"Alright, the battle resumes. So..."
Yugen glanced sideways, sporting a somewhat playful smile.
"Wouldn't it be better for Senior Kurosaki to give up now?"
Give up?
Kurosaki hesitated, as the thought had crossed his mind. But hearing those words, the tone seemed somewhat dismissive, igniting his fighting spirit.
What a joke. Backing down in front of a no-name newcomer like you?
He considered that even if he stopped the attack now, the opponent could use Scout to self-destruct in the next turn to trigger that disgusting Trap effect. Also, the remaining Monsters on the field could be used as tributes to summon Upper-Level Monsters the next turn, which would also be disadvantageous for him.
To hell with it, charge.
"Give up? Who said give up?" Kurosaki shouted angrily, "Flame Tiger, continue your attack on 'Amazon Scout'!"
Flame Tiger lunged forward, tearing into the Scout. Although the Amazon Warrior fought back under the Trap's enhancement, Flame Tiger eventually vanished, fading from the field into the Other Dimension.
Now, Kurosaki's field was empty.
Kurosaki's face turned grim.
But he did manage to remove the opponent's Monster, leaving the opponent with an empty field as well...
"Scout's effect," Yugen said, "When 'Amazon Scout' is sent to the graveyard after being destroyed in battle, one other 'Amazon' Monster from the graveyard returns to the hand."
He revealed another Amazon from the graveyard.
"I'll return 'Amazon Swordsmen' to my hand from the graveyard."
Kurosaki: "..."
He suddenly felt the urge to vomit blood.
Even his little brother standing by was stunned, cautiously glancing at Kurosaki: "B...Big brother, that unlucky Swordsman is back again..."
Kurosaki kicked his little brother over.
"I saw that, damn it!"
Kurosaki gritted his teeth.
The Underworld Knight has its own Anti-Armor, so attacking it only harms oneself. That reckless attack just took away a large portion of his LP. Plus, the "Amazon Rush" forced his attacking Monster into exclusion...
He had faced innumerable powerful foes and endured significant hardships to reach this point. However, he had never encountered such a frustrating lineup...
Kurosaki coldly waved his hand.
"Magic Card 'Magic Flowerpot'. Send the Continuous Magic 'Unity of the Race' on the field to the graveyard to draw two cards from the Card Deck!" (Original effect)
He drew two cards, then quickly pulled out three more from his hand.
"Set three cards, and end the turn!"
"Then it's my turn, draw a card."
Yugen calmly revealed the card he had just retrieved.
"Summon 'Amazon Swordsmen' then."
[Amazon Swordsmen, Attack Power 1500]
"Directly attack Mr. Kurosaki."
The Swordsman stepped forward, swinging its sword. Kurosaki faced the blade without hesitation, immediately responding: "Activate Cover Card, Speed Attack Magic 'Flame of the End'!
Special summon two 'Black Flame Derivatives' on my field!"
Two flames transformed into nearly human shapes, standing in front of him. The Swordsman's blade slashed down, only breaking through one of the Black Flames.
"Then, in the battle phase, activate the effect of the Continuous Trap 'Amazon Rush'. Once per turn, special summon an Amazon Monster from the hand."
Yugen placed another card from his hand.
"Special summon 'Amazon Scout'."
This time, two childlike figures appeared, though they wielded swords and bows with the same courage as their tribal kin, no less valiant than adult warriors.
"The monsters summoned by Rush's effect gain 500 Attack Power until the end of the turn," said Yugen.
[Amazon Scout, Attack Power 500 → Attack Power 1000]
"Attack the other 'Black Flame Derivative'.
With Defense Power of 0, Black Flame Derivative couldn't withstand even the children's attack. The black flame dissipated like a mirage, vanishing from the field.
Yugen: "Set one card, end the turn."
"My turn, draw!"
Kurosaki drew a card, his expression tense, facing a formidable foe. He had come to recognize the opponent as one of the rare great enemies of his life. And with his little brothers watching, being trampled by the opponent would be unbearable even if spared his soul afterward.
"Magic Card 'Adversity's Treasure Scroll'! If the opponent's field has a Special Summoned Monster and my field has no Monsters, draw two cards from the Card Deck!" (Original card)
Kurosaki drew two cards, immediately playing one of them.
"Magic Card 'Angel's Charity', draw three cards from the Card Deck and discard two cards from the hand."
After discarding, he promptly revealed another Cover Card.
"Trap Card 'Fallen Angel's Charity'! This turn so far, all cards sent to the graveyard via Magic effects return to the hand." (Original card)
Yugen raised an eyebrow.
The name suggests that this Trap was designed as a set with the famous "Angel's Charity", with card art depicting a corresponding Fallen Angel. However, while Angel's Charity was quickly made into an actual card, this card was left forgotten in the annals of time.
He squinted and scrutinized Kurosaki.
Initially, this trip was just to gather some intelligence, but now... this card and I are destined.
"The two cards discarded by Angel's Charity are returned to the hand."
Returning the two cards to his hand, Kurosaki replenished his hand in one move. Upon drawing, his eyes lit up.
"Hahaha, it's here! With this card, your lousy Swordsman can go to hell!
Activate Magic Card 'Earth Shattering'!"
Kurosaki shouted.
"Destroy the opponent's Monster with the highest Defense on the field!"
The Amazon Scout has only 1100 Defense Power, while the Swordsman has 1600. Naturally, the highest Defense belongs to the Amazon Swordsmen.
But Yugen responded calmly: "Then, activating Amazon Scout's effect. Sacrifice this card so that all Amazon Monsters on my field this turn cannot be targeted by Monster effects or destroyed by any Magic, Trap, or Monster effects.
This effect can also be activated during the opponent's turn."
The scout sacrificed itself, and the resulting golden light enveloped the Swordsman. The Swordsman shouted powerfully, slicing through the fissures encroaching upon it.
"Tsk, so it has such an ability."
Kurosaki hummed, looking at the Amazon Swordsmen with an increasingly grim expression.
Anti-Armor, Exorcism, and now it even has a resistance halo, can you believe it?
But he wasn't discouraged by the failed attack, quickly regrouping for another move.
"Summon 'Furball Attacker'!"
[Furball Attacker, Attack Power 1850]
"The Furball Attacker can Special Summon 'Furball' from the Card Deck by discarding a card from the hand."
Kurosaki discarded a card to the graveyard, declaring.
"Special Summon a second 'Furball' from the Card Deck!"
[Furball, Attack Power 100]
A bystander was confused: "But Big Brother's King of Furred Beasts has already been excluded, so even if you summon another Furball..."
Kurosaki gave a confident smile.
"Ha, I had planned for this. The other card I discarded on the first turn with 'Handwriting Destruction' was also a 'King of Furred Beasts'!"
"Two Kings of Furred Beasts!"
The follower immediately grew respectful.
"There can only be one 'King of Furred Beasts' face-up on the field, but Big Brother prepared two in the graveyard... does that mean he anticipated even the first one being countered?"
"Big Brother is wise!"
The onlookers showered him with flattery again, which pleased Kurosaki, soothing his rage over the Amazon combo. He managed to keep from choking on a fury-induced headache.
"Sacrifice the 'Furball' on the field to resurrect from the grave...
The King of Furred Beasts!"