Chapter 90: Messing with the Mind

Misawa's premonition was indeed correct to some extent. The Chaos deck didn't rely much on the power of traps, and the champion build back then actually carried "Royal Decree" to lock down traps itself.

Because the main force of Chaos was overwhelmingly powerful compared to other decks at the time, it was natural that Chaos would have the advantage under the premise that both sides were locked down by traps.

Fujiki You Xuan: "Activate Continuous Spell 'Mirage of Nightmare,' draw cards until I have four in my hand during the opponent's Standby Phase, but I must randomly discard the number of cards I drew during my own Standby Phase."

"Finally, set one card, turn end."

Misawa: "My turn, draw!"

In one turn, the situation suddenly reversed, becoming overwhelmingly disadvantageous for him. He had to find a way within this turn.

"Activate Spell card 'Card of Adversity'! If the opponent has a special summoned monster and I have no monsters on my field, I draw two cards from my deck!" (Original card)

The life-saving card; seeing one of the two new cards he drew, Misawa couldn't help but show joy.

It's here! A move to reverse the situation!

"It seems my deck hasn't given up the throne of number one yet."

Misawa raised his head and smiled, while raising the Duel Disk in his hand. A dazzling golden light bloomed in the Graveyard area of the Duel Disk.

"Number One, do you know what happens to carbon when it is under immense pressure?"

Fujiki You Xuan: "Turn into a diamond?"

He vaguely remembered Misawa saying something similar in the original story.

"Oh, as expected of Number One. Correct!" Misawa said. "What I discarded to the Graveyard through the effect of 'Mathematician' in the first turn was 'Carboneddon'!"

"Carboneddon's effect. After this card enters the Graveyard, it can only be activated when there are ten or more cards stacked on top of this card in the Graveyard!"

"Banish 'Carboneddon' from the Graveyard to special summon a 'Diamond Dragon' from my hand or Graveyard!" (Anime effect)

A unique effect that fits Misawa's academic persona very well, but it's really hard to use according to this original effect. After Carboneddon was made into a physical card, it received a big buff; it doesn't need to satisfy this annoying "ten cards stacked in the Graveyard" condition, as long as it banishes itself from the Graveyard, it can fly a Level 7 or lower Normal Dragon monster from the deck or Graveyard, and it's not limited to "Diamond Dragon," but it adds the restriction that it must be summoned in defense position.

"Now there are more than ten cards stacked on top of 'Carboneddon' in my Graveyard, so the effect activates! Transform into the form of a brilliant diamond and descend—"

"—Level 7, Diamond Dragon, summon!"

The dazzling light of the dragon, which hadn't been seen yet, almost blinded people. The crystal-clear giant dragon soared into the sky, light spots falling like raindrops, a diamond giant dragon with an incomparably luxurious aura.

【Diamond Dragon, ATK 2100】

The typical kind of card that might not be very powerful, but definitely doesn't look cheap at a glance.

Alexis in the stands: "The monster discarded to the Graveyard when activating 'Mathematician's' effect in the first turn... so that Misawa Daichi had already planned so far ahead from the beginning of the duel?"

"But Diamond Dragon's power is not enough to break the current situation," Zane Truesdale said. "He should have some other follow-up moves, right?"

Sure enough, Misawa smiled confidently: "After Black Luster Soldier comes Meteor Black Dragon, legendary monsters one after another... Then I will also burn my full power to fight you!"

"Activate Equip Spell 'Megamorph' from my hand and equip it to 'Diamond Dragon'!"

"When my Life Points are lower than the opponent's, the original ATK of the equipped monster becomes double!"

【Diamond Dragon, ATK 2100 -> ATK 4200】

"4200 ATK!" The students couldn't help but stir again.

The situation reversed again!

"Go, Diamond Dragon! Attack 'Chaos Sorcerer'!"

Fujiki You Xuan's remaining Life Points were 1600, and Chaos Sorcerer's ATK was only 2300. This attack would directly deal 1900 massive damage if it went through.

Misawa's desperate counter-kill!

Diamond Dragon opened its mouth, and the flashing light flowing all over its body surged into its mouth, manifesting into a beam of spiral light and rushing out!

"Open set card!" Fujiki You Xuan waved his hand. "Trap card - Enemy Alarm!"

"Muda!" Misawa shouted. "'Royal Decree' is still on the field, any trap is useless!"

"I know." Fujiki You Xuan raised his hand. "Therefore, I immediately activate the second set card, Quick-Play Spell - Evil Spirit Begone! Discard one card from my hand to destroy all Continuous Trap cards on the field."

"Destroy 'Royal Decree'!"

Misawa immediately understood: "So that's it. The card activated later will be processed first, so by the time the effect of 'Enemy Alarm' is applied, the Continuous Trap 'Royal Decree' is no longer on the field, so the trap effect can be processed normally..."

"Exactly."

While speaking, the black storm had already swept up the back field trap, and the domineering impact crushed the trap card into powder.

"Therefore, the effect of 'Enemy Alarm' is applied normally. When the opponent's monster declares an attack, special summon a monster from my hand. And the opponent's attacking monster must forcibly attack the monster I summoned!" (Original effect)

Enemy Alarm, also from the DM spin-off "Yu-Gi-Oh! R," a trap in the Machine deck.

Misawa understood: "So that's it, in this way, as long as I summon a defensive monster from my hand, I can both avoid damage and protect 'Chaos Sorcerer'..."

"That's right, but what I want to do is not just avoid damage."

Fujiki You Xuan smiled and waved his hand.

"According to the effect of 'Enemy Alarm', special summon 'D. D. Warrior Lady' from my hand in defense position, and forcibly battle with 'Diamond Dragon'!"

Misawa: "Nani!!??"

It's actually D. D. Warrior Lady...

【D. D. Warrior Lady, DEF 1600】

As a good student, Misawa of course couldn't forget that this guy's effect is...

"Stop! I'm not attacking! Diamond Dragon, come back!"

"Muda. The monster summoned by 'Enemy Alarm' must forcibly battle with the monster that declared the attack!" Fujiki You Xuan said. "Then it's 'D. D. Warrior Lady's' effect!"

"After battling with the opponent's monster, both monsters are banished from the game together!"

D. D. Warrior Lady leaped up and launched a suicidal attack. She took Diamond Dragon's attack head-on, her long sword slashed through, space shattered, and the powerful gravity immediately sucked Diamond Dragon and herself into the swirling vortex, joining their teammates on the journey to another dimension.

Misawa's eyes were almost red: "My Diamond Dragon..."

A Diamond Dragon with 4200 ATK, rounding up, that's an Obelisk...

"Uh... then set three cards, turn end," Misawa said.

Royal Decree was destroyed, meaning his underworld lockdown strategy was officially broken. But looking at the bright side, at least he could use traps too. Under this overwhelmingly disadvantageous situation for him, it might not be a bad thing.

There's still a chance!

"My turn, draw." Fujiki You Xuan said. "Activate Quick-Play Spell 'Mystical Space Typhoon' to destroy 'Mirage of Nightmare,' so I don't need to discard cards according to its side effect."

"Then it's the Battle Phase. 'Meteor Black Dragon' attacks directly..."

"That won't work! The moment you enter the Battle Phase, activate set card! Trap card 'Threatening Roar'!"

Circles of invisible sound waves erupted from the trap card, sweeping across Fujiki You Xuan's field. Meteor Black Dragon let out a low roar, raised its dragon claws, and covered its ears.

Misawa: "During the turn 'Threatening Roar' is activated, the opponent cannot declare an attack!"

Fujiki You Xuan: "Since that's the case, then set one more monster card on the field, turn end."

"My turn!"

"Activate Spell card 'Pot of Greed' to draw two more cards from my deck."

Misawa drew the cards, frowned slightly, it seemed he didn't draw the move to reverse the situation.

"Gamble it! Open set card, Trap card 'Reckless Greed'! At the cost of skipping the next two draw phases, draw two more cards from my deck!"

Dueling to this point, if he couldn't win within this turn, his chances of winning were already becoming increasingly slim.

A desperate fight!

"Open set card, Continuous Trap 'Call of the Haunted'! Special summon a monster from the Graveyard in attack position!" Misawa shouted. "I revive this card that I discarded to the Graveyard in the first turn!"

"Ruler of the universe, ruler of the myriad worlds—"

"—Level 8, The Creator!"

【The Creator, ATK 2900】

"Then activate the Ritual Spell 'Litmus Doom Ritual' from my hand!" Misawa shouted. "Sacrifice monsters with a total level of 8 or higher from my hand or field to Ritual summon 'Litmus Doom Swordsman' from my hand!"

"I sacrifice the Level 8 'The Creator' on the field!"

"Use the sword in your hand to cut off all darkness and sin! Ritual summon—"

"—Level 8, Litmus Doom Swordsman!!!"

The Creator disappeared in the flames of the ritual, and a swordsman holding two swords took its place, his red cloak elegantly flying.

【Litmus Doom Swordsman, ATK 0】

"Litmus Doom Swordsman's own ATK is 0, but when there is a face-up Trap card on the field, its ATK increases by 3000!" Misawa said. "I have the Continuous Trap 'Call of the Haunted' on my field, so ATK increases by 3000!"

【Litmus Doom Swordsman, ATK 0 -> ATK 3000】

This was exactly the final ace Misawa summoned in his duel with Jaden in the original story.

"So that's it," Fujiki You Xuan smiled. "'Litmus Doom Swordsman' is a Ritual monster that is unaffected by any Trap card effects and cannot be destroyed by battle."

"Was choosing this thing specifically to fight me another plan to deal with me besides 'Royal Decree'?"

"Correct, this is the ace I chose that is most suitable for deciding the winner with you!"

"But I shouldn't need to remind you, even if there is a trap on the field, his ATK still can't catch up to 'Meteor Black Dragon'."

"I know!" Misawa said. "But I haven't performed a Normal Summon this turn..."

"What I want to summon is this card, and it's also the monster I entrust the victory to—"

"—Mirage Dragon!"

A Level 1 Spellcaster-type, with a small mirror in its hand covering its face.

【Mirage Dragon, ATK 0】

"Mirage Dragon's effect can copy the original ATK and DEF values of a monster on the opponent's field! I want to use this card to copy your 'Meteor Black Dragon'!"

The mirror in the little illusionist's hand locked onto the huge black dragon, the image of the dragon reflected in the mirror, and the little magician instantly copied into the same huge black dragon form!

【Mirage Dragon, ATK 0 -> ATK 3500】

The situation on the field instantly turned into a confrontation between two Meteor Black Dragons!

"It's not over yet! Activate Spell card 'Double Attack'! Discard a monster card from my hand, select a monster on my field with a lower level than the discarded monster, and the selected monster can attack twice this turn!"

Misawa sent a card from his hand to the Graveyard.

"I discard the Level 8 'Water Dragon' from my hand, and select the Level 1 'Mirage Dragon' on the field!"

"This turn, 'Mirage Dragon' can attack twice!"

The spectating students were stirred again.

From such a desperate situation, facing the absolute suppression of Chaos power, Misawa Daichi once again stubbornly opened a gap!

Jaden, outside the field, became even more excited: "Reversed from such a situation in one go... Misawa is also very strong!"

Manjoume narrowed his eyes and glared at Fujiki You Xuan, saying to himself: "You shouldn't be just like this, right?"

He wouldn't allow this dog-coin to lose to others before fighting him again!

"'Mirage Dragon', first attack, attack 'Chaos Sorcerer' first!"

The black dragon imitated by the illusionist magician opened its mouth, and a domineering impact erupted. Chaos Sorcerer was immediately swallowed by the flames and blasted into ashes with one blow.

【Fujiki You Xuan, LP1600 -> LP400】

Fujiki You Xuan swayed and took two steps back, smiled: "Amazing, Second Place."

"Still so composed, Number One," Misawa laughed. "Then it seems I have to work harder."

"Then it's the second attack! Mirage Dragon, attack 'Meteor Black Dragon'!"

Two powerful black dragons opened their mouths together, and flaming meteors poured onto each other without reservation! Meteor flames collided in the center of the dueling field, endless lava overflowed and spread, covering the entire surrounding field until both black dragons were melted away.

Misawa's momentum was like a rainbow.

Meteor Black Dragon, destroyed!

"Then it's 'Litmus Doom Swordsman', attack the set monster!"

He could feel it, he could feel that the scales of victory were starting to reverse toward him again!

Litmus Doom Swordsman was one of his strongest aces. Blue-Eyes White Dragon-level ATK, cannot be destroyed by battle, and had strong resistance to ignoring traps, which was the ace most suitable for dealing with the guy in front of him!

He could already see the dawn of victory...

"The set monster you are attacking is 'D. D. Warrior'." Fujiki You Xuan said calmly. "When this card battles a monster, that monster and this card are banished from the game together."

【D. D. Warrior, DEF 1000】

Misawa: "..."

Spectating students: "..."

Another dimension cracked, boundless gravity was released, Misawa's invincible Litmus Doom Swordsman and D. D. Warrior were both sucked into the vortex, leaving no trace.

What destruction resistance, what ignoring traps, all became floating clouds for a moment.

In front of the invincible dimension slash, all living beings are equal, all banished to another dimension.

No one exclaimed, no one explained, no one made any sound for a moment.

Eerie silence.

After a long silence, Zane Truesdale said faintly: "Your view of him is correct; he is indeed not a duelist whose tactics can be easily locked down."

"Hmm..." Alexis's expression was complex.

How to say it...

Can only say that sometimes a dog wants to mess with people's minds, it might be unstoppable.

"My turn, draw."

Fujiki You Xuan continued to operate calmly in the silence.

"Activate Spell card 'Burial from a Different Dimension', banish three Spell cards from my Graveyard, and draw two cards from my deck." (Original card)

The images of three Spells emerged from the Graveyard area and dissipated into golden light.

"Banish 'Delinquent Duo', 'Hand Destruction', and 'Graceful Charity' from my Graveyard, and draw two cards."

"Activate Spell card 'Warrior Returning Alive', return one Warrior-type monster from my Graveyard to my hand."

"I return 'Black Luster Soldier - Envoy of the Beginning' to my hand."

"Then banish this Light-attribute 'Shining Angel' discarded by 'Hand Destruction' before, and the Dark-attribute 'Chaos Sorcerer' in the Graveyard."

"Sacrifice the souls of Light and Dark to the field of chaos, call upon the legendary strongest warrior! Heaven and Earth split—"

"—Level 8, Black Luster Soldier - Envoy of the Beginning, descend again!"

Dazzling golden light exploded from the vortex of chaos, and a domineering beam of light blasted onto the ground. The blades of Light and Dark slashed open chaos, and the legendary swordsman was ready to go.

【Black Luster Soldier - Envoy of the Beginning, ATK 3000】

Misawa: "..."

"Black Luster Soldier - Envoy of the Beginning, attack Misawa directly—"

"—Beginning Double Slash!!!"

The power of Light and Dark gathered on the blade, and the sword light slashed down. Misawa raised his head, staring blankly at the sword light getting closer and closer to him, then let out a long breath and closed his eyes.

Forget it, forget it...

He tried his best.

【Misawa, LP500 -> LP0】

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 91 =====