Chapter 11: 2V2 (Six)

That's right — the card You Tian activated on the field was the one he'd swapped with Jonouchi in the first turn using Hand Exchange — 【Tomb Robber】.

【(Anime) Effect: Select one Magic Card from your opponent's Graveyard; this card's effect becomes the same as that card's.】

You Tian: "The one I chose is 【Mask of Frenzy】 in your Graveyard."

"So, Giant Axe Attacker 's Attack Power changes from 2500 to —"

"3500!"

Light and Dark Mask were feeling a bit puzzled at this moment — why was every card in this guy's Deck some kind of busted card?

From the Hand Exchange used in the first turn, to the later Forced Transfer, 【Relinquished】, and even now the 【Tomb Robber】 — every single card was telling the opponent one thing: bro, your card is strong — now, it's mine.

You Tian claimed he was being wronged — 【Tomb Robber】 was clearly Jonouchi's card.

【Light Mask LP: 4000 → 3800】

Jonouchi: "Nice one! You Tian!"

You Tian: "Oh stop it, bro — it's your card that's awesome!"

"Hee hee hee~"

Suddenly, a cold laugh that came at the wrong moment cut off the two's mutual business flattery.

The two looked toward Light and Dark Mask, who were laughing coldly.

Light Mask: "Hmph! Naive! You think you've beaten our ace just like that?"

Jonouchi: "What are you talking about? Isn't your monster already in the Graveyard?"

"Hahahaha!" Hearing Jonouchi's words, the two burst out laughing again.

Light Mask: "Ignorant! Let me show you the true terror hidden within 【Masked Beast Deathly Protector】!"

"The effect of 【Masked Beast Deathly Protector】 activates — when this card is sent from the field to the Graveyard, I can select one 【Mask of the Dead】 from my Deck and equip it to one monster on your field!"

As soon as the words fell, an ugly mask flew out from Light Mask's Deck and landed squarely on Giant Axe Attacker 's face.

Light Mask: "It's not over yet — control of the monster equipped with 【Mask of the Dead】 via 【Masked Beast Deathly Protector】 will transfer!"

Jonouchi: "Nani!"

"Hahahahaha, you two bullshitted around long enough — now, it's our turn!"

"Come to my field! Giant Axe Attacker!"

The Giant Axe Attacker, fitted with 【Mask of the Dead】, uncontrollably flew over to Light Mask's side of the field.

"Hee hee hee, black-haired kid — regretting activating 【Tomb Robber】 now?"

Dark Mask: "But it's already too late! The Giant Axe Attacker with an Attack Power of 3500 that you schemed so hard to build — it's ours now!"

"So much crap talk!"

Faced with Light and Dark Mask's mockery, You Tian boredly yawned.

"What, gonna attack or what?"

Light Mask clicked his tongue.

"Tch! If I attack the blond kid, you'd definitely use 【Relinquished】 to block it, and then 【Relinquished】 would activate its effect of destroying the equipped monster instead. Then next turn, you'd use 【Relinquished】's effect to take Giant Axe Attacker back!"

"You think I'm an idiot?"

You Tian: Heh, hard to say.

"Hmph! I won't fall for your goading!"

"Now, a monster equipped with 【Mask of Soul Requiem】 can't attack at all. I just need to wait until next turn, summon another monster, and I can take out your 【Relinquished】 in one go. So, I end my turn!"

You Tian spread his hands. This guy ended his own turn — he was given the chance and couldn't use it.

He helplessly shook his head and drew a card.

The corner of You Tian's mouth curved into a slight arc.

"I activate a Magic Card from my hand — 【Graceful Charity】. Draw three cards, then discard two."

"Among the discarded cards is another Three-Eyed Monster. According to this card's effect, when it's sent to the Graveyard, I can add one monster with 1500 or less Attack Power from my Deck to my hand."

Light Mask: "Heh, that trash card again — what good monster could there possibly be with 1500 or less Attack Power?"

You Tian looked at Light Mask as if he were an idiot.

"The card I'm adding to my hand is this one — Tsukuyomi."

【Attack Power: 1100】

"When this card is successfully Summoned, it can flip one monster on the field to face-down Defense Position."

Dark Mask caught a key word: Defense Position?

"Oh no! Partner! Giant Axe Attacker 's Defense is only 1150!"

"What!" Light Mask also realized things were going badly at this point.

Hearing their exchange, Jonouchi immediately perked up too.

As expected of You Tian — he'd somehow immediately drawn the card to break the deadlock.

Sure enough, the next moment, You Tian Summoned Tsukuyomi.

"I Normal Summon Tsukuyomi. By its effect, I can flip one monster to face-down Defense Position."

"The one I choose is my 【Relinquished】."

Light and Dark Mask:!

Jonouchi:?

At this point, all three were momentarily dumbfounded.

Light Mask: "Hahahahaha! Partner, he said he's flipping 【Relinquished】 to face-down Defense Position! Hahahaha"

"Heaven truly won't let our Gurus die — who would've thought this guy misspoke!"

Dark Mask: "Ahahaha! Kid, since you've already said it out loud, you can't change the target!"

You Tian looked at the two hysterical opponents across from him and felt a moment of pity.

"Ah, poor souls~"

"Next, I'll flip-summon 【Necroface】."

Light and Dark Mask laughed until tears nearly spilled from his eyes.

"Flipping back and forth—what's the point of this?!"

You Tian smiled faintly. "Oh? Really?"

Then he waved his hand. "I activate 【Necroface】's effect again: I equip one of your monsters onto myself. I choose—【Giant Axe Attacker】!"

Although during most of this Duel, Light and Dark Mask had been infuriated by You Tian, now he found You Tian strangely endearing.

"Hahahaha, what are you doing? Your 【Necroface】 is already equipped with 【Masked Beast Hell Monk】—it can't activate its effect again!"

You Tian narrowed his eyes.

"Two fools, look closely at my field!"

Light and Dark Mask sneered.

What's so interesting about your field? Are you hiding some 36D pure-hearted magician?

But when the two finally turned their gaze to You Tian's field, they froze.

"Where's the Hell Monk?! Where's our 3200 ATK ace monster?! Why is your 【Necroface】's Attack Power 0?!"

Jonouchi: "When did this happen?!!"

You Tian smiled slightly.

"Teacher assigns you both to copy the Duel Rules one hundred times!"

"Listen carefully—I'll only teach this once!"

"When a monster is turned face-down, any Equip Cards attached to it are destroyed due to loss of target."

"Therefore, the instant 【Tsukuyomi】 turns 【Necroface】 face-down, the Equip Card on it—【Masked Beast Hell Monk】—is destroyed."

Light and Dark Mask:!

Jonouchi:!

"Wait—that means!" Suddenly, Dark Mask realized something.

He looked in horror at his own field.

"No! Partner! 【Curse Soul's Mask】 is destroyed too!"

Light Mask: "Nani?!"

Bam! Bam! Bam! Bam!

You Tian clapped mockingly.

"Congratulations, students—you've already learned to apply the lesson."

"【Necroface】's effect continues: return, invincible Overlord Axe!"

Light and Dark Mask: "No!!!!!!"

Once again, Light and Dark Mask watched helplessly as his powerful monster was stolen by You Tian's 【Necroface】.

"Mmm~" You Tian unconsciously licked his lips.

However, since Overlord Axe himself became an Equip Card, the 【Lightning Sword】, 【Last Words Mask】, and 【Rage Mask】 attached to him were also destroyed due to loss of target and sent to the Graveyard. Thus, 【Necroface】's Attack Power equals only Overlord Axe's original Attack Power.

【Necroface Attack Power: 1700】

Jonouchi: "Amazing! Absolutely amazing!"

Jonouchi suddenly felt he had met an extraordinary Duelist today. This You Tian's strength might rival the Game!

"Hey, you little shorty~" You Tian launched another demonic whisper.

"Your field is completely empty~~"

"Your partner might, perhaps, possibly, probably have taken the attack for you~~~"

Dark Mask:??!!??

"What the FUCK! You're pulling this shit AGAIN?!" Before You Tian could finish, Dark Mask exploded in rage.

He ripped off his Duel Disk.

"Partner, go! Kill him!!"

Unlike the "beat-up duels" popular in ARC5, in DM, according to Duel City rules, players are strictly forbidden from initiating physical contact during a Duel—Duelists must resolve everything with cards only; violators lose immediately.

The moment Dark Mask removed his Duel Disk, You Tian and Jonouchi won.

Light Mask also realized it.

Perfect! Who needs a Duel?!

Gurus has arrived—Duel this, duel that, all get out of the way!!

Today, I don't have to win the card game, I don't have to grab Raya's card, I don't even have to listen to that bastard Malik.

But this black-haired kid? Today, I'm killing him.

Jonouchi:!

Wait, why did this suddenly turn into a fight?

Jonouchi, ever agile, acted fast.

As Light and Dark Mask charged, he immediately blocked the short Light Mask.

But Dark Mask's massive frame smashed past the slender Jonouchi and kept rushing toward You Tian.

"Get out of my way!"

"No!" Jonouchi knew You Tian was in danger and spun to protect him.

Light Mask: "I won't let you!"

Suddenly, the Light Mask clamped tightly onto Jonouchi's thigh, and for a moment, Jonouchi could not break free.

"Let go!"

"Never! Go, partner!"

Boom!

A dull thud rang through the street—the sound of a heavy fist striking a face.

Damn! Jonouchi silently cursed.

But when he turned to look, he froze.

There stood You Tian, perfectly unharmed.

And the Dark Mask lay sprawled motionless on the ground.