Chapter 88: The Courageous _Sonic Chick_
Chumley issued the attack command. On the Field, _Gaia_ spurred its warhorse forward, and the well-trained steed immediately charged towards Mai Valentine's _Harpie Lady_.
"You... you're actually trying for Mutual Destruction with my _Harpie Lady_?!"
Chumley didn't answer Mai Valentine's question. On the Field, _Gaia_ finally clashed with one of the _Harpie Lady_ monsters. A sharp spear versus sharp talons, a swift warhorse versus swift wings. The evenly matched opponents simultaneously capitalized on a lapse in the other's defense, delivering a fatal blow and being Destroyed in the process.
The one Chumley had chosen as his Attack Target was the lead sister among the three _Harpie Lady_ monsters. Because she had left the Field, the ATK of the other two _Harpie Lady_ monsters was no longer boosted.
_Harpie Lady_ #2 & #3 [ATK 2300 → 2000]
"Damn it, you Destroyed my _Harpie Lady_." Mai Valentine sent her _Harpie Lady_ to the Graveyard with displeasure. "But all you have on your Field is one _Ojama Yellow_ in Attack Position. On my next Turn, I'll wipe out your Life Points!"
Chumley waved his hand. "Hold on a moment, Miss Mai, my Turn isn't over yet." Chumley was genuinely afraid she would just forcefully end his Turn. "Because my _Gaia_ was Destroyed by battle, I can Activate my Set Card, _Intercept Egg_!"
"I can Special Summon one _Sonic Chick_ from my Deck to my Field!" Chumley Searched a Card from his Deck. "Charge bravely, fear no foe! Come to my Field, _Sonic Chick_!"
Taking advantage of the fact that no one in this era recognized the card, Chumley shamelessly exchanged for one of Yusei's cards and added it to his Deck. Transforming from illusion to reality, a fledgling bird that looked incredibly fragile, wearing a pair of large shoes on its feet, appeared running onto Chumley's Field.
_Sonic Chick_ [Level 1 / Earth]
[Winged Beast Type / Effect]
[300 / 300]
"Now, my Turn is officially over." Chumley had done all he could. "It's your move, Miss Mai."
[Chumley: 2900 LP, Hand 0]
[_Ojama Yellow_][ATK 0]
[_Sonic Chick_][DEF 300 → 500]
"What's the use of a Monster with only 300 DEF? Even with the boost from _Harpie's Hunting Ground_, it's still only 500 points. It's not even as good as cannon fodder." Mai Valentine smiled contemptuously as she drew from her Deck. "My Turn! I Normal Summon _Harpie Lady_ from my Hand!"
Another _Harpie Lady_ was Summoned to Mai Valentine's Field. Although it didn't have the damage bonus provided by _Harpie Lady_ #1 and _Cyber Shield_, with the 200 ATK boost from _Harpie's Hunting Ground_, the newly summoned _Harpie Lady_ still had a high ATK of 1500.
As long as she used one Monster to Destroy _Sonic Chick_ on Chumley's Field, her other two Monsters would be more than enough to wipe out his Life Points.
"Battle! _Harpie Lady_ #2 and #3, take out the two Monsters on the opponent's Field!" Mai Valentine commanded, crossing her arms in front of her chest as she waited for her two _Harpie Lady_ monsters to put on a show.
And the two _Harpie Lady_ monsters did not disappoint. After flying high into the sky and each locking onto a target, they dove down like arrows. No matter how panicked _Ojama Yellow_ was, it couldn't escape the pursuit of the _Harpie Lady_, its natural predator. Chumley's Life Points took Damage as a result.
[Chumley: 2900 LP → 900 LP]
As the smoke from the Monster's destruction gradually cleared, Mai Valentine said leisurely, "When _Ojama Yellow_ is Destroyed, you take 2000 points of battle damage. That _Sonic Chick_'s 500 Defense Points are nothing to worry about. Next is a Direct Attack from _Harpie Lady_, Chumley!"
"I wouldn't be so sure about that."
"What!"
The smoke completely dissipated, but on Chumley's Field, that _Sonic Chick_ with a mere 500 Defense Points, though trembling, was indeed still on the Field, not Destroyed by the _Harpie Lady_'s previous Attack!
"Impossible! Its DEF should only be 500!"
Faced with Mai Valentine's disbelief, Chumley said smugly, "Don't be fooled by _Sonic Chick_'s fragile appearance. It won't even fear a Monster with infinite Attack Points!"
Mai Valentine really wanted to shove Chumley's head onto the Field so he could get a good look at the trembling _Sonic Chick_ that was continuously shaking its head, denying his words.
"_Sonic Chick_ cannot be Destroyed by battle with a Monster that has 1900 or more ATK!"
"Tch, then the other _Harpie Lady_ will Attack it!" Mai Valentine said, annoyed. This time, facing a _Harpie Lady_ with 1500 ATK, _Sonic Chick_ couldn't resist. It was Destroyed and Sent to Graveyard to keep the _Ojama_ Monsters company.
"My Turn ends here. You escaped that one by the skin of your teeth, Chumley."
[Mai Valentine: 3000 LP, Hand 0]
[_Harpie Lady_ #2, #3][ATK 2000]
[_Harpie Lady_][ATK 1500]
"Then it's my turn. Draw!" Seeing the card he drew, Chumley raised an eyebrow. "I Activate the Spell Card, _Pot of Greed_. I can Draw two more cards."
"Having more cards won't save you. What can you possibly do with a mere 900 Life Points?" Mai Valentine said disdainfully as she watched Chumley Draw two cards. "My _Harpie Lady_ formation is impregnable. No matter what kind of Monster you Summon, you have no chance of defeating me!"
"Well, that's not necessarily true." Chumley revealed a card from his Hand. "Even a Fodder Monster can unleash tremendous power if it's willing to risk its life. I Normal Summon this Monster, _Goblin Attack Force_!"
A group of Monsters that looked like common foot soldiers appeared on Chumley's Field. The Goblins, each wearing simple armor and wielding weapons ranging from wooden clubs to maces, materialized. Although they looked like a disorganized mob, Mai Valentine appeared quite surprised at their appearance. "A Monster with 2300 Attack points? That's equal to that _Gaia_ of yours!"
_Goblin Attack Force_ [Level 4 / Earth]
[Warrior-Type / Effect]
[2300 / 0]
"Have a taste of the power of the fodder you look down on! Full-scale assault!"
Upon hearing the command, the Goblins instantly took off like wild horses, legs churning as they charged straight for _Harpie Lady_ #3 on Mai Valentine's Field. After a chaotic battle, the _Harpie Lady_ was Destroyed by battle, and Mai Valentine took 300 points of overflow Damage.
[Mai Valentine: 3000 LP → 2700 LP]
"Damn it, my _Harpie Lady_!" Mai Valentine said, gritting her teeth. "But because it battled, your _Goblin Attack Force_ will now become a scattered unit with no fighting power!"
"So you know this card." Chumley wasn't too surprised. _Goblin Attack Force_ wasn't exactly a Super Rare Card; it was quite common compared to cards like _Dark Magician_ or _Blue-Eyes White Dragon_. Even Pegasus had a Toon version of it, so it wasn't strange for Mai Valentine to know its Effect.
Although _Goblin Attack Force_ had an exceptional 2300 ATK for a Level 4 Monster, this ragtag army could only be used once. And sure enough, having just finished a battle and taken out a _Harpie Lady_, the Goblins were already celebrating with a banquet on the spot, completely oblivious to the murderous glares from the other two _Harpie Lady_ monsters nearby.
"I Set one Card and end my Turn."
[Chumley: 900 LP, Hand 0]
[_Goblin Attack Force_][DEF 0]
[Set Card]
(end of chapter)