Chapter 79: The maze is all yours! 2 chapters in 1
[Red-Eyes Black Dragon ★★★★★★ (7-Star) DARK][Dragon-Type ATK: 2400 DEF: ] (Note: DEF is missing in source)
The black dragon, descending with flapping wings at the top of the labyrinth, roared and raised its head proudly, just like Kevin's own pride.
"Kevin, you said to let me assist you?"
You Ling, who always played the main carry when gaming, when had he ever played support for others?
Although, according to the current rules of the labyrinth, Kevin, who possessed higher-level monsters, was indeed the best candidate to clear the labyrinth.
But You Ling, having been rule-bent twice in a row, no longer planned to accommodate the Paradox Brothers .
Even if the opponent was a rule-bending master, he too had his own way of fighting.
The Paradox Brothers still shamelessly reminded: "Even flying monsters must obediently navigate the labyrinth, otherwise it cannot be considered as clearing completed."
"Hmph, before entering the labyrinth, first use the black dragon's flames to burn that despicable one at the entrance to ashes!"
The target Kevin referred to was naturally the Labyrinth Shadow that ambushed Aisha at the labyrinth entrance and could freely pass through the labyrinth walls.
"Erupt!——Inferno Fire Blast!"
The black flames condensed in Red-Eyes Black Dragon's terrifying maw shot violently towards the shadow at the labyrinth entrance, the scorching high temperature radiating throughout the entire underground space.
"Oh oh oh, is that Kevin Set's ace monster? It looks a bit like his older brother's."
Nia, being a high-star connoisseur, although only interested in high-level monsters, rarely smelled the potential for evolution into a high-star from a 7-star monster like Red-Eyes Black Dragon.
The black dragon's flames dissipated; the Wall Shadow lurking at the labyrinth entrance had indeed, as expected, disappeared without a trace.
"Succeeded." Kevin smiled smugly: "A monster of that level is no match for the black dragon..."
"Hahahahaha, idiot!"
The Paradox Brothers' arrogant, wild laughter completely suppressed Kevin's smugness.
"Wall Shadow and Labyrinth Wall are one and the same. To destroy it, the attack power must exceed Labyrinth Wall's 3000 defense points."
"Conversely, forcibly attacking Labyrinth Shadow is equivalent to clashing head-on with Labyrinth Wall, you will suffer backlash damage from its defense power!"
Aisha & Kevin LP: 2700→2100
"Damn it!"
Wall Shadow dodged the attack, and instead, their side's Life Points suffered damage; Kevin's annoyed mood also flickered across his brow.
As for the current You Ling , he was undoubtedly... furious!
You Ling, having played cards for so long, had never been this angry; even on Aisha's white short-haired little head, a ╬ mark representing anger popped out.
"Three strikes and you're out, Paradox Brothers, since you fight this way. Then don't blame me!"
Aisha: "Are we also going to fight using rule-bending, Mr. You Ling?"
"No, as a Duelist, one must always believe in one's own battle." You Ling turned to look beside him, "Kevin!"
"What is it, Aisha Carlos?"
"Don't enter the labyrinth."
"Why? If we don't enter the labyrinth, how can we attack the opponent's Duelist?"
Red-Eyes Black Dragon's Level is 7, equivalent to being able to move 7 steps in one turn; giving up 1 turn's action opportunity was undoubtedly a very huge waste.
You Ling replied seriously: "The labyrinth is their home field; if we enter the labyrinth, it's equivalent to falling into a passive situation. The labyrinth must be cleared, of course, but the method of clearing it will be our own way!"
"Our own way?"
Kevin and You Ling exchanged a glance; the girl's emerald-like clear eyes looked like a completely different person during duels compared to daily life.
The gaze during a duel, incomparably firm and reliable, made even Kevin involuntarily choose to trust.
"Alright, as an opponent I must defeat. Since I acknowledge you, I will trust your decisions in a duel, Aisha Carlos."
Slender fingers drew a card; Kevin slapped it onto the back row area of the Dueling Arena tabletop.
"I set one card, turn end!"
A full round of turns exchanged; the action right in the Tag Duel returned to the hands of the bald man with the 「Mi (Lost) character first.
"Hahahaha, don't even dare to enter the labyrinth? Then we'll take the initiative to attack. My turn, draw!"
After drawing a card, the Paradox Brothers slammed a Magic Card symbolizing destruction onto the arena tabletop.
"——Activate Magic Card [Tribute to The Doomed] (Beckoning to the Dead)!"
[Tribute to The Doomed Magic Card Effect: Discard 1 card from your hand to target 1 monster on the field; destroy that target.]
"After I discard one hand card, directly destroy the Red-Eyes Black Dragon on your field!"
A result completely as You Ling expected; even if Kevin ordered Red-Eyes Black Dragon into the labyrinth, it would be difficult to avoid the fate of being destroyed.
Countless withered hands wrapped in bandages stretched out from the dark ground, dragging Red-Eyes Black Dragon into the Graveyard.
[Red-Eyes Black Dragon] destroyed
You Ling waved his hand: "Now is the time, activate Trap Card——[Soul Rope] !"
The moment Red-Eyes Black Dragon was destroyed by the Magic Card, You Ling flipped over the Trap Card set last turn, inheriting the Black Dragon's will.
[Soul Rope Trap Card Effect: When a monster you control is destroyed by a card effect and sent to the Graveyard: Pay 1000 LP; Special Summon 1 Level 4 monster from your Deck.]
Aisha & Kevin LP: 2100→1100
Life Points continued to decrease, but this was also a sacrifice You Ling had to pay to break through the labyrinth.
"I Special Summon from the deck in Defense Position——[Queen's Knight] !"
[Queen's Knight ★★★★ LIGHT][Warrior-Type ATK: 1500 DEF: 1600]
The Queen Knight, holding a red clubs shield, was Special Summoned from the deck through the effect of [Soul Rope] after Red-Eyes Black Dragon was destroyed.
"Queen's Knight's defense power is 1600 points, equal to [Wall Shadow]'s 1600 attack points, it won't be broken through!"
As long as Queen's Knight is protected, and King's Knight is drawn, You Ling can gather the three Poker Knights on the field.
"1600 defense points? Too naive! Activate Equip Magic Card——[Axe of Despair]!"
[Axe of Despair Equip Magic Card Effect: The equipped monster gains 1000 ATK.]
A simple and crude Equip Magic Card, directly providing a high boost of 1000 attack points, causing Wall Shadow, wielding a giant axe, to have its attack power directly rise to 2600 points.
"Destroy [Queen's Knight], Wall Shadow!"
Wall Shadow extended its slender, ugly figure from the wall at the labyrinth entrance, wielding the Axe of Despair and hacking towards Queen's Knight.
The girl's brow furrowed slightly.
Given the opponent's shameless level of rule-bending, that monsters outside the labyrinth would also be attacked by Wall Shadow, You Ling could guess that.
But the 1000 attack point boost from Axe of Despair, far exceeding Queen's Knight's defense power, was beyond You Ling's expectations.
If Queen's Knight was destroyed, wanting to gather the three Poker Knights later, although not impossible, would definitely be very troublesome.
"Leave this to me, Aisha Carlos!"
At the critical moment, Kevin slammed his palm on the tabletop angrily and stood up.
"2600 attack points, huh? Just right!——Activate Trap Card [Draining Shield] ( Absorption Shield)!"
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[Draining Shield Trap Card Effect: When an opponent's monster declares an attack: Target 1 attacking monster; negate that attack, and if you do, you gain LP equal to that monster's ATK.]
Materializing from the Trap Card Kevin flipped over, a shield that absorbs impact instantly deployed in front of Queen's Knight .
"Using Draining Shield's effect, negate Wall Shadow's attack, then restore our Life Points!"
Aisha & Kevin LP: 1100→3700
Life Points greatly increased. The C-rank Trap Card Kevin flipped over in the nick of time turned the Paradox Brothers' rather threatening attack into a super recovery for their side.
"Kevin!" You Ling looked excitedly at the reliable figure beside him.
"Hmph, in the end, it's actually me assisting you. But now that I'm here, you can charge ahead without worry, Aisha Carlos!"
You Ling, experiencing a Tag Duel for the first time, felt it deeply.
What could be more reassuring than a reliable teammate?
"Well done, as expected of my destined rival, Kevin."
"!!!"
Receiving recognition from You Ling for the first time made even Kevin pause for a moment.
"Tch, blocked the attack. Then I set 1 card, turn end."
"My turn!"
Finally, it was You Ling's turn again.
Feeling the bond from his comrade fighting side by side, You Ling (游綾 - Note: Typo in source) knew deeply that this draw would also definitely respond to their expectations.
"My turn, draw!"
The card drawn, a knight clad in golden armor.
"It's here! I summon [King's Knight] in Attack Position, and then when [Queen's Knight] is on the field, I can Special Summon [Jack's Knight] from the deck."
[King's Knight ATK: 1600]
[Jack's Knight ATK: 1900]
Through Kevin's defensive assistance last turn, the three Poker Knights were smoothly assembled on You Ling's field.
"Next, is our own way of clearing the labyrinth!"
After the three Poker Knights gathered, You Ling forcefully slammed the most crucial card in his hand onto the tabletop.
"——Activate Magic Card [Polymerization]! Fuse the three Poker Knights on the field!"
The spiral fusion effect appearing above the labyrinth sucked the three knights, standing side by side with swords held high, into it.
Undoubtedly, this was the strongest knight fusion You Ling could currently achieve.
"Is it coming, is it coming!"
Through Nia's smooth, wheat-colored cheeks, one could clearly observe the flush of excitement from hitting her XP.
"The fusion to break through the labyrinth! To the highest position reaching the heavens, reign with the strongest posture! Fusion Summon——[Arcana Knight Joker] !"
[Arcana Knight Joker ★★★★★★★★★ (9-Star) LIGHT]
[Warrior-Type/Fusion/Effect ATK: 3800 DEF: 2500]
["Queen's Knight" + "Jack's Knight" + "King's Knight"]
Arcana Knight Joker, clad in pitch-black armor and wielding a sacred longsword, representing the strongest existence of Joker among playing cards, slowly descended with shining brilliance in front of the arena labyrinth.
"A Level 9 Fusion Monster?"
Eyes slightly stunned, a few drops of cold sweat trickled down the back of the Paradox Brothers' perfectly bald heads due to Arcana Knight Joker's oppressive aura.
But they quickly regained their composure.
"So that's it, trying to use such a high-level monster to quickly break through the labyrinth. Indeed, a 9-star monster can advance 9 steps in one turn."
"Advance 9 steps? Did you misunderstand something?"
You Ling lightly raised the girl's head, looking down at the winding labyrinth rule-bent by the two before him with an extremely disdainful angle.
"Who told you I was going to enter the labyrinth? Open your eyes wide and look carefully at Arcana Knight Joker's attack power!"
[Arcana Knight Joker ATK: 3800]
A staggering 3800 points, far exceeding Blue-Eyes White Dragon's attack power, proof of the strongest knight.
"And then look at your [Labyrinth Wall] 's defense power!"
[Labyrinth Wall DEF: 3000]
3000 defense points, comparable to Blue-Eyes White Dragon's attack power, clearly not low.
But before Arcana Knight Joker, it was completely insufficient.
"Do you think I still need to specifically walk into the labyrinth?"
You Ling, smiling with an arrogance and confidence from Aisha's lips that no one could imitate, not even Aisha herself.
"Masaka , could it be you intend to?"
The Paradox Brothers, simultaneously thrown into a panic, realizing what might happen next, cold sweat poured down their bald heads like rain.
"Battle, Arcana Knight Joker."
Declaring the start of this turn's Battle Phase, You Ling used his hand as a sword, pointing towards the target.
"The attack target is the labyrinth on the opponent's field!"
Receiving You Ling's attack command, Arcana Knight Joker stepped on air, directly leaping to the very top of the arena labyrinth.
At the same time, the sacred longsword held high above his head, its blade gathered the brilliant destructive power of the ace Joker.
"Go!——『Brilliant Earth-Splitting Slash』 !"
A sword slash capable of pulverizing even the earth descended from the sky.
[Labyrinth Wall] destroyed
[Wall Shadow] destroyed
The shattering effect erupted in the Dueling Arena; the shaking, even more violent than when the labyrinth was born, caused this duel occurring in the underground space to even affect Fusion Academy above.
"Ah, the test tube shattered!"
Yilin, who was helping the magic society concoct transformation potions, dropped her equipment due to the tremor.
"Earthquake? How could there be an earthquake at such a critical moment, isn't this just sabotaging me!"
Arcana Knight Joker's grand attack effect dissipated; the entire Dueling Arena was left with only fragmented rubble.
"Hehe, my clearing is complete."
Clearing the labyrinth in a physical sense. As long as the labyrinth doesn't exist on the field, it also counts as clearing completed.
You Ling's way of dueling; even if the opponent rule-bends, he wouldn't stoop to their level, but persist in his own playstyle.
Dueling by rule-bending the labyrinth, right?
I'll even demolish the labyrinth for you, try rule-bending again!
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asking for powerstones !!!!!!!