Quaking Mirror Force!
A derivative trap of Holy Shield; the arena instantly turned into flying sand and rolling stones. Golden sand whipped into a storm, converging into something like Holy Shield's reflective barrier—only it was built from a whirling maelstrom of dust.
It didn't destroy so much as blanket the entire enemy field.
But even after stepping into such a deadly trap, Hayato Kuroda didn't panic. Instead, the corner of his mouth hooked up in a "just-as-planned" smile.
Heh, knew there'd be a pitfall. He knew it.
"Activate set card, trap: Trap Stun!"
Hayato barked.
"For this turn, all traps on the field except this card are negated!"
A specialized counter-trap: the moment it activated, an invisible force covered the arena, forming a field that forbade traps. The vortex of yellow sand collapsed at once, shattered by that blow.
"Ha ha ha! You think I don't know your love of traps?" Hayato laughed. "This is the perfect way to deal with you, Duel King!
Without traps, your fighting power drops sharply!
Beetron-1 Beetletop, keep attacking!"
Kira's set monster flipped up: a bespectacled girl clutching a book. Seeing the attack coming, she hurriedly raised the book to block, but to no avail. The beetle tore the book apart and slammed her to the ground. She groaned; her image fragmented.
[Learning Elf, DEF 1500]
"The monster you just destroyed is 'Learning Elf,'" Kira said. "When it's sent to the GY, I draw 1 card."
"But now your field is empty," Hayato shouted, "and my beetle assault isn't finished—"
"Don't rush. Activate set card, trap: Time Machine," Kira said. "Return a monster destroyed by battle to the field in the same battle position."
A bizarre machine appeared, exuding black smoke that seemed to twist space-time within it.
"So I'll revive the monster that was destroyed from my GY."
Kira retrieved the card just sent to the GY and slammed it back onto the field. The bespectacled Elf crouched back into defense.
"Special Summon 'Learning Elf'!"
[Learning Elf, DEF 1500]
"Tch. Beetron-2 Beetleturbo's ATK equals Learning Elf's DEF; the battle won't resolve. Attack canceled," Hayato snorted.
"Activate Spell Card: Magic Planter. By sending a Continuous Spell on the field to the GY, draw 2 cards.
"I send the Continuous Spell 'Frontline Base' to the GY and draw 2!"
Frontline Base burst into golden motes; Hayato drew two new cards.
"And just as you wish… fuse my three beetles into their final form!"
Hayato raised his arm and shouted:
"By banishing the assembled three beetles on the field, I can perform a direct combination summon. Come forth, the assault beetle armor whose unmatched firepower crushes all obstacles—
—Assault Cannon Beetle, Combination Summon!"
At his command, the three beetles transformed, magnetically drawing together. With the grind of metal, they combined: a red spider-legged base, a black iron beetle body, and a stag-beetle pincer tail.
[Assault Cannon Beetle, ATK 2400]
"Whoa, looks like a tough guy," Kira said.
"You'll find out how tough soon enough. Turn end," Hayato huffed.
"My turn, draw."
He first played a Spell.
"Activate Equip Spell 'Wonder Wand,' equip to a Spellcaster. Equipped monster gains 500 ATK.
I equip Wonder Wand to 'Learning Elf.'"
[Learning Elf, ATK 1400 → 1900]
Hayato: "Even with the boost, you're nowhere near Assault Cannon Beetle's power."
"I know. So I'll use Wonder Wand's second effect: send the equipped monster and this card to the GY to draw 2 cards."
Kira drew two, paused.
"Then Learning Elf's effect: when sent to the GY, I draw 1 more card."
Hayato: "Refilled three cards at once."
Kira calmly picked three from his hand.
"I set one monster and two backrow. Turn end."
Hayato frowned.
Still not attacking?
So he has no way yet to punch through my Assault Cannon Beetle.
But in any case—
"My turn, draw!"
He glanced at the draw and played it straight away.
"Activate Spell Card 'Card Destruction.' Both players discard their entire hands, then draw the same number."
But Kira, who'd been unruffled until now, looked momentarily stunned when he saw that card.
Then the surprise turned to amusement, as if he could barely keep from laughing.
Hayato: "?"
It's just Card Destruction—everyone runs it. What's so funny?
"Hahaha… Sorry, it's just…"
Kira chuckled.
"I was just thinking, I've pulled this combo quite a few times already. It's worked a fair bit… but this is the first time the opponent proactively cooperated to complete it."
Hayato: "?"
The hell?
He didn't get it, but the more he listened the more anxious he felt.
"This is it."
Kira snapped his fingers with a smile.
"Activate set card, trap: W Nebula Meteorite. Flip all face-down monsters on the field into face-up Defense Position."
"Face-down on the field?" Hayato said. "There's only your one—"
"Correct. And that monster is…"
Kira flipped the card.
"Protector of the Sanctuary."
[Protector of the Sanctuary, DEF 1900]
"While Protector of the Sanctuary is face-up on the field, your opponent cannot draw cards except during the Draw Phase," Kira said.
Hayato thought quickly.
Wait, let me piece this together.
Opponent can't draw outside the Draw Phase.
Card Destruction: both players discard entire hands, then draw the same number.
So I discard my entire hand… then I can't draw…
Hayato: "!!!!!!"
Huh?
"Looks like you noticed. Yes. You activated Card Destruction, but after you discard your hand, due to Protector of the Sanctuary, you cannot draw," Kira said.
"I, however, resolve Card Destruction, discard my entire hand, then draw the same number."
Kira discarded and redrew.
He even gave his opponent a polite smile after.
"Thanks."
Hayato: "…"