Chaos Distill, activate!
Flames flared on Lyman's field, forming a burning ring. A heavy alchemical cauldron rose with a rumble from the fire and set down on his field.
"As long as Chaos Distill is on the field, any of my cards sent to the Graveyard are banished instead," Lyman smiled.
Weevil frowned slightly.
Banishing your own cards… Is this a banish-focused deck?
Sensing his doubt, Lyman chuckled.
"You can't judge alchemy by common sense," he said, then indicated another card.
The tabby casually picked up that card in its mouth and slid it into the disk.
"Spell Card: Steel Lamp!
This card can only be activated if Chaos Distill is on your field. Special Summon one 'Alchemy Beast - Salamandra the Steel' from your hand or Deck."
A huge lamp manifested. Iron-like lamp oil dripped from the Deck, sizzling on the ground and releasing white steam. Blazing fire surged up and took the shape of a dragon.
[Alchemy Beast - Salamandra the Steel, ATK 500]
"Effect of Alchemy Beast - Salamandra the Steel," Lyman smiled. "Alchemical Beasts can attack the opponent directly, ignoring monsters!"
Weevil's face changed. "Nani?"
"Salamandra the Steel, direct attack!"
The dragon shot straight across the field, ignoring Ultimate Insect, and blasted Weevil in the face.
[Weevil, LP 4000 → 3500]
"Tch. Cheap tricks," Weevil scoffed, then pushed up his glasses and sneered. "But to deal just a bit of damage, you're leaving such a weak monster on the field? I'll crush it in no time—"
"Oh?"
Lyman's ghost also pushed up imaginary frames and smiled.
"Even in death, I've learned a few tricks from my students. Let's see if you're ready for this…
I set two cards and end my turn."
"At the end of your turn, my set card activates!"
As his back row flipped, a torrent of golden light burst up from the ground, engulfing Weevil's Ultimate Insect.
"Trap Card: Level Change!" Weevil shouted. "This card can only be activated during your opponent's End Phase!
Send one face-up 'LV' monster you control to the Graveyard; Special Summon, ignoring Summoning conditions and revival restrictions, one monster listed on that card from your Graveyard!" (anime card)
Weevil pointed to LV3.
"Send Ultimate Insect LV3 to the Graveyard to rank it up—come forth—
—Ultimate Insect LV5!"
Bathed in gold, the insect grew and evolved at visible speed, its body swelling drastically. Blades sprouted for legs, and armored plates seemed to encase its form.
[Ultimate Insect LV5, ATK 2300]
"Ranking up to LV5 in a single turn," Lyman chuckled. "LV monsters can rank up again in your Standby Phase.
So next turn you're aiming for LV7?"
"Exactly!"
Weevil's eyes gleamed.
"I don't have time to waste on a cat. I'll end this quickly.
My turn—draw!
Standby Phase, Ultimate Insect LV5's effect! Send LV5 to the Graveyard to evolve again! Appear—
—Ultimate Insect LV7!"
Weevil laughed madly, as if reaching the pinnacle of his life. It was the aura unique to a duelist summoning his ace. His Ultimate Insect was once more wrapped in radiant evolution, growing and transforming; a terrifying creature was about to emerge from that golden storm—
But at that instant—
"I'll chain to the effect of the Ultimate Insect LV5 you just sent to the Graveyard."
Lyman spoke, and the Pharaoh-cat's paw smacked the activation button on a set card.
"Chain two set cards.
First, the Trap Card 'Ojama Trio'—Special Summon three 'Ojama Tokens' to your opponent's field!"
Green, yellow, and black tokens leapt out gleefully and piled onto Weevil's field.
Weevil: "?"
Huh? What the hell?
[Ojama Token, DEF 1000] x3
"Then the other set card: Continuous Trap 'Rivalry of Warlords'!" Lyman grinned. "While this card's on the field, both players send monsters to the Graveyard until they control only one Type… which means, for as long as it remains, each of us can only control monsters of one Type!"
Weevil: "…"
Dude, seriously?
What the hell is this?
"The legendary duelist catches on fast. In other words," Lyman adjusted his glasses, "all three tokens are Beast-type, so you can't control monsters of any other Type.
Also, you already sent Ultimate Insect LV5 to the Graveyard as the cost of its own effect. But before that effect can resolve, Rivalry of Warlords is in effect, and you're unable to Summon a non-Beast monster—in other words, your Insect can't come out.
So Ultimate Insect LV7 cannot be Special Summoned."
Weevil stared wide-eyed at the cat.
As if to say:
Believe it or not, I'll strangle you, you damn cat!
Who taught you to duel like this?
"Well then, it's still your turn," Lyman said leisurely. "Of course, you can now only Summon Beast monsters.
What else you got?"
Weevil was silent for a few seconds.
Then, with a slightly trembling hand, he drew out a card.
"I set one. Turn end."
Indeed, there wasn't much else he could do.
Annoying as those three tokens were, at least they were three disposable walls.
He glanced at the set card he'd just placed.
Next turn, he had a way to break through.
"My turn. Draw."
The tabby cat drew.
"I activate the Spell Card 'Bronze Scale'," Lyman said. "If I control Chaos Distill, Special Summon 'Alchemy Beast - Ouroboros the Bronze' from my Deck!"
This time it was the bronze-element Alchemical Beast—different Type, but the same face value and ability as the Salamandra.
[Alchemy Beast - Ouroboros the Bronze, ATK 500]
"Then the Spell Card 'Lead Compass'! Special Summon 'Alchemy Beast - Leon the Lead' from my Deck!"
[Alchemy Beast - Leon the Lead, ATK 500]
"Salamandra the Steel, Ouroboros the Bronze, Leon the Lead—all can attack directly.
Direct attacks, all three!"
At Lyman's command, the trio of Alchemical Beasts shot forward, each landing a blow on Weevil's face.
Weevil: "Gwah!"
[Weevil, LP 3500 → 2000]
Weevil dropped to one knee and adjusted his askew glasses.
"Damn… You plan to win with this kind of tactic?!"