"Wow, what a powerful Combo!" someone from the watching duelists exclaimed.
"That's Weevil Underwood's specialty, using Spell and Trap Cards to strengthen and weaken the Monsters on the field, then launching a counterattack all at once!"
"That guy Hayato is in danger."
"That darn insect bastard, stop attacking already, [Death Stalker]!" Joey was anxiously watching. If he could enter the arena, he might have actually rushed in to physically stop the attacking [Death Stalker].
"I'm afraid that's not possible, Joey," Yugi explained. "Hayato already declared an attack, and Weevil's Monster on the field only underwent a state change, which doesn't trigger the rules for a replay."
"Hayato's in trouble now."
However, unlike the worried Yugi and the others below, Hayato, seeing Weevil's [Skull-Mark Ladybug] switch to Defense Position, said with a strange expression, "I thought your Back Row would be something like [Savior's Antlion Pit] or [Sakuretsu Armor], but instead it's a defensive counterattack strategy that changes to Defense Position?"
"A Monster with 2500 DEF? That's so strong, too strong."
"Then I won't hold back. Activate the Set Card, [Guillotine's Tragedy]!"
Hayato activated the Set Card he had placed since the start of the Duel. Weevil didn't immediately react to what kind of card it was: "[Guillotine's Tragedy]? I think I've heard of that card somewhere."
Below the stage, Yugi – whose grandpa owned a card shop and who, from a young age, had a knack for "heavy trap" strategies – immediately recited the effect of [Guillotine's Tragedy]: "I remember that card is a Trap Card that can only be activated when an opponent's Attack Position Monster on the field is changed to face-up Defense Position. Its effect is to destroy all Defense Position Monsters on the opponent's field?!"
As Yugi recited the card's effect, Joey and the others' eyes grew brighter, and Weevil also recalled the card's effect, his face suddenly turning a little pale: "You mean—!!!"
"How could anyone use a card like that!?"
"That's right, solely defending will only lead to the path of Louis XVI. If you don't fight, you can't survive. Weevil, you like to use underhanded methods to evade combat, but that's precisely why it will lead you to failure!" Hayato looked at the giant guillotine projected onto the field, and the [Skull-Mark Ladybug], its head stuck in the guillotine with an expression of bewilderment on its insect face.
"—Execution complete! Death will be the hope for tomorrow!"
The great blade hanging high on the guillotine instantly fell. Despite its sturdy shell and securely fastened shield, even so, the [Skull-Mark Ladybug] couldn't withstand the descent of the massive blade and was destroyed with a "crunch."
"Damn it!" With [Skull-Mark Ladybug] destroyed, his proud combo rendered useless, Weevil was both angry and unwilling. "Because [Skull-Mark Ladybug] was sent to the Graveyard, I can recover 1000 Life Points!"
[Weevil: 3600 LP → 4600 LP]
"But because [Skull-Mark Ladybug] was destroyed, the wall blocking my Monster's attack is gone." Hayato waved his arm. "Launch a total assault on the insect bastard, [Death Stalker], [Celtic Guardian]!"
"Scarlet Poison Sting!" "Swordsman of the Storm!"
Although the attack names Hayato shouted were cool and imposing, the two Monsters on the field simply ran to Weevil's Duel Stage, attacked normally, and then retreated normally. Even so, many duelists below excitedly shouted:
"What a cool attack!"
"That swordsmanship is so elegant, I'm going to collect a [Celtic Guardian] card too!"
"Hey, I remember yesterday on the ship, didn't you want to trade [Celtic Guardian] with me for [Painful Choice]? I already traded it to you!"
"No way, I won't trade even if you add in that [Lightning Vortex]."
Even Téa, who wasn't very interested in Duel Monsters, had sparkling eyes as she pulled Yugi's arm: "Hey, Yugi? I remember you have a few [Celtic Guardian] cards, right? Will you give me one? I can go on a date with you!"
"Ahem!" The Virtual Projection System equipped on the Duel Stage was the same intensity Impact Simulation System as what Yugi and Kaiba had used before. While he had only been injured by the residual effects of [Ojama Yellow], this time he received two direct attacks from Monsters consecutively, and Weevil felt the real pain.
[Weevil: 4600 LP → 3700 LP → 2300 LP]
Knowing he either had to finish the opponent off in one go or keep a countermeasure ready for any last-ditch comeback, Hayato saw that Weevil's Life Points had dropped to 2300. He Set four cards. "I'll spare your life for now until the next turn. Savor your lingering existence, Weevil Underwood. I Set four cards, and my turn ends."
[Hayato: 5000 LP, Hand 7 → 3]
[Celtic Guardian] [ATK 1400]
[Death Stalker] [ATK 900]
[Set Card] [Set Card] [Set Card] [Set Card] [Set Card]
Field: [*Ojama Country*]
Weevil looked at Hayato's field and couldn't help but shudder. The two Monsters on his Monster Zone weren't a major threat, and the [*Ojama Country*] card was just scrap paper now that the [Ojama] Monsters were gone. However, the five Set Cards on Hayato's Back Row were truly terrifying.
Weevil considered his own dueling style to be quite "underworld-like." After dueling him, that goofball Rex Raptor, the runner-up of the National Duel Monsters Tournament, had angrily called him a devious little man because he was controlled by various Trap Cards throughout the entire match.
He really should let that goofball duel this detestable Hayato himself, and show him what "underworld" truly means.
"What are you dawdling for? Draw your card quickly, I'm so bored I'll turn to dust."
Hearing Hayato on the other side, who was oblivious to his own "T-Set" opening and urging him to draw, Weevil suppressed his anger and drew a card resentfully. Upon seeing the card he obtained, he froze a little.
"Heh heh, Hayato, do you think you've already gained the advantage? Watch this, this is my true Ace Card!"
"Come out, my treasure, [Petit Moth], and equip it with [Cocoon of Evolution] from my Hand!"
[Petit Moth] [Level 1 / EARTH] [Insect / Normal Monster] [300 ATK / 200 DEF]
"Equipping a Monster Card onto another Monster Card?! What kind of strange maneuver is that?" Joey exclaimed, seeing a small caterpillar appear on the field as Weevil described, and then it began to spin silk, transforming into a giant cocoon that occupied the field.
However, this time, it wasn't Yugi who answered his question, but a female voice: "This is that insect Weevil Underwood's true Ace Combo. A powerful Monster will hatch from the cocoon. It looks like that insect Weevil Underwood is finally getting serious."
Before Joey could turn his head, he smelled a very familiar perfume. He turned around and saw it was indeed Mai Valentine, whom he had met on the cruise ship.
The Celtic Guardian, the GOAT!
And speaking of which, what stage do you all think the Petit Moth will evolve to this time?
Time flies, it's almost been a month since the book was released, time really does go fast...
(end of chapter)