Having Psychic Power Really Lets You Do Whatever You Want
Despite his (Psychic Protector) having 0 ATK and being in Attack Position on his Field, Espa Roba faced Hayato's (Noble Knight Artorigus)'s Attack with a confident expression.
"I Activate my Set Card, (Amanojaku's Curse)!"
Espa Roba's Set Card on the Back Row flipped open. From the card art, a grinning, clown-dressed Fiend emerged, actually charging directly towards (Artorigus), who wielded a sharp sword!
"Clang!"
(Artorigus) bypassed the annoying (Amanojaku), his sharp sword about to strike down upon (Psychic Protector). But at that moment, he suddenly felt a familiar power being re-suppressed onto him!?
Turning his head, he saw the (Amanojaku) he had previously ignored was now clinging to the (Sword of Dragon's Soul) he held above his head. The (Sword of Dragon's Soul), originally radiating a chilling gleam, visibly rusted and decayed after being embraced by the (Amanojaku)!
"(Amanojaku's Curse)'s Effect is that, for this Turn, it reverses all ATK and DEF changes. In other words, the (Sword of Dragon's Soul), which raises (Noble Knight Artorigus)'s ATK by 700, now reduces its ATK by 700 instead!"
(Noble Knight Artorigus) [ATK 2500 → 1800 → 1100]
Espa Roba, with a confident stance, explained unhurriedly, raising a hand and pointing at (Noble Knight Artorigus): "In other words, (Artorigus), with an ATK below 2000, cannot break free from (Psychic Protector)'s Psychic Power Control!"
Hayato watched (Artorigus)'s Attack fail, stating with a hint of helplessness, "You're surprisingly capable; you actually managed to come up with such a way to Battle. It looks like I need to get serious too."
"I enter my Main Phase 2. I Activate the Spell Card (Trade-In), sending one Normal Monster from my Field to the Graveyard to Draw two cards. For now, Leave the Field, (Artorigus)."
After sending (Noble Knight Artorigus) and (Sword of Dragon's Soul) to the Graveyard, Hayato Drew two cards. "Then I Activate the Spell Card (Unexpected Dai). If I control no Monsters, I can Special Summon one Level 4 or lower Normal Monster from my Deck."
"Come forth, (X-Head Cannon)!"
The moment the blue cannon robot appeared on Hayato's Field, the ground suddenly began to rumble. Espa Roba, opposite Hayato, Activated another Set Card: "At the instant you Special Summon a Monster, I Activate my Set Card, the Quick-Play Spell Card (Land of Demise)!"
"This card can only be Activated when my Opponent's Monster is Special Summoned. I can Activate one Field Spell Card from my Deck!" Espa Roba drew his entire Deck, fanning it out face-down. He closed his eyes and theatrically drew a card from it, Activating it in the Field Spell Card Zone without looking. "My Psychic Power tells me I should Activate this card now!"
"Field Spell, (Brain Research Lab)!"
The changes to the ground ceased, and Hayato looked around. The bustling commercial street that had been there was replaced by an enclosed room. Green lights flickered everywhere in the room, and in the very center, there was a Life Support Pod filled with an unknown liquid, making it look like an unsavory underground laboratory.
"Heh heh, this Field is the most suitable for Psychic Duelists to battle. Within this environment, my Psychic Power Level will be even higher than before!" Espa Roba stood in a corner of the room, looking at Hayato opposite him, striking the same strange pose as before. "Come on, my Psychic Power, 'Mind Reading'! Let me see your Hand!"
"You want to see my Hand? Heh heh, no need for such trouble, I'll let you see plenty at once!" Hayato glanced at the wall behind the room. Although the Solid Vision's Effect was quite good, it was ultimately just an illusion. If he remembered correctly, the location he was looking at was the direction one of Espa Roba's brothers had fled.
"I Activate the Continuous Spell Card (Frontline Base). Once per turn, during my Main Phase, I can Special Summon one Level 4 or lower Union Monster from my Hand." Hayato drew two cards from his Hand. "The Monster I Special Summon is this one: (Heavy Mech Support Armor). Then I Activate its own Effect. Once per turn, I can Equip this card to one Machine-Type Monster I control."
"If the Equipped Monster would be Destroyed by Battle or Effect, (Heavy Mech Support Armor) can be Destroyed instead, and while equipped, it increases the Equipped Monster's ATK/DEF by 500!"
(X-Head Cannon) [ATK 1800/DEF 1500 → ATK 2300/DEF 2000]
"I Set one card. My Turn ends." Before Setting that card, Hayato subtly flashed the card in his Hand towards the wall behind him.
[Hayato: 4000 LP, Hand 0]
(X-Head Cannon) (Heavy Mech Support Armor) [ATK 2300]
[Set Card] [(Frontline Base)]
"Beep, beep beep, beep, beep." Espa Roba, who had been "channeling" with his eyes closed, only opened them after Hayato declared his End Turn, his face full of smugness. "Heh heh, it's useless. My Psychic Power has already told me what the card you Set is."
"You want to ambush me with that card? No way! My Turn, Draw!"
He Drew a card. Before Espa Roba entered his Main Phase, his (Psychic Protector)'s Effect Activated during the Standby Phase. A green beam of light linked from (Psychic Protector) towards Espa Roba, but halfway through, it was intercepted by the (Brain Research Lab) underfoot.
"Although (Psychic Protector)'s ability is quite powerful, Psychic Power comes at a Cost. During each of my Standby Phases, I must Pay 500 Life Points, otherwise this card will be Destroyed."
Though he said this, Espa Roba's Life Points did not change.
"However, due to (Brain Research Lab)'s existence, each time I would Pay Life Points for a Psychic-Type Monster's Effect, I can place one Psychic Counter on it instead."
(Brain Research Lab) [Psychic Counters: 0 → 1]
"Such a powerful card, yet he can evade its Cost like that? That's too much like cheating!" Mai Valentine's disdainful voice came from outside the Field. "Can having Psychic Power really let you do whatever you want?"
"Sorry, but having Psychic Power truly lets you do whatever you want." Espa Roba chuckled smugly, Activating a card from his Hand. "Continuous Spell Card, (Psychic Tuning)! When a Psychic-Type Monster is Normal Summoned, I can Pay 500 Life Points to increase that Monster's Level by 1☆ and its ATK by 300."
"Then, I use (Brain Research Lab)'s Effect: I can Normal Summon one Psychic-Type Monster in addition to my Normal Summon. I Normal Summon (Power Injector) in Attack Position! Then I Activate (Psychic Tuning)'s Effect to increase its ATK!"
[Espa Roba: 4000 → 3500 LP]
(Power Injector) [Level 4 → Level 5 / Earth]
[Psychic-Type / Effect]
[ATK 1300 → 1600 / DEF 1400]
(Brain Research Lab) [Psychic Counters: 1 → 2]
"Finally, I Tribute my (Psychic Protector) on the Field to Tribute Summon my Ace Monster!" Espa Roba's emotions seemed a little agitated, as if once that Monster was Summoned, victory would already be in his Hands.
"Come forth, (Jinzo)!"
The Psychic-Type machine doll vanished from Espa Roba's Field as green light particles. Immediately after, a humanoid Monster that looked like a human but was actually a Machine-Type appeared before Espa Roba. As soon as it appeared, it unleashed a shockwave that swept through the entire (Brain Research Lab)!
(Jinzo) [Level 6 / DARK]
[Machine-Type / Effect]
[ATK 2400 / DEF 1500]
"(Jinzo) is the strongest Psychic born after rigorous Psychic Power development. Its powerful Future Vision can even change the future! Therefore, Trap Cards are completely Negated for (Jinzo)!"
Espa Roba said, pointing his finger at Hayato's Set Card in the Backrow: "I already saw it with my Future Sight; the card you Set is a Trap Card. After (Jinzo) is Summoned, all Trap Cards on the Field will be Negated and Destroyed!"
"Trap Search!"
The shockwave (Jinzo) unleashed earlier swept over Hayato's sole Set Card in his Backrow. Just as Espa Roba said, it was a Trap Card, which was lifted and shattered by (Jinzo)'s shockwave, immediately Sent to the Graveyard.
But before Espa Roba could utter another boast, Hayato's Set Card, which had just been Destroyed by (Jinzo)'s shockwave, transformed into a Phantom Image and reappeared on Hayato's Field!
"How is that possible?! (Jinzo)'s Effect should Negate all Traps!"
Seeing Espa Roba's shocked expression, Hayato picked up the Trap Card that was about to be Sent to the Graveyard, gently tapping the side of the card with his finger: "It seems your 'Future Sight' Psychic Power training isn't quite enough; did you not see this moment's future?"
"Although you Negated all Trap Cards on the Field, your luck is good. (Dark Coffin) is a card that can Activate its Effect when it is Destroyed and Sent to the Graveyard."
From the Activated Trap Card, a golden Egyptian (Sarcophagus) emerged. From the opened (Sarcophagus), a black ghost flew out, attacking Espa Roba with a sinister laugh.
"When (Dark Coffin) is Destroyed, the Vengeful Spirit will seek revenge against you. You must either Sacrifice a Monster on your Field or randomly Discard a card from your Hand. Only these two ways can appease the Vengeful Spirit's hatred. Make your choice, 'Espa' Roba."
At this moment, Espa Roba only had one card in his Hand, and the Monsters on his Field were the (Power Injector) he had just Summoned at an extra 500 Life Points Cost, and the High-Level Monster (Jinzo). Faced with the choice, Espa Roba reluctantly Sent the card in his Hand to the Graveyard: "I choose the latter, to randomly Discard one card from my Hand."
Before it was Sent to the Graveyard, Hayato clearly saw the card Espa Roba Discarded: the Equip Spell (Cybernetic Amplifier).
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"That troublesome Monster"
"And thank you, Brother Hayato"
"A civil official of that country"
"Espa Roba"
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(end of chapter)