Chapter 136: Substitution Strategy
"Flip my Set Card, [Counter Gate]! This card can only be Activated when a Direct Attack is declared, and it Negates that Attack!"
Joey's Set Card flipped open, and a Dimension Gate appeared. (Queen's Knight), charging directly at Joey, raised her sword to strike, but couldn't stop her momentum and charged into the gate. When she reappeared, she was back on Yugi's Field.
"A card that can only be Activated during a Direct Attack, huh?" Yugi said with an amused smile. "Did you already calculate that I would Destroy your (Rocket Warrior), Joey?"
Joey scratched his nose, a little bashfully, and chuckled, "After all, from what I know of you, Yugi, you either Destroy with a Spell Card Effect or boost your Monster's ATK to Destroy it by battle. The (Sakuretsu Armor) and [Counter Gate] I Set can handle both of those situations."
"Now, for [Counter Gate]'s second Effect. After Negating the Attack, I can Draw one Card from my Deck." Joey Drew a Card from his Deck, glanced at it, then showed it to Yugi. "The Card I Drew is this one: (Gearfried the Iron Knight)! It's a Monster that can be Normal Summoned, so I'll Summon it in Attack Position."
"Come forth, (Gearfried the Iron Knight)!"
(Gearfried the Iron Knight) [Level 4/Earth]
[Warrior-Type/Effect]
[1800/1600]
Watching the tall, armored Warrior emerge from the Dimension Gate, Yugi marveled, "Even though it's a Level 4, its ATK and DEF are top-tier for a Monster, aren't they? But I recall, (Gearfried the Iron Knight) has a rather fatal drawback, doesn't it?"
"Ah, that's right. While its steel body grants it powerful Battle prowess, (Gearfried the Iron Knight) cannot be Equipped with any Cards to boost its Battle power," Joey smiled confidently. "But it's fine. I believe in (Gearfried the Iron Knight)'s own strength; it's enough to defeat other Monsters."
"Is that so?" Yugi smiled, then Set two Cards from his Hand. "I Set two Cards. My Turn ends. It's your Turn, Joey."
[Yugi: 4000 LP, Hand 1]
[(Queen's Knight) ATK3000→1500]
[Set Card] [Set Card]
"It's only the second Turn, but both sides are Dueling so fiercely!" From the Audience Seating, Téa exclaimed. "Yugi Summoned a 3000 ATK Monster on his Turn, and Joey actually managed to block Yugi's Direct Attack. Both of them are so serious."
Tristan nodded. "After all, they both know each other inside out. And only by putting their entire Heart (of the Cards) into it can they truly acknowledge each other."
"While they on the Field can pour their whole Mind into the Duel, the most conflicted ones right now must be us outside the Field. At least, I don't know who I should be cheering for," Chumley said, crossing his arms and looking at the Duel Field.
Joey: "My Turn! Draw!"
With high spirits, he Drew a Card. Joey's face lit up with joy as he placed the Drawn Card onto the Field. "In Attack Position, I Summon (Panther Warrior)!"
The Panther Warrior, scimitar in hand, appeared on Joey's Field. Although it's a Level 4 Monster, its 2000 ATK is certainly that of a powerful Monster. However, there's always a give and take. Just like (Gearfried the Iron Knight) has the drawback of not being able to use Equip Cards, (Panther Warrior) must Release one of your Monsters every time it Attacks.
'Is he planning to use (Gearfried the Iron Knight) to Destroy my (Queen's Knight) first, then Release (Gearfried the Iron Knight) to perform a Direct Attack with (Panther Warrior)? What a clever Combo, Joey.'
Yugi thought to himself, glancing at a Set Card in his Backrow: 'Still, in this Duel, I can't go easy on you.'
"Battle Phase! I'll use (Gearfried the Iron Knight) to Attack your (Queen's Knight)! See if you can handle this, Yugi!" Joey waved his hand forward. The iron knight, following his command, charged towards (Queen's Knight).
Yugi's lips curved into a slight smile. "Too eager, Joey! I Activate my Set Card, [Monster Swap]!"
"That card is— Oh no!" Evidently, Joey recognized the Card Yugi used.
"[Monster Swap] is a Card that can be Activated when your Monster declares an Attack. Its Effect is to swap a Monster from my Hand with a Monster on the Field." Yugi Added (Queen's Knight) to his Hand, then played another Card. "Come forth, (Giant Shield Gardna)!"
(Queen's Knight)'s figure vanished from Yugi's Field, replaced by a giant shield. A muscular Warrior crouched behind the massive shield, ready to receive (Gearfried the Iron Knight)'s Attack.
(Giant Shield Gardna) [Level 4/Earth]
[Warrior-Type/Effect]
[100/2600]
"The number of Monsters on my Field hasn't changed, so the Rule of Attack Reversal doesn't apply to (Gearfried the Iron Knight)'s Battle at this moment."
"Therefore, I'll take Damage equal to the difference between (Gearfried the Iron Knight)'s ATK and (Giant Shield Gardna)'s DEF," Joey finished the sentence Yugi left unsaid.
(Gearfried the Iron Knight)'s furious charge was blocked by the colossal shield. What resisted heavy steel was even heavier steel. (Gearfried the Iron Knight) was forcefully pushed back to Joey's Field by (Giant Shield Gardna). And as the Cost of exerting its power, (Giant Shield Gardna) switched from Defense Position to Attack Position.
[Joey: 4000 LP → 3200 LP]
[(Giant Shield Gardna) DEF2600 → ATK100]
Watching (Giant Shield Gardna) switch from Defense Position to Attack Position on Yugi's Field, Joey couldn't help but hesitate. He didn't know if he should Attack now.
(Panther Warrior)'s ATK is 2000. Facing (Giant Shield Gardna), which only has 100 ATK, it could easily Destroy it. But if he missed this opportunity, if (Giant Shield Gardna) were switched back to Defense Position by Yugi next Turn, its 2600 DEF would be impossible for any Monster Joey currently had to break through.
Not to mention, (Panther Warrior)'s Attack comes at the Cost of Releasing (Gearfried the Iron Knight). Joey, usually so reckless and impulsive, due to the many reasons behind this Duel, truly couldn't bring himself to take such a gamble.
As Joey hesitated, Yugi, standing opposite him, seemed to see through his current thoughts, and said with a smile, "Hesitating like this, that's not the Joey I know."
"Yugi?" Joey's gaze met Yugi's. Unlike Joey, whose mind, even while Dueling, was always on his sister, Yugi's eyes were incredibly clear.
(end of chapter)