"Cannon Soldier, summon!"
Yuki gently frowned.
Good heavens, even Cannon Soldier has appeared.
Needless to say, this monster was a legendary creature that left an indelible mark in Yu-Gi-Oh! history. It was not only known as Yugi Muto's frequently used monster, but it also remained active in various FTK (First Turn Kill) combos, making it the soul card of countless "acrobat" players.
"The effect of 'Power of the Guardians': When this card is sent from the field to the Graveyard, I draw one card from my Deck." (Original card)
This was also an original Equip Spell Card that Jaden and Yuki had used in their first duel.
"Then, the effect of Cannon Soldier," Tsukiko said. "By Tributing monsters on your field, this card can inflict damage to your opponent equal to half the ATK of the Tributed monster." (Old effect)
The key point of this effect was that it wasn't once per turn, which was precisely why it became crucial in various FTK combos.
Of course, this effect had been nerfed in 2014. The new version added a "once per turn" restriction, significantly weakening it.
The Cannon Soldier in this world, of course, had no reason to have such a restriction.
"Oh no, 'Waboku' can prevent battle damage and battle destruction, so he switched to effect damage. Yuki's Life Points are 2000, and Mr. Tenma's field has plenty of ammunition."
Syrus's expression instantly became grave.
"This is a legendary duelist." Alexis couldn't help but feel nervous for Yuki. "Even 'Waboku' couldn't seal off his offensive rhythm."
She said, looking at Yuki with some worry.
Could he withstand this move?
"First, 'United We Stand'!" Tsukiko said. "I Tribute 'United We Stand' to inflict damage equal to half its ATK."
"United We Stand" currently still had 3700 ATK. This one attack alone would inflict incredibly massive damage!
But Yuki snapped his fingers.
"Then, Counter Trap - 'Divine Wrath'!" Yuki said. "By discarding one card from my hand, the activation of an Effect Monster's effect is negated and that monster is destroyed!"
He then selected a card from his hand and discarded it to the Graveyard. Immediately, dense dark clouds gathered in the sky above the field. The chaotic and deep lead-grey clouds seemed to absorb all darkness. Lightning flashed, countless silver serpents danced wildly, and divine lightning tore out from the dark clouds, carrying the majesty and terror of a god. With one strike, it blasted Cannon Soldier to smithereens.
"He even defended against that. Impressive."
Tsukiko raised her arm to block the impact and dust, smiling slightly.
"However, because I Normal Summoned 'Cannon Soldier' this turn, I activate the Spell Card 'Card of Sanctity' from my hand!" (Original card)
Another Spell Card appeared before Tsukiko.
"During the turn I Normal Summoned a monster, I draw two cards from my Deck. However, cards drawn this way cannot be used this turn. If they can be Set, at least one must be Set."
Tsukiko drew two more cards.
"Next, I activate this face-down Spell Card on my field once again."
He waved his hand.
"Spell Card: 'Reinforcement of the Army'!" (Original card)
As the Spell Card flipped, several more Equip Spell Cards appeared on his field!
Syrus was startled: "A second one?!"
Yuki was also surprised for a moment but quickly understood. For key cards in a deck's strategy like these, it was naturally impossible to include only one if conditions allowed.
"I don't think I need to repeat the effect," Tsukiko said. "I Special Summon 'United We Stand', 'Mage Power', and 'Power of the Guardians' from the Graveyard as Equip Monsters with 500 ATK and 500 DEF!"
[United We Stand, ATK 500]
[Mage Power, ATK 500]
[Power of the Guardians, DEF 500]
"And they gain their respective Equip effects, increasing their ATK!" Tsukiko said. "There are five monsters on the field, so 'United We Stand's' ATK increases by 4000 points!
I have four Equip Spells in my front row and one Set card in my back row, for a total of five Spell/Trap Cards. 'Mage Power's' ATK will increase by 500 for each Spell/Trap Card on my field, meaning it increases by 2500!"
[United We Stand, ATK 500 → ATK 4500]
[Mage Power, ATK 500 → ATK 3000]
This time, "Power of the Guardians," which had the lowest ATK among them, was placed in Defense Position.
"Then I Set three more cards to my back row!" Tsukiko shouted. "At this instant, because the number of Spell and Trap Cards on the field increases, each one boosts 'Mage Power's' ATK by another 500, for a total increase of 1500!"
[Mage Power, ATK 3000 → ATK 4500]
"In an instant, he's back to this formation again." Syrus took a deep breath. "There are two monsters with 4500 ATK again."
Fortunately, the Battle Phase had already passed this turn. With "Waboku" protecting him, Tsukiko temporarily couldn't launch another attack.
Alexis didn't say anything, but her thoughts were the same as Syrus's.
A legendary duelist was terrifying indeed!
Then her gaze couldn't help but shift to Yuki again.
He, however, looked as he usually did, without any discernible difference.
This was something she had noticed long ago. Yuki's duels always had an inexplicable calmness, no matter what opponent he faced.
Whether it was a master, a novice, or a legend, they all seemed to him to be merely "duel opponents." In his duels, there was neither tension nor passion.
There was a strange feeling of "I just play casually, and somehow, inexplicably, I win."
So, including Alexis, many people in the academy always felt that he never took anyone seriously.
Alexis had always believed, like others, that this was his composure built upon his strength, absolute confidence. Perhaps he simply didn't feel that any opponent he usually encountered in the academy was worth his full effort.
But now, it seemed he was like this even when facing an opponent of this caliber.
"My turn, draw." Yuki said. "The moment the Standby Phase begins, the effect of 'Sacred Phoenix of Nephthys,' which was destroyed last turn and sent to the Graveyard, activates."
"Sacred Phoenix of Nephthys" is reborn from the Graveyard during the next Standby Phase after being destroyed by a card effect and sent to the Graveyard!
Tsukiko's expression changed slightly: "'Sacred Phoenix of Nephthys'? But when..."
Then he immediately realized, remembering the hand card that had been destroyed last turn, which he had been a bit concerned about.
"The hand card that 'Hymn of the Fire King' destroyed."
"That's right, the hand card destroyed by 'Hymn of the Fire King' last turn was indeed 'Sacred Phoenix of Nephthys'," Yuki said. "And because it was destroyed by an effect, not discarded, 'Sacred Phoenix of Nephthys''s effect can be activated."
"Be reborn from the ashes in divine flames that burn all!"
Tsukiko Tenma frowned: "It can trigger its regeneration ability from being destroyed in the hand..."
Scorching divine flames gathered in the sky, red like a burning sunset, or molten iron in a furnace. A blazing beam of light, piercing the sky, descended as if transcending the boundaries of space and time, transforming into the shape of a burning divine bird.
[Sacred Phoenix of Nephthys, ATK 2400]
Syrus immediately understood something: "That's right! 'Sacred Phoenix of Nephthys' can destroy all Spell/Trap Cards on the field, and even though the Equip Cards Mr. Tenma summoned are used as monsters, they are still Spell Cards!"
Alexis also understood: "The power of 'Sacred Phoenix of Nephthys' is precisely the bane of this Equip combination!"
Yuki raised his arm. The divine bird, enveloped in raging flames, burned fiercely behind him.
"'Sacred Phoenix of Nephthys''s effect: When this card is Special Summoned by its own effect, destroy all Spell/Trap Cards on your opponent's field!"
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