Yu-Gi-Oh! The Pitfall Hero

Asuka sighed with some regret at not being able to take down the Wandering Star in this round.

"Next, it's my turn!"

The invisible restriction was lifted, and the pressure from the [Announcer of Divine Light] disappeared from in front of him.

Having been freed, Yusei suppressed the urge to shout to the heavens and suddenly drew a card from his deck.

"In Attack Position, I Normal Summon Elemental HERO Solidman, then activate its effect to Special Summon Elemental HERO Skyman from my hand!"

The hero, clad in steel armor, pulled out the Sky Warrior, who had died from overwork, from Yusei's hand.

Asuka: "...Sky Warrior?!"

"Sky Warrior has the effect of destroying one number of other HERO monsters on the field when it is successfully Normal or Special Summoned!"

Yusei slammed the monsters from his hand onto the Duel Disk, then raised his arm toward Asuka: "Therefore, at this moment, I activate the effect of Sky Warrior to destroy that Spell & Trap Card you've been hiding in your back row!"

Yusei was pointing to the card that Asuka had placed on the field in the very first turn, along with the [Sacrifice Sealing Mask].

As Yusei finished speaking, Sky Warrior, with its wings spread, raised its arm and unleashed a small tornado in Asuka's direction, sweeping up and destroying the face-down card in front of her.

-

[Fusion failed]

(Trap Card)

Effect: Activated when a Fusion Monster is Special Summoned. Return all Fusion Monsters on the field to the Fusion Deck.

-

The card that was destroyed by Sky Knight's effect was a trap card specifically designed to target Fusion Monsters.

301 The Glorious King Who Cuts Off Fate

"[Fusion Failed] Is that alright...?"

Looking at the Gaika destroyed by Sky Warrior, Yusei couldn't help but sigh.

With this face-down card, whenever Yusei intends to perform a Fusion Summon or use the effect of [Mask Change] to summon Friend Hero from his Extra Deck, he will immediately receive a surprise gift from Asuka...

The moment a Fusion Monster is summoned, it must be bounced back into the deck.

A true... failure of fusion!

"……Well!"

Affected by the wind pressure, Asuka instinctively reached out and pressed down on the hem of her short skirt, then cast an angry and embarrassed look in Yusei's direction.

"Uh... wait! Something seemed to have gone wrong just now!"

Yusei, who was being watched by Asuka, scratched his head awkwardly, and suddenly remembered something.

In the chain reaction just now, because [Divine Light Proclaimer] was nullified by [Divine Punishment], the effect of [Explosive Armor] should continue to process and destroy the attacking [Ice Barrier Dragon Trident].

However, the reality was that the Trident Dragon was not only not destroyed, but also took away most of Yusei's health points through a direct attack.

"Hmm... there's no problem with what you said."

Noticing Yusei's actions, Asuka smoothed her wind-blown golden hair and explained, "Because of the departure of [Divine Light Proclaimer] and the change in the number of monsters, Trident Dragon's attack was also retracted accordingly."

"Furthermore, when the effect of [Explosive Armor] was activated, I had already sent this card to the graveyard in place of [Ice Barrier Dragon Trident Dragon]."

As she said this, Asuka reached out and took a card from the graveyard, showing it to Yusei.

-

【Blinding Curtain】

(Continuous Magic Card)

The effects ① and ② of this card can each be used once per turn.

①: If a card on your field is destroyed by battle or by your opponent's card effect, you can destroy this card in place of the destroyed card.

②: If a card on your opponent's field is destroyed by battle or card effect, you can banish this card from your Graveyard in place of that destroyed card.

-

The card depicts the elegant figure of the "vampire heiress" as she prepares to draw down a black veil to block out the moonlight.

"【Blocking Curtain】..."

If it were this card, it could indeed replace Trident Dragon and withstand one instance of effect destruction.

Upon seeing the card, Yusei paused slightly, "Uh... when was this card activated? I have absolutely no recollection of it?"

"I activated this card secretly before the attack," Asuka explained, pursing her lips.

As for why Asuka chose to protect the [Ice Barrier Dragon Trident] instead of the [Declarator of Divine Light]...

“I’ve thought about it too. You might summon the [Elemental Hero - Sky Warrior] with an attack power of 1800. Even if you manage to save the [Divine Light Proclaimer], there’s a very high chance that your Sky Warrior will trade one for one with it… Rather than that, it would be better to leave the Trident Dragon with the higher attack power behind.”

"I see." Yusei nodded to Asuka, having sorted out his thoughts, and then turned his attention back to his own field.

After killing the announcer's second brother, he freed himself.

Next, it's Yusei's turn to speak.

"Yusei, I have 3000 life points left, and I still have a Trident Dragon of Ice Barrier with 2700 attack on the field... while you only have two low-level HERO monsters in attack position on the field."

As she spoke, Asuka's lips slowly curved into a smile, a knowing smile quietly appearing on her face: "Under these circumstances, how do you plan to beat me?"

"Hehe... Solevadocana (that's hard to say)!"

Faced with Asuka's question, Yusei had only two low-level HERO monsters left on the field, and his hand and face-down cards were both empty. His graveyard also had few resources, but he slowly spoke, "...The formula for victory is already in my hands!"

"Asuka, I won this duel!"

"What did you say...?" Asuka's smile froze on her face upon hearing these words, seeing the smile gradually appear on Yusei's face.

Without a Fusion Spell Card, how does Yusei plan to beat himself with only two Level 4 low-level monsters in his HERO deck?

Is it possible...

"My battle begins here!"

Facing the void before him, Yusei slowly stretched out his arm: "I will stack the level 4 Elemental HERO Sky Warrior with the level 4 Elemental HERO Solid Warrior Obera (I will use these two monsters to construct an Xyz Network)!"

A golden vortex, representing an Xyz Summon, appeared in front of Yusei.

Then, under Asuka's gaze, the figures of Skyman and Solidman were enveloped in light, transforming into new radiance and plunging into the golden vortex.

"Yusei's... Xyz Summon?!" Asuka's eyes widened as she saw Yusei display his first Xyz Summon.

It's not the usual fusion, but an XYZ Summon that stacks two monsters of the same level!

"Drenched in dazzling light, descend wielding a golden greatsword! Glorious king who severs destiny!"

"Xyz Summon - [Heroic Champion Shining Sword King]!!!"

-

[Heroic Champion, Radiant Sword King]

(Warrior/Light/Tier 4/Attack 2500/Defense 2000)

XYZ/Effect: 2 Level 4 Warrior Monsters

The second and third effects of this card can each be used once per turn.

①: The opponent cannot choose other monsters as their attack targets.

②: You can only activate this ability by paying Life Points until you have 500 Life Points. At the start of the Battle Phase this turn, double the ATK of 1 monster you control.

③: When your opponent's monster declares an attack, you can detach 1 Xyz Material from this card and target 1 face-up monster your opponent controls. This card gains ATK equal to that monster's ATK until the end of this turn.

-

Accompanied by the call of the wandering star, a dazzling golden light instantly spread and dispelled the surrounding darkness.

A warm and gentle light appeared before Yusei and Asuka, accompanied by a king clad in golden armor and wielding a golden greatsword inlaid with red sapphire.

"【Heroic Champion Shining Sword King】...A fourth-tier monster with an attack power of 2500...Yusei, is this the monster you said would bring you victory?"

Protected by the Trident Dragon behind her, Asuka, who was resting her chin on her fingers and repeatedly muttering the name of the monster in front of her, fell into a state of deep thought.

With an attack power of 2500, it's impossible to break through the Trident Dragon's attack power of 2700!

What exactly does Yusei intend to do by summoning this monster?

"【Heroic Champion Shining Sword King】effect activated! Reduces my Life Points to 500! Then, at the start of the Battle Phase, select one of my monsters and double its ATK!"

A red light appeared on Yusei's body, and Yusei, enveloped by this light, truly felt the loss of his life points.

(Yusei LP: 1300→500)

"It actually doubles the attack power...?" Asuka's eyes widened upon hearing the effect of Shining Sword King, and she exclaimed in surprise.

"Battle has begun! [Heroic Champion Shining Sword King] attacks [Ice Barrier Dragon Trident]!"

"At this moment, I activate the effect of the Shining Sword King, doubling my attack power!"

(【Heroic Champion Shining Sword King】Attack Power: 2500→5000)

Two golden orbs, representing an abundance of materials, continuously swirled around the Shining Sword King.

The king, who had been holding the sword with one hand, slowly opened his arms and grasped the greatsword, which was now shining with golden light, with both hands.

After absorbing Yusei's duel energy (life points), the power of the Shining Sword King had reached the realm of gods.

Facing the direction of the trident dragon, the Shining Sword King silently began to walk.

Along his route, the scene that had been transformed into an extreme icy hell due to the appearance of the trident dragon also changed.

The ice and snow melted, and the cold winds disappeared.

At this moment, the Shining Sword King, radiating a warm glow like the sun, not only dispelled the surrounding darkness but also completely neutralized the effects of the Trident Dragon.

"--Roar!"

Seemingly sensing the impending crisis, the massive trident dragon unleashed a menacing roar from all three heads at the same time.