Because of the rule-bent effect not written in the card text, a winding and complex labyrinth now lay before Aisha and Kevin.
"So what if the environment has been turned into a labyrinth?"
Kevin, clearly having never seen such a blatant rule-bending 'high-end' operation, didn't fully react for a moment, not even realizing he had been fooled.
"You can't ask that kind of question, Kevin. If you ask, doesn't that mean you're acknowledging their rule-bending!"
You Ling was just about to remind him, but it was already too late.
"Well asked!"
The Paradox Brothers , seizing Kevin's momentary psychological opening, had already begun to forcibly explain the effect.
"Because of the labyrinth's existence, monsters summoned by both sides must first enter the labyrinth and meet before they can battle. And if you want to attack the player directly, you must first completely clear the labyrinth."
Compared to a simple Duel Monster card game, dueling in a labyrinth added a few elements of a dungeon RPG.
All battles unfold in a labyrinth with unknown terrain.
"I end my first turn."
After rule-bending the activation of [Labyrinth Wall] , the Paradox Brothers, unable to perform additional summons, put down their hand cards and ended their turn.
The rules of a Tag Duel: both Duelists on a team share 4000 Life Points, and turns proceed alternately.
After the bald man with the character 「Mi] (Lost) on his head ended his turn, the light on the Dueling Arena in front of Aisha lit up.
That meant the order of this duel was Mí(Lost) → Aisha → Gōng(Maze) → Kevin, alternating in sequence.
"A duel in a labyrinth, huh? Alright... My turn, draw!"
Helplessly accepting the opponent's rule-bent rules, You Ling drew a card and began his turn.
Waiting for You Ling to draw a card, the Paradox Brothers continued to explain.
"To clear the labyrinth using Duel Monsters, monsters must be summoned in Attack Position. Monsters summoned in Defense Position cannot advance in the labyrinth."
Aisha: "What should we do, Mr. You Ling? We must be in Attack Position to advance in the labyrinth, doesn't that mean our most commonly used defensive tactic is completely countered!"
If it were You Ling's usual duel, whether going first or second, the opening first turn would basically be one horizontal set, one back row set, directly ending the turn, taking no more than three seconds.
Of course, even in a labyrinth duel, You Ling could choose to play passively. Place a defensive monster at the entrance of his own labyrinth, do nothing, and just wait for the opponent to slowly fight their way over.
Just You Ling doing this wouldn't be a problem, but with Kevin's personality, he would absolutely not use such a passive playstyle.
In a Tag Duel, cooperating with one's teammate's dueling style, mutually assisting and fighting together, makes it easier to achieve victory.
So You Ling made a bold decision.
Even if it's a trash monster, it doesn't matter; summon it in Attack Position, and then resolutely advance into the labyrinth!
Immediately displaying his resolve, You Ling controlled Aisha's slender fingers to turn the card and coolly slapped it onto the tabletop of the Dueling Arena.
"I summon in Attack Position——Yoyo !"
[Yoyo ★ LIGHT][Angel-Type ATK: 300 DEF: 100]
The tofu block bravely entering the labyrinth; Yoyo, scaled down proportionally in size, flapped its angel wings that resembled small ears and materialized at the entrance of the Dueling Arena labyrinth.
"As long as it's summoned in Attack Position, it can advance in the labyrinth, right? Then dash forward, Yoyo!"
The Paradox Brothers added a rule: "The number of steps a monster can advance in the labyrinth is determined by its Level. Each star Level represents the maximum number of steps a monster can advance within one turn."
"Ah-leh?" You Ling, his pupils empty, blinked his eyes, "Level represents steps..."
You Ling, having already ordered Yoyo to dash into the labyrinth, now had an expression as awkward as Yoyo's.
You Ling's imposing and determined first dash ultimately advanced by, one step.
Yoyo, floating in the labyrinth, flapped its small angel wings, flew from in front of the labyrinth entrance to behind the labyrinth's gate, and then stopped moving directly.
"Level represents the number of steps it can advance, then using Yoyo, how long will it take to clear the labyrinth!"
One step per turn; visually estimating the area of the entire arena labyrinth, without taking wrong turns, it would require at least 50 squares, 50 steps, to reach the exit.
Only using 1-star monsters to clear the labyrinth, by that time, You Ling's deck would probably be empty.
"I set one card, turn end."
Setting a hand card onto the arena tabletop, You Ling ended his very embarrassing first round of clearing.
But not going in deep wasn't entirely a bad thing.
At least Yoyo's current position was still in front of You Ling's labyrinth gate, very safe.
Even in Attack Position, if the opponent wanted to counterattack, that long distance would be very difficult to cross in one go.
"My turn, draw!"
Turn exchanged; the bald man with the character 「Gong」 (Maze) on his forehead drew a hand card and began his turn.
"Activate Equip Magic Card——[Labyrinth Change]!"
Directly slapping the Equip Magic Card onto the Dueling Arena tabletop.
"After equipping this [Labyrinth Change] to [Labyrinth Wall], I can Special Summon [Wall Shadow] from the deck!"
[Wall Shadow ★★★★★★★ (7-Star) DARK][Warrior-Type/Effect ATK: 1600 DEF: 3000]
[Can only be Special Summoned by the effect of "Labyrinth Change"]
A black shadow that flashed across the battlefield, in the blink of You Ling's eye, had already dived into the labyrinth's walls.
"Although it's not written on the card, [Wall Shadow], possessing the ability to move freely on [Labyrinth Wall], can appear at any location within the labyrinth and attack monsters inside the labyrinth."
The black shadow rapidly shuttled through the labyrinth walls, and the next second, it was already beside Yoyo at the entrance of You Ling's labyrinth.
An ugly figure accompanied by terrifying sharp claws suddenly stretched out from the wall; with a swift strike, the -_- tofu block floating at the labyrinth entrance was instantly chopped into eight pieces.
[Yoyo] destroyed
You Ling & Kevin LP: 4000→2700 (Note: Damage should be 1300: Wall Shadow ATK 1600 - Yoyo DEF 100 if Yoyo was in DEF, or Wall Shadow ATK 1600 - Yoyo ATK 300 if Yoyo was in ATK as summoned. The LP drop reflects 1300 damage, suggesting Yoyo was in ATK).
"Turn end!"
Being tricked by this rule-bending that directly crossed the entire labyrinth, making his hard-earned one step taken in vain, You Ling was furious.
"If you guys rule-bend again, I'll stuff your bald heads into each other's chrysanthemums!"
The Paradox Brothers, hearing the harsh words from the seemingly powerless white-haired girl before them, tacitly tilted their heads back and laughed simultaneously.
"Hmph hmph hahaha. Felt the strength of us Paradox Brothers? Little girl, don't be scared when I tell you. We brothers, back in the day, were the strongest combination that pushed two Duel Kings to their limits!"
"Duel King, never heard of it."
In Kevin's understanding, the Elf Continent did not have the title 「Duel King」.
"King or whatever doesn't matter! Growing together with my rival, becoming the strongest who reigns over this academy. At that time, I shall be King!"
Throwing a card onto the tabletop, Kevin, able to fight alongside You Ling, his fighting spirit was higher than ever before.
"Leave the task of breaking through the labyrinth by Level to me, Aisha Carlos, you assist me! Using the effect of Magic Card [Ancient Rules] , Special Summon!"
"——Red-Eyes Black Dragon !!"