"Activate the effect of Swordsoul Grandmaster – Chixiao, and chain the effect of Swordsoul of Taia!"
"First is Taia's effect."
Yusaku declared loudly:
"When this card is sent to the GY as Synchro Material, I can send 1 'Swordsoul' card or 1 Wyrm monster from my Deck to the GY. I send Swordsoul Auspice Chunjun from my Deck to the GY."
After the card hit the graveyard, he continued:
"Next, Chixiao's effect. When this card is Synchro Summoned: I can add 1 'Swordsoul' card from my Deck to my hand, or banish it.
I add Swordsoul Sacred Summit from my Deck to my hand."
"And next, I use this effect."
Yusaku revealed a card from his hand.
"Effect of Bystial Magnamhut: I can send this card from my hand to the GY, then add 1 other 'Bystial' monster from my Deck to my hand.
I send this card and add Bystial Druiswurm from my Deck!"
Once retrieved, Yusaku immediately slammed another card onto the Duel Disk.
"I activate the effect of Bystial Druiswurm. By banishing the DARK monster Fallen of the White Dragon in my GY, I Special Summon this card from my hand!"
"Come forth—Bystial Druiswurm!"
[Bystial Druiswurm]
[Level 6 / Dragon / Effect]
[ATK 2500]
"I activate Druiswurm's effect! If this card is Special Summoned: During the End Phase, I can add 1 Dragon monster from my Deck or GY to my hand."
"And now I activate the GY effect of Bystial Magnamhut. Once per turn, if I Tribute 1 Level 6 or higher DARK Dragon on my field, I can Special Summon this card from my hand or GY.
I Tribute Druiswurm to Special Summon Bystial Magnamhut!"
[Bystial Magnamhut]
[Level 8 / Dragon / Effect]
[ATK 2500]
"The effect of Magnamhut activates. During my Main Phase: I can place 1 'Branded' Continuous Spell or Trap from my Deck face-up onto my field!"
A card slid out from the top of the Duel Disk.
Yusaku lifted it and slapped it down.
"I place Branded in Central Dogmatika from my Deck face-up on my field!"
A tall Continuous Spell flared into existence behind him.
"Finally, I Set two cards and end my turn."
"End Phase."
Yusaku raised his head.
"Ecclesia of the Black Dragon, banished earlier, now returns to the field!"
[Ecclesia of the Black Dragon]
[ATK 2500]
"And by Druiswurm's effect, I add Bystial Druiswurm from my Deck to my hand."
He added it, then continued:
"And lastly, the effect of Incredible Ecclesia, the Virtuous in the GY: If a Fusion Monster was sent to my GY this turn, I can add this card from my GY to my hand.
Since I sent Mirrorjade earlier, I return Ecclesia to my hand."
Then Yusaku looked at Genichiro.
"All my effects have resolved. Your turn."
Genichiro swept his gaze across Yusaku's field. Seeing only three monsters, his lips curled with contempt.
"You spent all that time and didn't even put up a monster with more than 3000 ATK. This board is weaker than the one Asahi Dojo made when I fought them yesterday."
Yusaku smiled. "You'll know whether it's weak soon enough."
Off the field—
Kazetaro frowned slightly.
"Master… why don't I understand this board? Standard Swordsoul end-board is 8 + 8 + 10, right? But Yusaku only has Chixiao with a live effect, and one backrow—Swordsoul Sacred Summit. Doesn't look oppressive at all."
"No pressure?" Kouki folded his arms and laughed. "That's because you're only looking at the surface. This board is way more oppressive than a normal Swordsoul board."
"You don't see anything now because some effects require the opponent to trigger them."
Kouki looked up toward the stage.
"You know what Branded in Central Dogmatika does, right?"
Kazetaro thought for a moment.
"Uh… isn't that the card that lets you Synchro Summon using Dragon monsters?"
"That's the one."
"But… what's the point? All three of Yusaku's monsters are Level 8. How's he going to Synchro anything?"
"You forgot the card he added in the End Phase—Druiswurm. And you do know how Bystials work, don't you?"
Kouki adjusted his glasses.
"The moment Druiswurm activates its effect, the GY effect of Swordsoul Auspice Chunjun will also trigger. Think where this leads."
Genichiro blinked in surprise.
Then his eyes widened.
"You mean—an Accel Syn—"
"Shh." Kouki raised a finger. "We know. That's enough. Just watch. The opponent is about to have a very bad time."
"Kekekeke… I see…" Kazetaro snickered creepily.
He could already imagine Genichiro's board melting into ashes.
On the field—
Genichiro surveyed Yusaku's monsters, then glanced at the facedown cards. After a moment's thought, he sneered:
"You've got three monsters. Magnamhut is basically a blank body. The other two—I don't know what they do, but it doesn't matter. My deck handles this easily."
"Now I'll show you how powerful my deck truly is!"
He slammed his hand on his Deck.
"My turn—draw!"
He added the card to his hand, scanned it, thought briefly, then pulled out a Spell.
"First, I activate Reinforcement of the Army—I add 1 Level 4 or lower Warrior from my Deck to my hand. I add Elemental HERO Stratos!"
"No wonder you didn't take first turn." Yusaku gave him a sideways glance. "You're running HERO. Going first and going second are completely different power levels for that deck."
"That's right." Genichiro crossed his arms proudly. "But too bad luck favors me. You went first. This time, I'll wash away the humiliation of losing to you!"
He then drew another card from his hand.
"I activate A Hero Lives!"
"Since I control no face-up monsters, I pay half my LP to Special Summon 1 Level 4 or lower 'Elemental HERO' from my Deck!"
A Hero Lives?
Yusaku let out a small clicking sound with his tongue.
If only he had Ash Blossom—
then this wouldn't be "A Hero Lives."
It would be—
"Ash Blossom Lives."
(End of Chapter)
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