In an instant, Ted Banias's earlier doubts vanished.
Is it worth spending LP to protect a 1500 ATK monster?
Absolutely—when it's the opponent losing the LP, and the monster is a walking counter-damage bomb.
"Ugh!"
Amazoness Swords Woman was pushed back, but the impact rebounded onto Ted. The card professor staggered, gritting his teeth.
[Ted, LP 4000 → LP 2100]
"Then I activate my set card, Trap Card 'Card of Sacrifice.' If the combined ATK of my Attack Position monsters is lower than the lowest ATK of my opponent's monsters, I draw two cards from my deck. But this turn, I cannot summon or change positions in any way." (Anime effect.)
(In the real card, you need at least two monsters, but in the anime, as long as Amazoness Swords Woman's ATK is 0, it basically always triggers.)
"I draw two cards." Kira drew.
This turn, Ted had taken a hard hit, but could only grunt in frustration.
"I set two cards, end my turn."
"Then, at the end of the turn, Zero Gardna's effect ends. Amazoness Swords Woman's ATK returns to normal."
[Amazoness Swords Woman, ATK 0 → ATK 1500]
Ted looked grim.
As expected, this guy could not be underestimated.
Fujiki Kira was indeed a Duel King, the kind that's impossible to guard against. If you let your guard down, you'd be an idiot.
His underhandedness wouldn't change, no matter what deck he played.
"My turn, draw." Kira revealed his card, "Spell Card 'Pot of Greed'. Draw two more cards."
He chose two cards from his hand—one to the graveyard, one revealed.
"Discard a card to activate Equip Spell 'Twin Swords of Flashing Light - Tryce,' and equip it to Amazoness Swords Woman."
A pair of lightning-charged swords appeared, gripped by the Amazoness.
"Twin Swords of Flashing Light - Tryce can be activated by discarding a card. The equipped monster loses 500 ATK, but can attack twice per turn." Kira explained.
[Amazoness Swords Woman, ATK 1500 → ATK 1000]
Ted's face twitched.
Again, lowering the Swordswoman's ATK, and giving her double attacks on top of that.
No doubt, his hand or back row must have cards making Swordswoman immune to destruction.
Ted nearly laughed out of exasperation.
Everyone said this new Duel King was a rising sun in the east—his reputation was deserved. Coming right out with suicide tactics, lowering his own monster's ATK for counterattacks—who thinks of this stuff?
"Battle." Kira declared. "Amazoness Swords Woman attacks Botanical Lion."
The 1000 ATK Swordswoman charged fearlessly, sword drawn.
Ted dared not let the attack go through. "I activate my Trap, 'Wall of Thorns!'
When a Plant monster is targeted for attack, destroy all Attack Position monsters your opponent controls!"
A wall of thorns shot up before Ted. Amazoness Swords Woman's attack struck the thorns, and she was entangled and destroyed.
"Hahaha, too bad! Creative, but it didn't work!" Ted crowed. "Let that Swordswoman stay in the afterlife."
"Then I activate my set card, Trap Card 'Impenetrable Attack.'
This card can only be activated during the Battle Phase.
Select one monster you control; it cannot be destroyed by battle or card effects during this Battle Phase."
"Eh?"
Ted's smile froze.
The revived Swordswoman cut through the thorns—nothing could stop her. The monsters clashed, but the damage rebounded right back at Ted.
"Ugh!"
[Ted, LP 2100 → LP 1200]
"Of course, thanks to 'Impenetrable Attack,' Amazoness Swords Woman can't be destroyed this turn," Kira said. "And because of 'Twin Swords of Flashing Light - Tryce,' she can attack twice.
Amazoness Swords Woman attacks again."
She charged out once more. Botanical Lion could only take the hit. Swordswoman's blade flicked, and the damage rebounded onto Ted again.
[Ted, LP 1200 → LP 300]
"Battle Phase ends." Kira said calmly. "I set two more cards.
Then I activate Continuous Spell 'Mirage of Nightmare.' During the opponent's Standby Phase, I can draw until I have four cards in hand.
Turn end."
Ted staggered to his feet, taking a deep breath.
This was insane.
Though he'd never played Yugi face-to-face, he'd watched his fellow card professors duel the King.
But this—this was on another level.
Same Duel King, but why was this one so… dirty?
Ted: "My turn, draw!"
"At this moment, Mirage of Nightmare's effect activates," Kira said. "I draw until I have four cards in hand."
Main Phase. Ted quickly summoned more monsters.
"Spell Card 'Spell Books from the Pot'—both players draw three cards!" (Manga card.)
"Then I normal summon 'Fierce Tiger Monghu'!"
[Fierce Tiger Monghu, ATK 1700]
"Then Spell Card 'Double Summon', allowing me to Normal Summon again this turn!"
Ted grabbed two monsters from his Duel Disk.
"I tribute Botanical Lion and Fierce Tiger Monghu to Tribute Summon!"
His LP was hanging by a thread, and he knew there was no room for error. His earlier confidence was gone.
"Appear, my ace—King of Beasts—
—Assault Lion, summon!" (Manga card.)
A giant beast appeared, like a living mountain, with hard, black scales and a majestic lion's head, its mane blazing and fangs bared.
[Assault Lion, ATK 2600]
Ted was fired up.
"With this power, I'll finally get rid of that underhanded Swordswoman!"