A vortex of water exploded on Yugen's field, condensing into a blue-skinned frog with a unicorn-like horn on its head. Its small body looked completely harmless, even a bit dazed.
[Piercing Frog, Attack Power 400]
Fake Jack's smile disappeared instantly, replaced by a flash of anger in his eyes: "You... are you taunting the king?"
If Yugen had summoned such a frog without saying much, it would've been nothing. At most, Fake Jack might have mocked him for his monster's weakness.
But Yugen went so far as to say it was the most suitable opponent for him. Such a weak and dazed frog, isn't that a taunt?
Yugen smiled, but didn't explain. However, a champion frog of the world, isn't it the most suitable opponent for a "king"?
"The effect of 'Ghost Frog' in my hand," Yugen said, "By discarding a Water Attribute monster from my hand, this card can be Special Summoned from the hand."
Yugen sent a monster from his hand to the graveyard.
"Special Summon 'Ghost Frog'!"
[Ghost Frog, Attack Power 1000]
"Ghost Frog's effect, when this card is successfully summoned, send a Water Race, Water Attribute, 2-star or lower monster from the deck or field to the graveyard."
Yugen took a monster that popped out from his deck and sent it to the graveyard.
"I send 'Pure Frog' from the deck to the graveyard."
Fake Jack snorted: "A Frog Card Deck? You plan to use such inconspicuous monsters..."
"Battle," Yugen said, "First, is the attack of 'Piercing Frog'!"
[Piercing Frog, Attack Power 400]
Fake Jack wondered: "Using a monster with only 400 attack power..."
"Piercing Frog's effect," Yugen explained, "This card can directly attack the opponent player."
Fake Jack frowned.
A direct attack... but only dealing 400 damage.
He had a Cover Card in the back field, a powerful trap "Blast Armor" that destroys the opponent's high star monsters summoned with great effort when they attack. Such a powerful trap shouldn't be wasted on destroying a trivial monster for just 400 life points; no sane person would choose to do so.
So Fake Jack remained silent and calmly endured the damage.
[Fake Jack, LP4000→ LP3600]
A transparent stream of water pierced through the Wheel of Fortune, but only dealt 400 points of damage, making it merely an itch in real damage terms.
However, after succeeding with this strike, a strong stream shot from the horn on Piercing Frog's head onto the Cover Card in Fake Jack's back field that he was reluctant to use. The poor Blast Armor never got the chance to activate, and it shattered into pieces.
"What?" Fake Jack was taken aback.
Yugen said: "When Piercing Frog successfully makes a direct attack, if there's another monster on your field whose name includes 'Frog,' you can destroy one Magic or Trap Card on the opponent's field."
After a pause, he smiled apologetically and said, "Sorry, seemed like I didn't fully explain the effect earlier."
Fake Jack: "Tch, the arrogance of a small-time victor..."
The poor Blast Armor was closest to breaking free from the curse of "inactivation," but alas, its owner chose not to activate it, so the legend of this curse continued.
"Then use 'Ghost Frog' to attack the face-down covered monster." Yugen said.
Ghost Frog didn't have high attack power; rather than hoping for it to achieve victory, this was more of a probing attack, used to scout what the opponent's covered monster was.
The cover monster flipped over, revealing a little demon holding a tuning fork. Its frail body was rather resilient, and the tuning fork was crossed defensively in front of it.
[Creator Resonator, Defense Power 600]
Resonators, a deck used by Jack in the animation, are somewhat similar to Yusei's "Synchroist" theme. After 5DS concluded many years later, additional support for Resonator decks emerged, often associated with Jack's Red Lotus Demon Dragon series.
"The battle is over," Yugen said, "Activate Ghost Frog's effect. Once per turn, you can return one monster on your field to its owner's hand.
I return Ghost Frog to the hand."
Ghost Frog transformed into a stream of water and flew back into Yugen's hand.
"And afterwards, besides Normal Summons, you can Normal Summon one Frog other than 'Ghost Frog' this turn."
Yugen waved his hand and summoned another frog.
"Using this effect, I normally summon 'Sato Kaeru' from my hand."
[Sato Kaeru, Defense Power 200]
"Then 'Sato Kaeru's Monster Effect, once per turn, this card can voluntarily turn into a Face-down Defense Position," Yugen said, "turn Sato Kaeru into Face-down Defense Position."
The freshly summoned little frog nestled into the ground's shadow, becoming a face-down covered monster.
Fake Jack watched as Ghost Frog returned to Yugen's hand, frowning again.
He began to recognize the troublesome nature of that creature. Ghost Frog could voluntarily Special Summon itself every turn, and upon entering the field, send any frog to the graveyard from the deck.
Then Ghost Frog uses its effect to return itself to the hand, allowing it to jump out again next turn and precisely send a frog to the graveyard. It's almost equivalent to the Frog Card Deck's exclusive "Stupid Burial," and it's usable once per turn, every turn.
Moreover, after Ghost Frog returns from the field, an additional Normal Summon opportunity is added. Ghost Frog's own presence doesn't even count as Normal Summon...
Although it might appear unimpressive, with low stats, this frog... is strong!
Yugen: "Cover a card, end of turn."
"My turn, draw!"
shouted Jack.
"When there's a monster on the opponent's field and no monsters on your own field, this card can be Special Summoned from your hand.
I Special Summon 'Evil Dragon'!"
An unseemly dragon appeared on the field, but upon landing, its size immediately shrank until it was half its original size. This monster frequently appeared in the early stages of Jack's duels.
Jack's "Evil Dragon" combined with "Dark Resonator" is akin to Yusei's "High-speed Warrior" and "Waste Synchroist," always pressing on in endless efforts.
"When 'Evil Dragon' is Special Summoned by this effect, its original Attack Power and Defense Power are halved!"
[Evil Dragon, Attack Power 2000→Attack Power 1000]
"Then I release 'Evil Dragon'!"
Fake Jack shouted loudly.
"Watch carefully, this is what a king's duel looks like! Upper-level Summon—
—Strong Wind Dragon!!!"
Evil Dragon disintegrated into countless points of light, which then gathered into an even larger body. Amidst a swirling green tornado, a pair of giant wings spread wide as if a dragon controlling the wind descended mighty upon the field!