**Chapter 46: National Duel Monsters Tournament**
Although filled with curiosity about the contents of the box, Yugi still restrained himself, placing the box at his feet. He then raised his head to look at the television screen. "The Match seems to have started already."
His words drew everyone's attention back to the program on the television. After a segment of annoying but essential sponsor advertisements, the Finals of the National Duel Monsters Tournament for the Japan Region, organized by Industrial Illusions, had already begun.
The Black Player, taking the First Turn, was "the Insect" Weevil, skilled in using a combination of Insect Monsters and Spell Cards. The White Player, going second, was "the Dinosaur" Rex, whose Dinosaur-Type Monsters specialized in immense power and extremely high precision.
"My Turn, Draw." After glancing at the Hand he drew, Weevil Set three cards face-down in his Back Row, and with a sinister smile, Set a Monster, then ended his Turn.
"He actually Set three Traps in his Back Row all at once. This Weevil's Deck is so Shadow Realm." Watching Weevil's "T-Set" play on the TV program, Chumley felt annoyed watching his actions, due to his very poor impression of the Duelist himself.
Joey glanced at Chumley, somewhat speechless. "Speaking of opening with three Set Cards, I recall Chumley being the one who used that move the most, didn't he?" Among everyone present, he was the only one who had no right to call someone else "Shadow Realm-ish"—just as he thought that, Joey caught sight of Yugi again.
Recently, when Dueling, Yugi had also started to increasingly enjoy using various Set Cards in Battle. It seemed that "Shadow Realm Duelists" were becoming contagious.
"My Turn!"
Although both were fourteen years old, it was clear that Rex wasn't as unnaturally tall as a certain precocious, delinquent priest with face tattoos and permed hair who smoked. Yet, the aura that appeared the moment he Drew a Card made people involuntarily forget he was only 14.
After glancing at Weevil's Monster on the Field, Rex chuckled and Summoned his own Monster. "Mere Defense is useless against my invincible Dinosaur army! I Summon (Wasteland Raptor)!"
"Roar!"
Unlike Weevil's bland opening, accompanying Rex's Summon Declaration, a pitch-black Dinosaur descended upon the Field. With powerful, muscular thighs that looked very adept at dashing about, and claws sharp enough to rip through an entire Deck in one go, it was utterly imposing!
[(Wasteland Raptor)][Level 4/Earth][Dinosaur/Normal Monster][1500/800]
"I've seen that move before. (Double Summon) a second Monster then Overlay for (Divine Judgment Dragon), right?" Watching Rex's play, Chumley couldn't help but recall the Casual Dinosaur Deck he often played in his previous life, where (Rescue Rabbit) bringing out two (Wasteland Raptor)s and then Overlaying for an Xyz Summon was one of his most common plays.
"Its ATK is as high as 1500! This is bad, my Monster will be—!" Weevil also quite cooperatively played along with Rex's actions, showing a layered expression filled with fear, panic, and despair.
Seeing Weevil fall into a panic, Rex was overjoyed and quickly commanded, "Go, (Wasteland Raptor)! Use your claws to Attack and crush that Monster!"
The Set Monster on Weevil's Field was easily torn apart by (Wasteland Raptor)'s claws as it lunged forward, revealing its true form. It was the Level 2 Insect-Type Monster, (Demon Scorpion).
[(Demon Scorpion)][Level 2/Earth][Insect/Normal Monster][900/200]
Facing (Wasteland Raptor)'s 1500 ATK, (Demon Scorpion) was instantly defeated, but strangely, its body did not disappear immediately.
Seeing his Monster on the Field instantly Destroyed, Weevil's expression suddenly changed: "Haha, you fell for it, Rex! I just happen to have a Trap Card on my Field that responds to a 'Monster being Destroyed'! Now I Activate it!"
It turned out that his earlier panic was all an act, purely to lure Rex into Attacking his Monster. One of the three Set Cards in Weevil's Backrow flipped up, revealing its true form: (Fellow Traveler)!
"When a Monster is Destroyed and sent to your Graveyard, you can Activate this card. Target one Monster on the Field and Destroy it." Weevil flashed a sinister smile, pointing his finger at the (Wasteland Raptor) that had just Attacked. "Industrial Illusions has released quite a few new Cards recently. You, who recklessly Engaged in Battle, are about to lose the Match!"
"I will Destroy that (Wasteland Raptor)!"
The lingering body of (Demon Scorpion) on the Field twitched unnoticed by (Wasteland Raptor). Then, (Demon Scorpion)'s tail stinger suddenly darted out, ambushing the unsuspecting (Wasteland Raptor). Deadly poison was injected into (Wasteland Raptor)'s body through the stinger. Without even a struggle, (Wasteland Raptor) collapsed, and the bodies of both Monsters dissipated into points of light.
Not only that, Rex's Life Points also decreased by 750 because (Wasteland Raptor) was Destroyed.
[Rex: 2000 LP → 1250 LP]
"Hehehehe~ Now your Field has no Monsters, does it? When the Turn ends, you'll directly lose the Match." Weevil stated his intention, while feigning regret. "What a shame, you finally made it to the Finals, but you didn't even last through the First Turn before I took you out."
"Don't you dare underestimate me, Weevil! My Turn isn't over yet!" There was no trace of seriousness on Rex's face; instead, it was an expression of expectation. "During my Main Phase 2, I Activate the Spell Card (Double Summon)! Then, I Summon (Greedy Corpse Dragon)!"
"Roar!"
Entering with another high-pitched roar, and similarly standing upright with a pitch-black body, Rex once again Summoned a Dinosaur Monster, and its ATK was even stronger than the (Wasteland Raptor) that had just been Destroyed!
[(Greedy Corpse Dragon)][Level 4/Earth][Dinosaur/Normal Monster][1600/1200]
"I had my suspicions when I saw your Set Cards in the Backrow. (Wasteland Raptor) was just bait! Don't you dare underestimate me, Weevil!"
The two on TV were locked in an intense back-and-forth of offense and defense. "You Destroy my Monster with a Trap, I boost my Defense with a Spell to reflect your Attack." They were evenly matched.
"Amazing, truly amazing!" Joey watched, completely dumbfounded. Before the Match began, he had thought Weevil, the guy using Insects, would quickly be crushed by Rex's Dinosaurs, but now it seemed that both Duelists possessed formidable Dueling skills.
Chumley looked at the Trap Cards used by both sides, a satisfied smile on his face, thinking to himself: *That Pegasus guy, he stubbornly refuses to implement the 4000 LP Rule, but he's certainly proactive with Card Printing.*
(end of chapter)