Chapter 61: Weevil on the Fourth Layer
"Take this, Hayato! (Skull-Mark Ladybug) attacks that (Ojama Yellow) with Death Pounce!"
After devouring the (Thorn Fairy), the (Skull-Mark Ladybug) turned its head, its wings hidden beneath its carapace unfurling as it took flight, pouncing towards the inescapable (Ojama Yellow) under the terrified gaze of (Ojama Yellow).
"Help me, Big Bro~"
Hearing (Ojama Yellow)'s cry for help, Hayato responded: "The moment you Declare an Attack on my (Ojama Yellow), I Activate my Set Card on the Field, (Mystical Wok)!"
"Haha, Big Bro really did help me! Now it's my turn to Counterattack!" Seeing the (Skull-Mark Ladybug) halt its Attack, (Ojama Yellow) couldn't help but crow triumphantly. He turned to look at Hayato's Set Card behind him. "Eh? Why does that Card look so familiar... No! (Mystical Wok)!?"
With a "clang," (Ojama Yellow) saw a gigantic wok appear not far away, with fire burning underneath it. The wok seemed to possess an endless suction, and (Ojama Yellow), without even a last word, was directly swallowed into it. After several stirs of the wok, a somewhat peculiar dish was served.
[Hayato: 4000 LP → 5000 LP]
[(Skull-Mark Ladybug)][ATK 1500 → 500][DEF 500 → 1500]
"You dodged my Attack? A boring move. Don't forget, my (Skull-Mark Ladybug) can Attack twice! Take this 1000 points of—"
"Before that, I still have a Card to Activate." Hayato revealed another Set Card. "Trap Card, (Soul Resurrection)! I can Revive one Normal Monster from my Graveyard and Special Summon it to the Field in Defense Position. Return from the darkness of the Graveyard, (Skull Stalker)!"
The scorpion warrior crawled back to the Field from the Graveyard, looking confused. It distinctly remembered being utterly dead before, even having its last words prepared. How could it have been Revived?
[(Skull Stalker)][DEF 800]
Because (Ojama Yellow) was sent to the Graveyard, (*Ojama Country*) was no longer in Effect, and (Skull-Mark Ladybug)'s ATK returned to 500. If he continued his Attack on Hayato, the only Attack Target would be (Skull Stalker). Unfortunately, (Skull Stalker)'s DEF was 800, higher than 500. Weevil, quite unwillingly, Set a Card from his Hand.
"Tch, he got another life. I'll Set one Card. My Turn Ends!"
[Weevil: 3600 LP, Hand 1→6→2]
[(Skull-Mark Ladybug)][ATK 500]
[Set Card][Set Card][Set Card]
"My Turn, Draw!"
[Hayato: 5000 LP, Hand 6→7]
Looking at the (Skull-Mark Ladybug) in Attack Position on Weevil's Field, Hayato calculated. He then Summoned the Monster he had just acquired. "I Normal Summon (Celtic Guardian), and change (Skull Stalker) from Defense Position to Attack Position."
The handsome (Celtic Guardian) made an elegant entrance, coolly flourishing its sword. Beside it, the crouching (Skull Stalker) also stood up, rubbing its claws, its tail stinger swaying. Ready, it could Attack at any moment.
'A (Celtic Guardian) with 1400 ATK, huh? Tch.' Weevil grimaced unhappily. Among his three Set Cards, one was (Bottomless Trap Hole), which could be Activated when a Monster with 1500 or more ATK was Summoned, Flip Summoned, or Special Summoned. Those Monsters would all be Destroyed at once and Banished from the Game.
Back when Weevil won the National Duel Monsters Selection Tournament and received a staggering three million in Prize Money, he spent more than half of it acquiring various powerful Cards to Enhance his Deck. Among those powerful Cards, (Bottomless Trap Hole) was one of the strongest and most expensive.
"Oh dear, a Monster with 1400 ATK. If this Attack goes through, my LP will drop again." While he feigned distress, Weevil was actually hoping Hayato would quickly Attack the (Skull-Mark Ladybug) on his Field.
'My Backrow still has a (Desert Sunlight), which can change my (Skull-Mark Ladybug) on the Field into Defense Position. Combined with another Card, (Spikeshield with Chain), (Skull-Mark Ladybug)'s DEF will skyrocket to a full 2500 points!'
'Come on, Hayato, hurry and Attack the Monster on my Field!'
Perhaps Weevil's fervent wish truly began to work, for under his abnormally excited gaze, Hayato indeed issued the Attack command: "Just a Monster with 500 ATK, (Skull Stalker), Attack (Skull-Mark Ladybug)!"
"Chaa!" (Skull Stalker) leaped high. Since scorpions are not insects, it had no psychological burden about immediately killing a ladybug.
Weevil, however, suddenly burst out laughing: "Hahaha, you fell for it, Hayato!"
"You used a Fodder Monster to defeat (Sword Horn Beetle), that was the first layer; I used (*Ojama Country*) to Summon (Skull-Mark Ladybug), that was the second layer; Tributing a Fodder Monster to recover LP, then Summoning a Monster with higher DEF, that's your third layer." He then Revealed two Set Cards on his Field. "But I'm always one step ahead of you in my calculations, because I'm on the fourth layer!"
"(Desert Sunlight) Activates! All Monsters on my Field will change to Face-up Defense Position. Immediately following (Desert Sunlight)'s Activation is (Spikeshield with Chain), which will become an Equip Card and Equip itself to (Skull-Mark Ladybug)!"
A sudden gust of wind swept across Weevil's Field, kicking up countless grains of sand from (*Ojama Country*), darkening the sky and making it almost impossible to see, temporarily halting (Skull Stalker)'s Attack. When the dust settled and sunlight once again illuminated Weevil's Field, the (Skull-Mark Ladybug) had changed into Defense Position. At the same time, it now bore a shield adorned with a unicorn emblem.
The shield not only looked shimmering and incredibly sturdy, but a sharp horn-like spike extended from the unicorn's head in the center. Behind the shield, a long chain was wrapped and secured to the (Skull-Mark Ladybug), instantly transforming the normally delicate-looking insect into something formidable.
"(Skull-Mark Ladybug)'s ATK will increase by 500 points due to (Spikeshield with Chain)'s Effect. Then, when (Skull-Mark Ladybug) is Attacked while in Defense Position, its DEF will increase by the attacking Monster's ATK." Weevil's lips curled into a triumphant smile.
"A temporary lead in LP is nothing at all. Battle with 900 ATK against 2500 DEF! Take 1600 points of Damage from this difference!"
"Hayato!"
(end of chapter)