You really think Cyber Emergency can only search for Cyber Dragons? Take a closer look at that second line of text, You Ye said, an amused glint in his eyes and a teasing smile on his lips.
Luo Hao frowned, repeating softly, "Add 1 LIGHT Machine monster that cannot be Normal Summoned or Set…" His expression froze for half a second before realization hit.
"The Drytron monsters are all LIGHT Machines that can't be Normal Summoned!"
"That's right," You Ye replied smoothly. "The monster I'm adding is Drytron Alpha Thuban!"
Luo Hao couldn't help but chuckle, both impressed and wary. "As expected of you, senior. I've never seen anyone use Cyber Emergency like that — and I'm supposed to be the Cyber Dragon guy here."
But though he praised You Ye, a glint of sly confidence flickered in his eyes. He wasn't panicking. As an Earth-tier Duelist, drawing four combo pieces and one hand trap in fixed order wasn't rare. Even against a King-ranked duelist, he believed he could hold his own.
Meanwhile, Wang Cheng and Chang Xingge were simply awestruck. They'd seen creativity before — but using Cyber Emergency to tutor Drytron monsters? That was pure genius.
"You don't even know half of what this card can do," You Ye added mysteriously, raising his hand.
"I activate the effect of Drytron Alpha Thuban! Once per turn, by releasing 1 'Drytron' or Ritual Monster from my hand or field, I can Special Summon it in Defense Position and add 1 Ritual Monster from my Deck to my hand."
"I'll release Cyber Angel Benten from my hand to activate Alpha Thuban's effect!"
"Chain 2—my turn!" Luo Hao interrupted immediately, smirking. "I discard Dreamless Mokey Mokey! This turn, every time you Special Summon a monster, I gain LP equal to that monster's ATK!"
"Go ahead," You Ye said calmly.
The chain resolved. Alpha Thuban appeared in a shimmer of light, and You Ye searched Herald of Ultimateness from his Deck. Meanwhile, Luo Hao's LP shot up from 8000 to 10,000.
"Heh, no hard feelings, senior. You said it yourself — if Drytron loses its momentum, it's dead. So I'll just stall you out like this." Luo Hao smirked, thinking he'd found a loophole.
You Ye: "…"
Drytron isn't a burn deck. What are you even doing?
Everyone knows the cheapest resource in Yu-Gi-Oh! is LP. As long as it isn't zero, who cares if it's 8,000 or 10,000? This "hand trap" was barely a speed bump — it wasn't even close to the Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring tier.
While You Ye simply ignored it, Wang Cheng was silently smiling, eyes gleaming with understanding. Chang Xingge, however, was focused entirely on You Ye's Herald of Ultimateness. She had a gut feeling — that card was the key piece, the one that could crush an entire archetype.
"You look way too happy about this," You Ye said flatly. "Anyway, I'll continue."
"I activate Cyber Angel Benten's effect in the Graveyard! When this card is Tributed, I can add 1 LIGHT Fairy from my Deck to my hand. I'll add Herald of Orange Light!"
Luo Hao blinked. "So that's how you're using the weakest archetype in the game to plus cards… I'm curious how you'll make the equally weak Heralds work, senior."
Both Cyber Angels and Heralds were infamous for being underpowered — the former for awkward bricking, the latter for being practically unplayable without a perfect hand. Luo Hao knew little of their exact effects because, frankly, no one bothered to read them.
What could these "trash archetypes" possibly do against a powerhouse like Cyber Dragons?
"You'll see soon enough. And while we're at it, Chang Xingge—watch carefully. This is how a Drytron-Herald deck turns 'bad hands' into perfection."
You Ye smiled faintly and continued:
"I activate the Ritual Spell Dawn of the Herald! By Tributing monsters from my hand whose total Levels equal 6 or more, I can Ritual Summon!"
"I tribute another Cyber Angel Benten!"
He raised his Duel Disk, his voice echoing dramatically:
"O hidden angel at the corner of the world — unveil your sacred light!"
"With holy radiance, cleanse all that stands before me!"
"Ritual Summon—Herald of Ultimateness!"
A burst of brilliant white light filled the room. Twin azure spheres, swirling with sacred runes, merged and unfolded into a majestic winged angelic figure — Herald of Ultimateness descended onto the field in Defense Position.
Herald of Ultimateness
Fairy / Ritual / Effect / LIGHT / Level 6
ATK: 1800 / DEF: 2800
Even Luo Hao's smug smile faltered. He didn't fully understand the card, but the sheer aura it radiated — and the rumors of how dangerous "Herald end boards" were — made his skin prickle.
Still, he wasn't too worried. Another 1800 ATK meant another 1800 LP for him, bringing him to a monstrous 11,800. "Heh, with this much LP, you can't possibly OTK me next turn," he thought.
He just needed one chance to combo with Cyber Dragon — and then? One-turn kill, easy.
But You Ye wasn't done.
"I activate the effect of Cyber Angel Benten in the Graveyard again — remember, it's not once per turn. I'll add Diviner of the Herald!"
"Chain 2," he continued smoothly, "I banish Dawn of the Herald from my Graveyard to activate its second effect! When the monster Ritual Summoned by this card is on the field, I can return one of the Tributed monsters from the Graveyard to my hand. I'll retrieve Benten!"
Luo Hao said nothing, watching silently as You Ye's hand returned to four cards — the same count as before.
"Incredible," he muttered finally. "You've completely offset the card disadvantage of a Ritual Summon. It's like you never even spent anything!"
"Glad you noticed," You Ye replied casually. "Now, if you have time to praise me, maybe also realize—this duel is already over."
"Huh? That's impossible! I still have four cards in hand, and my next draw supports the combo. There's no way I've already lost!" Luo Hao blurted out, stunned.
Mu Ning and Chang Xingge exchanged confused looks. From their view, You Ye's board was just a few FAIRY monsters. How could this mean the duel was over?
But Wang Cheng… was completely frozen. His expression had gone stiff. He knew.
This was the moment the real Herald lock began.