Chapter 17: Mecha Suppression

Dinosaur Ryuzaki exhaled deeply.

The Trihorn Dragon was destroyed and sent to the graveyard, but it was all right. Although it was a bit unsettling, it was still within his expectations.

Ryuzaki was a man who had faced many storms. Back in the day, he had endured being turned into a fossil by the Time Magician’s spinning wheel inside Earth Block City. Compared to that, this was a minor setback.

“But my turn is not over yet.”

Ryuzaki drew another card.

“I activate the continuous spell—Nightmare Mirage Cylinder. This card allows me to draw cards from my deck during the opponent’s standby phase until I have four cards in hand.

However, as a side effect, during my own standby phase, I must randomly discard the same number of cards I drew.”

Yū Gen’s expression remained impassive.

Hmm, true to the anime world’s spirit, he nonchalantly played a permanently banned card.

“Then, I set two cards face-down in the back row and end my turn.”

It was Yū Gen’s turn to draw. “My turn, draw.”

“At this moment, the effect of ‘Nightmare Mirage Cylinder’ activates,” Ryuzaki said. “I draw four cards from my deck.”

As expected from a banned card’s power, Ryuzaki’s empty hand instantly refilled to four cards in one turn.

But Yū Gen calmly played the cards he drew: “Spell card—Pot of Greed. I draw two more cards from my deck.”

He acted as if everyone had a few banned cards up their sleeves.

After drawing, Yū Gen continued: “I first summon the card I searched last turn...”

A monster card was placed on the duel disk’s monster zone with a crisp snap.

“Machina Soldier—Mechanical Skeleton, attack position.”

[Machina Soldier—Mechanical Skeleton, ATK 1800]

“The effect of Mechanical Skeleton activates. When this card is successfully summoned, I add one ‘Machina’ card other than ‘Mechanical Skeleton’ from my deck to my hand.”

“I see. The Peacekeeper that was destroyed last turn had the ability to search ‘Mechanical Skeleton’ upon destruction, and ‘Mechanical Skeleton’ can search ‘Machina Fortress’...

So, it seems Yū Gen’s initial setup was all for this ‘Machina Fortress’!”

“This is going to get interesting,” commentator Sasaki also smiled.

“I add this card from my deck...”

Yū Gen revealed the card he drew.

“...‘Machina Fortress’ added to my hand.”

He then displayed both the Fortress and another monster card in his hand.

“Next is the effect of ‘Machina Fortress.’ Although this is a level 7 high-level monster, it can be special summoned from the hand or graveyard by discarding Machine-type monsters from your hand whose total levels equal or exceed 8.

I discard the level 8 ‘Machina Soldier—Superdreadnought’ from my hand to the graveyard and special summon ‘Machina Fortress!’”

One card sent to the graveyard, the heavy metal fortress immediately appeared on his field. Its bulky metal treads, pale blue armor, and thick cannon barrel seemed to declare, “Caliber is justice.”

[Machina Fortress, ATK 2500]

“Battle phase,” Yū Gen said. “First, ‘Machina Fortress’ attacks the face-down ‘Trihorn Dragon’!”

[Trihorn Dragon, DEF 2350]

The fortress’s massive main cannon slowly descended, locked on the target, and loaded ammunition. With a thunderous roar and flash, the shell blasted out, striking the set card. The poor Trihorn Dragon never saw the light again and was blown to ashes with a single explosion.

“Next, Mechanical Skeleton attacks directly!”

The red mecha warrior stomped forward, its metallic body charging through a transparent vortex. Ryuzaki hurriedly crouched, covering his head, but was still knocked to the ground by the image of a metallic flying kick.

[Ryuzaki, LP 2600 → LP 800]

The audience erupted in astonishment.

A returning legend facing a rookie was expected to be a one-sided affair, but who could have imagined the one-sidedness would be completely reversed?

Dinosaur Ryuzaki was being suppressed?

“This is truly an unexpected development...” even the commentators began to waver in their pre-match predictions.

“Ryuzaki’s field position looks bad...” commentator Odo said.

“Indeed, he’s completely dominated on the field, with only 800 life points remaining. Meanwhile, Yū Gen’s life points remain untouched...”

[Yū Gen, LP 4000]

Sasaki couldn’t help but frown as he glanced again at Yū Gen’s unshaken life points.

Is this really a rookie?

From previous matches until now, he had steamrolled opponents effortlessly. Looking back at all his duels, there seemed to be no pressure at all.

And now, he was even suppressing the likes of Dinosaur Ryuzaki to this extent...

Where did this unheard-of monster suddenly come from?

“Main Phase 2.”

Yū Gen’s turn continued.

“I activate the other effect of ‘Machina Soldier—Mechanical Skeleton.’

Once per turn, this card can become an Equip Card, equipping itself to a Machine-type monster on my field.

I equip ‘Mechanical Skeleton’ to ‘Machina Fortress’ on my field.”

Mechanical Skeleton leapt up, transforming with a series of clanks and clatters, merging onto the Fortress.

“When the equipped monster would be destroyed by battle or effect, Mechanical Skeleton can be destroyed instead,” Yū Gen explained. “Also, once per turn, I can special summon the equipped Mechanical Skeleton back to my field.”

“What a powerful combo!” Odo said. “Mechanical Skeleton not only searches for Fortress from the deck but can also equip itself to Fortress, granting it destruction protection?”

“Not only that,” Sasaki commented. “Equipping it also protects Mechanical Skeleton itself, preventing the opponent from exploiting its low attack as a weak point.

Moreover, even if I need it to attack next turn to help finish off the opponent, it can jump back onto the field on its own...”

“An offense-and-defense combo, so strong,” Odo couldn’t help but say. “This Fujiwara Yū Gen... is he really a rookie?”

Sasaki was momentarily speechless.

“I set two cards face-down.”

Two more facedown cards appeared by Yū Gen’s feet. He glanced at Ryuzaki’s continuous spell in the back row and sighed.

The deck Ryuzaki was currently using included three Wind cards that could have easily blown away the ‘Nightmare Mirage Cylinder’ before the standby phase. If he had drawn any of them, while not a guaranteed victory, it would have significantly improved his chances.

Unfortunately, not a single one was drawn.

Another day of relying on lucky draws...

“My turn ends,” Yū Gen said.

“You’ve got guts to keep going...” Ryuzaki gritted his teeth.

“My turn, draw.”

After the draw phase, Ryuzaki’s standby phase began.

“At this time, the side effect of ‘Nightmare Mirage Cylinder’ would cause me to discard four cards... but!”

Ryuzaki flipped over his back row.

“At this moment, I activate the set trap ‘Reckless Greed’!

I can draw two cards from my deck, but the cost is skipping the draw phase for the next two turns.”

A card with huge benefits and risks. Ryuzaki drew two more cards.

“Then, I immediately activate the quick-play spell ‘Excess Food’!”

He flipped the second back row card.

“I send all my spell and trap cards on the field except ‘Excess Food’ to the graveyard. For each card sent, I recover 1000 life points!

I send the activating ‘Reckless Greed’ and ‘Nightmare Mirage Cylinder’ to the graveyard and recover 2000 life points!”

Under a golden glow, the two cards in the back row vanished, their energies absorbed by Ryuzaki.

[Ryuzaki, LP 800 → LP 2800]

“Nice play!” Odo couldn’t help but say. “Activate ‘Reckless Greed,’ then chain the trap ‘Excess Food.’

Even though the trap card has activated, it remains on the field during ‘Excess Food’s resolution, so it can still be used as a cost to recover life points.”

“Exactly. And by sending ‘Nightmare Mirage Cylinder’ to the graveyard with ‘Excess Food,’ he avoids the side effect of discarding cards during the standby phase.”

Sasaki nodded in agreement.

“Ryuzaki is still Ryuzaki—undeniably strong in dueling skill.”

Ryuzaki wiped his nose, seemingly proud of his expert play: “What a pity; looks like your attack last turn was all for nothing.”

Yet Yū Gen remained completely unshaken inside.

He didn’t think it was a particularly high-level play—just curious where Ryuzaki got that 502 glue from.

He’d wanted to ask for a long time: why do the ‘Mirage Cylinder’ and ‘Excess Food’ cards in their anime world always seem permanently stuck together with superglue, never once missing a draw...