Yu-Gi-Oh! The Pitfall Hero

"Pfft! My turn, draw a card!"

The monkey, its eyes gleaming as it looked at the cards it had drawn from its deck, leaped up from the rock beneath it and placed a monster card from its hand onto the Duel Disk to summon a monster.

"Normal Summon - [Acrobat Monkey] (Machine/Earth/Level 3/Attack 1000/Defense 1800)!"

In front of the leaping monkey, a mechanical monkey covered in blue-green metal appeared, spinning in mid-air.

Looking at the green [Super Gravity Net] covering the field and the [Elemental Hero - Shadow Mist Lady] who was restricted by it, the [Acrobat Monkey] who had just appeared on the field couldn't help but look confused.

As a 3-star monster, it is not bound by the [Gravity Net] and can attack freely, so it cannot empathize with the 4-star Shadow Mist Lady.

"Summoning a Level 3 monster capable of attacking under [Super Gravity Net]... Could it be that this monkey is planning to use its self-destruct attack from last turn?"

"But the effect of [Wild Unleashed] only applies to Orcs and Orc Warriors, right...? The Machine race's [Acrobatic Monkey] should need to use [Restriction Removal] to double its attack power..."

"What is it trying to do by summoning this monster? Is it planning to perish together with the Shadow Mist Lady?"

……

Seeing the new monster summoned by the monkey, everyone couldn't help but share their guesses.

“Masaka (Could it be)... what is the other face card?” Yusei, who was resting his right hand on his chin in a thoughtful expression, suddenly had a flash of inspiration.

"Next, I activate another trap card in the back row—[DNA Modification Surgery]!"

As if to confirm Yusei's conjecture, the monkey that summoned the low-level monster immediately activated another trap card in the back row, a continuous trap card that can change the type of monsters on the field—[DNA Modification Surgery]!

220 Instant mutation, [DNA modification surgery]!

"What?! It's [DNA Modification Surgery]? Isn't that a card that can transform all monster races into one type...?"

After witnessing the monkey's behavior, Jaden Yuki, after a brief moment of thought, suddenly realized, "So that's it! This monkey is planning to transform the Machine Race's [Acrobatic Monkey] into another race!"

"Pfft! The race I'm announcing is—Beastman!"

Pointing his finger towards the sky, the monkey forcibly changed the race of all the monsters on the field to Beast!

With a flash of white light, both the Machine-type [Acrobat Monkey] on the Monkey field and the Warrior-type [Elemental HERO Shadow Mist Lady] on the Planet field had their Monster type forcibly changed to Beast, and their appearances also changed significantly.

The once somewhat adorable "acrobatic monkey" has undergone a drastic change in its physical structure, transforming from a cold, mechanical creature clad in blue-green armor into a ferocious beast with flesh and blood...

In contrast, the slender Shadow Mist Girl on the field has transformed into a Black Wolf Girl with clearly defined muscles. From her current posture, one can clearly see the shadow of [Masked Hero Dark Claw]...

Watching the changes on the duel field, Yusei muttered to himself, "The 3-star monster 'Acrobat Monkey,' which is unaffected by the 'Super Gravity Net,' has had its race changed to Beast... Is it coming?"

"Pujijiji! I'm targeting the 'Acrobat Monkey' on the field, and I'm activating the Spell Card from my hand—'Wild Release'!" With a slight grin and a triumphant shout, the monkey shoved the Spell Card into the Duel Disk to activate it.

With the activation of the spell card [Wild Release], the [Acrobatic Monkey], now transformed into a Beast, went into a berserk state. Its muscles bulged, and its body instantly doubled in size, its eyes turning blood red...

The azure armor that had been binding its body shattered and turned to dust as its body suddenly expanded...

(Attack power of the Acrobat Monkey: 1000 → 2800)

"Hmm... The Acrobat Monkey has 1800 Defense. By using the [Wild Release] effect to add 1000 Defense to its Attack, its Attack will skyrocket to 2800..."

"What?! A monster with an attack power of 2800 points that is unaffected by the [Super Gravity Net]?!"

As they watched the changes in the "Acrobatic Monkey," the crowd couldn't help but gasp in amazement.

Thanks to the constraints of the [supergravity net], this monkey seems to have achieved a combination that only benefits itself...

Monsters of level 4 or higher on the field cannot attack. Even if a large monster is summoned, it will be trapped in the green net and unable to move...

Meanwhile, the monkeys can continuously summon low-level monsters to harass Yusei. Due to the effects of the [DNA Modification Surgery], all the monsters that appear will become beast-type monsters that can be affected by [Wild Release]. Therefore, even low-level monsters can gain extremely high attack power in an instant...

If the [Super Gravity Net] card isn't dealt with, Yusei will continue to face this awkward situation...

"Damn! I underestimated you... monkey!"

Looking at the smug look on the monkey's face, Yusei couldn't help but sigh.

Compared to some of the incredibly difficult duel boards, the monkey in front of me is clearly more intelligent.

"Wait! I remember you can only have a maximum of 3 copies of the same card in your deck... If that's the case, and you use [Wild Release] again... then the Monkey King won't be able to unleash a burst attack anymore..."

While pondering the monkeys' combination, Jaden Yuki noticed a blind spot.

No! You're wrong about that!

Hearing Judai's slightly relieved words, the old man stroked his beard with a hint of pride and said, "There are more cards than just 'Wild Release' that can increase attack power! For example, the Equip Spell 'Demon Axe' can unconditionally increase the equipped monster's attack power by 1000 points. With its existence, it will be perfectly normal for low-level monsters to have more than 2000 points of attack power!"

"...Is that so?!" Judai Yuki, stunned by the old man's words, couldn't help but show an expression of utter astonishment. A monkey equipped with an AI system could actually think to this extent...

"Battle has begun! The acrobatic monkey is attacking the Shadow Mist Lady!"

"Acrobatic Monkey Fist!!!"

Just as Jaden Yuki was marveling at the power of the advanced technology, the monkey in the arena had already given the order to attack the [Acrobatic Monkey], whose attack power had surged to 2800 points.

Upon receiving the command, the acrobatic monkey pounded its chest with its fists and roared loudly at the sky.

It raised its hands above its head, clenched them into fists, and as its entire body soared into the air, it spun around in mid-air, using the momentum of its descent to charge straight towards the Shadow Mist Lady...

The acrobatic monkeys of today are like an invincible whirlwind with no blind spots...

Although there were no flames...

If this attack succeeds, it will deal up to 1800 damage to Yusei, directly reducing his health by nearly half!

"Yusei!"

"Lord Yusei! Watch out!"

Seeing the whirlwind hurtling towards the Shadow Mist Lady, the people behind Yusei couldn't help but let out worried sounds.

In their view, Yusei's plan for a swift and decisive victory was disrupted by the sudden appearance of the [Supergravity Net], leaving him in a passive state, and now he was about to suffer significant damage...

However, what they didn't know was that Yusei's wise eyes had already seen the future.

He had already made full preparations for both the current crisis and the subsequent solutions.

The reason I've been holding back is mainly out of caution, worried that the monkey might suddenly give me a surprise...

Now that the monkey has revealed all its cards, there's no need for any more worries!

"Don't even think about succeeding! At this very moment, I activate my hidden card in the back row—Quick-Play Spell [Mask Change]!"

Realizing he was outsmarting thin air and had unknowingly entered a state of mental exhaustion, Yusei immediately activated his backrow face-down card: "Send one of your HERO monsters to the Graveyard, then Special Summon one Masked HERO monster with the same Attribute as the one sent to the Graveyard from your Extra Deck!"

221 Overwork Hero, come out and work overtime!

"Pfft???"

Seeing the monkey's shocked expression, Yusei directly called out the name etched into its DNA: "Come out—Friend Hero!"

"Pfft?...Friend Hero?"

"Ahem... [Masked Hero - Dark Claw] (Attack Power 2400)!"

Clearing his throat, Yusei called out his friend Xia's real name.

As Yusei called out, the Shadow Mist Lady's figure was instantly enveloped in white light, and in her place appeared on the field a werewolf-shaped armor... No! It was the werewolf friend hero, whose race had changed to beast due to the [DNA modification surgery]!

Previously, the friend Xia only had the shadow of a werewolf, but now he has completely transformed into a mighty werewolf wearing blue and black hero armor!

Let's be friends!

Black fur covered his dark blue armor, transforming him into a werewolf-like friend. He spoke in human language to the acrobatic monkey staring intently at him, his demeanor suggesting he genuinely intended to become friends with his opponent…

Because a new monster has appeared on the field, Acrobat Monkey's attacks have temporarily come to a standstill. Now it can choose to continue attacking Friend Hero or withdraw its attack.

Before receiving any instructions from the monkey, the "Acrobatic Monkey," which had fallen from mid-air, adopted a cautious observation posture as it faced the friend Xia who had suddenly appeared on the field.

"At this moment, I activate the monster effect of [Elemental HERO Lady of the Mist]. If this card is sent to the Graveyard, I can add one [HERO] monster other than [Elemental HERO Lady of the Mist] to my hand from my Deck!"

"I've chosen—[Elemental Hero: Sky Knight]!"

Yusei shows the Sky Warrior he drew from his deck to the Monkey King on the other side, and then adds the card to his hand.

Besides being able to search for HERO monsters in the deck when summoned, Sky Knight has a second effect: it can destroy the same number of Spell & Trap Cards on your opponent's field as the number of HERO monsters you control other than this card!

As the most common and indispensable monster in the [Hero] deck, Sky Knight gloriously bears the title of "death from overwork".

Not only now, but also in the distant future, his active figure will appear frequently...

"Pfft! Attack power 2400... lower than the [Acrobatic Monkey]'s 2800 attack power... then, I declare a continued attack!" Seeing that Friend Hero's attack power was only 2400 points through the red goggles under the helmet, he decisively gave the [Acrobatic Monkey] the order to attack again.

Upon receiving the command, the Acrobat Monkey immediately ended its standoff with Friend Hero, leaped into the air, assumed a spinning top pose, and charged straight towards Friend Hero's location.

"Heh... Naive!" Yusei's lips curled slightly as he watched the [Acrobatic Monkey] attack him again. He then sent [Summoner Aleister] from his hand to the graveyard and activated its effect.

"At this moment, I activate the effect of [Summoner Aleister] in my hand, sending it from my hand to the graveyard, thereby increasing the ATK and DEF of one Fusion Monster I control by 1000 points each until the end of this turn!"

As Aleister's effect activated, Friend Hero's body was gradually enveloped in a cyan-blue light. With the blessing of the Great Sage of the Codex, his attack power surged to 3400 points, surpassing Acrobat Monkey's current attack power of 2800 points!

"Making monsters' attack power skyrocket isn't your exclusive right!"

Extending his right hand towards the monkey, Yusei immediately gave the counterattack command to Tomokazu: "Masked Hero Dark Claw! Send that monster straight to another dimension!"

"Hehehehe...Received!"

Feeling the power's blessing, a mocking and frivolous smile appeared on the friend's face. Facing the acrobatic monkey Wind and Fire Wheel attacking him, he directly swung his right fist.

3400 VS 2800... The result is obvious...

The acrobatic monkey's all-out, berserk attack was blocked by a seemingly ordinary punch thrown casually by Friend Hero.

"Pfft..."

In the monkey's desperate gaze, the attacked acrobatic monkey froze in mid-air, the light in its bloodshot eyes gradually fading, and visible cracks began to appear on its body...

As Friend Hero removed his fist from the acrobatic monkey's body, the monkey, which had already lost all signs of life, gradually turned into invisible dust in mid-air...

Because of the Friend's permanent effect, the destroyed [Acrobatic Monkey] was not sent to the graveyard, but was directly removed from the game...

Feeling a gaping hole in its heart as the acrobatic monkey departed, the monkey stared blankly for a moment before tumbling off the large rock it was standing on…

"boom!"

The monkey fell face-first into the mud and lay there, unwilling to get up for a long time.

(Monkey's health: 4000 → 3400)

"My turn, draw a card!"