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

Although there wasn't much increase in the points of attack, that posture already demonstrated how violent the power contained within was.

"So strong, so amazing!"

"That fusion monster looks terrifying!"

"Lucky! The teacher did a good thing this time, she came to the right place!"

The overwhelming sense of pressure emanating from that feeling made many people's hearts sink and their breathing become difficult.

At the same time, I was also very excited.

Unless you're at the competition venue, it's rare to see a monster of this caliber up close like this. Now I'll have something to brag about to my friends.

Compared to the excited students, You Xi's eyes showed a hint of doubt.

"The 'Colossal Titan'...isn't it the 'Ancient Machine Chaos Titan'?"

Normally speaking, if Leo Ku had the chance, he would have merged with the latter, right?

"That monster is too powerful; I can't control it well with my current level of Feel."

Kno kindly explained the reason.

He smiled and said, "But that's alright. For now, summoning 'Super Giant' is enough. I'll then use 'Flying Dragon' and 'Solid Body,' two Machine-Type Earth-Attribute monsters, to set up Link Markers and Link Summon, L-ink2, 'Ancient Crossbowman.'"

As soon as Kno finished speaking, a door with eight arrows opened in the sky.

The "Ancient Mechanical Dragon" and the "Ancient Mechanical Entity" transformed into a tornado and flew into the air, illuminating two of the arrows within. A burst of light erupted from the doorway, and a centaur-shaped robot, equipped with crossbow bolts on its hands and waist, materialized from within.

"Ancient mechanical crossbowman, ground/mechanical/connection" "L-ink2/ATK: 1500"

"↙→, 2 Machine-type Earth-attribute monsters"

—This is the last additional summoning method that Yuki has seen after Fusion, Xyz, and Synchro.

Similar to Synchro Summoning, you can summon the corresponding Link Monster by sending materials that meet certain conditions from the field to the Graveyard.

Link monsters also have arrows. New Link monsters must be summoned in the Extra Monster Zone or the zone indicated by the arrow. The effects of many Link monsters are also related to the linking point.

Overall, it's a simple and excellent summoning method, which is very popular among duelists. Its only drawback is probably the less-than-ideal terminal support.

In contrast, it is highly functional.

"The effect of 'Crossbowman' is as follows: If a Link Summon is successful, add the second 'Gear Street' from your Deck to your hand and activate it. Then, its second effect: Select 'Gear Street' and 'Winged Beast Chimera'. 'Gear Street' is destroyed, and 'Winged Beast Chimera's' ATK becomes 0 until the end of the turn."

The bowstring twanged, and using the field magic as propulsion, a crossbow bolt struck the claw of the "Winged Beast Chimera," robbing it of its fighting ability amidst its painful howl.

"Winged Beast Chimera, ATK: 2100→0"

"The effect of 'Gear Street' has no limit of once per turn, so let's summon this guy this time—appear, 'Ancient Mechanical Thermonuclear Dragon'!"

"------!"

The roar of the engine operating at high speed was played again, and a huge mechanical dragon poked its head out from the endless ruins.

Its size was comparable to that of the "ancient mechanical giant," and pale purple lightning crackled all over its body, making it extremely terrifying.

"Ancient Mechanical Thermonuclear Dragon, Level 9/Earth/Mechanical" "ATK: 3000/DEF: 3000"

"1500 + 3000 + 3300, the total damage is 7800..."

Some people did a quick mental calculation and came to this conclusion.

However, both Hoshinobu and Izayoi Yuki, who had some knowledge of the "Ancient Machines" series, knew very well that the actual output value was not calculated in this way.

Xingye Wu said worriedly, "You Xijun..."

"Entering the battle phase."

With two heavyweight "ancient machines" behind him, Kno said slowly and deliberately, "I'll use the 'Super Titan'..."

"The moment you enter the battle phase, I will reveal the face-down card!"

Yuki, who had been silently watching Kno unfold his spell, suddenly spoke, interrupting the former's spell declaration, and the cover card in front of him was ripped open in response—

"Activate the Perpetual Trap: 'Spirit Sword of Light'!"

"As long as this card is on the field, when your opponent's monster declares an attack, you can pay 1000 LP to negate that attack. There is no limit to the number of times this effect can be used."

"You activated your face-down card before the 'Ancient Gear' monster could attack? Looks like you're quite familiar with the 'Ancient Gear' deck, Yuuki."

Most "Ancient Gear" monsters share the common ability to seal Spell/Trap Cards when attacking, so they can often ignore many of their opponent's red traps and wreak havoc on their opponent in battle.

However, that can only seal the activation of cards; it has no effect on the activation of card effects.

Yu Xi accurately seized upon this often-overlooked loophole in Leo Ku's character.

"However, a 'Super Titan' summoned using two or more 'Ancient Mechanical Titans' as materials can attack a certain number of times in a single battle phase. To block all attacks, you must sacrifice 5000 HP. 'Ancient Mechanical Super Titan' attacks 'Winged Beast Chimera', Super Titan's Fist!"

Upon hearing this, the "Ancient Mechanical Titan" lowered its body, the interlocking gears within it grinding together, propelling its iron fist—capable of destroying even the walls of an ancient fortress—to strike Yuki's monster.

The whistling sound of something cutting through the air filled the ears, pressing on one's nerves, as if nothing could withstand this punch.

however--

Xingyewu/Izayoiyuki: "We've been tricked."

Before, they were worried about whether Yuki could survive this ordeal, but the moment they saw the "Light Guardian Spirit Sword", the two girls' thoughts changed.

What Yu Xi planned was not simply defense, but a counterattack.

He smiled slyly as the giant's fist came hurtling towards him.

"This is the moment I've been waiting for. When your monster declares an attack, the effect of the Continuous Spell 'Severed Darkness' activates!"

Once per turn, if a Fusion Monster Summoned using a Normal Monster as Material battles an opponent's monster, that monster's ATK increases by the same amount as the opponent's monster's ATK until the end of this turn.

"What? It's not the 'Sword of Light'?!"

Knona's composed expression changed, but it was too late.

"Go, 'Winged Beast,' retaliate with your claws! Caesar's Claws!"

"Roar!"

"Winged Beast Chimera, ATK: 0→3300"

Biting the crossbow bolt with its teeth, it forcefully pulled it out of the wound. The "Winged Beast Chimera" roared, propelling its wings with violent wind elements, and slammed its body into the "Super Giant's" fist with splattered blood.

The explosion's flames erupted from the "Winged Beast's" body, engulfing it in the blink of an eye. However, that shock triggered the worst possible chain reaction.

Cracks spread rapidly from the fist, and fragments of steel and gear parts fell. The "Ancient Mechanical Titan" swayed, and its entire body instantly disintegrated into a huge pile of scrap metal.

—Destruction by the "Ancient Mechanical Titan".

"Upon its destruction, the effect of 'Winged Beast Chimera' activates. It revives 'Beast King Gazel' in Attack Position from my Graveyard. Because a Normal Monster is Special Summoned, the effect of 'Severed Darkness' activates, and I draw 1 card from my Deck."

"King Gazel" reappeared in front of him, and Yuki added another card to his hand. "Now the most troublesome monster is gone. I don't need to pay a lot of LP to defend anymore, Professor Kno."

"...I never expected that the Perpetual Magic spell would have this effect. You really tricked me, Yuki."

As expected of a teacher hired by the Duel Academy, even though he was still an intern, Kno quickly recovered from his previous defeat.

"However, my Battle Phase isn't over yet. That card's effect can only be used once per turn, right? So, 'Ancient Mechanical Thermonuclear Dragon' attacks 'Phantom Beast King Gazel.'"

"This time, I'll use the 'Light-Protecting Spirit-Sealing Sword's' effect to nullify attacks."

[Yu Xi's LP: 8000 → 7000]

Golden lightsabers shot out from the crimson card, forming an invincible defensive sword array for the "Beast King." The roar of the "Thermonuclear Dragon" could not shake it in the slightest.

"Continue attacking with the 'Ancient Mechanical Crossbowmen'."

"This attack was also ineffective."

[Yu Xi's LP: 7000 → 6000]

"That little guy is quite something."

"To survive such a terrifying attack... who is that person? I've never seen them before."

"Upon closer inspection, he's actually quite handsome..."

By sacrificing 2000 health points in succession, Yuki successfully blocked all of Kno's attacks, a scene that sparked a heated discussion among the spectating students. However, the direction of this discussion was completely different from what Satomi Sho wanted.

"Hey! Kno! What are you doing?!"

He roared into the dueling arena, "Have you forgotten what you promised me? Is this how you fight a duel?!"

"There's nothing else to do. My turn is over."

Seemingly oblivious to Satomi Sho's roar behind him, Kno adjusted his glasses and quietly announced the turn.

"At the end of your turn, activate the Trap Card: Fusion Preparation."

Yuki pressed the face-down button on the Duel Disk, and the card supported by the girls, just like the previous "Rough Man's Expectation", stood up.

"Based on this card's effect, reveal the Fusion Monster 'Celestial Knight' from my Extra Deck, add the Fusion Material 'Queen Knight' from my Deck to my hand, and then recycle Fusion Monsters from my Graveyard. Then it's my turn; I Summon 'Queen Knight' in Attack Position."

The female knight, symbolizing the Q card in poker, was summoned to the field by Yuki, which triggered the "Severed Darkness" effect once more, increasing Yuki's hand size to 4 cards.

More than that.

"Next, activate the Spell Card: 'Brotherhood Bonds', pay 1000 Life Points, select the effect of 'Queen Knight', and Special Summon 'King Knight' and 'Elf Swordsman Who Tricks the Enemy' from your Deck."

When "King's Knight" is successfully Special Summoned, "Queen's Knight" and "Guard Knight" are also Special Summoned because "Queen's Knight" is already on the field.

[Yu Xi's LP: 6000 → 5000]

JQK, the three knights are instantly assembled. With the addition of "the Elf Swordsman who tampers with enemies" and "the Beast King", Yuki's front line is completely filled.

Looking at this magnificent scene, a thought couldn't help but pop into Kno's mind.

[What the hell? This level of strength is nowhere near the trash-level Satomi Sho was talking about...]

Chapter 44: The Cowboys Continue!

Kno felt like he had been tricked.