Chapter 59: Flipping the Table is Both an Art and a Technique
"Although it's just a Small Fry Monster with only 900 ATK, you want to use it as a Tribute to Summon a higher-Level Monster, right? Don't even think about succeeding!" Weevil said triumphantly as he Activated his Set Card. "[Treacherous Trap Hole]! Although it has the Stakes of not being able to Activate if there's a Trap in the Graveyard, I can Destroy two Monsters on the Field at once!"
"Go to the Graveyard along with my Set Card!"
The lightning on Poison Scorpion [Death Stalker] hadn't completely Dispersed yet. The moment its foot touched its Card, a massive pit suddenly appeared on the ground. Both [Death Stalker] and the Card Weevil had Set fell into it. Weevil's Monster also revealed its True Form at this moment; it was a green Locust.
[Substitute Beetle][Level 4/EARTH][Insect Type/Effect][1000/1200]
"It's not over yet! The Card sent to my Graveyard was [Substitute Beetle]. When it's sent from my Field to the Graveyard, I can Special Summon an Insect Type Monster directly from my Hand!" Weevil showed a triumphant smile. "Witness my invincible Combo! Come forth, [Horned Beetle]!"
The horn on its head flashed with sharp, dazzling lightning. A giant beetle crawled out from where [Substitute Beetle] was swallowed, staring menacingly at Hayato's empty Field.
[Horned Beetle][Level 6/EARTH][Insect Type/Effect][2400/600]
"My Insect army is endless! Let my adorable bugs devour you bit by bit, Hayato!" Weevil's face was contorted with malice, but limited by his age, Marik, the ancestor of Face Art, would rate it 0 points. To Hayato, it held no intimidation, only making him look more repulsive.
The surrounding Duelists also marveled at the Combo Weevil had shown:
"He solved the opponent's Summoned Monster with just one Card and even upgraded his own Monster on the Field. Is this the Strength of a National Champion?"
"I've seen that [Horned Beetle]. Not only does it have a super high ATK of 2400, but it also has an Effect that pierces Defense. Even Summoning a Monster in Defense Position won't stall for time."
Hayato didn't pay attention to the audience's thoughts. Seeing Weevil blow up his cannon fodder ([Death Stalker]: Didn't we agree I was Tamashii?) and Special Summon a Level 6 Monster, he raised an eyebrow. "You adapted to the new Rules and came up with this Combo so quickly? Although you're scum, you do have some skill."
"However, my Combo is above yours! Activate Spell Card [Will]!"
As Hayato played a Card from his Hand, a small mound of earth rose from the ground where [Death Stalker] had been swallowed by the [Treacherous Trap Hole]. [Death Stalker]'s arm stretched out from the ground, clutching a Note that read "Will".
"This can only be Activated when a Monster on my Field is Destroyed and sent to my Graveyard this Turn. I can Special Summon a Monster from my Deck again, but its ATK is limited to 1500 or less."
"Hahaha, useless, useless! What use could a Monster with 1500 ATK or less possibly be? In front of my invincible [Horned Beetle], no matter how many Small Fry come, it's useless. They don't even have the right to block!"
Hayato smiled dismissively. "Not only that, I can tell you that the Monster I'm Summoning actually has less than 100 ATK. It has 0 ATK."
"But this Monster with 0 ATK will break through your [Horned Beetle]!"
Finding the Card he wanted from his Deck, shuffling it, Hayato slammed the Card, along with the Monster on it holding its own hand, onto the Duel Platform with force. "The prankster master with the most disgusting Power in the world, come forth, [Ojama Yellow]!"
"Eeyah! Here I am, 'nye~"
The yellow Monster wiggled its butt and appeared on Hayato's Field, in Attack Position despite having 0 ATK.
[Ojama Yellow][Level 2/LIGHT][Beast-Type/Normal][0/1000]
"Hehehe, as expected, when Big Brother runs into trouble, he thinks of me in the end, 'nye~ There's just no helping you~" [Ojama Yellow]'s eyes bounced up and down as it nodded, seemingly quite satisfied with being the second one to appear.
But when it saw the [Horned Beetle] on Weevil's Field, it immediately exposed its cowardly nature, falling onto its butt in fright and continuously shrinking back. [Horned Beetle]'s gaze remained fixed on the retreating [Ojama Yellow], seemingly eager to pierce its Body with its huge, sharp, siege-engine-like horn.
"You actually Summoned that kind of Small Fry? Is it already too scared to move by my powerful [Horned Beetle]?" Weevil laughed loudly. "What can that kind of Small Fry even do?"
"[Ojama] Monsters are indeed Small Fry, but Small Fry are much stronger than despicable people like you. [Ojama Yellow] is just 0, but guys like you are simply negative numbers." Hayato paused, picking a Card from his Hand. "According to the Special Rules of the Duelist Kingdom, Monsters have Terrains suitable for them."
"The [Forest] Terrain on your Field can strengthen Insect, Beast, Plant, and Beast-Warrior Type Monsters by 200 ATK and Defense."
[Horned Beetle][ATK 2400 → 2600]
"The environment on my Field is [Grassland]. The boost applies to Warrior Type and Beast-Warrior Type Monsters."
Weevil had learned about the Duelist Kingdom's Rules from Pegasus before, so he wasn't surprised by the change in the Monsters' ATK on the Field. He just felt a sense of unease. "Your Monster, [Ojama Yellow], is a Beast-Type Monster; it won't be strengthened by the Terrain. Why are you emphasizing the Terrain Rules now?!"
"Terrain Rules can increase or decrease the gap between Monsters. But, since the current Terrain doesn't benefit me much, I'll just remodel it! Activate Spell Card, [Planet Pathfinder]!" As Hayato played a Card from his Hand, a semi-circular barrier appeared in the center of the Field and began to spread outwards.
As the barrier expanded, the [Forest] and [Grassland] that had each occupied half the Field vanished into nothingness. The [Horned Beetle] on Weevil's Field had its ATK return to its original 2400 points.
"[Planet Pathfinder]'s Effect is to add a Field Spell from my Deck to my Hand, and I will Activate the Field Spell that was just added to my Hand." Retrieving another Card from his Deck, Hayato played this Field Spell directly onto a newly added Special Zone on the Duel Platform.
"Heroes have stages to fight on, and Small Fry also have streets they are familiar with. Field Spell, [Ojama Country]!"