"Rank 3?" Yūga Hōzumi watched the aquamarine vortex slowly rising, a hint of unease growing in his heart.
"Appear! Number 47: Nightmare Shark!"
A shark with fins transformed into arms splashed out from the vortex, landing in front of Nash.
Number 47: Nightmare Shark ATK: 2000
Seeing this monster, Yūga Hōzumi's mouth twitched. As expected of Nash. He found the weakness to Number 59: Crooked Cook so quickly.
That's right, Crooked Cook, which cannot be destroyed by battle, could indeed be called a solid shield. However, while the shield could take a beating, the person behind it could not.
"I activate Number 47: Nightmare Shark's effect! Once per turn, I can detach one Xyz Material from this card to target one WATER monster I control. This turn, other monsters cannot attack, and that monster can attack you directly."
The aquamarine orb beside Nightmare Shark flashed, surging into the sharp blade on its fin-turned-arm.
"Battle! Number 47: Nightmare Shark, attack directly!"
As Nash's words fell, Nightmare Shark flashed forward, charging toward Yūga Hōzumi, who stood behind Number 59: Crooked Cook. It slashed down, aiming for his head.
Although the blade ultimately stopped just before Yūga Hōzumi's forehead, the sharp energy it radiated still severed a few strands of his hair.
Yūga Hōzumi LP: 4000 → 2000
"Just cowering behind a shield won't satisfy me," Nash said. "I end my turn."
"My turn! Draw!" After drawing, Yūga Hōzumi looked at Nightmare Shark in front of Nash, a headache forming. Although getting rid of it would be child's play, doing so would inevitably require placing other cards on the field, which would negate Number 59: Crooked Cook's total immunity.
But Yūga Hōzumi had no choice. If Nightmare Shark attacked him directly again next turn, he was finished.
"I activate the Spell Card, Xyz Treasure!" Yūga Hōzumi revealed the incredible draw engine he had just drawn.
"For every Xyz Monster on the field, I draw one card!"
"At this moment, because you have an active Spell Card on your field, your monster's immunity effect disappears. I activate the Trap Card, Compulsory Evacuation Device! I target one monster on the field, and that monster returns to its owner's hand!"
The moment Yūga Hōzumi finished drawing, Number 59: Crooked Cook was returned to his Duel Disk.
"I summon Utopic Onomatopoeia in Attack Position!"
"At this moment, I activate the effect of Number 4: Stealth Kragen! I destroy your Utopic Onomatopoeia, which has become a WATER attribute monster!"
Just as it appeared, the Utopic monster was destroyed. Yūga Hōzumi immediately activated another card. "Spell Card, Gagagarevenge!"
"I target one 'Gagaga' monster in my Graveyard, Special Summon it, and equip it with this card."
"I activate the effect of Dodododwarf Gogogoglove from my Graveyard! Since there is a 'Gogogo' or 'Dododo' monster on the field, I can Special Summon this card!"
"Next, since I control a 'Gagaga' or 'Zubaba' monster, I activate the effect of Zubababancho - Gagaga Coat from my hand! I Special Summon this card!"
"I overlay the Level 4 Utopic Onomatopoeia and Dodododwarf Gogogoglove!"
"Xyz Summon! Rank 4! Abyss Dweller!"
Abyss Dweller ATK: 1700
"I activate Abyss Dweller's effect! Once per turn, by detaching one Xyz Material from this card, my opponent cannot activate any card effects in their Graveyard this turn."
"Next, I activate the effect of Zubababancho - Gagaga Coat!"
"I target one 'Gogogo' or 'Dododo' monster in my Graveyard and Special Summon it."
"Return! Utopic Onomatopoeia!"
"I overlay these two Level 4 monsters!"
A golden vortex rose again. When Nash saw the red number "39" appearing within it, he smiled inexplicably.
"Descend, warrior of hope! Xyz Summon! Number 39: Utopia!"
Number 39: Utopia ATK: 2500
Wielding its Moon-Blades, Utopia slowly descended onto the field. Seeing this, Nash smiled softly and whispered, "Long time no see, Utopia."
"I activate the Rank-Up-Magic Chaos Force! I target a Rank 4 'Number' Xyz Monster on the field and Special Summon from the Extra Deck one 'CNo.' monster with the same number but one Rank higher, using the target as Xyz Material!"
"Appear, CNo. 39! Crimson overlord who commands chaos! Break free from the ancient chains of order, become a raging fire, and scatter the darkness! Descend, Utopia Ray V!"
A vortex of chaotic energy, interwoven with light and darkness, swirled at Utopia's feet. Dark red armor and a chaos scythe flew out, attaching themselves to Utopia's body as three cross-shaped Xyz Materials, exclusive to "CNo." monsters, descended from the sky.
CNo. 39: Utopia Ray V ATK: 2600
"He's already reached this stage?" Nash thought to himself, looking up at the monster.
However, Nash keenly noticed that the cross-shaped Xyz Materials beneath Utopia Ray V appeared somewhat dim.
"Is it because he lacks Barian's power?" Nash wondered. At that moment, he decided what kind of gift he would give Yūga Hōzumi after the duel.
After Utopia Ray V appeared, Yūga Hōzumi waved his hand and pointed at the jellyfish monster on his opponent's field. "I activate Utopia Ray V's effect!"
"Since this card has a 'Utopia' monster as Xyz Material, once per turn, I can detach one Xyz Material from this card to target one monster on my opponent's field! That monster is destroyed, and if a face-up monster was destroyed, you take damage equal to its ATK!"
Utopia Ray V swung its chaos scythe, launching a wave of chaotic energy toward the Stealth Kragen on Nash's field.
Stealth Kragen was no match and was quickly swallowed by the chaos. After destroying the monster, the energy wave continued unabated, slashing directly toward Nash.
Of course, this amount of chaotic energy couldn't harm Nash. With a mere raise of his hand, the violent blast dispersed into thin air. However, the damage from the duel's mechanics was unavoidable.
Furthermore, due to Abyss Dweller's effect, Stealth Kragen's effect that would activate in the Graveyard was also negated.
Nash LP: 4000 → 2100
"Utopia Ray V, attack Nightmare Shark!"
Nash LP: 2100 → 1500
"Abyss Dweller, attack directly!"
"I activate my Trap Card, Counter Gate!" Just as the sea dragon emerging from the abyss was about to deliver the winning blow, Nash flipped his last face-down card, blocking the attack.
"When an opponent's monster declares a direct attack, I can negate that attack. Then, I draw one card!"
…
Regarding the issue with the anti-theft chapter, I apologize again.
My work at the company will be finished tomorrow, and I'm feeling much better, so I should be able to resume regular updates.
(end of chapter)