"Which means that from the very start, Yugen's entire setup was aimed at this card, Machina Fortress!"
"Looks like things are about to get interesting," Takeshi Sasaki said with a smile.
"I add this card from my deck."
Yugen revealed the card he had just searched.
"Machina Fortress is added to my hand."
He then showed Machina Fortress together with another monster card in his hand.
"Next is the effect of Machina Fortress. Although this is a Level 7 High-Level Monster, it can be Special Summoned from my hand or Graveyard by discarding Machine-Type monsters from my hand whose total Levels are eight or higher."
"I discard Machine-Type monsters from my hand whose total Levels are eight or higher, and Special Summon Machina Fortress from my hand!"
A card was sent to the Graveyard, and the heavy alloy Machina Fortress immediately landed on his field. Thick metal treads, pale blue armor, and a long cannon barrel seemed to declare that bigger caliber meant justice.
Machina Fortress, ATK 2500.
"Battle," Yugen said. "First, Machina Fortress attacks the face-down Tri-Horned Dragon!"
Tri-Horned Dragon, DEF 2350.
The massive main cannon on Machina Fortress lowered slowly as it locked on. Ammunition loaded, and with a thunderous blast and flash of light, the shell spun through the air and slammed into the set card. The poor Tri-Horned Dragon never even got to reveal itself before it was blown to ash.
"Next, Machina Gearframe attacks directly!"
The red armored warrior kicked off the ground, its metal body riding a spiral of air as it flew forward. Rex Raptor hurriedly covered his head and braced himself, but the image of the alloy flying kick still smashed into him and sent him sprawling.
Rex Raptor, LP 2600 to LP 800.
The audience erupted in shock.
A returning legend against a newcomer should have been a one-sided match without suspense. Instead, it was one-sided all right, just completely the other way around.
That Rex Raptor was being suppressed.
"This really wasn't what I expected," someone said on the commentary desk.
"Rex Raptor's field doesn't look good at all right now," Wataru Komatsu said.
"Indeed. He's completely suppressed and only has 800 Life Points left. On the other hand, Yugen's LP hasn't moved at all."
Yugen, LP 4000.
After confirming Yugen's unmoving Life Points again, Takeshi Sasaki frowned.
Was this really a newcomer?
From the earlier matches until now, he had pushed through everything with overwhelming force. Looking back at all of his duels so far, it felt like he had never been under real pressure.
And now he was suppressing even that Rex Raptor to this extent.
Where had this unheard-of monster come from?
"Main Phase 2."
Yugen's turn was not over yet.
"I activate the other effect of Machina Gearframe. Once per turn, this card can equip itself to one Machine-Type monster on my field as an Equip Card."
"I equip Machina Gearframe to my Machina Fortress."
Machina Gearframe leapt up and transformed with a series of metallic clanks, combining onto Machina Fortress.
"When the equipped monster would be destroyed by battle or card effect, Machina Gearframe can be destroyed instead," Yugen said. "Also, once per turn, while equipped, I can Special Summon Machina Gearframe from my Spell and Trap Zone instead of conducting my Normal Summon."
"That's an incredible combo," Wataru Komatsu said. "Machina Gearframe not only searches Machina Fortress from the deck, it can also equip to it and give it protection from destruction."
"And there's more," Takeshi Sasaki added. "By becoming an Equip Card, it also protects Machina Gearframe itself. That way, the opponent can't try to break through by targeting the lower ATK Machina Gearframe."
"And next turn, even if it's needed to attack and help finish things, it can jump back onto the field on its own."
"Offense and defense together, that's too strong," Wataru Komatsu said. "This Yugen Fujiki… is he really a newcomer?"
Takeshi Sasaki was also left speechless for a moment.
"I set two cards on the field."
Two more face-down cards appeared at Yugen's feet. He glanced at the Continuous Spell in Rex Raptor's back row and sighed softly.
This deck he was using had three copies of wind removal spells in it. If he had drawn even one, he could have blown away that Mirage of Nightmare before the Standby Phase. It would not guarantee a win, but it would clearly improve his odds.
Unfortunately, he had not drawn a single one.
Another day of wanting to learn god-tier topdecks.
"Turn end," Yugen said.
"Damn it, you really dare to play like this," Rex Raptor muttered through clenched teeth.
"My turn. I draw."
After the draw phase came Rex Raptor's Standby Phase.
"At this time, the side effect of Mirage of Nightmare activates. Normally, I would need to discard four cards from my hand. But!"
Rex Raptor flipped his back row without hesitation.
"At this moment, I activate my set Trap Card Reckless Greed first!"
"I draw two cards from my deck, but I have to skip my draw phases for the next two turns."
Huge reward, and just as huge a risk. Using this, Rex Raptor drew two more cards.
"Then I immediately activate the Quick-Play Spell Emergency Provisions!"
His second set card was flipped face-up as well.
"I can send any number of Spell or Trap Cards on my field, except Emergency Provisions itself, to the Graveyard. For each card sent, I recover 1000 Life Points."
"I send the currently resolving Reckless Greed and Mirage of Nightmare to the Graveyard, and recover 2000 Life Points!"
The two cards vanished together in a flash of golden light from the back row, turning into energy that flowed into Rex Raptor.
Rex Raptor, LP 800 to LP 2800.
"Oh, that was a nice move," Wataru Komatsu said. "First activate Reckless Greed, then chain Emergency Provisions."
"Even though the Trap has already been activated, it still remains on the field when Emergency Provisions resolves, so it can be used as cost to recover Life Points."
"Exactly. At the same time, he used Emergency Provisions to send Mirage of Nightmare to the Graveyard, avoiding its discard side effect in the Standby Phase."
Takeshi Sasaki nodded in approval.
"Rex Raptor is still Rex Raptor. His dueling skill is beyond doubt."
Rex Raptor rubbed his nose, clearly pleased with his high-level play. "What a shame. Looks like all that offense you put out last turn was for nothing."
However, Yugen felt nothing in his heart.
He did not think it was that impressive, but he really wanted to ask where Rex Raptor bought that glue. He had wanted to ask for a long time why, in animated duels, Mirage of Nightmare and Emergency Provisions were always stuck together, and nobody ever seemed to draw just one without the other.
"So we move on to my Main Phase."
Rex Raptor let his fingers brush across his freshly refilled hand and gave a cold laugh. His eyes were sharp as he looked straight at his opponent. "You were pretty arrogant last turn, kid. But this is where it ends. This turn, the duel is over!"
He revealed three cards from his hand in one motion. "I activate the Spell Card Polymerization! I fuse the monsters in my hand, Gilasaurus and Curse of Dragon, with Polymerization!"
The Spell Card appeared as the dinosaur forms were released from his hand and dragged into the pitch-black vortex of Polymerization. Black lightning burst out and struck the field, blowing up thick clouds of smoke. "The ruler of abyss and hell awakens from endless darkness. Polymerization Summon!"
"Level seven, Gaia the Dragon Champion!" "This is an official card."
Gaia the Dragon Champion appeared with an attack power of 2600. It was one of Rex Raptor's new trump cards after losing Red-Eyes Black Dragon and Evil Knight Dragon in succession back in the DM era.
"I'm not done yet!" Rex Raptor continued.
"I activate the Spell Card Monster Reborn! With this card, I revive a powerful dinosaur sleeping in my Graveyard!"