Chapter 13: Is He a Dog?

[You Xuan, LP 4000]

[Kajiki Makoto, LP 4000]

Today, luck was on Kajiki's side as he won the coin toss for the first turn. Kajiki drew his card, and upon glancing at his six-card opening hand, his eyes immediately lit up.

A perfect hand. JPG.

If previously most of You Xuan's opponents had underestimated him due to his unsightly record, Kajiki Makoto would not make that mistake.

He had watched You Xuan's previous matches, especially the quarterfinal bout against Manjoume. After reviewing it, he felt that while this person could not be underestimated, he appeared more as an opportunistic type of opponent. He couldn't say You Xuan lacked strength entirely, but he certainly didn't possess much.

"Hmph, once I know your tricks in advance and prepare countermeasures, you are nothing to fear," Kajiki shouted loudly. "My turn!"

With high morale, Kajiki wasted no words, slamming a card down to declare he must fuse immediately. He performed a hand fusion using "Machine Soldier" and "Machine King" from his hand, directly special summoning the Level 8 big monster [Perfect Machine King].

After this card was adapted for real-life play, it was changed into an Effect Monster, but in the anime, it was originally a Fusion Monster. Furthermore, its original effect stated that for every Machine-Type monster on the field, its attack power increases by 500. Since it is itself a Machine-Type monster, simply appearing on the field guarantees it an attack of at least 3200.

[Perfect Machine King, Attack 2700 → Attack 3200]

Summoning the ace of his deck right at the start, Kajiki felt this match was already half won. Starting directly with a Blue-Eyes White Dragon plus 200 riding his face, he asked, how could he possibly lose?

Then it became You Xuan's turn.

You Xuan remained unhurried, first summoning [Giant Rat]. A mutated, drug-enhanced fluffy giant rat popped onto the field, baring its teeth at the opponent and emitting a fierce low growl from its throat.

[Giant Rat, Attack 1400]

Next, You Xuan waved his hand and issued a direct order: "Giant Rat, attack 'Perfect Machine King'."

Giant Rat: "?"

Its bewildered little eyes seemed to say, Bro, are you serious? That guy's attack power is more than double mine, damn it!

Why don't you just ask me to go capture Tang Seng and his disciples while you're at it?

But the master's command is the master's command; the big rat could only steel itself and charge at that Machine King. As expected, it was blasted into smithereens in a single shot.

[You Xuan, LP 4000 → LP 2200]

Starting with a suicidal assault left the opponent completely stunned.

What is the meaning of this? Are duelists these days this polite? Coming straight to the match to deliver warmth?

Could it be that the dojo secretly paid to hire an actor for me?

However, he immediately realized that the big rat performing the suicidal attack had a death rattle. When Giant Rat is destroyed by battle and sent to the Graveyard, it allows the player to special summon one Earth-Attribute monster with 1500 or less attack from the Deck.

Hearing this effect, Kajiki merely chuckled inwardly.

Attack 1500 or less? Isn't that just a bunch of small fries?

"Special summon this card from my Deck," You Xuan said, revealing the searched card. "'Magic Attacker'!"

[Magic Attacker, Attack 600]

A little fellow that seemed to have jumped straight out of a chibi cartoon popped onto the field, waving a tiny scepter in its hand. Its art style and small frame made it look like it was there just to act cute.

"Magic Attacker's effect allows it to attack the opponent directly," You Xuan waved his hand. "Direct attack!"

[Kajiki Makoto, LP 4000 → LP 3400]

Having taken 600 points of damage, Kajiki Makoto was completely unfazed: "Heh, all that for such trivial damage? It doesn't hurt at all."

Clearly, this guy hadn't yet realized the severity of the situation.

You Xuan smiled: "My Battle Phase ends. Next, I activate the Equip Spell 'Sword of Revealing Light' from my hand, equipping it to 'Magic Attacker'. Then, I end my turn."

Power of the Guardian

[35] Re-evaluating line 34 translation for flow: "Next, I activate the Equip Spell 'Power of the Guardian' from my hand, equipping it to 'Magic Attacker'. Then, I end my turn."

Watching the golden glow envelop Magic Attacker while its attack power remained completely unchanged, Kajiki Makoto couldn't help but mutter in confusion.

Wasn't equipping that completely pointless?

In this world, dueling wasn't like in You Xuan's previous life; players could not view each other's card effects in real-time. Only cards whose effects one recognized and remembered could be understood and countered immediately.

"My turn!"

Kajiki Makoto drew a card and immediately declared: "I Normal Summon 'Machine Soldier' in Attack Position!"

[Machine Soldier, Attack 1600]

"Since the number of Machine-Type monsters on the field has increased, 'Perfect Machine King's' attack power rises by another 500."

[Perfect Machine King, Attack 3200 → Attack 3700]

Kajiki Makoto waved his hand: "Use 'Machine Soldier' to attack 'Magic Attacker'!"

Machine Soldier stepped forward, but before it could even make a move, the golden glow on Magic Attacker's body began to shimmer.

"At this moment, the effect of 'Power of the Guardian' activates," You Xuan said. "When a monster equipped with 'Power of the Guardian' declares an attack during battle, you can place one Spell Counter on this card."

"Furthermore, for every Counter on 'Power of the Guardian', the equipped monster's attack power increases by 500."

[Power of the Guardian, Spell Counters 0 → 1]

[Magic Attacker, Attack 600 → Attack 1100]

"Heh, adding such a small amount of attack power is utterly useless!" Kajiki Makoto shouted. "Continue the battle, Machine Soldier, destroy that small-fry monster!"

However, as the metal iron fist blasted forth, it only created a faint ripple of golden light. As the ripples dispersed, Magic Attacker still stood firmly, unharmed.

Kajiki Makoto: "!"

Why!?

"This is the other effect of 'Power of the Guardian'," You Xuan explained. "If the equipped monster would be destroyed, you can remove Spell Counters from the field to negate the battle or effect destruction of that monster."

[Power of the Guardian, Spell Counters 1 → 0]

[Magic Attacker, Attack 1100 → Attack 600]

Kajiki Makoto: "?"

Wait a minute...

"You just said 'Power of the Guardian' can only place a Counter when an attack is declared, right!" Kajiki felt he had spotted a blind spot. "But clearly I was the one who declared the attack just now; your monster didn't declare an attack at all. Why did it get the boost?"

He began to suspect he was being spouted nonsense.

"Is this your first day dueling?" You Xuan looked at him with narrowed eyes, patiently explaining as if to a newbie in the card battle club. "The text of 'Power of the Guardian' isn't 'Place a Spell Counter when the equipped monster declares an attack,' but rather 'Place a Spell Counter during the Attack Declaration Step when the equipped monster engages in battle.'"

Kajiki: "?"

What's the difference?

"Whether you attack or I attack proactively, as long as monsters battle, there exists an 'Attack Declaration Step.' Therefore, whenever both monsters engage in battle, the effect to place a Counter is triggered."

You Xuan continued to patiently explain the profound depth of K-Language to his opponent.

Kajiki: "!"

Nani? Doesn't that make it invincible?

Getting attacked increases the Counters, and then removing the Counters negates destruction...

Wouldn't a monster equipped with this thing be immortal?

"Wait..."

Kajiki frowned, realizing matters were not so simple.

"But battle damage should still be calculated, right?" he asked suspiciously.

"Oh, that is 'Magic Attacker's' own effect," You Xuan said. "When 'Magic Attacker' engages in battle, all damage inflicted on its controller is 0."

Kajiki: "!?"

Battle damage is 0? Wait, no, something's wrong, something is very wrong.

Because it is equipped with "Power of the Guardian," no matter how it is attacked, Magic Attacker is immortal.

And because of Magic Attacker's own effect, the opponent takes no battle damage.

Furthermore, Magic Attacker can attack the opponent player directly. No, not only that, but due to the effect of "Power of the Guardian," the more times it attacks, the higher its attack power becomes.

Hiss~

Kajiki gasped sharply, turning pale with shock.

A guy capable of devising such an underworld tactic...

...is he a damn dog!?

(End of Chapter)