The Effect of (Jinzo) is quite powerful, possessing mandatory Trap Effect Negation, making it the lifelong enemy of Heavy Trap Deck players. However, its biggest drawback is that its Effect is mandatory and Field-wide; not only the Opponent Duelist's, but even the Trap Cards of (Jinzo)'s own controller are Negated.
However, Pegasus, the clever Card Printing merchant, came up with a fantastic idea to compensate for this flaw of (Jinzo). Since powerful Psychic Power indiscriminately Destroys all Traps, wouldn't simply equipping a controller solve the problem?
Thus, the Equip Spell Card (Cybernetic Amplifier) was created, exclusive to (Jinzo). Its Effect is very simple: it allows (Jinzo)'s controller to bypass its Effect and freely Activate Trap Cards, while the Opponent remains under (Jinzo)'s Trap Negation Effect.
And now, to prevent his two Monsters on the Field from being Destroyed, Espa Roba, whose Hand contained only the single Card (Cybernetic Amplifier), reluctantly chose to "Discard 1 random Card from Hand." No wonder his expression just now was so reluctant.
It's like Chumley having a Fusion Spell Card in his Hand, with (Elemental HERO Burstinatrix) and (Elemental HERO Avian) on his Field, the Field Spell (Skyscraper) active, and the Opponent Duelist's Life Points at 3000, with only one (Ancient Gear Golem) on their Field. In such a situation, Chumley is forced to Discard (Polymerization) due to some Effect and cannot Fusion Summon the unbeatable 3000-point KO specialist, making him extremely annoyed.
"Hmph, it doesn't matter even without (Cybernetic Amplifier). The cosmic radio waves have shown me the way to defeat you," Alba insisted stubbornly. "Enter Battle Phase, I use (Jinzo) to Attack (X-Head Cannon)!"
A green Energy Orb gathered in (Jinzo)'s hand and was hurled towards Chumley's (X-Head Cannon) on the Field. Despite combining its strength with the equipped Reinforcement Support Mechanic - Heavy Armament and continuously firing cannons to try and block the incoming Energy Orb, (X-Head Cannon) was still directly hit.
Watching the smoke and dust covering his Field, Chumley said, "Due to the Effect of Reinforcement Support Mechanic - Heavy Armament, if (X-Head Cannon), which it equips, is Destroyed, it can be used as a Substitute!"
"But you still have to take the Battle Damage, right?" Alba looked confident of victory.
As the smoke cleared, just before it was hit, (X-Head Cannon) detached the Heavy Armament it was originally equipped with and used it to shield itself. A classic "Defense Descent" blocked most of the Damage.
(X-Head Cannon) [ATK 2300 → 1800]
[Chumley: 4000 → 3900 Life Points]
"Hmph hmph, I successfully Weakened your Monster, everything is as prophecy predicted!" Alba commanded again, "Next, I will use my (Power Injector) on the Field to Attack (X-Head Cannon)!"
The Duelists outside the Field were slightly taken aback when they heard this command.
"Huh? But (Power Injector)'s ATK should only be 1600, right?"
"(X-Head Cannon)'s ATK should be higher."
Although the spectators outside were discussing amongst themselves, since Alba's command had already been given, (Power Injector) could only obey, launching an Attack on (X-Head Cannon), which had higher ATK than itself.
Just then, another green light shot out from (Power Injector). Just like (Psychic Protector) before, the green light was intercepted midway by (Brain Research Lab), and in the life support pod at the center of the room, a Psychic Counter increased again.
[(Brain Research Lab)] [Psychic Counter: 2 → 3]
"Due to (Power Injector)'s Effect, Once per Turn I can Pay 600 Life Points to increase the ATK of all Psychic-Type Monsters on my Field by 500 until the End Phase. And if a Psychic-Type Monster Activated an Effect by Paying Life Points, I place one Psychic Counter on (Brain Research Lab) as a Substitute!"
[(Power Injector)] [ATK 1600 → 2100]
On Alba's Field, the (Power Injector), which looked like a doctor, picked up a syringe and plunged it into its own arm. A large amount of unidentified green liquid was injected into its body, as if the medicine cost nothing.
After injecting the medicine, (Power Injector)'s movements became ferocious. What should have been an ordinary civil servant now had the prefix "Land of Light" added before "civil servant." Like the gorilla on the Empire State Building, it leapt up wildly and, swinging its arms which had grown muscular after the injection, brought them down hard, instantly smashing (X-Head Cannon), which, being Machine-Type, had no expression to show, into a pile of scrap metal.
[Chumley: 3900 → 3600 Life Points]
"Hmph, have you witnessed my Psychic Power, Duel King?" Espa Roba saw that all of Chumley's Monsters on the Field had been cleared, and couldn't help but reveal a smug smile. "The cosmic radio waves tell me that I've won this Duel!"
"My Turn Ends."
[Alba: 3500 Life Points, Hand 0]
[(Power Injector)] [ATK 2100 → 1600]
[(Jinzo)] [ATK 2400]
[(Psychic Tuning)]
Field: [(Brain Research Lab)] [Psychic Counter: 3]
"My Turn, Draw." Although, judging by the situation on the Field, Chumley seemed to be at a disadvantage, he was unconcerned. After Drawing a Card, he even raised an eyebrow casually. "I Activate the Spell Card (Pot of Greed)! I Draw two Cards."
"Wow, you Drew some amazing Cards."
At this moment, Alba, facing Chumley, maintained his exaggerated "power-up" pose, receiving signals from his brothers hidden among the spectators.
'A Level 8 FIRE Attribute Monster, and a Trap Card? A perfect combination!' Alba learned what Cards Chumley had Drawn from his brothers. Although his brothers' limited knowledge meant they couldn't distinguish exactly which Cards Chumley had Drawn, Alba had received enough information.
'If a Level 8 Monster wants to be Summoned, it needs at least two Tributes. If I hadn't Destroyed (X-Head Cannon) equipped with Heavy Armament just now, he probably would have Summoned a High-Level Monster, right? As expected of the Duel King, there's no room for error.'
'As for the other Trap Card, hmph, as long as my (Jinzo) is on the Field, any Trap Card is just a piece of scrap paper; there's no need to worry at all.'
'Although using such methods to defeat the Duel King is quite despicable, I'm doing this all for my brothers, I must win!'
Thinking this, Alba couldn't help but fantasize about which of Chumley's Cards he should take after he defeated him.
Chumley looked at the Cards in his Hand, a cunning smile on his face. "Hey, you, the guy named Alba, why are you smiling so creepily? This Duel isn't over yet."
Startled by Chumley's call, Alba snapped out of his fantasy. With excellent acting, he pretended to have just finished his "power-up" pose and said confidently, "Although the Duel isn't over yet, in the future I've foreseen, I've already won, and I've even seen the scene where I take your Cards."
"Oh, you've seen the scene where you take my Cards? Hmph hmph, you actually got that right," Chumley said, pulling out one of the two Cards he had just Drawn. "I just wonder if the timing of your 'taking my Cards' is accurate. After all, my Cards aren't so easy to take."
"You have two Monsters on your Field, here I go!" Flipping the Card in his Hand to show it, Chumley was holding (Lava Golem)!
"By Tributing (Jinzo) and (Power Injector) on your Field, I Special Summon this powerful Monster to your side!"
"Release my Monsters on my Field?!" In Alba's wide-eyed shock, his Deck's Ace Card, the powerfully suppressive (Jinzo), and (Power Injector) both transformed into streams of light and vanished from his Field.
Instead, Alba suddenly felt the surroundings become somewhat hot. He instinctively looked behind him to see a tall, humanoid lava figure standing there. A metal cage was embedded within its magma body, closing in on Alba. By the time he reacted, he was already trapped inside that iron cage!
(Lava Golem) [Level 8/FIRE Attribute]
[Fiend-Type/Effect]
[3000/2500]
"(Lava Golem) can be Special Summoned to your Opponent Duelist's Field by Tributing two Monsters on their Field. However, even so, it still takes up my Normal Summon for the turn, so I cannot Normal Summon this Turn."
"Don't let its ugly appearance fool you, (Lava Golem) is actually quite gentle. And its ATK and DEF are nearly identical to the legendary (Blue-Eyes White Dragon). I've given you such a great treasure, so be grateful."
Ignoring Alba's complaint, "Who would want a Card like this?! Give me back my (Jinzo)!", Chumley Set another Card in his Hand and said with a light chuckle as if nothing had happened, "I Set one Card, My Turn Ends."
[Chumley: 3600 Life Points, Hand 0]
[Set Card] [(Frontline Base)]
"He actually Released my (Jinzo) with this Monster!" Alba was still fuming as he angrily Drew a Card. "My Turn, Draw!"
He had anticipated various possibilities for (Jinzo)'s defeat: the aggressive pressure from Monsters like (Dark Magician) and (Blue-Eyes White Dragon), or Spell Cards with Monster Destroying Effects like (Lightning Vortex).
But being Released as Tributes was something Alba had never imagined.
Just as Alba was about to Summon the Monster Card he had just Drawn, Chumley spoke again—
(end of chapter)