Yu-Gi-Oh! The Pitfall Hero

Before they can even activate their effects, Blood Demon-D, with its permanent nullification effect, can directly pull them down from their pedestal and reduce them to mere mortals...

493 Real and Fake Lazy People

"I'll just set up two cards and end my turn like this."

Having completed her turn, Edward placed her two cards into the back row of the Duel Disk. After a moment's thought, making sure nothing was missing, she blinked, ended her turn, and handed the initiative to Yusei.

"Well then, it's my turn."

After closing his eyes, taking a deep breath, and adjusting his state, Yusei drew a card from the top of his deck and then entered his preparation phase.

"At this very moment, the effect of [Destiny HERO - The Doctrine] activates! If this card is Special Summoned, during your opponent's next Standby Phase, reduce their Life Points to half!"

Seizing the opportunity, Edward waved his hand and activated the monster effect on the field.

As she finished speaking, a purple pillar of energy simultaneously appeared around the bodies of the cultist and Yusei.

The wandering star, bathed in this beam of light, had its health points halved, dropping from a full 4000 points to 2000 points.

(Yusei LP: 4000→2000)

"...2000 points of damage right off the bat! Theorist, this monster is incredibly strong!"

"No! Not only that, but we should be more worried about the other side now, that Phoenix Destroyer... it clearly has more power than the Doctrine People!"

Having his health points reduced by half right from the start, those who witnessed this couldn't help but feel a chill for Yusei.

At the same time, they also felt deeply sorry that Yusei had failed to get the first move.

If Yusei attacks first, he can summon his reliable friend, Hero, to directly seal off Edward's grave...

"As long as health points aren't zero, there's no problem!"

Adjusting his glasses, which weren't even on his nose, Yusei, who had taken a heavy hit right from the start, showed no sign of panic.

He was already fully aware of the effects of the doctrine and had prepared himself mentally for it.

That's why he could act so relaxed, displaying the ease of a card player.

"Hmm... in that case..."

Glancing at the indifferent-looking Edward opposite her, and the two Heroes of Destiny before her, Yusei raised his arm and placed a card into the back row of the Duel Disk: "...Spell Card [Transform Contact] activated! This card can only be activated if you control no monsters. Send 1 card with 'Neo-Spacian' in its name to the Graveyard from your hand and 1 card from your Deck. Draw 1 card from your Deck. Then, draw cards from your Deck equal to the number of monsters your opponent controls."

Edward: "...The new Spaceman?"

Yusei: "That's right, the new Spaceman... that's a brand new hero born from the universe!"

The prototype for the new Spaceman comes from Jaden Yuki's personal creation when he was a child.

After being bathed in the dark energy of the universe by rockets launched by the Seahorse Corporation, they transformed into Duel Spirits, becoming vanguards against the Light of Annihilation.

At this moment, they placed all their hopes and strength on Yusei and Jaden Yuki.

"I send [Neo-Spacian Earth Mole] from my deck and [Neo-Spacian Flame Beetle] from my hand to the graveyard, draw one card from my deck, and then... draw cards equal to the number of monsters you control!"

With the monsters Phoenix Man of Destruction and Doctrine Man currently on Edward's field, Yusei can draw two more cards from his deck.

The effect before and after is roughly equivalent to activating an enhanced version of Pot of Greed.

In a sense, it can also be considered a precise grave-building operation.

"Next, I activate the Spell Card [EN-Neo Cosmic War]! You can only activate 1 card with this name per turn. During the turn this card is activated, you cannot Special Summon monsters from the Extra Deck except Fusion Monsters."

把1只「新空间侠」怪兽和1只「元素英雄」怪兽从手卡以及卡组各1只送去墓地才能发动。从卡组把1只「新空间侠」怪兽或者5星以上的「元素英雄」怪兽特殊召唤，从自己的卡组·墓地选1张「融合」加入手卡。这个效果特殊召唤的怪兽是「元素英雄·新宇侠」的场合，那个攻击力上升1000。”

"Based on this card's effect, I send 'Neo-Spacian Sky Hummingbird' from my hand and 'Neo-Spacian Radiant Moss' from my deck to the Graveyard, Special Summon Level 7 'Elemental HERO Neos' from my deck, and then search my deck for a 'Fusion' Spell Card!"

Another brand new Neo-Spacian Spell Card. By activating this card, Yusei has gathered two different types of Neo-Spacian Spellcasters from his hand and deck.

Then, he took Ultraman in his hand and placed it on the deck of the Duel Disk: "...Come on! Neos!"

"Elemental HERO Neos Special Summoned by the effect of [EN - Engaging New Universe] will gain 1000 ATK!"

A pure white hero with a streamlined body descended before him at Yusei's call.

Although he is just a mortal monster, he possesses an attack power of 2500 points, which is unique to the protagonist ace monster.

In a parallel anime world, this monster is Jaden Yuki's ace.

(【Elemental Hero - Neo-Universe Knight】 Attack Power: 2500→3500)

"Heh... 3500 ATK, is that it? But! According to the effect of [Destiny HERO - Phoenix of Destruction], the ATK of all monsters on the opponent's field will decrease by 200 points based on the number of [HERO] monsters in my Graveyard!"

At this moment, there are six hero monsters in Edward's graveyard: the android, the augmented human, the demonic human, the dreamer, the diamond man, and the mist lady.

Therefore, all monsters on the field will have their attack power reduced by 1200 points as long as the Phoenix Destroyer is still on the field.

This effect is a permanent effect; it can be activated automatically without being triggered and therefore cannot be chained by the effects of other cards.

(【Elemental Hero - Neo-Universe】 Attack Power: 3500 → 2300)

"……Well!"

Corroded by the crimson lava, Neo-Universe's attack power was reduced to a value even lower than its original value.

He, who could have defeated the Doctrineist with an attack power of 3400 head-on, could only lament his powerlessness and lower his body slightly.

"Yusei...it seems your plan has failed!"

Reflecting Neosor's weakened appearance in his eyes, Edward uttered a mocking tone: "Although I, who also uses a hero deck, have never seen this elemental hero named Neosor, that doesn't stop me from adding a layer of weakness debuff to him."

With an attack power of 2300, and being a mere ordinary monster with no effect, how do you plan to defeat me with just this one monster?

By the way, before you finish your turn, I will activate the effect of the Destroyer Phoenix to destroy one of your cards!

As he played with the strands of hair that fell beside his ear, Edward began to ponder his next move.

"If [Hero of Destiny - Phoenix of Destruction] doesn't exist, then this influence won't exist either, right?"

As if talking to himself, Yusei picked up a card from his hand and slammed it onto the Duel Disk: "...I summon [Neo-Spacian Dark Panther] in Attack Position and activate its effect! Once per turn, you can target 1 face-up monster your opponent controls. Until the End Phase, this card is treated as a card with the same name as that monster and gains the same effect."

Raising his arm with a slight smile, Yusei pointed at the only Fusion Monster on Edward's field: "The target I've chosen to copy is none other than your [Destiny HERO - Phoenix of Destruction]!"

Edward: "...?!"

A dark panther, cloaked and shrouded in shadow, appeared on the dueling field.

Its eyes flashed with seven-colored light, and its body twisted and reassembled, transforming into the appearance of the Phoenix of Destruction.

Not only in appearance, the Dark Panther also replicates the effects and card name of the Destroyer Phoenix.

Just like a recreation of the scene from Journey to the West where the true and false Monkey Kings are depicted, it is now both the [New Space Hero - Dark Panther] and the [Destiny Hero - Phoenix of Destruction]!!!

"Since you're hesitant to activate the effect that destroys the Phoenix, then I'll take the initiative!"

Pointing at the Dark Panther (Destruction Phoenix) on his field, Yusei waved his arm without hesitation: "Activate the effect of [New Space Ranger - Dark Panther] (Destiny HERO - Destruction Phoenix)! During your turn and your opponent's turn, destroy one card on your field and one card on the field!"

"My chosen targets are the Dark Panther itself, and your [Destiny Hero - Phoenix of Destruction] on the field!!!"

"Hmm... There's no other way! The effect of [Destiny Hero - Phoenix of Destruction] activates, destroying myself and [Elemental Hero - Neo-Universe] together!"

The effects of the two Destroyer Phoenixes were triggered simultaneously, and red flames swept across the entire field in an instant.

Pursuing maximum benefit, Edward did not target the Dark Panther on the Starfield, but instead aimed at Elemental HERO Neos.

Anyway, since the Dark Panther would self-destruct after copying the Phoenix Man's effect, she didn't need to waste another chance to destroy a card for it.

--boom!

--boom!

Accompanied by two towering pillars of fire, the Phoenix of Destruction on the Field of Edel and the two monsters on the Field of Wandering Star were sent to the graveyard.

Judging from the results on the surface, it seems that Edward has the advantage.

After all, after trading one for two, her Phoenix Man of Destruction can be revived from the graveyard, while Yusei can only lose cards for nothing.

"The effect of [Destiny HERO - Phoenix of Destruction] is activated! If this card is destroyed by battle or card effect, during the next Standby Phase, Special Summon 1 [Destiny HERO] monster from my Graveyard!"

As Edward took the Destroyer Phoenix from the Duel Disk and placed it in the Graveyard, he calmly explained its other effect.

Although the Phoenix Man's resurrection effect is not limited to himself, under normal circumstances, no one would resurrect other monsters.

After all, compared to the invincible Phoenix Father, the other heroes are all somewhat lacking and not worth giving up this precious opportunity for revival.

"This troublesome monster... can actually... come back to life!"

"Wait a minute... If that's the case, wouldn't the Phoenix Destroyers just keep jumping out of the graveyard?"

"Even if you want to remove this card, you'll have to pay the price of two cards... This..."

"Hiss~~~ I didn't realize how unfair this monster was during my brother's duel earlier, but now it seems like it's really cheating!"

Realizing the destructive effect of the Phoenix's infinite resurgence, the people on the stage couldn't help but gasp.

This is insane... a guaranteed one-for-two trade, you have to constantly worry about your progress being interrupted.

Under such pressure, they are unable to exert their full strength... How could there be such a shameless monster that could destroy the Phoenix People!

Does such a pathetic monster deserve to be called a "hero"?

"The premise is... that he can hold out until the next round."

Placing his finger on his chin, Yusei pondered the current situation, then pulled a Spell Card from his hand and inserted it into the back row of his Duel Disk: "Quick-Play Spell Card [Called by the Graveyard] activated! Banish one monster from your opponent's Graveyard, and until the end of the next turn, the banished monster and the effects of its corresponding card will be negated!"

To deal with the Phoenix, Yusei spared no effort. At this moment, he specifically targeted Edward's Phoenix and used his backup resource, the Hand Trap Killer.

If this effect is successfully achieved, the myth of the Phoenix's dominance will be ended, and Ed will lose her trump card monster, thus falling into a passive and defensive situation.

"...Don't even think about it! I'll chain your [Called from the Grave] activation and open my backrow face-down card!"

Seeing that his "slacker" was about to be banished, Edward quickly pressed the button on the Duel Disk: "Quick-Play Spell - [Called Name of Annihilation] activated! Declare a card name, banish one of the declared cards from your Deck, and until the end of this turn, the effects of the banished card and its name card will be negated!"

Since there's a "grave finger," there's naturally a "sword finger" as well.

Linked to Yusei's activation of Quick-Play Spell Cards, Edward also banished Graveyard Finger from his deck and activated the Quick-Play Spell Card hidden in the back row.

I'm invalid, you're invalid, invalid!

As a result of the chain reaction, the effects of [Called by the Grave] and [Called by the Tomb] cancel each other out, and both sides reveal one of their trump cards at the same time. Thus, the Phoenix Destroyer escapes its fate of going to another dimension.

Yusei, who has used up his Normal Summoning opportunity this turn and is currently in an empty field (including the Magic Card [Fusion]), now has 4 cards left in his hand.