Chapter 256: Not a Shadow Duel, really?

"Lava Golem, return to the hand!"

"Tch, this thing again."

Marik Ishtar frowned. His mindset seemed to have undergone a slight change as the duel progressed.

"Then I set one card face-down. Turn end."

"By the way, 'Meklord Fortress - Gigra' has another effect, right?" Fujiki You Xuan smiled. "I've studied the cards of legendary duelists like you, Senior, quite thoroughly."

The implication was: don't even think about bluffing your way through.

Marik Ishtar pondered for two seconds, then said helplessly.

"Meklord Fortress - Gigra, during the End Phase, must Special Summon one 'Meklord Token' to my field in Defense Position.

The token cannot attack, but while a token exists on my field, the opponent can only attack the Meklord Token."

【Meklord Token, DEF 0】

"Ah, that's the defensive effect that even my brother found troublesome back in the day." Mokuba was quickly awakened to distant memories by this scene.

Summoning a token to act as a shield every turn meant that even if the opponent managed to summon a boss monster with higher ATK than the Meklord Fortress, they had to destroy the token first before they could attack the fortress.

Coupled with the fortress's own resistance to Spells/Traps, it was indeed very difficult to deal with in this slow-paced game environment.

But now, this excellent ability had instead become a burden.

As everyone knows, Lava Golem cannot be eaten if there is only one monster on the field. So, the effect of automatically replenishing one monster during the End Phase is just too considerate.

"Then, my turn, draw." Fujiki You Xuan smiled. "First, Quick-Play Spell 'Hand Destruction'. Both players discard two cards, then draw two cards."

Fujiki You Xuan drew his cards, paused, and then unhurriedly revealed a card in his hand.

"Then, as for what comes next, I think you should know, Senior.

I use the 'Meklord Token' and 'Meklord Fortress - Gigra' on your field as Offerings, to rise from the abyss once again—

——Lava Golem, summon!"

The invincible Meklord Fortress was instantly melted, and the robot also dissipated in the lava. The burning giant stood tall, exuding an aura of destruction from its entire body.

【Lava Golem, ATK 3000】

The giant turned its head and seemed to give Marik Ishtar another somewhat silly smile.

It was as if it were saying, what a coincidence, buddy, we meet again.

Marik Ishtar: "..."

For some reason, he suddenly felt like hitting someone.

"Then, activate Continuous Trap 'Remove Brainwashing'!" Fujiki You Xuan said. "As long as this card exists, the control of all monsters on both players' fields returns to their original owners.

Therefore, Lava Golem returns to its original owner... which is my field."

Thus, Lava Golem dusted off its bottom, stood up, and swaggered back to Fujiki You Xuan's field. Before leaving, it even seemed to bow slightly to its opponent.

It was probably saying "thanks for the hospitality."

Marik Ishtar: "..."

After a moment of silence, he couldn't help but say: "Well, I can see it now, this thing really is your soul..."

Remove Brainwashing plus Lava Golem, eating everything clean and then immediately jumping back—to think there's actually a dedicated combo for this.

"I cannot Normal Summon other monsters during the turn Lava Golem is summoned." Fujiki You Xuan said. "Then, Lava Golem, direct attack."

Lava Golem roared, firing a "Fujiki You Xuan Flame," another fatal blow.

"Not so easy." Marik Ishtar said in a deep voice. "Activate face-down card, Trap Card 'Dimensional Prison'! Banish the attacking monster directly from the game!

Banish Lava Golem from the game!"

Only after the silly giant punched into a dimensional rift and was sucked away did Marik Ishtar's mood calm down. He took a deep breath, reflecting that he had indeed been a bit agitated just now.

But it really isn't easy to maintain one's composure when facing this kind of thing.

"Then I set one card face-down. Turn end."

"Then my turn, draw." Marik Ishtar said. "Activate Spell Card 'Card of Burial of Spells'! Banish 'Meklord Fusion', 'Toy Box', and 'Scrap Trader' from the Graveyard, draw two cards!" (Original card)

Marik Ishtar's hand was replenished again, then he said: "Next is Spell Card 'Weapon Hole'! Send one card from the top of the Deck to the Graveyard, then I can add one Equip Spell from my Deck or Graveyard to my hand."

He drew from the top of his Deck and sent it to the Graveyard, then a card in his Graveyard was ejected.

"Return the Equip Spell 'Premature Burial' from the Graveyard to my hand." Marik Ishtar said. "Then activate it again!

Pay 800 Life Points, Special Summon a monster from my Graveyard in Attack Position!"

【Marik Ishtar, LP 2400 → LP 1600】

He pulled the ejected card from the Graveyard and held it high.

"Descend once more, Meklord Fortress - Gigra!!!"

The shadow of steel blotted out the sky, and the Meklord Fortress that had melted in the lava appeared in the air once again!

【Meklord Fortress - Gigra, ATK 2500】

Fujiki You Xuan: "Summoned it again so quickly..."

"Meklord Fortress, direct attack!" Marik Ishtar shouted. "The fortress is unaffected by any Trap effects. Turn end!"

"That's not necessarily true." Fujiki You Xuan smiled. "Quick-Play Spell 'Command Silencer'. Negate the opponent's attack declaration, and draw one card from the Deck." (Original card)

Sound waves spread, sweeping over the huge fortress. The cannon barrel that the fortress had just raised sank back down; it seemed it wasn't that easy to raise it.

"Kaiba's card again."

Marik Ishtar frowned, glancing at Kaiba on the side with some displeasure.

Mokuba was quite happy: "That guy Fujiki You Xuan, he's already able to skillfully use our cards."

"Then I set two more cards face-down. Turn end."

Marik Ishtar said displeasedly.

"And during the End Phase, the effect of the Machine Fortress Special Summons a 'Robot Token' to the field."

【Meklord Token, DEF 0】

"Then it's my turn, draw."

Fujiki You Xuan drew a card, paused slightly, and looked up at the huge Meklord Fortress in the sky.

"Gigra is indeed an incredible monster. Well, as thanks for letting me see a monster of this level, Mr. Marik Ishtar, I have to bring out some real skills on my end..."

Marik Ishtar focused.

Does that mean he's finally going to reveal a decent trump card?

"I activate Spell Card 'Super Soldier Synthesis'." Fujiki You Xuan said. "Send one LIGHT and one DARK monster from my hand and Deck to the Graveyard until their total Levels equal 8, to Ritual Summon a 'Black Luster Soldier' monster!"

"As expected." Marik Ishtar narrowed his eyes. "I've heard from collected duel intelligence about the strongest form of Black Luster Soldier that you and the Kaiba Corporation team developed, possessing both the powers of Envoy of the Beginning and Envoy of the Evening Twilight.

It would be a headache if you summoned that guy..."

His expression tightened, and he chuckled lightly.

"But, would it be that easy?

Activate face-down card, Counter Trap - 'Dark Bribe'! Negate the activation of a Spell or Trap and destroy it, then the opponent can draw one card from their Deck."

The activation of Super Soldier Synthesis was negated, and the chaos storm came to an abrupt halt.

"Ah!" Mokuba said with some regret. "Black Luster Soldier's appearance failed..."

"Then, I activate the effect of this card discarded by 'Hand Destruction' last turn, Ritual Spell 'Super Soldier Ritual'!" Fujiki You Xuan said.

This touched upon Marik Ishtar's blind spot: "Activate a Ritual Spell from the Graveyard!?"

What's with selecting Ritual materials from the Deck, what's with Ritual Summoning Ritual monsters from the Graveyard—and now there are even Ritual Spells that activate from the Graveyard?

Have the cutting-edge studies of Black Luster Soldier already developed so many fancy Ritual components?

"Super Soldier Ritual: Banish this card from the Graveyard, along with one LIGHT and one DARK monster from my Graveyard, to Special Summon a 'Black Luster Soldier' Ritual monster from my hand, ignoring its summoning conditions."

Fujiki You Xuan pulled out the two ejected cards from his Graveyard.

"Banish the LIGHT 'Magician of Faith' and the DARK 'Jinzo - Returner' from my Graveyard!

One soul guides the light, one soul guides the darkness, the gates of chaos open here—

——Black Luster Soldier, summon!"

The souls of light and dark swirled into the vortex, the sword light slashed open the chaos, and the legendary warrior descended here!

【Black Luster Soldier, ATK 3000】

"Still not that easy." Marik Ishtar shouted in a deep voice. "Counter Trap - 'Solemn Judgment'!"

Fujiki You Xuan's eyelids twitched.

To think he even brought out the old man Solemn.

"Pay half my Life Points to negate the activation of a Spell/Trap or the summon of a monster and destroy it!"

【Marik Ishtar, LP 1600 → LP 800】

"Negate the activation of 'Super Soldier Ritual'! Therefore, Black Luster Soldier's summon is also negated." Marik Ishtar smiled. "Black Luster Soldier had better stay in your hand."

Divine radiance descended, and the phantom of the old man Solemn appeared on the field, majestically extending a hand, as if saying, "Don't."

Thus, the image of Black Luster Soldier hadn't fully materialized and disappeared before it could land.

"To block even this, impressive..."

Fujiki You Xuan smiled slightly, then pulled out two more cards returned from his Graveyard.

"Then, I continue by banishing these two cards from my Graveyard: the LIGHT 'Angel O7' and the DARK 'Jinzo'!"

Marik Ishtar: "!"

Again?

"The souls of light and dark are sacrificed to the field of chaos, calling upon the legendary warrior to descend!"

Fujiki You Xuan raised his arm.

"Heaven and Earth open!

Level 8, Black Luster Soldier - Envoy of the Beginning, summon!"

The souls of light and dark were sacrificed once more, and the storm of chaos rose again. The blades of light and dark slashed open the void, and Black Luster Soldier descended as if from the other side of the starry sky!

【Black Luster Soldier - Envoy of the Beginning, ATK 3000】

Didn't expect that, did you? Grandpa changed his outfit and came back!

"Uh," Marik Ishtar said in a deep voice. "To think even this couldn't stop Black Luster Soldier's descent..."

But he quickly added: "However, Envoy of the Beginning can either choose the effect of attacking twice, or choose to banish one monster.

I have the Meklord Fortress and a token as a shield on my field; even Envoy of the Beginning cannot break through this turn..."

Fujiki You Xuan smiled slightly and revealed another card in his hand.

"Spell Card 'Primal Seed'. Can only be activated if 'Black Luster Soldier - Envoy of the Beginning' exists on the field. I can add two banished cards to my hand."

Marik Ishtar's heartbeat seemed to skip a beat.

A dedicated spell for Envoy of the Beginning...

Recovering banished cards?

Ma Saka (Could it be)...

"I take these two banished cards."

Fujiki You Xuan revealed two cards.

"Jinzo and Lava Golem, return to my hand."

Marik Ishtar instantly put on a mask of pain.

Ahhh!

As expected!

It's this jerk again!

He immediately realized what was about to happen.

But even if he realized it, so what?

There was nothing left he could do.

He was like a puppet who had seen his own strings, ruthlessly swept into the abyss of despair in the torrent of this duel, but with no way out...

"I did not Normal Summon this turn." Fujiki You Xuan smiled. "Therefore, I use Mr. Marik Ishtar's 'Meklord Fortress - Gigra' and 'Meklord Token' as Offerings to Special Summon this powerful monster to your field.

Rise from the abyss once again, power of destruction and rebirth—

——Level 8, Lava Golem!"

The invincible Meklord Fortress, with its shield-bearing token, was unaffected by any Spell/Trap effects. Yet, in front of the even more invincible Lava Golem, it was as helpless as a little lamb.

Once again, it was eaten clean in an instant, and Lava Golem jumped out onto Marik Ishtar's field, once again giving the latter a silly smile.

Three times' the charm.

Hello, goodbye.

After eating his fill and saying hello, Lava Golem dusted off its bottom and returned to Fujiki You Xuan's field.

【Lava Golem, ATK 3000】

"Of course, Continuous Trap 'Remove Brainwashing' is still on the field." Fujiki You Xuan explained. "So, when Lava Golem's summon is successful, it immediately returns to the original owner's field—which is mine."

Marik Ishtar: "..."

"Then, Lava Golem," Fujiki You Xuan said politely, "direct attack Mr. Marik Ishtar."

Lava Golem roared.

Fujiki You Xuan Flame!

At the very last moment before being swallowed by the silly giant's flames, Marik Ishtar looked at the sky, a trace of doubt appearing in his eyes.

He had told Fujiki You Xuan earlier not to worry, that it was just a friendly sparring match and not a Shadow Duel, so there was no need to be under too much pressure.

But now he suddenly felt a bit self-doubting.

Is it really not a Shadow Duel?

Then why does playing this deck make him feel a bit painful...

【Marik Ishtar, LP 800 → LP 0】

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 257 =====