"Then it's my turn. I draw a card."
It's Yugen's turn.
"I place a monster face-down in Defense Position on the field," Yugen said, "then I set a card in my back row and end my turn."
Jim pondered.
Even though he went second, there was no attack. Is he giving me a chance to shine?
Or is he laying a trap, waiting for me to step into it...
Jim shook his head.
No more overthinking; I should focus on my own duel first.
"It's my turn, I draw!" Jim said. "I sacrifice 'Shell Knight' to Upper-level Summon! Appear now—
—Two-headed Beast!"
A burning centaur with two lion heads on its upper body, both shrouded in flames.
[Two-headed Beast, Attack Power 1700]
"Battle, first the Two-headed Beast attacks the face-down monster!"
The right lion head of the beast roared and conjured a fireball in its hand, striking fiercely through the air. Flames hit the card Yugen had set, flipping it to reveal a small yet eerily sinister bird.
[Owl of Luck, Defense Power 500]
It looked like a white-feathered owl.
"Owl of Luck, flip effect," Yugen said. "Select a Field Spell from the Card Deck and place it on top of your deck."
Jim frowned.
A monster with an effect to search for a field...
He knew that many Card Decks couldn't function without their fields, and some fields were the core of the strategy itself. While he didn't know what deck his opponent was using, he definitely couldn't let him get the field he wanted so easily if he could help it.
"Then I activate the Cover Card!" Jim said. "Counterattack Trap 'True Sword Victory'!
This can be activated during the damage step when a Monster Effect, Magic Card, or Trap Card is activated in battle, to negate that activation and destroy it!"
Yugen nodded: "'Owl of Luck' has a flip effect, triggered upon attack, so it's still during the battle's damage step. 'True Sword Victory' can be activated."
"Therefore the owl's effect is negated," Jim smirked, "looks like you won't be getting the field you wanted, pity."
"Indeed." Yugen nodded, feigning disappointment.
As they spoke, under the mighty effect of the Counterattack Trap, the owl was destroyed, leaving only floating feathers.
"It's not over." Jim touched the brim of his hat, continuing with a smile, "Two-headed Beast's monster effect.
This card can attack twice during one Battle Phase!"
Jim made a sweeping gesture with his hand.
"Second strike of the Two-headed Beast! Go, direct attack on Mr. Yugen this time!"
The second head of the beast let out a roar, spewing flames from its mouth. Yugen slowly raised an arm to shield himself, flames surging past his body, with holographic effects making it seem like he was about to be engulfed in fire.
[Yugen, LP 3500→ LP 1800]
"Great!" Jim exclaimed excitedly.
Deals substantial damage in one fell swoop, this duel is going smoother than expected...
But then Yugen said, "I activate the Cover Card. Trap Card 'Damage Capacitor.'
When taking battle damage, I need to discard a card from my hand to activate its effect."
Yugen sent a card from his hand to the graveyard.
"Special Summon any monster with an Attack Power below the value of the damage I received—which is 1700—from the Card Deck in Attack Position."
Yugen raised his Duel Disc, and a beam of light flew out from his deck, landing on the field as a somewhat eerie figure, like a giant tongue with strange eyes.
[Tongue Monster, Attack Power 400]
Jim frowned, "You summoned a monster with only 400 Attack Power..."
He knew there must be something tricky about it, but after pondering for two seconds, he decided not to think further and ended the Battle Phase, continuing to play cards.
"I then activate the Magic Card 'Heaven and Earth's Treasure Scroll,'" Jim said. "This card can only be activated in a turn where an Upper-level Summon has been performed.
Draw two cards from the Card Deck. But the drawn cards cannot be used, and if there are any cards that can be set, at least one must be set in this turn." (Original Card)
Jim drew two cards from his Card Deck, carefully sliding his finger over his hand, then picking one out.
"Setting a card on the field, the turn ends."
Yugen: "Then it's my turn. I draw a card."
Yugen drew, then revealed a card from his hand. Simultaneously, a dignified man with a jackal mask appeared on his field, his translucent form ghostly, a blue scarf fluttering in the wind.
"Activate the effect of 'Tomb Guardian Commander' in my hand," Yugen said. "By discarding this card from my hand to the graveyard, add 'Royal Valley of Eternal Rest' from the Card Deck to my hand."
He sent the displayed Commander to the graveyard, then drew out the card ejected from his Duel Disc, displayed it briefly, and added it to his hand.
"Add the Field Spell 'Royal Valley of Eternal Rest' from the Card Deck to the hand."
Next, the field slot on his Duel Disc immediately popped open.
"Field Spell 'Royal Valley of Eternal Rest,' activate!"
The ground shook, and the dense forest and night disappeared in billowing smoke. In their place appeared towering mountains, crowded so densely they seemed to block the sky. The sun was obscured by thick gray, as if this was a zone where even light could not penetrate.
"Royal Valley of Eternal Rest... I see, was the Owl earlier trying to fetch this field?"
Jim pondered.
This field seems to have some crucial role. But it's the first time he's seen this card, so he couldn't be sure...
Yugen did not seem intent on further explanation, and instead continued speaking to himself.
"Then I sacrifice the 'Tongue Monster' to Upper-level Summon!
The Emperor who rules over light and thunder, crushing any obstructing foes with fierce lightning—
—Thunder Emperor Zaborug, summon!"
A majestic white figure descended slowly from the sky, the Emperor's cloak billowing in the wind behind him. Lightning swirled around him, gathering, as if following the general's command, transforming into an army roaring forward!
[Thunder Emperor Zaborug, Attack Power 2400]
The Two-headed Beast was suddenly struck, shattered to pieces under the flash of lightning.
Jim raised his arm to shield against the explosion's impact, gritting his teeth, "Is that the Thunder Emperor's Monster Effect..."
"Correct." Yugen smiled, "When Thunder Emperor Zaborug completes an Upper-level Summon successfully, it destroys any chosen monster on the field."
"I see." Jim also smiled slightly, "The famous Emperor Series, I can truly feel its extraordinary power."
"Additionally, when the Tongue Monster is used as a sacrifice and sent to the graveyard, I draw two cards from the Card Deck."
Yugen drew two cards.
In fact, the original effect of Tongue Monster requires it to be removed from the game after drawing two cards, but since Royal Valley of Eternal Rest is on the field, cards in the graveyard cannot be removed from the game, therefore this effect is not processed.
"Then, battle."
Yugen said.
"Using 'Thunder Emperor Zaborug,' direct attack on the player!"