# Chapter 161: Perfect Stealth
"I activate the effect of Mystic Box! I target one monster on my Field and one on your Field. Your monster is destroyed, and then you gain control of my monster!"
"It's useless! Because of Forbidden Dress's effect, Goyo Emperor can't be destroyed by card effects!" DC369 said.
"Then I'll just destroy your other monster," Shingo Sawatari said. "After all, the villain has to be defeated by the heroes, right?"
A magic box materialized and sealed away Goyo Defender, then violently exploded. At the same time, the box holding Abyss Actor - Comic Relief on Shingo Sawatari's Field flew over, taking its place.
The magic box sealing Comic Relief opened after arriving on DC369's Field, revealing the monster in a new outfit.
"You're just giving me your monster?" DC369 sensed that something was amiss.
"Of course! It's to witness the miracle brought forth by a maiden's tears!" Shingo Sawatari said. "The effect of Abyss Actor - Comic Relief activates when its control is transferred! Its original owner can destroy one set 'Abyss Script' Spell Card in their Spell & Trap Zone."
Shingo Sawatari's only set card in his Backrow suddenly exploded, and countless pink hearts bloomed forth.
"When a set 'Abyss Script - Opening Ceremony' is destroyed by an opponent's effect while I have a face-up 'Abyss Actor' Pendulum Monster in my Extra Deck, I can draw from my Deck until I have five cards in my Hand!"
After drawing five cards at once, Shingo Sawatari glanced at his hand and declared confidently, "With this, the conditions for a happy ending are met!"
"I activate the Spell Card, Extra Pendulum! This turn, in addition to my normal Pendulum Summon, I can Pendulum Summon face-up Pendulum Monsters from my Extra Deck once more! Return to the stage and bring this play to its finale! Pendulum Summon! Come forth, Level 7! Abyss Actor - Superstar!"
Abyss Actor - Superstar ATK: 2500
"A maiden's tears brought back her beloved, and together they challenged the cruel tyrant!" Shingo Sawatari snapped his fingers, and stirring music filled the arena.
"I activate the Spell Card, Wavering Eyes!"
"It destroys all cards in both players' Pendulum Zones! Then, an effect activates based on the number of cards destroyed! One or more: Inflict 500 damage to my opponent! Two or more: I can add one Pendulum Monster from my Deck to my hand."
DC369 LP: 4000 → 3500
"I'll add the Scale 9 Abyss Actor - Twinkle Littlestar to my hand, then set it in the Pendulum Zone!"
"The effect of Abyss Actor - Twinkle Littlestar activates! I target one 'Abyss Actor' monster on the field; that monster can attack three times this turn! My other monsters cannot attack!"
"Battle! Abyss Actor - Superstar attacks Abyss Actor - Comic Relief!"
Dressed in silver knight armor, Abyss Actor - Superstar swung its longsword at Comic Relief, who was disguised as the emperor's guard. Comic Relief screamed as it was removed from the field.
DC369 LP: 3500 → 2000
"The effect of Abyss Actor - Leading Lady activates! Once per turn, when either player takes battle damage, I can target one face-up monster on my opponent's field and decrease its ATK by the amount of damage taken."
Goyo Emperor ATK: 1900 → 400
"Go! Defeat the cruel tyrant! Abyss Actor - Superstar, attack Goyo Emperor!"
Abyss Actor - Superstar, longsword in hand, lunged forward and struck down with a single slash.
The tyrant on the throne fell to this single blow.
DC369 LP: 2000 → 0
After his opponent's Life Points hit zero, the two monsters on Shingo Sawatari's field bowed to the audience.
The audience responded in kind with enthusiastic applause.
"Telling a story through a duel? What an incredibly interesting duel, I've never seen anything like it!" the Female Commentator announced. "Let's congratulate Shingo Sawatari for advancing to the next round!"
After Shingo Sawatari won the duel, the next match featured one of Roger's cyborgs against some unlucky duelist from the Synchro Dimension.
Yūga Hōzumi had no interest in watching this duel. After packing his things, he departed with Kiryu, Serena, and Yuzu.
Two hours later, the group of four arrived near a heavily guarded gate, hiding themselves in the nearby bushes under the cover of darkness.
"This gate is used by the Underground Labor Facility to transport products from the Underground Factory, as well as essential supplies. If we want to infiltrate, this is our only way in," Kiryu said.
"But the security here seems too tight for the four of us to just force our way through," Serena said with a frown.
"Exactly. That's why we're taking another path," Kiryu said. "Follow me."
Kiryu led the three, groping their way through the wilderness. Soon, a hidden cave appeared before them.
"What is this place?" Yūga Hōzumi asked curiously.
"Every time the Friendship Cup begins, the security at the Underground Facility loosens up for a while. We use that opportunity to rescue some of our captured comrades," Kiryu said, turning on his Duel Disk's flashlight and heading inside.
Yūga Hōzumi and the other two quickly followed. After walking with Kiryu through the cave for about twenty minutes, the sound of rushing water reached Yūga Hōzumi's ears, followed by the pungent stench of industrial wastewater.
"What's this?"
"The Underground Labor Facility's drainage system," Kiryu said, taking several gas masks from his backpack and handing them to Yūga Hōzumi and the others. "Just bear with it. This is the only safe way through."
The three of them took the gas masks, but before they could put them on, a voice rang out.
"Safe? I wouldn't be so sure about that."
As the voice faded, dozens of blinding searchlights flared to life at once, leaving the stumbling group with nowhere to hide.
"Well, well. I was wondering who you rats from the Revolutionary Army would send this time. I never expected to catch such a big fish." Around fifty fully armed Security Officers emerged from the corners, surrounding the four of them. Their burly leader sneered as he spoke.
"It's you. I thought you were dead. So you've ended up playing warden here," Kiryu said, unfazed by the encirclement as he watched the burly man approach.
"Who is this guy?" Yūga Hōzumi couldn't help but ask.
"The former Director of Security. An old rival of mine," Kiryu sneered. "I haven't seen him in a while, though. Didn't expect to find him here."
"And that's all thanks to you!" the Former Director snarled. "But since you've delivered yourself right to my doorstep, I'll gladly take the credit. Capturing you should be enough to get my old position back, don't you think?"
With that, the surrounding Security Officers began to slowly tighten the circle.
"What do we do?" Yuzu asked, tugging on Yūga Hōzumi's sleeve with a hint of fear in her voice.
"If Plan A fails, we switch to Plan B, of course," Yūga Hōzumi said with a shrug.
"We have a Plan B? How come I never heard you two mention it?" Serena asked.
"A master assassin once taught me that if you eliminate all the witnesses, it's still a perfect infiltration!" Yūga Hōzumi said as he activated his Duel Disk.
"Are you sure those are the words of an assassin?" Serena retorted, activating her own Duel Disk as she stood back-to-back with Yūga Hōzumi, facing their enemies.
"How about I handle this guy?" Kiryu sneered, his eyes fixed on the approaching Former Director.
"Duel!" x2
(end of chapter)