"I set two cards! Turn end!"
With a wave of Chazz's hand, the silhouettes of two face-down cards materialized on the field.
Turn end?
"He actually chose to end his turn? I thought Chazz would capitalize on finally clearing the traps from Jaden's field to rebuild his board..."
Alexis was quite surprised by Chazz's choice.
"No, that was the most correct decision Chazz could have made."
Zane interrupted Alexis's confusion.
"Even though Jaden no longer has any traps on the field to disrupt him, because of the presence of Maxx 'C,' Jaden would get to draw a card for every monster Chazz Special Summons this turn."
"And since Chazz already used up his Normal Summon for the turn, any attempt to establish a board would require Special Summons."
"Did Chazz decide to save his Special Summons for the next turn just to avoid letting Jaden replenish his hand further?"
"My turn."
Jaden drew a card from the top of his deck.
Because Maxx "C" had bolstered his hand, Jaden now held four cards.
Furthermore...
Looking at the cards in his hand, Jaden could already see the conclusion of this duel.
"Now! I activate my trap card! Threatening Roar!" Chazz's eyes lit up as he seized the perfect moment. "Once Threatening Roar is activated, the opponent cannot declare an attack this turn!"
Light effects shimmered across Chazz's field.
"Roar!" The howl of a wild beast echoed through the arena.
The spectators covered their ears, watching the scene in awe.
"Chazz actually had that card set?"
"So that means Jaden can't declare an attack this turn?"
"Even so, Chazz doesn't have a single monster on his field. At most, he's just stalling for one more turn, right?"
It wasn't just the students in the stands who were whispering.
Even Chazz's two older brothers were watching his every move with solemn expressions.
"Jun... what exactly is going on..."
"To think he isn't even using the deck we prepared for him at the start?"
"And for him to be in such a pathetic state, resorting to these kinds of desperate stall cards? Jun!"
Their sharp gazes made Chazz grit his teeth slightly.
Jagger, Slade...
I will definitely show you how much I've improved!
"Next, I activate the Quick-Play Spell, Armed Dragon Flash!"
"This card allows me to Special Summon one Level 3 Armed Dragon monster from my deck in Defense Position!"
Chazz threw his hand forward and shouted, "Come forth! Armed Dragon Thunder LV3!"
Boom!
A cluster of lightning coalesced on Chazz's field.
A small Armed Dragon, covered in crackling electricity, appeared in a defensive stance.
[Armed Dragon Thunder LV3]
[Level: 3]
[ATK: 1200 / DEF: 900]
"A third Armed Dragon?"
Surprised gasps rippled through the audience.
"I see. Chazz wants to use the trap card to buy a turn. By next turn, he can use the Armed Dragon Thunder LV5 in his hand to pull a new Armed Dragon from the deck."
"To think he could maintain such composure in this situation..."
Alexis had a moment of realization, seemingly grasping Chazz's strategy.
"I didn't expect that after not seeing him for a while, Chazz's dueling skills would have sharpened this much..."
Alexis sighed internally.
If it were her...
Faced with Jaden's first round of traps, she might not have stood a chance.
"I see."
Jaden gave a slight smile. "It seems I won't be ending the game this turn after all."
However...
"Though you've done quite well, I must say that 'HEROes' aren't that simple."
"HEROes?" Chazz's mouth twitched involuntarily.
"No matter how you look at it, those monsters on your field have absolutely nothing to do with HEROes..."
"No, no, no. In the presence of this card, anyone can become a HERO."
Jaden flipped a card from between his fingers.
"I activate the Quick-Play Spell, Mask Change II!"
Mask Change... II?!
Seeing the card Jaden revealed, many people in the crowd cried out in shock.
"A Masked HERO card! That's Jaden's signature HERO card!"
"But something's not right. Aren't Masked HEROes supposed to be Special Summoned only using HERO monsters?"
"What's the deal with this Mask Change II?"
Before the spectators could react.
The Traptrix monster on Jaden's field was surrounded by a flurry of masks.
[Masked HERO Divine Wind] [Masked HERO Anki] [Masked HERO Acid] [Masked HERO Koga] [Masked HERO Dian]
[Masked HERO Blast] [Masked HERO Goka] [Masked HERO Dark Law] [Masked HERO Vapor]
The symbols representing the various Masked HEROes began to circle the Traptrix.
"Mask Change II allows me to discard one card and target one face-up monster I control. I send that monster to the Graveyard to Special Summon one Masked HERO from the Extra Deck with a higher Level and the same Attribute!"
Jaden sent one card to the Graveyard and waved his hand. Beside him, several cards from his Extra Deck fanned out before him.
[Traptrix Myrmeleo]
[Attribute: EARTH]
"Which means, the Masked HERO she will transform into is Masked HERO Dian!"
Jaden selected one of the cards.
The Masked HERO symbols on the field suddenly stopped, locking onto Dian.
Boom!
A pillar of light surged toward the sky.
A HERO draped in a blue cloak, clad in silver armor, and wielding a silver-white longsword appeared on Jaden's field.
The medieval-styled Masked HERO swung his blade, immediately kicking up a violent gale.
[Masked HERO Dian]
[Level: 8]
[ATK: 2800 / DEF: 3000]
"He's he's here! Jaden's signature HERO!"
"Holy crap, no way! Jaden kept saying he used a HERO deck, and I thought he was lying to me. Who knew the guy was actually playing HEROes?"
"Who says Traptrix isn't a HERO? I hereby declare Traptrix the strongest HERO!"
The stands erupted into cheers.
The arrival of a Masked HERO instantly allowed everyone to feel the unique charm of the archetype.
"What? He... he actually summoned a HERO?"
Chazz bit his lip, his eyes wide with disbelief.
"But because of Threatening Roar, your Masked HERO can't attack at all this turn, so—"
"I never intended to attack you this turn anyway," Jaden said with a grin. "Besides, I have something else in mind."
"I activate the Quick-Play Spell, Mask Change!"
"I send Masked HERO Dian to the Graveyard to Special Summon a Masked HERO with the same Attribute from the Extra Deck!"
Dian's body was instantly enveloped by a cyclone.
As the white wind dissipated...
Dian still stood tall on Jaden's field.
It seemed as if nothing had happened at all.
[Masked HERO Dian]
[Level: 8]
[ATK: 2800 / DEF: 3000]
"Why? Why would Jaden do that?"
Alexis was utterly baffled.
Why waste so many cards in hand just to let Masked HERO Dian transform a second time?
In doing so, wasn't he effectively throwing away a card for no change on the field?
Why... Jaden, why would you make a play like that?
"I set one card."
"Turn end."
A confident smile played on Jaden's lips as he set the remaining card in his hand.
What appeared to be a massive misplay was actually the path to victory Jaden had envisioned for the next turn.
He knew that the main deck Traptrix monsters lacked the power to finish the match.
To end the game, he had to use that card...
That card, the final boss monster!
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