"Using a monster with low attack power to attack!?"
Elinor's heart skipped a beat. She was sure there was some trick involved, but for the moment, she had no other options and could only grit her teeth and go through with it.
"If you're so eager to die, then I'll grant your wish.
Go! Ice Master, counterattack the 'Red-Eyes Alternative Black Dragon'!"
The Ice Master turned to face the black dragon, her staff summoning a raging storm! Countless snowflakes spun in the tempest like hidden weapons, shattering the jet-black fireball from the dragon's mouth, and then tore the black dragon's body into a thousand pieces, forcing it to retreat from the field.
[Joey, LP 3500 → LP 3400]
Elinor felt even more puzzled.
Did she really just counterattack like that?
Was it really just a suicide play?
But in the next moment, her pupils shrank as she saw, at the place where the black dragon should have been destroyed, a pillar of black flames shoot into the sky!
The flames roared, the black dragon soared, its crimson eyes gleaming dangerously, and when it raised its head to roar, it seemed to be swallowing endless darkness!
Red-Eyes Black Dragon—summoned!
"Red-Eyes?" Elinor gasped. "But wasn't it just offered as a tribute..."
"It can only activate its effect in the graveyard," Joey explained. "If Red-Eyes Alternative Black Dragon is destroyed by battle or your card effects, you can Special Summon from the graveyard any Level 7 or lower 'Red-Eyes' monster except Red-Eyes Alternative Black Dragon!"
[Red-Eyes Black Dragon, ATK 2400]
Understanding the reason, Elinor calmed down a little and said coldly, "After all that trouble, you only managed to summon Red-Eyes again. But Red-Eyes' attack isn't enough to defeat my Ice Master—"
"Not necessarily." Joey grinned.
[Red-Eyes Black Dragon, ATK 2400 → ATK 4800]
"Forty-eight hundred attack!?" Elinor was shocked.
"If Red-Eyes Black Dragon is Special Summoned by the effect of Red-Eyes Alternative Black Dragon, its original attack becomes double!"
Joey pumped his fist.
"Go, Red-Eyes Black Dragon! Attack Ice Master!
Double Black Flame Blast!"
A double dose of the usual Black Flame Blast shot out of Red-Eyes' mouth like a blazing vortex! The field of ice and snow was shattered with ease. This time, the Ice Master had no chance to fight back and was burned to ashes by the black flames.
"Ugh!"
The silver-haired woman collapsed to one knee in pain, black smoke rising from her body.
[Elinor, LP 4000 → LP 1700]
Half kneeling, she gritted her teeth.
"Tch, so this is the power of a legendary duelist..."
No wonder even that professor found him troublesome.
"Alright! That was a huge blow in one go, let's keep up the momentum and finish this!"
Joey's morale soared.
"Set three cards face-down, end turn!"
Elinor adjusted her breathing and stood up straight, her face still as cold as frost.
"My turn, draw!"
"The 'Majiosheldon' that was tributed last turn—during the next Standby Phase after being used as a tribute for an Advanced Summon, it can be Special Summoned back to the field.
Return, Majiosheldon."
She spoke icily.
[Majiosheldon, ATK 800]
"Activate Spell Card 'Magic Planter'—send the Continuous Spell 'Precious Cards from Beyond' to the Graveyard, and draw two cards from the deck."
"Then, the 'Aqua Spirit' in my hand can be Special Summoned by banishing a Water Attribute from the graveyard.
I banish 'Ice Mage' from my graveyard to Special Summon 'Aqua Spirit'!"
[Aqua Spirit, ATK 1600]
"And then, I'll tribute the 'Dragon Ice,' 'Aqua Spirit,' and 'Majiosheldon' on my field—three monsters!"
Joey was stunned. "Three tributes!?"
Isn't that usually reserved for gods?
"That's right. Only by tributing three monsters can I unleash its full power—my strongest monster gifted by the Professor! The Planet Series—
—The Tripper Mercury, summon!!!"
A massive planet appeared on the field, then torrents of water surged forth, transforming into a humanoid shape. Clad in aqua-blue armor, wielding twin swords, draped in a watery cloak, the graceful knight strode across the waves.
The Tripper Mercury, summoned!
[The Tripper Mercury, ATK 2000]
"The Planet Series!" Joey was secretly shocked. "Modeled after the solar system planets, each one is a unique ultra-rare card in the whole world!"
"That's right. They also carry the Professor's power—extraordinary cards full of his expectations!
Joey Wheeler, with this card's power, I will bury you and your Red-Eyes!"
Elinor declared.
"Although Mercury is a Level 8 monster, it can be Tribute Summoned by tributing three monsters.
What's more, Mercury gains effects based on the number of tributes used for its summon.
If at least two monsters are used, all monsters on the field must switch to Attack Position!"
"But all the monsters are already in Attack Position," Joey said.
"True, but when three monsters are tributed, it gets an even stronger effect!" Elinor said. "All monsters on the field except this card have their ATK become 0!" (Manga effect)
"What!?" Joey was shocked.
This effect is different from the real card, which only reduces the opponent's monster's ATK by its original value as long as this card is on the field. Usually it's similar, but only matters when the opponent's monster has a lot of bonus ATK from card effects.
"Red-Eyes Black Dragon's ATK becomes 0!"
"Wait!" Joey raised a hand. "Quick-Play Spell 'Effect Shut!'
When your opponent activates an effect, negate it and destroy that monster!" (Anime card)
A simple and powerful monster effect counter, and it's a Quick-Play Spell too—one of the strongest in the entire GX anime.
"Tch, then I'll activate my face-down." Elinor said coldly. "Trap Card 'Angel Blast'!
When your opponent activates a Spell, Trap, or Monster effect that destroys monsters on the field, negate that card and destroy it!" (Anime card)
"A way to negate my 'Effect Shut'?" Joey frowned.
"Exactly," Elinor said. "'Effect Shut' is negated!"
I negate your negate!
"Then I'll activate my face-down—Continuous Trap 'Fiendish Chain'!" Joey said. "Bind a monster on the field, negate its effects, and prevent it from attacking. I'll use it on 'The Tripper Mercury'!"
"Don't even think about it!" Elinor shouted. "Quick-Play Spell 'Mystical Space Typhoon'!
Destroy the Continuous Trap 'Fiendish Chain!'
Since it's a Continuous Trap, its effect can't resolve when destroyed by MST!"
A fierce series of attacks and counters—after this whole chain resolves, Fiendish Chain is blown away by MST and can't take effect, Effect Shut is negated by Angel Blast, and The Tripper Mercury's effect resolves. Red-Eyes Black Dragon's 4800 ATK drops to zero.
"Impressive. I almost want to applaud you."
Joey smiled, genuine appreciation in his eyes.
"That was close. Just a bit more and you would've finished me."
"What?"
Elinor felt a sudden surge of alarm.
Just a bit more...?
What does he mean?
"My final face-down is this—"
Joey raised his hand.
"Counter Trap—Vanity's Call!"
"Can only be activated at Chain Link 4 or higher. Pay half your Life Points—negate and destroy all cards in this entire chain!"
Elinor's pupils contracted.
All the cards in this chain... that means—
[Joey, LP 3400 → LP 1700]
"That's right. All the effects activated in this chain—MST, Fiendish Chain, Angel Blast, Effect Shut, and the starting 'The Tripper Mercury'—all five cards are negated and destroyed!"
The Counter Trap activated, unleashing a domineering darkness that devoured the five cards in turn, spreading at last to Mercury itself, dragging the planet's avatar into the endless abyss!
Elinor stared in disbelief.
How...?
She had finally managed to summon Mercury with three tributes—this card infused with the Professor's power, which should have been unstoppable once summoned.
No duelist should have been able to resist such power, no one—
"My turn—final turn, draw!"
Joey smiled.
"Well played. You have potential, but you're missing the most important thing for a duelist."
Elinor paused.
"The most important thing?"
"Yeah." Joey shrugged. "A duelist should fight for themselves—or at least, partly for themselves.
You never once looked me in the eye as your opponent. With that attitude, you can't win."
Elinor: "..."
"Now—Red-Eyes Black Dragon, final attack!"
Joey gave the order.
"Double Black Flame Blast!"
[Elinor, LP 1700 → LP 0]