Tenjo Hikari touched his chin, mumbling, "Despian Quaeritis can activate its effect during your own or the opponent's main phase. It can turn the ATK of all non-LV 8 or higher Fusion Monsters on the field to 0."
"Oh? That's quite an effect suited to you," Tierra nodded after listening.
"Moreover, lord, you certainly use Fusion Monsters, so it seems it doesn't matter," Flame Sword's eyes lit up as he spoke.
"Then, lord, what do you mean, does the Masquerade the Blazing Dragon have some difficult-to-resist effect?" Black Flame's expression changed.
Tenjo Hikari nodded.
"With Masquerade the Blazing Dragon on the field, the opponent must pay 600 LP to activate any card effect."
Initially, a few people listening showed little reaction, but soon, their expressions all changed dramatically.
"It's not effect damage, but a payment!?" Flame Sword's mouth gaped, "Isn't that stronger than Black-Winged Assault Dragon!?"
Black-Winged Assault Dragon inflicts 700 damage when an opponent activates a Monster Effect, but as long as Tenjo Hikari doesn't activate a Monster Effect and prioritizes Fusion Summoning, he can summon D/D/D Oracle King d'Arc, using its effect to transform damage into LP recovery.
Yet—
Masquerade's effect is a payment in LP!
Meaning, no prevention is possible.
"600 LP at once, using it six times is 4000 LP…" Crystal quickly calculated, "So lord, if you want to use the cards in your hand, you must win within six tries?"
They glanced at Tenjo Hikari's hand cards, calculated slightly, and breathed a sigh of relief.
It seems possible. Not impossible.
"But... Comedy can negate targeted effects, right?" Flame Sword expressed a different opinion, but soon, Black Flame slapped him on the head, exclaiming, "Masquerade isn't Despia."
"It should protect the Field Spell and Spell Cards… Even if Comedy can't protect Masquerade, the Branded Opening in the graveyard has effects," Tenjo Hikari's face was heavy, "When the Fusion Monster on your field is destroyed by card effect from the graveyard, you can banish this card as a substitute."
Thunk—
The three spirits heard this and felt a quiver in their hearts.
Quickly dealing with Masquerade isn't possible either?
"Furthermore, the Field Spell Card, Despia, in despair, when a face-up Fairy-Type Monster leaves the field due to an opponent's effect or is destroyed in battle, can Special Summon an LV 8 or higher Fusion Monster from the graveyard." Tenjo Hikari pointed to the crumbling tower behind Despian Quaeritis, saying, "Plus, after the opponent's effect causes Despian Quaeritis to leave the field, it can special summon a Death Prison Monster, so with Masquerade present, it's nearly impossible to deal with all monsters at once using my hand cards."
"In other words, you'll have to handle Masquerade through combat." Tierra furrowed her brows, looking at Tenjo Hikari's hand cards, asking, "Are you going to use this?"
Tenjo Hikari nodded.
"Activate Spell Card, Fusion Destiny!"
As Tenjo Hikari activated it, countless eye-endowed spikes pierced forth, piercing through Tenjo Hikari's body, causing him to inhale sharply from the pain.
Tenjo Hikari LP: 4000→3400.
"According to the card's effect, send Destiny Hero Fusion Materials from the Deck to the graveyard and Fusion Summon a Destiny Hero Fusion Monster. After this card is activated, until the end of the turn, you cannot Special Summon non-Dark Attribute Hero Monsters."
"Send Evil Hero Vicious Claws and Destiny Hero - Drawhand from the deck to the graveyard for Fusion Summoning."
"Come. The eternal flame of fusion."
"LV 8, Destiny Hero - Destroyer Phoenix Enforcer!"
At the critical moment, at the crucial location, Destroyer Phoenix Enforcer arrives to assist!
Destiny Hero - Destroyer Phoenix Enforcer, LV 8, Dark Attribute, Warrior-Type, Attack Power 2500.
"With Phoenix Enforcer on the field, the monsters on the opponent's field lose ATK equal to the number of Hero Monsters in my graveyard × 200 points. This effect does not require activation, it is a permanent effect."
The smile on Despian Quaeritis's face vanished, replaced by displeasure.
"Combat, Phoenix Enforcer attacks Masquerade!"
Phoenix Enforcer leapt high, projecting endless flames from his left hand, shattering Masquerade.
Despian Quaeritis, LP: 4000→3600.
But then: "Hee hee hee..."
Just as Despian Quaeritis raised a hand, Masquerade, just destroyed in battle, instantly returned to the field.
"What?"
"What's this?"
"Darn, it was deliberately destroyed to no avail…"
"No worries." Tenjo Hikari assured his friends not to be overly concerned, "This is Masquerade's effect."
If the opponent has any kind of Fusion, Xyz, Synchro, or [Link] Monsters on the field, Masquerade can be Special Summoned from the grave in either player's turn and banished when this Special Summoned card leaves the field.
"Since it's not a Fusion Summon, there won't be an LP payment effect."
That's reassuring.
Everyone nodded slowly.
The next question is…
How to fight?
Even though Masquerade was dealt with, that guy's resources haven't diminished at all!