Chapter 79: Diamond Academy's Trap Beatdown
From the purple vortex before Pamela, a humanoid puppet riding a construct dragon slowly emerged, casting a shadow over the entire Field.
El Shaddoll Winda ATK: 2200
After this monster appeared, the last orb beside Bahamut Shark slowly transformed into a pure white little frog.
Toadally Awesome ATK: 2200
"As long as El Shaddoll Winda exists on the Field, during that period, both players can only Special Summon monsters once per turn," Pamela said. "And you, your Special Summon opportunity this turn has already been used."
"So that's its effect? But if you think that alone can stop me, aren't you underestimating me? I activate my Set Card!" Sugihara Yo scoffed coldly, flipping his Set Card.
"It's useless. El Shaddoll Winda cannot be destroyed by card effects," Pamela said smugly.
"Who said I needed an effect to destroy it? Don't underestimate Diamond Academy's Trap Beatdown! Trap Card! Paleozoic Leanchoilia activate!"
"Target 1 face-up monster on your opponent's Field; change that monster to face-down Defense Position."
A pale golden bug drilled out from the flipped Set Card and charged towards Winda. In an instant, Winda became a Set Card on the Field, and the eerie force field shrouding the Field vanished.
"Nani?" Pamela was instantly astonished. The resistance monster she had meticulously prepared was so easily nullified.
In the past, the Four Major Academies in Heartland City each specialized in different areas. Heart Academy was renowned for its first turn Field suppression, Black Spades excelled at second turn explosive One Turn Kills (OTK), and Plum Blossom Academy's strong Attack suppression was unparalleled in Heartland City. As for Diamond Academy, what it truly excelled at was the most fundamental playing style of Duel Monsters—Trap Beatdown.
According to Yūga Hōzumi, Diamond Academy used to be a Main Base for underworld dwellers. If your Deck didn't have at least half red cards, you'd be too embarrassed to greet anyone.
But precisely because of this, when facing the Obelisk Force's siege strategy, the Duelists of Diamond Academy, who usually relied on gradually suppressing opponents with Spell and Trap Cards, suffered the most.
"Continuous Spell, White Salvage's effect activate!"
"Once per turn, target 1 Fish-Type monster in your Graveyard; add that card to your Hand!"
"I add Cutter Shark from my Graveyard to my Hand! Next, I Normal Summon this card!"
"Cutter Shark's effect activate!"
"Target 1 WATER Attribute monster on your Field; Special Summon 1 Fish-Type monster with the same Level but a different name from your Deck in Defense Position."
"Appear! The second Silent Angler!"
"I overlay the Level 4 Silent Angler with Cutter Shark!"
"Appear! Deep-sea Dragon watching the world from the abyss! Xyz Summon! Rank 4! Abyss Dweller!"
A deep blue sea serpent slowly emerged from the blue vortex, its crimson eyes coldly gazing at Pamela.
Abyss Dweller ATK: 1700
"When Abyss Dweller has a WATER Attribute monster as an Overlay Material, all WATER Attribute monsters on the Field increase their Attack Points by 500!"
Abyss Dweller ATK: 1700 → 2200
Bahamut Shark ATK: 2600 → 3100
Toadally Awesome ATK: 2200 → 2700
"Abyss Dweller's effect activate! Once per turn, Detach 1 Overlay Material from this card; this turn, your opponent cannot activate card effects from their Graveyard."
Abyss Dweller opened its mouth and swallowed one of the blue orbs circling it, then let out a sharp roar as a faint deep blue light instantly enveloped the entire Field.
"Battle! Toadally Awesome attacks your Set Monster!"
"Croak!" The white little frog opened its mouth, its tongue instantly shooting out. The Set Card also revealed itself.
"Shaddoll Lizard's Flip Effect activate! If this card is flipped, target 1 monster on the Field; destroy that monster, and I'll destroy your Abyss Dweller!"
"Toadally Awesome's effect activate! Once per turn, when your opponent activates a Monster Effect, Spell, or Trap Card, send 1 Aqua-Type monster from your Hand or Field to the Graveyard; negate that activation and destroy it, then you can Set the destroyed card on your Field."
Just as Shaddoll Lizard revealed its true form and was about to self-destruct, the white little frog's tongue locked onto it, stopping the surging energy. It then transformed back into a Set Card and was dragged to Sugihara Yo's Field.
"Abyss Dweller attacks the Set El Shaddoll Winda!"
The Abyss Sea Serpent opened its maw, and silent ripples surged towards Pamela's Set Card on the Field. The Set Card was flipped face-up, then suddenly exploded, shattering into puppet fragments scattered across the ground.
"That monster of yours also has the ability to retrieve Spell and Trap Cards from the Graveyard after being destroyed, doesn't it? But unfortunately, under Abyss Dweller's effect, its effect cannot be activated," Sugihara Yo said coldly.
"With that, I end my turn."
"My turn! Draw card!" Pamela drew a card.
"At this moment, Abyss Dweller's effect activates! Once per turn, Detach an Overlay Material; this turn, your opponent cannot activate card effects from their Graveyard!"
Faint light once again swept across the entire Field. Pamela looked at the large prohibition symbol in the Graveyard zone on her Duel Disk, gritting her teeth.
"Also, since Abyss Dweller's Overlay Materials have all been used up, my Monsters' Attack Points on the Field will revert to their original values."
Abyss Dweller ATK: 2200 → 1700
Bahamut Shark ATK: 3100 → 2600
"I have to admit, you're much stronger compared to that Old Geezers," Pamela gritted out.
"But this is where it ends!" Pamela shrieked. "Spell Card, Shaddoll Fusion activate!"
"Fusion Summon 1 'Shaddoll' Fusion Monster from your Extra Deck, by sending Fusion Material monsters from your Hand or Field to the Graveyard. If your opponent controls a monster that was Special Summoned from the Extra Deck, you can also use monsters from your Deck as Fusion Material."
"I send Shaddoll Hound and Qadshaddoll Keios from my Deck to the Graveyard, and Fusion Summon!"
"Descend once more! El Shaddoll Construct!"
Two cards were sent to the Graveyard from Pamela's Deck. Moments later, the expressionless humanoid puppet descended once more.
"When El Shaddoll Construct is Special Summoned successfully, you can send 1 'Shaddoll' card from your Deck to the Graveyard."
"I send Shaddoll Ariel to the Graveyard!"
"Continuous Trap, Shaddoll Schism activate!"
"During your Main Phase or your opponent's Main Phase: Banish Fusion Material monsters from your Field or Graveyard, determined by a 'Shaddoll' Fusion Monster Card, and Fusion Summon that 1 Fusion Monster from your Extra Deck. Monsters summoned by this effect cannot attack directly. After that, you can choose 1 monster your opponent controls with the same Attribute as the monster Special Summoned by this effect, and send it to the Graveyard."
(end of chapter)