"Finally, My Turn. Draw!"
Joey drew a card from the top of his Deck, looked down to check it, but suddenly froze: "This card is... So that's it. I think I understand."
"Activate the Spell Card, [Warrior Returning Alive]! I add one Warrior-Type Monster from my Graveyard to my Hand."
Joey began to select a card to add to his Hand from his Graveyard, which left Tristan, who was watching, a bit puzzled: "Are there any powerful Warrior-Type Monsters in Joey's Graveyard?"
"The one with the highest Attack is probably [Panther Warrior], right? But that card only has 2000 Attack, which can't compare to Yugi's [Dark Magician]. Moreover, [Panther Warrior] has the drawback of needing to Tribute a Monster to Attack," Bakura analyzed.
Téa thought for a moment, and indeed, just as Bakura said, the strongest Warrior-Type Monster Joey had used was [Panther Warrior]. "In that case, is Joey trying to Summon [Panther Warrior] to act as a wall, to minimize the damage taken and stall for turns?"
Sheppard, sitting in front of them, heard Téa's words, turned around, and said to them, "Although I haven't known him long, I can tell that Joey is a person of considerable backbone. With his strongest Monster already having been defeated, he wouldn't make meaningless attempts to stall for time; that is a duelist's honor."
"I think I might know which Monster Joey intends to Summon." Chumley, on the other hand, had a particular Monster in mind; the Summoning conditions for that Monster were indeed met in Joey's Graveyard. "When it comes to showing his growth, there's no Monster more suitable than that one."
Meanwhile, Joey on the Field finally found the card he wanted: "The card I'm adding to my Hand is this one, [Gearfried the Iron Knight]! Then, I Normal Summon it in Attack Position!"
The Iron Knight returned from the Graveyard, but the Field was no longer the same; Joey's previous great advantage had now become Yugi's. He now had to face [Dark Magician], which had 2700 Attack and had transformed from a Spellcaster into a Warrior.
[Gearfried the Iron Knight] [ATK1800]
"Yugi, watch closely now! This is my growth over this period, my transformation!" Joey excitedly said, playing a card from his Hand, "Armor, so-called, is both self-protection and self-restraint."
"The time has come to break free from the cocoon and become a butterfly! After much tempering, shed the steel armor that binds you, Gearfried! Activate the Spell Card, [Release Restraint Wave]!"
As soon as Joey's words fell, the armor of [Gearfried the Iron Knight] standing on his Field suddenly cracked without taking any attacks. Accompanied by Chumley's "Cast Off" echoing from off the Field, [Gearfried the Iron Knight]'s armor shattered and fell away, revealing the figure of the person restrained within.
His muscular body was covered in scars from countless battles, and white training bandages were wrapped around his hand and foot joints. Though his hands were empty, Gearfried, having emerged from the armor, merely stood there, exuding a unique sharpness, like that of a peerless divine sword, detectable even from afar.
[Gearfried the Swordmaster] [Level 7/LIGHT Attribute]
[Warrior-Type/Effect]
[2600/2200]
"What a, what an imposing Monster!" Téa covered her mouth in surprise, her gaze flickering between [Dark Magician] and the Swordmaster. "Although Yugi's [Dark Magician] has higher Attack, the Swordmaster definitely looks more like a Warrior-Type."
"Freed from the restriction of not using weapons, he has become a mighty Warrior capable of turning anything into a sword, even earning the title of Swordmaster," Chumley exclaimed.
Sheppard nodded in agreement: "This is truly a Duel that brings out the full charm of Duel Monsters. Now, the outcome of the Duel is once again hard to predict."
Joey glanced at his Hand: one [Banner of Courage], which increased a Monster's Attack, one [Forbidden Lance], which decreased a Monster's Attack, and one [Metalmorph]. Setting the [Metalmorph], which couldn't be Activated this Turn, Joey played both remaining cards from his Hand onto the Field and Activated them!
"[Banner of Courage]! My Monster gains 200 Attack during my Battle Phase!"
"[Forbidden Lance]! [Dark Magician]'s Attack is reduced by 800, and it is no longer affected by other Spell or Trap Card Effects!"
A command flag appeared behind the Swordmaster, its emblem of courage fluttering in the wind, boosting its Attack.
[Swordmaster] [ATK2600 → 2800]
Suddenly, a golden spear descended from the sky in front of [Dark Magician], piercing its abdomen before dissolving into countless particles and scattering in the wind. The power within [Dark Magician] vanished the moment it was struck by the holy spear, and the great sword in its hand turned into nothingness. Just as it was about to pick up its staff to use as a weapon, it remembered that it had already broken it earlier.
[Dark Magician] (Warrior-Type → Spellcaster-Type) [ATK2700 → 1700]
Seeing Joey's series of moves, Mai Valentine, who was leaning on the railing, exclaimed in surprise, "The Swordmaster's Attack is 1100 points higher than [Dark Magician]'s, and Yugi's Life Points are 900. Could that guy really defeat Yugi?!"
"This is my full power, all my growth during this time, Yugi!" Joey excitedly clenched his fist and shouted to the Swordmaster, "Attack [Dark Magician], Gearfried!"
"No-Sword Style - Hand Blade Attack!!!"
"Hraaa!"
Although his hands were empty, [Gearfried the Swordmaster] didn't need to rely on the advantage of a weapon. He simply raised his right hand and formed a hand blade, charging towards the equally unarmed [Dark Magician].
"Truly amazing, Joey." Yugi watched the Swordmaster gradually approach [Dark Magician], and even though he was about to lose the Duel, a relieved smile appeared on his face. "Your conviction and resolve, entrusted to your Duel Monster, I've felt it all."
"Let me repay you in my own way!" Yugi waved his hand. "Open my Set Card on the Field, [Magic Cylinder]! This card is a magical cylinder controlled by a Spellcaster, which can not only transmit matter but also absorb and reflect a Monster's Attack!"
"Here it comes, Joey!"
Because [Forbidden Lance] had caused [Dark Magician] to detach from the influence of [DNA Surgery], even though it lost its Warrior power, [Dark Magician] was able to regain its powerful Magical Energy. The Swordmaster charged forward, but it showed no fear. With an empty hand, it drew a circle in the air, and a cylinder appeared before the Swordmaster's hand blade.
Although its aura was astonishing, unfortunately, the Swordmaster's blow, which could pierce anything, could not escape the constraints of the rules. Under the transmission of [Magic Cylinder], the Swordmaster's hand blade appeared behind itself. [Gearfried the Swordmaster] was Destroyed by its own hand blade from behind and Sent to the Graveyard.
Watching his final effort disappear from the Field, Joey, instead, let out a sigh of relief, looking at Yugi with a smile and saying, "My Turn ends, Yugi."
[Joey: 2700 LP]
[Banner of Courage] [Set Card]
"Then, My Turn." Drawing a card, Yugi looked at Joey's empty Field and [Dark Magician], which had broken free from the influence of [Forbidden Lance] and once again wielded its great sword. He commanded:
"[Dark Magician], Direct Attack the opponent's Duelist!"
"Eeyah!"
With a flash of sword light, [Dark Magician]'s figure appeared not far in front of Joey, its great sword slowly retracting. As it walked towards Yugi's Field, [Dark Magician]'s figure began to dissipate.
[Joey: 2700 LP → 0]
"I announce that the winner of this Match is," As Joey's Life Points on the scoreboard dropped to zero, Croquet appeared promptly by the Duel Arena and announced through the microphone, "Yugi!"
(end of chapter)