Chapter 138: Regarding the Previous Chapter's Missing Title That Couldn't Be Changed After Publishing
As Yugi's Battle Phase ended, the only Monster remaining on his Field was Queen's Knight, while Joey Wheeler's Field was completely cleared. Joey Wheeler's Life Points were damaged by the Battle, and Queen's Knight's ATK also decreased because it lost the Support of Dark Magician Girl.
[Joey Wheeler: 3200LP → 3100LP]
Queen's Knight [ATK1900 → 1700]
"Alright, I'll End Turn." Yugi looked at Joey Wheeler's empty Field, but he wasn't relaxed. He knew that while Joey Wheeler sometimes gave off an unreliable feeling, he was the type of person who could surpass his own limits the greater the pressure.
This current situation was precisely the most comfortable state for Joey Wheeler, where he could display his full Strength.
[Yugi: 1700LP, Hand 0]
Queen's Knight [ATK1700]
[United Army]
"My Turn." Joey Wheeler placed two Fingers on his Deck, his heart so excited that a smile involuntarily appeared at the corner of his mouth. "Although I really don't want you guys to say it again, I have to admit, my Luck really is pretty good."
"I Activate the Spell Card, Card of Fate!"
'Here it comes!' Hayato, watching from outside the arena, excitedly clenched his fists as he saw the six-sided Dice appear on Joey Wheeler's Field after he played the Card.
As the three main characters, Yugi, Kaiba, and Joey Wheeler each held a Treasure Card with a distinct personal style. Yugi, skilled at seizing opportunities, used Graceful Charity, which also benefited his Opponent; Kaiba, who excelled at finishing Duels in one Turn, used Card of Demise, which delayed the payment of Stakes.
And Joey Wheeler, often called "a Duelist with exceptionally good Luck," used Card of Fate, whose Effect depended entirely on chance. It was also the only one of the three most classic Treasure Cards where the number of Cards drawn was not fixed. Its Effect was—
"Card of Fate's Effect is, I roll a Dice, Draw Cards from my Deck equal to the result, and then Banish Cards from the top of my Deck equal to the result from Play." Joey Wheeler covered one ear, pretending not to hear Kujaku Mai's voice from the Spectator Area saying, "Ugh, another annoying Gambling Card," and waved his hand, saying, "Now, let the Dice roll!"
The pure white Dice of Destiny on Joey Wheeler's Field fell and bounced, the number on top changing repeatedly. 6 Points, 3 Points, 1 Point, 3 Points... After a while, the Dice stopped under Joey Wheeler's expectant gaze.
Points: 5!
"Yosh! Then I can Draw 5 Cards from my Deck, and then Banish 5 Cards." Excitedly drawing the Cards, his Deck visibly thinned. Joey Wheeler glanced at Hayato in the Spectator Area. "Although there's the Stakes of Banishing Cards, when it comes to replenishing my Hand, I seem to be even better than Hayato's Nightmare's Mirage and Emergency Provisions Combo~"
'That's purely because you haven't played Decks like Metaphys or Thunder Dragon,' Hayato muttered to himself.
"Here I come, Yugi!"
"Activate the Spell Card, Monster Reborn! I'll Special Summon Gearfried the Iron Knight from my Graveyard to my Field. Then, I Activate Tribute Doll! I'll Tribute Gearfried the Iron Knight as a Tribute to Special Summon a Level 7 Monster from my Hand!"
Gearfried the Iron Knight had just been Revived from the Graveyard. After seeing Queen's Knight on Yugi's Field, it was even ready for Battle, only to suddenly find itself nailed to a wooden altar, sent back to the Graveyard again in utter confusion.
And appearing in place of Gearfried the Iron Knight, which had been repeatedly bouncing between the Graveyard and the Field, was a slender, well-proportioned black Giant Dragon brimming with fighting spirit. That was the Rare Monster Joey Wheeler had won from "Dinosaur" Rex's Ante Duel, which had cost Rex most of his Prize Money. Salty-eyed, ah, no, it was—Red-Eyes Black Dragon!
Red-Eyes Black Dragon [Level 7/Dark]
[Dragon Type/Normal]
[2400/2000]
As the "Black Dragon" that summoned possibility, corresponding to the "White Dragon" that brought Victory—Blue-Eyes White Dragon—Red-Eyes Black Dragon began spewing black flames capable of burning almost anything the moment it appeared. The pillar of fire rising into the sky seemed to be its way of proving it couldn't wait to join the Battle.
However, before it could spew flames for more than a few seconds, Red-Eyes Black Dragon suddenly started coughing. The pillar of fire turned into a few sparks and quickly extinguished. Clearly, it had choked and misfired.
"You used Tribute Doll's Effect to quickly Summon the Level 7 Red-Eyes Black Dragon, which normally requires two Monsters as Tributes, but because of Tribute Doll's Effect Backlash, it's weakened and can't Attack?" Before Joey Wheeler could speak, Yugi had already come up with the reason for him.
"Although you Summoned your Ace Monster, Joey Wheeler, my Queen's Knight is still on the Field, you know? If you don't destroy her, you can't Attack me."
Joey Wheeler chuckled. "Don't forget something, Yugi. I haven't Normal Summoned this Turn yet."
"I Summon Flame Swordsman in Attack Position!"
Flame Swordsman [Level 4/Fire]
[Warrior Type/Effect]
[1800/1600]
"As one of my favorite Duel Monsters, Flame Swordsman's ATK is higher than Queen's Knight's. But since I'm going to Destroy her anyway, I might as well add some more fire to Flame Swordsman!" Joey Wheeler played the last Card in his Hand. "I Equip this Card to Flame Swordsman!"
On Flame Swordsman's treasured sword, which was originally wrapped in colorless airflow, a trace of flame suddenly appeared. Following the spiraling airflow, it quickly grew larger. At the tip of the sword, the flames gathered and swirled, transforming into the image of a roaring flame Giant Dragon with its mouth wide open.
Flame Swordsman [ATK1800 → 2500]
"[Hiryuu-en] can only be Equipped to FIRE Attribute Monsters, but it can increase a Monster's ATK by 700 Points in one go," Joey Wheeler said excitedly. "Battle Phase! Flame Swordsman Attacks Yugi's Queen's Knight!"
"Jounouchi Slash!"
Unable to think of a cool Attack Name on the spot, he casually came up with a rather unfitting name for Flame Swordsman's exquisite Swordsmanship Combo. Yet, Joey Wheeler felt no guilt towards his favorite Card at all; instead, he thought the name was absolutely awesome.
And naturally, Queen's Knight on Yugi's Field was Destroyed and sent to the Graveyard, unable to withstand Flame Swordsman, whose ATK had risen to a full 2500 Points.
[Yugi: 1700LP → 900LP]
Under Hayato's gaze, which seemed to say, "If you can't finish them off, don't Attack; see, you Locked LP, didn't you?", Joey Wheeler ended his Turn.
[Joey Wheeler: 3100LP, Hand 0]
Red-Eyes Black Dragon [ATK2400]
Flame Swordsman ([Hiryuu-en]) [ATK2500]