Chapter 9: 2V2 (Four)

No way! Bro? Are you hacking?! Didn't we agree no Ritual Summons?!

Light and Dark Mask stared with mouth agape, looking in disbelief at the 【Relinquished】 that had appeared on You Tian's field.

Light and Dark Mask: "Referee! Is there a referee?! I'm reporting someone for hacking!"

You Tian nonchalantly picked at his ear. Tiantian novels are super useful, 𝖙𝖙𝖐𝖘. 𝖙𝖜 read anytime

"What's all that barking? When did I ever hack?"

Light and Dark Mask stammered, pointing at the 【Relinquished】 on You Tian's field.

"If y-you didn't hack, then where did this thing come from?"

You Tian clicked his tongue.

"Easily impressed? Never seen a Ritual Summon before? Oh, right, judging by you two looking like you've never seen the world, you definitely don't know what Ritual Summons are."

A question mark slowly popped up above Light and Dark Mask's head.

Light Mask just Ritual Summoned 【Masked Beast Hell Monk】 last turn, and it's still sitting on the field perfectly fine—how can you have the nerve to say we don't know Ritual Summons.

"Y-you-you-you!" Light Mask strung together four "you"s, unable to get out a single complete sentence.

Dark Mask had a slightly better mindset, at least.

"What we mean is, our partner's field clearly has 【Mask of the Sacrifice Seal】 on it—how did you Tribute a monster to Ritual Summon?!"

Jonouchi also looked at You Tian in confusion.

You Tian deliberately put on a look of just having understood.

"Oh~ you mean this matter?"

He took out the 【Advanced Ritual Art】 he had just sent to the Graveyard, holding it toward the three bewildered people.

"This card's effect is to send a Normal Monster from the Deck to the Graveyard to Ritual Summon. Excuse me, where does it say the word 'Tribute' anywhere on it?"

Light and Dark Mask:!

Jonouchi:!

"Sugoi! You Tian!" Jonouchi couldn't help exclaiming in admiration.

You Tian waved his hand: "Ehh~ stay calm."

Light and Dark Mask's expression turned strange: No way, how can there be a Ritual Spell that doesn't require Tributes?

You Tian shook his head.

"Since I've answered your questions, this master ought to collect some tuition!"

"I activate the effect of 【Relinquished】—once per turn, I can target one monster on the opponent's field, and turn that card into its Equip Card!"

"Hehehe~ your ace, I'll gladly accept it~"

Only at this point did Light and Dark Mask snap out of their daze from earlier.

Dark Mask: "Don't even think about it! Even if you Summoned 【Relinquished】, don't think you can activate its effect!"

"I activate Continuous Trap, 【Dark Magic Mirror of Absorption】!"

【Effect: As long as this card is on the field, the effects of DARK-Attribute monsters activated on the field or in the Graveyard are negated.】

You Tian was a little surprised. Why does this feel like playing Duel Links?

(PS: In Duel Links, 【Dark Magic Mirror of Absorption】 and 【Light Magic Mirror of Absorption】 are related cards for Light and Dark Mask.)

Nice try, but no can do!

"Then I activate Continuous Trap, 【DNAAlterationSurgery】."

This card was one You Tian won from YuE after defeating him.

Unlike 【DNAAlterationSurgery】 which can change a monster's Type, this card can change a monster's Attribute.

"According to this card's effect, I can declare one Attribute, and all face-up monsters on the field become the Attribute I declared!"

"I declare EARTH!"

"So 【Relinquished】 changes from DARK to EARTH, and 【Dark Magic Mirror of Absorption】 can no longer affect 【Relinquished】!"

Light and Dark Mask: "Nani!"

Jonouchi: "Amazing! Truly amazing!"

You Tian looked at the dumbfounded Light and Dark Mask and smiled slightly.

"I continue to activate the effect of 【Relinquished】…"

Saying so, You Tian pointed at the 【Masked Beast Hell Monk】 on Light Mask's field and beckoned with a curling finger.

The next moment, 【Relinquished】 opened its GANG-door-sized mouth and sucked 【Masked Beast Hell Monk】 right in.

In an instant, blue light blazed around 【Relinquished】, as if expressing its own comfort.

Light and Dark Mask: "NO!!!!"

This was one of their Deck's aces, and it had been taken by the enemy just like that!

You Tian smiled with satisfaction.

"Your monster, feels great!"

Watching the helpless Light and Dark Mask whose monster had been stolen, You Tian felt an inexplicable excitement!

"【Relinquished】's ATK and DEF increase by the ATK and DEF of the equipped monster, so 【Relinquished】's Attack Power is: 3200!"

Light and Dark Mask instantly looked as grave as if facing a great enemy.

The two of them were both a bit lacking in confidence. If the blond kid hadn't shown up, the strength of that little brat across from them seemed like it could take them both on solo.

You Tian looked at Light Mask's empty field and felt another wave of mischief rising in his heart.

"Hey, you little shorty over there!"

"Your field is empty right now—if I attack you with 【Relinquished】, you'll be in trouble~"

Light Mask took two terrified steps backward.

Dark Mask: "It's fine, partner—I can use a monster on my field to take this hit for you!"

A mischievous smile curled at the corner of You Tian's mouth.

"Ohhh, right—he might, perhaps, possibly, probably take the hit for you!"

"But who can say for sure about something like that?"

You Tian deliberately raised his pitch a little.

"After all, his field has 【Parasite Paracide】, so he can't Tribute Summon any powerful card."

"If he really uses 【Glorious Abyss】 to block the attack for you, then he'll lose his only shield."

"Ayy, that's a tough one~~"

Hearing You Tian's words, Light Mask also cast a doubtful glance at Dark Mask.

What that little brat said wasn't without reason.

That guy Dark Mask always used his taller stature to bully me around.

Just now too. He clearly told me not to worry about 【Ra】, yet he still let that brat Summon it.

A question mark slowly popped up above Dark Mask's head.

Wait, bro? Why do I have to use 【Glorious Abyss】 to block? Can't I just use this 【Parasite Paracide】? That way I can Tribute Summon myself.

Are you trying to drive a wedge between me and A-Light?

Crap! A-Light's already not the sharpest, and once that little brat says something like this, he's definitely going to get dissatisfied with me!

Thinking this, he prepared to explain himself a few more times.

But You Tian gave him no chance at all.

"Ayy! Forget it, I'm a good person—I can't bear to see a test of human nature. I'll attack the other side instead!"

Then, You Tian turned toward Dark Mask.

"I activate 【Ra】 to attack your 【Glorious Abyss】!"

Boom!

"Ahhh!!!"

With You Tian's command, the 【Glorious Abyss】 on Dark Mask's field was shattered in an instant.

【Dark Mask LP: 4000 → 3000】

Light Mask breathed a sigh of relief inside, and the look in his eyes toward Dark Mask carried a hint of barely concealed schadenfreude.

Hmph! Good thing that little brat attacked him directly. Otherwise, that guy definitely would've left me to die!

Seeing the look in Light Mask's eyes, Dark Mask felt like he couldn't catch his breath.

I bear the Parasite's effect, I take the opponent's attacks, I endure my partner's scorn—what's even the point of my Duel anymore!!!