Chapter 525

"Gladiator Beast Laquari, direct attack!"

The ferocious Gladiator Beast warrior roared, his body wrapped in flames, and he lunged toward Fujiki You Xuan's empty field like a hungry tiger!

But Fujiki You Xuan remained calm.

"Then I activate my face-down card, the Continuous Trap 'Fire Wall'." Fujiki You Xuan said, "I can use its effect when the opponent declares a direct attack.

By banishing one Pyro-type monster from my Graveyard, I negate the attack of that opponent's monster."

Fujiki You Xuan took a Pyro-type monster card that was removed from his Graveyard.

"One of the two Pyro-type monsters sent to the Graveyard by the effect of the Continuous Spell 'Volcanic Wall' last turn, 'Volcanic Revolver', is banished.

Negate the attack of 'Gladiator Beast Laquari'."

Flames rose from the ground, forming a burning barrier in front of Fujiki You Xuan. The Gladiator Beast's full-force strike slammed into the wall of fire, only to let out a dull groan and stagger backward.

Melo's expression turned even gloomier.

Because although Fujiki You Xuan didn't say it, he boldly guessed that this Continuous Trap also had no "once per turn" restriction. As long as there were Pyro-type resources in the Graveyard, no matter how many times he attacked, he would be blocked by this wall of flames.

And that Continuous Spell "Volcanic Wall" constantly sent Pyro-type resources to the Graveyard every turn while also burning his LP. While Blaze Accelerator constantly destroyed the monsters on his field, the ammunition consumed would also be converted into operating energy for "Fire Wall" once it hit the Graveyard...

Gladiator Beasts actually have means to deal with the backrow. "Gladiator Beast Gyzarus," the ace of the deck, can destroy two cards at will upon appearing, and Gyzarus's key material, "Gladiator Beast Bestiari," also has the effect of destroying one backrow card when it appears.

But the problem is...

... the premise is that he has to be able to summon them.

Without even a single battle being able to occur, all the Gladiator Beasts in his hand became vanilla monsters, with no way to dispatch Bestiari or summon Gyzarus. Even if Bestiari were drawn into his hand, it would be useless, because Bestiari can only destroy backrow cards if "Special Summoned by the effect of a Gladiator Beast"; a Normal Summon is useless.

If he couldn't use backrow destruction effects, this lineup of the opponent's was truly a headache.

Melo curled his lip.

"This is actually a bit troublesome... Tch, then let's leave it at that. Set one card, turn end."

"My turn, draw." Fujiki You Xuan drew a card, "The Continuous Trap 'Fire Wall' requires a cost to maintain.

During each of my Standby Phases, if I don't pay 500 Life Points, this card is destroyed.

I choose to pay Life Points to maintain the existence of the Fire Wall."

A ball of scorching fire was released from the trap, enveloping Fujiki You Xuan and taking away a portion of his LP.

【Fujiki You Xuan, LP 3500 → LP 3000】

"Be careful when playing with fire." Melo said meaningfully, "Fire can ravage the opponent's formation, but if you're not careful, it will also implicate yourself."

Fujiki You Xuan smiled: "Thanks for the reminder, I'll be careful.

But now it's time for you to worry."

He waved his hand.

"I activate the effect of the Continuous Spell 'Volcanic Wall'.

Once per turn, send the top three cards of my deck to the Graveyard. Inflict damage to the opponent equal to the number of Pyro-type monsters among them x 500."

Fujiki You Xuan drew three more cards, then whistled lightly.

"Ha, the performance is not bad."

He revealed the three cards.

"Two more Pyro-type monsters, for a total of 1000 points of damage."

Melo snorted.

Facing Volcanic, the usually insignificant LP became a very precious resource, with every drop being vital. He couldn't allow the opponent to burn LP recklessly like this.

"I activate my face-down card!" Melo said, "Trap Card 'Damage Translation'!

The turn this card is activated, effect damage I take this turn becomes half the value! And during the End Phase of this turn, based on the number of times I took effect damage this turn, Special Summon the same number of 'Ghost Tokens' to my field in Defense Position!" Two phantoms of Pyro-type monsters appeared on the field, both turning into fire snakes and rolling into the Spell in Fujiki You Xuan's backrow. The Continuous Spell spat out flames, sweeping forward like a storm across Melo's field.

"The effect of Damage Translation, damage halved!"

Melo shouted, and as he spoke, the fire snakes had already rolled over him.

【Melo, LP 3000 → LP 2500】

"Hmm, the efficiency of all burn damage will be halved this turn, and I'll even give you token resources for free—it's not very cost-effective, so let's slow down."

Fujiki You Xuan shrugged indifferently and smiled.

"Then next, the effect of the Continuous Spell 'Blaze Accelerator'.

By discarding a Pyro-type monster with 500 or less ATK from my hand, destroy a monster on the opponent's field."

He showed the shell that had been searched to his hand last turn.

"Discard the 'Volcanic Shell' in my hand to load it as ammunition into the Blaze Accelerator.

Fire!"

!. Read

The burning flames were poured into the cannon again, energy filled it, and the burning cannon fired. Laquari couldn't resist it either; he was blasted straight through the chest and shattered into pieces.

"Then once again, the effect of 'Volcanic Shell' in the Graveyard." Fujiki You Xuan said unhurriedly, "Once per turn, if it exists in the Graveyard, pay 500 Life Points. Add one 'Volcanic Shell' from my deck to my hand."

【Fujiki You Xuan, LP 3000 → LP 2500】

Fujiki You Xuan revealed the last Volcanic Shell searched from his deck and added it to his hand.

Melo watched, his face calm, but his thoughts were racing.

Although the opponent's formation, which was tucked inside like a turtle shell, was a huge headache, it seemed that he also needed to consume LP to maintain his operations. If he could gain an advantage in the LP tug-of-war, there should still be a chance.

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

"During the End Phase, the effect of Damage Translation!" Melo said, "Because I took effect damage once this turn, I Special Summon one Ghost Token!"

【Ghost Token, DEF 0】

"My turn, draw!"

Melo said loudly.

"You seem to have studied the power of Gladiator Beasts, and you might think that as long as you seal my attacks, I'll be helpless. I must admit you have good ideas, Duel King.

This tactic did indeed bring me trouble, but it is by no means an insurmountable trouble. Now I will let you understand that even without battle, one can still unleash the true power of the Gladiator Beasts!

I Tribute the 'Ghost Token' on my field for a Tribute Summon! Appear—

—Level 5, Elemental HERO Prisma!"

Fujiki You Xuan: "?"

It was a bit jarring for the opponent to suddenly pull out an Elemental HERO while playing Gladiator Beasts, but what surprised Fujiki You Xuan wasn't this, but...

Huh?

Why does your Prisma need a Tribute?

Isn't Prisma a Level 4?

【Elemental HERO Prisma, ATK 1700】

Seeing this Elemental HERO, which was as brilliant as crystal, appear on the field, Fujiki You Xuan suddenly remembered.

Right, Prisma seemed to have appeared in the anime, in Judai's hands. And in the anime, it did indeed seem to be Level 5 and required a Tribute, but both its ATK and effect were exactly the same as the physical card...

Thinking of this, he looked at this Prisma and couldn't help but show a look of disgust.

It wasn't that he wanted to say it, but this Prisma was truly the weakest one he had ever seen in his two lifetimes combined...

But this look fell into Melo's eyes and felt completely different. Anger immediately surged in his heart.

Such a look of disgust was clearly insulting him, right?

(End of chapter)