Chapter 14: Solitaire Duel

Kaibaki exhaled a long, heavy breath of stale air.

He was truly foolish, indeed.

Having watched yesterday's match, he had assumed this envoy of the underworld would, just as against Manjoume yesterday, send all his monsters to another dimension; he never expected that this time, the opponent would switch tactics entirely and start playing solitaire.

But seriously, why did this guy have so many different underworld tactics?

Was there not a single tactic for a fair and square duel?

This time, Kaibaki finally realized that the one standing opposite him was a dog, not a human. His Perfect Machine King on the field had not yet attacked, but even if it did, it would be meaningless.

The effect of Power Tool did not state "once per turn." Even if he could summon five monsters in one go and attack, it would only result in the endless cycle of "place counter—remove counter—battle destruction negated."

Thus, helplessly, he could only stare blankly and end his turn.

Now it was You Xuan's turn again. Without much Feihua , You Xuan skipped straight to the Battle Phase without Normal Summoning. The Spellcaster monster arrogantly flew over the opponent's front row and unleashed a barrage of attacks right onto their face.

Furthermore, at the moment of attack, the effect of Power Tool triggered again, adding another Magic Counter. The Spellcaster's ATK rose back to 1100, delivering a critical hit of 1100 damage with a single strike.

[Kaibaki Makoto, LP 3400 → LP 2300]

"Set one card, turn end," said You Xuan.

"Damn it... my turn."

Kaibaki's sense of crisis grew increasingly intense. He had to find a way to deal with that damn combination on the other side; otherwise, he might truly be beaten to death by direct attacks.

"Draw!"

Kaibaki drew a card, and upon glancing at it, he burst into wild laughter.

"Hahaha! Achieving an unbreakable combo through the synergy of Equip Spells and monster effects is indeed a beautiful tactic. However! My countermeasure is even superior!

I activate the Quick-Play Spell Card 'Mystical Space Typhoon' from my hand! It can destroy one Spell or Trap Card on the field. I will destroy the Equip Spell 'Power Tool'!"

A pitch-black whirlwind surged up, instantly shattering the Spell Card in You Xuan's back row. The golden shield around the Spellcaster dissipated, and its Attack Points reverted to their original form.

Kaibaki had studied his opponent's matches beforehand; he had long noticed that this You Xuan fellow seemed to be a solitaire player, particularly fond of those red traps that made life unbearable for others.

Therefore, his deck was already packed with three copies of 'Mystical Space Typhoon' and one 'Heavy Storm', specifically designed to kill solitaire players.

[Spellcaster, ATK 1100 → ATK 600]

"A nice tactic, but that Spell Card itself is the weakness of the strategy," Kaibaki said triumphantly. "Battle! Go, Perfect Machine King, crush that disgusting small fry for me!"

The Machine King seemed just as fed up and unable to hold back any longer; upon receiving the command, it immediately rushed forward, swinging its iron hammer, ready to smash that detestable little thing into dust.

"Flip face-down card."

You Xuan snapped his fingers, and the back row flipped open.

"Continuous Trap Card—'Gravity Bind'. As long as this card is on the field, neither player can attack with any Level 4 or higher monsters."

Kaibaki: "..."

Your mother (a greeting).

Kaibaki now felt as though ten thousand Volcanic Emperors were galloping through his heart. He had one Level 4 and one Level 8 monster on the field, and he had already used the 'Mystical Space Typhoon' he just drew on 'Power Tool'; this single card had completely locked down all attacks for him again.

But he still had a way!

"I Normal Summon 'Dark Attacker' in Defense Position."

[Dark Attacker, DEF 1500]

"Turn end."

"I see, so there's this move too," You Xuan understood.

He remembered this card as well; it was a monster used by Jaden Yuki in the anime. Simply put, its effect allowed it to destroy one Spell or Trap Card on the opponent's field during the next turn.

In other words, as long as this thing survived until the next turn, it could destroy You Xuan's 'Gravity Bind' lockdown and initiate an attack.

This was also an adjustment Kaibaki had made for this match, his struggle as a normal duelist facing an underworld solitaire player.

But it didn't matter.

"My turn, draw." You Xuan drew a card and immediately declared without hesitation, "I activate the Continuous Spell Card 'Level Limit - Area B' from my hand.

As long as this card remains on the field, all Level 4 or higher monsters on both players' fields are switched to Defense Position."

[Machine Sergeant, ATK 1600 → DEF 1800]

[Perfect Machine King, ATK 3700 → DEF 1500]

Kaibaki Makoto spat blood.

Bro, how do you even have this thing?

Kaibaki was now utterly shocked. He had never imagined that anyone could play cards so solitaire-style; this wasn't participating in a tournament, this was coming here to take revenge on society, right?

So even if 'Dark Attacker's effect activated next turn, it could only destroy one Spell or Trap Card. But under the current situation, whether he destroyed 'Gravity Bind' or 'Level Limit - Area B', as long as one remained on the field, he still couldn't attack.

Moreover, he had also noticed that the Spellcaster was Level 3, conveniently just below the Level 4 threshold. This meant only he couldn't attack, while You Xuan could attack freely.

You Xuan: "However, just in case, I will activate the Spell Card 'Shield Crush' to target and destroy one monster in Defense Position on the field. I destroy 'Dark Attacker'."

Kaibaki Makoto: "..."

And that wasn't all.

"Next, I Normal Summon 'Different Dimension Emissary' in Attack Position from my hand."

[Different Dimension Emissary, ATK 700]

"This card's effect is the same as the Spellcaster; it can also attack directly." You Xuan paused, then smiled slightly, "By the way, 'Different Dimension Emissary' is also Level 3, so it is unaffected by both 'Level Limit - Area B' and 'Gravity Bind'."

Kaibaki Makoto: "..."

He wanted to say no, that thing isn't an emissary of a different dimension.

It's an emissary of the underworld.

"Spellcaster, Different Dimension Emissary, direct attack!"

A double direct attack to the face!

The Perfect Machine King and Machine Sergeant watched helplessly as these two solitaire monsters gracefully flew over their heads one after another, proceeding to pin their master to the ground and rub him in it frantically.

The monsters were guilty, very angry, but completely helpless...

[Kaibaki Makoto, LP 2300 → LP 1000]

Kaibaki Makoto said nothing, but the veins on the back of his hand and his forehead were bulging violently; visually, his rage meter was at 90%.

"Set one card, turn end."

"My turn."

Kaibaki Makoto took a deep breath.

Calm, must be calm.

Just as the master at the dojo said, the more critical the situation, the less one should panic. The outcome of a duel is unknown until the very last second.

Believe in your deck, remember the daily drawing training you've undergone.

And now is the time to verify the results of that training.

Kaibaki Makoto closed his eyes tightly and silently chanted in his heart.

Please let me draw another wind!

"Draw!"

The next moment, Kaibaki Makoto nearly jumped up from his spot.

This draw had created a miracle!

"I activate the Spell Card 'Heavy Storm' from my hand!" Kaibaki raised that card high like an offering, "Destroy all Spell and Trap Cards on both players' fields!"

Heavy Storm, the ultimate back-row cleanup artifact, an indiscriminate table flip.

"So he really did draw a wind this turn," You Xuan muttered to himself, "As expected, even random passersby in the anime world have god-tier draws in desperate situations."

However...

You Xuan snapped his fingers.

"Flip face-down card. Counter Trap Card—'Judgment of Anubis'."

Kaibaki was still laughing strangely: "Muda! Heavy Storm is the ultimate nemesis of Spells and Traps; nothing can stand before the storm—wait, what is that?"

"'Judgment of Anubis' can only be activated when your opponent activates a Spell Card that includes an effect to 'destroy Spell or Trap Cards on the field'."

You Xuan explained calmly.

"Discard one card from your hand to negate the activation of that Spell Card and destroy it. Furthermore, after that, target one face-up monster on your opponent's field; destroy that monster, and inflict damage to your opponent equal to the destroyed monster's original Attack Points."

Kaibaki stared blankly.

Negate the activation of Heavy Storm, plus destroy a monster and inflict damage equal to its ATK...

"..."

Nani!???

Amidst the shock, the storm dissipated under some invisible curse. Black mist spread across the field, manifesting the fierce figure of the God Anubis, glaring angrily at Kaibaki's field.

"According to its effect, I will destroy 'Perfect Machine King' on your field." You Xuan waved his hand, "Take damage equal to 'Perfect Machine King's Attack Points, which is 3700."

The God Anubis opened its mouth, spewing forth a terrifying pitch-black breath. The Machine King's body instantly melted within it, and the powerful dark current, undiminished in momentum, engulfed Kaibaki Makoto as well.

"Ughhhh!!!"

The physical impact equivalent to 3700 points of damage knocked Kaibaki flat on the ground; even as he fell, his eyes remained wide open, looking as if he died with lingering regrets.

As if saying that even if he were nailed into a coffin and buried underground, he would shout with a decayed voice—

—I have never seen such a person taking revenge on society!

[Kaibaki Makoto, LP 1000 → LP 0]

(End of Chapter)