Chapter 59: The Power of the Deck

“My turn, draw!”

It was You Xuan’s turn.

“Activate the spell card ‘Blessed Cards of the Searing Fate,’” You Xuan said. “Draw cards until you have five in hand. At the Standby Phase of the fifth turn after this effect activates, discard your entire hand.”

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

Although the Attack Power of the Silent Magician LV8 surpassed that of the Death-Seeking Revolver Dragon, once the opponent reached the Battle Phase, they could activate their Quick-Effect Bomb, making any attack impossible.

“I’ll set three cards face-down. End my turn,” You Xuan said.

“Hahaha, avoiding the Death-Seeking Revolver Dragon’s effect by skipping the Battle Phase—so you’re just reinforcing your defense after all?”

The Thief Kees chuckled twice.

“Well, it’s only natural that you’re powerless before the might of this great master.”

“My turn, draw!”

He slid the drawn card directly into his dueling field, and immediately three beams of golden light shot up from his graveyard.

“Spell Card ‘Blessed Cards of the Burial Incantation’! Exclude three spell cards from my graveyard, then draw two cards.” (Anime card)

The three beams of golden light each took the form of a spell card, then dissolved into drifting golden sparks.

“Exclude ‘Discount Shopping,’ ‘Earth Split,’ and ‘Demon’s Sanctuary’ from my graveyard, then draw two cards!”

After drawing, he glanced at his hand and smirked: “Heh, I drew a good one.”

“I normally summon ‘BM-4 Bomb Spider’!”

【BM-4 Bomb Spider, ATK 1400】

You Xuan remembered this monster—it had been a nuisance he’d faced before in real-card play. The Bomb Spider can, once per turn, select one Machine-type, Dark-attribute monster on your field and one card on your opponent’s field, then destroy both.

The Death-Seeking Revolver Dragon’s effect allows you to Special Summon it directly from your hand whenever a Machine-type, Dark-attribute monster on your field is destroyed. So by Normal Summoning the Bomb Spider and using it to destroy both the opponent’s monster and itself, you trigger the Death-Seeking Revolver Dragon’s effect to appear instantly from hand.

It also has a second effect: when a Machine-type, Dark-attribute monster on your field destroys an opponent’s monster by battle or its own effect, inflict damage equal to half the destroyed monster’s ATK. Thus, every monster destroyed by the Death-Seeking Revolver Dragon adds extra damage—making it the perfect partner for the Death-Seeking Revolver Dragon.

But

“Flip face-up! Trap Card—Bottomless Pit!” You Xuan raised his hand; one of his face-down cards flipped open. “When a monster with 1000 or more ATK is summoned, destroy it immediately.”

“Destroy ‘BM-4 Bomb Spider’!”

Though powerful, the Bomb Spider hadn’t even settled its feet before it was swallowed by a swirling vortex opening in the ground, vanishing in a burst of flame.

“Another annoying trap,” the Thief Kees grumbled. “Then I activate the spell card ‘Monster Slot Machine’ from my hand!”

Select one face-up monster on your field, and exclude one monster from your graveyard with the same level.

“I select the Level 8 ‘Death-Seeking Revolver Dragon’ on my field!”

Simultaneously, a flash of golden light erupted from his graveyard, and a card shot out.

“Exclude the Level 8 ‘Metal Demon - Zoya’ from my graveyard!”

After this, I may draw one card. If the card drawn is also a Level 8 monster, I may Special Summon it!”

You Xuan narrowed his eyes.

Only one draw—must be exactly a Level 8 monster. Statistically, the odds seemed negligible.

But he also knew that in anime worlds, whenever a character activates such a card with such an effect, they never miss.

And furthermore—

His gaze swept again over the surrounding “Orichalcos’ Barrier.”

Kees was originally a mid-tier boss in the anime, and with the “fate curse” of the Orichalcos Barrier on his side—

“Watch closely, this master’s draw!”

The Thief Kees raised his right hand; the six-pointed star on his forehead glowed brighter green, spinning as if alive. Invisible energy surged from the barrier into his palm.

“Draw!”

As expected, he burst into laughter the moment he drew, immediately revealing the card.

“I drew the Level 8 Machine Motor Ω!”

“Therefore, Machine Motor Ω is Special Summoned!”

A towering, formidable mech, its entire body sheathed in crimson armor as if scorched by flame. Sleek, razor-sharp lines, eyes blazing with crimson beams, its hands extending icy blades.

【Machine Motor Ω, ATK 2800】

You Xuan: “...”

The Revolver Dragon series was indeed Kees’ deck, and Machine Motor was from his spin-off manga deck—including the “Metal Demon - Zoya” he’d just excluded from his graveyard, which he’d indeed used in the anime.

Yet so many disparate series, such a chaotic system crammed into one deck—not only did it never jam, but the cards synergized perfectly like this, supporting each other so well...

No wonder everyone says anime decks built from random cards are the true path.

“Due to the effect of ‘Orichalcos’ Barrier,’ Machine Motor’s ATK increases!”

【Machine Motor Ω, ATK 2800 → ATK 3300】

“Now nothing can protect your Magician!” Kees barked. “I’ll change the Death-Seeking Revolver Dragon, which was switched to Defense Position last turn, back to Attack Position, then enter the Battle Phase.”

“Death-Seeking Revolver Dragon’s effect! Toss three coins—destroy an opponent’s monster for each face that appears!”

“Activate a face-down card,” You Xuan responded. “Continuous Trap—Safe Zone!”

Select one face-up monster on your field. That monster cannot be targeted by your opponent’s effects, nor destroyed by battle or card effects.”

The trap activated, forming a powerful transparent force field that shielded the Silent Magician, deflecting the Revolver’s fire.

“Heh, is that so? Then what?” Kees sneered. “Death-Seeking Revolver Dragon’s effect! Death’s Trigger!”

Lady Saint Spirit gasped: “Even knowing it won’t destroy, you still activate it?”

You Xuan frowned: “But with ‘Safe Zone’ protecting it, the Silent Magician cannot be destroyed.”

“Not necessarily! Before resolving the coin toss effect of the Revolver Dragon, activate the Continuous Trap—Cannon Shot!”

Kees flipped his face-down card; the illustration clearly showed the Revolver Dragon firing—a trap exclusive to the Revolver Dragon deck.

“Once per turn, when activating a coin toss effect, you may activate different effects based on the number of faces that appear!”

Kees waved his hand.

“According to the Death-Seeking Revolver Dragon’s effect—revolver spins!”

The cylinder spun, rounds loaded, both barrels glowing with fire.

“Hahaha, your luck isn’t so good—I got two faces!” Kees said. “Your field has only one monster—the Silent Magician—and it’s protected by ‘Safe Zone,’ so it can’t be destroyed.”

“But at this exact moment, ‘Cannon Shot’ activates!”

The trap card glowed golden, its energy manifesting as ammunition loading into the Revolver Dragon on the field.

“First effect: when one or more faces appear, inflict 500 damage to your opponent!”

The left barrel fired, a shot piercing straight across the field and through You Xuan’s body. He grunted, staggering back half a step.

【You Xuan, LP 1900 → LP 1400】

“Second effect: when two or more faces appear, destroy one card on your opponent’s field!”

“The card I’ll destroy is, of course...”

Kees pointed at his own back row.

“Continuous Trap—Safe Zone!”

The second shot fired, the bullet piercing the trap card. The trap exploded into golden particles and vanished; the protective shield around the Silent Magician dissolved with it.

“The side effect of ‘Safe Zone,’” You Xuan said calmly. “When ‘Safe Zone’ leaves the field, the selected monster is destroyed. Thus, ‘Silent Magician LV8’ is destroyed.”

The Silent Magician’s form grew hazy, translucent, fading bit by bit. She turned helplessly, meeting his gaze—as if apologizing for failing to protect him further.

“It’s fine,” You Xuan said calmly. “Enough. Now leave it to me.”

The Silent Magician nodded, her form dissolving and departing.

“That annoying mage is finally gone—this ends it now!”

Kees felt victory was within reach; his expression twisted with triumph as he roared.

“Final blow! Machine Motor Ω, attack directly!”

(End of Chapter)