# Chapter 70: A Hand of Unplayable Cards
Yūga Hōzumi summoned a dazzling star river, and the crimson number 16 appeared on the back of his right hand.
"Ultimate weapon that dominates the world, descend now! Let my foes taste fear! Xyz Summon! Rank 4! Number 16: Shock Master!"
As Yūga Hōzumi's voice fell, a dark red mechanical fortress slowly rose from within the stardust vortex. At the very front of the fortress, a human face expressionlessly stared at his opponent, exuding an invisible pressure.
Number 16: Shock Master ATK: 2300
"I activate the effect of Number 16: Shock Master! Once per turn, by detaching one Xyz Material from this card, I can declare a card type. Until the end of my opponent's turn, neither player can activate cards of that type."
"The card type I declare is Spell Cards!" Yūga Hōzumi extended his hand, and one of the small orbs circling the mechanical fortress suddenly lit up, a faint wave of light sweeping across the entire field.
"A lockdown effect?" The Bionic-Arm Brute's expression was incredibly grim as he glanced at the fusion spell in his hand, gritting his teeth.
"It's not over yet! Since it was sent to the Graveyard as an Xyz Material, I activate the effect of Blackwing - Zephyros the Elite from my Graveyard!"
"If this card is in the Graveyard, I can return one face-up card I control to my hand to Special Summon this card, and then I take 400 damage."
Yūga Hōzumi LP: 4000 → 3600
After Yūga Hōzumi expressionlessly took the damage, the mechanical fortress's position was replaced by a black-winged birdman.
"Because Number 16: Shock Master returned to the Extra Deck, the remaining Xyz Materials are sent to the Graveyard."
"And since it was sent to the Graveyard, the effect of Performage Trick Clown activates!"
"If this card is sent to the Graveyard, I can target one 'Performage' monster in my Graveyard, Special Summon it with its ATK and DEF becoming 0, and then I take 1000 damage."
"Revive! Performage Trick Clown!"
Yūga Hōzumi LP: 3600 → 2600
"I overlay the three Level 4 monsters: Performage Trick Clown, Performapal Pendulum Sorcerer, and Blackwing - Zephyros the Elite!"
"Xyz Summon! Descend once more! Number 16: Shock Master!"
The mechanical fortress descended again. The chilling mechanical face at its front made the Bionic-Arm Brute's heart clench as a sense of dread intensified. "Appearing again? Don't tell me…"
"That's right. This effect isn't limited to once per turn by its card name. Since it's a new copy on the field, I can use its effect again," Yūga Hōzumi said with a smile.
"I activate the effect of Number 16: Shock Master! I detach one Xyz Material. This time, the card type I declare is Monster Cards!"
A faint wave of light swept across the field again. The Bionic-Arm Brute suddenly realized a tragic truth—before his turn even started, with the hand he had, all he could do next turn was summon one monster and set his only trap card.
"I set one card and end my turn," Yūga Hōzumi said coldly.
"My turn! I draw!" The Bionic-Arm Brute gritted his teeth and drew a card.
"I summon a monster in face-down Defense Position, set two cards, and end my turn." With his monster effects and Spell Cards locked down, the Bionic-Arm Brute couldn't do much more this turn. He could only set three cards and end his turn, hoping to survive the next one.
"Is this the only despicable tactic you people have?" After ending his turn, the Bionic-Arm Brute snarled.
"Despicable? That's the pot calling the kettle black. You don't actually think your tactic of ganging up to chip away at Life Points is noble, do you?"
As Yūga Hōzumi spoke, he glanced at the surrounding battlefield. Although Yuto was fighting two against one, Dark Rebellion had already poked one of them to death with its chin. Dealing with the other was just a matter of time. As for the other battles nearby, with the anti-Ancient Gear tools provided by Reiji Akaba, the previously unstoppable Obelisk Force was now being beaten back step by step.
"My turn! I draw!" Yūga Hōzumi slowly drew a card.
"I activate Shock Master's effect! By detaching one Xyz Material, this time, I declare Trap Cards."
The faint light wave lit up again. The Bionic-Arm Brute's two set cards in his backrow were now useless unless they were Quick-Play Spells.
"Since it was sent to the Graveyard as an Xyz Material, the effect of Performage Trick Clown activates!"
"If this card is sent to the Graveyard, I can target one 'Performage' monster in my Graveyard, Special Summon it with its ATK and DEF becoming 0, and then I take 1000 damage."
"Revive! Performage Trick Clown!"
Yūga Hōzumi LP: 2600 → 1600
"I overlay the Level 4 Performage Trick Clown and the Level 4 Performapal Damage Juggler!"
"Appear! Dragon of the deep that watches the world from the abyss! Xyz Summon! Rank 4! Abyss Dweller!"
Abyss Dweller ATK: 1700
"I activate the effect of Abyss Dweller! Once per turn, by detaching one Xyz Material, my opponent cannot activate any card effects in their Graveyard this turn!"
"Next, I summon Performapal Skullcrobat Joker in Attack Position!"
"I activate the effect of Performapal Skullcrobat Joker! When this card is Normal Summoned, I can add one 'Performapal' monster, other than this card, from my Deck to my hand! I add Performapal Pendulum Sorcerer to my hand!"
"I overlay the two Level 4 Spellcaster-Type monsters, Performapal Skullcrobat Joker and Performapal Damage Juggler!"
"Xyz Summon! Rank 4! Performage Trapeze Magician!"
"I activate the effect of Performage Trapeze Magician!"
"By detaching one Xyz Material from this card, I can target one face-up Attack Position monster on the field. This turn, that monster can make a second attack during the Battle Phase. If it does not attack twice, it's destroyed at the end of the Battle Phase. I choose Trapeze Magician itself as the target! (Anime effect)"
"Trapeze Magician's effect activates again! I target Number 16: Shock Master. This turn, Shock Master can also attack twice!"
"Battle! Performage Trapeze Magician, attack that face-down monster!"
As Performage Trapeze Magician delivered a kick, the set card flipped open.
C-Crush Wyvern DEF: 2000
Only then did Yūga Hōzumi finally figure out what deck his opponent was using.
"An ABC deck?" Yūga Hōzumi said. "Too bad. Because of Abyss Dweller's effect, you can't activate this monster's effect to Special Summon a monster from your hand when it's sent from the field to the Graveyard."
"Performage Trapeze Magician, direct attack!"
Performage Trapeze Magician swung high, aiming to plant a shoe print on the Bionic-Arm Brute's face.
"At this moment, I activate the effect of Kiteroid from my hand! When an opponent's monster declares a direct attack, I can send this card to the Graveyard to make the battle damage from that attack zero!"
The attack was blocked. Not only did Yūga Hōzumi show no displeasure, but his eyes lit up. "Kiteroid? A top-tier, life-saving hand trap that can block two direct attacks with one card? To think I'd get such an unexpected prize on this trip."
…
(end of chapter)