Luya's turn ended.
Next was Chongyun's turn.
Chongyun wore a smile.
"My turn."
"Draw—"
"[The Tricky] (Monster)"
After drawing [The Tricky], delight flashed across Chongyun's face.
This card…
Chongyun had seen it in the Yu-Gi-Oh! anime; as long as you discard 1 card from your hand, you can Special Summon it.
Although [The Tricky] is Level 5 with not-so-high ATK—only 2000—it can still be Special Summoned!
Whether as Tribute fodder or to hold the field, it's quite useful—pretty versatile, really.
Chongyun smiled and said:
"I activate [The Tricky]'s effect!"
"Discarding [Kuriboh] from my hand."
"Special Summon [The Tricky]!"
"Go! Put on a magic show for everyone!"
As Chongyun pitched [Kuriboh] to the Graveyard, the little furball shed many tears on its way down.
The Tricky patted Kuriboh, finally soothing its sobs…
On The Tricky's face was a red question mark, as if questioning the world.
On his chest was a giant question mark echoing the one on his face, stirring curiosity about his inner heart.
A man covered in "?"—The Tricky was a riddle given form.
He wore a blue cloak billowing in the wind, and blue-white armor beneath.
The armor's style was a bit comical—at first glance like a circus clown—giving off a playful, humorous vibe.
[The Tricky] Level 5│WIND│Spellcaster│2000 ATK / 1200 DEF
With [Kuriboh] discarded and [The Tricky] on the field, some guests who'd bought Yugi Muto's [Starter Deck] felt these two cards looked familiar.
They'd seen them somewhere… yet couldn't recall just where.
Next, Chongyun continued…
"I activate a Spell Card!"
"[Tricky Spell 4]"
As [Tricky Spell 4] activated…
A massive capsule appeared on Chongyun's field.
The capsule was dark green with a transparent glass top, marked with a red number 4.
A haze of smoke suddenly billowed from beneath [The Tricky]'s feet, blanketing the entire Duel Stage…
A gust swept by…
[The Tricky] vanished and reappeared inside the giant capsule.
The capsule began to sway… then shook violently.
It unfolded…
Three mirrors appeared. The mirrors shattered and, from within… three [Tricky Tokens] emerged, crouching in Defense Position.
Chongyun explained:
"[Tricky Spell 4]"
"Send a face-up [The Tricky] you control to the Graveyard to activate!"
"Special Summon [Tricky Token]s in Defense Position equal to the number of monsters your opponent controls!"
"I Summon 3 [Tricky Token]s. These Phantoms cannot attack and do not go to the Graveyard when destroyed by battle."
Although Luya and Hu Tao had four monsters on the field, Chongyun and Xingqiu only had three open zones. Thus, he could only Summon three [Tricky Token]s. They cannot attack.
[Tricky Token] Level 5│Spellcaster│WIND│2000 ATK / 1200 DEF
After the three Tricky Tokens were Summoned, Chongyun and Xingqiu's field was packed, giving them a strong sense of security.
Chongyun held a card between two fingers and slapped it onto the Summon Zone with great flair!!!
With utter confidence, he shouted:
"It's not over yet!"
"I Tribute 2 [Tricky Token]s!"
"Tribute Summon [Dark Magician]!"
"Come forth—my strongest servant, Dark Magician!"
After shouting, Chongyun felt his blood surge and his Yang energy threaten to rampage…
He hurriedly glanced at "Kamisato Boruto Chronicles" to suppress it.
With Chongyun's cry, the two [Tricky Token]s dissolved into a storm of digital fragments and vanished.
Then… a magic circle and a ring of candlelight appeared, enveloping the field in a mysterious darkness.
The candles flickered faintly, illuminating the intricate runes upon the circle.
As the flames dwindled, a figure in a purple mage's robe emerged within the arcane array.
A handsome, stern young man wielding an emerald staff—his eyes brimming with power. He was [Dark Magician], a legendary existence!
As a Spellcaster, he boasted top-class ATK and DEF.
[Dark Magician] Level 7│DARK│Spellcaster│2500 ATK / 2100 DEF
The moment [Dark Magician] appeared, the crowd burst into cheers.
"Wow!"
"So that's the Pharaoh's strongest servant!"
"Dark Magician!!!"
"No wonder the cards Chongyun used look so familiar."
"Though if we're talking the strongest in the anime—"
"It's gotta be the three God Cards. Yesterday's Yu-Gi-Oh! preview said they're above Blue-Eyes White Dragon, Dark Magician, and Red-Eyes Black Dragon!"
"The three God Cards!!!"
Some who hadn't seen the preview didn't know what the God Cards were, yet just hearing the name told them…
They were something else. To bear the name of 'God,' they had to be powerful!!!
"What are the three God Cards?"
Zhongli began to explain to the audience…
Last night…
Luya, Zhongli, Xiao, and Venti went to dine at Wangshu Inn.
At the table, Zhongli asked Luya if there were dragons stronger than Blue-Eyes White Dragon.
Luya said yes. After further questions, Zhongli learned of the God Cards' existence.
Thus, Zhongli explained to the nearby guests:
"The three God Cards are the Pharaoh's exclusive guardian deities…"
"These three divine cards are:"
"[Obelisk the Tormentor], [Slifer the Sky Dragon], and [The Winged Dragon of Ra]."
"Legend has it that if you gather all three, you can reign atop Duelists and earn the title of King of Games."
After Zhongli's explanation, the guests eagerly awaited the appearance of a God Card!
Chongyun successfully Summoned [Dark Magician].
With a base ATK of 2500—and starting from Chongyun's turn—they could battle!
In a Tag Duel, each Duelist can only command their own monsters during their Battle Phase.
On Hu Tao and Luya's field were a Defense Position [Lost Ghostling] with 200 DEF, an Attack Position 3000 ATK [King of the Skull Servants], and a 1200 ATK [Wangsheng Funeral Parlor's Attendant Girl].
Chongyun still had two cards in hand:
[Change of Heart] (Spell) and [Black Pendant] (Equip Spell).
[Change of Heart] has the same effect as [Brain Control], letting you take an opponent's monster until the end of the turn.
However, Xingqiu had already proven… with Hu Tao's bluffing chops, the brainless [King of the Skull Servants] clearly also had no heart.
No heart, no "Change of Heart"…
Using [Change of Heart] on the 300 ATK/200 DEF [Lost Ghostling] would be wasteful.
And if Hu Tao argued the ghost had no heart either… that'd be another card down the drain.
Besides, starting this turn, they could enter battle!
[Wangsheng Funeral Parlor's Attendant Girl] only had 1200 ATK.
They could win by battle—destroy it and deal damage at the same time.
Thus, [Change of Heart] had nowhere to shine this turn.
He would hold it for now.
"I activate the Equip Spell [Black Pendant]!"
A necklace strung with blood-red pearls and set with a black gem rimmed in gold appeared on [Dark Magician]'s neck.
ATK rose by 500!
[Black Pendant] increases a monster's ATK by 500.
Moreover, when Black Pendant is sent from the field to the Graveyard, it deals 500 damage to your opponent's Life Points.
An Equip Spell that not only boosts ATK but also chips away at the opponent—like a wicked curse bound to that black gem.
"Entering the Battle Phase!"
With that shout, Chongyun's cheeks flushed—he was fired up.
Though it was his first Duel, having watched the anime, his battle cry carried real momentum!
He raised his right hand, pointed at the Attendant Girl, and commanded [Dark Magician]:
"[Dark Magician], attack [Wangsheng Funeral Parlor's Attendant Girl]!"
"Dark Burning Magic!!!"
At Chongyun's command, Dark Magician leapt into the air and fired dozens of fireballs from his staff at the Attendant Girl.
The fireballs streaked blazingly fast, one after another.
With 3000 ATK, Dark Magician's assault easily overwhelmed the 1200 ATK Attendant Girl.
She shattered into digital fragments under the barrage. The flames didn't stop… After destroying her, they surged toward Hu Tao!
The fireballs struck Hu Tao—she felt a searing scorch…
Hu Tao took 1800 battle damage!!!
[Hu Tao & Luya, LP: 2000 → 200]
After that battle, together they had only 200 Life Points left…
100 apiece…
Both triggered the Candle-in-the-Wind buff: the lower the HP, the harder they fight.
If Hu Tao hadn't protected [King of the Skull Servants] with her bluff earlier, this battle would've ended the Duel.
Chongyun lowered [Dark Magician]'s right hand, and said, satisfied:
"My turn ends…"
As Chongyun's turn ended, Xingqiu laughed:
"Chongyun, you've got talent!"
"We're about to win!"
"Let's go!!!"
Chongyun scratched the back of his head and smiled modestly: "Not at all, haha."
After that round, Hu Tao was a little frantic…
"This is bad, this is bad…"
"Only 200 Life Points left!"
"And Wangsheng Funeral Parlor is gone… plus they have a 3000 ATK Dark Magician on the field!"
Seeing flustered Hu Tao, Luya comforted her:
"Don't worry, Master Hu~"
"200 Life Points is still very healthy…"
"Besides, you've got your famed lifesaver."
Luya pointed at Hu Tao's last card in hand—[Lingering Spirit of the Butterfly] (Quick-Play Spell).
With this card, Luya and Hu Tao still had one more chance to survive.
[Lingering Spirit of the Butterfly] can set your Life Points to 1, negate one instance of lethal damage, and draw 2 cards.
Like having a priceless blade at your side…
"So, Master Hu, don't worry too much."
"I promise—when it's my turn, I'll win."
Next turn, Luya would Summon [Slifer the Sky Dragon] and, with the Bluff Duel Stage… be practically invincible.
Hearing Luya's promise, Hu Tao finally relaxed. She nodded:
"In that case…"
"This Master will cooperate with everything I've got."
"We'll definitely hold out until your next turn!"
...
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