"What the—!?"
"This… this???"
"No way, she…"
"She's unstoppable…"
Since Xingqiu's [Brain Control] failed, the spectators were shocked. However, after Hu Tao explained and they thought it through… there really wasn't anything wrong with her logic.
After all, [King of the Skull Servants] was a skeleton.
Nothing but bones, nothing inside, its skull empty and dark… Where would the brain come from for Xingqiu to wash?!
No one in the audience refuted her—everyone agreed with Hu Tao's bluff.
"When Master Hu says it like that, it really does make sense!"
"How could you argue with that?!"
"Feels like… there's just no way to refute it!"
"Hahaha! King of the Skull Servants is a skeleton, no brain… so [Brain Control] doesn't work!"
"I gotta say, that's professional-level bluffing!"
Even Xingqiu himself couldn't come up with a counterargument to Hu Tao's bluff. This round, Xingqiu… totally lost out. Not only did he lose a Spell Card, [Brain Control], he also lost 800 Life Points.
[Xingqiu, LP: XXXX → XXXX-800]
Facing Hu Tao like this, Xingqiu was reminded of that day… when he'd been mercilessly blown out under clear skies…
Seeing [Brain Control] fail against [King of the Skull Servants], Chongyun was troubled too. He still had [Change of Heart] in hand. By Hu Tao's logic, King of the Skull Servants not only had no brain… but also… no heart! So [Change of Heart], under that reasoning, wouldn't work on it either…
However, a 3500 ATK [King of the Skull Servants] couldn't be dealt with so easily. This was tough.
Xingqiu's original plan was to steal [King of the Skull Servants] with [Brain Control], then use it as Tribute to Tribute Summon [Cloudlance Sword Saint LV6] from his hand, wiping out the Skull King threat while also gaining board advantage.
Nonetheless, Hu Tao's bluff completely disrupted Xingqiu's plan. He lost Life Points, lost a card… and if they didn't handle King of the Skull Servants now, it could soon reach 4500 ATK once more [Skull Servants] or [Kings] hit the Graveyard—making it even harder to beat.
Xingqiu had four cards in hand. He pulled out a blue one, pointed at [Wangsheng Funeral Parlor], and shouted:
"I activate the Spell Card [Mystical Space Typhoon]!"
"Destroy [Wangsheng Funeral Parlor]!!"
A storm burst forth from Xingqiu's [Mystical Space Typhoon], targeting the Field Spell. The whirlwind struck Hu Tao and Luya's field… the Funeral Parlor was shredded into pieces. The Zombie monsters on their field each lost 500 ATK.
With one slash of [Mystical Space Typhoon], [Wangsheng Funeral Parlor] was gone… Even so, Hu Tao didn't feel too bad. After all, she still had three monsters on the field:
[King of the Skull Servants] ATK: 3000
[Lost Ghostling] DEF: 200
[Wangsheng Funeral Parlor's Attendant Girl] ATK: 1200
Xingqiu looked at his hand. Nothing else he could do this turn. Since this was a Tag Duel, they had to wait a full round before battle. So… they'd have to wait for Chongyun's turn before they could attack.
Xingqiu made his final plays.
"I Set 1 monster in Defense Position."
"Set 1 card face-down… End turn."
After using [Brain Control], [Mystical Space Typhoon], Special Summoning [Conqueror of Demons – Xiao], and Setting 1 monster and 1 card, Xingqiu—like Hu Tao—was down to just 1 card left in hand.
Next was Luya's turn.
"Go, Shopkeeper!!"
With [Wangsheng Funeral Parlor] destroyed, Hu Tao pinned her hopes on Luya, praying he could seize the advantage this turn. Luya nodded, his fingertip sliding to the top of his Deck.
"My turn!"
"Draw—"
"[Slifer the Sky Dragon]!"
[Slifer the Sky Dragon], one of the Egyptian God Cards, the Sky God. Its crimson body burned like flames, soaring across the heavens—majestic and awe-inspiring. Ruler of the skies, commanding wind and storm, its wings spread to blot out the sun, its roar shaking heaven and earth. In the domain of the sky, all bowed to its will. Its very presence filled mortals with reverence. [Slifer the Sky Dragon]'s power was unmatched, its majesty unchallenged. Legend said only the purest souls could commune with it, and those who dared challenge it would be consumed by its wrath. To the people, [Slifer the Sky Dragon] was the embodiment of godhood—an invincible existence.
As one of the God Cards, [Slifer the Sky Dragon] required three Tributes to Summon!!!
Luya glanced at the field…
[Wangsheng Funeral Parlor's Attendant Girl]
[Lost Ghostling]
[King of the Skull Servants]
Exactly three… but they were Hu Tao's partners. If he sacrificed them to Summon [Slifer the Sky Dragon], Hu Tao might be upset… and the monsters would cry too. After some thought, Luya decided not to use Hu Tao's monsters as Tribute.
Instead, he would use [Kuusei Fuchin – Scaramouche]. As a vessel forged with a Gnosis, [Kuusei Fuchin – Scaramouche] had the effect of counting as three Tributes when Summoning a Divine-class monster. Just one was enough to bring forth a God—perfect as a God's sacrifice.
After deciding, Luya prepared to Summon [Flying Kamakiri #1] from his hand in Defense Position.
[Flying Kamakiri #1] Level 4│WIND│Insect│1400 ATK / 900 DEF
╵When this card is destroyed by battle and sent to the Graveyard, you can Special Summon 1 WIND monster with 1500 or less ATK from your Deck in face-up Attack Position.
With [Flying Kamakiri #1], once it was destroyed and sent to the Graveyard, Luya could Special Summon [Kuusei Fuchin – Scaramouche]. Then, on his next turn, he could use it as the God's sacrifice to Summon [Slifer the Sky Dragon] from his hand—and end the duel in one strike.
"I Set 1 monster in Defense Position."
"Set 1 card."
"My turn ends~"
Luya Set [Sinner's Waltz] (Trap Card) on the field. Now, he still had four cards in hand:
[Slifer the Sky Dragon] (Divine-Beast Monster)
[Heavenly Motion, Universal Creation!] (Spell Card)
[Pot of Greed] (Spell Card)
[Summoning of the West Wind] (Spell Card)
Since [Slifer the Sky Dragon]'s Attack scaled with the number of cards in hand, Luya decided to hold onto his resources. If he used [Pot of Greed] now and happened to draw [Kuusei Fuchin – Scaramouche], it'd ruin his plan. So, to reduce that risk, he would wait until next turn to activate [Pot of Greed].
Beside him, Hu Tao noticed Luya ending his turn so quickly. In less than three seconds, he'd only Set a monster and a backrow card… and was done.
The spectators looked on, puzzled.
"So decisive!"
"The shopkeeper's skill is unfathomable…"
"Or maybe he's slacking, trying to mess with Master Hu…"
"Hahaha, no way, right?!"
Hu Tao herself couldn't help but ask, seeing Luya end his turn so fast:
"Shopkeeper… you're that quick?!"
"Just two Sets, and… turn over?"
Luya nodded with a smile:
"Don't worry, Master Hu…"
"Even though I only Set two cards, I promise~"
"Next turn, I'll unleash something incredible!"
Hu Tao burst out laughing:
"Alright, alright, but if you screw me over—"
"I won't forgive you!"
She even raised her fist as if to threaten Luya—but it wasn't very scary at all.
...
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