The first intense round of attacks and defenses ends, the situation on the field continuously changing, but both sides' Life Points remain unchanged.
This is just the beginning.
"At the end of your turn, the effect of 'Umi's Surprise Attack' finishes, and 'Elemental Hero Absolute Zero' returns to the field!" Judai said.
"That won't do." Ed interrupted again, "Quick-Play Magic 'Burial from Another Dimension'! Up to three cards removed from play return to their respective owners' Graveyards!
I'll return 'Elemental Hero Absolute Zero' from the removal zone to the Graveyard!"
Obviously, returning to the Graveyard puts Absolute Zero out of the range 'Umi's Surprise Attack' can affect, unable to return to the field.
"I can't believe even this was accounted for!" Judai admired, "Ed is indeed always so formidable! I always thought the combination of Absolute Zero and Umi's Surprise Attack was flawless."
"For general people, perhaps." Ed smiled elegantly like a nobleman, "But such tricks are useless against me."
Certainly, this Umi's Surprise Attack strategy is extremely closed, with powerful field disruption and self-protection capabilities, potentially enough to trap 90% of Duelists.
But Ed understands Judai, even believing he knows Judai best besides teacher Youyu. Growing up together, he knows various tactics and ways to counter them.
...At least he understood strategies until today.
Ed felt somewhat bothered and folded his arms. "Alright, you don't need to show me those well-known strategies anymore. Hurry up and let me witness the power of your so-called new heroes!"
"Don't be impatient, Ed." Judai smiled, "The show has just begun! My turn, draw cards!"
He added the card to his hand, then drew another card.
"Since you insist, then watch, Ed, the new partners from the other dimension!" Judai raised his fist, "I summon 'Elemental Hero Neos Alius'!"
The sky briefly turned pitch black, covered with twinkling stars. A white light pierced the starry sky, swooping down as if a meteor crashing explosively.
A white body with red stripes, light blue elliptical eyes, a circular crystal set on its chest.
[Elemental Hero Neos Alius, ATK 1900]
The watching students and teachers were instantly attracted, and Ed also looked seriously at this silver-white hero.
Everyone had heard the story of Yuki Judai obtaining alien Duel Spirits. Students and teachers were immensely curious, eagerly wanting to know what Duel Monsters from beyond the stars would be like.
"From my hand, activating Continuous Magic 'Common Soul'!" Judai announced, "Special summon 'Neospacian' from my hand onto the field!
I special summon 'Neospacian Grand Mole'!"
The ground was drilled open, a white electric drill spinning, dispersing left and right to form shoulder armor, a fluffy yellow mole hopping in front of Judai.
[Neospacian Grand Mole, ATK 900]
"The effect of 'Common Soul'—the attack power of the special summoned Neospacian will add to another monster on the field!
I'll add 'Grand Mole's' attack power to Neos Alius!"
[Elemental Hero Neos Alius, ATK 1900 →ATK 2800]
"Neospacian?" Ed blinked.
"Exactly! Watch closely, Ed, these are my newest partners!" Judai gestured, "Battle! Neospacian Grand Mole, attack 'Destiny Hero Dasher'!"
"Attacking with a lower attack monster?" Ed sensed conspiracy.
"Neospacian Grand Mole's effect!" Judai said, "During battle, no damage calculation, both battling monsters return to their owner's hands!"
"What!"
Ed looked at the flying mole, his eyes turning to fear.
Ssss~ Where did Judai get such a closed strategy!
"I know, Ed, 'Destiny Hero Dasher' lets you special summon the monster drawn during your draw phase, right?"
Judai chuckled, rubbing his nose.
"I remember your monster effects clearly!"
"Tch."
Ed looked at the Dasher returned to hand, not sure whether to be happy or angry.
Of course, since Grand Mole returned to hand, Neos Alius's attack reverted.
[Elemental Hero Neos Alius, ATK 2800 →ATK 1900]
"Battle Phase." Judai air-punched, "Elemental Hero Neos Alius, direct attack!"
The small Neos Alius sprang upward, leaping across the field, delivering a "Superman Punch" directly into Ed.
The powerful holographic impact made Ed stagger back half a step, clutching his chest.
[Ed, LP 4000 →LP 2100]
"You alright, Ed?" Judai expressed concern.
"Tch, worry about yourself instead!" Ed smirked, "Next turn, I'll get back at you twice over!"
As he spoke, two cards simultaneously ejected from his Duel Disc's Graveyard.
"When I take battle damage, the effects of 'Vision Hero Increase' and 'Vision Hero Minimum Ray' in the Graveyard activate!"
He briefly displayed two cards, inserting them into Duel Disc slots in sequence.
Black hero shadows appeared simultaneously in the trap zone.
"Then I'll set two cards and end my turn." Judai said.
Ed stood up straight, taking a deep breath.
"I won't lose to you, Judai." He muttered, then raised his voice, "My turn, draw cards!"
He immediately revealed the drawn card.
"Next is Magic Card 'Book of Magic Pot'. Both players draw three cards from their Card Decks!"
Ed quickly picked another card from his hand.
"Summon 'Destiny Hero Diamond Dude'!"
[Destiny Hero Diamond Dude, ATK 1400]
"Diamond Dude's effect, once per turn, reveal a card from the deck. If it's a Normal Magic Card, send it to the Graveyard; during next turn's preparation phase, activate the effect without cost!
If not, send the card to the bottom of the deck!"
Of course, Ed had never picked a card other than magic.
So he drew one, unsurprisingly: "I drew Magic Card 'Pot of Greed', letting both players draw cards until hand size reaches six!
I'll send it to the Graveyard, activating next turn's preparation phase!"
Ed then gestured to his heroes on the field.
"Trap Zone's 'Vision Hero Minimum Ray' effect! Sacrifice 'Destiny Hero Diamond Dude' on the field to special summon Increase from the Trap Zone!"
Minimum Ray's special summon success allows the destruction of opponent's level four or lower monster. This effect could eliminate Judai's Neos Alius...
"Activating Set Card!" Judai raised his hand, "Quick-Play Magic 'Gemini Spark'! Sacrifice a level four Gemini Monster on your field to destroy any card on the field!"
He pointed straight to Ed's backfield.
"I'll destroy 'Vision Hero Minimum Ray' set as Continuous Trap!"
Ed: "!"
Again?