Chapter 119: What Lies Hidden Behind the Mask
However, regardless of how Chumley speculated 'just how many countering cards are in the opponent's Deck,' his Turn had finally come to an end.
[Chumley: 3000 LP, Hand: 0]
Field:
Monster Zone: (Swamp Battleguard) [ATK 2000]
Monster Zone: (Masked Dragon) [ATK 700] (equipped with (Megamorph))
Spell/Trap Zone: Set Card (Mind-Suppressing Jar), Set Card (Mind-Suppressing Jar), Set Card (Toll)
Although the Attack of (Masked Dragon) had dropped to a mere 700 points, and any monster could Destroy it, Bandit Keith was hesitant. If he blindly Summoned a Monster to Attack it, even if he could successfully reduce Chumley's Life Points, the Monster used for the Attack would become an opening for Chumley.
On the other hand, the Effect of (Toll) wasn't much on its own, but with Bandit Keith's Life Points at a mere 900, he only had one last chance to Attack.
"My Turn, Draw." Looking at the Monster Card he drew, a Machine-Type (Cyber Raider), Bandit Keith's eyes lit up.
Setting one card from his Hand onto the Field, he Normal Summoned the card he had just drawn: "I Summon this Monster in Attack Position! Come forth, (Cyber Raider)!"
Amid a shower of electric sparks, the metal-armored (Cyber Raider) appeared on Bandit Keith's Field in Attack Position. The moment it appeared, its body suddenly began to grow, a transformation that continued until it had doubled in size.
[(Cyber Raider)][Level 4/DARK]
[Machine-Type/Effect]
[1400→2800/1000]
"He directly Summoned a Monster with 2800 Attack?! That's definitely a (Broken Card)!" In the Spectator Stands, Joey's eyes went wide, so agitated he nearly jumped out of his seat.
Bandit Keith glanced at Joey: "Hmph, (Cyber Raider) itself doesn't possess such high Attack, but if you make use of other cards on the Field..."
Joey looked closer and suddenly noticed that the body of (Masked Dragon) on Chumley's Field had returned to its normal size. The Stone Tablet it had been holding was somehow taken by (Cyber Raider) and embedded in its armor.
"(Megamorph)!? How could it be..."
"(Cyber Raider) is a Monster specially developed to counter Equip Cards. When it is Summoned, you can either Destroy one Equip Card on the Field or transfer the Equip to itself." Chumley knew (Cyber Raider)'s Effect, so he wasn't too surprised.
But it was Chumley's composed attitude that irritated Bandit Keith: "You annoying brat, I don't know what you've been so smug about from the start. A guy who's never even experienced the Darkness of a Duel... it's really pissing me off!"
"(Cyber Raider), Attack that (Masked Dragon)! Watch me shatter your disguise! Electromagnetic Shock Punch!"
[Bandit Keith: 900 LP → 400 LP]
Its massive body moved, propelled by electromagnetic force. (Cyber Raider) displayed an agile attack speed that belied its huge frame, appearing before (Masked Dragon) in an instant. A single blow from its giant iron fist was enough to Destroy it.
A cloud of smoke and dust enveloped Chumley's Field.
[Chumley: 3000 LP → 1600 LP]
Although his vision was blocked by the smoke that had appeared out of nowhere, preventing him from immediately confirming the situation inside, Bandit Keith breathed a small sigh of relief upon seeing Chumley's Life Points decrease.
"How about that, brat? How does my Counterattack, born from despair, feel?" Bandit Keith smirked smugly as he Set a card from his Hand. "I Set one card and End Turn."
[Bandit Keith: 400 LP, Hand: 0]
Field:
Monster Zone: (Cyber Raider) [ATK 2800] (equipped with (Megamorph))
Spell/Trap Zone: Set Card
Chumley was in no hurry to start his Turn, instead looking at the Field. The smoke and dust gradually dissipated, revealing the corpse of (Masked Dragon) within, which had already been slain by (Cyber Raider).
Bandit Keith looked at the (Masked Dragon) and frowned. When a Duel Monster is Destroyed by battle, it should be Sent to the Graveyard immediately. There was no reason for a corpse to be left behind. What was going on with Chumley's Field?
"In the last Turn, the moment (Masked Dragon) was Destroyed by your (Cyber Raider), it used the last of its life force to lay an egg. A new life is gestating in that egg." Looking at the (Masked Dragon) which, like King Piccolo, had left an egg behind, Chumley explained its Effect.
"According to (Masked Dragon)'s Effect, when it is Destroyed by battle and Sent to the Graveyard, I can Summon one Dragon-Type Monster with 1500 or less Attack from my Deck." Searching for a card in his Deck, Chumley slapped it onto the Field. "Though a Hatchling, its claws and fangs are already sharp enough! Fight for me! My Soul!"
"(Armed Dragon) LV3!"
"Awoo!"
Following a fierce dragon's roar, a bright yellow Hatchling, flapping a small pair of wings on its back, broke out of the shell of the egg left behind by (Masked Dragon). Despite being a newborn Hatchling, (Armed Dragon) LV3 was covered in metallic armor, as if it had grown from its very flesh.
[(Armed Dragon) LV3][Level 3/Wind]
[Dragon-Type/Effect]
[1200/900]
"LV!?" It was the first time Bandit Keith had heard of such a suffix; it sounded a bit too much like a video game. "What kind of Monster is that?"
"So it's an LV Monster. I've heard of them, but this is the first time I've actually seen one," Sheppard said, also looking at the (Armed Dragon) on Chumley's Field with great interest. "Under certain conditions, they can directly Evolve into a higher-Level Monster. They're quite rare cards."
Yugi nodded. "I never expected Chumley to have kept a Trump Card like this hidden. I always thought he specialized in Warrior-Type Monsters."
Yugi wasn't too surprised, because he actually had LV Monsters himself. It was just that the Deck he carried with him was the one his "other self" was skilled with, so he hadn't included that set of LV Monsters in it.
"Is no one going to mention that Chumley's 'soul monster' has changed again?" Joey retorted, looking at the Field with some concern. "From what you guys are saying, LV Monsters are the kind that get stronger by growing, right?"
"But that (Armed Dragon) is just a baby. With only 1200 Attack, even if it doubled, it would just be cannon fodder for that (Cyber Raider) on Bandit Keith's Field, wouldn't it?"
"An LV Monster that can't grow is no different from a regular (Normal Monster)," Mai Valentine said calmly. "I don't know what the conditions to Evolve are, but look at Chumley. The expression on his face is clearly one of complete confidence."
Just as Mai Valentine observed, Chumley was completely unfazed by Bandit Keith taking his (Megamorph) and Destroying his (Masked Dragon). He confidently declared, "My Turn begins!"
"At this very moment, (Armed Dragon) LV3 has met the conditions to grow! It will now Evolve into a brand new form!"
A white light of evolution enveloped (Armed Dragon) LV3.
(end of chapter)