Chapter 267: Peak of Cards, Proud in the World
[Hayato: 4000 LP, Hand 5]
[Hesiod: 4000 LP, Hand 5]
"I'll take the First Turn," Hesiod drew a Card first. "Summon Command Knight in Defense Position. I Activate its Effect, Special Summoning a monster with Level 4 or lower from my Hand."
"I Special Summon another Command Knight."
On Hesiod's Field, two Command Knights appeared, looking completely identical, like twins carved from the same mold, striking the same pose.
[Command Knight] [3☆/EARTH]
[Warrior-Type/Effect]
[1200/400]
"Command Knight, while it exists on the Field in Face-up Position, you cannot Attack other Warrior-Type monsters; you can only Attack it. And now I have two Command Knights on my Field, which means your monsters' attacks are blocked."
Hesiod proudly declared his monster's Effect, but perhaps feeling it wasn't secure enough, he Activated another Card from his Hand on the Field. "But just in case, I'll use this Card. Activate the Continuous Spell Card, Stumbling."
"As long as this Card exists on the Field, all monsters that are Summoned, Flip Summoned, or Special Summoned are changed to Defense Position."
"This way, even if you find a way to break through my Command Knights' defense on the Field, you cannot attack me directly with monsters." Hesiod smugly placed two Cards from his Hand in the Spell & Trap Zone. "Set two Cards, my Turn ends."
[Hesiod: 4000 LP, Hand 1]
[Command Knight] [DEF 400]
[Command Knight] [DEF 400]
[Stumbling] [Set Card] X2
Hayato: "Then it's my Turn, Draw."
Looking down at his Hand, hmm, a Per☆fect☆Hand.
For the first time in a while, Hayato had a slightly awkward Hand, but it didn't matter. A true Duelist can perfectly utilize whatever Cards they Draw.
"I Activate the Effect of Lava Golem from my Hand. It can be Special Summoned to your Field by Tributing two monsters on your opponent's Field." Drawing a powerful Level 8 monster, Hayato revealed it.
Hesiod seemed to have Dueled Master Marik quite a bit, as he recognized the Card. "What, is that Master Marik's Lava Golem?"
The two Command Knights standing shoulder to shoulder were astonished to find terrifying high temperature suddenly emanating from the ground beneath their feet. Before they could move from their spots, scorching lava erupted from the ground, completely engulfing both monsters.
The towering body of Lava Golem appeared on Hesiod's Field. The iron cage on its chest opened, trapping Hesiod himself inside.
"Since you recognize this Card, I won't repeat its Effect. Although I gave you a powerful monster, no need to thank me." Hayato pointed at Lava Golem with a smile. "Because of the Effect of Stumbling you Activated on your Field, the Lava Golem that was Special Summoned will be changed to Defense Position."
"Unfortunately, Lava Golem's Special Summon uses up my Normal Summon, so this Turn, I cannot Summon a monster this Turn." Hayato said, taking out two Cards. "Set two Cards, my Turn ends."
"Before that, I Activate my set Quick-Play Spell Card!" Hearing Hayato declare the end of his Turn, Hesiod immediately said, "Book of Moon can target one Face-up monster and change it to Face-down Defense Position. The monster I choose is naturally Lava Golem."
"I've lost more than once because of this monster's Effect. As long as it's flipped face-down, even Lava Golem cannot Activate its Effect to deal Damage to me."
"Tsk, it seems a single trick doesn't work everywhere in Duel Monsters."
[Hayato: 4000 LP, Hand 3]
[Set Card] X2
"Then it's my Turn, Draw!"
After Drawing a Card, Hesiod Activated one on the Field. "Continuous Spell Card Card Trader Activate! During my Standby Phase of each of my subsequent Turns, I can return one Card from my Hand to the Deck and Draw one Card."
On Hesiod's Backrow, a merchant wearing a black robe and black hat, with half his face covered by a mask, appeared, carrying a large package with him. It was clear he was quite wealthy. However, having appeared hastily, Card Trader needed to organize his goods and was temporarily unable to trade with Hesiod.
"Then, because the Standby Phase has passed, I Flip Summon the Lava Golem that is in Face-down Defense Position."
"The Burn Damage was avoided, but don't forget that because of your own Stumbling's Effect, the Lava Golem that was Flip Summoned back to Face-up Position still has to change to Defense Position. Even if it were to Attack me, it would have to wait until the next Turn." Hayato said calmly.
"Don't speak so absolutely, King of Games. I had already considered the situation where my own monsters are affected by Stumbling and change to Defense Position. Although Lava Golem was unexpected." Hesiod Activated the Set Card he had placed on the Field earlier. "Quick-Play Spell Card Defense Draw!"
"Activate by targeting one monster on the Field. This Turn, if the targeted monster changes to Defense Position, I can Draw one Card from my Deck."
After Drawing a Card, Hesiod said with a smug look, "Don't forget I haven't performed a Normal Summon this Turn yet, King of Games. I will Tribute the Lava Golem, whose utility is completely gone, to perform a Tribute Summon!"
"Summon Total Defense Shogun in Defense Position!"
Without even leaving a single point of Damage, the Lava Golem that Hayato had "given" to Hesiod disappeared from the Field, turning into starlight. Replacing it was a majestic general burdened by heavy armor and a greatsword, whose movements were slow despite his muscular build.
[Total Defense Shogun] [6☆/DARK]
[Warrior-Type/Effect]
[1550/2500]
"Total Defense Shogun, due to its own Effect, will change to Defense Position upon successful Summon or Flip Summon, so Stumbling's Effect becomes even more meaningless. Not to mention I directly Summoned it in Defense Position."
Hesiod tossed the Lava Golem Card back to Hayato and said smugly, "Furthermore, don't think Total Defense Shogun's appearance looks a bit slow-moving. This is just to fight more effectively; he's very strong."
"I don't really think wearing that kind of turtle shell allows for much combat power." Hayato retorted, sending the Lava Golem Card to his own Graveyard. "Because you Tributed the gift I gave you, I'm getting a little angry now."
"Because you Summoned Total Defense Shogun with 1550 ATK, I Chain its Summon! My Trap Card in the Backrow Activates, Bottomless Trap Hole! Destroy and Banish from Play all monsters you Special Summoned with 1500 or more ATK!"
"Speaking of which, I actually swiped— uh, won this Bottomless Trap Hole from that bastard Haga. The fact that he would join your Ghouls was something I didn't expect either. However, his demise because of this is his own fault."
"I already told you, I don't know anyone from the Ghouls, King of Games." Hesiod said feigning ignorance.
"Heh heh, I'll just pretend I believe you." Hayato glanced at the calm-faced Hesiod, then pointed at the Total Defense Shogun on his Field and said sternly, "Fall into the Bottomless Pit, Total Defense Shogun!"
On Hesiod's Field, the ground beneath Total Defense Shogun's feet began to collapse, revealing a bottomless pit. An invisible suction force wrapped around Total Defense Shogun, as if vowing not to stop until it dragged it into the pit.
"Not so easy! I Activate the Quick-Play Spell Card from my Hand, Forbidden Dress! Decrease the ATK of my Total Defense Shogun on the Field by 600 points until the end of the Turn, making it immune to being Destroyed by Effect!" Hesiod played the last Card in his Hand. "You can't control my monster! Even if it were to be sent to the Graveyard, it should be decided by me!"
A phantom white holy robe flew out from the Card, gently draped itself over the determined-looking Total Defense Shogun. Although the fabric looked quite thin and fragile, Forbidden Dress truly took Effect, completely resisting the pulling force from Bottomless Trap Hole. Until the opening closed, Total Defense Shogun still stood tall on the Field.
[Total Defense Shogun] [1550/2500 → 950/2500]
"Enter my Battle Phase!"
Hesiod waved his hand, pointing at Hayato, whose front row was empty, with no monsters to serve as a shield. "Total Defense Shogun, while in Defense Position, can still Declare an Attack. During Damage Calculation, apply its ATK value."
"Oh, King of Games, high and mighty, take this blow of mine! [Swallow's Return]!"
Seemingly burdened by heavy armor and weapons, Total Defense Shogun received its controller's command. "Swish," it drew one of the two greatswords from its back and held it in its hand, its figure moved nimbly, attacking towards Hayato.
The agility of its movement was actually truly comparable to a nimble swallow.
"Because of Forbidden Dress, although the monster was saved, its ATK decreased. But even so, I don't want to take even 100 points of Damage." Hayato said with a cold and arrogant expression. "Don't touch me!"
"The path of cards, proud in the world, where Hayato stands, there is heaven!"
As he spoke, Hayato played a Card from his Hand:
"Take this, my invincible Partner, you punk!"
Rainbow Kuriboh stepped on a barrier of light, precisely blocking the heavy greatsword.