And it was precisely this emotion that made him suddenly snap back to reality and make a decision—he would use the Gem-Knight!
It's so fascinating!
At the same time, Tenjo Hikari also noticed that, on the screen, the number of supporters for both of them was surprisingly increasing in sync—no, that seemed never to be "numbers," but "power"!
"At this moment," John didn't finish his operation, "the effect of Crystal Brilliance!"
"When there is a Crystal Beast card placed in your Spell and Trap Zone, send this card to the Graveyard to activate. Select 1 Crystal Beast from your hand or Graveyard for a Special Summon, and all damage you take this turn is halved!"
He slowly raised his right hand, revealing a card from it: "The one I want to Special Summon is... Ruby!"
"Meow-wah!"
A peculiar-looking little animal, somewhat like the mascots common in Magigirl animations, leaped onto the field.
Crystal Beast Red Jade Beast, LV 3, Light Attribute, Fairy-Type, DEF 300.
"This way, Atoli's field has guards again!"
"Myo-wah!"
John's lips slightly curved: "It's not over yet, the effect of Ruby, activated when this card is successfully Special Summoned. Special Summon all Crystal Beasts in your Spell and Trap Zone!"
"Come back, Sapphire, Gem-Knight Sapphire!"
Boom! Boom!
Two monsters, shining with the light of gems, once again came to guard John's field.
"You haven't forgotten Sapphire's effect, have you?"
Tenjo Hikari nodded.
John laughed heartily, placing another Crystal Beast from the Deck onto his field: "I'll place the Crystal Beast Cobalt Eagle as a Continuous Spell Card on my field."
"Amazing—"
"To Special Summon three monsters during the opponent's turn?"
"And also search for the sixth Crystal Beast!"
"I heard that there are only seven Crystal Beasts, right? That's incredible."
The students whispered among themselves.
"Well, Lancelot."
"Excellent Special Summon, as expected from you, to be able to use Crystal Beasts with such ease," these words came from a genuine admiration.
If Tenjo Hikari were to use his Crystal Beast Deck, he might end up with a headache.
"But, this way, you've also made a mistake!"
A mistake?
John was puzzled.
Tenjo Hikari slowly raised his hand, pointing to Captain Crystal: "Master Diamond is the king among Gem-Knights, the strongest Gem-Knight—it can freely utilize the abilities of any Gem-Knight at will!"
Eh?
"Banish the Gem-Knight Ruby from the Graveyard, activate the effect of Gem-Knight Master Diamond, copy its card name and effect until the end of the turn!"
Master Diamond, ATK: 3400→3300.
Master Diamond slowly raised the greatsword in his hand, holding it with light shining from it, with red gemstones glimmering on it.
"Your [Ruby] can Special Summon monsters without restriction, but it itself is quite weak—yet my [Ruby] is an attacking Ruby!"
Tenjo Hikari pointed to Crystal Beast Red Jade: "Battle, Master Diamond attacks Red Jade Beast!"
The longsword swung, Red Jade Beast's fur stood on end, transforming into a Thorny Dragon form, yet it could not withstand the fierce wind wielded by Captain Crystal, in panic, was swept into the Spell and Trap Zone.
"Ruby's effect, inflict piercing battle damage!"
"...My damage this turn is halved!"
"That's still 1500 points!"
The fierce wind hit John's body, forcing him to step back.
Atoli John, LP: 4000→2500.
John had no choice but to take a few steps back, and it was at these steps that he noticed a sharp drop in his support.
What's going on?
John felt a bit strained, but he instinctively asked, "Ruby, are you alright?"
A sound came from the red gemstone, sounding quite spirited.
Unlike the two duelists, Captain Crystal is an earnest knight and wouldn't bully the weak, never mind just sending it to the backfield.
John breathed a sigh of relief.
"Prism Crystal attacks Gem-Knight Lapis Lazuli." Tenjo Hikari pointed to Lapis Lazuli again.
This time, Captain Crystal held nothing back, even though Lapis Lazuli appeared decrepit in age, it felt skillful. After trading several moves, Captain Crystal defeated it.
"Finally, once more, using the effect of Gem-Knight Fusion in the Graveyard, banish Gem-Knight Sapphire from the Graveyard, add it to hand."
Tenjo Hikari thought for a moment, picked up the card, and displayed it.
Master Diamond, ATK: 3300→3200.
"Turn end, your move, Atoli, let me see the strength of you as a Noble Knight."
John stepped forward a couple of times, a trace of excitement in his eyes: "So exciting, indeed, very exciting, Tenjo Hikari! I've always wanted to duel against you using Gem-Knights, indeed, dueling with you is very exciting, you're really skilled—"
"Cough, cough, cough—"
Tenjo Hikari coughed twice.
?
John was puzzled.
Tenjo Hikari slightly shook his head, signaling John to turn and look. Only then did John notice beside him, on the projection screen, that his "supporters" were starting to decline.
What is happening!?
Ah——
Oh no!
John snapped back into focus.
He got a bit too carried away.
He quickly adjusted his state and said, "As expected of the strongest knight, Lancelot, not to be underestimated. But if you think this means you can defeat me, that's wishful thinking!"
Since it was a hurried and impromptu act, his speech was somewhat incoherent.
Anyway, quickly draw a card——
"My turn, draw!"
He swiftly drew a card.
He glanced down, then suddenly widened his eyes!
Oh no!
He had already felt some pressure; at the end of Tenjo Hikari's turn, it seemed something was obstructing him. He also faintly felt pressure while drawing cards.
He hadn't paid much attention before, but now seeing the drawn card, he understood.
Oh no.
He didn't draw "Amber Mammoth"!
"Sorry John, I don't know why, but I didn't come——" Mammoth apologized to him from the Deck.
"It's okay, it's my problem."
Only then did he finally realize that this "role-play duel" wasn't just for fun.
[Performing] is a really important thing!
Now Tenjo Hikari was looking like a major antagonist, while he, due to failing his role-play, lost focus, causing his score to plummet, hence… his card drawing was affected!
Even though both he and Tenjo Hikari had high Spirit Power, obviously, compared to "the entire school faculty and students," it was still too little.
He looked at the other cards in his hand.
Mirror Force and Rainbow Dragon… must choose one to discard?
No——
It's okay!
He suddenly regained his focus.
"It seems that the cards in my hand currently do not support defeating you, Knight."
"Oh ho, then, Artorius, are you going to concede to me?"
"No! A true knight would never concede, so I will explore new possibilities with my guards——Quick-Play Spell Card, Hand Destruction, both sides discard two cards and draw two each!"
"Oh!!"
"Betting on the possibility of this draw?"
"Go for it, Artorius!!!" Judai cheered fervently for John, even he was getting into the act.
Seeing the scores not dropping, John felt much more at ease. Then, he sent Mirror Force and another card in his hand to the Graveyard, drawing alongside Tenjo Hikari.
Tenjo Hikari took a glance.
Hmm…
Tenjo Hikari squinted his eyes.
"Beautiful!" John then cheered, "Lancelot, your gemstones are indeed powerful, but the dragon that is about to appear before you is the most sacred dragon in the world!"
Seems like he drew the last card?
Tenjo Hikari raised his eyebrows.
"Normal Summon, Crystal Beast Amber Mammoth!"
"Hummm!!" The elephant trumpeted.
Crystal Beast Amber Mammoth, LV 4, Earth Attribute, Beast-Type, ATK 1700.
"With this, on my field and in the Graveyard, I've gathered 7 different Crystal Beasts!" John took a deep breath, "Witness the most sacred, greatest Crystal Dragon in the world!"
Accompanying John's words, Pegasus, Tiger, Mammoth, Cat, Beast, Eagle, and Tortoise, seven monsters rose from his field, then under the illumination, transformed into a rainbow, shining in the sky.
Holy light descended from the heavens, and John's previously declining support rate started to rise again.
"Witness now, the awakening of the Crystal God!"
"This card can be Special Summoned when there are 7 different Crystal Beasts on my field or in the Graveyard!
Ultimate Crystal God Rainbow Dragon!"
Light descended, the purple lightning was dispersed, the tall knight couldn't help but grip his sword tightly, facing the giant dragon that, like him, controlled "rainbow-colored gemstones!"
Ultimate Crystal God Rainbow Dragon, LV 10, Light Attribute, Dragon-Type, ATK 4000.