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"Thanks to the replenishment of his hand by the card Card of Demise, Yugi didn't have to awkwardly end his turn with an empty field after Magician of Black Chaos MAX was sealed. Instead, he completed a basic defensive setup on his field and returned Dark Cavalry, which had been banished by A Rival Appears! earlier, to prevent Rafael from utilizing it.
However, in contrast, Yugi, who was now fully prepared, also had to face Rafael's fierce offensive after he replenished his hand resources. One should know that after Rafael's Draw Phase, his hand size had reached a full seven cards.
The stronger a Duelist is, the more ability they have to convert the card resources in their hand into actual combat power. Not everyone is like Dark Marik at that time, holding an infinite hand just to increase the ATK of Slifer the Sky Dragon.
At the same time, stronger Duelists are also more efficient at resource conversion. After a powerful Duelist completes a perfect field setup in one turn, their hand size might even increase instead of decrease. Weaker Duelists, on the other hand, can only perform a huge loss five-for-one with a Polymerization and De-Fusion combo.
Yugi could anticipate the kind of offensive Rafael would launch next.
"Activate Equip Spell Card Meteor Flare Bow, and equip it to Backup Gardna on my field."
After inserting an Equip Spell Card into his Duel Disk, Rafael played another monster card under Yugi's unsurprised gaze. "Then, only when Meteor Flare Bow is on the field, I can Normal Summon Guardian Ceal from my hand, and with Backup Gardna's effect, transfer Meteor Flare Bow."
Following Backup Gardna and Guardian Grarl, Rafael summoned a third Guardian monster. An empty spot on the ground cracked open, and lava surged up. From within the mass of rising lava emerged a wolf-headed warrior clad in armor, holding a bow and arrow set the same color as the lava.
[Guardian Ceal] [Level 4/FIRE]
[Pyro Type/Effect]
[1700/1400 → 700/1400]
Yugi noticed something. When Guardian Ceal picked up the bow and arrow Meteor Flare Bow, its originally decent ATK decreased by a full 1000 points. This happened after Backup Gardna transferred the weapon, meaning it wasn't its own effect, but the effect of that Meteor Flare Bow.
An Equip Spell Card that decreases a monster's ATK instead of increasing it. Sometimes, cards that defy common sense are the most tricky, making it hard for Yugi not to notice.
Rafael had no intention of hiding anything. Looking at Yugi, he said frankly, "Meteor Flare Bow, as an Equip Spell Card, doesn't increase the equipped monster's ATK. Instead, it decreases the equipped monster's ATK by 1000 points. However, in exchange, it will grant Guardian Ceal the ability to bypass the monsters on your field and declare a Direct Attack."
'Does he want to bypass Spirit Swordsman and declare a Direct Attack on me?' Yugi raised an eyebrow but didn't take it to heart, because the card he had set in his Spell/Trap Zone was the Continuous Trap Card Soul Drain, which has the effect that as long as a monster exists on his field, his Life Points will not take damage from battle.
On the surface, Spirit Swordsman seemed like Yugi's barrier for defense, but actually, Soul Drain was the true barrier. Spirit Swordsman is just a target used to attract firepower. It was also because of Soul Drain's existence that Yugi was so bold as to keep Spirit Swordsman in Attack Position.
If Spirit Swordsman could survive until Yugi's next turn, he could Tribute it to Summon Catapult Turtle and finish off Rafael in one go. But even if it was destroyed, it wouldn't matter. Although Magician of Black Chaos MAX was sealed, it was still a monster on Yugi's field and could also be used to maintain Soul Drain's effect.
Although this duel, where Spirit Swordsman's destiny would be cannon fodder no matter what, might make Rafael angry, Yugi wouldn't bother with his emotions at this moment. From the instant he sealed Dark Magician and Dark Magician Girl, Yugi had abandoned the idea of respecting his opponent in the duel.
Rafael didn't know Yugi's plan, but that didn't hinder him from continuing to play cards.
"I activate this Spell Card, Nightmare Chains. This card can only be activated by targeting one monster on the opponent's field. I select Spirit Swordsman on your field, Nameless Pharaoh."
Along with the card Rafael played, large chains appeared on Yugi's field, rising from beneath Spirit Swordsman's feet and binding it tightly in just an instant.
"What is this?!"
Yugi watched in surprise as his monster was "shackled" again in an instant. He suddenly felt that Rafael might have a lot of common ground with Marik, because this wasn't the first time Rafael had played "Binding Play" or "Shackles Play" on Yugi's monsters since the start of this duel until now. And by coincidence, Marik's Deck also had plenty of cards like Torture Wheel and others.
Furthermore, Rafael doesn't like to send his monsters to the Graveyard, and Marik is actually the same. It's not just the continuously reviving Revival Jam; his favorite Lava Golem was always sent to the safest place, the opponent's field.
"Nightmare Chains can decrease the selected monster's ATK by 800 points, and then this power will be converted into 800 of my Life Points." Rafael watched the Life Points number on his Duel Disk increase and explained, "And the monster selected by Nightmare Chains cannot be Tributed and its effect is negated."
[Spirit Swordsman] [ATK 1400 → 600]
[Rafael: 200 → 1000 LP]
"Tsk, it can't be Tributed?" Hearing this, Yugi couldn't help but glance at Catapult Turtle in his hand and frowned. Rafael recovering Life Points was secondary, but Spirit Swordsman not being able to be Tributed was a bit of trouble.
Now, Spirit Swordsman, without the effect "cannot be battle destroyed by a monster with 1900 or more ATK," is just a target with 600 ATK, even with the boost from Hilt Strike. A monster with 2000 or more ATK can destroy it.
It seems like the Catapult Turtle strategy cannot be implemented. Next turn, he would have to find other ways to win.
Just as Yugi was prepared to activate Soul Drain when Rafael attacked, he saw Rafael set two cards in his Spell/Trap Zone, going against the normal duel flow.
Strange, too strange.
Yugi doesn't know why Rafael would set two cards in his Spell/Trap Zone. Could it be that he planned to skip the Battle Phase and end his turn directly? Setting cards before the Battle Phase is just like playing too much DL and not being able to change the habit in MD.
Rafael's Spell/Trap Zone was full of cards, leaving only one gap. After keeping only the last card in his hand, Rafael drew another card, filling the last slot on his Duel Disk. "Are you confused about why I set my hand before the Battle Phase, Nameless Pharaoh?"
"The card I'm about to activate now is the answer you seek."
"I told you I would make you realize in this duel that 'Will' is a better standard for distinguishing people than 'Good and Evil'. Get ready to welcome your destiny card, Nameless Pharaoh!"
"I activate the Spell Card Card Destruction!"
As Rafael's words fell, he actually flipped his hand, revealing that last card in his hand for Yugi to see!?
The card that appeared in Yugi's line of sight was none other than The Seal of Orichalcos!
"Card Destruction's effect is that both players reveal their hands, and each selects one card from the opponent's hand to add to their own hand. Since I only have one card in my hand, accept it, Nameless Pharaoh."
Without hesitation, he threw the card in his hand. The Seal of Orichalcos card crossed both players' fields and was caught by Yugi.
"Rafael, you...!" Catching the Seal of Orichalcos card, Yugi was surprised and uncertain. It wasn't the first time he had obtained the Seal of Orichalcos card, but getting a usable Seal of Orichalcos card in a duel that hadn't sealed any souls yet was unprecedented, and it had never appeared in Yugi's imagination previously.
"I told you, didn't I, Nameless Pharaoh? In this duel, I won't let my monsters go to the Graveyard, and I won't activate the Seal of Orichalcos card either. By putting this card into your hand, you should believe me now, right?" Rafael said calmly. "Furthermore, I remember the 'Orichalcos Fragment' Grimo had is in your hand, right? That means you can also activate that card, and it won't be a bricked hand."
"Now, it's your turn to reveal your hand."
Hearing Rafael's words, although Yugi hadn't recovered from the shock of receiving the Seal of Orichalcos card, he still flipped the two cards in his hand and revealed them to Rafael.
"Catapult Turtle, and Soul Release, huh?" After seeing the two cards Yugi revealed from his hand, Rafael understood what Yugi's plan just had been.
As long as Spirit Swordsman could safely survive until Yugi's next turn, he could Tribute it to Summon Catapult Turtle, and then use Catapult Turtle to Tribute itself to inflict Effect Damage on Rafael and reduce his Life Points to 0.
Soul Release was likely the card Yugi just had wanted to use for retaliation against Rafael but held back at the last moment. It has the ability to directly destroy one monster on the opponent's field, but it allows the opponent to recover 1000 Life Points.
Because Rafael sealed Magician of Black Chaos MAX, Yugi wanted to use this card as retaliation to destroy a monster Rafael values and inflict mutual damage. However, the stakes of doing so would be Rafael's Life Points recovering to 1200 points at that point, exceeding the Catapult Turtle strategy's lethal range. Therefore, Yugi Mutou persuaded Dark Yugi to stop.
However, at this moment, Rafael's Life Points had already recovered to 1000 points due to Nightmare Chains. The situation had also undergone some change compared to the last turn.
Rationally speaking, Rafael should take the relatively greater threat, Catapult Turtle, to avoid his still low Life Points being threatened and receiving a finishing blow. Even Yugi thought so and had already begun to think if there were any other cards in his Deck that could be useful after losing Catapult Turtle.
However, what Yugi hadn't expected was that after discovering Yugi actually had Soul Release, which could directly destroy a monster on his field, Rafael selected it without hesitation. "Then, I select Soul Release to add to my hand."
"Hmm?" Yugi was slightly surprised, but he also remembered Rafael repeatedly saying he "won't let monsters be sent to the Graveyard." Knowing the reason he selected Soul Release, he drew the card from his hand and threw it towards Rafael, who caught it.
After receiving the Soul Release card, it seemed like Rafael had no intention of activating it. Instead, he held it in his hand and pressed the activate Set Card button. "Spell Card Graceful Charity! I draw three cards from my Deck, then discard two cards from my hand."
After drawing three cards, Rafael sent one card to the Graveyard without hesitation. Soul Release was returned to Yugi for him to send to the Graveyard. Then, with a wave of his hand, he declared, "Now, enter my Battle Phase."
"Guardian Ceal declares a Direct Attack on the Nameless Pharaoh!"
"Steadfast Arrow!"
Watching the arrow shoot out from the bow, pass over Magician of Black Chaos MAX sealed by Crystal and Spirit Swordsman bound by chains, and fly towards him, Yugi calmly pressed the button. "Chain Attack Declaration! I activate Set Card Soul Drain!"
"As long as a monster exists on my field, battle damage to me becomes 0!"
As the Set Card was activated, Yugi's figure in Rafael's eyes instantly became illusory and hazy, as if something was separating the two of them. The arrow shot by Guardian Ceal also passed through Yugi's body, causing no damage.
[Yugi: 2800 → 2800 LP]
"A card that uses a monster as a barrier, huh?" The attack failed to have any effect, but Rafael didn't seem to care much. He said very simply, "In that case, I end the Battle Phase."
"Then, set a card. My turn ends."
Simply ending his turn like that, Rafael's behavior at this moment made Yugi feel a bit strange, because it was completely different from the feeling the duel gave him previously. At this moment, Rafael was like a fisherman who had already cast his line and was simply waiting for a bite.
[Rafael: 1000 LP, Hand 1]
[Guardian Ceal] (Meteor Flare Bow) [ATK 700]
[Guardian Grarl] (Gravity Axe - Grarl) [DEF 1000]
[Backup Gardna] [DEF 2200]
[Master Kotetsu] [DEF 500]
[Set Card] X2 [Crystal Seal]
Just before Yugi was about to start his turn, Rafael, who had just ended his turn, abruptly said, "Destroying Crystal Seal is actually very simple. No matter how sturdy the crystal is, it will crack when it expands inside."
"Therefore, when the ATK of the monster sealed by Crystal Seal increases, Crystal Seal will automatically destroy itself."
"What?" Yugi, whose finger was on the Duel Disk preparing to draw a card, didn't understand Rafael's meaning at first. But the instant he looked down, he couldn't help but show a surprised expression. "Wait a minute, this is!"
He suddenly remembered that The Seal of Orichalcos, which Rafael had given him in his hand, had the effect of increasing the ATK of all his monsters by 500 points!
However, in contrast, Yugi, who was now fully prepared, also had to face Rafael's fierce offensive after he replenished his hand resources. One should know that after Rafael's Draw Phase, his hand size had reached a full seven cards.
The stronger a Duelist is, the more ability they have to convert the card resources in their hand into actual combat power. Not everyone is like Dark Marik at that time, holding an infinite hand just to increase the ATK of Slifer the Sky Dragon.
At the same time, stronger Duelists are also more efficient at resource conversion. After a powerful Duelist completes a perfect field setup in one turn, their hand size might even increase instead of decrease. Weaker Duelists, on the other hand, can only perform a huge loss five-for-one with a Polymerization and De-Fusion combo.
Yugi could anticipate the kind of offensive Rafael would launch next.
"Activate Equip Spell Card Meteor Flare Bow, and equip it to Backup Gardna on my field."
After inserting an Equip Spell Card into his Duel Disk, Rafael played another monster card under Yugi's unsurprised gaze. "Then, only when Meteor Flare Bow is on the field, I can Normal Summon Guardian Ceal from my hand, and with Backup Gardna's effect, transfer Meteor Flare Bow."
Following Backup Gardna and Guardian Grarl, Rafael summoned a third Guardian monster. An empty spot on the ground cracked open, and lava surged up. From within the mass of rising lava emerged a wolf-headed warrior clad in armor, holding a bow and arrow set the same color as the lava.
[Guardian Ceal] [Level 4/FIRE]
[Pyro Type/Effect]
[1700/1400 → 700/1400]
Yugi noticed something. When Guardian Ceal picked up the bow and arrow Meteor Flare Bow, its originally decent ATK decreased by a full 1000 points. This happened after Backup Gardna transferred the weapon, meaning it wasn't its own effect, but the effect of that Meteor Flare Bow.
An Equip Spell Card that decreases a monster's ATK instead of increasing it. Sometimes, cards that defy common sense are the most tricky, making it hard for Yugi not to notice.
Rafael had no intention of hiding anything. Looking at Yugi, he said frankly, "Meteor Flare Bow, as an Equip Spell Card, doesn't increase the equipped monster's ATK. Instead, it decreases the equipped monster's ATK by 1000 points. However, in exchange, it will grant Guardian Ceal the ability to bypass the monsters on your field and declare a Direct Attack."
'Does he want to bypass Spirit Swordsman and declare a Direct Attack on me?' Yugi raised an eyebrow but didn't take it to heart, because the card he had set in his Spell/Trap Zone was the Continuous Trap Card Soul Drain, which has the effect that as long as a monster exists on his field, his Life Points will not take damage from battle.
On the surface, Spirit Swordsman seemed like Yugi's barrier for defense, but actually, Soul Drain was the true barrier. Spirit Swordsman is just a target used to attract firepower. It was also because of Soul Drain's existence that Yugi was so bold as to keep Spirit Swordsman in Attack Position.
If Spirit Swordsman could survive until Yugi's next turn, he could Tribute it to Summon Catapult Turtle and finish off Rafael in one go. But even if it was destroyed, it wouldn't matter. Although Magician of Black Chaos MAX was sealed, it was still a monster on Yugi's field and could also be used to maintain Soul Drain's effect.
Although this duel, where Spirit Swordsman's destiny would be cannon fodder no matter what, might make Rafael angry, Yugi wouldn't bother with his emotions at this moment. From the instant he sealed Dark Magician and Dark Magician Girl, Yugi had abandoned the idea of respecting his opponent in the duel.
Rafael didn't know Yugi's plan, but that didn't hinder him from continuing to play cards.
"I activate this Spell Card, Nightmare Chains. This card can only be activated by targeting one monster on the opponent's field. I select Spirit Swordsman on your field, Nameless Pharaoh."
Along with the card Rafael played, large chains appeared on Yugi's field, rising from beneath Spirit Swordsman's feet and binding it tightly in just an instant.
"What is this?!"
Yugi watched in surprise as his monster was "shackled" again in an instant. He suddenly felt that Rafael might have a lot of common ground with Marik, because this wasn't the first time Rafael had played "Binding Play" or "Shackles Play" on Yugi's monsters since the start of this duel until now. And by coincidence, Marik's Deck also had plenty of cards like Torture Wheel and others.
Furthermore, Rafael doesn't like to send his monsters to the Graveyard, and Marik is actually the same. It's not just the continuously reviving Revival Jam; his favorite Lava Golem was always sent to the safest place, the opponent's field.
"Nightmare Chains can decrease the selected monster's ATK by 800 points, and then this power will be converted into 800 of my Life Points." Rafael watched the Life Points number on his Duel Disk increase and explained, "And the monster selected by Nightmare Chains cannot be Tributed and its effect is negated."
[Spirit Swordsman] [ATK 1400 → 600]
[Rafael: 200 → 1000 LP]
"Tsk, it can't be Tributed?" Hearing this, Yugi couldn't help but glance at Catapult Turtle in his hand and frowned. Rafael recovering Life Points was secondary, but Spirit Swordsman not being able to be Tributed was a bit of trouble.
Now, Spirit Swordsman, without the effect "cannot be battle destroyed by a monster with 1900 or more ATK," is just a target with 600 ATK, even with the boost from Hilt Strike. A monster with 2000 or more ATK can destroy it.
It seems like the Catapult Turtle strategy cannot be implemented. Next turn, he would have to find other ways to win.
Just as Yugi was prepared to activate Soul Drain when Rafael attacked, he saw Rafael set two cards in his Spell/Trap Zone, going against the normal duel flow.
Strange, too strange.
Yugi doesn't know why Rafael would set two cards in his Spell/Trap Zone. Could it be that he planned to skip the Battle Phase and end his turn directly? Setting cards before the Battle Phase is just like playing too much DL and not being able to change the habit in MD.
Rafael's Spell/Trap Zone was full of cards, leaving only one gap. After keeping only the last card in his hand, Rafael drew another card, filling the last slot on his Duel Disk. "Are you confused about why I set my hand before the Battle Phase, Nameless Pharaoh?"
"The card I'm about to activate now is the answer you seek."
"I told you I would make you realize in this duel that 'Will' is a better standard for distinguishing people than 'Good and Evil'. Get ready to welcome your destiny card, Nameless Pharaoh!"
"I activate the Spell Card Card Destruction!"
As Rafael's words fell, he actually flipped his hand, revealing that last card in his hand for Yugi to see!?
The card that appeared in Yugi's line of sight was none other than The Seal of Orichalcos!
"Card Destruction's effect is that both players reveal their hands, and each selects one card from the opponent's hand to add to their own hand. Since I only have one card in my hand, accept it, Nameless Pharaoh."
Without hesitation, he threw the card in his hand. The Seal of Orichalcos card crossed both players' fields and was caught by Yugi.
"Rafael, you...!" Catching the Seal of Orichalcos card, Yugi was surprised and uncertain. It wasn't the first time he had obtained the Seal of Orichalcos card, but getting a usable Seal of Orichalcos card in a duel that hadn't sealed any souls yet was unprecedented, and it had never appeared in Yugi's imagination previously.
"I told you, didn't I, Nameless Pharaoh? In this duel, I won't let my monsters go to the Graveyard, and I won't activate the Seal of Orichalcos card either. By putting this card into your hand, you should believe me now, right?" Rafael said calmly. "Furthermore, I remember the 'Orichalcos Fragment' Grimo had is in your hand, right? That means you can also activate that card, and it won't be a bricked hand."
"Now, it's your turn to reveal your hand."
Hearing Rafael's words, although Yugi hadn't recovered from the shock of receiving the Seal of Orichalcos card, he still flipped the two cards in his hand and revealed them to Rafael.
"Catapult Turtle, and Soul Release, huh?" After seeing the two cards Yugi revealed from his hand, Rafael understood what Yugi's plan just had been.
As long as Spirit Swordsman could safely survive until Yugi's next turn, he could Tribute it to Summon Catapult Turtle, and then use Catapult Turtle to Tribute itself to inflict Effect Damage on Rafael and reduce his Life Points to 0.
Soul Release was likely the card Yugi just had wanted to use for retaliation against Rafael but held back at the last moment. It has the ability to directly destroy one monster on the opponent's field, but it allows the opponent to recover 1000 Life Points.
Because Rafael sealed Magician of Black Chaos MAX, Yugi wanted to use this card as retaliation to destroy a monster Rafael values and inflict mutual damage. However, the stakes of doing so would be Rafael's Life Points recovering to 1200 points at that point, exceeding the Catapult Turtle strategy's lethal range. Therefore, Yugi Mutou persuaded Dark Yugi to stop.
However, at this moment, Rafael's Life Points had already recovered to 1000 points due to Nightmare Chains. The situation had also undergone some change compared to the last turn.
Rationally speaking, Rafael should take the relatively greater threat, Catapult Turtle, to avoid his still low Life Points being threatened and receiving a finishing blow. Even Yugi thought so and had already begun to think if there were any other cards in his Deck that could be useful after losing Catapult Turtle.
However, what Yugi hadn't expected was that after discovering Yugi actually had Soul Release, which could directly destroy a monster on his field, Rafael selected it without hesitation. "Then, I select Soul Release to add to my hand."
"Hmm?" Yugi was slightly surprised, but he also remembered Rafael repeatedly saying he "won't let monsters be sent to the Graveyard." Knowing the reason he selected Soul Release, he drew the card from his hand and threw it towards Rafael, who caught it.
After receiving the Soul Release card, it seemed like Rafael had no intention of activating it. Instead, he held it in his hand and pressed the activate Set Card button. "Spell Card Graceful Charity! I draw three cards from my Deck, then discard two cards from my hand."
After drawing three cards, Rafael sent one card to the Graveyard without hesitation. Soul Release was returned to Yugi for him to send to the Graveyard. Then, with a wave of his hand, he declared, "Now, enter my Battle Phase."
"Guardian Ceal declares a Direct Attack on the Nameless Pharaoh!"
"Steadfast Arrow!"
Watching the arrow shoot out from the bow, pass over Magician of Black Chaos MAX sealed by Crystal and Spirit Swordsman bound by chains, and fly towards him, Yugi calmly pressed the button. "Chain Attack Declaration! I activate Set Card Soul Drain!"
"As long as a monster exists on my field, battle damage to me becomes 0!"
As the Set Card was activated, Yugi's figure in Rafael's eyes instantly became illusory and hazy, as if something was separating the two of them. The arrow shot by Guardian Ceal also passed through Yugi's body, causing no damage.
[Yugi: 2800 → 2800 LP]
"A card that uses a monster as a barrier, huh?" The attack failed to have any effect, but Rafael didn't seem to care much. He said very simply, "In that case, I end the Battle Phase."
"Then, set a card. My turn ends."
Simply ending his turn like that, Rafael's behavior at this moment made Yugi feel a bit strange, because it was completely different from the feeling the duel gave him previously. At this moment, Rafael was like a fisherman who had already cast his line and was simply waiting for a bite.
[Rafael: 1000 LP, Hand 1]
[Guardian Ceal] (Meteor Flare Bow) [ATK 700]
[Guardian Grarl] (Gravity Axe - Grarl) [DEF 1000]
[Backup Gardna] [DEF 2200]
[Master Kotetsu] [DEF 500]
[Set Card] X2 [Crystal Seal]
Just before Yugi was about to start his turn, Rafael, who had just ended his turn, abruptly said, "Destroying Crystal Seal is actually very simple. No matter how sturdy the crystal is, it will crack when it expands inside."
"Therefore, when the ATK of the monster sealed by Crystal Seal increases, Crystal Seal will automatically destroy itself."
"What?" Yugi, whose finger was on the Duel Disk preparing to draw a card, didn't understand Rafael's meaning at first. But the instant he looked down, he couldn't help but show a surprised expression. "Wait a minute, this is!"
He suddenly remembered that The Seal of Orichalcos, which Rafael had given him in his hand, had the effect of increasing the ATK of all his monsters by 500 points!
