The duel was so intense, even the gangsters watching were sweating.
They weren't shadow duelists and knew little of the supernatural, but in this world, it was rare for anyone not to understand dueling.
Even these outsiders could see Ted's predicament.
He'd been counter-damaged down to a mere 300 LP, and was being completely played. His opponent still had that low-ATK Swordswoman, able to attack twice per turn.
Ted couldn't attack or defend; any monster he summoned would get him killed.
Summon a high-ATK monster? Swordswoman attacks, and another counter-damage finishes him.
Summon a low-DEF monster as a wall? Swordswoman can attack twice, the first attack breaks the wall, the second hits him directly.
In this desperate situation, Ted's answer as a Card Professor was: attack.
Assault Lion, summon!
The beast looked fiercely powerful, but the gangsters couldn't feel happy.
What's the point of high ATK if your opponent has full counter-damage?
But Ted had a plan.
"I activate Spell Card 'Medicine Eater!'" Ted shouted. "Select a Tribute Summoned monster on your field.
Choose one tribute monster used for its tribute. The Tribute Summoned monster gains half that monster's ATK/DEF and its effects!" (Manga card.)
Assault Lion was his ace in the manga, but this spell was the real key. The lion itself was just a big normal monster—its value lay in gaining tribute effects.
"I'll gain Fierce Tiger Monghu's ATK and effect!" Ted declared. "Fierce Tiger Monghu's ATK is 1700, so Assault Lion gains 850!"
[Assault Lion, ATK 2600 → ATK 3450]
"And gains Fierce Tiger Monghu's effect: while this card is on the field, all other monsters lose 500 ATK!"
[Amazoness Swords Woman, ATK 1000 → ATK 500]
"Huh? Wouldn't lowering Swordswoman's ATK make things worse?"
The crowd murmured.
The lower her ATK, the more damage gets reflected!
But Ted smiled coldly.
"Hmph, what I gain from Fierce Tiger Monghu isn't just that. Once per turn, destroy all monsters on the field with less ATK than this card!"
Ted raised his hand and shouted.
"That troublesome Swordswoman disappears! Tiger's Roar!"
Assault Lion let out a terrifying roar. The Swordswoman was shattered by the soundwave.
"Nice! If it's destroyed directly, there's no rebound damage!"
"Amazing, Professor!"
The gangsters cheered.
Ted stepped forward. "Go, Assault Lion, direct attack!"
Assault Lion charged. Kira remained calm: "I activate my set card, Continuous Trap 'Amazoness Onslaught.'
Once per turn, during the Battle Phase, I can Special Summon an 'Amazoness' monster from my hand."
"As expected!" Ted shouted. "From my hand, Quick-Play Spell 'Hand-to-Hand Combat'—can only be activated in the Battle Phase. All Spells and Traps activated this phase are negated!" (Manga card.)
Also a spell Ted used against the Tenma brothers in the manga.
"Then I chain Trap Card 'A Hero Emerges.'
When the opponent declares an attack, they randomly select one card from my hand. If it's a monster, I can Special Summon it immediately."
He paused, "This card is chained to 'Hand-to-Hand Combat,' so its effect resolves first and won't be negated."
"Tch." Ted frowned, hesitating. "Then… the second card from the right."
Kira smiled slightly.
"Excellent choice."
He revealed his hand.
"Special Summon 'Amazoness Swords Woman' in Attack Position."
[Amazoness Swords Woman, ATK 1500]
Ted almost coughed up blood.
Seriously? Not again!?
"Of course, you can continue your attack." Kira smiled. "Come on, if you dare?"
Hell no, Ted thought.
"Battle reverts, I cancel the attack."
But he still had a backup.
"I activate Trap 'Back to the Front'—revive a monster from the graveyard in Defense Position.
I revive 'Fierce Tiger Monghu'!"
[Fierce Tiger Monghu, DEF 1000]
"With Fierce Tiger Monghu on the field, all monsters lose 500 ATK," Kira said. "So your Fierce Tiger Monghu and Assault Lion both lose 500 ATK, and my Swordswoman loses 1000."
"Right, but Swordswoman's ATK is still lower than Fierce Tiger Monghu's," Ted said. "Fierce Tiger Monghu's effect: Once per turn, destroy all monsters with less ATK than it.
Disappear, 'Amazoness Swords Woman!'"
Fierce Tiger Monghu roared, and Swordswoman was destroyed again.
Ted breathed a little easier.
He'd survived the crisis—for now. But he could tell, this Duel King's whole deck revolved around the Swordswoman popping back up. Next turn, he'd probably see her again.
He only had 300 LP left. He couldn't survive another hit.
Just to be safe…
He glanced at his last hope: Trap Card—Sakuretsu Armor.
With that, if Swordswoman attacked next turn, he could destroy her instantly. The turn after, he'd go all out for the win.
Perfect plan!
"I set one card, end turn."
"My turn, draw." Kira said. "First, Quick-Play Spell 'Emergency Provisions.' Send 'Mirage of Nightmare' to the graveyard, gain 1000 LP."
[Kira, LP 4000 → LP 5000]
Ted narrowed his eyes.
Go ahead, revive that Swordswoman one more time.
But things didn't go as he expected.
"I summon 'Magical Scientist.'"
[Magical Scientist, ATK 300]
"Magical Scientist's effect: Pay 1000 LP to Special Summon a Level 6 or lower Fusion Monster."
[Kira, LP 5000 → LP 4000]
"I Special Summon 'Ryu Senshi.'"
[Ryu Senshi, ATK 2000]
Ted: "?"
No Amazoness Swords Woman?
But those two can't get past my invincible Assault Lion!
"I activate Spell 'Spider Web'—take a card sent to the graveyard last turn from your side." (Anime Card)
A white thread shot out from Kira's Duel Disk, grabbing a card.
"Spell 'Medicine Eater.'"
Ted: "!"
He took my spell from the graveyard!?
"Quick-Play Spell 'Quick Summon'—Normal Summon a monster from my hand.
I tribute 'Magical Scientist' and 'Ryu Senshi' to summon Level 10—
—Yubel!!!"
Both monsters vanished, replaced by the fiend opening wide bone wings, the third eye on its forehead opening, glaring coldly.
[Yubel, ATK 0]
"A Level 10 monster?!" Ted was shocked.
"Then I use Mr. Banias's own 'Medicine Eater,'" Kira said. "Yubel gains half of Ryu Senshi's ATK and effect.
So Yubel's ATK becomes 1000."
[Yubel, ATK 0 → ATK 1000]
"Still only 1000…"
Ted said, but he had a bad feeling.
He felt like he was about to lose.
"Yubel attacks Assault Lion." Kira declared.
He's really attacking! Ted's heart skipped.
"Yubel's effect: No battle damage is taken from battles involving this card, and your opponent takes that amount as damage instead."
Ted: "!!!"
His bad feeling was right.
This is Amazoness Swords Woman—PLUS edition!
"I activate my set card!" Ted shouted, "Trap Card—Sakuretsu Armor! Destroy the attacking monster!"
"Useless."
Kira said calmly.
"Yubel now has Ryu Senshi's effect. By paying 1000 LP, I negate the activation of a Trap."
[Kira, LP 4000 → LP 3000]
Ted's eyes widened.
Even his Trap was useless.
Assault Lion's eyes turned red, and it struck at Yubel. Yubel took the blow, shuddered, then spread its arms. Thorns erupted, carrying the rebounded damage through Ted's chest.
[Ted, LP 300 → LP 0]