Chapter 8. Ritual Expansion! Who Dares Set a Monster Against One-Slash Bro?
ZEXAL World.
After Yuma Tsukumo finished listening to the video creator's explanation of several Blue-Eyes White Dragon plays, his expression grew more solemn.
"So it's this powerful even without the power of the Numbers?"
"Then, Kite Tenjo—what exactly are those Galaxy-Eyes cards?"
Yuma Tsukumo turned his head to look at Kite Tenjo.
By contrast, Kite Tenjo was already bewildered.
"Galaxy-Eyes? A three-piece combo?"
"Galaxy-Eyes Full Armor Photon Dragon?"
"Galaxy-Eyes Cipher Dragon?"
"Galaxy-Eyes Cipher Blade Dragon?"
"No—what does any of that even mean?"
"I… I don't know."
"What 'Galaxy-Eyes three-piece combo'?"
"I've never even heard of it."
"I only have Neo Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon!"
"That's my ace monster! 4500 ATK!"
"But!"
"To bring this card out, I still have to pair it with a Trap."
"And this deck ends up bringing out an ace Galaxy-Eyes more easily than my own Galaxy-Eyes?"
The more he spoke, the more agitated Kite Tenjo became.
A feral grimace crept across his face.
Back when Xyz Summoning was being described, he had already been barely holding it together—now he finally exploded.
Who puts someone else's boss monster into their own deck?
…
ARC-V World.
After watching the plays in this engine and looking at the deck build, what Yuya Sakaki, Zuzu Boyle, and the others cared more about was the role of the non–Blue-Eyes cards.
"The main archetype can still be considered."
"It's just—the chance of bricking still seems to be there."
"I can't get into it."
"My Superheavy Samurai are still the best."
Gong Strong offered his appraisal.
He was impressed, yet not optimistic about Blue-Eyes White Dragon.
"Mm, that's only natural."
"Just relying on these few monsters, it's really hard to hold up."
"The main issue is that the engine's protagonist is a Normal Monster."
"Mm, my assessment is that it's not as good as my Odd-Eyes."
In his view, Normal Monsters were already relics of an older era.
How strong can a build be when it's centered on a vanilla?
...
VRAINS World.
After the Blue-Eyes White Dragon overview wrapped up, Yusaku Fujiki of the latest era had already gathered with his companions.
Varis (Ryoken Kogami), the leader of the Knights of Hanoi, had to set aside his own agenda and temporarily reach a consensus with Yusaku Fujiki.
Their VR space was flooded with short videos introducing Blue-Eyes White Dragon.
"Heh heh heh."
"Blue-Eyes White Dragon, is it?"
"It's nothing compared to my Rokket/Borrel 'trash' deck."
"What now?"
"The great Code Talker user Yusaku Fujiki actually took a liking to it?"
Varis's scornful laugh dripped with contempt for Blue-Eyes White Dragon.
To them, in the Link era, Normal Monsters were already far behind.
"Varis, you can't underestimate any deck."
"Otherwise, take another look at the card at the end of the video."
Yusaku Fujiki smiled wryly and pointed at the big VR screen.
Everyone's gaze shifted at once.
What came into view was the introduction to the Blue-Eyes Ritual engine.
[Card Name: Blue-Eyes Chaos MAX Dragon (Level 8)]
[Attribute: DARK]
[Type: Dragon]
[ATK/DEF: 4000/0]
The vlogger "Bride Is Mine" said, "Next is a supplementary introduction—cards that Blue-Eyes Ritual builds usually include."
"First, the drawback: Ritual itself is a minus in card advantage."
"Once you commit to Ritual, you have to run cards that help Ritual setup, which will inevitably cut into your main engine slots."
"But if you focus on Ritual, there is power."
"Chaos MAX Dragon is strong—yes, very strong—and it can pair with Fusion to bring out that 'Ultimate Dragon Magician'!"
…
That last remark left the Duelists who had been wondering how to bring out "Ultimate Dragon Magician" slightly stunned.
Indeed.
And in comparison, this Ritual card's effects were even more outrageous.
Effect 1:
Cannot be targeted, or destroyed by, your opponent's card effects.
Effect 2:
If this card attacks a Defense Position monster, inflict double piercing battle damage.
Duel Monsters World.
Seto Kaiba, after reading Effect 1, was even more shocked by Effect 2.
Double?
Piercing damage is doubled?
"What? That's insane! This Blue-Eyes White Dragon Ritual is busted!"
"4000 ATK with double piercing!"
"My little bugs would get cut down in one slash on the spot!"
The speaker was Weevil Underwood.
Even he couldn't keep it together now.
His Insects are usually Set for Flip effects, and their DEF isn't high.
If 2000 points get shaved off in one hit, he's as good as finished.
"Whoa! It's true! This card is nuts!"
"One-Slash Bro! Who would dare Set a monster now!"
Rex Raptor was also startled out of his skin.
A single card was enough to make the regional champion and runner-up both feel like backing down.
Seto Kaiba, meanwhile, grew even more ecstatic.
He even felt like his Blue-Eyes White Dragon was invincible.
Ritual engine—slotting in a bit of it is absolutely worth it.
Even at the risk of bricking, you still have to include it.
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