President Shimizu glanced at the Lava Demon God on his field, then at the "Heroic Warlords" in the opponent's back row, and finally at the handful of cards stuck in his hand. For a moment, he was in a daze.
He suddenly felt that the animation effect of the Lava Demon God's high-temperature prison was too fitting, perfectly mirroring his current mindset in this duel.
Imprisonment.
This isn't a duel at all; it's pure imprisonment, serving a sentence.
Even his fiery passion for the club was nearly extinguished, and the thought "Let this broken club be destroyed" even briefly crossed his mind.
As long as it meant he could quickly get out of this game and escape.
But at this moment, the voices of his companions echoed in his ears.
"Hang in there, President!"
"President, you can't give up! Remember the memories we've made in this clubroom!"
"If the clubroom is taken back, what will happen to all our Elf fanfics and study materials on discs!"
President Shimizu shuddered.
Indeed.
He has something he must protect.
He has a reason to fight!
How could he fall in a place like this!
President Shimizu looked up again, and the fighting spirit reignited in his eyes. But Yugen was momentarily speechless.
Hmm, how did I accidentally hear something so alarming...
"The duel isn't over yet, I still have a chance!" President Shimizu said, "I activate the Magic Card 'Pot of Greed' from my hand! Draw two cards from my deck!
Let me show you the miracle draw brought by my burning love..."
"Activate Cover Card, Speed Attack Magic - Speed Summon." Yugen revealed another cover card, "I can Normal Summon a monster from my hand." (Original Card)
A relatively common card in the GX animation, used by both Judai and Marufuji Ryo.
President Shimizu frowned.
Speed Summon, at this point, chaining to Pot of Greed?
What's he planning to summon?
"I sacrifice the 'Crossbowman' on the field." Yugen said, "Upper-level Summon Magic's Bane, the magic-sealing machine—
—Magic Canceller, summon!"
[Magic Canceller, Attack Power 1800]
"As long as Magic Canceller remains on the field, neither player can activate any Magic Cards, and all Magic Card effects on the field become nullified!"
President Shimizu almost slammed down the Duel Disc.
I'm dueling you; I'm dueling you.
Monsters can't be summoned, magic can't be played. You've decided not to let me duel today, haven't you?
"When the Pot of Greed resolves, Magic Canceller is already on the field." Yugen smiled, "Therefore, the effect of Pot of Greed is nullified.
What a shame, Senpai, you won't get to witness your fiery draw."
President Shimizu:凸(艹皿艹)
For a moment, he suddenly doubted the opponent's motives.
Are you here to get things done or just to pick a fight?
Because if it's the latter, you're almost succeeding.
"I... end my turn."
There's really nothing he can do.
"Then my turn, draw." Yugen said, "Before the Preparation Phase, activate Cover Card, Trap Card - Battlefront Return. Special Summon a monster from my graveyard in Defense Position.
I Special Summon 'Crossbowman' in Defense Position."
[Crossbowman, Defense Power 1000]
"Crossbowman's effect, deals 600 points of damage to the opponent during each of my Preparation Phases."
The trigger is pulled, a metal arrow shot out. President Shimizu was pierced by an arrow, gritting his teeth as he staggered half a step back.
[President Shimizu, LP 3000→LP 2400]
Although, by modern Yu-Gi-Oh! standards, this monster might not be useful, Crossbowman was once a core component of the [Disruption Canceller].
Monsters with stable life point reduction effects were rare at the time, and Crossbowman was one of them. Furthermore, it's a Mechanical Race monster like Magic Canceller, unaffected by his own "Heroic Warlords" summoning limitation.
By the way, "Lava Demon God" was also standard for [Disruption Canceller]. Because, as Yugen is doing now, the strategy could be temporarily adjusted to "Lava Canceller" when necessary, yielding similarly outstanding results.
"Set one card, end turn."
President Shimizu: "My turn..."
"Preparation Phase, Lava Demon God's effect." Yugen smiled, "1000 points of damage."
President Shimizu: "Ugh!"
[President Shimizu, LP 2400→LP 1400]
Once again doused by the sizzling lava, President Shimizu couldn't help but grit his teeth.
If this continues, next turn, Crossbowman will deal another 600 damage, leaving his life points at just 800. On his next turn, Lava Demon God's burn would knock off another thousand, eliminating him entirely.
But even so, he can't summon a single monster from his hand, nor can he activate any magic. The things he can do have already...
Huh?
Spotting the card he just drew, President Shimizu's eyes lit up.
There's still hope!
His card deck has not abandoned him!
"Cover a card on the field, turn over."
"Then my turn..." Yugen drew a card, "The Crossbowman deals another 600 points of damage."
[President Shimizu, LP 1400→LP 800]
Taking another hit, the president wobbled and pouted, "Tch, one shot after another, annoying like flies..."
"Don't worry, President, it will be over soon." Yugen smiled, "Cover another card, turn over."
Indeed, when it was President Shimizu's turn again, the Lava Demon God's effect would trigger once more, sealing the duel with a thousand points of damage.
But!
"My turn! At this moment, activate the cover card, Trap Card 'Crossbow Team'!"
President Shimizu shouted.
"By sacrificing a monster on my field, I can destroy any card on your field!
Therefore, I sacrifice the 'Lava Demon God' on my field to destroy your 'Magic Canceller'!"
The members, who had thought it was all over, suddenly got excited.
"With one card, he simultaneously got rid of the Lava Demon God and the Magic Canceller!"
"This way, with no monsters on the president's field, the lock of 'Heroic Warlords' is lifted. Also, there's no need to suffer the Lava Demon God's damage during the preparation phase..."
He's alive!
The Lava Demon God dissipated into light points and exited the field, and the Magic Canceller was blasted through with a cannon, finally breaking out of the blockade. The senior couldn't help but let out a long howl to the sky.
I'm finally out!
"And this way, the magic lock is also lifted, and I can activate magic cards!"
President Shimizu pulled himself together.
Indeed, his unwavering determination, his fiery passion for the community, summoned a miracle!
In his hand, he held the magic cards "Resurrection of the Dead" and "Warrior's Survival." Resurrection of the Dead allows him to discard a card to retrieve a monster from the graveyard, and Warrior's Survival can return a warrior race monster to the hand from the graveyard.
This way, as long as he retrieves "Jela's Warriors" and "Great Angel Jelart," he can recreate his ultimate combo, summon his ace monster Jelart for a stunning comeback...
"Open cover card," Yugen said, "Trap Card - Ojama Trio. Special Summon three Ojama Derivatives to the opponent's field."
[Ojama Derivative, Defense Power 1000] x3
The bumbling Lava Demon God had just left, and the trio of derivatives quickly pounced onto the opposing field, looking like they were taking over a shift.
Ojama Yellow pulled out snacks: "Sorry for the intrusion!"
Ojama Green spread out a newspaper: "Nice to meet you!"
Ojama Black started snoring: "Zzz~ Zzz~"
President Shimizu, who had just drawn a card ready to play, froze in that pose.
The members who were just praising the president for his resourcefulness in breaking the lock also maintained their drum-beating stance, stupefied like statues.
The field fell silent, with only the rustling sound of snacks, flipping pages, and snoring from the three derivatives...
Obviously, after the bumbling Lava Demon God left, the Ojama Trio took over immediately, and the Heroic Warlords' restriction still held.
If anything changed for President Shimizu, it was that his summoning restriction switched from "only Demon Race" to "only Beast Race."
He got out, but not completely.
It was a fake move; when he realized, it turned out he just swapped wardens. He's still stuck at the bottom of the jail, without a chance to duel.
President Shimizu's facial muscles twitched twice.
"You... you freaking..."
"If the president doesn't plan on doing anything, then it's my turn again." Yugen smiled, "Draw a card.
Then, in the preparation phase, the Crossbowman deals 600 points of damage."
[President Shimizu, LP 800→LP 200]
Another crossbow bolt pierced his heart, making the president want to cough up blood.
"Then, normal summon 'Submarine Robot,' Yugen said politely.
[Submarine Robot, Attack Power 800]
"Of course, both the Submarine and Crossbowman are from the Mechanical Race, so they're not affected by the 'Heroic Warlords' summoning restriction." Yugen smiled, "And the effect of this card allows it to attack the opponent's player directly, ignoring monsters."
President Shimizu: "......"
"Direct attack from the Submarine Robot."
The anthropomorphic little submarine floated up with its characteristic disdainful gaze, launching a torpedo that zoomed past the three derivatives' heads with a sharp whistling sound.
Boom!
The torpedo crashed down, spreading a misty spray effect accompanied by the blaze of the explosion, blasting the president to the ground.
[President Shimizu, LP 200→LP 0]
Completing the final harvest, the Submarine Robot slowly descended, its anthropomorphic eyes exuding a domineering aura over all.
The invincible submarine, standing tall on the earth!