Careless.
Momono was now truly experiencing the malice of society through a duel, and he'd come to a deeper understanding of the maxim "never use something your opponent gives you in a duel."
Otherwise, getting the short end of the stick is one thing—but being mocked until your mentality collapses is the real problem.
That's exactly how he felt now. The more he looked at that Volcanic Queen, the more punchable she seemed. Something about her presence felt like she was constantly mocking him.
"Don't get cocky too soon!"
Momono barked.
Just one Continuous Spell to shut down his offense? Who did this guy think he was dealing with? Some overrated street duelist?
"Quick-Play Spell 'Mystical Space Typhoon': destroy any Spell/Trap on the field," Momono snapped. "Naturally, I'm destroying your face-down Continuous Spell 'Level Limit – Area B'!"
A black tempest hoisted the Spell Card into the air, and a lightning bolt from the eye of the storm split it into glittering shards.
The oppressive seal instantly lifted. The pressure crushing all monsters on the field dissipated in a heartbeat.
"With that, the attack restriction is gone," Momono said. "Monsters can change their battle positions again.
Change 'Volcanic Queen' and 'Airknight Parshath' from Defense Position to Attack Position!"
[Volcanic Queen: DEF 1200 → ATK 2500]
[Airknight Parshath: DEF 1400 → ATK 1900]
"Next, Equip Spell 'Premature Burial'!" Momono thrust out the card. "Pay 800 Life Points to Special Summon a monster from my GY in Attack Position and equip it with this card!
Obviously, I'm reviving this one."
[Masumi Momono, LP 3000 → 2200]
A vortex to the underworld opened. Before the monster even appeared, blinding white radiance burst from the darkness, as if turning hell into high noon. A towering steel angel rose like a sun; argent armor gleamed with searing brilliance.
Tualatin, revived!
[Tualatin, ATK 2800]
"If you thought a single Spell could seal my attacks, you miscalculated," Momono roared. "I'll use the monster you gifted me to finish you off!
First, Tualatin attacks directly!"
Endless white light gathered, coalescing into a blade. A holy sword forged from pure luminance. The tip touched the ground and sent ripples of power across the field, burning away darkness like the noonday sun.
One sweeping strike carved through Kira's empty board and came crashing down upon him—
"This isn't good," the Eye muttered snidely on the side. "If we get felled by the monster we gave him, that'd be hilarious."
"True enough."
Kira remained utterly calm. He snapped his fingers with a smile.
"Activate the set card: Continuous Trap 'Scrubbed Raid.'
I can send any other card I control to the GY to activate its effect.
End this Battle Phase immediately."
Momono: "!"
His pupils shrank. He immediately realized what that meant.
This thing was more suffocating than Level Limit or Gravity Bind! Level Limit – Area B only forced Level 4+ monsters to Defense. Gravity Bind only locked Level 4+ attacks. Monsters unaffected by Spells/Traps could ignore those, and you could also summon low-Level monsters with high ATK or use direct attackers to get around it.
None of that applies here.
As long as Kira has any card to send, he can forcibly end every Battle Phase, and it's Continuous. In other words, as long as he keeps feeding it, he can skip Momono's Battle Phase every turn.
No Battle Phase means no attacks. Unless Momono deals with this Trap, even the Egyptian Gods would just sit there and glare at it.
"I send 'Doomdog Octhros' from my field to the GY to activate 'Scrubbed Raid.'"
Kira casually slid the monster card into the Duel Disk's GY.
"Battle Phase ends."
The eerie hound dissolved into particles and sank into the Trap as raw energy. A domineering wave burst from the Trap, sweeping across the field.
Tualatin's holy sword shattered the instant it touched that wave, scattering back into light. The steel angel hit the pulse and rebounded, thwarted.
The Eye pulled down its eyelid in mockery. "Ha! Can't hit means can't hit. Mad yet? Scrub."
Momono's face was dark. "Your spirit has no manners."
Kira smiled. "I'll take that as a compliment. Thanks."
Momono: "…"
"We're not done," Kira added cheerfully. "The monster I just sent to the GY as COST, 'Doomdog Octhros,' also has an effect.
If this card is sent from the field to the GY, add one Level 8 Fiend from your Deck to your hand."
Momono frowned. "Level 8 Fiend?"
Back in his card-shop-wrecker days, he specialized in studying opponents and picking "counter decks" to beat them. He always did his homework before a match.
And according to his intel, when the Duel King searches a Level 8 Fiend, it usually means—
"I add 'Lava Golem' from my Deck to my hand," Kira showed the card with a smile.
Momono's face darkened further.
Knew it.