"Hmph... Draw card."
Kaibaman draws a card from the top of his deck.
He glanced at Tenjo Hikari: "I initially thought it would be a casual activity, but it turns out you're not just some worthless trash.
However, daring to say you want to touch Blue-Eyes in front of me, no one can escape unscathed!
Prepare to be battered and bruised!
Show the Blue-Eyes White Dragon from my hand, Special Summon, Blue-Eyes Alternative White Dragon!"
A white dragon, evidently leaner than the Blue-Eyes White Dragon, appeared amidst the lightning.
Blue-Eyes Alternative White Dragon, LV 8, Light Attribute, Dragon-Type, ATK 3000.
"This card is treated as Blue-Eyes White Dragon on the field and in the Graveyard."
"In the Graveyard, if you successfully Summon or Special Summon Blue-Eyes White Dragon, you can activate the effect of toughness! invincible! strongest! Cover this card on your field."
"Ah?" Tierra exclaimed, "Cover it again?"
It already stopped one of Tenjo Hikari's attacks once, and if this card can cover itself back, wouldn't Tenjo Hikari be rendered powerless once again next turn?
"What? Are you afraid? Is this all you can muster?" Kaibaman heard Tierra's words and couldn't help but sneer.
However, compared to her, Tenjo Hikari remained calm.
Kaibaman observed Tenjo Hikari's expression for a while, then chuckled casually.
"Don't worry, when that card is covered again, it will be banished next time." Tenjo Hikari said.
Tierra breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this.
"Hmm? How do you know?" Kaibaman felt puzzled.
"Monster effect of Blue-Eyes Alternative White Dragon, once per turn, target one monster your opponent controls. Destroy that monster.
Disappear, Dark Magician!"
Alternative White Dragon took a deep breath and then unleashed a white beam of light directly at the Dark Paladin. The Dark Paladin struggled in vain and shattered in the next second.
"Chaos Emperor's effect activates when this Fusion Summon card is destroyed by battle or card effect. Target one Spell Card in your Graveyard, add that card to your hand! I'll add The Eye of Timaeus to my hand."
"Oh-ho... Retrieving Spell Cards, huh? Truly like that magician."
"But, this also means that Blue-Eyes Alternative White Dragon won't be able to attack." Tierra, having witnessed Kaiba Seto use this card, was well aware.
"Hmm?" Kaibaman heard Tierra's voice and felt puzzled once more, then said, "You know Alternative White Dragon's effect..."
He pondered for a bit, seemingly thinking about something, but then gave up and laughed loudly: "No matter, even if you know, what can you do! Blue-Eyes White Dragon, obliterate the dragon that dares to challenge you!
Burst Stream of Destruction!"
Blue-Eyes White Dragon slowly gathered energy, then unleashed a torrent toward Keeper of Dragon Magic.
The white light pierced through Keeper of Dragon Magic and struck behind Tenjo Hikari.
"End turn."
"Is it ending so simply again?" Tierra lightly touched her cheek and said to Tenjo Hikari, "What are you going to do, Tenjo Hikari? That guy is probably confident there's nothing to worry about with that Trap Card."
Tenjo Hikari nodded.
Normally, he wouldn't be able to deal with Blue-Eyes White Dragon under the effect of toughness! invincible! strongest!
After all, his deck doesn't contain cards like Lava Golem or Santa Claus; his way of dealing with monsters is limited to battle destruction or effect handling.
However, the difference now is that Tenjo Hikari has an additional chance.
That is—Kaibaman has two monsters on the field, and Tenjo Hikari just needs to find a way to force Kaibaman to protect one, then deal with the other.
For example, Scissor Tiger of the Frightfur series or monsters from the Gem-Knight series could pressure him.
"My turn, draw card."
Tenjo Hikari glanced at his hand, Ready Fusion...
He looked to his left.
Oh!
His eyes lit up.
"Activate Spell Card, Ready Fusion."
"Pay 1000 LP, Special Summon one non-effect Fusion Monster of LV 6 or lower from the Extra Deck. Monsters Special Summoned by this effect cannot attack and are destroyed at the End Phase."
"Oh?" Kaibaman felt slightly puzzled.
Tenjo Hikari LP: 4000→3000.
"Special Summon, Bracchio-raidus!"
An ancient Bracchio-raidus with no effect, standard, and without any distinguishing features, swayed its head and appeared on the field.
"You still have this card in your deck?" Tierra couldn't help but ask.
"It's the beginning of everything, of course, I won't forget it." Tenjo Hikari smiled.
Bracchio-raidus, LV 6, Water Attribute, Dinosaur-Type, ATK 2200.
"Hahahahaha—what a weakling monster, ridiculous, you think you can challenge Blue-Eyes with a monster like this?"
"I certainly understand the strength of Blue-Eyes, but Mr. Kaiba, the fusion I pursue won't let me abandon any fusion partners, so even cards that aren't strong, I won't consider useless."
"Oh? Interesting, then show me, kid."
"Activate Spell Card, Metamorphosis!" Tenjo Hikari immediately drew a card, raising his lips, "Mr. Kaiba, if you don't use the effect now, it will be too late."
Kaiba Seto frowned, seeing that Tenjo Hikari wasn't bluffing, he felt perplexed.
"Metamorphosis converts a monster into a Fusion Monster of the same level, LV 6..." He suddenly paused.
"Could it be..."
"Release the LV 6 Bracchio-raidus and Special Summon, Ryu Senshi!"
The Bracchio-raidus slowly ascended the steps, and a warrior clad in ancient dragon armor swung a silvery greatsword, safeguarding the field.
Ryu Senshi, LV 6, Earth Attribute, Warrior-Type, DEF 1200.
"Ho ho... Ryu Senshi?" Kaibaman chuckled, "I see, a Fusion Monster that can seal Normal Traps?"
"Next, things become simple, activate Normal Spell Card, Fusion Armament!"
"First dispatch, now reinforcement? Looks like it has a similar effect."
"That's right, this card lets you reveal one Fusion Monster from your Extra Deck to your opponent, and Special Summon one Fusion Material Monster with the mentioned name from your Extra Deck or Graveyard! The monster Special Summoned by this effect cannot attack until the end of the opponent's turn, and its effects are negated."
"I reveal the Dark Paladin!"
"Hmph." This time, Kaibaman snorted coldly with some resentment.
"Special Summon the Dark Magician from the Graveyard, then activate Spell Card, The Eye of Timaeus! Send Dark Magician to the Graveyard and Fusion Summon, Dark Paladin!"
The red-robed Dark Magician donned a swordsman's attire, wielded a Dragon-Slaying Greatsword in his hand, and swung it freely.
Due to the presence of Dreamland, Tenjo Hikari drew another card.
Dark Paladin, LV 8, Dark Attribute, Spellcaster-Type, Attack Power 2900.
"This card increases by 500 points for each Dragon-Type Monster in both players' fields and Graveyards!"
Tenjo Hikari clenched his fist, saying, "Your The White Stone of Legend in the Graveyard, my Keeper of Dragon Magic in the Graveyard, your two Blue-Eyes White Dragons on the field, a total of 2000 points!"
Dark Paladin, ATK, 2900→4900.
"Battle, use Dark Paladin to attack the Blue-Eyes Alternative White Dragon!"
"Huh. Wield the sword against Blue-Eyes, do you? Think I'll be intimidated by the activation of a Trap and won't dare act?—Naive, activate Trap Card, Strong! Invincible! Ultimate!"
"Then, Ryu Senshi's monster effect! As long as this card exists on the field, you can pay 1000 Life Points to negate Normal Trap effects!"
The Trap Card had just flipped up when Ryu Senshi leapt forward, slashing it to pieces. Simultaneously, with Ryu Senshi's excellent coordination, Dark Paladin successfully struck Blue-Eyes Alternative White Dragon with his sword.
With a loud bang.
The Alternative White Dragon shattered!
Tenjo Hikari, LP: 3000→2000.
Kaibaman, LP: 4000→2100.
The smoke cleared, leaving Kaibaman standing in place.
"End turn..."
On the other side, feeling the impact, Kaibaman burst into laughter after a moment: "Interesting, truly interesting!"
After finishing his laugh, he looked at Tenjo Hikari and said, "I see, no wonder you dared to challenge me, certainly unusual."
He glanced at Tenjo Hikari's field: "At first, I thought you were some boastful clown. Later, seeing you use Dark Magician and The Eye of Timaeus, I found you somewhat intriguing.
Who would have thought that with so many powerful, novel cards available, you would still retain the use of such old cards like Bracchio-raidus and Ryu Senshi.
Interesting—
As a duelist, it's enough to earn my praise."
"But, don't think you can now rest easy, draw—"
"Heh... Dark Paladin can discard cards to block the activation of Spell Cards, Ryu Senshi can block the activation of Trap Cards, but they cannot block Monster Cards."
"Summon, Dictator of D.—"
The classic Dictator of Dragons, holding a staff crowned with a Blue-Eyes White Dragon head, descends onto the field.
Dictator of D., LV 4, Spellcaster-Type, Attack Power 1200.
"This card can discard one Blue-Eyes White Dragon or a card that has its name written, targeting a Blue-Eyes in your Graveyard for activation. That monster is Special Summoned."
He discarded the Blue-Eyes White Dragon from his hand.
Dark Paladin, ATK: 4900→5400.
"Special Summon, Blue-Eyes White Dragon!"
"Isn't this just increasing the attack power of Dark Paladin?" Tierra asked puzzledly, "Moreover... why not directly Special Summon the Blue-Eyes Alternative White Dragon? Can't it destroy Dark Paladin directly?"
"Hmph, ridiculous, how could I flee from the battle with Dark Magician? Even if it's not him—"
"Show yourself, Blue-Eyes White Dragon!"
The second Blue-Eyes White Dragon.
Tenjo Hikari furrowed his brow...
This feeling, could it be?
"And then... use both monsters on the field as Xyz Material to construct the Xyz Network!"
"What?" Tierra exclaimed.
Tenjo Hikari's eyes opened wide.
Indeed—
"Noble dragons, respond to my call!"
"Widen your eyes and watch closely, you'll be the first to witness this scene!"
"Xyz Summon!"
"Rank 8, Indigo-Eyes Silver Dragon!"