Watching Hu Tao's mischievous grin, the crowd more or less understood what had just happened.
"Hahaha, Hall Master Hu is truly full of tricks."
"She actually tricked the shopkeeper!"
"Hall Master, I love you!!!"
By sheer luck, Hu Tao's blunder had baited out Luya's [Mystical Space Typhoon].
Though she didn't realize it, Luya had done it deliberately.
This turn…
He wanted to take advantage of [Wangsheng Funeral Parlor]'s Attack boost for Zombies, so he could deal even greater Life Point damage.
Inwardly, Luya offered Hu Tao a silent apology.
"Hehe!"
"Hall Master Hu, this time I'll be the one to hold the funeral!"
Hu Tao shook her head with a laugh:
"No, you can't~ Only this Hall Master gives the best funerals!"
Their playful exchange ended, and Luya began preparations for Hu Tao's burial rites.
Currently, he held three Monster Cards and two Spell Cards:
[Gaia The Fierce Knight]
[Obnoxious Celtic Guardian]
[Zombie Master]
[Monster Reborn]
[Horn of the Unicorn]
On the field, he also had a face-down Trap: [Negate Attack].
Luya pulled out [Zombie Master].
[Zombie Master] DARK│Level 4│Zombie│1800 ATK / 0 DEF
This was the card he'd added last turn thanks to [Witch of the Black Forest].
Specifically chosen to counter Hu Tao!
"I Normal Summon [Zombie Master]!"
Dark mist swirled together, coalescing into a gray-haired, ragged youth with a sickly look.
In his hand glowed a faint red aura. Around his waist hung a belt strung with skulls, from which dangled a sapphire-inlaid silver dagger.
"By [Wangsheng Funeral Parlor]'s effect, Zombie Master gains 500 Attack."
"And another Exorcism Counter is placed."
The phantoms surged into Zombie Master's body as another tombstone appeared.
His Attack rose from 1800 to 2300!
Hu Tao clutched her stomach, laughing loudly:
"Haha, even with my Wangsheng Funeral Parlor's boost, your Attack is only 2300~"
"I thought it'd be something amazing!"
She had expected Zombie Master's grand entrance to rival her Kings, but it turned out to be just another 2300-point monster.
Her guard dropped at once.
The spectators thought the same.
"So that's what the shopkeeper brought out!"
"The entrance was flashy, but it's still weaker than Hall Master Hu's King!"
But unlike them, Zhongli's sharp eyes discerned the truth—
This card's effect was lethal against Hu Tao's Deck.
He spoke gravely:
"Do not be too quick to judge."
"This card is strong…"
Indeed, though 2300 Attack paled against her 4500 Attack Kings, once Luya used Zombie Master's special ability…
Hu Tao would be in tears!
Luya leaned forward, pointing at Zombie Master:
"I activate Zombie Master's effect!"
"Once per turn, I can discard a monster from my hand to Special Summon 1 Level 4 or lower Zombie monster from either Graveyard!"
"I send [Gaia The Fierce Knight] from my hand to the Graveyard!"
"And Special Summon…"
"Hall Master Hu's [King of the Skull Servants] from her Graveyard!!! O departed soul of the netherworld, heed my call!"
As his words fell, Zombie Master drew his dagger and sliced a three-centimeter gash across his palm—deep to the bone.
Blood gushed forth, forming a crimson hexagram.
From the glowing seal emerged a King of the Skull Servants in tattered blue robes.
Summoned from Hu Tao's Graveyard by Zombie Master, it appeared on Luya's field.
Hu Tao panicked:
"Ah!? My King of the Skull Servants!"
Luya grinned:
"Since your King was Special Summoned from your Graveyard to my field, the Attack of your remaining King decreases by 1000—down to 3500!"
Because Luya's Graveyard contained no Skull Servants or Kings,
his newly stolen King's Attack was 0. But thanks to Wangsheng Funeral Parlor's effect, it still gained 500 Attack.
Thus, Luya's King stood with 500 Attack, as yet another tombstone manifested.
Seeing this, Hu Tao sighed with relief.
"You scared this Hall Master!"
"Your King is useless—it only has 500 Attack!"
"How could it compare to my 3500!!?"
Luya spread his hands with a sly smile:
"So… I activate [Monster Reborn]."
...
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