Yu-Gi-Oh! The Pitfall Hero

What on earth is going on? Could it be... that he's just being stubborn? Or can he conjure up another stack of cards out of thin air?

"Hmph! Watch closely... I activate the Spell Card [Planet Transformation] from my hand. With this card's effect, I can add a Field Spell Card from my deck to my hand."

Kagemaru, having just retrieved a Field Spell Card from his deck, immediately activated it: "Next... I'll activate the Field Spell Card I just retrieved—Paradise Lost!"

When a new Field Spell Card appears on the field, the old Field Spell Card will be removed from the field.

As Paradise Lost was activated, the red Rampage Magic Circle gradually disappeared from the field and was sent to Yusei's graveyard.

Instead, there was a desolate, joyless garden.

A withered tree bearing forbidden fruit sprouted from beneath the earth, stretching its branches wildly and instantly covering the entire sky behind Kagemaru.

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Paradise Lost

(Field Spell Card)

effect:

The second effect of this card can only be used once per turn.

①: As long as this card is in the Field Zone, "Uria the Divine Flame Emperor", "Hamon the Thunder Emperor", "Rabiel the Phantom Emperor", and "Amitel the Chaos Phantom Emperor" in your Monster Zone cannot be targeted by your opponent's card effects or destroyed by them.

②: This effect can be activated if you have any one of the following in your Monster Zone: "Uria the Divine Flame Emperor", "Hamon the Thunder Emperor", "Rabiel the Phantom Emperor", or "Amitel the Chaos Phantom". Draw 2 cards from your Deck.

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"The effect of the Field Spell [Paradise Lost] is activated once per turn. When any one of the three Phantom Spells is on your field, you may draw two cards from your Deck."

Because of the presence of [Divine Flame Emperor Uria] on the field, Kagemaru can draw two cards from his deck.

After replenishing his hand with two more cards, Kagemaru inserted another card into the back row of the Duel Disk: "Next, I activate [Pot of Greed] and draw two more cards from my deck!"

"Three more cards were added to my hand at once! This..."

Shocked by Kagemaru's card-earning maneuver, Marufuji Sho exclaimed in surprise.

So, did Kagemaru anticipate the next scenario... which is why he said he had more than one card in his hand just now?

"Hehehe... The second effect of the Continuous Spell [Seven Stars' Gate] is activated once per turn. Discard one card from your hand and Special Summon one monster with 0 ATK and 0 DEF from your Graveyard... I discard [Chaos Core] (Fiend/DARK/Level 3/ATK: 0/DEF: 0) from my hand and then Special Summon it from my Graveyard!"

Discard the monster from your hand, and then revive it on the field using the effect of a spell card.

Having no chance to summon a monster this round, Kagemaru managed to pull out a new monster through this opportunistic method.

This monster belongs to the same type as the previous demon, so naturally, its attack and defense are both 0.

It was thus revived by Kagemaru in a defense-ready state and returned to his own field.

[Chaos Core] (Defense: 0)

"Next is... the battle phase!"

Pointing at the troublesome Merkaba opposite him, Kagemaru gave his monster the attack command: "[Divine Flame Emperor Uria], destroy that eyesore monster!"

"...Take the move! Hyper Breath (Hyper Breath)!!!"

The Divine Flame Emperor, having gathered its energy, opened its mouth and then unleashed a massive wave of fiery energy towards the direction of the light chariot.

Slicing through the surrounding air with intense penetrating power, the attack hurtled straight toward Merkaba!

【Divine Flame Emperor Uria】 has an attack power of 3000 at this time, while 【Summoned Beast Melkaba】 has an attack power of 2500.

Since Aleister wasn't summoned from the graveyard, Yusei couldn't recycle him in the previous turn to complete the mini-system's cycle and increase Merkaba's attack power.

At this point, Merkaba was clearly no match for Uriah.

Under this attack, it seems... he's about to be directly destroyed...

"Don't even think about it! The moment the Divine Flame Emperor attacks, the effect of [Number 39, Emperor Hope] activates! Remove one Xyz Material from this card to negate your opponent's attack..."

"Stop them... Luna Shield!!!"

After absorbing an excess of material surrounding him, Hope retracted his wings, transforming into a crescent-shaped shield, and appeared in front of Merkaba, taking his place to block the attack of the Divine Flame Emperor.

The flame waves crashed against the shield, making a constant sizzling sound.

However, Hope ultimately withstood the impact and successfully protected Merkaba from being destroyed by the Divine Flame Emperor.

"...At this moment, the effect of the Trickster Clown, which was sent to the Graveyard as Xyz Material, will also activate. If this card is sent to the Graveyard, I Special Summon it to the field by paying 1000 Life Points."

[Entertainment Mage - Trickster Clown] (Defense: 0)

(Yusei LP: 3000→2000)

"...Tsk! Was the attack blocked?"

Seeing that the attack of the Divine Flame Emperor was intercepted by Hope, Kagemaru clicked his tongue and could only helplessly end his battle phase. He then buried the remaining two cards in his hand in the back row: "...Bury two cards, end of turn, now it's your turn!"

"Yusei... let me see how you plan to defeat me!"

"It's my turn, draw a card!"

After drawing a new card from his deck, Yusei didn't rush to deploy it. Instead, he turned his gaze to the field in front of him and began to observe the current situation.

In front of Kagemaru, there is currently [Divine Flame Emperor Uria] in attack position (Attack Power: 3000) and [Chaos Core] in defense position (Defense Power: 0).

In his back row, there are two face-down cards and one face-up Continuous Spell Card – [Seven Stars Gate].

In addition, there is a field spell card that covers the entire area – [Paradise Lost].

Yusei had already experienced the effect of the Divine Flame Emperor firsthand; whenever he set a card, he was inevitably going to be overwhelmed by its effect...

The other monster, with zero attack and zero defense, is clearly no ordinary creature either...

Furthermore... thanks to the effects of Field Spell Cards, Kagemaru can not only draw two more cards each turn, but also grant the three Phantom Demons on the field resistance, preventing them from becoming targets of the opponent's effects or being destroyed by effects.

If Yusei wants to defeat the three Phantom Demons, since he doesn't have any Kaijus at his disposal, his only option right now is to defeat them in a one-on-one battle through direct confrontation!

However... on Yusei's side, since the back row had been destroyed by the Divine Flame Emperor, there were no cards left.

In his front row, there are four monsters: [Summoned Beast Merkaba] (ATK: 2500), [Hope King] (ATK: 2500), [Entertainment Wizard Trickster] (DEF: 0), and [Rapid Raptor - Ultimate Falcon].

Judging solely from the apparent combat strength, both sides can be said to have had their share of victories and defeats.

"I summon Elemental HERO Skywalker in Attack Position and activate his effect to search for a new HERO monster from my Deck... I choose Phantom HERO Solitary."

The hero, who died from overwork, appeared before everyone in a very dashing manner, propelled by the jet-powered wings on his back.

"Next, I will stack the 4-star [Elemental Hero Sky Warrior] with the 4-star [Entertainment Mage Trickster] to perform an Xyz Summon!"

"Gather all the light to illuminate the path of hope!"

"Come forth! Xyz Summon! Rank 4 - [Different Heat Servant - Sage of Hope] (ATK 2000)!"

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【Different Heat Servant - Sage of Hope】

(Warrior/Light/4-star/Attack: 2000/Defense: 2500)

XYZ/Effect: 2 Level 4 Monsters

The effect of this card's name ① can only be used once per turn.

①: You can activate this effect by detaching 2 Xyz Materials from this card. Special Summon 1 "Heat-Soul Weapon" monster or "Heat-Soul Servant" monster from your Deck. After this effect is activated, you cannot Special Summon non-Xyz monsters from your Extra Deck, and non-"Number" monsters cannot attack until the end of this turn.

②: If any of your LIGHT "Hope" XYZ monsters (excluding "Hope Sage") on your field are destroyed by battle or card effect, you may banish this card from your field or Graveyard instead.

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428 Nightmare Returns

The Sage of Hope, wielding a long staff and clad in golden armor, manifested amidst the light of an Overcharge Summon.

That imposing figure was proof that the power of different heats and the power of unity had come together.

[Hope Emperor] removes one of his Xyz Materials and acts as a shield to help his allies withstand the Super Flame Emperor.

Following this wave, the counterattack in this round will begin.

"2000 health points remaining... but... but it doesn't matter." He placed his right palm on his chest, feeling his heart.

With a thud, Yusei's face broke into a long-lost smile.

After activating its effect, 【Different Heat Servant - Sage of Hope】Yusei can only attack with "No." monsters.

So he didn't rush to activate the effect of the newly appeared monster. Instead, he stretched out his arm towards Kagemaru and gave the attack command to his monster with the highest attack power on the field: "Battle! [Rapid Raptor - Ultimate Falcon] Attack [Divine Flame Emperor Uria]!"

"...Ultimate Glory Shines!!!"

As Yusei finished speaking, the upgrade mark located on the chest of the Ultimate Falcon suddenly burst into a terrifying crimson light.

Enveloped in that light, a massive blackish-purple energy blast was formed.

Under everyone's watchful eyes, it rushed straight towards the location of the Divine Flame Emperor, swallowing it whole and turning it into nothingness...

Divine Flame Emperor, shatter!

(Kagemaru LP: 4000 → 3500)

"Gurgle... Uriah!!!"

Engulfed by the smoke from the monster's explosion, Kagemaru's health points dropped by 500.

Under this impact, the vertical glass dish protecting his aged body also showed signs of cracking.

"...Next, it's [Summoned Beast Merkaba's] attack! Go! Destroy that [Chaos Core] with 0 defense!"

Gripping his longsword tightly, Merkaba obeyed the command and drove the chariot of the gods, charging head-on towards the cursed demon.

At this moment, nothing and no one can stop him!

"Hmph...!!! The moment I was chosen as the target, the [Chaos Core] effect activated!"

Facing the oncoming chariot of light, Kagemaru, having adjusted his stance, let out a cold snort and then raised his mechanical arm to activate the monster's effect: "...When [Chaos Core] becomes the target of an effect or is targeted by an opponent's monster's attack: Send up to 1 each of 'Uria the Divine Flame Emperor,' 'Hamon the Thunder Emperor,' and 'Rabiel the Phantom Demon Emperor' from your hand or Deck to the Graveyard. Place Phantom Demon Counters equal to the number of cards sent to the Graveyard on this card. This turn, you take 0 battle damage."

"...Furthermore, if this card is destroyed by battle or card effect, you can remove 1 Phantom Spell Counter from this card instead."

"Then I will chain your activation and activate the effect of [Summoned Beast: Merkaba]!"