Chapter 400: The Champion's Dignity

Turn jump!

The Goddess of Time's Mischief, the effect of the super-powerful spell summoned the mischievous blue-haired twin-tailed goddess. Her staff swayed gently, the god's authority was released, and a translucent time wheel seemed to emerge on the field, its pointer accelerating forward as if out of control.

In just an instant, it skipped over an entire turn and arrived again at the Battle Phase of the Arbiter's next turn!

"Then, let Mr. Xiang experience the strongest all-out attack of the Elemental HEROes himself," the Arbiter said. "First, heroes of all elements, receive the revelation of 'Orichalcos', release the darkness in your hearts, and gain even greater power!"

All the heroes on the field were affected in this barrier, dangerous red light shining in their eyes, and the mark of the hexagram reflected on their foreheads.

【Elemental HERO Phoenix Enforcer, ATK 2100 → ATK 2600】

【Elemental HERO Great Tornado, ATK 2800 → ATK 3300】

【Elemental HERO Infernal Gainer, ATK 2500 → ATK 3000】

【Elemental HERO Nova Master, ATK 2600 → ATK 3100】

【Elemental HERO Shining Flare Wingman, ATK 2600 → ATK 3100】

"In addition, Infernal Gainer has an effect that increases ATK based on the number of Elemental HEROes in the Graveyard. But now the number of Elemental HEROes in the Graveyard is zero, so this effect is meaningless."

The Arbiter paused and narrowed his eyes.

"But Shining Flare Wingman has a very interesting effect... don't you think, Mr. Hongye?"

Xiang Hongye said with a sunken face: "Elemental HERO Shining Flare Wingman, ATK increases by 300 points for each Elemental HERO banished."

"ATK increases based on banished heroes... Oh no!" Mokuba said. "The effect of Chain Material..."

The heroes the Arbiter used as Fusion Materials were all banished from the game.

"Correct, the four Fusions I performed this turn banished a total of eight Elemental HEROes," the Arbiter said. "Therefore, Shining Flare Wingman's ATK..."

【Elemental HERO Shining Flare Wingman, ATK 3100 → ATK 5500】

"ATK 5500!" Mokuba's face changed.

Summoning five big monsters in an instant, and among them such a powerful hero...

"Let's start with 'Elemental HERO Phoenix Enforcer' first," the Arbiter said. "Direct attack on Mr. Hongye."

Phoenix Enforcer struck with a fist of flames, the force of the punch seemingly turning into tangible fire that pierced through Xiang Hongye's heart.

The intense burning sensation was like his soul being pierced and his heart being melted. Xiang Hongye's pupils contracted, and in that instant, he almost felt his breathing stop.

【Xiang Hongye, LP 3700 → LP 1100】

He retreated in pain, half-kneeling on the ground, clutching his heart, his face pale, gasping for air.

It was this kind of pain, the real pain brought by the dark duel when he was sniped by that demon on the night of the championship, which almost made him unable to recover. Now, it was like a lingering psychological shadow haunting his heart.

"Hongye!" his sister exclaimed from the audience.

"Mr. Hongye!"

That was Judai.

The shouting pulled him back to reality instantly from that state of falling into an ice cave.

"It's not over yet."

He leaned on his knees, shaking as he stood up, gasping heavily. That trembling body was like a patient who had been bedridden for a long time, but in his eyes, there seemed to be an unyielding lion hidden.

"Good momentum, worthy of being called the champion... but with that body of yours, how long can you persist on momentum alone?"

The Arbiter moved his fingers lightly.

"The attack continues. Next is 'Elemental HERO Great Tornado', direct attack."

【Elemental HERO Great Tornado, ATK 3300】

The hero of the storm, Great Tornado, spread his arms, and thunderclouds surged in the sky. Pitch-black thunder fell, accompanied by a deafening roar, sweeping towards Xiang Hongye wrapped in the gale!

Four great Elemental HEROes, still with four consecutive attacks left. Xiang Hongye's swaying body was like a small boat in front of the storm, as if any wave could sweep him into the tide without a trace.

"Activate Trap..."

He opened a back-row card with difficulty.

"Trap Card, Absorbing Shield. Negate one monster attack and absorb... life points equal to the ATK value."

Great Tornado's thousands of wind blades all slammed into the colorful barrier. All the energy impact was absorbed and converted into a burst of warm golden light that poured into his body.

【Xiang Hongye, LP 1100 → LP 4400】

Xiang Hongye barely stood straight, trying to adjust his disordered breathing.

I don't know if it was an illusion, but he felt that as this warm current poured into his body, his own strength recovered a bit, his pale face had a bit more color, and even the hidden illnesses in his weak body had melted away quite a bit.

The Arbiter nodded: "Barely caught the second move, not bad. But don't be in a hurry, the power of the Elemental HEROes is more than just this."

He hooked his fingers.

"The third attack. 'Elemental HERO Nova Master', direct attack."

【Elemental HERO Nova Master, ATK 3100】

This time it was scorching flames, turning into sword energy and slashing towards him. The blade of fire slashed across his body, making him almost lose consciousness again in that instant.

【Xiang Hongye, LP 4400 → LP 1300】

The Arbiter looked at Xiang Hongye in front of him, watching the black smoke all over his body and his footsteps that could barely stand steady.

"Honestly, you have already exceeded my expectations," he said indifferently. "In a dark duel of this level, the will of a mere human cannot persist to this point.

With your body and state, it's already incredible that you didn't fall after the first hit."

Xiang Hongye gasped heavily.

But he raised his head, and that unyielding light still flashed in his eyes.

"I am... a professional duelist," he said. "No matter what kind of duel, no matter what reason, I absolutely do not allow giving up halfway..."

As he spoke, his peripheral vision glanced at Judai, who was looking at this side with great concern.

Especially not wanting to lose in front of an important junior...

"Hahaha, very good spirit. Only such a soul is fascinating," the Arbiter said indifferently. "Then as you wish, the attack continues.

Elemental HERO Infernal Gainer, direct attack!"

This time it was the DARK Elemental HERO, unprecedentedly dark under the power of the Orichalcos barrier.

It was as if it came from the unprecedented darkness in the abyss, not as deep as the night, but as if it poured out from the darkest corner of the universe.

Before Infernal Gainer's blade even swung, the darkness had already swallowed him. The extreme dullness and fear, the great terror that made people unable to breathe, even the air became piercingly cold, penetrating through clothes to the bone marrow, as if to crush a person's sanity.

Just as he felt on the night of the championship.

Xiang Hongye felt the scenery in front of him blur rapidly, a dizzying spin, and he fell towards the floor.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 401 =====