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

After reviewing his new hand, Yuuki demonstrated his moves, saying, "I attacked the face-down 'Red-Eyes Steel Flame Dragon' with 'Dragon Destroyer Swordsman - Destroyer Swordsman,' using [Destroyer Sword Flash]!"

Upon receiving the command, the "Dragon Destroyer Swordsman" crouched slightly, and the burst of power propelled it to close the distance with the sleeping "Red-Eyes Steel Flame Dragon" in an instant. The dragon-slaying sword, raised high, was about to cleave the monster in two.

And it wasn't just the dragon beasts that were powerless to struggle against the dragon slayer that would be shattered by this blow.

"When 'Dragon Destroyer Swordsman' attacks a Defense Position monster, it inflicts battle damage to the opponent equal to the difference between the monster's ATK and DEF."

Because it was covered by the "Dark Protection Sword", the monsters in the front field of the castle could no longer be identified by race. Even so, the attack power of the "Dragon Destroyer Swordsman" was still as high as 8800.

Furthermore, this attack power increases further when the monster is flipped over.

For Jonouchi Ranpo, whose health points were only 2000, this was a fatal blow.

"Don't think about it!"

But faced with this attack, Ranpo Jounouchi certainly had no intention of sitting idly by and waiting to be killed.

He shouted loudly and pressed the button to cover the card forcefully.

"Trap Card activated: 'Rainbow Life'! Discard 1 card from your hand, and convert all damage I took this turn into healing!"

A rainbow barrier unfolded, enveloping Jonouchi Ranpo. The sword light of "Dragon Destroyer Swordsman" slashed down, cutting "Steel Flame Dragon" in two. At the same time, the shockwave transformed into a torrent of life, causing Jonouchi Ranpo's base stats to surge dramatically.

【Jouchi Ranpo LP: 2000 → 9400】

"Did you fail?"

Yu Xi said, "Then let's use 'Evil Demon' to attack 'Red-Eyes Dark Steel Dragon'!"

"Evil Demon" is basically a Red-Eyes version of "Demon Summoning," with identical attack and defense stats. Its 2500 attack power just exceeds the defense power of "Dark Steel Dragon." A single crimson lightning bolt struck, and "Dark Steel Dragon" was instantly reduced to dust.

"Finally, set one card face down. My turn ends."

"Ha, that was close. I almost made it all over, but thankfully I pulled through."

Ranpo Jounouchi wiped his nose, his fighting spirit high.

"Now it's my turn to counterattack. My turn, draw! I'll turn all the monsters on my field face-up, then activate the Spell Card: 'Xyz Gift,' taking all the Xyz Materials from 'Steel Flame Dragon' Unit 2 and Unit 3, and draw 2 cards."

Ranpo Jonouchi glanced at the cards he had drawn and said, "Since the Dragon race is suppressed by your fusion, let's use this card to break through! I summon 'Flame Swordsman' in Attack Position!"

"Flame Swordsman, Level 4/Fire/Warrior" "ATK: 1800/DEF: 1600"

"The Swordsman of Flames? What's that?"

Flames swirled, and Yu Xi's eyes widened as he saw a crimson warrior wielding a scorching sword materialize on the chaotic scene within the city.

The monster looked remarkably similar to the "Flame Swordsman" he knew, but unlike the "Flame Swordsman," it appeared much more energetic.

Judging from the name, could this be a new card unique to the "Flame Swordsman" of this world?

Yu Xi had no idea, but he knew that the course of the duel had changed with the appearance of this monster.

"If 'Flame Swordsman' is successfully Normal or Special Summoned, its effect activates! I can add 1 Spell/Trap Card from my Deck that bears the name 'Flame Swordsman' to my hand. I choose 'Flame Sword Domain' and activate this Field Spell Card!"

Centered on Ranbu within the city, crimson flames transformed into a dragon shadow that rapidly expanded, quickly enveloping the entire battlefield.

Adding to the heat brought by "Meteor Black Dragon", Yu Xi felt as if she were in a sauna. She wondered if she would get heatstroke if she stayed any longer.

"As long as this card is on the field, when your FIRE Warrior monster is successfully Summoned, your opponent cannot activate card effects. Then activate its ① effect!"

Ranpo Jonouchi seemed completely unaffected by the heat, excitedly declaring, "Once per turn, send 1 monster from my hand or field to the Graveyard, and Special Summon 'Fire Swordsman' from my Extra Deck as a Fusion Summon."

"Flame Swordsman, Level 5/Flame/Warrior/Fusion" "ATK: 1800/DEF: 1600"

As Ranpo Jounouchi finished speaking, the Flame Dragon pounced on the "Steel Flame Dragon," swallowing it whole with a gaping maw. Amidst the raging inferno, a figure more mature than the "Flame Swordsman" appeared on the field.

This is the original "Flame Swordsman," and also the springboard for Ranpo Jonouchi to summon the next ace.

"Next, activate the Equip Spell Card: 'Flying Dragon Flame Fusion'!"

Ranpo Jonouchi inserted the card into the Duel Disk, and an even grander and more intense flame erupted.

"Equip it to 'Flame Swordsman' to increase its ATK by 700. Then send 'Flame Dragon Fusion' and 'Flame Swordsman' to the Graveyard together, and Fusion Summon a Fusion Monster from the Extra Deck that bears the name 'Flame Swordsman'—Bathe in flames and master the ultimate swordsmanship! Fusion Summon! 'Extreme Flame Swordsman'!!"

"Extreme Flame Swordsman, Level 8/Flame/Warrior/Fusion" "ATK: 2800/DEF: 1600"

With a swing of his sword, he dispersed the flames. A fiery dragon coiled around the crimson greatsword, and the "Flame Swordsman," having undergone further evolution, stood proudly in the center of the battlefield, standing shoulder to shoulder with Yuki's "Dragon Destroyer Swordsman."

168 Survival Skills LV.MAX

Flaming stars danced in the air, as the super-evolved "Extreme Flame Swordsman" and "Dragon Destroyer Swordsman" faced off against each other.

Although the "Dragon Destroyer Swordsman" is far superior to the "Extreme Flame Swordsman" in terms of damage output, the latter's momentum is in no way inferior.

"The Blazing Swordsman... What kind of effects does this monster have?"

For the first time, Yu Xi saw cards that she had no recollection of.

One after another, I had no idea what the meaning of Ranpo's actions was, or what the consequences would be.

While I was curious, I also became more vigilant.

"I'll use my trump card to deal with your trump card!"

Ranpo Jonouchi stood behind the new Fusion Monster and said to Yuuki, who was waiting in ambush, "Once per turn, activate the effect of 'Extreme Flame Swordsman'!"

[You can target 1 monster your opponent controls. Destroy that monster and inflict 500 damage to your opponent. If this card is equipped with an Equip Card, this effect can be activated during your opponent's turn.]

"I choose 'Dragon Destroyer Swordsman - Swordsman of Destruction' - Destruction! [Flying Dragon Flame Slash]!"

"Ooh ooh ooh ooh!!"

As soon as Ranpo Jounouchi uttered those words, the "Swordsman of Extreme Flame" roared, and the crimson dragon coiled on its sword began to tumble and dance with its movement, rushing straight towards the "Swordsman of Dragon Destruction".

At the same time, Yuki reached into his own graveyard and took out a card.

"Chain with 'Swordsman of Extreme Flame' to activate the effect of the Trap Card 'Destruction Sword Flash'. Banish this card, negate effects activated targeting 'Swordsman of Destruction' monsters, and destroy them."

The trap card that was dumped into the graveyard by "Guardian Dragon" in the previous turn transformed into a beam of light and attached itself to the sword of "Dragon Destroyer". With a flash of dazzling light, it cleaved the Crimson Dragon in two, and even "Extreme Flame Swordsman" could not escape the attack range and was buried and destroyed in the light of the sword.

"I anticipated this! The moment 'Extreme Flame Swordsman' was destroyed, the effect of 'Phantom Swordsman' activated!"

Seeing his hard-won trump card destroyed, Jonouchi Ranpo remained calm and immediately declared the activation of the effect of the card he had prepared in advance.

[If this card is in your hand or Graveyard, and a face-up FIRE Fusion Monster you control is destroyed by battle or card effect, you can activate this effect. Special Summon this card.]

"Rise, Phantom Swordsman!"

"Phantom Swordsman, Level 8/Fire/Warrior" "ATK: 2800/DEF: 2000"

From the graveyard pit where Ranzou wandered within the city, a streak of azure flame shot out, forming in mid-air the silhouette of a warrior in golden armor.

The warrior held two curved swords, and his weapons and armor were wreathed in azure flames.

"Then, combine the 'Flame Swordsman' and the last 'Red-Eyes Steel Flame Dragon' circuits to summon L-ink2! 'Steel Flame Swordsman'!"

"Swordsman of Blazing Flames, L-ink2/Flame/Warrior/Link" "←↙, ATK: 1300"

Two monsters with different card names.

The portal opened, and a warrior appeared, wielding two crimson greatswords inscribed with the word "Fire," looking exactly like the previous "Flame Swordsman." The clanging of the blades was enough to ignite the fighting spirit of all his comrades present.

"The effect of 'Flame Swordsman' is that while this card is on the field, all Warrior-Type monsters gain 500 ATK. If 'Flame Swordsman' is sent to the Graveyard, send 1 monster with 'Flame Swordsman's' name to the Graveyard from your Deck and Extra Deck, and send 'Flame Dragon' from your Extra Deck to the Graveyard. Then proceed to the Battle Phase!"

Impatiently, Ranpo waved his hand forward, giving orders to his monsters—

"The Phantom Swordsman attacks the Dragon Destroyer Swordsman - Destruction Swordsman!"

“They deliberately used a low-attack monster to ram into us…”

Yu Xi naturally didn't think that Ranpo Jounouchi's actions were out of his mind. The fact that he dared to attack like this meant that the "Phantom Swordsman" must have something else going on.

as predicted--

The moment the "Phantom Swordsman" clashed with the "Dragon Destroyer Swordsman," azure flames burst into fierce flames.

"The effect of 'Phantom Swordsman' activates! At the start of damage calculation when this card battles an opponent's monster, destroy both monsters involved in the battle! [Phantom Flame Sword]!"

The azure flames engulfed both warriors, causing them to disappear from the field.

"Next, attack 'Dark, the Shadow Spirit Master' with 'Swordsman of Blazing Flames'!"

“Dark’s attack power is stronger, let’s counterattack.”

Having eliminated a major threat, Ranpo Jonouchi immediately launched his next attack. He again used low-powered monsters to launch suicidal attacks, but this time his objective was entirely different.

Even as the sparks from Dark Spirit's Dark Spirit Technique annihilated the Blazing Swordsman, Ranpo within the castle spoke again.

"If the Link Summoned 'Swordsman of Blazing Flames' is destroyed, activate this effect! Special Summon 1 Warrior-Type monster (other than a Link Monster) from your Graveyard. Revive! 'Swordsman of Blazing Flames'!!"

The dying embers reignited fiercely, reforging the shattered weapon fragments into a broadsword inscribed with the word "Extreme Flame." The "Flame Swordsman," who had been defeated once by the "Shadow Spirit Envoy," grasped the greatsword and was reborn from the ashes.

At the cost of 50 points of combat damage, Jonouchi Ranpo revived his ace.

【Jouchi Ranpo LP: 9400 → 9350】

"Now that 'Dragon Destroyer Swordsman' has been destroyed, I can reuse the effects of Dragon-Type monsters. 'Flame Dragon' effect activated!"

Jonouchi Ranpo shouted, "Equip this card from the Graveyard to 'Flame Swordsman' as an Equip Card that increases its ATK by 700, then open the face-down card and activate the Trap Card: 'Weapon Call'!"

"Equip the Equip Spell Card 'Guardian' to 'Flame Swordsman'. The battle continues; it's still my Battle Phase. 'Flame Swordsman' attacks 'Dark Spirit Master of Shadows'."

Armed with the power of two sets of equipment, the "Extreme Flame Swordsman" gripped the hilt tightly and swung the greatsword casually.

The wave of flames, along with the sword energy, surged towards the target designated by Ranpo within the castle.

With this attack, the effects of the two cards lit up in turn on "Extreme Flame Swordsman" and the spell card behind him.