Chapter 61: This Wave, This Wave Weevil is Standing on the Fourth Layer
"Take this, Hayato Kobayashi! Skull-Mark Ladybug attacks that Ojama Yellow, Death Pounce!"
Having finished devouring Prickle Fairy, Skull-Mark Ladybug turned its head towards Ojama Yellow under its terrified gaze. The wings hidden beneath its shell opened, and it flew up, pouncing towards the inescapable Ojama Yellow.
"Help me, Aniki~"
Hearing Ojama Yellow's cry for help, Hayato responded, "The moment you declared an attack on my Ojama Yellow, I activate my Set Card on the Field, Mystik Wok!"
"Haha, Aniki really will help me, now it's my turn to counterattack!" Seeing Skull-Mark Ladybug stop its Attack, Ojama Yellow couldn't help but boast somewhat smugly, turning its head to look at Hayato's Set Card that appeared behind it. "Huh? Why does this Card look so familiar... Wait! Mystik Wok!?"
With a clang, Ojama Yellow saw a giant wok appear not far away, with a fire burning beneath it. The pot seemed to have endless suction, and Ojama Yellow was directly swallowed into it without even a final word. After the wok was stirred a few times, a dish that looked somewhat bizarre was served.
[Hayato: 4000 LP → 5000 LP]
[Skull-Mark Ladybug: ATK 1500 → 500] [DEF 500 → 1500]
"You dodged my Attack? A boring move. Don't forget my Skull-Mark Ladybug can Attack twice. Take this 1000 points—"
"Before that, I have another Card to Activate." Hayato flipped another Set Card. "Trap Card Soul Resurrection, I can Special Summon one Normal Monster from my Graveyard in Defense Position. Return from the darkness of the Graveyard, Death Stalker!"
The scorpion warrior crawled back onto the Field from the Graveyard, looking somewhat confused, because it remembered being thoroughly dead before, even having its final words ready. How did it revive?
[Death Stalker: DEF 800]
Because Ojama Yellow was sent to the Graveyard, Ojama Country was no longer in Effect, and Skull-Mark Ladybug's ATK returned to 500 points. If it continued to Attack Hayato, the only Attack target would be Death Stalker. However, Death Stalker's Defense (DEF) of 800 was higher than 500. Weevil reluctantly Set a Card from his Hand.
"Tch, you got away again. I Set one Card, End Turn!"
[Weevil: 3600 LP, Hand 1 → 6 → 2]
[Skull-Mark Ladybug: ATK 500]
[Set Card] [Set Card] [Set Card]
"My Turn, Draw a Card."
[Hayato: 5000 LP, Hand 6 → 7]
Looking at the Skull-Mark Ladybug in Attack Position on Weevil's Field, Hayato calculated for a moment, then Summoned the Monster he had just drawn. "Normal Summon Celtic Guardian, then change the Defense Position Death Stalker to Attack Position."
The handsome Celtic Guardian made an elegant entrance, showing off with a flourish of its sword, while Death Stalker, which had been crouching nearby in Defense Position, stood up and rubbed its claws together. Its Tail Stinger swayed behind it, ready to Attack at any moment.
'It's Celtic Guardian with 1400 ATK? Tch.' Weevil clicked his tongue in annoyance. Among his three Set Cards, one was Bottomless Trap Hole, which could be Activated when a Monster with 1500 or more ATK was Normal Summoned, Flip Summoned, or Special Summoned. Those Monsters would be Destroyed all at once and Banish from Play.
After Weevil won the National Duel Monsters Selection Tournament Champion and received a Prize Money of three million, he spent more than half of it on various powerful Cards to strengthen his Deck. Among the powerful Cards he purchased, this Bottomless Trap Hole was also among the strongest and most expensive.
"Oh dear, it's a Monster with 1400 ATK. If this Attack goes through, my Life Points will drop again." While saying this feigning concern, Weevil actually wished Hayato would quickly Attack the Skull-Mark Ladybug on his Field.
'I also have Light of the Desert in my Spell/Trap Zone, which can change my Skull-Mark Ladybug on the Field to Defense Position. Combined with another Equipped Chain Shield, Skull-Mark Ladybug's Defense (DEF) will soar to a full 2500 points!'
'Come on, Hayato Kobayashi, quickly Attack the Monster on my Field!'
Perhaps Weevil's heartfelt wish really started to work, because under his unusually excited gaze, Hayato indeed gave the Attack command: "A Monster with a mere 500 ATK, Death Stalker, Attack Skull-Mark Ladybug!"
"Chaa!" Death Stalker leaped high. Since scorpions are not Insects, it had no psychological burden about killing a ladybug immediately.
Weevil, however, suddenly burst into laughter: "Hahaha, you fell for it, Hayato!"
"You used Small Fry to break Horned Beetle, that's the first layer; I used Ojama Country to Summon Skull-Mark Ladybug, that's the second layer; sacrificing Small Fry to recover Life Points, then Summoning a Monster with higher Defense, you're the third layer." He then flipped over two Set Cards on his Field. "But, I'm always one step ahead of you in my calculations, because I'm standing on the fourth layer!"
"Light of the Desert Activate! All Monsters on my Field will change to Face-up Defense Position because of this. Then, immediately after Light of the Desert is Activated, Equipped Chain Shield is Activated and will become an Equip Card, equipping onto Skull-Mark Ladybug!"
A gust of wind suddenly swept across Weevil's Field, stirring up countless sand and stones from Ojama Country, obscuring the sky and sun so much that things were almost invisible, causing Death Stalker's Attack to pause. By the time the sand settled and the sunlight shone on Weevil's Field again, the Skull-Mark Ladybug had changed to a Defense Position stance, and at the same time, it had an additional Shield engraved with a unicorn pattern on its body.
The Shield not only looked shiny and incredibly sturdy, but a sharp horn extended from the center of the unicorn's head. Behind the Shield, a long chain was wrapped and fixed onto Skull-Mark Ladybug, instantly making the seemingly weak Insect look formidable.
"Skull-Mark Ladybug's ATK will increase by 500 points due to Equipped Chain Shield's Effect. Then, when Skull-Mark Ladybug is attacked while in Defense Position, its Defense (DEF) will increase by its ATK value." Weevil couldn't help but reveal a smug smile.
"A temporary lead in Life Points is nothing. Battle with 900 ATK against 2500 Defense (DEF), take this 1600 points of Difference Damage!"
"Hayato Kobayashi!"
(End of Chapter)