"Tualatin's direct attack!"
As the overwhelming blast swept toward him, Kira said nothing, but Eye on the side was already yelling.
"This guy goes straight for the kill, what an aggressive opener!"
But before she could finish, a certain silver-haired magician bonked her on the head with her staff.
The Silent Magician glared at her, her expression clearly saying, "Be quiet, don't embarrass our master!"
Big Eye looked as if she were about to cry: "Big Sis is so mean…"
"I activate face-down card—Trap Card Break Awayl'," Kira said. "During your opponent's battle phase, discard a Spell Card from your hand to immediately end the battle phase and negate all monster effects until the end of the turn."
Kira discarded a card to the graveyard. A golden barrier instantly formed, Tualatin's full-power attack slamming into it without leaving a ripple.
The battle phase ended immediately, and both duel disks switched to "Main Phase 2."
"And the Spell Card I just sent to the graveyard was 'Card of Compensation,'" Kira said calmly. "When this card is sent to the graveyard, I can draw two cards."
Kira drew two cards.
"No need to rush," Kira smiled. "Ending things so quickly would be boring—play with me a little longer."
Momono clicked his tongue.
"Turn end."
"My turn, draw." Kira revealed his hand. "Activate Spell Card 'Graceful Charity.'
Draw three cards, then discard two from my hand."
He glanced at the new cards, then smiled at Momono's field.
"Tualatin—the card that even the previous Duel King faced, right?"
"That's right," Momono replied, smug. "Even Yugi Muto was suppressed by it for a while—the angel that wipes out all darkness and dominates the field of light."
"Is that so?" Kira smiled. "But didn't he get destroyed by an all-DARK deck?"
Momono's smile vanished, turning grim, and he snorted heavily without replying.
"Don't look so tense. A good friend of mine always says duels should be fun—they should make people smile.
Since you're so unhappy..."
Kira leisurely drew a card and smiled.
"Let me use this card to put a smile on your face.
I tribute your 'absolute ruler of light, Tualatin' on your field to Special Summon this powerful monster to your field! The queen of volcanoes, from the Lava family—
—Volcanic Queen, Summon!!!"
Momono: "?"
Tributing my...
Huh?
Flames suddenly erupted from the ground, encircling Tualatin and swallowing him in a pillar of lava. In an instant, the angel was melted by the fire and disappeared into molten metal.
Then, from the lava, a form emerged, at first twisting like a fire dragon, then spreading massive wings of flame, even the head ablaze with eternal fire.
Volcanic Queen, Summon!
[Volcanic Queen, ATK 2500]
"Well, I can't normal summon the turn I summon Volcanic Queen," Kira said with a helpless gesture. "See, I even gave up my precious normal summon for you—isn't that considerate?"
"Exactly!" Eye jumped in to support Kira.
"Aren't you going to say thank you?"
Momono: "..."
Are these two doing a comedy routine?
"Of course, I can't summon a monster for defense—if you attack, that could be trouble." Kira continued, playing another card. "So I activate the Continuous Spell 'Level Limit - Area B.'
This card forces all Level 4 or higher monsters on the field into Defense Position!"
The Spell appeared, and a powerful force pressed down. Momono's Volcanic Queen and Airknight both lowered their heads, dropping into defensive stances.
[Volcanic Queen, ATK 2500 → DEF 1200]
[Airknight Parshath, ATK 1900 → DEF 1400]
Momono frowned slightly.
Here we go again, the walling strategy. One of the Duel King's favorite tactics.
"Finally, I set three cards face-down and end my turn," Kira said.
With a flurry of sound effects, three more face-down cards appeared on Kira's field, exuding an ominous chill.
"Level Limit plus three set cards!" Eye squinted her big eye provocatively.
"Try and break through if you dare!"
Momono ignored the childish taunt.
"No monsters up front, all defenses in the back row, huh..."
He glanced at the Volcanic Queen he now controlled, quickly scanning its effect text.
"At the end of each of your turns, tribute 1 monster you control or take 1000 damage."
Momono gritted his teeth.
Damn, this really is a hot potato.
It sits there, making it clear it wants to be fed—either feed it a monster, or feed it your LP, but it has to eat something every turn.
But it's not without upsides...
Momono said coldly: "Since the Duel King was so generous, let me make use of your gift.
Activate Volcanic Queen's effect!
Once per turn, I can send a card on my field other than Volcanic Queen to the graveyard to inflict 1000 damage to you!"
He swept his hand, pulling the Continuous Spell from his back row.
"I send 'Court of Justice' to the graveyard as ammunition for Volcanic Queen, inflicting 1000 damage to you!"
The sanctuary, shrouded in holy light, burst into flames, quickly burning into a fireball that was absorbed by Volcanic Queen.
Volcanic Queen's flames burned brighter and brighter, until it expelled a column of fire straight at Kira!
"About to get burned by your own monster!" Eye started to shriek dramatically.
Kira snapped his fingers. "Activate Trap Card—'Nature's Reflection.'
This turn, any effect damage you would inflict is instead reflected back to you."
Momono: "!"
Nani?
His pupils shrank as he realized:
Giving me Volcanic Queen and luring me into using its effect… Was that part of the plan, too?
"Ugh!"
[Momono, LP 4000 → 3000]
Struck by his own fire, Momono staggered back, gritting his teeth in frustration.
"Damn it…"
"Don't just use what your opponent gives you," Eye now changed tone, her big eye squinting in a smile. "Didn't anyone ever teach you that basic lesson?"
Even Volcanic Queen, who'd just roasted its controller, turned to Momono and growled in agreement.
Exactly—falling for such an obvious bait is just too noob.
Momono: "..."