"I activate the effect of Earthbound Servant Geo Gremlina!"
Chigami shouted.
"When this card is Special Summoned, I can add 1 'Earthbound' monster from my Deck to my hand! I choose to search - Earthbound Prisoner Stone Sweeper!"
His Deck automatically shuffled, and a card popped out. Chigami snatched it up and immediately revealed it.
"I activate Earthbound Prisoner Stone Sweeper's effect! I discard this card from my hand and add a Level 3 or lower Fiend Tuner from my Deck to my hand!"
He slotted the card into his Graveyard and shouted sharply.
"So now I use that effect to send this card to the Graveyard and add the Level 2 monster Vision Resonator from my Deck to my hand!"
The new card dropped into his hand, and Chigami barely paused.
"I activate Vision Resonator's effect! If there's a Level 5 or higher DARK monster on the field, I can Special Summon this card from my hand!"
"Both my Earthbound Servant Geo Gremlina and Earthbound Servant Geo Gryphon meet the condition! Special Summon - Vision Resonator!"
A crimson Resonator holding precision tools stepped into the light. Its small body contained synchro power that could not be underestimated.
Vision Resonator
Level 2 / Fiend / Tuner / Effect
ATK: 400
"I'm not done yet!"
There was a trace of madness in Chigami's voice.
"I tune the Level 2 Tuner Vision Resonator with the Level 6 Earthbound Servant Geo Gremlina!"
"Synchro Summon! Level 8 - Accel Synchro Stardust Dragon!"
Stardust fragments gathered across the field into the shape of a dragon. The silver-white dragon burst through the light and let out an earth-shaking roar.
Accel Synchro Stardust Dragon
Level 8 / Dragon / Synchro / Effect
ATK: 2500
"I activate Accel Synchro Stardust Dragon's effect!" Chigami's assault came like rolling thunder. "When this card is Synchro Summoned, I can Special Summon a Level 2 or lower Tuner from my Graveyard! I choose to revive Vision Resonator!"
The crimson Resonator appeared again. As its light flickered, Chigami's voice rose with manic rhythm.
"Tune again! I send the Level 2 Vision Resonator and the Level 8 Accel Synchro Stardust Dragon to the Graveyard!"
The two monsters turned into twin streams of light and shot into the sky. Countless stars drew a perfect line of ten across the heavens, and a brilliant rose-colored beam poured down like a fallen galaxy, smashing into the Duel field.
Clear hoofbeats rang through the air. A female warrior in silver armor descended slowly on a divine steed, riding the beam of light itself. Sword raised toward the heavens, she looked both valiant and breathtaking.
"Synchro Summon! Level 10 - Baronne de Fleur!"
Baronne de Fleur
Level 10 / Warrior / Synchro / Effect
ATK: 3000
Looking at the noblewoman on his field, Chigami burst into laughter.
"Hahahaha! Yusaku, didn't see that coming, did you? Our academy's got new tech backing us now. This ace monster that used to belong to only you - now I can use it too! Sure, it only lasts a little while before it disappears, but I can just recreate it before the match!"
Yusaku glanced at Baronne de Fleur on the field, and a mocking curve touched his lips.
"You said all that instead of just admitting it's a fake card?"
"So what if it is?" Chigami sneered. "As long as it wins, who cares whether it's real or fake?"
He suddenly raised his hand and pointed at the gryphon monster on his field.
"I activate Earthbound Servant Geo Gryphon's effect! This effect can be activated during my turn or yours - I Special Summon 1 'Earthbound' monster from my Graveyard, except itself, in Defense Position!"
"I choose to revive Earthbound Prisoner Stone Sweeper from my Graveyard!"
The stone puppet rose once more from the Graveyard, taking a defensive stance like an unbreakable wall.
Earthbound Prisoner Stone Sweeper
Level 5 / Fiend / Effect
DEF: 1600
Only three cards remained in Chigami's hand, flickering between his fingers.
"I activate the effect of Earthbound Greater Linewalker from my hand! If I have a Synchro Monster on my field and in my Graveyard, I can Special Summon this card from my hand!"
"I have Baronne de Fleur on the field and Accel Synchro Stardust Dragon in my Graveyard, so the condition is fully met! Special Summon - Earthbound Greater Linewalker!"
A heavily built warrior burst from the earth, runes glowing across his body with eerie light. Every inch of his muscles seemed packed with power enough to shake the heavens.
Earthbound Greater Linewalker
Level 8 / Fiend / Effect
ATK: 2900
"I activate Earthbound Greater Linewalker's effect!"
Chigami's voice trembled with feverish certainty.
"Once during my Main Phase, I can add 1 'Earthbound Immortal' monster from my Deck or Graveyard to my hand! I choose to search - Earthbound Immortal Ccapac Apu!"
After adding the searched card to his hand, he slammed down another Spell.
"Next, I activate the Spell Card Terraforming! I add 1 Field Spell from my Deck to my hand! I choose - Earthbound Prison!"
He yanked the Field Spell from his Deck and slapped it onto his Duel Disk.
"I activate the Field Spell - Earthbound Prison!"
The instant the card locked into place, the entire Duel arena shook violently. Jagged cracks split open across the ground.
Deep violet hellfire erupted from the fissures. Countless withered, claw-like arms burst from the earth and wove together into a massive cage that covered the entire arena. The sinister atmosphere sent a chill through every spectator in the stadium.
Chigami swept his gaze across the field, his lips curling upward.
"Earthbound Prison's effect - during this turn's Main Phase, in addition to my Normal Summon, I get 1 extra summon for an 'Earthbound' monster!"
He slowly raised the pitch-black card in his hand. Printed on it was the image of the Earthbound Immortal he had just searched.
"Now all the setup is complete. Yusaku, open your eyes and watch carefully! This is the despair you're about to face - the true power of the Earthbound Immortals!"
Chigami's voice suddenly rose to a shriek.
"Using Earthbound Prison's effect, I tribute Earthbound Prisoner Ground Keeper and Earthbound Prisoner Stone Sweeper on my field to summon...!"
He slammed the card in his hand onto the Duel Disk, his hoarse roar echoing through the entire arena.
"O soul that slumbers deep beneath the earth, carrying a thousand years of hatred!
Awaken from this polluted land!
Lend me your power, and scour all things from this world!"
"Advance Summon! Descend - Earthbound Immortal Ccapac Apu!!!"
A pillar of black light erupted behind Chigami and pierced the sky.
Within the column, a massive stone heart slowly emerged, its surface covered in blood-red veins. Every pulse it gave off boomed like a war drum. Countless shrieking souls were devoured by the heart, becoming fuel for the revival of the evil god.
A vague silhouette gradually took shape from within the heart. In the end, it became an enormous whale that blotted out the sky. Its body was covered in bizarre totems, and countless cold, unfeeling eyes opened across it, gazing down at the entire Duel arena without the slightest trace of emotion.
Earthbound Immortal Ccapac Apu [Defense Position]
Level 10 / Winged Beast / Effect
ATK: 2900
DEF: 2400
"At this moment!"
In the center of the field, Chigami's voice rang out again.
"I can activate Earthbound Greater Linewalker's effect!"
"If this card is on the field and an 'Earthbound Immortal' is summoned, I can force my opponent's LP down to 3000!"
"I just summoned Earthbound Immortal Ccapac Apu, so I can activate that effect!"
Chigami thrust his hand toward Yusaku.
"...Your LP becomes 3000!"
Earthbound Greater Linewalker threw back its head and roared. The runes across its body exploded with blinding electric light, ignoring every monster on the field as the current surged straight toward Yusaku.
The moment the electricity struck him, Yusaku felt a wave of numbness spread through his entire body. The numbers on his Duel Disk began dropping rapidly before freezing on a cold, merciless value.
[Yusaku, LP 8000 -> 3000]
Yusaku brushed the dust from his shoulder and slowly stepped out of the smoke, his tone calm.
"A direct LP-modifying effect... interesting."
"Interesting?" Chigami let out a cold laugh, cruelty gleaming in his eyes. "Then what about this?"
He drew another Spell Card and slapped it onto his Duel Disk.
"Spell Card - Tremendous Fire. Its effect deals 1000 damage to you, then 500 damage to me!"
The ground split apart with a roar, and blazing flames erupted, swallowing both Duelists at once.
At that instant, both of their Life Points changed.
[Yusaku, LP 3000 -> 2000]
[Chigami, LP 6000 -> 5500]
"Still not over yet!" Chigami's voice pierced through the flames. "I activate Earthbound Immortal Ccapac Apu's effect!"
"Once per turn, it inflicts damage to my opponent equal to half this card's DEF! My Earthbound Immortal has 2400 DEF, which means you take 1200 damage!"
The giant black whale opened its mouth, and a ring of destruction roared out, crackling with lightning as it slammed toward Yusaku's field.
Boom!
In the deafening explosion, a pillar of fire shot into the sky and completely swallowed Yusaku's figure.
The numbers on the Duel Disk changed again.
[Yusaku, LP 2000 -> 800]
Seeing that mere 800 LP remaining, Chigami smiled with absolute confidence. He raised his hand and set his final card.
"Finally, I set 1 card. End my turn!"
With the crisp sound of the set card hitting the field, Yusaku, who had already lost most of his Life Points, rose through the flames.
Looking at the figure emerging from the fire, Chigami folded his arms across his chest and declared confidently:
"Oh, and one more thing. After Earthbound Immortal Ccapac Apu activates its effect, it can't attack, but this is the first turn, so there's no Battle Phase. That restriction doesn't matter to me. And also..."
He looked at Yusaku, his tone growing even more self-assured.
"As long as Earthbound Immortal Ccapac Apu remains on the field in Defense Position, you cannot conduct your Battle Phase. This card has even greater resistance than the Sacred Beasts or the Egyptian Gods - it's unaffected by Spell and Trap Cards!"
"Your LP is only 800 now, just a candle flickering in the wind, ready to go out at any moment! This Duel is mine!"
The smoke gradually cleared, and Yusaku's figure came into full view.
He lifted his head. A faint, mocking smile tugged at his lips, and a trace of scorn appeared in his deep eyes.
"Is that so?"
His voice was light, but it carried clearly through the entire arena.
"I don't think so."
(End of Chapter)
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