Tenjo Hikari looked at the cards on his opponent's field, slightly frowning, pondering the current situation.
Golden Cloud Beast - Malong, when sent to the Graveyard, targets and returns one face-up card on the opponent's field to the hand card.
Number 23 has a once-per-turn mandatory "Three-color Barrier."
The so-called mandatory Three-color Barrier means that as long as either side activates a Monster Effect or a Spell and Trap Card, Lancelot automatically activates its effect, making the activated card nullified.
The crucial point worth mentioning is that because this effect is mandatory, even Mr. T's own card will be forcibly nullified. If Mr. T is the kind of person Tenjo Hikari imagines as "lights up where it crosses," Tenjo Hikari can Normal Summon a Monster with ATK over a thousand, and battle to destroy Golden Cloud Beast. If Mr. T foolishly activates this effect, then Lancelot will forcibly nullify that effect.
But apparently, Mr. T isn't that stupid.
"Set two cards, end turn."
After summoning his own Monster, Mr. T didn't stop his actions and set two cards on the field, confidently handing over the turn, waiting for Tenjo Hikari's move.
Honestly, it's quite surprising.
Although this situation isn't particularly difficult for Tenjo Hikari to deal with, it's certainly much stronger than the "Mr. T" in Tenjo Hikari's impression.
Of course, even though it's much stronger than he remembers, it doesn't mean... particularly strong.
What truly amazed Tenjo Hikari is that Mr. T somehow mastered the powers of Polymerization, Synchro, and Xyz that he was completely unaware of.
Indeed—
Just like ZONE mentioned, darkness isn't only present in this "F Dimension," but also in the Synchro's S Dimension and Xyz's X Dimension. That guy has been to both, drawing strength and inspiration from those Dimensions.
This Mr. T before him is evidently born out of such changes.
"How to counter?" Tierra asked curiously beside him.
She wasn't very aware of the abilities and effects of Mr. T's Monsters on the field, but the setup of three forward and two backward looked quite intimidating.
Tenjo Hikari looked at his hand card, thought for a moment, and said, "A small problem."
He looked at Mr. T and continued, "Indeed, mastering Polymerization, Synchro, and Xyz, compared to most humans, is certainly much stronger. But... have you ever truly dueled with a human?"
Mr. T frowned and asked, "What's this about?"
The question indeed unexpectedly made Mr. T feel off balance.
He truly has never dueled with a human before.
To be exact, "they" have never formally dueled with humans.
Most of the time, they duel among themselves in the darkness, deducing each card's range of use and effect, then designing strategies to be used at the start of the duel.
They possess such capabilities.
Although they have dueled with some people, originally, their characteristics and abilities would help them alter opponents' memories, making them feel pressured and ultimately defeated outright.
Facing a Duelist who isn't affected by their powers... this is the first time.
"Normal Summon, Elemental Hero Prisma!"
"Prisma?" Seeing this Monster, Mr. T felt slightly baffled, "Using such a Monster?"
"Compared to me, aren't you interested in activating an effect?" Tenjo Hikari asked with a smile.
Mr. T remained silent, not responding.
Tenjo Hikari speculated that Mr. T's set card was likely one sending his field Monster to the Graveyard, thereby maximizing the use of Golden Cloud Beast's effect.
However—
Lancelot's effect is "certain" to activate, so before Tenjo Hikari uses the effect, Mr. T cannot use any cards, or else he would be "stuck" by his own Monster, rendering it null.
This is not a technique of operation or choice but a limitation inherent to the card itself.
"Number 23's effect is that once activated, it nullifies the effect and is a guaranteed triggering effect."
Mr. T did not question things like "How do you know?" "Humans shouldn't be aware of Number Monster's abilities!" As those who have silently observed human life in the darkness, they have long known Tenjo Hikari possesses some knowledge surpassing ordinary humans, so even knowing the effect on their side, he was prepared.
No matter what, Lancelot's effect definitely blocks a card's effect, and Tenjo Hikari cannot avoid it.
"At first glance, it seems like that, but... actually?" Tenjo Hikari raised a finger, "I'll show you something interesting. Sometimes, what matters isn't the effect, but the cost paid.
Just as humans go through birth, aging, illness, and death, because life is brief, what is created in the grandiose life is love and wisdom.
Activate, Elemental Hero Prisma's Monster Effect!"
"Once per turn, reveal one Fusion Monster from the Extra Deck, send one Fusion Material card mentioned by name from the Deck to the Graveyard to activate. Until the end phase, this card is treated as the Monster card sent to the Graveyard for the effect."
"But don't forget—Lancelot will nullify that effect!"