Chapter 65: (Sakuretsu Armor), You Died a Tragic Death
"Although I really want to refute you, my turn ends." Hayato didn't expect Weevil to be so good at disrupting other people's plays. If this were the real-life Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG environment of his past life, Weevil would definitely be the type to pack his Deck full of (Infinite Impermanence), (Called by the Grave), Effect Veiler, (Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring), and (Ghost Ogre & Snow Rabbit).
Hayato himself also liked to fill his Deck with these useful Hand Traps, though.
[Hayato: 4900 LP, Hand 3]
[Set Card] (Appropriate)
Field: (Ojama Country)
Although Hayato held an advantage in hand resources and Life Points against Weevil, the situation on the field still made Weevil appear stronger. Moreover, another Ojama Monster that Hayato had just managed to get into his hand was sent back to the Deck by Weevil. Although Hayato still had one Set Card on his field that hadn't been activated, it was a counter-play prepared for Weevil's Summon of (Great Moth).
Before that, he would have to endure a few attacks with his Life Points.
"My turn, draw!" Weevil added a card to his hand, then smirked as he looked at Hayato's field. "Looking at that expression, could you be pinning your hopes on that Set Card in your back row? As the price for being my enemy, I will crush your hopes."
"Spell Card, (Mystical Space Typhoon)!"
Weevil played the card he had just drawn from his hand. The card appeared in the center of the field, transforming into a rapidly moving cyclone that swept towards Hayato's back row. The already face-up (Appropriate) was unaffected, but the card Hayato had Set was lifted by the strong wind and then torn to shreds.
It was (Sakuretsu Armor).
'So, I still couldn't escape the fate of being "winded"?' Hayato sighed. He had originally planned to use (Sakuretsu Armor) to destroy (Great Moth), but it failed to activate.
"With this, your field is laid bare before me! (Flying Kamakiri #2), begin the hunt!"
"Cha!"
(Flying Kamakiri #2) swung its blade-like arm, sending an air blade flying towards Hayato, which struck the Duel Arena. The Solid Vision system simulated the impact, applying its force to Hayato's body.
"Ugh!" Hayato instinctively grabbed onto the Duel Arena. This time, the damage was much more significant than before—a full 1500 points of damage, causing a substantial drop in Hayato's Life Points.
[Hayato: 4900 LP → 3400 LP]
"My turn ends. With this, (Cocoon of Evolution) has grown for three turns. Countdown, 2!"
[Weevil: 2300 LP, Hand 0]
[(Cocoon of Evolution)] [DEF 2000]
[(Flying Kamakiri #2)] [ATK 1500]
"My turn, draw!"
Adding the card to his hand, Hayato looked at it with some surprise. Could he actually get a God Draw and pull a Removal Card?
"Activate Spell Card, (Magical Stone Excavation)! I can discard two cards from my hand, then add one Spell Card from my Graveyard to my hand." Hayato sent (Meteor Stream) and (Curse of Dragon) to the Graveyard. "The Spell Card I will add to hand is this one, (Dragon's Mirror), which was just sent to the Graveyard by the effect of (Mind Crush)!"
"(Dragon's Mirror)? That's a Spell Card typically restricted to Summoning Dragon-Type monsters, isn't it? Is Hayato going to Summon (Alligator's Sword Dragon)?" Joey made his guess.
"(Alligator's Sword Dragon)... I recall that's a card that can direct attack the opponent only when there are only EARTH, WATER, or FIRE Attribute monsters on their field, right? But Weevil has the WIND Attribute (Flying Kamakiri #2) on his field, so its effect cannot be activated. Moreover, its ATK is only 1700 points, which also cannot penetrate (Cocoon of Evolution)'s DEF."
Hearing Yugi's analysis, Mai Valentine nodded in agreement. "Furthermore, in two more turns, Weevil will successfully Summon his ace monster – (Perfectly Ultimate Great Moth). No one has ever managed to defeat Weevil once he Summons that monster. That guy Hayato is in danger."
"(Dragon's Mirror), you say? Useless! No monster can break through my (Cocoon of Evolution)'s invincible DEF!"
Facing Weevil's taunts, Hayato remained calm. "Weevil, while you are scum, I have to admit you're a powerful Duelist. Indeed, ordinary monsters cannot destroy your (Cocoon of Evolution). Therefore, to defeat you, I am willing to give up my soul."
"Set one card from my hand, then activate (Dragon's Mirror)! I will Banish (Gaia The Fierce Knight) and (Curse of Dragon) from my Graveyard, which I just sent there!"
A magnificent jeweled mirror appeared on the field. Two orbs of light shot out from the Graveyard and merged into the mirror. From within the mirror's surface, a warrior riding a Wyvern and wielding a lance flew out.
"Super metal armor, super magnificent propulsion, super imposing knight! Warrior who controls the dragon, stage a dramatic battle!"
"(Gaia the Dragon Champion)!"
(Gaia The Fierce Knight), riding (Curse of Dragon), appeared with Hayato's overly enthusiastic shout. As soon as he arrived on the field, he eagerly urged his upgraded mount, diving from high above to thrust his lance at Weevil's (Cocoon of Evolution).
[(Gaia the Dragon Champion)] [Level 7 / WIND / Dragon / Fusion / ATK 2600 / DEF 2100]
"The stronger knight returns! Take this 2600 ATK, Weevil! (Gaia the Dragon Champion) attacks (Cocoon of Evolution)! (Cavalry Charge)!"
"Boom!"
The lance effortlessly pierced (Cocoon of Evolution)'s DEF. Accompanied by an explosion, Weevil's field was instantly enveloped in smoke emanating from the attacked (Cocoon of Evolution). (Gaia), unable to see clearly for a moment, retreated back to Hayato's field, watching the situation within the smoke cautiously.
"Alright! That cocoon was broken! Now that insect scumbag's ace monster can't come out!" Joey exclaimed excitedly, looking at Weevil's smoke-filled field. In his opinion, (Gaia the Dragon Champion)'s attack just now had definitely destroyed (Cocoon of Evolution) and the (Petit Moth) inside.
Clearly, he had never heard of the concept "smoke and no damage."
Almost the moment Joey's words fell, a bizarre cry suddenly echoed from within the smoke: "Gaa—, Gaa—!!"
"Wh-What kind of sound is that?!"
"It sounds disgusting."
Many of the onlookers among the duelists, unable to bear the sound that was like fingernails scraping a blackboard, covered their ears. Weevil, however, squinted as if he had heard beautiful music. "You actually destroyed (Cocoon of Evolution) and interrupted my precious monster's evolution process."
"But only the outer cocoon was destroyed! After several turns of growth, my (Petit Moth) has already evolved!"
"Spread your wings and soar, showering elegance and beauty! (Great Moth)!"
From within the smoke, a massive green figure soared upwards, instantly climbing to the same height as (Gaia the Dragon Champion). Its wings spread out, blotting out the sky, and with just one flap, the hurricane it generated instantly dispersed the smoke covering Weevil's field.
[(Great Moth)] [Level 8 / EARTH / Insect / Special Summon / ATK 2600 / DEF 2300]
"Impenetrable DEF and unbeatable ATK! Although it's not its Ultimate form, let me defeat you just like this, Hayato!" Weevil forcibly ended Hayato's turn and drew a card from his Deck, even though Hayato's hand was empty. "(Great Moth), attack (Gaia the Dragon Champion)!"
(end of chapter)