"Continuous Trap 'Element Absorber'!" Teacher Dade Temple said, "Banish a Monster Card from your hand from the game, and all monsters on the opponent's side with the same attribute as the banished monster will have their attacks negated as long as this card is on the field." (Original card effect)
In reality, using this card is not much different from the original work, with only some slight differences. In the animation, it is described as "opponent's monster attacks are negated," while the actual card effect has been changed to "unable to declare an attack."
Arguably, the actual card is slightly stronger. Because according to the animation effect, monsters not affected by traps should be able to ignore it, but once it becomes a real card, being unable to declare an attack translates to an effect on the player, which even cards with full resistance can't bypass.
"I banish the Dark Attribute 'Dark Elf: Luna' from my hand from the game," Teacher Dade Temple said, "All Dark Attribute monsters now have their attacks negated."
The Monster Card in Teacher Dade Temple's hand disappeared into an alchemical vortex of energy and then transformed into a massive dark vortex in the absorber, protecting him. Before even approaching, the Survivor of the Other Dimension was blown away by the gale from the vortex and had no choice but to retreat.
"Then, I'll forgo my battle phase, set two cards, and end my turn." Yugen smiled, "As expected of Teacher Dade Temple, truly impressive."
This wasn't just commercial praise; he genuinely felt this way.
Teacher Dade Temple's deck might seem like a soggy fish to any real card player, since at first glance it appears unusable by anyone.
First of all, the core of his deck must be this 'Alchemy Cauldron.' This card cannot be searched, and all his Alchemy Beasts can only be summoned when the Alchemy Cauldron is on the field. In other words, without this item, his hand would be deadlocked, and he must draw this card at the start.
And drawing only this card isn't enough; he also needs to draw a Magic Card able to Special Summon the Alchemy Beasts. He possesses Alchemy Beasts of six different attributes: Earth, Water, Fire, Wind, Light, and Dark, but none of the Alchemy Beasts can be Normal Summoned and must be Special Summoned through their specific Magic Card.
Thus, he not only needs to draw the Alchemy Cauldron but also has to draw the specific Magic Card to Special Summon the Alchemy Beasts. Additionally, they are generally Special Summoned from the deck, meaning they cannot be drawn into the hand. If they are drawn, it would be useless clutter, wasting a card in hand.
And then there is this 'Element Absorber.'
This Continuous Trap evidently has a special effect against single-attribute decks. For example, against Cyber Dragon, by banishing a Light Attribute monster, the Element Absorber directly negates the attacks of the entire opposing deck.
But Dade Temple is different; he used this Element Absorber against Yuki Judai and his Elemental Hero deck.
It should be noted that Judai's lower-level Elemental Heroes hardly have repeated attributes, each hero possessing a different attribute. Yet, Teacher Dade Temple miraculously drew the appropriate attribute monster for whatever attribute hero Judai had, effectively sealing the attacks of monsters of all attributes: Earth, Water, Fire, Wind, etc.
To be fair, Judai's various small Elemental Hero combos are already clunky, but Teacher Dade Temple's deck is evidently no less so. Therefore, rather than a battle of decks, Judai and Teacher Dade Temple's duel was more about pure luck.
Perhaps, luck might just be the ultimate realm of alchemy.
Of course, this further proves that Teacher Dade Temple is a duelist of a completely different caliber compared to the other Seven-Stars. Mastering such a clumsy deck to such an extent is surely the mark of a top-level expert.
"My turn, draw." Teacher Dade Temple said, "Activate the Magic Card 'Pot of Greed,' to draw two cards from the deck."
"Then, at this moment, I activate the Continuous Trap 'Free Ride.'" Yugen said, "When the opponent uses a card effect to draw cards, I can activate this. Afterward, each time the opponent draws cards outside of the draw phase, I may also draw two cards from my deck."
Teacher Dade Temple was unfazed and continued, "Then I activate the Magic Card 'Iron Oil Lamp' from my hand.
When 'Alchemy Cauldron - Chaos Refinement' exists on my field, I can Special Summon 'Alchemy Beast - Iron Fire Dragon' from my hand or deck!"
The Alchemy Cauldron activated once more, emitting a deep hum from which a soaring flame materialized into a dragon form.
[Alchemy Beast - Iron Fire Dragon, Attack Power 500]
"Then I activate the Magic Card 'Copper Balance.'" Teacher Dade Temple said, "Similarly, when the Alchemy Cauldron is on the field, I can Special Summon 'Alchemy Beast: Copper-Scaled Python' from the deck!"
[Alchemy Beast: Copper-Scaled Python, Attack Power 500]
"This certainly feels like an alchemy-themed duel," Yugen said with a smile.
If one only watches the animation, a deck that is so difficult to operate is undoubtedly not strong. But if it were to be realized into physical cards, it might be different.
Everyone knows K Society's approach now—recently, they have been crazily turning old decks from the DM and GX era into physical cards. If one day Teacher Dade Temple's deck gets released, each lower-level Alchemy Beast in the materialized Alchemy Card Deck would probably receive two or three new effects.
K Society has proven more than once that if they want to, there isn't a deck they can't power up. Giving each of Teacher Dade Temple's various lower-level Alchemy Beasts the ability to actively Special Summon, search, and recycle could probably make them the new meta masters.
"The common effect of Alchemy Beasts allows them to ignore defense and attack the opponent directly." Teacher Dade Temple shouted, "Go!
Lion of Lead, Iron Fire Dragon, Copper-Scaled Python, all attack directly!"
The three Alchemy Beasts leaped forward simultaneously, each one attacking Yugen directly. Yugen used his Duel Disc to shield himself, swaying but managing to stay upright.
[Yugen, LP 4000→LP 2500]
"Such attacks are merely appetizers." Teacher Dade Temple chuckled, "Surely, Lord Duel King won't be overwhelmed by this."
"Ah, Teacher, you are certainly sharp," Yugen said with a pained expression.
"Haha, don't get too relaxed."
Teacher Dade Temple smiled.
"Alchemy duels transcend conventional sense, as alchemists exist to shatter conventional understanding... Well, from this perspective, maybe you, Yugen, are more like an alchemy expert.
After all, you're someone who never follows rules and consistently breaks common perceptions."
He continued solemnly.
"My battle phase ends. But I will now play this card from my hand, the Magic Card 'Black Process - Nigredo'!" (Original Card)
The Magic Card was activated, as a shadowy light enveloped the three Alchemy Beasts on the field.
"Black Process can only be activated when the Alchemy Cauldron is on the field," Teacher Dade Temple said, "Banish all my Alchemy Beasts on the field from the game, and for each one, I can draw two cards from the deck!"
"Banishing the Alchemy Beasts while replenishing resources." Yugen remarked, "For Teacher Dade Temple's Alchemy Card Deck, banished cards also count as resources... thinking of it that way, it's truly advantageous."
"Oh, you've quickly grasped the mechanics of the Alchemy Card Deck." Teacher Dade Temple said with a faint laugh, "Worthy of the Duel King indeed."
"Yes, and I've prepared a little countermeasure," Yugen said with a smile, snapping his fingers.
"Activate the Cover Card. Continuous Trap - Royal Palace's Iron Wall.
As long as this card is on the field, neither of us can banish cards from the game!"