Chapter 157: The Final Battle (27)
(*Grandsoil the Elemental Lord*) [ATK 2800]
"Wealth belongs to the earth, but at the same time, the earth is also where souls return. As the God of Earth, when (*Grandsoil*) is successfully Summoned, I can target one monster from either player's Graveyard and Revive it to my Field!"
Chumley spoke, looking at Yugi with a mischievous grin. "The one I choose is the (*Dark Magician Girl*) in your Graveyard, Yugi!"
The colossal Elemental Lord raised its thick arm and clawed at the ground, gouging out a massive, square boulder that looked like a coffin carved from rock. A crack gradually formed on the face of the boulder, and appearing before Yugi's eyes was his previously Destroyed (*Dark Magician Girl*).
(*Dark Magician Girl*) was also stunned for a moment. How did she end up on Chumley's Field?
"Yugi, your (*Dark Magician Girl*) is quite a powerful Monster, but in the next second, she'll be mine." Chumley savored the joy of stealing another's monster and Activated the last Card in his Hand. "Spell Card, (Magic Wand)."
"This Card can only be Equipped to a Spellcaster-Type Monster, increasing its Attack by 500 points. Additionally, I can send the equipped monster and (Magic Wand) to the Graveyard to Draw two cards." After explaining the Effect, Chumley chuckled. "I Equip (Magic Wand) to (*Dark Magician Girl*), then use (Magic Wand)'s Effect to Tribute her and Draw two cards."
Yugi's face darkened. Chumley had said before that he didn't actually have any Spellcaster-Type monsters in his Deck. Logically, he should have no reason to include a Card like (Magic Wand), yet he did.
Combining this with the earlier (Witch's Strike), Yugi was certain—this guy Chumley had been planning to steal his monsters from the very beginning!
Drawing two cards, Chumley Set one face-down. He then Activated another card: "I'll Equip (*Grandsoil the Elemental Lord*) with (Axe of Despair), increasing its Attack by 1000 points!"
Dense earthen elements converged in the hands of (*Grandsoil the Elemental Lord*), materializing a massive axe perfectly sized for the Elemental Lord, an axe so large it looked as if it could cleave chaos itself. As a Cost, the once profound runes covering the Elemental Lord's body grew dim.
(*Grandsoil the Elemental Lord*) [ATK 2800 → 3800]
"Battle Phase! I Attack (*Arcana Knight Joker*) with (*Grandsoil the Elemental Lord*)!" Perfectly in sync with Chumley raising his arm, (*Grandsoil the Elemental Lord*) lifted the axe high above its head. On Yugi's Field, (*Arcana Knight Joker*) also drew its sword for the first time, holding it ready as it stood on guard.
"Vanish, (*Arcana Knight Joker*)! Finishing move—Golden Impact!"
As if the heavens were collapsing, the giant axe came crashing down toward (*Arcana Knight Joker*). The supreme knight, however, showed no fear in the face of the god's might, his gaze resolute as he bravely swung his own blade to meet the blow. The colossal battle-axe and the sharp longsword collided, sending a shockwave sweeping across the entire Field. In an instant, dust and smoke enveloped both sides.
As the dust gradually settled, everyone could see that (*Arcana Knight Joker*)'s figure had vanished from the Field. An enormous, exaggerated sword gash was left on the chest of (*Grandsoil the Elemental Lord*), which was also slowly dissipating.
With both monsters having the same Attack, the final outcome was (*Grandsoil the Elemental Lord*) shattering (*Arcana Knight Joker*)'s defense, but not before (*Arcana Knight Joker*) inflicted a fatal wound in return. Both monsters left the Field—a Mutual Destruction.
"Powerful cards often come with risks. When (*Grandsoil the Elemental Lord*) leaves the Field, I skip my next Battle Phase." Chumley placed the card of (*Grandsoil the Elemental Lord*) into his Graveyard. "However, my Turn isn't over yet!"
"(*Card Trooper*), Direct Attack Yugi!"
A beam of energy fire accurately struck Yugi's now-empty Field.
[Yugi: 2300 LP → 400 LP]
"It's just a wound. I still have 400 Life Points." Yugi's gaze was as sharp as ever, showing not the slightest hint of surrender. "Besides, at the End of the Turn, (*Card Trooper*)'s Attack will return to its original value."
"Tch, you're right about that." Chumley nodded helplessly. "My Turn ends here."
[Chumley: 1000 LP]
(*Card Trooper*) [ATK 1900 → 400]
[Set Card]
Chumley's eyes fell upon the Set Card in his Back Row. Had he still not managed to defeat Yugi after trying so hard, using almost everything he could?
He felt somewhat unwilling to accept it.
All Yugi needed to do was Draw a Monster with 1400 or more Attack Points, and he could Destroy (*Card Trooper*) and wipe out his Life Points. For Yugi, that was no problem at all.
Just as Chumley had thought, Yugi drew a Card.
"My Turn! Draw!"
"I Normal Summon (*Dark King of the Abyss*)!"
Just as in his first Duel with Chumley, Yugi Summoned the 1500 ATK (*Dark King of the Abyss*). With a determined look, Yugi faced Chumley and said, "This is the final blow, Chumley."
"Yeah, the final battle. The Last Battle." Chumley smiled. "But I'm still not quite willing to let you beat me again, Yugi. Forgive me for struggling!"
"I Activate my Set Card, (Last Turn!)"
As Chumley's Set Card flipped open, a thick fog suddenly surged across the Duel Field, shrouding everything and obscuring the view. Yugi only heard a mournful cry and realized his newly summoned (*Dark King of the Abyss*) had just been Destroyed.
"(Last Turn!) is a Trap Card that can only be Activated during my Opponent's Turn when my Life Points are 1000 or less." Chumley's voice echoed from within the mist. "After targeting one monster on my Field, both players send all cards from their Hand and Field to the Graveyard. Then, the Opponent can Special Summon one monster from their Deck."
"After that, the only two monsters remaining on the Field will battle. Any Battle Damage inflicted to either player becomes 0. After the battle, if either player has a monster remaining on the Field, that player wins the Duel. Any other outcome is a draw."
The mist thinned slightly, allowing Yugi to see Chumley's face on the other side.
"Hmph, in that case, I'll Summon this monster." Yugi smiled, selected a Monster Card from his Deck, and Summoned it to the Field.
The fog dissipated more and more rapidly, finally revealing the true form of the Monster Yugi had Summoned. A blood-red body, a pale white exoskeleton, pitch-black wings, and ghastly-green eyes. Standing opposite (*Card Trooper*) was none other than (*Summoned Skull*), the very Monster Yugi had used to defeat (*Gaia*) in the duel where Chumley had lost to him before.
"So it's that monster. You've got a twisted sense of humor, Yugi." Chumley smiled and said, "Trying to beat me twice with the same monster? It won't be that easy. I'm not handing this victory to you."
"I should be the one saying that, Chumley." Despite it being the final battle, both Chumley and Yugi were smiling and chatting casually. "The winner of this Duel will be me."
"Talk is cheap, Yugi. You can't convince me with just words. Why don't we—"
"—I already know. In that case—"
"(*Card Trooper*), Attack!"
"(*Summoned Skull*), take it down!"
Lightning and cannon fire collided on the Field. After a brief stalemate, the yellow lightning and white energy blast crossed paths, each striking their intended target.
This is the second update today, and now I'm out of stockpiled chapters, sob sob sob.
(End of Chapter)