Reading settings
Chapter 558: Bolvar Ameralda's Unbreakable Bond with the Stairs
"Ugh!"
[Alister: 4000 → 3000 LP]
During Alister's Standby Phase after drawing a card, the effect of **Lava Golem** automatically activated, forcing Alister to inhale a large amount of lava and reducing his Life Points by a full 1000 points.
Moreover, because Alister had previously activated **Seal of Orichalcos**, this 1000 points of damage was incredibly real, burning his skin bright red.
However, compared to that, Alister was more concerned about the prevision Ishizu had just displayed.
He didn't feel much regret about **Sakuretsu Armor**, which he had just drawn and was discarded by **Gravekeeper's Trap**. After all, he only added that card to his deck purely to bait cards like **Mystical Space Typhoon**. Losing it was no big deal.
But the problem was, his current hand size was 0, while Ishizu's **Gravekeeper's Trap** was a Continuous Trap Card that could be used every single Draw Phase.
This meant that in the upcoming duel, if Ishizu Ishtar could consistently predict, or rather, "see what cards he would draw in the future," he would constantly be in a state of drawing and then discarding, unable to replenish even a single card in his hand, while Ishizu on the opposite side could keep drawing cards.
Alister finally understood why Ishizu had taken her younger brother Malik Ishtar's **Lava Golem** to use. The important thing wasn't **Lava Golem**'s characteristic of Tributing the opponent's monster for summoning, but its ability to inflict effect damage every turn!
His judgment was completely wrong. This woman's strategy wasn't centered around the deck destruction strategy of **Exchange of the Spirit** at all. Instead, she was forcibly turning the duel back into the early days of monster attack and defense, using the monsters she could continuously replenish as a wall to block **Lava Golem**, and then using **Lava Golem**'s effect to burn him to death with a burn strategy!
What kind of person is this? Can't we just duel properly? This is way too messed up!
After understanding Ishizu's strategy, Alister felt a slight sense of relief. He was glad that Ishizu's opponent wasn't Valon or Rafael, but himself, the one among the Doma Three Swordsmen who was best at utilizing monsters in the graveyard.
Thanks to the effect of **Agido the Ancient Sentinel** that Ishizu used last turn, five cards were milled into his graveyard, including three Level 4 Machine-Type monsters: **Machina Defender**, **Machina Soldier**, and **Machina Sniper**.
Heh heh, there are three Level 4 monsters!
By banishing them from the graveyard, I can summon my invincible **Meklord Army: Destruction Armament** again!
Although I can't replenish my hand and can only have my Life Points gradually reduced,
It doesn't matter!
As long as I utilize the effects of the monsters in my graveyard to gather enough forces on the field, I can break through the opponent's defense within the three turns my Life Points can last. Victory will still belong to me!
Thinking this, Alister said proudly, "It's just a temporary lead. You're using **Lava Golem** to deduct my Life Points now, but it won't be long before I deduct them back from you. Don't get too proud, woman!"
"My ace monster won't leave the field easily! I activate the effect of **Meklord Army: Destruction Armament** in the graveyard! By banishing the three monsters from the graveyard—**Machina Defender**, **Machina Soldier**, and **Machina Sniper**, whose Levels are 4☆—the total Level is 12☆ or higher!"
"Roar, my obsession, my soul!!"
"**Meklord Army: Destruction Armament**!!!"
The pitch-black dump truck, **Meklord Army: Destruction Armament**, roared as it burst from the ground, slowly rising on Alister's field. Seeing this, Alister laughed wildly, "Heh, heh, heh! Hahaha!"
"How about it? Seeing my monster, terrifying like a nightmare, do you feel fear? Don't blink, this is the last monster you'll ever see!"
Valon, watching from the side, inexplicably felt like his lines had been stolen.
"Did that guy Alister suffer a setback against Kaiba Seto? He's usually just a bit gloomy, but today he's got such a temper."
Rafael glanced at Valon. "Your sixth sense is as accurate as ever."
"Huh?"
"No, nothing." Rafael shook his head, having no intention of exposing Alister's weakness. Valon didn't care either and turned back to look at the field.
"That woman named Ishizu is really unlucky. To actually encounter Alister when he's in a bad mood. Looks like she's about to have some unpleasant memories." Valon, whose dueling style was more stream of consciousness, didn't realize how annoying the **Gravekeeper's Trap** Ishizu activated was. Instead, seeing Alister summon **Meklord Army: Destruction Armament** again, he thought Alister had the advantage.
"Although, the memories won't last too long. After all, she's about to be defeated and have her soul sealed."
But hearing Valon's judgment, Rafael denied it. "You're wrong, Valon. The one at a disadvantage now isn't that Ishizu Ishtar, but Alister."
"And haven't you noticed? Even though Alister declared the summoning of **Meklord Army: Destruction Armament** so long ago, that ace card of Alister's has been slow to complete its descent."
"Furthermore, that woman isn't panicked in the slightest. Alister's actions are still within her calculations!"
Rafael wasn't the only one who noticed this point. Alister also realized that the **Meklord Army: Destruction Armament** he had called for was slow to crawl out from underground.
Having only revealed its head, **Meklord Army: Destruction Armament** remained motionless on the spot. At the same time, Alister also found that he couldn't perform the action of taking cards from the Duel Disk's graveyard to banish or summon!
"W-What's going on!?" Alister was confused by the anomaly before him. He exerted force with his finger, but still couldn't take out the cards from the graveyard. His gaze, constantly watching the **Meklord Army: Destruction Armament** on the field, also saw no movement. "**Destruction Armament**, why aren't you moving?"
"Move, **Destruction Armament**!"
"Move, **Destruction Armament**, why aren't you moving!"
After attempting but still failing to make his cards and monsters move, Alister's gaze directly glared at Ishizu. "What exactly is going on? What did you do, Ishizu Ishtar!"
"What did I do? Shouldn't you be able to see that clearly, Alister?" Ishizu naturally knew what was happening before her, but perhaps due to the saying "one is influenced by one's company," she didn't directly state the reason. Instead, she put on an innocent expression with a touch of dark humor. "In response to your Special Summon, I haven't activated any effects, have I? Even my set card is untouched."
"Oh, I understand now, Alister. I understand why you haven't summoned your monster. You're actually afraid of me, aren't you? After suffering a loss in your duel against Kaiba Seto, you're like someone who almost died from snake venom, afraid of even a rope."
"Because of this fear, you subconsciously refused to summon a monster to oppose me. As your Tamashii, **Meklord Army: Destruction Armament** also followed your idea and didn't appear!"
"Stop talking nonsense! How could I possibly feel fear towards someone like you!" Alister seemed enraged by Ishizu's words and said angrily.
"Is that so? Are you truly not afraid of me? Think back, Alister. Is your state the same in this duel with me as it was in your duels with others?" Ishizu adopted a tone as if analyzing for Alister. "You're apprehensive of **Exchange of the Spirit**, apprehensive of **Necrovalley**, and even scared by **Lava Golem**."
"Clearly, you're not feeling peace of mind in this duel with me, Alister."
Ishizu's tone shifted, and she said calmly, "People live to overcome fear and unease. Everyone lives for 'peace of mind.' Fame, wealth and power, a peaceful life, even 'justice' and 'ideal'—people use these things to make themselves feel 'peace of mind.' One could even say that people live solely for 'peace of mind.'"
"Since opposing me makes you so uneasy, why don't you return that monster, and let yourself feel peace of mind, Alister?"
Facing Ishizu's "suggestion," Alister's face was filled with the humiliation of being looked down upon. "That's absolutely impossible! How could I flinch because of things like 'fear' or 'unease'!"
"It must have been a loose screw on the Duel Disk that caused a malfunction just now. I'll summon **Destruction Armament** right now to show you!"
"Come forth, my ace card, **Meklord Army: Destruction Armament**!"
The roaring sound of the mechanical device operating suddenly rang out with Alister's order. But before Alister, who heard the sound, could feel any relief, he found that he still couldn't pull the cards from the graveyard. Moreover, under Alister's gaze, the **Meklord Army: Destruction Armament** that had half-emerged from underground on his field actually retracted a bit!?
"Saying one thing and doing another, Alister. Heh heh heh heh." With no cards in her hand, Ishizu crossed her empty arms over her chest, standing on the stairs and looking down at the astonishment-filled Alister below the stairs. "Why did your monster go back? As expected, you're still afraid of dueling me and want to escape, aren't you?"
Alister's face was filled with disbelief. "W-What the hell! I clearly, clearly intended to summon a monster!"
"I definitely drew a card outwards just now!"
"Heh heh, still hesitant, huh, Alister? You're afraid, so much so that even though you're thinking you must summon a monster to battle, because you're too afraid, your finger unconsciously pushed the card back?"
Alister's pupil shrunk.
'C-Could it really be as Ishizu Ishtar said?'
'Because years of effort still couldn't surpass Kaiba Seto, and I was defeated and my self-esteem was frustrated after barely getting a draw, I'm suspicious and afraid of dueling her?'
'Could I really be—'
"Don't be influenced, Alister!"
Seeing Alister's attention being distracted and his mind scattered by Ishizu's words, Rafael immediately spoke up to remind him.
Ishizu's combination of foreseeing the future and that strange "theory of peace of mind" certainly gave off the air of a charlatan and was quite effective at misleading people, but Rafael didn't expect Alister to actually be led astray by Ishizu.
Among them, the Doma Three Swordsmen, Rafael had long known that Alister was the one with the most serious psychological problem among the three. While Valon's pursuit of extremely high-level excitement and a peaceful life was somewhat contradictory, it was understandable. Rafael himself only treated card monsters as family, which was much better than some people who treated cards as their wife.
But Alister was different. His life had no pursuit, or rather, his only pursuit was KaibaCorp and Kaiba Seto. A life that existed solely for revenge could erupt with powerful strength when facing Kaiba Seto, but it was fragile in other aspects.
At least Rafael felt that other duelists would absolutely not be influenced by just a little interference from Ishizu and believe that they truly felt fear towards the opponent. Of course, this was also partly because Ishizu kept including "Kaiba Seto" in her words to influence Alister.
Although Duel Monsters indeed involves a significant degree of psychological warfare, to play psychological tactics to this extent, one has to admit that Ishizu Ishtar is a truly scheming woman.
"Although I'm not sure exactly what's going on, the fact that you can't summon a monster is definitely because of the opponent's cards." He turned his head to look at the helicopter's dashboard. "Hurry up, Alister, we don't have much time!"
"I know!" Alister replied to Rafael, refocusing his attention on the duel and looking directly into Ishizu's gaze. "Ishizu Ishtar, your psychological induction ends here. I won't be influenced by you anymore."
"This duel is a duel where our lives are at stake. Before I get my revenge on KaibaCorp, my life will absolutely not end here!"
"Even with just one monster, I will defeat you! Change **Lava Golem** to Attack Position, then enter Battle Phase!"
[Lava Golem] [DEF 2500 → ATK 3000 → 3500]
"Attack **Keldo the Sacred Protector**! Ameralda Flame!"
Perhaps it was the convergence of the worldline, Alister instinctively shouted **Lava Golem**'s "most authentic" attack name. The **Lava Golem**, now in Attack Position, swung its giant magma fist, destroying the golden statue on Ishizu's field and sending it to the graveyard.
However, since it was in Defense Position, Ishizu didn't take any damage. And Alister, having no other cards to use after using **Lava Golem**, had nothing left to do.
"My turn, end."
[Alister: 3000 LP, Hand 0]
[Lava Golem] [ATK 3500]
(Field) [Seal of Orichalcos]
Looking at Alister's gaze, Ishizu understood that, just as he said, her previous tactics likely wouldn't be effective anymore. Because from his eyes, she could clearly see the malice and hatred towards a certain person, almost overflowing.
Clearly, Alister was using his obsession with Kaiba to distract himself, making one unsure whether to praise him or rant about him.
However, if it wasn't effective, then it wasn't effective. Ishizu hadn't actually expected to trick Alister into surrendering; it was just dark humor earlier. Rather, her strategy was practically complete. Alister's thoughts were no longer important.
"This is a trial, Alister, a test of mind. Although you didn't pass the trial, you undoubtedly grew in your own way. In that case, as a gift, let me tell you the true power of **Gravekeeper's Trap**."
Ishizu pointed to the Continuous Trap Card on her field. "The third effect of **Gravekeeper's Trap** is what you saw before, negating your ability to draw cards. Its first effect is, as long as **Exchange of the Spirit** exists in my graveyard, the opponent cannot activate card effects from the graveyard, nor can they Special Summon monsters from the graveyard."
"And the second effect allows me to discard a card from my hand during either player's Main Phase, then search my deck for a 'Gravekeeper' or EARTH Fairy-Type monster and add it to my hand."
Hearing Ishizu's words, Alister suddenly realized. "I see, no wonder I couldn't use the effect of **Destruction Armament** in the graveyard to Special Summon itself, or even banish cards."
With his confusion resolved, a moment of relief couldn't help but appear on Alister's face.
And Ishizu began her turn, drawing a card. "My turn, draw a card."
After drawing the card, Ishizu didn't even look at it and immediately activated it. "I activate the effect of **Graceful Charity** that I drew! Both players draw cards until they have six cards in their hand."
"Huh?" Alister didn't expect Ishizu to use **Graceful Charity**. Didn't she just use a strategy to lock his drawing? What was going on now, letting him draw cards again? Had she changed her strategy again?
Unable to figure it out, Alister didn't hesitate either, seeing the empty-handed Ishizu draw six cards. He drew six cards into his hand.
[**Mystical Space Typhoon**] [**Limiter Removal**] [**Royal Decree**] [**Emergency Provisions**] [**Mysterious Wok**] [**Machina Gearframe**]
Woohoo, this hand of cards is simply invincible! How satisfying is this?
Next turn, I'll start by stir-frying **Lava Golem** with Mysterious Chinese Pot and eating it, let's see how it deducts my Life Points. And **Mystical Space Typhoon** will definitely destroy that annoying **Gravekeeper's Trap**. Besides its annoying effect, looking at the card art and remembering where the card came from, Alister always had the illusion of eating Hayato Kobayashi and Ishizu Ishtar's dog food.
There's also **Royal Decree** which specifically negates traps, and **Machina Gearframe** which can search for other Meklord monsters. If I can't win with such a good hand, I'll eat this **Seal of Orichalcos** under my feet.
At this moment, Alister was immersed in the joy of drawing a good hand and hadn't yet realized what he was about to face.
And Ishizu, seeing the cards in her hand, calmly took out one of them. "I activate the effect of **Zolga the Prophet** from my hand! If an EARTH Fairy-Type monster other than **Zolga the Prophet** exists on my field, I can Special Summon it directly from my hand."
"Also, I activate the effect of **Mudora the Sword Oracle** from my hand! I discard an EARTH Fairy-Type monster and Special Summon it from my hand."
Ishizu's hand, which had been replenished to six cards, instantly decreased by three. And on her field, two more monsters appeared. One was **Mudora the Sword Oracle**, which had appeared once before. Its effect to search for **Gravekeeper's Trap** from the deck didn't activate again, suggesting Ishizu only had one copy of that card in her deck.
The other monster, **Zolga the Prophet**, was also just a 4☆ monster, also in Defense Position.
However, with three monsters assembled, if Ishizu hadn't already used **The Winged Dragon of Ra** and had it taken by Valon, Alister might have been apprehensive about whether the opponent would summon a Divine-Beast.
After summoning three monsters, Ishizu declared, "With this, I have three monsters on my field. The puzzle of victory is complete. Alister, you who were filled with hope because of **Graceful Charity**, are about to face the ultimate comeback!"
"Just so you know, I have more than one copy of **Exchange of the Spirit** in my deck."
Smiling mysteriously, Ishizu pressed the activate set card button, activating the mysterious set card in her Spell/Trap Zone. "I activate the set card in my Spell/Trap Zone, **Reversal of Despair and Hope**!"
"This card can only be activated if there are three or more EARTH Fairy-Type monsters on my field! Send all monsters on the field to the graveyard!"
As Ishizu's set card activated, at the same time, blue soul fire rose from the bodies of the three EARTH Fairy-Type monsters on Ishizu's field and the **Lava Golem** on Alister's field, dispersing and turning their bodies into dust instantly.
Although **Lava Golem** was a monster on Alister's field, because Ishizu was the one who sent it to the opponent's field, it was sent to Ishizu's graveyard.
Although the number of cards in Ishizu's graveyard also increased to 20, meeting the activation condition for **Exchange of the Spirit**, Alister's graveyard currently had nine cards. He wouldn't lose immediately just because he couldn't draw cards, so Alister wasn't panicked at all at this moment.
And **Reversal of Despair and Hope** still had an effect to resolve.
"After all monsters are sent to the graveyard, both duelists can select up to the number of monsters sent to the opponent's graveyard by this effect from the opponent's graveyard and Special Summon them to their own field," Ishizu said, spreading her hands. "Unfortunately, no monsters were sent to your graveyard, Alister, so I cannot Special Summon monsters from your graveyard."
"Also, because of the effect of **Gravekeeper's Trap**, you cannot Special Summon monsters from the graveyard, not even from my graveyard."
"So now, we begin processing the last effect of **Reversal of Despair and Hope**."
Ishizu paused, then drew a card from her deck. "If **Exchange of the Spirit** exists in my graveyard, I can set one trap card from my deck to my Spell/Trap Zone. The card set by this effect can be activated this turn."
"The card I select is this second copy of **Exchange of the Spirit**!"
"Then, because I currently have 21 cards in my graveyard, I pay 1000 Life Points to activate **Exchange of the Spirit**! Both players exchange their decks and graveyards!"
[Ishizu: 4000 → 3000 LP]
Seeing Ishizu pay 1000 Life Points to activate **Exchange of the Spirit**, Alister felt no sense of crisis and mocked, "It's too late to activate that **Exchange of the Spirit** now! Don't forget I also have 9 cards in my graveyard. After exchanging decks and graveyards, I can still last nine more turns."
"You have no monsters left on your field to act as a barrier. You can't even last half a turn against my Meklord deck. After your despicable strategy became ineffective, you made a bad move, Ishizu Ishtar!"
As **Exchange of the Spirit** activated, blue soul fire rose from the graveyard zones on both Alister's and Ishizu's Duel Disks. Mocked by Alister like this, Ishizu's corner of mouth curved up, and she said, "Sore wa dou kana?"
"When did you get the illusion that you had nine cards in your graveyard, Alister?"
"Nani!?"
Hearing this, Alister looked down, only to see two monsters in soul state from Ishizu's graveyard reaching out towards his Duel Disk, each grabbing a handful of cards and retracting!
They were none other than **Mudora the Sword Oracle** and **Keldo the Sacred Protector**, sent to the graveyard by **Reversal of Despair and Hope**!
"Chaining to **Exchange of the Spirit**, I activate the effects of these two monsters in the graveyard." Ishizu took out two monster cards from the graveyard and banished them. "During your/opponent's turn, by banishing these two cards from the field or graveyard, they both have the ability to return up to five cards from your/opponent's graveyard to the deck. However, if **Exchange of the Spirit** is not in my graveyard, the quantity decreases to 3."
"Because of the effects of **Mudora the Sword Oracle** and **Keldo the Sacred Protector**, I return all nine cards from your graveyard, Alister, to the deck. Then, the effect of **Exchange of the Spirit** applies, and both players exchange their respective decks and graveyards!"
Red and blue radiance bloomed, a miraculous power that reversed the boundary of life and death, difficult to conceal even by the ominous green magic circle beneath their feet. After the light dissipated, the number of cards in Ishizu's deck became 19 after banishing two monsters, while the number of cards in Alister's deck was 0.
The scene before him was truly disbelief-inducing for Alister. "I cannot accept this!"
One minute ago, Alister was filled with hope because of a good hand. Now, he was plunged into ultimate despair because his deck was milled to nothing, truly living up to the card name of Ishizu's **Reversal of Despair and Hope**.
As if delivering a psychological blow, Ishizu revealed a card in her hand. "Checkmate, Alister, I win. The final magic card, I activate **Card Destruction**! Both players—"
"Crack!"
Wrapping the emerald chain he had been wearing around his neck around his hand like brass knuckles, Rafael, who had jumped off the helicopter sensing the situation was bad, punched the originally indestructible **Seal of Orichalcos** fiercely. The green ring suddenly shattered.
"Ugh!"
[Alister: 4000 → 3000 LP]
During Alister's Standby Phase after drawing a card, the effect of **Lava Golem** automatically activated, forcing Alister to inhale a large amount of lava and reducing his Life Points by a full 1000 points.
Moreover, because Alister had previously activated **Seal of Orichalcos**, this 1000 points of damage was incredibly real, burning his skin bright red.
However, compared to that, Alister was more concerned about the prevision Ishizu had just displayed.
He didn't feel much regret about **Sakuretsu Armor**, which he had just drawn and was discarded by **Gravekeeper's Trap**. After all, he only added that card to his deck purely to bait cards like **Mystical Space Typhoon**. Losing it was no big deal.
But the problem was, his current hand size was 0, while Ishizu's **Gravekeeper's Trap** was a Continuous Trap Card that could be used every single Draw Phase.
This meant that in the upcoming duel, if Ishizu Ishtar could consistently predict, or rather, "see what cards he would draw in the future," he would constantly be in a state of drawing and then discarding, unable to replenish even a single card in his hand, while Ishizu on the opposite side could keep drawing cards.
Alister finally understood why Ishizu had taken her younger brother Malik Ishtar's **Lava Golem** to use. The important thing wasn't **Lava Golem**'s characteristic of Tributing the opponent's monster for summoning, but its ability to inflict effect damage every turn!
His judgment was completely wrong. This woman's strategy wasn't centered around the deck destruction strategy of **Exchange of the Spirit** at all. Instead, she was forcibly turning the duel back into the early days of monster attack and defense, using the monsters she could continuously replenish as a wall to block **Lava Golem**, and then using **Lava Golem**'s effect to burn him to death with a burn strategy!
What kind of person is this? Can't we just duel properly? This is way too messed up!
After understanding Ishizu's strategy, Alister felt a slight sense of relief. He was glad that Ishizu's opponent wasn't Valon or Rafael, but himself, the one among the Doma Three Swordsmen who was best at utilizing monsters in the graveyard.
Thanks to the effect of **Agido the Ancient Sentinel** that Ishizu used last turn, five cards were milled into his graveyard, including three Level 4 Machine-Type monsters: **Machina Defender**, **Machina Soldier**, and **Machina Sniper**.
Heh heh, there are three Level 4 monsters!
By banishing them from the graveyard, I can summon my invincible **Meklord Army: Destruction Armament** again!
Although I can't replenish my hand and can only have my Life Points gradually reduced,
It doesn't matter!
As long as I utilize the effects of the monsters in my graveyard to gather enough forces on the field, I can break through the opponent's defense within the three turns my Life Points can last. Victory will still belong to me!
Thinking this, Alister said proudly, "It's just a temporary lead. You're using **Lava Golem** to deduct my Life Points now, but it won't be long before I deduct them back from you. Don't get too proud, woman!"
"My ace monster won't leave the field easily! I activate the effect of **Meklord Army: Destruction Armament** in the graveyard! By banishing the three monsters from the graveyard—**Machina Defender**, **Machina Soldier**, and **Machina Sniper**, whose Levels are 4☆—the total Level is 12☆ or higher!"
"Roar, my obsession, my soul!!"
"**Meklord Army: Destruction Armament**!!!"
The pitch-black dump truck, **Meklord Army: Destruction Armament**, roared as it burst from the ground, slowly rising on Alister's field. Seeing this, Alister laughed wildly, "Heh, heh, heh! Hahaha!"
"How about it? Seeing my monster, terrifying like a nightmare, do you feel fear? Don't blink, this is the last monster you'll ever see!"
Valon, watching from the side, inexplicably felt like his lines had been stolen.
"Did that guy Alister suffer a setback against Kaiba Seto? He's usually just a bit gloomy, but today he's got such a temper."
Rafael glanced at Valon. "Your sixth sense is as accurate as ever."
"Huh?"
"No, nothing." Rafael shook his head, having no intention of exposing Alister's weakness. Valon didn't care either and turned back to look at the field.
"That woman named Ishizu is really unlucky. To actually encounter Alister when he's in a bad mood. Looks like she's about to have some unpleasant memories." Valon, whose dueling style was more stream of consciousness, didn't realize how annoying the **Gravekeeper's Trap** Ishizu activated was. Instead, seeing Alister summon **Meklord Army: Destruction Armament** again, he thought Alister had the advantage.
"Although, the memories won't last too long. After all, she's about to be defeated and have her soul sealed."
But hearing Valon's judgment, Rafael denied it. "You're wrong, Valon. The one at a disadvantage now isn't that Ishizu Ishtar, but Alister."
"And haven't you noticed? Even though Alister declared the summoning of **Meklord Army: Destruction Armament** so long ago, that ace card of Alister's has been slow to complete its descent."
"Furthermore, that woman isn't panicked in the slightest. Alister's actions are still within her calculations!"
Rafael wasn't the only one who noticed this point. Alister also realized that the **Meklord Army: Destruction Armament** he had called for was slow to crawl out from underground.
Having only revealed its head, **Meklord Army: Destruction Armament** remained motionless on the spot. At the same time, Alister also found that he couldn't perform the action of taking cards from the Duel Disk's graveyard to banish or summon!
"W-What's going on!?" Alister was confused by the anomaly before him. He exerted force with his finger, but still couldn't take out the cards from the graveyard. His gaze, constantly watching the **Meklord Army: Destruction Armament** on the field, also saw no movement. "**Destruction Armament**, why aren't you moving?"
"Move, **Destruction Armament**!"
"Move, **Destruction Armament**, why aren't you moving!"
After attempting but still failing to make his cards and monsters move, Alister's gaze directly glared at Ishizu. "What exactly is going on? What did you do, Ishizu Ishtar!"
"What did I do? Shouldn't you be able to see that clearly, Alister?" Ishizu naturally knew what was happening before her, but perhaps due to the saying "one is influenced by one's company," she didn't directly state the reason. Instead, she put on an innocent expression with a touch of dark humor. "In response to your Special Summon, I haven't activated any effects, have I? Even my set card is untouched."
"Oh, I understand now, Alister. I understand why you haven't summoned your monster. You're actually afraid of me, aren't you? After suffering a loss in your duel against Kaiba Seto, you're like someone who almost died from snake venom, afraid of even a rope."
"Because of this fear, you subconsciously refused to summon a monster to oppose me. As your Tamashii, **Meklord Army: Destruction Armament** also followed your idea and didn't appear!"
"Stop talking nonsense! How could I possibly feel fear towards someone like you!" Alister seemed enraged by Ishizu's words and said angrily.
"Is that so? Are you truly not afraid of me? Think back, Alister. Is your state the same in this duel with me as it was in your duels with others?" Ishizu adopted a tone as if analyzing for Alister. "You're apprehensive of **Exchange of the Spirit**, apprehensive of **Necrovalley**, and even scared by **Lava Golem**."
"Clearly, you're not feeling peace of mind in this duel with me, Alister."
Ishizu's tone shifted, and she said calmly, "People live to overcome fear and unease. Everyone lives for 'peace of mind.' Fame, wealth and power, a peaceful life, even 'justice' and 'ideal'—people use these things to make themselves feel 'peace of mind.' One could even say that people live solely for 'peace of mind.'"
"Since opposing me makes you so uneasy, why don't you return that monster, and let yourself feel peace of mind, Alister?"
Facing Ishizu's "suggestion," Alister's face was filled with the humiliation of being looked down upon. "That's absolutely impossible! How could I flinch because of things like 'fear' or 'unease'!"
"It must have been a loose screw on the Duel Disk that caused a malfunction just now. I'll summon **Destruction Armament** right now to show you!"
"Come forth, my ace card, **Meklord Army: Destruction Armament**!"
The roaring sound of the mechanical device operating suddenly rang out with Alister's order. But before Alister, who heard the sound, could feel any relief, he found that he still couldn't pull the cards from the graveyard. Moreover, under Alister's gaze, the **Meklord Army: Destruction Armament** that had half-emerged from underground on his field actually retracted a bit!?
"Saying one thing and doing another, Alister. Heh heh heh heh." With no cards in her hand, Ishizu crossed her empty arms over her chest, standing on the stairs and looking down at the astonishment-filled Alister below the stairs. "Why did your monster go back? As expected, you're still afraid of dueling me and want to escape, aren't you?"
Alister's face was filled with disbelief. "W-What the hell! I clearly, clearly intended to summon a monster!"
"I definitely drew a card outwards just now!"
"Heh heh, still hesitant, huh, Alister? You're afraid, so much so that even though you're thinking you must summon a monster to battle, because you're too afraid, your finger unconsciously pushed the card back?"
Alister's pupil shrunk.
'C-Could it really be as Ishizu Ishtar said?'
'Because years of effort still couldn't surpass Kaiba Seto, and I was defeated and my self-esteem was frustrated after barely getting a draw, I'm suspicious and afraid of dueling her?'
'Could I really be—'
"Don't be influenced, Alister!"
Seeing Alister's attention being distracted and his mind scattered by Ishizu's words, Rafael immediately spoke up to remind him.
Ishizu's combination of foreseeing the future and that strange "theory of peace of mind" certainly gave off the air of a charlatan and was quite effective at misleading people, but Rafael didn't expect Alister to actually be led astray by Ishizu.
Among them, the Doma Three Swordsmen, Rafael had long known that Alister was the one with the most serious psychological problem among the three. While Valon's pursuit of extremely high-level excitement and a peaceful life was somewhat contradictory, it was understandable. Rafael himself only treated card monsters as family, which was much better than some people who treated cards as their wife.
But Alister was different. His life had no pursuit, or rather, his only pursuit was KaibaCorp and Kaiba Seto. A life that existed solely for revenge could erupt with powerful strength when facing Kaiba Seto, but it was fragile in other aspects.
At least Rafael felt that other duelists would absolutely not be influenced by just a little interference from Ishizu and believe that they truly felt fear towards the opponent. Of course, this was also partly because Ishizu kept including "Kaiba Seto" in her words to influence Alister.
Although Duel Monsters indeed involves a significant degree of psychological warfare, to play psychological tactics to this extent, one has to admit that Ishizu Ishtar is a truly scheming woman.
"Although I'm not sure exactly what's going on, the fact that you can't summon a monster is definitely because of the opponent's cards." He turned his head to look at the helicopter's dashboard. "Hurry up, Alister, we don't have much time!"
"I know!" Alister replied to Rafael, refocusing his attention on the duel and looking directly into Ishizu's gaze. "Ishizu Ishtar, your psychological induction ends here. I won't be influenced by you anymore."
"This duel is a duel where our lives are at stake. Before I get my revenge on KaibaCorp, my life will absolutely not end here!"
"Even with just one monster, I will defeat you! Change **Lava Golem** to Attack Position, then enter Battle Phase!"
[Lava Golem] [DEF 2500 → ATK 3000 → 3500]
"Attack **Keldo the Sacred Protector**! Ameralda Flame!"
Perhaps it was the convergence of the worldline, Alister instinctively shouted **Lava Golem**'s "most authentic" attack name. The **Lava Golem**, now in Attack Position, swung its giant magma fist, destroying the golden statue on Ishizu's field and sending it to the graveyard.
However, since it was in Defense Position, Ishizu didn't take any damage. And Alister, having no other cards to use after using **Lava Golem**, had nothing left to do.
"My turn, end."
[Alister: 3000 LP, Hand 0]
[Lava Golem] [ATK 3500]
(Field) [Seal of Orichalcos]
Looking at Alister's gaze, Ishizu understood that, just as he said, her previous tactics likely wouldn't be effective anymore. Because from his eyes, she could clearly see the malice and hatred towards a certain person, almost overflowing.
Clearly, Alister was using his obsession with Kaiba to distract himself, making one unsure whether to praise him or rant about him.
However, if it wasn't effective, then it wasn't effective. Ishizu hadn't actually expected to trick Alister into surrendering; it was just dark humor earlier. Rather, her strategy was practically complete. Alister's thoughts were no longer important.
"This is a trial, Alister, a test of mind. Although you didn't pass the trial, you undoubtedly grew in your own way. In that case, as a gift, let me tell you the true power of **Gravekeeper's Trap**."
Ishizu pointed to the Continuous Trap Card on her field. "The third effect of **Gravekeeper's Trap** is what you saw before, negating your ability to draw cards. Its first effect is, as long as **Exchange of the Spirit** exists in my graveyard, the opponent cannot activate card effects from the graveyard, nor can they Special Summon monsters from the graveyard."
"And the second effect allows me to discard a card from my hand during either player's Main Phase, then search my deck for a 'Gravekeeper' or EARTH Fairy-Type monster and add it to my hand."
Hearing Ishizu's words, Alister suddenly realized. "I see, no wonder I couldn't use the effect of **Destruction Armament** in the graveyard to Special Summon itself, or even banish cards."
With his confusion resolved, a moment of relief couldn't help but appear on Alister's face.
And Ishizu began her turn, drawing a card. "My turn, draw a card."
After drawing the card, Ishizu didn't even look at it and immediately activated it. "I activate the effect of **Graceful Charity** that I drew! Both players draw cards until they have six cards in their hand."
"Huh?" Alister didn't expect Ishizu to use **Graceful Charity**. Didn't she just use a strategy to lock his drawing? What was going on now, letting him draw cards again? Had she changed her strategy again?
Unable to figure it out, Alister didn't hesitate either, seeing the empty-handed Ishizu draw six cards. He drew six cards into his hand.
[**Mystical Space Typhoon**] [**Limiter Removal**] [**Royal Decree**] [**Emergency Provisions**] [**Mysterious Wok**] [**Machina Gearframe**]
Woohoo, this hand of cards is simply invincible! How satisfying is this?
Next turn, I'll start by stir-frying **Lava Golem** with Mysterious Chinese Pot and eating it, let's see how it deducts my Life Points. And **Mystical Space Typhoon** will definitely destroy that annoying **Gravekeeper's Trap**. Besides its annoying effect, looking at the card art and remembering where the card came from, Alister always had the illusion of eating Hayato Kobayashi and Ishizu Ishtar's dog food.
There's also **Royal Decree** which specifically negates traps, and **Machina Gearframe** which can search for other Meklord monsters. If I can't win with such a good hand, I'll eat this **Seal of Orichalcos** under my feet.
At this moment, Alister was immersed in the joy of drawing a good hand and hadn't yet realized what he was about to face.
And Ishizu, seeing the cards in her hand, calmly took out one of them. "I activate the effect of **Zolga the Prophet** from my hand! If an EARTH Fairy-Type monster other than **Zolga the Prophet** exists on my field, I can Special Summon it directly from my hand."
"Also, I activate the effect of **Mudora the Sword Oracle** from my hand! I discard an EARTH Fairy-Type monster and Special Summon it from my hand."
Ishizu's hand, which had been replenished to six cards, instantly decreased by three. And on her field, two more monsters appeared. One was **Mudora the Sword Oracle**, which had appeared once before. Its effect to search for **Gravekeeper's Trap** from the deck didn't activate again, suggesting Ishizu only had one copy of that card in her deck.
The other monster, **Zolga the Prophet**, was also just a 4☆ monster, also in Defense Position.
However, with three monsters assembled, if Ishizu hadn't already used **The Winged Dragon of Ra** and had it taken by Valon, Alister might have been apprehensive about whether the opponent would summon a Divine-Beast.
After summoning three monsters, Ishizu declared, "With this, I have three monsters on my field. The puzzle of victory is complete. Alister, you who were filled with hope because of **Graceful Charity**, are about to face the ultimate comeback!"
"Just so you know, I have more than one copy of **Exchange of the Spirit** in my deck."
Smiling mysteriously, Ishizu pressed the activate set card button, activating the mysterious set card in her Spell/Trap Zone. "I activate the set card in my Spell/Trap Zone, **Reversal of Despair and Hope**!"
"This card can only be activated if there are three or more EARTH Fairy-Type monsters on my field! Send all monsters on the field to the graveyard!"
As Ishizu's set card activated, at the same time, blue soul fire rose from the bodies of the three EARTH Fairy-Type monsters on Ishizu's field and the **Lava Golem** on Alister's field, dispersing and turning their bodies into dust instantly.
Although **Lava Golem** was a monster on Alister's field, because Ishizu was the one who sent it to the opponent's field, it was sent to Ishizu's graveyard.
Although the number of cards in Ishizu's graveyard also increased to 20, meeting the activation condition for **Exchange of the Spirit**, Alister's graveyard currently had nine cards. He wouldn't lose immediately just because he couldn't draw cards, so Alister wasn't panicked at all at this moment.
And **Reversal of Despair and Hope** still had an effect to resolve.
"After all monsters are sent to the graveyard, both duelists can select up to the number of monsters sent to the opponent's graveyard by this effect from the opponent's graveyard and Special Summon them to their own field," Ishizu said, spreading her hands. "Unfortunately, no monsters were sent to your graveyard, Alister, so I cannot Special Summon monsters from your graveyard."
"Also, because of the effect of **Gravekeeper's Trap**, you cannot Special Summon monsters from the graveyard, not even from my graveyard."
"So now, we begin processing the last effect of **Reversal of Despair and Hope**."
Ishizu paused, then drew a card from her deck. "If **Exchange of the Spirit** exists in my graveyard, I can set one trap card from my deck to my Spell/Trap Zone. The card set by this effect can be activated this turn."
"The card I select is this second copy of **Exchange of the Spirit**!"
"Then, because I currently have 21 cards in my graveyard, I pay 1000 Life Points to activate **Exchange of the Spirit**! Both players exchange their decks and graveyards!"
[Ishizu: 4000 → 3000 LP]
Seeing Ishizu pay 1000 Life Points to activate **Exchange of the Spirit**, Alister felt no sense of crisis and mocked, "It's too late to activate that **Exchange of the Spirit** now! Don't forget I also have 9 cards in my graveyard. After exchanging decks and graveyards, I can still last nine more turns."
"You have no monsters left on your field to act as a barrier. You can't even last half a turn against my Meklord deck. After your despicable strategy became ineffective, you made a bad move, Ishizu Ishtar!"
As **Exchange of the Spirit** activated, blue soul fire rose from the graveyard zones on both Alister's and Ishizu's Duel Disks. Mocked by Alister like this, Ishizu's corner of mouth curved up, and she said, "Sore wa dou kana?"
"When did you get the illusion that you had nine cards in your graveyard, Alister?"
"Nani!?"
Hearing this, Alister looked down, only to see two monsters in soul state from Ishizu's graveyard reaching out towards his Duel Disk, each grabbing a handful of cards and retracting!
They were none other than **Mudora the Sword Oracle** and **Keldo the Sacred Protector**, sent to the graveyard by **Reversal of Despair and Hope**!
"Chaining to **Exchange of the Spirit**, I activate the effects of these two monsters in the graveyard." Ishizu took out two monster cards from the graveyard and banished them. "During your/opponent's turn, by banishing these two cards from the field or graveyard, they both have the ability to return up to five cards from your/opponent's graveyard to the deck. However, if **Exchange of the Spirit** is not in my graveyard, the quantity decreases to 3."
"Because of the effects of **Mudora the Sword Oracle** and **Keldo the Sacred Protector**, I return all nine cards from your graveyard, Alister, to the deck. Then, the effect of **Exchange of the Spirit** applies, and both players exchange their respective decks and graveyards!"
Red and blue radiance bloomed, a miraculous power that reversed the boundary of life and death, difficult to conceal even by the ominous green magic circle beneath their feet. After the light dissipated, the number of cards in Ishizu's deck became 19 after banishing two monsters, while the number of cards in Alister's deck was 0.
The scene before him was truly disbelief-inducing for Alister. "I cannot accept this!"
One minute ago, Alister was filled with hope because of a good hand. Now, he was plunged into ultimate despair because his deck was milled to nothing, truly living up to the card name of Ishizu's **Reversal of Despair and Hope**.
As if delivering a psychological blow, Ishizu revealed a card in her hand. "Checkmate, Alister, I win. The final magic card, I activate **Card Destruction**! Both players—"
"Crack!"
Wrapping the emerald chain he had been wearing around his neck around his hand like brass knuckles, Rafael, who had jumped off the helicopter sensing the situation was bad, punched the originally indestructible **Seal of Orichalcos** fiercely. The green ring suddenly shattered.
