Abyss Soldiers, a Monster Card that shocked the environment when it debuted. Discard a card from your hand to send any card on the field back, serving as an excellent removal effect while also reclaiming your own cards on the field.
However, since it requires discarding a Water Attribute Monster, and Water Attribute was unpopular back then, coupled with the fact that its effect inherently causes a card disadvantage, it's bound by many restrictions that prevent it from becoming a staple in other mainstream Card Decks of the time.
Hence, under the wisdom of the card players, a deck named "Abyss Control," constructed to fully exploit the potential of the Abyss Soldiers, was born.
As the name implies, this is a deck fully revolving around the Abyss Soldiers. Among them, the best partner for Abyss Soldiers is the "Assassin Snake," which can return to the Duelist's hand from the graveyard every turn, and conveniently, it's an unpopular Water Attribute, providing infinite ammunition for Abyss Soldiers.
Though Abyss Control was once an upper-tier Card Deck with decent achievements, it is typically classified as a "non-Chaos Card Deck" in the historical environment of its era.
Because back then, Chaos was overwhelmingly strong...
However, since Abyss Control was once upper-tier, Yugen feels that its strength is still quite reasonable presently. Besides, compared to the frontal suppression of a Chaos Card Deck with "Dimension Slash," he thinks this tactic is more fun.
Just like now. Look, that beetle on the other side is so thrilled it wants to howl with joy.
Beetle Knight: "You @*%@#"
The slow-reacting Beetle Bro finally seems to realize the horror of this combination across the field.
On the surface, Abyss Soldiers seem like just an average Monster relying on card loss to clear the field, but in reality, there are a lot of effective tactics to utilize them.
Especially with effects like "Royal Palace Notice," which are equally annoying to both parties, but if used properly, can turn into one-sided suppression, doubling as mental blows to the opponent.
Just like how the Beetle Armored Knight feels right now.
Initially, he was dismissive upon seeing the Abyss Soldiers, regarding them as low-star weaklings. But now, looking again at those two things, they truly seem like the Gods of Death from the Abyss, not stopping until dragging people to the Underworld.
"They can both clear the field and open avenues, while also recouping to avoid being restricted by 'Royal Palace Notice'... What an intriguing combination!"
Judai has the usual excited expression.
He always feels that Yugen's duels can pull off various combinations that excite him endlessly. Such creative dueling is so interesting that he feels more and more eager to try one himself...
"Damn it, don't underestimate me... My turn, draw!"
With cards crazily bounced back to his hand, the Beetle Knight's field is now as clean as a blank sheet. Life Points are down to just 400, and by the opponent's next turn, his trap tactics will also be sealed by the revealed "Royal Palace Notice," and even summoning a Defense Monster would be bounced again by "Abyss Soldiers."
If those two Abyss Soldiers are not dealt with this turn, it's over for him.
"Activate Magic Card 'Dark Temptation,' draw two cards from the deck, then banish a Dark Attribute Monster from my hand from the game.
According to the Magic effect, I draw from the deck!"
The new two cards drawn brought a glimmer of vitality to the Beetle's eyes.
It's here, with this card...
"Then, according to the effect of 'Dark Temptation,' I banish the Dark Attribute 'Death Mosquito' from my hand from the game."
The Beetle Knight revealed the Monster Card in his hand; a dark vortex appeared mid-air, engulfing the card as if drawn in by gravity, and it vanished.
"Then Normal Summon 'Resonating Insect'!"
[Resonating Insect, Attack Power 1000]
The Resonating Insect that repeatedly bounced back and forth seemed exhausted. This was already the third time it landed in this duel, and its effect didn't activate even once...
Throwing the insect down would win.
"Magic Card 'Incubation!' " The Beetle Knight declared, "Sacrifice one Monster on your field to Special Summon one Insect Race from your deck that's one level higher than the sacrifice.
I sacrifice the Level 4 'Resonating Insect' on the field!"
The Resonating Insect dissipated from the field, opening a summoning vortex on the ground.
"As a result, I can Special Summon an Insect Race of Level 5 from the deck! What I want to summon is this guy—
—Level 5, Thousand-year-old Scorpion!"
The black armor seemingly condensed from the essence of midnight, the entirely pitch-black giant scorpion had a surface exuding a faint, chilling light, and its tail swung with a horrifyingly massive stinger.
[Thousand-year-old Scorpion, Attack Power 2000]
"Then activate the effect of Resonating Insect!" The Beetle Knight declared, "When this card is sent from the field to the graveyard, add a Level 5 or higher Insect Race from the deck to the hand.
Add the Level 8 'Demon Shovel Worm' from the deck to the hand!"
Ready to search, the Beetle Knight almost burst into tears. This godforsaken effect finally triggered...
Things are about to improve!
"Effect of 'Demon Shovel Worm!'" the Beetle Knight shouted, "Remove two Insect Race monsters from the graveyard from the game, and this card can be directly Special Summoned!
I banish from the game the 'Resonating Insect' from the graveyard and a 'Resonating Insect' discarded in the first turn!
See this, the Insect Race bestowed to me by the gods with the strongest power—
—Level 8, Demon Shovel Worm, summon!"
The earth broke apart, the sturdy shell covered with sharp protrusions and grooves, the massive carapace shattered the ground, letting out an earth-shattering roar.
[Demon Shovel Worm, Attack Power 2800]
"Next is the follow-up effect of 'Resonating Insect!' When this card is banished, send an Insect Race other than 'Resonating Insect' from the deck to the graveyard.
I send 'Skull-faced Ladybug' from the deck to the graveyard."
He sent the card searched from the deck to the graveyard. However, the graveyard area of the Duel Disc quickly burst with a golden glow, and the phantom of a ladybug with a skull pattern appeared behind him,
"Effect of 'Skull-faced Ladybug,' gain 1000 Life Points when sent to the graveyard!"
[Beetle Knight, LP 400→LP 1400]
After recovering a bit of health, the Beetle Knight immediately gathered his motivation, ordering hurriedly: "Battle! Use 'Demon Shovel Worm' to attack 'Abyss Soldiers'!"
Quickly send those abyss soldiers to the Underworld!
"Activate Cover Card, Trap Card 'Dimensional Confinement.'" Yugen calmly flipped a card from the back row, "When a monster declares an attack, that monster is banished from the game."
The void shattered, dimensions cracked. The Demon Shovel Worm seemed to charge too fiercely to stop, headlong crashing into the other end of the dimension.
Beetle Knight: "Ahhh!!!"
Useless anger.JPG.
This time it's not even bouncing back, it went straight to the Other Dimension?
Can we even play cards properly anymore?
"Then the attack of the 'Thousand-year-old Scorpion!' Attack! Finish off that idiot..."
This time there was no obstruction, and the attack of the Thousand-year-old Scorpion went through smoothly. The Abyss Soldiers were cut into two by the large pincer at their waist.
[Yugen, LP 4000→LP 3800]
Painless, barely a scratch.
The attack couldn't completely succeed, and one Abyss Soldier still remained on the opponent's field.
"Such an annoying thing... However, the 'Thousand-year-old Scorpion' gains 500 Attack Points when it destroys a monster in battle.
I'll cover two cards on the field, and end the turn!"
[Thousand-year-old Scorpion, Attack Power 2000→Attack Power 2500]
The Beetle Knight took a deep breath.
On the surface, next turn, the abyss soldiers will bounce away his Thousand-year-old Scorpion, and it'll be a direct attack to end it. The circumstances are overwhelmingly against him.
However...
The Beetle Knight cast a sidelong glance at the two cover cards in the back row.
He still has a fighting chance!