Chapter 145: I Offer My Soul!
"I Set one card, End Turn." (X-Head Cannon) had already attacked, and with (Ojama King) and (Ojama Yellow) having no battle power, Chumley Set his last card from his Hand, ending his Turn.
"At the end of your Turn, (Cyber Shadow Gardna)'s Effect Activates." Sheppard flipped (Cyber Shadow Gardna), which was on his Monster Zone, face-down and Set it back among his three truly sinister "Burn combos" in his Backrow. "It will once again become a (Trap Card) and be Set back to my Backrow."
"What?! There are (Trap Cards) that can be Set back like that? That's too cheap!" Téa, in the Audience Seating, understood Sheppard's Duel strategy. "This way, when it's Chumley's Turn again, won't that Card just pop out again and inflict another 300 points of Damage to Chumley?"
"While the single instance of Damage isn't high, it's like slowly draining the Opponent's Life Points, bit by bit." Yugi incisively summarized Sheppard's Strategy. "Now, even if Chumley wanted to recover Life Points, he couldn't. Whether it's (Mysterious Chinese Pot) or (Emergency Provisions), due to (Medication's Side Effect), it would only accelerate the loss of Chumley's Life Points."
Sheppard, meanwhile, began a new Turn: "My Turn, Draw!"
Drawing a Card, a smile spread across Sheppard's face, making Chumley feel a hint of foreboding.
"I Activate the Spell Card, (Pot of Greed), drawing two cards from my Deck. Then, I Tribute (Cyber Phoenix) on my Field." As Sheppard drew two cards, the (Cyber Phoenix) on his Field began to disassemble and transform. "I Tribute Summon my Ace Card from my Deck! Watch closely, Chumley, this is the true power of Cyber Style!"
"(Cyber Ogre)!"
A towering, humanoid Machine Monster stood tall, its metallic structure supporting its massive body. The surging currents across its body made one feel the not-insignificant power contained within.
(Cyber Ogre) [Level 5/Earth (Attribute)]
[Machine-Type/Effect]
[1900 ATK/1200 DEF]
As a Level 5 Monster, (Cyber Ogre)'s Stats weren't particularly impressive; on the surface, it seemed hardly worthy of Sheppard's claim of "the true power of Cyber Style." However, Chumley did not let down his guard, for he knew that anything could appear in a sinister Deck.
"Then, I Activate the Spell Card, (Iron Call), which can be Activated if I control a Machine-Type Monster on my Field." Sheppard held the (Cyber Phoenix) that had just been Tributed. "I Special Summon one Level 4 or lower Machine-Type Monster from my Graveyard with its effects Negated."
"Revive, (Cyber Phoenix)!"
As the Machine Phoenix Revived once more, Chumley's Life Points were again deducted by 300 due to (Cyber Summon Blaster).
[Chumley: 2500 LP → 2200 LP]
Following that, Sheppard played his last card from his Hand: "Since I control two Machine-Type Monsters on my Field, I can Activate this Card, (Iron Draw)!"
"This Card can only be Activated when I have exactly two Machine-Type Monsters on my Field. I Draw two cards from my Deck, and after this, until the End Turn, I can only Special Summon a Monster one more time."
The two Duelists on the Field didn't react much to Sheppard's series of plays, but Joey, watching from outside, nudged Yugi with his elbow, dumbfounded as he saw Sheppard Draw two cards: "Mr. Sheppard is too amazing, isn't he? After Releasing a Monster and then Summoning it back to the Field, and even getting an extra Level 5 Monster, he still has two cards in his Hand!"
Yugi, recalling the concept of "card advantage" that Chumley had mentioned to him during their casual chats, nodded solemnly in agreement: "The Life Points gap between Chumley and Mr. Sheppard has already widened to 1800 points. If this continues, Mr. Sheppard might not even need a single Battle to force Chumley to lose the Duel without shedding a drop of blood."
Yugi himself was pondering—if the Opponent set up a virtually un-Negatable burn Combo and then simply turtled, how could he possibly defeat them?
"Ah, (Cyber Ogre). I recall that's a powerful Monster that can gain Attack by Discarding a companion from your Hand, isn't it? So, Mr. Sheppard, did you Draw another (Cyber Ogre)?"
Sheppard was slightly startled by Chumley's words, then smiled again: "I didn't expect you to know about (Cyber Ogre), Chumley. Well, it's not surprising, after all, this Card is the Monster most commonly used by Cyber Style students before they graduate."
"Unfortunately, I didn't Draw another (Cyber Ogre). But the Monsters currently on my Field are more than enough!" Sheppard waved his hand forward. "(Cyber Ogre), Attack (X-Head Cannon)! (Cyber Phoenix) Attack (Ojama Yellow)!"
(Cyber Ogre) leapt with overwhelming force in front of (X-Head Cannon), its thick mechanical arm seizing the blue machine soldier and immobilizing it. Before its two back-mounted cannons could even adjust aim, (Cyber Ogre) exerted force, crushing (X-Head Cannon) and Destroying it, sending it to the Graveyard.
As for (Ojama Yellow), it was even worse. Facing (Cyber Phoenix), it fled in all directions, even attempting to call out to (Ojama King) for help. But after crying out for a long time without a response, it realized its King had somehow fallen asleep lying on its side on the Field. Filled with endless indignation, it was Destroyed by (Cyber Phoenix), still wailing.
[Chumley: 2200 LP → 2100 LP]
"I Set one Card, End My Turn." Sheppard Set a card from his Hand, ending his Turn. "Then, at the instant my Turn ends, the (Cyber Phoenix) that was Revived by (Iron Call) returns to the Graveyard."
(Cyber Phoenix) sparked all over, like an appliance that had reached the end of its lifespan. As Sheppard's words faded, it "boom"ed and Disassembled, returning to the Graveyard.
[Sheppard: 4000 LP, Hand 1]
(Cyber Ogre) [ATK 1900]
[Set Card] (Dark Healing) (Medication's Side Effect) (Cyber Summon Blaster) [Set Card]
Chumley: "My Turn, Draw!"
"What an intense Battle, Mr. Sheppard. Both of our Hands are pretty much depleted." Chumley glanced at the card he drew, quite satisfied. "In that case, let's replenish our Hands. I Activate the Spell Card, (Card of Sanctity)! Both players Draw until they have 6 cards in their Hand!"
Quickly Drawing 6 cards, Chumley saw joy flash across Sheppard's face, knowing he too had Drawn some good cards. "Mr. Sheppard, the Chain of cards on your Field has truly been an eye-opener."
———I've never seen a Deck more sinister than yours.
"Such a powerful Combo has thoroughly ignited my Competitive Spirit."
———If I don't win this Duel against you, I won't be able to rest or eat in peace.
"But I also realize that the Monsters currently on my Field alone won't be enough to defeat you."
———(Ojama King) is too useless.
"So, for victory, I am willing to Tribute my Soul!"
———I'm gonna start Card Printing!
(The following is an excerpt from a classic segment)
(And related card reviews)
(end of chapter)