Chapter 496: Lend Me the Power of the Earth

The scene of Neo Space changed again with Judai's summon; deep in the vast, boundless universe, at the other end of the galaxy, it was as if the ancient and mysterious Heart of the Universe breathed gently, awakening the symphony of light and darkness.

The moment the silence was broken, dazzling beams of light flew in like meteors, falling onto the field like a waterfall of light. Endless light particles danced within it as if endowed with life, intertwining and colliding to condense into a slender white body, emitting a soft yet impossible-to-ignore radiance, like a snow-capped mountain under the rising sun; red markings were engraved on the snow-white body, with a brilliant blue crystal on the chest.

The miraculous Elemental HERO from the other end of the universe, Elemental HERO Neos, summon!

【Elemental HERO Neos, DEF 2000】

"From the universe, is this your new power?"

The Supreme King said.

"It is indeed a monster that can feel special power. But this level is still no match for Malicious Edge."

"It's not over yet," Judai said. "Neo Space Connector has another effect!"

"By Tributing Neo Space Connector on the field, I can Special Summon a 'Neo-Spacian' monster from my Graveyard, or 'Elemental HERO Neos' in Defense Position!"

"I offer 'Neo Space Connector' as a Tribute! Summon back the partner of Neo Space from the Graveyard..."

Neo Space Connector dissipated into golden light spots, which condensed and once again transformed into the image of the Drill Mole that had just disappeared.

Supreme King: "!"

It's him again, this damn mole again.

Grand Mole stood with his hands on his hips, full of confidence.

Didn't expect that, did you? I, the master, am back!

Even Malicious Edge's expression became unnatural again upon seeing Grand Mole.

However...

【Neo-Spacian Grand Mole, DEF 300】

"Even for Grand Mole, it must battle the opponent to use its effect," the Supreme King said in a deep voice. "In Defense Position, it cannot be triggered."

Although as long as Grand Mole was on the field, he couldn't easily attack, it didn't matter. He would just use Malicious Edge's field-clearing effect to blow it up next turn.

Even for Grand Mole, Defense Position posed no threat.

"Is that really so?"

Judai smiled and brushed off a wave of style points?

"Nani?"

"Neos is the miraculous Elemental HERO with infinite possibilities for evolution," Judai said. "Facing different situations and different opponents, he can evolve almost infinitely! Let me make you understand this point now..."

Judai raised his arm high.

"I return 'Elemental HERO Neos' and 'Neo-Spacian Grand Mole' from the field to the Deck, Contact Fusion!"

"Contact Fusion?" This concept surprised the Supreme King quite a bit.

The Supreme King and Judai had almost no intersection in the first half of their lives; their memories were not shared, and their experiences were independent, so this new Neos power Judai had acquired was quite rare to the Supreme King.

"Grand Mole, lend me your power!" Judai shouted. "Earth Drill, pierce the heavens! Contact Fusion—"

"—Elemental HERO Grand Neos!"

"Leave it to me!"

Grand Mole called out confidently, his figure flickering as he changed from a physical form to a golden energy state, flashing with dazzling light as he converged toward Neos, his figure appearing to overlap with Neos.

Neos spread his arms, as if feeling the power from the depths of the earth. The blue crystal on his chest began to flash with bright light, golden light spots condensed around him, and the shining particles condensed into heavy green armor, emitting the steadiness and toughness of the earth.

Golden light converged in his palm, condensing into a huge, rapidly rotating drill that wrapped his entire right hand, as if it could penetrate any obstacle.

Elemental HERO Grand Neos, summon!

【Elemental HERO Grand Neos, ATK 2500】

"Contact Fusion? Did you change into a new form by obtaining that mole's power?" The Supreme King vaguely began to have a bad premonition. "Elemental HERO Neos's Fusion Monster gains an additional 500 ATK in the Neo-Space field!" Judai said.

【Elemental HERO Grand Neos, ATK 2500 → ATK 3000】

"But because you destroyed your Air Hummingbird with an effect last turn, Malicious Edge's ATK has already risen to 3200," the Supreme King said coldly. "And even if that weren't the case, Malicious Edge has the ability to be immune to destruction..."

"So what?"

"What?"

Judai shouted: "Elemental HERO Grand Neos inherits the power of Grand Mole!

Once per turn, this card can choose one monster on the opponent's field and return it to the owner's hand!"

Supreme King: "!"

Not destruction, but returning to the hand...

Damn it.

"Nebula Hole!" Judai shouted.

Grand Neos's right-hand drill started, rotating at high speed like a blurry white afterimage. That drill not only pierced the heavens but also broke through dimensions. A dimensional rift tore open in front of Malicious Edge, and the irresistible, terrifying gravitational pull almost distorted the powerful demon's body, sucking it in helplessly like a piece of paper.

!. Read

The demon looked helpless as he was sucked in, as if saying, See, I knew nothing good would come from meeting this mole.

"Malicious Edge is a Fusion Monster; of course, he cannot return to the hand, but returns directly to the Fusion Deck!" Judai said.

Supreme King: "..."

"Elemental HERO Grand Neos, direct attack!"

Grand Neos let out a powerful battle roar, and the flying drill lit up with golden light, transforming into a piercing laser that shot toward the Supreme King!

"Activate Set Card," the Supreme King said coldly. "Trap Card 'Absorb Shield'.

The opponent's monster's attack is negated, and I gain Life Points equal to that monster's ATK."

Judai: "!"

A rainbow-colored water shield appeared in front of the Supreme King, and Grand Neos's full-force bombardment landed entirely on the colorful shield, with all energy absorbed and converted into life.

【Supreme King, LP 2400 → LP 5400】

Neos retreated in disappointment.

"Sorry, Judai, my attack instead replenished the opponent's life..."

"No, this is fine," Judai shook his head.

Pits always have to be stepped into; HP and such are just floating clouds as long as you can't finish them off. Having been with You Xuan for so long, he had been somewhat influenced by his thinking.

Originally, Neos Fusion Monsters had to be forcibly returned to the owner's Fusion Deck at the end of the turn—which was likely a tribute to Ultraman only being able to operate on Earth for three minutes.

Ultraman can only fight on Earth for three minutes, and Neos can only operate on the field for one turn; this is very reasonable.

However, when the Field Spell "Neo-Space" is on the field, this side effect can be offset, and players can freely choose whether to let Neos return to the Deck.

So Judai naturally chose not to activate it here.

"I equip 'Elemental HERO Grand Neos' with the Spell Card 'Instant Neo-Space'!" Judai said.

A Fusion Monster equipped with Instant Neo-Space does not have to return to the Deck during the End Phase. However, with Neo-Space on the field, it wouldn't have to return anyway, so Judai wasn't aiming for this effect, but for its other effect.

When the equipped monster leaves the field, it can leave behind a 'last word' to Special Summon 'Elemental HERO Neos' from one's hand, Deck, or Graveyard.

"Set one more card, and end my turn."

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 497 =====