The duel between the two Duelists was so intense that the gang members watching couldn't help but sweat nervously for their buddy.
Even though they weren't Dark Duelists and knew little about the extraordinary, there were few in this world who couldn't understand a duel.
Even these bystanders could roughly grasp Ted's predicament.
Suddenly countered down to just 300 Life Points, it seemed he was utterly at his opponent's mercy shortly after the duel began. The opponent still had that Underworld Knight on the field, with lowered attack, and it could attack twice in one turn.
Ted was left neither able to attack nor defend.
Theoretically, as long as Ted summoned a monster, whether in attack or defense, he couldn't withstand the opponent.
Summon a high attack monster, and the Underworld Knight would slash it with a single strike, with even a casual counter dealing lethal damage.
Summon a low defense monster to block, but the Underworld Knight can still strike twice in one turn. The first slash would break the wall, and the second slash would attack directly, killing it just the same.
In such a desperate situation, the answer Ted, as Professor Card, gave was to take the offensive.
Fierce Lion, summon!
Though the monster appeared majestic and domineering, the gang members weren't thrilled.
What's the use of high attack and strong monsters? The opponent had Anti-Armor...
But Ted had a plan.
"Activate Magic Card 'Meat for Strength'!" Ted declared, "Choose an upper-level summoned monster on your field to activate.
Select a tribute monster used for the upper-level summon, and the upper-level monster on the field gains half the tribute monster's attack and defense, along with its special effects!" (Original Card)
Rather than the Fierce Lion being his trump card from the comics, it was actually this magic card. His lion was merely a high-attack Mortal Bone, valuable for gaining the effects of various tributes.
"I want to gain the attack and effects of the tribute monster 'Fierce Tiger'!" Ted stated, "Fierce Tiger's attack power is 1700, so Fierce Lion's attack power increases by 850!"
[Fierce Lion, Attack Power 2600→Attack Power 3450]
"And it also gains Fierce Tiger's effect, as long as this card is in the Monster Zone, all other monsters on the field have their Attack Power decreased by 500!"
[Amazon Swordsmen, Attack Power 1000→Attack Power 500]
"Hmm? Lowering that swordsman's Attack Power even further, isn't that more troublesome?"
The crowd discussed.
The lower the attack, the more painful the counter damage, right?
But Ted merely smirked.
"Heh, from Fierce Tiger, there's another inherited effect. Once per turn, destroy all opponent's monsters on the field with lower attack than this card!"
Ted raised his hand and shouted.
"Let that troublesome swordsman disappear! Tiger Roars in the Forest!"
Fierce Lion let out a roar, and a terrifying shockwave burst out. Yugen's swordsmen on the field were instantly shattered by the sonic boom.
"Beautiful! By destroying it directly, there's no counter damage..."
"As expected of the professor!"
The gang members began to cheer.
Ted stepped forward: "Go, Fierce Lion's direct attack!"
Fierce Lion charged forward. Yugen remained calm: "Then activate the Cover Card, Continuous Trap 'Amazon's Rush'.
Once per turn, it can be activated during the Battle Phase. Special summon an 'Amazon' monster from the hand."
"As anticipated, Kida!" Ted shouted, "From the hand, activate Speed Attack Magic 'Meat Bomb Battle', this card can only be activated in the Battle Phase. This turn, all Magic and Trap cards activated during the Battle Phase become ineffective!" (Original Card)
It was also the magic Ted used against Moonwalker in the comics.
"Then chain activate Trap 'Hero Appearance'." Yugen said, "Can be activated during the opponent's attack declaration.
The opponent randomly selects one of my hand cards, and if it's a monster card, it can be special summoned immediately."
Pausing, he added: "This card chains to 'Meat Bomb Battle', which entered the chain lane later, so its effect is processed first. Thus this card won't be negated."
"Tch." Ted frowned, hesitating for a moment, "Then the second card from the right."
Yugen smiled slightly.
"You chose well."
Yugen calmly revealed his hand card.
"Special summon 'Amazonian Swordsmen' in attack position."
[Amazonian Swordsmen, Attack Power 1500]
Ted lifted his head, almost spewing out a mouthful of old blood.
No way...
This isn't finished yet, is it!?
"Of course, you can choose to continue the attack." Yugen smiled, "Wanna give it a go?"
Like hell I wanna go.
Ted gritted his teeth.
"Battle rollback, I forfeit the attack."
But he still had a strategy.
"Activate Trap 'Battlefront Return', reviving a monster in defense from the graveyard." Ted said solemnly, "Revive 'Fierce Tiger' from the graveyard!"
[Fierce Tiger, Defense Power 1000]
"While Fierce Tiger is on the field, all monsters have their Attack Power diminished by 500." Yugen said, "Your Fierce Tiger and Fierce Lion are affected by their own effects, reducing their Attack Power by 500 each.
And my Amazon Swordsmen's attack decreases by 1000."
"Indeed, but Amazon Swordsmen's Attack Power is still below Fierce Tiger." Ted said, "Fierce Tiger's effect, once per turn, destroys all monsters with lower Attack Power than this card on the field.
Disperse, 'Amazon Swordsmen'!"
Fierce Tiger roared, Tiger Roars in the Forest, and the swordsmen shattered again in the sonic boom and retreated.
Ted let out a slight sigh of relief.
Thank goodness, he managed to survive the crisis for now. Otherwise, if the swordsman took another swing at him next turn, he'd be toast.
But he had noticed it; today's Duel King seemed to focus on jumping the Amazon Swordsmen back and forth. It's likely another swordsman would pop out next turn.
He only had 300 Life Points left, couldn't take another hit from the Underworld Knight.
So, to be on the safe side...
He glanced at the last hope in his hand.
Trap Card - Blast Armor.
With this card, if the swordsman attacks next turn, he could launch a counterattack in one go. After that, he would go all out and win the game.
The plan was sound!
"Set a card, end of the turn," Ted said.
"Then it's my turn, draw," Yugen stated, "First, the Speed Attack Magic 'Emergency Food.' Send the 'Nightmare Mirage Tube' on the field to the graveyard to restore 1000 Life Points."
[Yugen, LP 4000→LP 5000]
Ted squinted his eyes.
Come on, bring your Underworld Knight back to life and attack.
However, things didn't unfold as he expected.
"I summon 'Magical Scientist.'"
[Magical Scientist, Attack Power 300]
"Effect of Magical Scientist, pay 1000 Life Points to Special Summon a Fusion Monster of Level 6 or lower."
Yugen stated.
[Yugen, LP 5000→LP 4000]
"I Special Summon 'Dragon Warrior.'"
[Dragon Warrior, Attack Power 2000]
Ted: "?"
Where are the Amazon Swordsmen? Not using the swordsmen?
These two can't get past my invincible Fierce Lion...
"Activate the Magic Card 'Spider Silk,' to acquire a card sent to the graveyard one turn before." Yugen said, "The card I'm acquiring from your graveyard is..."
A white thread shot into Ted's Duel Disc, sticking to a card and sending it flying out.
"Magic Card 'Meat for Strength.'"
Ted: "!"
Acquiring magic from my graveyard...!?
"Speed Attack Magic 'Speed Summon,' allows a Normal Summon of a monster from the hand.
I offer the 'Magical Scientist' and 'Dragon Warrior' on the field as sacrifices, come forth, Level Ten——
——Yubel!!!"
Both the Scientist and Dragon Warrior vanished from the field, the demon slowly unfolded its large bone wings, and the third eye on its forehead opened, its heterochromatic pupils coldly gazing at the world.
[Yubel, Attack Power 0]
"Level Ten Monster!?" Ted was shocked.
"Then use this Magic 'Meat for Strength' sponsored by Mr. Banias," Yugen said, "it can acquire half the attack power of a sacrifice monster, as well as its monster effect.
So, let Yubel gain Dragon Warrior's attack power and effect."
[Yubel, Attack Power 0→Attack Power 1000]
"That still only results in an attack power of 1000..."
Ted said, but he was losing confidence.
He had a premonition.
It seemed like he was about to be finished.
"Yubel attacks 'Fierce Lion,'" Yugen said.
It really is coming for the attack! Ted's heart tightened.
"Yubel's effect: the battle damage dealt to oneself by this card is nullified," Yugen said calmly, "and reflected to the opponent's Life Points." (Original effect)
Ted: "!!!"
The ominous premonition was fulfilled.
What an Underworld Knight PLUS version!
"Activate the Cover Card!" Ted shouted, "Trap Card 'Blast Armor'! Destroy the attacking monster directly..."
"Useless."
Yugen said calmly.
"Yubel now has gained Dragon Warrior's effect. By paying 1000 Life Points, nullify the activation of the Trap."
[Yugen, LP 4000→LP 3000]
Ted's pupils contracted.
Even the Trap is useless...
At this moment, his Fierce Lion's eyes turned crimson, roaring and slapped Yubel desperately.
Yubel took the blow with a moan of "ah," swaying backward, and then spread its arms. Suddenly, vines with a reflective damage impact shot out, piercing through Ted's chest.
[Ted, LP 300→LP 0]