Alexis and Zane were still analyzing the match from the sidelines when You Xuan's next move nearly made their jaws drop.
"I summon Cyber Valley!"
[Cyber Valley, ATK 0]
"A Cyber Dragon?" Alexis was startled, instinctively turning her gaze toward Zane.
Zane Truesdale's first reaction was one of surprise, but he quickly regained his composure. "The crown jewel of the Cyber Style is only Cyber End Dragon. While they are rare, the other cards in the series aren't strictly unique."
After all, the Cyber Style Dojo had many apprentices. Although Zane was the only one to inherit Cyber End Dragon, the others still used Cyber Style decks. It was well known that You Xuan was currently a rising star in the academy's research circles and had collaborations with two major card manufacturers. It wasn't entirely strange for him to pull out a single Cyber-series card.
"Oh? Is You Xuan going to use the Cyber Style too?" Jaden asked, his face full of anticipation.
"Not quite," You Xuan smiled.
Tucking in a few miscellaneous cards or small combos was fine, but mashing entirely unrelated archetypes together always felt a bit forced to him.
In reality, Cyber Valley had been a common "splash" card in the competitive scene back in the day. It possessed three distinct effects: a defensive move that forced the end of the Battle Phase, a draw effect, and a Graveyard recovery effect. Its performance was top-tier, and it felt great to use in the early years. Consequently, whether in top-tier meta decks or experimental "jank" builds, this card was a frequent guest.
"Cyber Valley's effect," You Xuan announced. "By removing this card and another monster on my field from the game, I can draw two cards from my deck."
He continued, "I banish Cyber Valley and the Mask of Darkness on my field to draw two cards."
A golden light erupted from Cyber Valley, enveloping itself and Mask of Darkness before both dissolved into points of light. You Xuan drew two cards and immediately revealed one.
"Next, the effect of Jester Confit in my hand. This card can be Special Summoned directly."
[Jester Confit, ATK 0]
"Then, I tribute the Spellcaster-Type Jester Confit!"
The jester vanished into light, and a pure white, translucent magic circle expanded across the ground.
"Wings of silence that carry hope, Magician of Light, manifest now"
"Summon! Silent Magician!"
A storm of light-attribute magic erupted. Out of the radiant whirlwind stepped a white-robed mage. Her slender, snowy legs were occasionally visible beneath the hem of her robe as it fluttered in the gale, and the vortex of magic converged into her pure white staff.
[Silent Magician, ATK 1000]
"One ace after another in a single turn, huh?" Jaden laughed.
"Silent Magician's attack power increases by 500 for every card in my hand," You Xuan stated. "I have three cards remaining, so her attack increases by 1500 points."
[Silent Magician, ATK 1000 → ATK 2500]
"Silent Magician, attack Elemental HERO Avian! Silent Burning!"
A sphere of milky-white magic blasted downward. Avian was instantly torn apart, dissolving into white light.
"Next, I set three cards face-down. My turn ends."
[Silent Magician, ATK 2500 → ATK 1000]
"Prioritizing backrow disruption over raw attack power? That's a very You Xuan-style choice," Jaden remarked. "Alright then, I can't afford to lose! My turn, draw!"
Jaden drew his card and immediately pulled another from his hand.
"From my hand, I activate this! The Spell Card: R - Righteous Justice! Based on the number of 'Elemental HERO' monsters on my field, I can destroy an equal number of Spells or Traps on the field!"
"Nice!" Syrus cheered. "When facing You Xuan, the backrow is definitely the biggest threat..."
"True," Bastion smiled. "But will he let it through that easily?"
You Xuan spoke up. "I activate Silent Magician's effect. Once per turn, she can negate and destroy the activation of a Spell Card. I negate the activation of R - Righteous Justice and destroy it."
The silent staff was raised, and a voiceless incantation was chanted. The magical effect was instantly bound, enveloped in white light, and shattered into harmless sparks.
"Haha, it really isn't that easy," Jaden laughed. "Then I'll follow up with the Spell Card, White Elephant's Gift! By sending one non-Effect monster on my field to the Graveyard, I draw two cards. I send Elemental HERO Burstinatrix to the Grave and draw two!"
Jaden drew his two cards.
"At this moment, I chain my face-down card to White Elephant's Gift! The Continuous Trap: Appropriate!" You Xuan declared. "This card activates when the opponent draws a card outside of their Draw Phase. From now on, whenever you draw cards outside of your Draw Phase, I also draw two cards from my deck."
In the real-world competitive environment, this card was often overlooked, but after trying it out once, You Xuan realized it was surprisingly powerful in this anime world where "filter-drawing" and hand-refilling were everywhere.
Sure enough, Jaden immediately revealed another card from his hand.
"I activate the Spell: Heritage of a HERO! Since I have two or more 'HERO' monsters of Level 4 or higher in my Graveyard, I draw three cards!"
It was the most violent resource-recovery tool in the HERO arsenal from the original series. You Xuan didn't hesitate, waving his hand to follow up. "Then, the effect of Appropriate triggers. Since you drew outside the Draw Phase, I also draw two cards."
Jaden continued, "I Normal Summon Elemental HERO Bubbleman!"
[Elemental HERO Bubbleman, ATK 800]
"Hmm?" You Xuan raised an eyebrow. "Didn't your Bubbleman just go to the Graveyard? Or are you saying..."
Seemingly sensing his confusion, Jaden chuckled. "Remember that time we were chatting over dinner? You said my Bubbleman was actually underrated and was a very strong Hero. After listening to your analysis of all the different scenarios, the more I thought about it, the more I realized you were right. So... I started carrying two more copies."
You Xuan took a deep breath. Good grief. I just said it in passing, and you actually brought a 'Unit 2' and 'Unit 3'?
"Well, since I have Skyscraper and a set card on the field, I can't use Bubbleman's effect to draw," Jaden admitted. "But I'll follow up with the Quick-Play Spell: Bubble Shuffle! I change my Attack Position Bubbleman and one Attack Position monster on your field to Defense Position! I switch Bubbleman and Black Luster Soldier - Envoy of the Beginning to Defense!"
[Elemental HERO Bubbleman, ATK 800 → DEF 1200]
[Black Luster Soldier - Envoy of the Beginning, ATK 3000 → DEF 2500]
"After that, I tribute the Bubbleman in Defense Position to Special Summon an 'Elemental HERO' from my hand," Jaden shouted. "I tribute Bubbleman to Special Summon this cardElemental HERO Bladedge!"
A torrent of water and bubbles erupted from beneath Bubbleman's feet. He vanished into the spray, replaced by a golden warrior shimmering with metallic luster.
[Elemental HERO Bladedge, ATK 2600]
"Bladedge, attack Black Luster Soldier - Envoy of the Beginning!" Jaden barked. "And at this moment, the effect of Skyscraper! When an 'Elemental HERO' battles a monster with higher ATK, it gains 1000 ATK!"
"Oh, right!" Syrus realized belatedly. "Skyscraper only says 'battles a monster with higher ATK'; it doesn't say the opponent has to be in Attack Position. Even though the Chaos Soldier was switched to defense, his ATK is still higher than Bladedge's. So, Bladedge's attack will still climb to 3600!"
"Not only that," Bastion added, "Bladedge has a piercing effect when attacking Defense Position monsters. If this strike lands, it will deal massive damage."
"Nice momentum," You Xuan said, waving his arm. His face-down card flipped up, radiating a blinding golden light. "I activate my TrapMagic Cylinder!"
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