Chapter 1265: Cross Counter

Victim Sanctuary, shattered!

"Oh no." Outside the field, Akiza Izinski was nervous for her companion. "Although it seems like Stardust Dragon's departure from the field is the result at first glance, if the effect is negated, Stardust Dragon cannot return to the field at the end of the turn..."

Originally, Yusei activated Stardust Dragon's effect to negate the opponent's trap "Cicada Barrier," but now although Stardust Dragon's activation was negated by Hell Cicada King, as everyone knows, when a monster effect is negated, the activation cost is not negated.

This means Stardust Dragon will still Tribute itself to the Graveyard, but because the follow-up effect was negated, it cannot actively return from the Graveyard at the end of the turn.

"With this, your trump card has been dealt with," Cicada Maru said. "And, 'No. 3 Hell Cicada King' that activated this effect gains 500 DEF!"

【No. 3 Hell Cicada King, DEF 2500 -> DEF 3000】

But of course, it was DEF that increased, not ATK; Hell Cicada King still maintained Attack Position at this time.

【No. 3 Hell Cicada King, ATK 1200】

Yusei said sternly: "Then I immediately activate the trap, Stardust Afterglow!

Select one 'Stardust' monster in my Graveyard and Special Summon that monster back to the field, ignoring its summoning conditions!"

The dissipated starlight shone again, stardust gathered, blowing past like a stardust storm from the depths of the universe, turning back into the silver-white slender dragon.

Stardust Dragon, revived!

"Revived again?" Cicada Maru curled his lip. "What a troublesome guy."

"Stardust Dragon attacks again!" Yusei said. "Shooting Sonic!"

Stardust Dragon was revived and appeared during the Battle Phase, so its number of attacks was naturally refreshed. The second starlight vortex gathered in Stardust's mouth, locking onto Hell Cicada King and blasting out once more.

Of course, Stardust Dragon revived from the Graveyard refreshed its state and lost the ATK bonus obtained when Synchro Summoning using Hyper Synchron.

【Stardust Dragon, ATK 2500】

This attack met no further obstruction, and the breath from Stardust Dragon's mouth exploded directly on Hell Cicada King without reservation. The stardust brilliance, along with the air wave explosion, knocked Cicada Maru's body heavily to the ground.

【Cicada Maru, LP 4000 -> LP 2700】

Of course, although it suffered huge damage, when the impact swept away and the smoke cleared, Hell Cicada King still stood firm and was not knocked down by Stardust Dragon's impact.

After all, only Numbers can defeat Numbers; although there was battle damage, Stardust Dragon could not defeat it.

However, this was also within Yusei's calculations. He drew two more cards from his hand: "I set two cards, turn end."

Cicada Maru climbed up, patted the dust off his body, his wide-open eyes filled with angry bloodshot veins: "Heh, hehehe, you really dare to strike, you bastard Synchro kid..."

He stood straight and raised his volume: "But since you did this, it means you are already mentally prepared to bear my anger, right!?

My turn, draw!"

After drawing his card, he first reached out to the front field on his Duel Disk and changed the remaining monster on his field from attack to defense.

"First, change 'No. 3 Hell Cicada King' to Defense Position!"

【No. 3 Hell Cicada King, ATK 1200 -> DEF 3000】

Crow laughed: "What is this, talking so aggressively, but the first step is still to defend so cowardly."

"No," Akiza Izinski said, "I feel like he seems to have another purpose..."

Sure enough, Cicada Maru said: "Activate Quick-Play Spell 'Trap Booster'! Discard one card from my hand, and I have one chance this turn to activate a Trap Card from my hand!" (Original card)

"And the card I discarded is the Spell Card 'Compensation Treasure', which can be sent from my hand to the Graveyard to draw two cards from my deck!"

Cicada Maru drew two more cards and then immediately played a trap.

"Activate Continuous Trap 'Cicada Phantom Body' from my hand!" (Anime card)

Colorful flowing light was added to Hell Cicada King, like a layer of iridescent form-fitting shield.

"Cicada Phantom Body can only be activated by selecting one face-up Defense Position Insect-Type monster on my field, and the selected monster cannot be destroyed by battle!" Cicada Maru said. "And, when the battle position of the selected monster is changed, that monster's ATK increases by the value of its DEF!"

Yusei's companions all changed their expressions upon hearing this.

"ATK increases by the value of DEF... I see, this is a trap specifically used in combination with this Hell Cicada King," Jack said. "If he changes Cicada King to Attack Position again, its ATK will soar to 4200 in one breath, gaining power that can absolutely suppress everything!"

Yusei also frowned slightly: "However, your Hell Cicada King has already changed its battle position this turn, so it shouldn't be able to change again within this turn. Even if you want to switch to attack, you must wait until the next turn..."

"Heh, you think you can survive until the next turn like this?" Cicada Maru sneered. "Too naive! I then activate my set card, Continuous Trap 'Final Attack Orders'!

As long as this card is face-up on the field, all face-up monsters on both sides of the field are changed to Attack Position and cannot change their battle position again!"

The trap immediately released a transparent fluctuation, like invisible gravitational pulls dragging Hell Cicada King, which had just returned to defense on his own field.

The pair of wings that Cicada King had folded up in defensive state immediately unfolded again, returning to an attack posture. All the red dots on those wings also lit up with scarlet light, like countless malicious demon eyes.

Cicada Maru: "This moment, Cicada Phantom Body's effect takes effect, Hell Cicada King's ATK increases by its own DEF value when it returns to Attack Position!"

【No. 3 Hell Cicada King, ATK 1200 -> ATK 4200】

"Then activate set card," Yusei said. "Trap Card 'Sacrificial Treasure'! When the total ATK of monsters on my field is higher than the monster with the lowest ATK on the opponent's field, draw two cards!" (Anime effect)

Yusei drew two cards.

At this time, Hell Cicada King's ATK surged ahead, and Cicada Maru shouted wildly: "No. 3 Hell Cicada King, attack 'Stardust Dragon'!"

All the red lights on Hell Cicada King's wings lit up together, and the crisscrossing scarlet beams connected into a net and slashed over, cutting across Stardust Dragon's body in a crisscross pattern!

【Yusei, LP 4000 -> LP 2300】

Yusei snorted, crossing his arms in front of his chest, and took two steps back, swaying.

"Yusei!" his companions called out with concern.

"I'm fine..." Yusei stood firm.

At the same time, the beam slashed through, but Stardust Dragon still stood tall.

"What?" Cicada Maru frowned. "Why was Stardust Dragon not destroyed either?"

"Because I banished this card from my Graveyard, 'Shield Warrior'!"

The warrior's card flipped out in front of Yusei.

"Banish Shield Warrior from the Graveyard to negate the battle destruction of a monster on my field!"

Cicada Maru: "Tch, used a little trick to protect your trump card, huh?"

"And, this moment I will then activate the Trap Card 'Cross Counter'!" Yusei shouted. "This card can only be activated when I have received battle damage during the opponent's turn, and both monsters that battled are still on the field!

Increase the ATK of the attacked monster by twice the battle damage I received in that battle, and have it battle the opponent's monster again!" (Original card) ===== CHAPTER 1266 =====