The [Dark Magician] Chongyun had Summoned fired off a Dark Burning Attack, and Hu Tao and Luya's Life Points had bottomed out—only 200 left!!!
"So fast?!"
"After just one cycle, the shopkeeper and Master Hu are down to 200 Life Points…"
"This is like walking a tightrope…"
"Right!!!"
"The flower language of the Steelwire Flower… is wealth and forbearance. As long as Master Hu and the shopkeeper can endure the pressure, they're sure to turn the tables!"
"Yet Xingqiu and Chongyun have a huge advantage."
"True… although the shopkeeper and Master Hu still have a chance."
"The shopkeeper's got a big hand, and there's a set card on the field. They might not lose!"
"Even so, on win odds alone, Xingqiu and Chongyun are ahead…"
"Still, Duels can flip in an instant…"
"Nevertheless, this game…"
"I just can't see how Master Hu and the shopkeeper win."
"Master Hu's Wangsheng Funeral Parlor and the cards to fetch it are gone… big disadvantage…"
"This round, Xingqiu and Chongyun basically have it in the bag!"
"Let's see if Master Hu can find a turning point now!"
"Come on!"
"Master!!"
Hearing the crowd's cheers, Hu Tao felt a strength well up in her heart.
"It's coming…"
She sensed a power inside her Deck!!!
In that unseen place, Hu Tao felt herself become one with the Deck. She could freely draw on any card within…
"As long as I draw that card… I can hold out until the shopkeeper's turn."
"My turn!!!"
"Draw—"
Candle-in-the-wind—that's when Duels are at their most thrilling. Hu Tao shut her eyes.
"Fated Draw!!!"
Her hand traced a graceful arc, her fingertips seeming to glow!
She flipped the card and looked closely.
"[King of the Skull Servants]"
Hu Tao chuckled.
"You're exactly who I wanted!"
With two 3000-ATK Skull Kings, she could definitely last through Xingqiu's turn!
The instant she drew it, Hu Tao Summoned [King of the Skull Servants] to the field.
Now… Hu Tao's field had two [King of the Skull Servants], each at 3000 ATK.
She had no other playable cards in hand, so she went straight to the Battle Phase.
Hu Tao commanded:
"[King of the Skull Servants], attack [Conqueror of Demons – Xiao]!"
All around the Skull King, a massive vortex of bone spikes condensed, sighting in on Xiao. More and more spikes gathered… The spikes, charged with great power, began to whirl in a spiral.
In short order, the vortex formed—hundreds of bone spears blasted toward Xiao. With nowhere to dodge, he could only raise his spear weakly across his body…
Just then, Xingqiu shook his head.
"Sorry, Master Hu…"
"I activate a Trap!!"
"[Mirror Force]"
As Xingqiu activated [Mirror Force], a transparent blue barrier formed over Xingqiu and Chongyun's field. As [King of the Skull Servants]' attack was about to land on [Conqueror of Demons – Xiao], the bone spikes froze! As if stuck in midair… Then, the power of [Mirror Force] unleashed a tremendous wave of light at Hu Tao and Luya's field.
Seeing that it was that card—the onlookers, especially those who believed in Hu Tao and Luya's victory, were shocked!
"It's over!"
"Xingqiu is… so ruthless!"
"Setting that card… that's brutal!?"
"This is bad…"
[Mirror Force] destroys all Attack Position monsters your opponent controls!
On Hu Tao and Luya's field, there were four monsters in total—two [King of the Skull Servants] at 3000 ATK, a [Lost Ghostling] with 200 DEF, and Luya's face-down Defense [Flying Kamakiri #1].
With a surge of red-and-blue light, [Mirror Force] swept across Luya and Hu Tao's side. The two Attack Position [King of the Skull Servants] were struck by the massive wave of light—and in an instant, reduced to scraps!
At that moment… Luya and Hu Tao no longer had any board advantage.
Hu Tao wanted to bluff, yet [Mirror Force] resolved too quickly. Before she could cobble together a tall tale, the monsters were wiped clean from the table.
Only a Defense Position [Lost Ghostling] and a face-down Defense [Flying Kamakiri #1] remained.
Watching this, the guests all grew worried for Hu Tao and Luya. Talk erupted at once.
"Why do Xingqiu and Chongyun… have so many powerful cards?!"
"Not only [Dark Magician], [Kuriboh], [The Tricky]—they even have [Mirror Force]!?"
"It's not surprising Young Master Xingqiu has [Mirror Force]. He's opened over a thousand packs, you know… Spent tens of millions of Mora!"
"Still, Chongyun hardly bought any card packs!"
"How does he have so many high-rarity cards too?!"
"Now that you mention it, true…"
Hearing the chatter… Hu Tao was numb… The field was empty, the Life Points barren. She fell into self-reflection. If she lost 1v1, fine. Yet if she dragged Luya down to defeat… Hu Tao would blame herself.
For a moment, the spark in her eyes dimmed.
Unlike the crestfallen Hu Tao, Luya at this moment acted as if nothing had happened, even remembering to advertise his merchandise.
"Heh, everyone?!"
"Out of the loop, aren't we?"
Luya's words immediately piqued the audience's curiosity.
"Shopkeeper, what do you mean?"
"Is there a way to easily get high-rarity cards?!"
Luya smiled and replied:
"Heh, you guessed right."
"Our shop has launched brand-new [Starter Deck]s—just 200,000 Mora for a full Deck!"
"And these cards come from Yugi Muto's Decks… So you can get them just by buying a [Starter Deck]!"
"If you want [Harpie's Feather Duster], buy Mai Valentine's Deck."
Hearing the pitch, many customers without high-end cards lit up with joy. Some only now learned such a thing existed!
"Shopkeeper! Sell me one!!"
"Me too!"
"I want to buy as well!!!"
Seeing their eagerness, Luya said:
"Don't rush—today's stock is already sold out!"
"If you want one, wait until tomorrow morning…"
"Also… Entrants in the Duel Tournament can buy first tomorrow~"
Thanks to Luya's plug, some customers who hadn't registered for the tournament enthusiastically joined the [Lantern Cup] Duel Tournament. These customers felt their Decks were weak, lacking high-end cards. So even if they entered, they'd just be stomped.
After all… in Dueling, your cards are part of your strength! Getting higher-rarity cards is its own proof of ability…
Some had only bought Duel Disks and hadn't entered the tournament. Yet now, with the basic Decks available, they no longer had to worry. Just like Chongyun, with only 200,000 Mora, they could get a pile of powerful cards!
What reason was there not to join!!!
[Mirror Force] wipes monsters in one swoop, [Harpie's Feather Duster] sweeps Spells/Traps—so satisfying!!!
Buy, must buy! Buy big!!!
With Xingqiu's [Mirror Force] successfully resolving, Luya and Hu Tao's field looked a bit barren. With both Attack Position [King of the Skull Servants] destroyed and sent to the Graveyard, Hu Tao's Battle Phase ended immediately…
Her original plan was to deal with [Conqueror of Demons – Xiao], then destroy Xingqiu's set monster. That would've increased their chances of lasting until Luya's turn.
However, things didn't go as Hu Tao imagined. Xingqiu's [Mirror Force] cut right across her momentum.
Hu Tao had dueled many times—no longer a reckless brawler… Today, teaming with Luya in a Tag Duel had excited her. Wanting to show off in front of him, she lost her judgment.
She even blew 2000 Life Points at the start for [Wangsheng Funeral Parlor]… and took another 1800 because of [Wangsheng Funeral Parlor's Attendant Girl].
She also put three monsters on the field, enabling Xingqiu to Summon [Conqueror of Demons – Xiao].
Hu Tao believed that if she'd thought a bit more, she wouldn't have made these mistakes! If she had Summoned [Wangsheng Funeral Parlor's Attendant Girl] face-down Defense to start, Xingqiu could never have Special Summoned the 2500-ATK Xiao. Even if Chongyun had brought out the 2500-ATK [Dark Magician], the face-down Defense Attendant Girl could have held it off.
They wouldn't have lost so many Life Points…
With no monsters left to fight, Hu Tao was forced out of the Battle Phase and into Main Phase 2.
This turn, she could Set a card. Hu Tao Set her Quick-Play Spell [Lingering Spirit of the Butterfly] on the field. This way, Luya could also use it…
She said dejectedly, in a low voice:
"My turn… ends…"
Ending her turn, Hu Tao said to Luya:
"From here, it's up to you…"
"I did nothing this turn…"
"3,800 Life Points were lost because of me…"
"And all our monsters are gone…"
Her voice was low, full of guilt… Luya sensed something was wrong. Because of Hu Tao's overextension, their Life Points were down to 200, and she'd accomplished nothing on her turn. On the contrary, they'd lost two Skull Kings. No wonder she felt awful…
Luya hurried to comfort her:
"Master Hu, it's alright…"
"Worst case… even if we lose, it's fine. In Duels—there's winning and losing, just like life. Smooth sailing is rare… setbacks and chances always come together."
"You've already worked really hard!"
"Also—We're definitely going to win. Don't worry!!!"
Seeing confident Luya, Hu Tao stopped blaming herself and pulled herself together:
"It all comes down to you…"
Luya nodded and patted the [Slifer the Sky Dragon] in his hand. As long as he Summoned that God Card… he couldn't imagine losing!
This turn would be the last—hold off Xingqiu's assault, and he could Summon [Slifer the Sky Dragon]!
...
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