Royal Palace's Iron Wall!
"No card can be removed from the game..." Da Dezhi squinted his eyes. "I see, it blocked the possibility of alchemy transformation. It's indeed a rather lethal card for an Alchemy Card Deck.
Then let's use this move."
A gleam flashed in his crimson eyes.
"Counterattack Trap 'The Fall of the Palace'!" Da Dezhi said, "When the opponent activates a Continuous Trap Card, the activation and effect of that card are negated, and it is destroyed!"
Before the Royal Palace's Iron Wall could form, it collapsed with a thunderous crash, turning into ruins. With the iron wall's bondage gone, the exclusion zone reopened, and Da Dezhi's three Alchemy Beasts smoothly dispersed to the Other Dimension.
"Oh? The teacher also prepared a counter-strategy for my counter-strategy?" Yugen revealed an interested expression.
"Your dueling specializes in attacking weaknesses and sealing possibilities before they can unfold. So, I guessed that with your style, it was highly likely you'd use a sealing type Continuous Trap like the Royal Palace's Iron Wall."
Da Dezhi adjusted his glasses and chuckled lightly.
"But you're not the only one who understands the teacher; the teacher also knows your style.
Now, the processing of 'Black Process' effect, I've removed three Alchemy Beasts. Therefore, I'll draw six cards from my Deck."
Da Dezhi swiftly replenished his hand.
"Then, the Continuous Trap 'Free Ride' effect." Yugen said, "I'll also draw two cards from my Deck."
Da Dezhi: "Set two more face-down cards; turn ends."
"My turn, draw a card!"
Yugen glanced at his hand and played directly.
"Then I activate Magic Card 'Pot of Greed', drawing two cards from my Deck."
"Then use 'Survivor from Another Dimension' as a sacrifice for an Upper-level Summon!
The emperor who freezes everything—
—Mobius the Frost Monarch, summon!"
[Mobius the Frost Monarch, Attack Power 2400]
"Mobius the Frost Monarch, its summoning ability to destroy two magic traps... aiming at the 'Alchemy Cauldron'?" Da Dezhi quickly guessed his opponent's intention.
The Alchemy Cauldron is the core of his Alchemy Card Deck; all magic cards he just activated and all monsters he summoned can only be used when the Alchemy Cauldron is present.
"That won't do." Da Dezhi shouted, "Activate the face-down card, Counterattack Trap 'Divine Declaration'!
Pay half of Life Points, negate and destroy the monster's summon!"
[Da Dezhi, LP 4000→LP 2000]
Directly sacrificing half of the LP, the majestic phantom of The Old Sage appeared, extending his right palm forward in a waving gesture for "not allowed." Celestial thunder struck down, and poor Mobius was shredded into pieces by the divine lightning before it stood steady.
"Then the effect of 'Water Spirit Akuaelia' in hand." Yugen said, "This card can be specially summoned by removing a Water Attribute Monster from the game in the Graveyard.
Remove 'Mobius the Frost Monarch' from the game in the Graveyard, Special Summon 'Water Spirit Akuaelia'."
The water splashed out, and an Elf Maiden with blue skin appeared, with wisdom twinkling in her eyes.
[Water Spirit Akuaelia, Attack Power 1600]
"Direct attack by Akuaelia."
"Haha, haven't you forgotten that I still have 'Element Absorber' on the field?" Da Dezhi chuckled, "Then the effect of Continuous Trap 'Element Absorber' activates again.
By removing a Water Attribute 'Jar Turtle' from the hand, all attacks by Water Attribute Monsters are rendered invalid!"
Another Monster Card disappeared from his hand, absorbed into the Element Absorber. A huge whirlpool followed, nearly dragging Akuaelia into it, prompting her to exclaim and hastily retreat back to Yugen's field.
"Just happened to have a Water attribute in hand, the teacher is really capable..."
Yugen waved his hand.
"Then I'll set two more face-down cards; turn ends."
"My turn, draw a card!"
Da Dezhi once again revealed three more cards from his hand, all were Magic Cards.
"Then call upon the power of my Alchemy Beasts again, using these three cards!
Magic Card 'Tin Magic Array'!
Magic Card 'Hourglass of Mercury'!
Magic Card 'Silver Key'!"
The three cards floated before Da Dezhi.
"These three cards can only be activated when 'Alchemy Cauldron - Chaos Refinement' is present on the field.
Tin Magic Array, Special Summon from the Deck 'Alchemy Beast - Tin Eagle'!"
[Alchemy Beast - Tin Eagle, Attack Power 500]
"Hourglass of Mercury, Special Summon from the Deck 'Alchemy Beast - Mercury Carp'!"
[Alchemy Beast - Mercury Carp, Attack Power 500]
"Silver Key, Special Summon from the Deck 'Alchemy Beast - Silver Moon Face'!"
[Alchemy Beast - Silver Moon Face, Attack Power 500]
"So, all can directly attack." Yugen said.
Thinking this through, Da Dezhi's dueling style did have some resemblance to part of his own.
All Alchemy Beasts are submarine-type, avoiding frontal combat and directly attacking face-to-face; Element Absorber can seal off all attacks given there's enough power. Da Dezhi still hasn't used his trump card "Great Cosmos," which can physically erase both players' graveyards...
Interfering with the exclusion from the graveyard, sealing off attacks and then infinitely direct face-to-face attacks. If there's enough draw power to control this deck, it certainly shuts out everything.
Yugen pondered why Da Dezhi always looked favorably at him; no wonder Da Dezhi is the strongest among the Seven-Star Duelists, since they are of the same type...
"Then activate the face-down card, Trap Card 'Taunt'." Yugen said, "This card can only be activated during Main Phase 1.
Select one of your own Monsters; if the opponent launches an attack this turn, they can only target that Monster."
Yugen pointed at his Water Spirit, whose eyes seemed bewildered.
Me?
"Hahaha, it truly reflects Yugen's strategic style. So, indeed, there's a countermeasure too." Da Dezhi said, "Looks like it's not that easy for the teacher to attack... Okay.
Then set one face-down card on the field. Now, activate Magic Card 'Black Process - Nigredo' from the hand!
Activated when Alchemy Cauldron is present on your field. Remove all Alchemy Beasts from the game, drawing two cards for each one removed.
Thus, I remove three Alchemy Beasts from the game and draw six cards!"
Yugen pursed his lips.
Goodness, every time he draws six, is this the legendary skill of creating something out of nothing in alchemy?
It's indeed remarkable.
"But at this moment, the effect of the Continuous Trap 'Free Ride' also activates." Yugen said, "When the opponent draws cards during a phase other than the draw phase, I also draw two cards from my Deck."
As Da Dezhi drew six more cards, he looked at Yugen with undisguised admiration.
"Duel King... haha, now thinking back to when I first met Yugen, it feels like an eternity. Unbelievable, in just half a year's time, you've progressed to this level...
"Thanks to the teacher's guidance." Yugen said politely.
"Hahaha, I hardly did anything." Da Dezhi said, "But even facing the King, the teacher isn't easy to give up. And what the teacher can master isn't just Alchemy Beasts, now it's time to get serious, watch closely.
I summon 'Golden Artificial Life Form'!"
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