Chapter 111: Chen Daozai, Are You Flipping Coins Again?
Just as the bronze-colored aurora was about to strike (Panther Warrior), Joey activated his Set Card in the nick of time:
"Before your opponent's monster attacks, I activate the Trap Card, (Chain Boomerang)!"
(Panther Warrior) extended its hand towards the revealed Trap Card, and a sharp boomerang shimmering with cold light appeared in its grasp. At the same time, a chain was also connected to the boomerang.
"This Card has two Effects: it can be equipped to my monster as an Equip Spell Card, increasing its Attack by 500 points; alternatively, when an opponent's monster declares an Attack, it can change that monster to Defense Position. I can choose to activate one or both of these Effects. I choose—"
Before Joey could finish, Ptah scoffed, "Idiot, even if you try to affect the Effect of (Sealed Beast) Baolong on my Field, it's useless. Don't forget, as long as (The Seal of Orichalcos) is on my Field, (Sealed Beast) Baolong can reject any Effect that Targets it."
"Tch!" Joey said, annoyed. "Then I'll just activate one Effect: (Panther Warrior), equipped with (Chain Boomerang), will gain 500 Attack points!"
"Roar!"
(Panther Warrior) let out a majestic roar, holding a blade in one hand and a boomerang in the other, looking quite imposing.
(Panther Warrior) [ATK 2000 → 2500]
"A paltry 500 Attack point increase is nothing! My (Sealed Beast) Baolong's power is superior to yours!" Ptah said with a laugh. "Crush him, Baolong! Metal Mythos Impact!"
"Roar!!!"
A breath full of destructive aura shot out from (Sealed Beast) Baolong's mouth, easily engulfing Joey's (Panther Warrior) on the Field. Though (Panther Warrior) was imposing, (Sealed Beast) Baolong's stats on paper were ultimately higher, and Joey's Life Points took Damage as a result.
[Joey: 4000 LP → 3800 LP]
"Don't think this is the end!" Ptah waved his hand. "(Sealed Beast) Charmagal, destroy those troublesome sheep!"
"Boom!"
The snake-like (Sealed Beast) lashed its long, slender tail-whip behind it, easily striking and shattering one of Joey's (Sheep Tokens) on the Field, which dissipated into a cloud of smoke. However, because it was in Defense Position, Joey did not take Damage from it.
"Tch, saved by those annoying lambs. What a tenacious guy. My Turn ends here." Unable to fulfill his initial prediction, Ptah ended his Turn.
[Ptah: 4000 LP, Hand 0]
(Sealed Beast) Baolong [ATK 2700]
(Sealed Beast) Charmagal (Molting Escape) [ATK 1200]
[Set Card] (The Seal of Orichalcos)
"While possessing high Attack, Baolong also possesses immunity to most Spell, Trap, and Monster Effects," Sheppard explained the situation on the Field to Téa and Tristan in the Audience Seating. "And Charmagal, equipped with (Molting Escape), possesses the ability to not be destroyed by battle once per turn."
"Is there really no opening left? That guy named Ptah, who looked like nothing more than a playboy, turned out to be such a formidable Duelist!" Mai Valentine sighed. "If we can't destroy that troublesome (The Seal of Orichalcos), those (Sealed Beasts) are simply an impenetrable fortress."
Bakura asked Yugi, "Yugi, does Joey have any Cards in his Deck that can destroy the Back Row?"
"Hmm, yesterday, when he was organizing his Deck, he finally made up his mind to put a few (Mystical Space Typhoon) in. If he Draws (Mystical Space Typhoon), he can destroy (The Seal of Orichalcos). However..."
Yugi didn't finish his sentence, but everyone else understood what he meant. Even if Joey Draws (Mystical Space Typhoon), simply destroying one (The Seal of Orichalcos) wouldn't be enough to turn the tide of the Battle; the presence of those two (Sealed Beasts) would still be a huge threat. As for the Card that could counter this situation, Yugi knew Joey had one.
'He absolutely has to Draw that Card, Joey.'
"My Turn, Draw!" During Joey's Turn, he Drew a Card and, after looking at it, paused in slight surprise. His gaze shifted from the Field to the Audience Seating, and his eyes met Yugi's.
'This Card is...'
'I see, I think I understand. Thank you, Yugi.'
Joey seemed to have read something in Yugi's eyes and regained his confidence, saying to Ptah on the opposite Duel Stage, "Although your (Sealed Beasts) are quite powerful, I, who have my friends, will not lose!"
"Normal Summon (Time Wizard)!"
As Joey played the Card, a clock-like monster appeared on his Field, dressed in a comical magician's outfit, looking quite adorable.
However, Mai Valentine's expression on the Spectator Stands was quite grim. It was this very monster that, despite her having Summoned three invincible (Harpie Lady) monsters at the time, Joey had used the Heart of the Cards to Draw this Card to age and destroy all her (Harpie Lady) monsters on the Field, and then Summoned (Thousand Dragon) for a Counterattack victory.
(Time Wizard) [Level 2 / LIGHT Attribute]
[Spellcaster Type / Effect]
[500 ATK / 400 DEF]
"That fodder monster dares to be in Attack Position? Is it some powerful Effect I'm unaware of?" Ptah didn't recognize this rather rare Card, but that didn't stop him from being wary of (Time Wizard). "But no matter what Effect that monster has, Baolong can reject your destroying it."
"That's not necessarily true," Joey smiled smugly. "(Time Wizard) can activate its Effect when it's Summoned, Special Summoned, or Flip Summoned."
"Time Magic!"
On the Field, the dial at the top of (Time Wizard)'s wand suddenly enlarged, becoming almost as large as itself. The patterns etched on it became clearly visible. The entire dial was divided into six sections, with alternating skull and bomb icons within each section. As Joey gave the command, the pointer within the dial began to spin rapidly.
"(Time Wizard)'s Effect, the Effect of Time Magic, is to destroy all monsters on your Field, or to destroy all monsters on my Field, and all of this depends on where the dial's pointer ultimately stops!" Joey declared (Time Wizard)'s Effect. "Although I'm not a big fan of Gambling Cards, I trust Yugi, who gave me this Card!"
"Time, stop!"
Letting out a dramatic, Dio-esque cry, the pointer on (Time Wizard)'s dial truly began to decelerate and slow down. Under everyone's gaze, the pointer finally stopped on the bomb section, representing "Destroy Opponent's Monsters."
(end of chapter)