"I activate the Continuous Spell Ancient Gear Castle!"
With a rumble, the classic medieval castle slowly rose behind Kambayashi Kaname, and Cronos, seeing this familiar card, could finally relax a bit.
"As long as this card is on the field, each time a Normal Summon is performed, place one counter on it. Also, while it's on the field, all Ancient Gear Monsters gain 300 ATK."
"I summon, in Attack Position, Ancient Gear Hunting Hound!"
Ancient Gear Hunting Hound ATK: 1000→1300
Kambayashi Kaname Normal Summoned the Mechanical Hound from his hand, letting it bite Tenjo Hikari once again.
Tenjo Hikari LP: 3400→2800.
2800.
Kambayashi Kaname looked at his hand, his brow furrowed.
The Mechanical Hound's ATK was 1300, so to decide the outcome this turn, he needed at least 1500 more ATK.
Next, then...
He glanced at his hand cards.
In his hand, he had two monsters and a "Double Summon"; the two monsters were Ancient Gear Tanker and Ancient Gear Wyvern, the former could Special Summon an Ancient Gear Monster from the hand ignoring conditions when summoned or Special Summoned, while the latter could add an Ancient Gear card from the Deck to the hand when summoned or Special Summoned.
But...
He looked at the three Set Cards of Tenjo Hikari.
During the Normal Summon of Hunting Hound, Tenjo Hikari hadn't reacted at all, hadn't even checked the card, so his set cards should still be the same ones, right?
Flame Swordsdance?
During Special Summon, it would Set the opponent's monster and Special Summon Flame Swordsman or Dark Flare Knight - that Trap Card, right!
"Hehehe, I activate the Spell Card, Double Summon. This turn, I can Normal Summon once more." Kambayashi Kaname laughed heartily, then revealed a card from his hand, "I Normal Summon, Ancient Gear Wyvern, and activate its effect to add Ancient Gear Tank from the Deck to the hand!"
During the turn this effect is activated, I cannot Set cards."
A mechanical wyvern full of gears landed before him.
Ancient Gear Wyvern, LV 4, Earth Attribute, Machine-Type, ATK 1700→2000.
Alright, plus the 600 ATK boost from the Equip Spell Ancient Gear Tank, this turn should definitely...
"Foolish." Just as he was calculating and secretly delighted, Manjome, one of the spectators, snorted softly, even shaking his head instinctively.
"Hey, Manjome, what do you mean?!" Shou couldn't help but ask.
"That senior Kambayashi fell for it." Mitsuzawa Daichi, next to them, also shook his head.
!??
Kambayashi Kaname paused his actions instinctively, hearing their discussion.
"Shou, you remember, right?" Mitsuzawa, acting like a teacher, saw Shou still couldn't grasp it and started explaining, "What is Tenjo's most commonly used Trap Card?"
"Of course it's... Flame Swordsdance, not only can it directly Fusion Summon monsters, but also Set a card, and even if destroyed, it can use the Set Monster on their own field to Special Summon Flame Swordsman, it's probably Tenjo-san's Soul Card?"
"Indeed, that combo of Fusion and hindrance represents some aspect of Tenjo Hikari's Fusion Trap mind." Manjome hugged his arms and nodded lightly, "Apparently, Kambayashi Kaname also thought of this, so... he summoned this monster without opting for Special Summon."
"He fell for it; Hikari probably hasn't set that card at all."
What!?
Kambayashi Kaname's eyes widened.
"Hikari placed Cyber Dragon and Chimeratech Fortress Dragon in his Deck, even returned Chimeratech Fortress Dragon to the Fusion Deck last turn, which means next turn Hikari wants to continue fusing the Machine-Type monsters on his field.
The Set monster on the opponent's field can't be Fusion Material." Caesar added.
"Then—" Shou glanced at Tenjo Hikari's Set cards.
Could it be!?...
"...Anyway, I activate the Spell Card Ancient Gear Tank, equipping it to Ancient Gear Wyvern. This increases its ATK to 2600!"
"Then, into the Battle Phase!"
He gritted his teeth; as long as he attacked, he would win—
"I've been waiting for this moment! I reveal the Set Card!" Tenjo Hikari's lips curled upward, and without withholding anything, he directly revealed the Set Card, "Gladiator Beast United!"
"Gladiator Beast!?" Kambayashi Kaname's expression drastically changed.
Gradually pale faces appeared behind him among academy representatives.
They knew about "Gladiator Beast"!
"What's going on, this Set Card is—"
"This card can be activated only once per turn. In the turn this card is activated, I negate any attack declaration from non-'Gladiator Beast' monsters. Though since it's activated during your turn, it actually doesn't matter.
It can be activated during the Battle Phase of your or my turn. Return the Fusion Material prescribed by the Fusion Monster from your hand, field, or Graveyard to their owner's Deck, and Special Summon one Fusion Monster from the Extra Deck ignoring conditions!"
"Could it be—" He looked at Tenjo Hikari's hand cards, instinctively expressing fear.
"Exactly!" Tenjo Hikari waved a bold hand, "I return Gladiator Beast Bestiari and Gladiator Beast Andal from my hand to the Deck! Special Summon, Gladiator Beast Gyzarus!"
Fully armored, feathered helmet, a valiant and aggressive warrior appeared!
Gladiator Beast Gyzarus, LV 6, Dark Attribute, Winged Beast-Type, ATK 2400.
"D-Damn... Damn..." Kambayashi Kaname undoubtedly recognized this card and clearly understood what was happening, "Your hand only had two, thus—"
"Hehe... You finally understand. Activate the effect of Gyzarus. When this card is Special Summoned, it can destroy up to two cards on the field. I destroy your Ancient Gear Castle and the Set Card on my field—"
Bam!
The classical castle collapsed, and meanwhile, a card on Tenjo Hikari's field exploded suddenly, turning out to be a "Fusion Substitute"!
"What a blunder." Manjome shook his head.
Despite having Ancient Gear Wyvern, things turned out this way.
"Well, senior, with your mechanical castle destroyed, the ATK of monsters on your field will revert to the prior value." Tenjo Hikari waved broadly, "The 2300 ATK wyvern is no match for Gyzarus. And additionally, you cannot set cards this turn... though there's nothing left to set anyway."
"Now, it's my turn!"
Tenjo Hikari didn't show any courtesy towards Kambayashi Kaname, pulled a card from the Deck without delay, and without even looking: "I reveal the Set Card, Fusion Armament!"
"According to its effect, revealing the Fusion Monster Cyber Twin Dragon allows Special Summon of a material monster from the Deck or Graveyard. Return from the Graveyard, Cyber Dragon!"
"Fusion Armament..."
Three cards had been set, but all were illusions!
"This is the end, hand over your Machines!"
"Descend, Chimeratech Fortress Dragon!"
Chimeratech Fortress Dragon, ATK: 3000!
"Direct Attack! Fall before the true fusion power!"
Kambayashi Kaname LP: 4000→0!