Want to play cards? I'll use my King's Deck!

"During the turn this card is activated, I cannot Normal or Special Summon monsters using any effect other than this one. In exchange, I can send monsters from my hand, Deck, or field to the Graveyard and Fusion Summon 1 'Red-Eyes' monster as material."

"Send the Level 6 'Red-Eyes Ferocious Star Dragon - Meteor Dragon' and the Level 7 'Red-Eyes Black Dragon' from the Graveyard for Fusion Summoning! A devastating meteor crashes down from the sky! Fusion Summon! Appear, 'Meteor Dragon Meteor Black Dragon'!!"

"Meteor Dragon Meteor Black Dragon, Level 8/Dark/Dragon/Fusion" "ATK: 3500/DEF: 2000"

"7-star Red-Eyes monster + 6-star Dragon monster"

A tremendous roar echoed across the sky, and a crimson meteor crashed violently onto the earth.

With its wings spread, the air instantly became incredibly hot, making it difficult to breathe. The dragon beast, its entire body engulfed in starfire, exuded an immense pressure, as if its retinas were about to be burned away.

"This monster will be your final destination! 'Meteor Dragon Meteor Black Dragon's' effect activated!"

Jonouchi Ranpo loudly declared, "If this monster is successfully Fusion Summoned, send 1 'Red-Eyes' monster from your hand or Deck to the Graveyard, inflicting damage to your opponent equal to half of that monster's original ATK—sending 'Red-Eyes Fiery Emperor - Evil Fiend' with 2500 ATK to the Graveyard, [Meteor Fireball]!"

"Ahhh!"

[Yu Xi's LP: 3000 → 1750]

A meteor streaked down, crashing around Yu Xi and unleashing a wave of lightning and flames. Yu Xi's already meager health dropped even further.

This was merely a greeting from Ranpo within the city.

The real show is about to begin.

"Press the attack! Activate the spell card: 'Black Flame Bullet'!"

【Black Flame Bullet (Normal Spell): During the turn this card is activated, "Red-Eyes Black Dragon" cannot attack. ①: You can target 1 "Red-Eyes Black Dragon" in your Monster Zone; inflict damage to your opponent equal to that "Red-Eyes Black Dragon's" original ATK.】

"The monster summoned by the effect of 'Red-Eyes Fusion' is treated as 'Red-Eyes Black Dragon,' so you'll have to take the ATK of 'Meteor Black Dragon,' which is 3500 damage! That's it!"

A fireball, even more powerful and terrifying than the previous [Meteor Flame Bullet], came crashing down, determined to blast Yuki away completely.

But just before the fireball was about to hit its target, countless cotton balls suddenly appeared out of thin air and blocked the fireball.

"That is……!"

The fireball collided with the cotton, triggering a powerful explosion with flashes of light that were dazzlingly bright.

When the storm subsided and the flames dissipated, Yuki's unharmed figure appeared before Ranpo Jounouchi.

"They didn't get hurt at all?"

Yuuki replied to the surprised Jonouchi Ranpo, "That's because I chain-activated the effect of 'Winged Cotton,' discarding this card from my hand reduces the effect damage I receive this turn to 0. Since the effect damage becomes 0, any subsequent damage from 'Red-Eyes Steel Flame Dragon' will also be negated."

"So it was a hand pit."

And it's this kind of hand-pitting effect...

"What bad luck."

Ranpo Jounouchi sullenly curled his lip.

He was thinking of using the combination of "Meteor Black Dragon" and "Black Flame Bullet" to take down Yuki in one fell swoop, but it seems that being chosen by the "No" card to become a trial participant means that he really has some skills.

"Since that's the case, let's skip effect damage and just go for a direct assault! I'll switch 'Red-Eyes Dark Steel Dragon' to Defense Position and then enter the Battle Phase!"

Ranpo Jounouchi waved his hand, and the dragons on the field immediately adopted a fierce attack stance.

"Red-Eyes Steel Flame Dragon Unit 1 attacks your Geyser monster, [Steel Flame Bullet]!"

Due to the effect of "Black Flame Bullet," "Meteor Dragon Meteor Black Dragon" cannot participate in attacks this turn, but that's alright. The three "Red-Eyes Steel Flame Dragons" with effective resistance-breaking ability are enough to secure victory—one will take down Yuki's monster, while the other two will deliver a merciless blow to Yuki's face. With Yuki's remaining life points, it's impossible for him to survive such an attack unscathed.

—This is on the premise that you can pass the first step.

The fireball exploded, blasting into Yuki's monster. The flipped-over monster was cute and soft, showing no sign of being crushed to pieces by such an attack.

"My Covering Monster is 'Marshmallow,' and this monster cannot be destroyed in battle."

Yuki, while maintaining the card-flipping motion with one hand, said, "Furthermore, when this face-down card is flipped over due to an attack from an opponent's monster, it will inflict 1000 damage to the opponent after damage calculation is complete."

As soon as Yuki finished speaking, "Cotton Candy," which had recovered from the bombardment of [Steel Flame Bullet], opened its blood-red maw and sprang up, biting down on Jonouchi Ranpo's arm with its mouthful of sharp teeth. The latter had to forcefully shake it back onto Yuki's field.

【Jouchi Ranpo LP: 3000 → 2000】

"I knew your monster wouldn't be so easy to deal with, but I won't let it stop me!"

The appearance of "Marshmallow" did not shake Jonouchi Ranpo's resolve; this obstacle was within his expectations. Of course, he was also prepared with cards to deal with this resistant monster.

Trap Card activated: "Red-Eyed Fang in Chains!"

【Red-Eyes Fang with Chains (Normal Trap): You can activate this card by targeting 1 "Red-Eyes" monster you control. Equip this card to that monster as an Equip Card. The equipped monster can attack monsters up to twice during the same Battle Phase.】

Equip this card as an Equip Card to "Red-Eyes Dark Steel Dragon"!

The card was revealed to be a trap that Jonouchi Ranpo had retrieved using the effect of "Black Steel Dragon" during his first turn.

The key point is not the equipment, but its second effect.

By sending "Red-Eyes Fang," which is an Equip Card, to the Graveyard, you can transform 1 Effect Monster on the field into a new Equip Card that is an Equip Monster. This is a non-destructive removal that targets the monster.

Originally intended to form part of a comprehensive defense system along with cards like "Sacred Mark" and "Iron Dragon," it's now perfect for offense as well!

Ranpo Jounouchi was thinking this when, in the next moment, a tornado swept in and tore the "Red-Eyed Fang with Chains" card to shreds.

Trap Card: "Great Sand Tornado".

In front of Yuki, another face-down card stood upright. Under the protection of "Winged Cotton", "Red-Eyes Steel Flame Dragon" was rendered useless, and he could use the card's effects to his heart's content.

"Based on this card's effect, destroy 1 Spell/Trap Card on your opponent's field. After it's destroyed, 'Browma's Chained Fang' can no longer be equipped to 'Dark Steel Dragon' as an Equip Card."

"Damn it! This trick doesn't work either!"

If you can't even equip the gear, then the subsequent monster-attracting operation is out of the question.

Three times in a row, Yuki perfectly defended against all of Ranpo's offensive intentions within the castle.

Ranpo Jonouchi had no other choice but to grit his teeth and say, "I'll set two cards, then activate the Equip Spell: 'Dragon Shield Armor,' equipping this card to 'Celestial Mark of the Sphere.' As long as this card is active, the equipped monster cannot be destroyed by battle or card effects, and all damage inflicted on either player in battle becomes 0."

The biggest weakness of the "Celestial Holy Seal" is its attack power. With the protection of the "Dragon Shield Armor", the chaos within the city was completely eliminated.

In this way, he gets an interference card that is unkillable and can bounce away a face-up card every opponent's turn.

"My turn is over."

"At the end of your turn, Jonouchi-kun, I will activate the Trap Card: 'Mortal's Charity'."

Before the effect of "Winged Cotton" had completely worn off, Yuki flipped over his second face-down card and said, "The effect of this card is to draw 2 cards from the deck, and then banish 1 Normal Monster from your hand."

After exchanging "Queen Knight" for a brand new hand, Yuki's gaze swept over the cards, and she immediately reached for the activation button on the last face-down card.

"Here it comes! Also during the End Phase, reveal my face-down card. Quick-Play Spell Card activated: 'Destroyer Fusion'! I fuse the Dragon-Type monster on your field with 'Destroyer' from my hand, Jonouchi-kun!"

Chapter 167 The Blazing Sword Unleashed!

"What?! Using my monster as fusion material?!"

Ranpo Jōnouchi wondered if he had misheard, but he hadn't.

A burst of fused light erupted in the arena, and boundless gravity spread out from within, capturing the "Celestial Holy Imprint" in his territory, and surging into the light along with the dragon-slaying warrior that appeared in Yu Xi's hand card.

Then, another immense pressure, surpassing the overwhelming power of the dragons, descended upon the battlefield along with the towering swordsman.

"Dragon Destroyer Swordsman - Destroyer Swordsman, Level 8/Light/Warrior/Fusion" "ATK: 2800/DEF: 2500"

"The ATK and DEF of 'Dragon Destroyer Swordsman' increase by 1000 for each Dragon-Type monster your opponent controls or controls in their Graveyard. Furthermore, while it is on the field, all Dragon-Type monsters your opponent controls are changed to Defense Position, and they cannot activate Dragon-Type monster effects."

"Dragon Destroyer Swordsman - Destroyer Swordsman, ATK: 2800→13800"

"Attack power is a whopping 13800!?"

Thanks to Jonouchi Ranpo's earlier frenzied grave-piling and deployment, the "Dragon Destroyer Swordsman's" combat power soared to a terrifying level as soon as he appeared. This caused Jonouchi Ranpo to exclaim in surprise.

In a normal duel, there are very few opportunities for a monster to reach this level of attack.

"However, even if Ji cannot activate the effect, you cannot use any card effects!"

Ranpo Jonouchi took a few deep breaths to calm himself down, emphasizing, "Red-Eyes Flame Dragon's burn effect doesn't chain. When the turn rotates, Winged Cotton's effect will be refreshed. Then, if you activate the card's effect again, Steel Flame Dragon will immediately burn all your LP!"

"That's hard to say. My turn, draw a card!"

Youxi took out her salary card and slapped down the second card she had drawn in the previous round.

"Continuous Spell Activation: 'Dark Seal Sword'! As part of the effect processing upon activation, all monsters on your opponent's field are changed to face-down Defense Position."

The sword of darkness flew from Kari, encircling Ranbu within the city and forming a massive cage. The darkness emanating from the sword enveloped the dragons, plunging them into a deep slumber.

"Once covered, the 'Steel Flame Dragon's' burn effect becomes ineffective. Activate 'Pot of Greed' to draw 2, then summon 'Three-Eyed Monster' in attack position. Use the 'Three-Eyed Monster' and 'Marshmallow' circuits together to link summon! L-ink2, 'The Destroyer's Guardian Companion Dragon'!"

"The Destroyer's Guardian Dragon, L-ink2/Light/Dragon/Connection" "↙↘, ATK: 400"

"Two monsters"

The portal opened, the arrow lit up, and an adorable six-legged baby dragon flew out. It was not yet dominated by its instinctive savagery and remained the "Swordsman of Destruction's" most reliable partner.

"The effect of 'Guardian Dragon' activates! If Link Summoned, send 1 'Destruction Sword' card from your Deck to the Graveyard, then use the effect of 'Three-Eyed Monster' to search for 'Magician Twin Souls' in your Deck. Send 1 Level 6 or higher Spellcaster monster from your Deck to the Graveyard, and Special Summon this card in Defense Position. Set 1 card, activate the effect of 'Twin Souls', send 2 Spell/Trap cards from your backrow to the Graveyard, and draw 2 cards."

By converting the "Dark Guardian Sword" and the cards that were just set down into new resources, Yuki replenished her hand with new cards, and her base score also changed.

"When the 'Magic Spellbook' is sent from the field to the Graveyard, it restores 1000 Life Points to me."

[Yu Xi's LP: 1750 → 2750]

With his life points surpassing those of Jonouchi Ranpo and his hand size not decreasing significantly, Yuki had completely reversed the tide of battle that had previously been suppressed by Jonouchi Ranpo.

“So strong…!”

Ranpo's expression had unknowingly become quite serious.

No wonder he can get along so well with Mashiro Kaiba; he accomplished all this so easily. Now, he's the one in danger.

"Next, combine the 'Magician's Twin Souls' and the 'Companion Dragon' circuit to summon 'Dark, the Shadow Spirit Master,' reviving 'Red-Eyes Thunder Emperor - Evil Demon' at its connection point. Thus, the battle phase begins."