Chapter 59: The Power of the Deck

"My turn, draw!"

It was Fujiki You Xuan's turn.

"I activate the Spell Card 'Card of Demise'," Fujiki You Xuan said. "I draw from my deck until I have five cards in my hand. During the Standby Phase of the fifth turn after this effect is activated, I must discard my entire hand."

This was the first time he had used this card in an actual duel since picking it up.

Although Silent Magician LV8 had higher ATK than Desperado Barrel Dragon, the opponent could use a Quick Effect to destroy it once the Battle Phase began, so he couldn't just attack through it.

"Then I'll set three cards on the field and end my turn," Fujiki You Xuan said.

"Hahaha, relying on skipping the Battle Phase to avoid the effect of 'Desperado Barrel Dragon', in the end, you can only turtle up and defend?"

Bandit Keith let out a cackling laugh.

"Well, in the face of my power, it's only natural to be helpless.

My turn, draw!"

He inserted the drawn card directly into his Duel Disk, and three golden lights immediately flew out from his Graveyard.

"'Trade-In' Spell Card! I banish three Spell Cards from my Graveyard to draw two cards from my deck!" (Anime card)

The three golden lights transformed into the images of three Spell Cards in sequence, dissipating along with a flickering golden glow.

"Banish 'Card Destruction', 'Fissure', and 'Fiend's Sanctuary' from the Graveyard, then draw two cards!"

After drawing again, he glanced at his hand, and the corners of his mouth curled up: "Heh, that really is a good card.

I Normal Summon 'BM-4 Blast Spider'!"

【BM-4 Blast Spider, ATK 1400】

Fujiki You Xuan remembered this monster; it was a troublesome thing he had encountered in the physical card environment back in the day. Once per turn, Blast Spider could target one Machine-Type, DARK monster on his field and one card on the opponent's field, destroying both.

And since the effect of "Desperado Barrel Dragon" allowed it to be Special Summoned from the hand when a Machine-Type, DARK monster on his field was destroyed, he could use Blast Spider to destroy the opponent's monster and itself, triggering the effect of his big boss to jump out.

Additionally, it had a second effect. When a Machine-Type, DARK monster on his field destroyed an opponent's monster by battle or its own effect, he could inflict damage to the opponent equal to half the destroyed monster's ATK. Therefore, every monster destroyed by Desperado Barrel Dragon would take extra damage; it could be said to be the perfect partner for Desperado Barrel Dragon.

However—

"Open my face-down card, Trap Card - Trap Hole!" Fujiki You Xuan raised his hand, and one of the face-down cards in his back row flipped open. "When a monster with 1000 or more ATK is summoned, destroy it directly.

Destroy 'BM-4 Blast Spider'!"

Although its effect was powerful, Blast Spider hadn't even stood firm before it fell into the vortex that opened on the ground, dropping into the underworld with a boom and exploding into a fireball.

"Another troublesome trap..." Bandit Keith said, displeased. "Then I'll activate the Spell Card 'Monster Slot' from my hand!

Select one face-up monster on my field, then banish one monster with the same Level from my Graveyard.

I choose the Level 8 'Desperado Barrel Dragon' on my field!"

At the same time, a golden light bloomed in his Graveyard zone, and a card popped out.

"I banish the Level 8 'Metalzoa' from my Graveyard!

After that, I can draw one card from my deck. If the card drawn by this effect happens to be a Level 8 monster, that monster can be Special Summoned!"

Fujiki You Xuan narrowed his eyes.

With only a single draw, to happen to pull a Level 8 monster—if one looked at it purely from a probability standpoint, the possibility seemed slim to none.

But he also knew that in the anime world, whenever a character activated this kind of card and effect, there was almost never a time they didn't draw the right one.

Plus...

He swept his gaze over the "Orichalcos Barrier" surrounding them.

Keith was originally considered a minor early-game boss character in the anime, and if one added the "whoever uses it dies" barrier's fate-power cheat...

"Watch this, my draw!"

Bandit Keith held his right hand high, and the Orichalcos hexagram on his forehead emitted an even more dazzling green light, as if it had begun to spin. Invisible energy seemed to surge from the barrier into his hand.

"Draw!"

Sure enough, after a single draw, he immediately burst into laughter, directly revealing the card he had drawn.

"What I drew is the Level 8 'Machine Ma Da Ω'!

Therefore, Machine Ma Da Ω is Special Summoned directly!"

A mighty, towering mecha, its entire body covered in crimson armor, as if it had been scorched by raging fire. Its lines were smooth and sharp, its eyes seemed as if they were about to release scorching red beams of light, and cold blades popped out from its hands.

【Machine Ma Da Ω, ATK 2800】

Fujiki You Xuan: "..."

The Barrel Dragon series was indeed Bandit Keith's deck, that was correct; Machine Ma Da was also a deck Keith used in the spin-off manga, and even the "Metalzoa" he had just banished from the Graveyard was indeed something he had used in the anime.

However, to stuff so many different series and such a chaotic system into one deck, and not only not bricking, but actually being able to pull off such combos and auxiliary coordination...

No wonder they all said that in the anime, a pile of random cards was the way to go.

"Also because of the effect of 'Orichalcos Barrier', Machine Ma Da's ATK increases!"

【Machine Ma Da Ω, ATK 2800 → ATK 3300】

"This time there's nothing that can protect your Magician!" Bandit Keith shouted. "Then I'll change 'Desperado Barrel Dragon', which was turned to Defense Position last turn, back to Attack Position, and enter the Battle Phase.

Effect of 'Desperado Barrel Dragon'! Toss three coins, and based on the number of heads, choose monsters on the opponent's field to destroy!"

"Activate face-down card," Fujiki You Xuan responded accordingly. "Continuous Trap - Safe Zone!

Select one Attack Position monster on my field. The monster protected by this card cannot be targeted by the opponent's effects, nor can it be destroyed by battle or card effects."

The trap took effect, forming a powerful transparent force field protective shield that guarded Silent Magician within, resisting the artillery fire from the revolver.

"Heh, is that so? And what will happen then?" Bandit Keith sneered dismissively. "Effect of Desperado Barrel Dragon! Desperado's Trigger!"

Holy Elf was surprised: "Even knowing it can't be destroyed, you're still activating it?"

Fujiki You Xuan also frowned: "However, with the protection of 'Safe Zone', Silent Magician cannot be destroyed."

"That's not necessarily true! Before processing the coin toss of Barrel Dragon's effect, I activate the Continuous Trap - Barrel Cannon!"

Bandit Keith's back row flipped over; the Trap Card depicted none other than Barrel Dragon firing, clearly a trap dedicated to the Barrel Dragon deck.

"Once per turn, when a coin toss effect is activated, I can activate different effects based on the number of heads!"

Bandit Keith waved his hand.

"According to the effect of Desperado Barrel Dragon, spin the cylinder!"

The cylinder spun, ammunition loaded, and the two revolver barrels lit up with fire.

"Hahaha, it looks like your luck isn't very good; I hit two shots this time!" Bandit Keith said. "Of course, you only have one monster, Silent Magician, on your field, and it's protected by 'Safe Zone', making it impossible to destroy."

But at this moment, the effect of 'Barrel Cannon' activates!"

The Trap Card lit up with a golden glow, and the released energy seemed to transform into ammunition, loading into the Barrel Dragon on the field.

"First is the first effect. When one or more heads appear in a coin toss, inflict 500 points of damage to the opponent!"

The muzzle on the left side of Barrel Dragon fired, a cannon blast traversing the entire field and shooting through Fujiki You Xuan's body. Fujiki You Xuan let out a muffled groan, swaying as he took half a step back.

【Fujiki You Xuan, LP 1900 → LP 1400】

"The second effect! When two or more heads appear in a coin toss, select one card on the opponent's field and destroy it!

What I want to destroy is, of course..."

Bandit Keith raised his hand and pointed at his back row.

"'Continuous Trap - Safe Zone'!"

The second shot fired, and the lethal projectile shot through the trap in the back row. The Trap Card exploded into golden light spots and dissipated, and the protective layer guarding Silent Magician also dissipated along with it.

"The side effect of 'Safe Zone'," Fujiki You Xuan said calmly. "When Safe Zone leaves the field, the selected monster is destroyed. Therefore, 'Silent Magician LV8' is destroyed."

Silent Magician's figure gradually became illusory and translucent, disappearing bit by bit. She turned around helplessly and locked eyes with her master, seemingly feeling sorry that she couldn't continue to protect him.

"It's fine," Fujiki You Xuan said calmly. "It's already enough. Leave the rest to me."

Silent Magician nodded, her figure dissipating as she left the field.

"The eyesore of a mage has finally disappeared; this way, it's over!"

Bandit Keith seemed to see the finish line of victory right before his eyes, his expression becoming even more distorted with smugness as he shouted at the top of his lungs.

"The final blow! Direct attack with Machine Ma Da Ω!"

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 60 =====