Dinosaur Ryuzaki breathed a sigh of relief.
Tri-Horned Dragon was sent to the graveyard, but it was still okay. Although it was a bit frustrating, it was still within his expectations.
Ryuzaki was someone who had seen his share of major setbacks. He'd endured things like his Red-Eyes being turned into a fossil by Joey's Time Wizard back in the day; compared to that, this was a minor scene.
"But my turn isn't over yet."
Ryuzaki drew another card.
"From my hand, I activate the Continuous Spell Card, Mirage of Nightmare. This card allows me to draw cards from my deck during my opponent's Standby Phase until my hand has four cards. However, as a side effect, during my own Standby Phase, I must randomly discard cards from my hand equal to the number of cards drawn."
Yugen's face was expressionless.
Hm, typical of the anime world, casually playing a Forbidden card that's been banned for ages.
"Next, I set two cards face-down. Turn end."
It was Yugen's turn to draw: "Then it's my turn, draw card."
"At this moment, Mirage of Nightmare's effect activates," Ryuzaki said. "I draw four cards from my deck."
As expected of a Forbidden card's power, Ryuzaki's hand, which was empty after his turn, immediately returned to four cards.
However, Yugen calmly played the card he drew: "Spell Card, Pot of Greed. I draw two more cards from my deck."
As if he's the only one with Forbidden cards.
After drawing, Yugen continued: "First, I normal summon the card I searched last turn."
The monster card was slammed onto the monster zone of the duel disk, making a crisp thud.
"Machina Gearframe, in attack position."
[Machina Gearframe, ATK 1800]
"Gearframe's effect activates. When this card is successfully summoned, I can add one 'Machina' monster, except 'Machina Gearframe', from my deck to my hand."
"So that's it! The Peacekeeper that was destroyed last turn had the ability to search 'Gearframe' upon destruction, and 'Gearframe's' ability can in turn search 'Fortress'. So it seems Duelist Yugen's setup from the very beginning was for this Machina Fortress!"
"It looks like the field is about to get interesting," Commentator Sasaki said with a smile.
"I add this card from my deck."
Yugen revealed the card he drew from his deck.
"...Machina Fortress is added to my hand."
He then showed both Fortress and another monster card in his hand.
"Next is Machina Fortress's effect. Although this card is a Level 7 high-level monster, it can be Special Summoned from the hand or Graveyard by discarding Machine-Type monsters from the hand whose total Levels are 8 or more.
I discard the Level 8 Machina Megaform from my hand to the Graveyard and Special Summon Machina Fortress from my hand!"
One card in his hand was sent to the Graveyard, and the heavy alloy Fortress immediately landed on his field. Its massive metal treads, pale blue armor, and long barrel seemed to declare the "diameter equals justice" manifesto.
[Machina Fortress, ATK 2500]
"Battle," Yugen said. "First, Machina Fortress attacks the face-down Tri-Horned Dragon!"
[Tri-Horned Dragon, DEF 2350]
The massive main cannon on Fortress slowly lowered, locked onto its target, and reloaded. A heavy projectile roared out of the barrel with a flash of light, and the spiraling shell slammed into the face-down card. The poor Tri-Horned Dragon, unable to see the light of day again, was directly blown to dust with a loud explosion.
"Next, Gearframe attacks directly!"
The red Machina warrior stomped its foot, its metallic body propelling itself forward on a transparent current of swirling air. Ryuzaki frantically crouched down, clutching his head to shield himself, but was still thrown to the ground by the impact of the alloy kick.
[Ryuzaki, LP 2600 → LP 800]
The audience immediately erupted in an uproar.
A returning legend against a rising rookie. It was initially thought to be a clear one-sided match without any suspense, but who would have expected it to be one-sided, but in the complete opposite direction?
That Dinosaur Ryuzaki was actually being suppressed?
"This is truly an unexpected development, isn't it?"
Even the commentators couldn't help but waver in their pre-match predictions upon seeing this.
"Duelist Ryuzaki's field seems to be in a bit of a bad state," Commentator Owatari said.
"Indeed, he's completely suppressed on the field, and his LP is down to 800. On the other hand, Duelist Yugen's LP hasn't even budged a single bit so far..."
[Yugen, LP 4000]
Unable to resist confirming Yugen's rock-solid LP again, Commentator Sasaki couldn't help but frown.
Is this really a rookie?
From previous matches until now, he'd almost always crushed his opponents, and looking back at all his duels so far, he seemed to feel no pressure.
Now, he could even suppress that Dinosaur Ryuzaki to such an extent.
Is this some unheard-of monster that suddenly appeared out of nowhere?
"Main Phase 2."
Yugen's turn was still continuing.
"Activate Machina Gearframe's other effect. Once per turn, this card can equip itself to one Machine-Type monster you control as an Equip Card.
I equip 'Gearframe' to 'Machina Fortress' on the field."
Gearframe leaped up, transforming with a series of mechanical clanks and clicks, combining with Fortress.
"When the equipped monster is destroyed by battle or card effect, Gearframe can be destroyed as a substitute," Yugen said. "Also, once per turn, while equipped, Gearframe can Special Summon itself back to your field."
"What a powerful combination!" Commentator Owatari exclaimed. "Not only can Gearframe search for Fortress from the deck, but it can also equip itself to Fortress to grant it destruction resistance?"
"Not just that," Commentator Sasaki added, "And becoming an Equip Card also protects 'Gearframe' itself. This way, the opponent cannot break through by targeting the slightly lower ATK Gearframe. Furthermore, if it's needed to attack and assist in a battle the next turn, it also has the ability to Special Summon itself back to the field."
"A comprehensive offense and defense combination, too strong!" Commentator Owatari couldn't help but say, "This Fujiki Yugen. Is he really a rookie?"
Sasaki was speechless for a moment.
"I set two cards face-down."
Two more face-down cards appeared at Yugen's feet. He looked up at Ryuzaki's continuous spell card in the back row and couldn't help but sigh.
The deck he was currently using had three removal cards in its structure. If he had drawn any one of them, he could have destroyed that Mirage of Nightmare before the Standby Phase. If he could have destroyed it, while it wouldn't guarantee a win, his chances would certainly have expanded further.
Alas, he didn't draw any of them.
It's going to be another day of praying to the heavens for a draw.
"Turn end," Yugen said.
"Damn it, he's really going for it."
Ryuzaki gritted his teeth.
"It's my turn, draw card."
After the Draw Phase, it was immediately Ryuzaki's Standby Phase.
"At this time, Mirage of Nightmare's side effect would activate, meaning I would normally have to discard four cards from my hand. But!"
Ryuzaki immediately flipped up his back row.
"At this moment, I first activate the face-down Trap Card, Reckless Greed! I can draw two cards from my deck, but the cost is I must skip my next two Draw Phases."
A card with great benefits and equally great risks. Ryuzaki drew two more cards using this.
"Then, I chain the Quick-Play Spell Card, Emergency Provisions!"
Ryuzaki's second back row card also flipped up.
"I can send other Spell/Trap cards from my field to the Graveyard, and for each card sent, I gain 1000 Life Points! I send the active Reckless Greed and Mirage of Nightmare from my field to the Graveyard, and gain 2000 Life Points!"
The two cards in the back row disappeared under a golden light, transforming into nutrients absorbed into Ryuzaki's body.
[Ryuzaki, LP 800 → LP 2800]
"Ah, what a beautiful move!" Commentator Owatari couldn't help but exclaim, "First activating Reckless Greed, then chaining Emergency Provisions! Although the trap card has already activated, it remains on the field when Emergency Provisions' effect resolves, and can still be used as a cost to gain Life Points."
"That's right. And he also used 'Emergency Provisions' to send 'Mirage of Nightmare' to the Graveyard, avoiding the side effect of having to discard cards during the Standby Phase."
Commentator Sasaki also nodded.
"Ryuzaki is indeed still Ryuzaki; his dueling strength is undoubtedly powerful."
Ryuzaki wiped his nose, seemingly pleased with his masterful play: "Too bad, it seems your attack last turn wasn't good enough after all."
However, Yugen's inner thoughts remained calm.
Masterful play? I don't feel that at all. I just want to ask, Mr. Ryuzaki, where did you buy this 'super glue'?
He's wanted to ask for a long time why in the anime, Mirage of Nightmare and Emergency Provisions are always glued together, never seeing anyone actually discard with it.