Chapter 1260

The fallen Shinjō Mr. immediately activated the trap.

"Subterror Hunter is a trap card that can be activated when a monster on your side is destroyed by battle and sent to the graveyard, allowing you to recover life points equal to the original attack value of the destroyed monster!"

The semi-transparent phantom of the recently destroyed and vanished Infection Fly King immediately reappeared on the field, but was quickly converted into pure energy and sucked into Shinjō Mr.'s body.

Shinjō Mr. spread his arms and let out a mighty "Oh oh oh," his body enveloped in a faint golden glow; the life points lost this turn were not only instantly replenished but even exceeded.

【Shinjō Mr., LP1100→LP4100】

The life points recovered by Subterror Hunter's effect are determined by the "original attack" of the destroyed monster. Although Shinjō Mr.'s Infection Fly King·Baralisib had its attack reduced to zero when just destroyed, its original attack was still three thousand, so Shinjō Mr. still recovered 3000 life points.

"Not over yet!" Shinjō Mr. said, "If you thought defeating the NO. bestowed by Lord Senzen meant I was finished, you greatly underestimated me! I am not like those useless fellows!"

He had already decided to follow the Lord of a Thousand Years, for in his eyes humanity possessed no power to contend with such beings. But following the strong was no easy task, for worthless pawns are quickly discarded.

But he wanted to prove that he, Shinjō Mr., was no worthless pawn.

Even if the NO. was destroyed, he had prepared a next move!

"Activate set card, Continuous Trap 'Infection Medium'!" Shinjō Mr. roared, "This card can be activated when an Xyz Demon monster on your side is destroyed, destroying all monsters you control!" (Anime card)

Of course, Shinjō Mr. currently had no monsters on his field. Thus, although the black virus released by the trap swept across his field, it did not actually destroy any cards, merely like a wildfire blazing across a bare lawn.

"Next, you can then Special Summon five 'Infection Worm Tokens' on your side!"

As Shinjō Mr.'s words fell, five clumps of black balls had already fallen into his five monster zones. The five clumps grew in turn, sprouting transparent wings and short insect legs, becoming five loathsome virus worms.

【Infection Worm Token, ATK300】x5

"Still struggling? Your obsession now resembles not a fly but a cockroach!" Fujiki You Xuan mocked.

"Shut up." Shinjō Mr. scowled.

My pursuit—how could someone like you understand?

Someone like you who gets whatever they want, possessing great power, top-tier elves, and top-notch dueling skills.

Shinjō Mr. couldn't help but roar: "How could someone like you understand how much we ordinary people must sacrifice just to survive?!"

"Huh? So you still consider yourself an ordinary 'person'?"

Fujiki You Xuan tilted his head, observing Shinjō Mr.'s body, now so mutated as to no longer resemble a human form.

"That's really strange. I seem to see only a cowardly, useless monster whose only talent is having a long tongue and being good at licking."

Shinjō Mr. trembled with rage: "Bastard."

"Set one card, end turn." Fujiki You Xuan finally placed another card face down.

"My turn, draw!"

Shinjō Mr. shouted.

The ace bestowed by the Lord of a Thousand Years had fallen, and the resources available in hand were already exhausted. Now this move could literally be called his final desperate strike, his last trump card.

Not bestowed by the Lord of a Thousand Years, but a desperate, all-or-nothing move he wagered his very life on!

"Battle!" Shinjō Mr. directly entered the battle phase, "Attack with 'Infection Worm Token' against 'CNO. 102 Fallen Light Angel·Noble Demon'!"

One Infection Worm Token bravely flew forth, like a suicide squad member charging at the Fallen Light Angel, which was vastly stronger than it.

【Infection Worm Token, ATK300】

But the result was, of course, without suspense: Noble Demon casually swung its spear, the surging spear qi sweeping out, and the Infection Worm Token, merely grazed by the aftershock, was crushed to powder.

"Battle damage from Infection Worm Token battles becomes zero for me," Shinjō Mr. said, "but when a token is destroyed by battle, you can destroy one monster on the opponent's field and inflict 300 points of damage!"

Shinjō Mr. pointed straight at the Fallen Light Angel Noble Demon on Fujiki You Xuan's field.

"Over a hundred numbering, the vengeful spirits of the Seven Royals—begone!"

The destroyed Infection Worm Token turned into a large mass of black virus, instantly enveloping Noble Demon in a surrounding force, as if seeking to devour it entirely.

"Oh? That's quite a coincidence," Fujiki You Xuan smiled, "so at this moment, Noble Demon's monster effect activates!

When this card is destroyed by battle or effect, you can remove all its Xyz materials as a substitute to negate its destruction!

And then inflict damage to the opponent equal to this card's own attack value!" (Anime effect)

Shinjō Mr.'s breath caught: "What the hell!?"

All Xyz materials were sucked into Noble Demon at once, surging energy bursting forth from within and without, instantly dispelling the dark virus enveloping his entire body, and undiminished, it slammed into Shinjō Mr.

"Uwaaaah——"

【Shinjō Mr., LP4100→LP1200】

Again blown back by the powerful impact and true damage, Shinjō Mr. rolled twice, then trembled as he struggled to rise.

"Not... not over yet."

Covered in wounds, but he had not given up.

Because he wanted to live, to keep living, to climb higher, to become stronger.

Such pure ambition, the desire for power, the will to survive—let his will grow infinitely strong.

"But this way, your Fallen Light Angel Noble Demon will have no Xyz materials left, so next time you can surely and without doubt destroy it!"

Shinjō Mr. roared.

"Come on, my second 'Infection Worm Token,' attack 'CNO. 102 Fallen Light Angel·Noble Demon'!"

The second Infection Worm Token also launched a desperate charge!

Boom!

This time it truly and undoubtedly destroyed the Fallen Light Angel Noble Demon, and simultaneously, the virus radiation damage swept over Fujiki You Xuan.

【Fujiki You Xuan, LP4000→LP3700】

"Next is the triple strike!" Shinjō Mr. said, "Third Infection Worm Token, attack 'Great King Flower·Insect Temptation Devil'!"

The third Infection Worm Token likewise shot forth!

But this worm never managed to reach its target.

"Activate Gagaga." Fujiki You Xuan said calmly, "Trap Card 'Rank-Up-Magic'."

"This card can revive one Xyz Monster from your own Graveyard, and then attach this card as an Xyz Material to that Xyz Monster."

As he spoke, the vortex in his Graveyard opened once more, and Dark Angel Valvatorez revived and returned to his field, while newly acquired Xyz Materials swirled around him.

【CNO. 102 Dark Angel Valvatorez, ATK 2900】

"Again with this thing, and it even has Xyz Materials." Mr. Xin Cheng showed disgust, "Tch, then I'll first destroy Flower Cardian Flower Witch."

"Don't rush, my Chain isn't over yet. At this moment, Flower Cardian Flower Witch's monster effect also activates." Fujiki You Xuan said, "Flower Cardian Flower Witch removes one Xyz Material, sends one 'Pitfall' or 'Trap Hole' Trap Card from the Deck to the Graveyard, and gains its effect!"

Mr. Xin Cheng: "!?"

Activating Flower Cardian's effect at this timing?

Everyone knows that Pitfall or Trap Hole Trap Cards can only be activated when a monster is summoned. But right now, I haven't summoned any monster.

On the contrary, the monster just summoned at this timing is Dark Angel Valvatorez?

So he revived his own monster, then wanted to destroy it himself—what is he trying to do?

Mr. Xin Cheng's pupils contracted, as if he suddenly understood.

But even as he understood, he only felt his limbs turn cold and his breath grow ragged; an instinctive fear of death welled up from his heart, making him feel as if plunged into an ice cellar.

"Flower Cardian Flower Witch's effect: I sent the Trap Card 'Slime Pit' from my Deck to the Graveyard to gain its effect." (Anime Card)

Fujiki You Xuan casually flung out the card retrieved from his Deck search.

"The effect of Slime Pit is that it can be activated when a monster is Special Summoned on the field. You recover Life Points equal to that monster's ATK, then destroy that monster."

"I destroy the 'CNO. 102 Dark Angel Valvatorez' that was just Special Summoned back onto the field."

"And then, of course, at this moment, I activate Dark Angel Valvatorez's effect again. When destroyed, it removes all Xyz Materials attached to it, negating the destruction, and then."

Fujiki You Xuan snapped his fingers sharply.

"Inflict damage to the opponent equal to this monster's ATK."

ZONE, who had been silently observing the battle from midair the whole time, finally murmured: "Self-Summon, then self-destruct, all just to trigger Burn Damage again."

After a pause, ZONE gently closed his eyes.

"Checkmate."

Valvatorez once again absorbed all Xyz Materials surrounding him, the materials converting into energy that surged into his raised spear, releasing a strike as if infused with his very soul!

"Don't. Don't, please."

Mr. Xin Cheng waved both hands frantically, letting out wails and pleas.

"I don't want to die yet——"

【Mr. Xin Cheng, LP1200→LP0】