# Chapter 227: Gimmick Puppet and Chronomaly
The massive black puppet slowly raised its arm, manipulated by threads, as a grappling hook shot out towards the Dragon Knight on the field.
"At this moment, the effect of Gaia the Fierce Knight in my hand activates! By Tributing one Dragon-Type Fusion Monster on my field, I can Special Summon this card from my hand."
"I Tribute Gaia the Magical Knight of Dragons on the field! Appear! Gaia the Fierce Knight!"
"The effect of Gaia the Fierce Knight activates! If this card is Special Summoned, I can target one Attack Position monster on the field and change it to Defense Position."
Just as the grappling hook from the puppet's hand was about to entangle the Dragon Knight, a long spear descended from the sky. The dragon-riding Gaia warrior dissolved into a stream of light, re-materializing beside the spear as a new knight.
Gaia the Fierce Knight ATK: 2600
At the same moment this knight, now without his dragon, appeared, the long spear in his hand shot a wave of light towards the giant puppet, changing it to Defense Position.
Number 15: Gimmick Puppet Giant Grinder ATK: 1500 → DEF: 2500
"A hand trap that can dodge a targeting effect and then change the opponent's monster's battle position?" Allen mused.
"But it's useless!" Allen declared, revealing a Spell Card. The moment the card hit his Duel Disk, dark red thunder surged skyward, engulfing him.
"I activate Rank-Up-Magic Barian's Force!"
"Target one Xyz Monster on my field, then Special Summon from my Extra Deck one 'CNo.' monster with the same Type and one Rank higher than the target, by using the target as Xyz Material."
Black lightning descended in waves, carving out a violent vortex beneath the giant puppet.
This Rank-Up-Magic, specially treated by Nash, brought forth raging thunder, yet thoughtfully protected the user below. Amidst the intertwining lightning, Allen appeared like a god of war.
"Appear, CNo. 15! The crystallization of human wisdom, summon the messenger who severs the threads of fate! Chaos Xyz Change! Rank 9! Number C15: Gimmick Puppet Giant Hunter!"
From the black vortex formed by the lightning, a golden light shone forth. The massive puppet shed its mechanical exterior, and blood-red threads manipulated its golden body as it slowly rose from the vortex.
Number C15: Gimmick Puppet Giant Hunter ATK: 2500
"The effect of Number C15: Gimmick Puppet Giant Hunter activates! Once per turn, I can detach one Xyz Material from this card to target one card on my opponent's field and destroy it. If a monster is destroyed by this effect, my opponent takes damage equal to that monster's original ATK."
The golden puppet, pulled by blood-red threads, slowly raised its right arm. From its palm, a grappling hook whistled out, impaling the body of Gaia the Fierce Knight.
Immediately after, the body of Gaia the Fierce Knight exploded.
Tina LP: 4000 → 1400
"It's over! Number C15: Gimmick Puppet Giant Hunter, direct attack!"
At his command, the mechanisms on the golden puppet's surface opened simultaneously, and menacing gun barrels extended from within. In an instant, they unleashed their full firepower on the enemy below!
Tina LP: 1400 → 0
On the other side, Shinjō Katsu's movements were not much slower.
"I summon Chronomaly Nebra Disk in Attack Position."
"When Chronomaly Nebra Disk is Normal Summoned, I can add one 'Chronomaly' card from my Deck to my hand, except another 'Chronomaly Nebra Disk'."
"I add Chronomaly Crystal Skull to my hand."
"Since I control a 'Chronomaly' monster, I can discard Chronomaly Crystal Skull from my hand during my Main Phase to add one 'Chronomaly' monster from my Deck or Graveyard to my hand, other than Chronomaly Crystal Skull."
"I add Chronomaly Moai to my hand."
"Since I control a 'Chronomaly' monster, I can Special Summon this card in Defense Position! Appear! Chronomaly Moai!"
"I activate the Trap Card, Treacherous Trap Hole! If I have no Trap Cards in my Graveyard, I can target two monsters on the field and destroy them." Just then, Amon waved his hand, revealing a Set Card in his backrow. Below Shinjō Katsu's two monsters, giant pits opened simultaneously, attempting to swallow them.
"At this moment, the effect of Chronomaly Acambaro Figures in my hand activates! If a 'Chronomaly' monster I control would be destroyed by battle or an opponent's effect, I can discard this card from my hand instead."
A phantom of a clay dinosaur flashed, and the pits that had appeared out of nowhere on Shinjō Katsu's field were filled in.
"I activate the Continuous Spell, Chronomaly City Babylon!"
"If I control no monsters, or if all monsters I control are 'Chronomaly' monsters, I can pay 500 Life Points to activate the effect of Chronomaly City Babylon! I can Normal Summon one 'Chronomaly' monster from my hand."
Shinjō Katsu LP: 4000 → 3500
A magic circle formed by three colossal stone monuments slowly materialized on Shinjō Katsu's field.
"At this moment, the effect of Gaia the Magical Knight of Dragons activates!" Seeing that his sister was already in a disadvantageous situation, Amon grew somewhat agitated, wanting to nip his opponent's combo in the bud.
"During either player's Main Phase, I can target one other card on the field! This card's ATK decreases by 2600, and the targeted card is destroyed."
Gaia the Magical Knight of Dragons ATK: 5200 → 2600
The long spear in the Dragon Knight's hand shot a burst of lightning, shattering the stone magic circle on Shinjō Katsu's field.
"Now, you only have a Level 5 monster and a Level 4 monster on your field. Monsters with different Levels can't be used for an Xyz Summon."
"Then I'll just have to summon two more, won't I?" Shinjō Katsu smiled faintly. "I activate the Spell Card, Chronomaly Technology!"
"I can banish one 'Chronomaly' monster from my Graveyard, then look at the top two cards of my Deck, add one to my hand, and send the other to the Graveyard."
"I banish Chronomaly Crystal Skull from my Graveyard. I check the top two cards of my Deck, add one card to my hand, and send one to the Graveyard."
"I activate the Spell Card, Monster Reborn! I Special Summon Chronomaly Tula Guardian, which I just sent to the Graveyard!"
"I overlay my two Level 4 monsters!"
"Descend! Number 36! Super ancient city-state, guide the lost to the path of wisdom! Xyz Summon! Rank 4! Number 36: Chronomaly Chateau Huyuk!"
One after another, Shinjō Katsu's two monsters surged into a golden vortex that appeared in the air, its center shimmering with the number 36. In moments, a flying castle with a strong ancient ruins aesthetic slowly descended.
Number 36: Chronomaly Chateau Huyuk ATK: 2000
...
(end of chapter)