Chapter 155: Failed Escape

President Qingshui looked at the Lava Demon God on his field, then at the "Warlords in Conflict" on his opponent's field, then at the large hand of cards trapped in his grip—he was momentarily dazed.

Suddenly, he felt the animated effect of the Lava Demon God's scorching prison was uncannily fitting—a perfect reflection of his true state in this duel.

Incarcerated.

This isn't even a duel—it's pure imprisonment, serving a sentence.

Even his once-burning passion for the club had nearly extinguished; at one point, he'd even thought, "Forget it, let this damn club collapse."

All he wanted was to get out of prison, to escape this duel.

But then, his teammates' voices echoed in his ears.

"Come on, President!"

"President, don't give up! Remember the memories we made in this club room!"

"If the club room is taken away, what will we do with all our elf fanfics and study CDs?!"

President Qingshui shuddered.

That's right.

He had something he had to protect.

He had a reason to fight!

How could he fall here?!

President Qingshui lifted his head again, his eyes reignited with battle spirit—but Fujiki You Xuan remained silent for a moment.

Hmm… I think I just accidentally heard something incredibly serious.

"The duel isn't over yet—I still have a chance!" President Qingshui said. "Activate the spell card 'Pot of Greed' from my hand! Draw two cards!"

"Let you witness the miracle draw brought by my burning passion!"

"Activate my face-down card: Quick-Play Spell—Quick Summon," Fujiki You Xuan said, flipping another face-down card. "You can normally summon a monster from your hand." (Original card)

A commonly used card in GX anime, used by Jaden and Marik.

President Qingshui frowned.

Quick Summon, chained to Pot of Greed?

What is he trying to summon?

"I sacrifice the 'Archer' on my field," Fujiki You Xuan said. "The counter to summoning spells—the seal-breaking machine—"

"—Spell Canceller, summon!"

【Spell Canceller, ATK 1800】

"As long as Spell Canceller remains on the field, neither player can activate any spell cards, and all spell card effects on the field become invalid!"

President Qingshui nearly threw his dueling field across the room.

You're dueling my ass.

You won't let me summon monsters, won't let me play spells—you've made up your mind to stop me from dueling altogether, right?

"Spell Canceller was already on the field when Pot of Greed resolved," Fujiki You Xuan smiled. "Therefore, Pot of Greed's effect is invalid."

"What a pity, senpai—you won't get to see your fiery draw."

President Qingshui: (expressing shock or frustration)

In an instant, he began questioning his opponent's motives.

Was he here to get things done—or just to pick a fight?

Because if it was the latter, he was already nearly succeeding.

"I end my turn."

There was simply nothing more he could do.

"Then my turn," Fujiki You Xuan said, drawing a card. "Before the Standby Phase, activate my face-down trap card—Battlefield Return. Special summon a monster from my graveyard in defense position."

"I special summon 'Archer' in defense position."

【Archer, DEF 1000】

"Archer's effect: During each of my Standby Phases, inflict 600 damage to my opponent."

The trigger pulled, a metal arrow shot out. President Qingshui was pierced through the heart, gritting his teeth as he staggered back half a step.

【President Qingshui, LP 3000 → LP 2400】

Though this monster might seem useless by modern Yu-Gi-Oh! standards, Archer was once a core component of the "Disruptor Canceller" deck.

First, monsters with stable damage-dealing effects were rare in the early days, and Archer was one of them. Second, as a Machine-type monster, it was unaffected by my own "Warlords in Conflict" summoning restrictions.

By the way, "Lava Demon God" was also standard in the "Disruptor Canceller" deck—because, just as Fujiki You Xuan is doing now, the strategy could be temporarily switched to "Lava Canceller," with equally devastating results.

"I set one card. End my turn."

President Qingshui: "My turn."

"Standby Phase—Lava Demon God's effect," Fujiki You Xuan smiled. "1000 damage."

President Qingshui: "Ugh!"

【President Qingshui, LP 2400 → LP 1400】

Again drenched in hissing, steaming lava, President Qingshui gritted his teeth.

If this continued, Archer would deal another 600 damage next turn, leaving him with only 800 LP. Then, when it was his turn again, this idiot would burn him for another 1000—he'd be finished.

But even so, none of the monsters in his hand could be summoned, and no spells could be activated. What could he possibly do?

Hmm?

Catching sight of the card he'd just drawn, President Qingshui's eyes lit up.

There was still hope!

His deck hadn't abandoned him!

"I set one card face-down. End my turn."

"Then my turn," Fujiki You Xuan drew a card. "Archer deals another 600 damage."

【President Qingshui, LP 1400 → LP 800】

The president staggered, having taken another arrow, and sneered: "Tch, one after another like flies."

"Don't worry, President—it'll be over soon," Fujiki You Xuan smiled. "I set another card face-down. End my turn."

Indeed, by the time President Qingshui's next turn came, Lava Demon God's effect would trigger again—1000 damage would end the duel outright.

But!

"My turn! At this moment, activate my face-down trap card—Archer Troop!"

President Qingshui shouted.

"By sacrificing a monster on my field, I can destroy one card on your field!"

"Therefore, I sacrifice the 'Lava Demon God' to destroy your 'Spell Canceller'!"

The club members, who had just given up hope, suddenly erupted in excitement.

"He destroyed both Lava Demon God and Spell Canceller with one card!"

"Now there are no monsters on President's field, so 'Warlords in Conflict''s summoning lock is lifted—and he won't take damage from Lava Demon God's effect during Standby Phase!"

He's alive again!

Lava Demon God dissolved into fading light and departed; Spell Canceller was blown apart. The senpai, finally breaking free from the blockade, let out a triumphant roar.

I'M OUT OF PRISON!

"And now that the spell lock is broken, I can activate spell cards!"

President Qingshui regained his composure.

Indeed, his unyielding perseverance, his fiery passion for the club, had summoned a miracle!

In his hand were the spell cards "Soul Exchange" and "Warrior's Return." Soul Exchange lets him discard one card from his hand to return a monster from his graveyard to his hand; Warrior's Return lets him return a Warrior-type monster from his graveyard to his hand.

If he could retrieve "Gera's Warrior" and "Archangel Gera" from his graveyard, he could recreate his ultimate combo and summon his trump card monster, Gera, for a decisive counterattack.

"I flip my face-down card," Fujiki You Xuan said. "Trap card—Disruptor Trio. Special summon three Disruptor Tokens on your field."

【Disruptor Token, DEF 1000】x3

The moment the idiot Lava Demon God left, the trio of Tokens immediately rushed onto the opponent's field, like a seamless shift change.

Token Yellow pulled out snacks: "Excuse me!"

Token Green unfolded a newspaper: "Pleasure to meet you!"

Token Black began snoring: "Zzz… Zzz…"

President Qingshui, who had just drawn a card and raised his hand to play it, froze mid-motion.

The club members, who had just been cheering the president's brilliant breakout, remained frozen in their cheering poses, completely stunned.

The field fell silent, a cold wind sweeping through—only the munching, page-turning, and snoring of the three Tokens remained.

Clearly, the idiot Lava Demon God had left, but the Disruptor Trio had immediately taken its place—"Warlords in Conflict"'s restriction still held.

If anything had changed for President Qingshui, it was only that his summoning restriction had shifted from "only Demons" to "only Beasts."

He got out of prison—but not quite.

A feint. He'd woken up to find he'd merely swapped one set of guards for another. He was still locked in, unable to duel at all.

President Qingshui's face twitched twice.

"You—you fucking—"

"If you're not going to do anything, then it's my turn again," Fujiki You Xuan smiled. "Draw."

"Then, Standby Phase—Archer deals 600 damage."

【President Qingshui, LP 800 → LP 200】

Another crossbow bolt pierced his heart, making the chairman want to spit blood.

"Then, you typically summon the 'Submarine Robot.'" Fujiki You Xuan said politely.

【Submarine Robot, Attack 800】

"Of course, both the submarine and the crossbowmen are Mechanical Race, so they aren't subject to the summoning restrictions of 'Warlords in Conflict.'" Fujiki You Xuan smiled. "And this card's effect allows it to ignore monsters and attack the opponent player directly."

Chairman Qingshui: "."

"Submarine Robot's direct attack."

The anthropomorphic mini-submarine drifted upward with its signature look of disdain, launched a torpedo, and shot past the heads of the three derivatives with a sharp whistling sound.

BOOM!

The torpedo crashed down like a hailstorm, a ring of mist and expanding fire from the explosion blasting the chairman off his feet.

【Chairman Qingshui, LP 200 → LP 0】

Having completed the final strike, the Submarine Robot slowly descended, its anthropomorphic eyes radiating supreme arrogance over all rivals.

The invincible submarine stood tall upon the earth!

(End of Chapter)