"[Vulcan-Cannon Armored Vehicle]! Attack [Gearfried the Iron Knight]!!!"
Yuto gave the attack command without hesitation.
DADADADADADA——!!!
The vehicle's turret-mounted rotary cannons spun up instantly, spewing a raging storm of metal!
The dense barrage sliced like the scythe of death, tearing through [Gearfried the Iron Knight]'s armor and body, shredding it into a rain of metallic fragments!
[Joey, LP: 2000 → 1500]
"Alright, end of turn."
Yuto's voice remained calm, though his eyes flicked to the [Tribute to The Doomed] in his hand—he didn't activate it.
'Not yet…'
"My turn! Draw!"
Joey rallied himself.
He eyed the armored vehicle, its Attack temporarily boosted to 2300, and formed a plan.
'Hmph, Yuto, don't get cocky!'
[Blustering Winds]'s effect only lasts until your next Standby Phase! When your turn comes, that hunk of junk will drop back down to 300 Attack—and then I'll crush it!
Playing cautiously to survive this turn, Joey made his move.
"[Armored Lizard], switch to Defense Position!"
The reptile curled its body tightly, taking up a defensive stance.
"And I Set one card."
A face-down card appeared in his back row.
"Turn end!"
Yuto's fingers rested on his Deck, a surge of conviction rising—this was it!
"My turn!"
He drew in a deep breath, as if communing with his Deck.
"Deck, answer my call! Draw—!"
As the card slid into his hand, the familiar pattern made his eyes flash with brilliance!
[Monster Reborn]!
It came! Could it be… that the spirits of the cards lived within this system-built Deck, responding to his will?
The thought flickered, yet his hands moved fast as lightning!
"First, I activate Spell Card—[ACE!]!"
The card depicting an ace insignia shone brightly on Yuto's field.
"Its effect lets me add the symbol of absolute power—the ace unit, [ACE – Black Tri-Stars], from my Deck to my hand!"
Joey watched him search the ace card, and the corner of his lips curled in a subtle smirk.
Good… you got your ace. Of course you'll summon it! Come on, Yuto—step into the grave I've dug for your 'ace'!
Oblivious to Joey's intent, Yuto pressed forward relentlessly.
"Next, I activate Spell Card—[Tribute to The Doomed]!"
A spectral grave opened ominously on Joey's field.
"I discard [ACE – Black Tri-Stars] from my hand to the Graveyard to destroy your [Armored Lizard]!"
"Grrraaah!"
With a wail of despair, skeletal hands burst from the grave's shadow, seizing the curled-up [Armored Lizard] and dragging it into darkness, tearing it apart!
"And it's not over!"
Yuto's voice thundered as he slammed down his long-awaited key card.
"Spell Card activate—[Monster Reborn]! With the power of resurrection, awaken my ace! Special Summon—[ACE – Black Tri-Stars] from the Graveyard!!!"
BOOOOM—!!!
Three towering black steel figures took form in a burst of light!
Shoulder-to-shoulder, they radiated the killing aura of countless battles, their combined presence exuding unmatched dominance!
The ace squadron—[ACE – Black Tri-Stars]—had descended onto the battlefield!
"Now!!!"
Joey's long-awaited chance arrived—his eyes blazed with victory as his voice rose.
"Yuto! You've fallen into my trap! Trap Card activate—[Bottomless Trap Hole]!!!"
The card in his back row flipped open!
Beneath Yuto's feet, a gaping pit yawned wide, radiating a terrifying suction!
The space twisted violently, like countless invisible claws dragging down the mighty [ACE – Black Tri-Stars], threatening to erase them from existence!
"What?!"
Yuto's pupils contracted! He hadn't expected Joey's Set card to be this deadly Trap, one that destroyed and banished high-Attack monsters!
His carefully built ace summon chain had fallen into his opponent's perfectly laid countertrap at the final step!
"Tch!"
Yuto's brow furrowed tight, his mind cursing. This was bad.
Joey's [Bottomless Trap Hole] had wrecked his rhythm completely.
"[Vulcan-Cannon Armored Vehicle], switch to Defense Position!"
The war-worn vehicle lowered its cannons, its chassis crouching low in defense.
Its Attack had already dropped back to 300. Against Joey, it was useless—defense was the only choice.
"Then…"
Suppressing his agitation, Yuto quickly played another card.
"I Set [H.L.V.] in Defense Position!"
Another massive drop pod slammed down onto his field, joining the vehicle in forming a makeshift defense line.
He could only hold out, waiting for another chance…
"Turn end!"
"See that, Yuto!"
Joey's eyes blazed with confidence, his voice booming.
"I'm always getting better! My turn—draw!"
He swept his hand over his cards, instantly choosing his play.
"I Summon—[Tiger Axe]!"
A beast-warrior brandishing a massive axe appeared on his field.
"Then I Set two cards!"
Two more face-downs appeared in his back row.
With his preparations done, Joey pointed straight at Yuto's new drop pod.
"[Tiger Axe]! Attack [H.L.V.]! Split it open!"
"Haaah!"
The warrior roared, swinging his axe with crushing force, cleaving the steel shell of the pod!
BOOOOM—!!!
With an earsplitting crash, the armored [H.L.V.] cracked open, its body twisted and shattered before bursting into light and vanishing!
Another of Yuto's threats had been cut down.
"Turn end!"
Joey ended confidently, leaving [Tiger Axe] and two hidden cards on his field, eyes fixed on Yuto's fragile defense.
...
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