"Duel!" x2
[Rafael, LP 4000]
[Youyu, LP 4000]
"Looks like I'm going first." Rafael glanced at his Duel Disc and said flatly, "Draw card. First, activate Continuous Magic - Guarded Treasure from my hand.
Discard all five cards from my hand to activate and draw two cards from the deck."
Rafael discarded all five cards from his hand to the graveyard and drew two cards, simultaneously explaining: "Additionally, as long as this card remains face-up on the field, I can draw two cards during each turn's draw phase."
The appearance of Rafael's indispensable starting hand.
To be honest, Youyu has always felt a bit peculiar about it.
Rafael is a duelist who "adamantly refuses to send monsters to the graveyard," as stubborn as a deeply compulsive disorder in this regard.
So here's the question: Does this mean Rafael not only always draws this "Guarded Treasure" at the start of each hand, but also has no monster cards among the remaining five cards in his hand?
If by any chance he draws a monster card in an opening hand accident, then out of his compulsion to "adamantly not send monsters to the graveyard," wouldn't this Continuous Magic be stuck in his hand forever unusable?
Or did Rafael also buy Kaiba-brand 502, making his six starting cards never contain a monster card?
It's unclear...
Adding the newly drawn cards to his hand, he immediately played one: "Magic Card - Pot of Greed. Draw two more cards. Then I summon 'Support Guardian' in defense mode!" (anime card)
The Monster Card appeared horizontally, revealing a large figure with blue skin and fiery red hair squatting on the field with crossed arms protecting its front.
[Support Guardian, Defense 2200]
"Then I'll set two cards and end my turn."
"Support Guardian, the key monster in Rafael's defense." Dark Yugi commented from the audience, "Although it's level 4, it has 2200 defense, which is higher than some high-level monsters' attack."
"After the Doma incident ended, Rafael, finally freed from his fate, surely became stronger than before." Yugi said.
"Indeed." Dark Yugi nodded, "Duelists of his caliber must have surpassed themselves to reach higher realms."
After a pause, he added, "But in our next duel, I definitely won't lose."
"It's my turn, draw!"
Youyu cautiously appraised Rafael and the set cards in his back row.
Although Rafael has reformed, considering his outstanding record, Youyu dared not be careless.
According to the norm, 'reformation weakens threefold,' but given that the Doma Three Musketeers reformed and broke the curse of 'whoever uses it loses,' it's really hard to say...
"First, Magic Card - Graceful Charity!" Youyu played the card, and before him appeared the Magic Card image, "Draw three cards from the deck and discard two from the hand to the graveyard.
Then I summon 'Elemental Hero Prisma'!"
A hero of crystal clarity, radiant like a brilliant diamond, came forth as summoned, spreading its arms to bloom with starlight.
[Elemental Hero Prisma, ATK 1700]
"Prisma's effect, once per turn, show an opponent a Fusion Monster Card, send Fusion Material from the deck to the graveyard. Until the end of the turn, Prisma can act as that monster's name.
I reveal 'Elemental Hero Flame Wingman,' sending 'Elemental Hero Blazewoman' from the deck to the graveyard as Fusion Material.
Reflect Change!"
Youyu revealed the Fusion Card, pulled from the deck the hero for Fusion Material, and sent it to the graveyard. Prisma's ability activated, refracting the reflection of the flame hero.
"Reveal Fusion Material..." Rafael understood, "Use 'Prisma' as a substitute for Fusion Material for Fusion Summon?"
"Not exactly." Youyu played the next card, "Magic Card - The Warrior Returning Alive. Reclaim Warrior-Type Monster from the graveyard to hand.
I reclaim 'Elemental Hero Blazewoman' to hand.
Then, Magic Card - Polymerization, fusing 'Feathered Hero' and Fire Attribute 'Blazewoman' from the hand!
Fusion requirements are Elemental Hero plus any Fire Attribute monster, Fusion Summon—
—Elemental Hero Nova Master!"
Heroes of wind and fire emerged, flying into the air, merging into a whirlpool of magic, transforming into a vertical beam of green whirlwind and flame, unveiling a hero draped in red-gold armor, wielding flames.
[Elemental Hero Nova Master, ATK 2600]
Rafael understood: "I see, this way 'Prisma' remains on the field, adding an extra monster for attack."
"Fight!" Youyu declared directly entering the battle phase, "Use 'Elemental Hero Nova Master' to attack 'Support Guardian!'"
Nova Master engulfed in flames, letting out a low roar, soared high, extending his palm to strike, energy flames forming into a spiraling long spear piercing through the air.
"Indeed, that's Youyu!" Yugi nodded in approval, "Only 2200 defense, easy to surpass."
"Yeah." Dark Yugi crossed his arms, "But Rafael isn't a duelist that can be easily breached."
Sure enough, Rafael immediately called: "Open the set card, Trap Card - Guardian Form! This card can negate opponent's monster attack when my guardian monster is attacked, then move the attacked monster to another Monster Zone!" (anime card)
Transparent ripples manifested in front of the dark guardian monster, and the overwhelming flame impact of Nova Master brushed fiercely against those ripples, failing to cause any damage.
Then, Support Guardian leaped sideways, jumping to the adjacent Monster Zone.
Rafael continued: "Moreover, using this trap effect to negate opponent's attack, I can activate an Equip Magic Card from my hand or deck!"
He pulled from his deck and selected the card of choice.
"Equip Magic - Gravity Axe - Roar, activate from the deck!"
Rafael placed the card in the Duel Disc, and a heavy axe spinning fell from the air, inserting into the ground with a weighty sound.
"'Gravity Axe - Roar,' equipping to Support Guardian, increases ATK by 500."
[Support Guardian, ATK 500 → ATK 1000]
Of course, Support Guardian inherently is defensive, so the attack enhancement has little significance.
"Blocked, huh... My battle phase ends." Youyu revealed another card in his hand, "Main phase 2, Magic Card - Raid from the Dark activated!
Within this turn, summon one monster, initiate a second battle phase, and attack once more!" (anime card)
"Second battle phase!?" Rafael was surprised.
"Fight again!" Youyu said, "Elemental Hero Nova Master, attack 'Support Guardian' once more!"
Nova Master ablaze fiercely, a spherical flame energy forming between its palms at the ready to launch.
"That's not going to happen." Rafael frowned, "Open the set card, Counter Trap - Guardian Force! Can activate when no monsters are in my graveyard, negating and destroying activation of magic, trap, or monster effect!" (anime card)
He pointed at Youyu's still-existent Magic Card projection.
"Negate the activation of Magic Card 'Raid from the Dark!'"
The Magic Card instantly dispersed into countless golden powder.
This guy... Seems truly intent not to let monsters enter the graveyard.
Youyu narrowed his eyes slightly.
Guardian Force, a powerful counter trap that can negate any effect as long there are no monsters in the graveyard. Actually, Rafael could've negated Prisma or Magic Card Fusion earlier, but he didn't.
Was he deliberately allowing me to summon monsters to trigger the trap card 'Guardian Form,' searching for an Equip Card from the deck?
"Then my turn ends."