Chapter 812: Plant War

Qiu shook her head, striving not to be drowned by sorrow.

That won't help you avenge Diven.

"Activate the field spell 'Black Garden' from my hand!"

Qiu's signature field from earlier. As she slid the field spell card into the dueling field, dark purple vines erupted from the edges of the arena, thorned rose branches weaving into a dense net at visible speed, entangling every inch of the arena like living creatures, trapping both duelist and monsters within a thorny circular prison.

Black Garden—Fujiki You Xuan also has this card. While it's a plant-type exclusive field, in the progression of the real-card Yu-Gi-Oh! game, it's less plant-type specific and more gimmick-specific. After all, it's mostly remembered for appearing in all sorts of absurd combos.

After activating the field, Qiu waved her hand to set another card face-down: "One card face-down. End my turn."

Fujiki You Xuan lifted his gaze, slowly scanning the vines that encased the entire field like a cage, and spoke slowly.

"Black Garden—this field is a true reflection of your inner self.

A self-imprisoned, lonely garden. Yet deep inside, you still yearn for companions, for a place where you're accepted not as the Black Rose Witch, but simply as yourself, aren't you?"

The more he spoke, the fiercer Qiu's rage burned.

Yes, she feared loneliness, hated being constantly excluded. She had found someone who accepted her, who offered her shelter.

But that person had just moments ago been cruelly taken from her by the man before her.

"Actually, you know this might not be bad for you," Fujiki You Xuan said leisurely. "You may think Diven gave you protection, but he also stole your future possibilities.

You never think for yourself, never feel on your own—just mechanically following the path he demanded, obeying his orders."

"Shut up!" Qiu snarled.

"Ahahaha, of course you won't listen to anything I say now. Well, fair enough—I am the villain, after all." Fujiki You Xuan smiled.

But he glanced at the Dragon Seal on Qiu's hand—the red glow had intensified, almost as if it were burning.

That was a good sign.

"My turn, draw." Fujiki You Xuan said. "First, activate the face-down trap: 'Sixth Sense.'

After activating this card, declare two numbers from one to six, then roll a die.

If the rolled number matches one of your declared numbers, draw that many cards from your deck.

If it doesn't match, discard from the top of your deck a number of cards equal to the die roll into the graveyard."

A rapidly spinning die appeared above the duel field between them.

Qiu coldly said, "Declare."

"Then, naturally, I declare five and six." Fujiki You Xuan said.

The die spun rapidly, then clattered to the ground with a crisp sound, rolled twice, and came to rest.

The top face showed the number three.

"Hmm, only three this time. Fine."

Either way, Fujiki You Xuan drew three cards from the top of his deck.

"Then, by the effect of Sixth Sense, discard three cards from the top of my deck to the graveyard."

Three cards were sent to the graveyard in sequence, but immediately one of them appeared above him as a projection: a girl with elfin ears, wearing round glasses, clutching a thick ancient tome.

"The effect of the monster 'Scholar Spirit,'" Fujiki You Xuan said. "When this card is sent to the graveyard, draw one card from your deck." (Original effect)

Fujiki You Xuan drew one card.

"Then I normal summon the card I retrieved last turn."

"Summon 'Lonely Spark'!"

A flame ignited on the field, quickly forming into a bud about to bloom.

【Lonely Spark, ATK 500】

"Then, at the moment of your summon, I activate my face-down card!" Qiu snapped. "Continuous Trap 'Rose Fire'!

As long as Rose Fire remains on the field, whenever your opponent summons or special summons a plant-type monster, they take 500 damage!" (Original card)

"Oh? A trap exclusive to plant-types." Fujiki You Xuan chuckled. "So summoning plant-types is like walking straight into a trap?"

This was the trap Qiu used in the anime, originally paired with the continuous trap "Ivy Bind," which turns all monsters on the opponent's field into plant-types.

"Lonely Spark is a plant-type monster, so you take 500 damage upon summoning!"

As if Qiu's fury had solidified, a direct blast erupted from the trap card's image, striking Fujiki You Xuan head-on.

【Fujiki You Xuan, LP 4000 → LP 3500】

Qiu said: "And at the moment of the monster's summon, the effect of the field spell 'Black Garden' also activates.

In Black Garden, whenever either of us summons or special summons a monster, that monster's ATK becomes half."

Black vines shot forth rapidly, binding Lonely Spark like chains.

【Lonely Spark, ATK 500 → ATK 250】

"And when a monster is summoned, a 'Rose Token' is special summoned on the controller's opponent's field."

Vines gathered on Qiu's side of the field, transforming into a small rose monster.

【Rose Token, ATK 800】

Qiu's Rose Fire inflicts damage when "opponent summons plant-type," so her own plant-type summoning is unaffected.

Fujiki You Xuan: "Lonely Spark's monster effect: once per turn, you can tribute a face-up plant-type monster on your field to special summon one plant-type monster from your deck."

Fujiki You Xuan waved his hand lightly.

"Lonely Spark itself is a plant-type monster.

So I tribute 'Lonely Spark' to special summon a new plant-type from my deck!"

Lonely Spark burned faster, disintegrating entirely in flames. Amid the fire, crimson rose petals rained down like a storm, filling the air with cloying floral fragrance.

A layered petal skirt, feminine features, a crown woven from petals atop her head, translucent stamens dangling from her dark green hair, her pupils glowing with emerald light.

Chunji Titania, summon!

【Chunji Titania, ATK 2800】

Qiu, familiar with plant-types, knew this was a formidable upper-level monster, and frowned. "But the effect of 'Black Garden' activates again.

Chunji Titania's ATK is also halved by Black Garden's effect."

More black vines shot out, wrapping around Titania like tentacles, halving her ATK.

【Chunji Titania, ATK 2800 → ATK 1400】

Qiu: "And since you summoned a new monster, another 'Rose Token' is special summoned on my field!"

Another rose petal bloomed on her side of the field.

【Rose Token, ATK 800】

"And since Titania is also plant-type, 'Rose Fire' activates again!" Qiu snapped again. "Whenever your opponent summons or special summons a plant-type monster, they take 500 damage!"

Another fireball erupted, striking Fujiki You Xuan square in the chest.

【Fujiki You Xuan, LP 3500 → LP 3000】

Two consecutive Rose Fire strikes hit Fujiki You Xuan, yet he showed no reaction. Qiu had unleashed every ounce of her fury and hatred through her psychic power.

Yet it seemed to have no effect at all.

Qiu's heart clenched in alarm.

Does this man not feel pain?

(End of Chapter)