Boom!
The cloud's strike pierced Jinzo's chest, leaving a smoking crater. Jinzo looked at Kira, as if to say "I tried," then exploded.
[Kira, LP4000 → LP2400]
Jinzo, now a ghost again, floated to the back, face dark.
His buddy Shadow Monarch popped up, grinning, "Back already?"
Jinzo: "Shut up!"
…
Adrian: "Set one card. Turn end!"
"So this is your Cloudian power. Not bad." Kira dusted himself off. "Looks like I can't hold back, either…
My turn. Draw."
He glanced at his card and immediately summoned it.
"Summon 'Witch of the Black Forest'."
A black-robed witch appeared, hands crossed over her chest, eyes closed in prayer.
[Witch of the Black Forest, ATK 1100]
"Then I equip the Spell 'Wonder Wand'," Kira said. "Equip to a Spellcaster to increase ATK by 500.
I equip it to Witch of the Black Forest."
A staff with a green gem appeared in the witch's hand, glowing with green magic.
[Witch of the Black Forest, ATK 1100 → 1600]
"Now the Wand's second effect: send both the equipped monster and Wand to the Graveyard to draw two cards.
Send Witch to the Graveyard, draw two."
Kira drew two, but the witch's spirit appeared behind him, eyes still closed, mumbling an incantation.
"Witch of the Black Forest's effect: when sent to the Graveyard, I search a monster with 1500 or less DEF from my deck."
Kira's duel disk auto-searched, ejecting a card. The deck auto-shuffled.
Kira paused, glanced at Adrian's duel disk, and smiled.
"As the Gecko heir, you're still using the old duel disk, huh?"
He showed off his own.
"Look, the latest model. KaibaCorp's top version now has auto-search and auto-shuffle—freeing your hands, making duels pure and easy.
Not interested?"
Adrian blinked.
Why the sudden sales pitch?
But he just snorted.
"Thanks, but I'll pass. A duelist's strength doesn't come from the duel disk. No matter how fancy, it won't help you win."
He crossed his arms coldly.
"My current duel disk is just fine."
"Is that so?" Kira shrugged. "That's a shame. But in practice, the difference is huge. Maybe you just haven't noticed."
He paused, smiling mischievously.
"I'll help you realize it."
Adrian: "…"
He didn't respond, but at that moment, facing the King's sly smile, he had a sense that something terrifying was about to happen in this duel.
"I add a DEF 1000 'Silent Magician' from my deck to my hand."
Kira took it and revealed it.
"Next, the effect of 'The Tricky' in my hand: by discarding a card, I can Special Summon it."
Kira discarded a card.
"Special Summon 'The Tricky'!"
A caped magician with a question mark on his chest appeared.
[The Tricky, ATK 2000]
Adrian: "But even so, it's no match for Nimbusman."
"I know," Kira smiled. "But 'Silent Magician' in my hand can't be Normal Summoned; it can be Special Summoned by tributing a Spellcaster.
So I tribute 'The Tricky'!
Wings of silent hope, magician of light—
—Silent Magician, Summon!"
The Tricky vanished into light, a white magic circle spread, and from the holy radiance, a white-robed magician spun out, magic circles rippling at her feet as if walking on air.
[Silent Magician, ATK 1000]
"Silent Magician's ATK increases by 500 for each card in my hand. I have three cards left, so +1500!"
[Silent Magician, ATK 1000 → 2500]
Adrian: "So its ATK matches Nimbusman?"
But Cloudians are known for "can't be destroyed in battle."
Adrian smirked inwardly.
If he tries a mutual KO, he'll find only the Silent Magician is destroyed.
If you stare at clouds, you realize—clouds may change shape, but can't be destroyed, they're endlessly resilient.
That's the kind of person Adrian is; in ever-changing clouds, he sees himself.
"Battle." Kira commanded. "Silent Magician, attack 'Cloudian - Nimbusman'."
Silent Magician obeyed without hesitation, flying forward, staff glowing with white light, striking at the cloud-formed figure.
Adrian's lips curled.
He really fell for it.
"Nimbusman, counterattack!"
But just as they were about to clash, Kira played a card:
"Quick-Play Spell 'Silent Burning'!
If I have Silent Magician on the field and more cards in hand than you, during the Battle Phase, both sides draw until they have six cards in hand!"
Adrian: "!"
Both instantly refilled to six cards. Silent Magician's ability:
"Right, Silent Magician's ATK increases as my hand grows. With six cards…"
[Silent Magician, ATK 1000 → 4000]
Four thousand attack!
Adrian immediately: "Then I activate my face-down!
Trap Card 'Rain Storm'!"
His set card flipped, the artwork unleashing a tidal wave, engulfing his Nimbusman in a tsunami!
"Rain Storm must target a 'Cloudian' monster I control!" Adrian declared.
"By reducing that monster's ATK by 1000, I can destroy an opponent's card!" (Anime effect)
Adrian pointed at the charging Silent Magician.
"Reduce Nimbusman's ATK by 1000 to destroy Silent Magician!"