

So that's how it is.

Because the Labyrinth Brothers were twins who shared a telepathic connection, they were even better at coordination than the Amazoness sisters, so they didn't worry about being unable to communicate.

And because of the labyrinth, their opponents couldn't communicate, potentially leading to imperfect cooperation.

That seemed to be the situation.

"Hehehe, it's not over yet, Jūdai—" Mei, though he had lost to Jūdai before, didn't hold a grudge; he just wanted to prove himself.

"This card can be Normal Summoned without Tributing.

Normal Summon, Labyrinth Heavy Tank!"

"Eh!?"

A blue mini-tank with a spinning drill sped out from the depths of the labyrinth. Jūdai gasped the moment he saw this monster.

Labyrinth Heavy Tank, Level 7, DARK, Machine, ATK 2400.

"Oh, isn't this the Labyrinth Tank you like so much? I didn't expect this card to have an evolution," Tierra's eyes lit up. "We should hurry up and try it out, right?"

She was getting interested.

"A Level 7 Tank that can be summoned without Tributing? This feels much more convenient than the Fusion Labyrinth Tank—" Jūdai was clearly very familiar with this monster.

"Hehehe, that's not all. Labyrinth Heavy Tank's effect: during my Main Phase, I can choose one of the three 'Gate Guardians' from my hand, deck, or banishment and place it in my field as a Continuous Spell. I choose... Suijin!"

A giant monster with a massive chin and the character "Water" on its head stomped through the labyrinth, appearing before everyone.

"Also, when Labyrinth Wall Shadow is on the field, after Labyrinth Heavy Tank places a 'Gate Guardian,' it can destroy one monster the opponent controls!"

"Disappear, Brave Neos!"

"Not a chance—Neos Fusion in the Graveyard can be banished to prevent the destruction of a Fusion Monster that uses Neos as material!"

"Oh, it has an effect like that—" Mei was slightly surprised.

"It's not over yet!" Jūdai saw the opponent's operation end and suddenly flipped over a set card. "Although I don't know what you're planning by using the 'Gate Guardians' as Continuous Spells, destroying them is enough!"

Jūdai decisively flipped the set card: "Quick-Play Spell, Mask Change!"

"What? Mask Change?"

"That's right—Mask Change's effect: target one HERO monster I control. Send it to the Graveyard, then Special Summon one 'Masked HERO' from my Extra Deck with the same Attribute.

I send Elemental HERO Absolute Zero to the Graveyard and Special Summon from my Extra Deck!

Masked HERO Acid!"

Here it comes!

Zhang Ka's eyes lit up upon seeing this.

Although old, it was a classic!

Icy winds swept through the labyrinth, and strange acid gradually covered the walls, which began to melt—this was the arrival of that Masked HERO!

Masked HERO Acid, Level 8, WATER, Warrior, ATK 2600.

"When Masked HERO Acid is Special Summoned, destroy all Spells and Traps the opponent controls, and all monsters the opponent controls lose 300 ATK.

Then—Elemental HERO Absolute Zero's effect: when it leaves the field, destroy all monsters the opponent controls!"

"What?"

"Doesn't that destroy all cards on the field?"

"How, how is it so powerful?"

At this, the onlookers finally realized that Jūdai was no mere filler; he was a student who was not to be underestimated!

Wan Wan Wan Zhangmu's second brother took a deep breath.

The labyrinth began to dissipate, and all the cards on Mei's field were either dissolved or frozen, looking quite miserable.

Just as he was sweating for the Labyrinth Brothers, he noticed they showed no fear, but instead chuckled.

"Destroying Spells and monsters at the same time? Jūdai, it seems you've grown much stronger since that dorm duel—but don't think we've been standing still." The Labyrinth Brothers reached out and crossed their arms simultaneously. "We brothers are 'invincible'!"

"Jūdai, this tactic of yours doesn't seem like your usual style!"

"It seems you're still trapped in the 'labyrinth' of your heart—"

"Just like now!"

"Field Spell, Labyrinth Wall Shadow!"

What!?

A second one!

Jūdai hadn't expected this at all.

Even Zhang Ka was startled.

How did he pull that off!?

"Labyrinth Wall Shadow does not have a 'once per turn' clause, so the second Labyrinth Wall Shadow's effect can still be activated. I place the last one, Kazejin, from my deck into my field as a Continuous Spell." As Mei explained the effect, the labyrinth rose again, and the wall appeared once more between Zhang Ka and Jūdai.

"Collected all three?"

"But with two in the Graveyard, there's no way to Special Summon Gate Guardian, right?"

"Besides, Kazejin is a Continuous Spell now; there's no way to use it, right?"

As legendary duelists, the Labyrinth Brothers' cards were familiar to most of the audience.

But—

"Hehehe, naive!" the Labyrinth Brothers shouted together. "Banish Sanga of the Thunder and Suijin from the Graveyard, and Kazejin from the field!

Special Summon from my Extra Deck!"

The two assumed mirror-image poses.

"Combined Gate Guardian!"

The three monsters flew up from the Graveyard and the field—Thunder became the head, Water became the limbs, and Wind became the central connection. The three monsters roared in unison, their presence overwhelming, making Zhang Ka and Jūdai feel as though they were facing a judge.

Thunder, storms, and water currents swirled through the labyrinth, causing Zhang Ka and Jūdai's clothes to flutter in the gale, forcing them to shield their faces with their hands.

Combined Gate Guardian, Level 12, DARK, Warrior, ATK 3750!

Zhang Ka frowned.

This monster was going to be troublesome.

(End of chapter)

(End of chapter)