"My turn!"
It's Yusei's turn again. At that moment, Zigfried waved his hand and said, "At this moment, the effect of Equip Magic - Nibelungen's Ring is activated!"
As he spoke, the ring on Junk Warrior's hand began to gleam with golden light. Junk Warrior was half-kneeling on the ground, and streams of electric current crackled across his body, as if it was even more strenuous than before.
"A monster equipped with Nibelungen's Ring cannot attack, cannot change its battle position, and its effects are negated. However, the controller can draw two cards per turn.
If there are Monster Cards within the drawn cards, they must be confirmed to the opponent, and then sent to the graveyard."
Zigfried gestured: "Alright, draw your cards now, you can draw two cards this turn! But if there are any Monster Cards, please show them to me."
Yusei remained silent, drew two cards, and after a quick glance, turned one of them over to show to his opponent.
"Monster Card." Zigfried squinted and chuckled smugly, "Then please send it to the graveyard."
Yusei silently sent that card to the graveyard, but then quickly waved his hand: "Activate the Set Card - Reckless Greed. Draw two cards from the card deck, then skip the next two draw phases."
"I see. Indeed, drawing cards in this manner won't trigger the effect of 'Nibelungen's Ring.'" Zigfried shrugged indifferently, "You better hope you draw something useful."
Yusei continued without responding, entering the main phase. Yusei drew three cards: "Summon 'Ghost Gardna', in defense position. Then, set two Set Cards and end the turn!"
The white mechanical warrior appeared on Yusei's field, taking a defensive stance. At the same time, his backfield now had two more Set Cards, seemingly the last line of defense.
[Ghost Gardna, Defense 1900]
"I see, is this your final monster then?" Zigfried chuckled, "Due to the effect of Nibelungen's Ring, you can't draw any new monsters to your hand, meaning you're out of options. Of course, it's commendable that you made it this far. Unexpected, you actually seem to be a first-class duelist... It's just unfortunate that you faced me, Zigfried Lloyd.
"My turn!"
Zigfried drew a card and raised his voice: "Although it's brief, let this duel conclude here! Valkyrie Sigrun, tear apart Junk Warrior for me!"
The Valkyrie Warrior received the command and charged fearlessly! Leaving a purple meteor-like trail in the air, the longsword dragged silver light as it slashed down upon the suppressed Junk Warrior.
Just as that sword descended, a white silhouette flashed out and quickly stood in front of Junk Warrior.
Ghost Gardna!
The Valkyrie's sword blade sharply sliced through Ghost Gardna's steel body; with a "bang" sound, it exploded into countless fragments.
"Ghost Gardna's effect," Yusei said, "when an opponent's monster attacks, it can enforce the attack target to be this card."
Zigfried frowned slightly: "A meaningless action..."
"Moreover," Yusei interrupted, "when Ghost Gardna is destroyed in battle, until the end of the turn, one of the opponent's monster's attack power decreases by 1000 points! I will decrease Valkyrie Sigrun's attack power!"
The shattered mechanical warrior released a ghostly white beam from within, like a long ribbon winding around Sigrun's body. Sigrun was restrained, angrily swinging her sword trying to disperse it, but her sword couldn't reach the beam at all.
[Valkyrie Sigrun, Attack 2200 → Attack 1200]
Zigfried sneered: "Hm, my Sigrun has already attacked this turn, what is the purpose of decreasing her attack power before the end of the turn? It seems I overestimated you, you are ultimately just a second-rate duelist. If you chose to decrease Erda's attack power, Erda's attack power would plummet to 1000, lower than Junk Warrior, and I wouldn't be able to continue her attack..."
Before he finished his ridicule, Yusei immediately waved his hand: "Activate Set Card, Trap Card - Signal of Counterattack! When an opponent's monster's attack results in the destruction of my monster, it can be activated.
Select one of my monsters on the field to increase its attack power by 500, and force a battle with the opponent's monster!" (Anime card)
"What!?" Zigfried was surprised.
"I increased Junk Warrior's attack power by 500 and forced a battle with Valkyrie Sigrun!"
After lying low for a while, Junk Warrior yelled "Ha ah!" and made a charging stance, with energy flames igniting over its body, symbolizing a resurgence of power.
[Junk Warrior, Attack 1300 → Attack 1800]
"I see!" Zigfried suddenly realized, "Junk Warrior equipped with 'Nibelungen's Ring' cannot actively attack, so he's using the effect of the Trap Card to force a battle... Not only that, before this he utilized the effect of 'Ghost Gardna' to decrease the Valkyrie's attack power while increasing Junk Warrior's attack power... Was all this within his plan!?"
Zigfried couldn't help but view this mysterious figure with higher regard. Now when he looked at the opponent's ridiculous bunny headgear, deep down he couldn't help but wonder about the deity hidden underneath...
"Beautiful, Yusei!" Judai generously praised his junior, "Launch a counterattack in one go!"
"But it's useless!" Zigfried quickly regained composure, "Activate Set Card, Trap Card - Shield of Assault! Sacrifice one monster on your field, its defense power can be added to the attack power of another monster!"
I use 'Valkyrie Erda' as a tribute, to add her defense power to Sigrun's attack power!" (animation card)
The Valkyrie in red armor disappeared under the Trap Effect, transforming into a beam of light that attached itself to Sigrun's longsword. The sword's power surged instantly, enveloped by layers of divine auras that elevated the entire presence of the Valkyrie.
[Valkyrie Sigrun, ATK 1200 → ATK 3400]
"However, with 'Valkyrie Erda' leaving the field, her effect disappears as well," Yusei said, "Junk Warrior's attack power increases by 1000 again!"
[Junk Warrior, ATK 1800→ ATK 2800]
"No matter, in the end, Sigrun's attack power is still higher." Zigfried chuckled elegantly and gave a light wave of his arm, "Go ahead, Sigrun, destroy that inexplicably obtrusive monster!"
Sigrun launched the final charge, and Junk Warrior met it fearlessly!
Junk Warrior's red goggles glowed, and the propulsion flame behind him flared out in a long burst. His right fist, enveloped in a burning golden light, smashed into the Valkyrie's descending sword like a shooting star!
Sparks flew mid-air, and a visible shockwave erupted, causing both sides of the battle to stagger backward, but neither was knocked down.
[Yusei, LP 2600 → LP 2000]
"What?" Zigfried was surprised, "Why wasn't Junk Warrior knocked down?"
As he spoke, an apparition appeared in front of Junk Warrior. A warrior wielding a spear and shield floated before him like a ghost, blocking the impact and damage.
"'Shield Warrior' from the graveyard is banished from the game to protect my monster from being destroyed by battle, once per duel." Yusei said calmly.
Zigfried: "!?"
Shield Warrior... was that the card thrown into the graveyard by my 'Nibelung's Ring' effect last turn?
Does that mean losing a Monster Card from his hand last turn was actually aiding him?
"Continue to reveal the Set Card." Yusei waved his hand again, and the last Set Card in front of him flipped over, "Trap Card - Synchro Aura!"
This card activates when a Synchro Monster doesn't destroy an opponent's monster in battle! That Synchro Monster's attack power is doubled until the end of the turn... and it can battle the opponent's monster once more!" (animation card)
"What!?" Zigfried was shocked.
Junk Warrior let out a low roar of "Aargh", his whole body blazing with golden flames as his power surged dramatically.
[Junk Warrior, ATK 2800 → ATK 5600]
"Attack power... 5600!?" Zigfried was utterly shocked.
Yusei revealed his last card in hand: "This is the final move! At the moment of battle, discard 'Rush Warrior' from my hand, activating its effect!
When my 'Warrior' Synchro Monster battles the opponent, discard this card, and that monster's attack power doubles for that one battle!"
[Junk Warrior, ATK 5600 → ATK 11200]
"Attack power... 11,200!?"
Zigfried had an expression of "I can't believe this" on his face. Looking at the figure across from him in the rabbit suit, his eyes were filled with fear.
Using the effect of Ghost Gardna to shield, lowering the Valkyrie's attack power while fulfilling the activation condition for the Trap Card 'Signal Flare of Counterattack', further predicting Zigfried's counterattack, using the effect of 'Shield Warrior' to prevent Junk Warrior's destruction, and thereby triggering the Trap Card 'Synchro Aura's activation condition...
...From Zigfried's perspective now, this series of chains seemed like a complete closed circuit, leading directly to this current outcome...
...his defeat.
Zigfried looked at the opponent in horror.
This guy... did he foresee everything!?
What kind of monster is he!?
Even Judai couldn't help but exclaim: "Yusei... is incredible..."
These were indeed his sincere feelings.
Although it's true that at this stage Judai's strength is still greater, he is not the type to habitually use his intellect for precise calculations to achieve victory through careful planning.
In comparison, he's more accustomed to relying on unbeatable topdecks.
"Junk Warrior!" Yusei waved his hand, "Scrap Fist Punch!"
Junk Warrior's propulsion flames roared behind him, the blast from his punch releasing an unprecedentedly dazzling golden light. The fist, shining with brilliant light, shattered the Valkyrie's Sword Qi with just one hit, crushing the monster into dust, bringing the duel to its final conclusion.
[Zigfried, LP 2400 → LP 0]