Yugen thought about how rare it was to be in such a Yusei Particle-rich dimension, and it would be a pity not to seize the chance to experience a version-exclusive Synchro Summon.
Ushio's pupils contracted, his heart thumped hard. But it was just for a moment, and he quickly adjusted his emotions.
The combination of the Waste Synchroist and Scrap Warrior indeed triggered some psychological shadow for him. After all, being a proud member of the Pursuit Team, getting overwhelmed by some "scum" from the Satellite District hit his pride hard, and it had escalated to a personal grudge.
And Scrap Warrior was precisely the standard configuration that Satellite District scoundrel used in every duel.
But on second thought, this was a relatively common Synchro Monster, and it wasn't surprising for others to use it. Ushio shook his head, shaking off the crab-headed figure from his mind.
"Tch, how annoying." Ushio muttered.
There was no other reason; just seeing this Scrap Warrior monster irked him.
"The monster effect of Doppelganger Warrior just used as Synchro Material." Yugen said, "When this card is sent to the graveyard as Synchro Material, Special Summon two 'Doppelganger Derivatives' to your field!"
[Doppelganger Derivative, Attack Power 400] x2
"Then it's the Scrap Warrior's monster effect. When this card is Synchro Summoned successfully, its Attack Power increases by the combined Attack Power of all monsters of Level 2 or lower on your field."
Yugen smiled and said.
"The effect of summoning Scrap Warrior, the effect of Doppelganger Warrior summoning derivatives, both trigger at the 'successful Synchro Summon' timing, so I can freely decide the order of these effects in the same chain.
Therefore, I choose to first activate Scrap Warrior's effect, then Doppelganger Warrior's effect.
The effect activated later is processed first, thus I will first handle Doppelganger Warrior's effect and Special Summon the derivatives to the field.
Then handle Scrap Warrior's effect. At this point, the two Doppelganger Derivatives have already been summoned, so Scrap Warrior gains their combined Attack Power!"
[Scrap Warrior, Attack Power 2300 → Attack Power 3100]
Ushio's pupils contracted slightly.
This guy, this skilled chain arrangement...
For a moment, he seemed to truly see the shadow of a certain Satellite District crab head in him.
"Battle." Yugen said, "Scrap Warrior, attack 'Assault Gun Dog'!
Scrap Fist!"
Scrap Warrior's jet propulsion roared, it sprinted at full speed, and with a fiery energy punch, smashed Assault Gun Dog into pieces.
Ushio: "Ugh ah..."
[Ushio, LP4000 → LP2100]
He lifted his arm to shield his front, staggered back two steps, and looked coldly at Yugen.
"Not bad... but!"
Immediately, two golden glows flew out from his card deck.
"When Assault Gun Dog is destroyed by battle and sent to the graveyard, Special Summon any number of 'Assault Gun Dog' from the deck.
I will Special Summon two more Assault Gun Dogs!"
[Assault Gun Dog, Attack Power 1200]
"You stopped my further attacks with the derivatives, worthy of being the elite of the Pursuit Team, Mr. Ushio." Yugen smiled, "Then, my turn ends."
Ushio: "..."
In the situation where he was completely suppressed, the words sounded more like sarcasm than praise.
"Tch, even using the same card as that Satellite District garbage."
It only made him angrier.
Ushio: "My turn, draw!"
Glancing at the drawn card, his lips curled up, and he said.
"Being able to skillfully use Synchro Monsters to attack is commendable, but in a Synchro duel, I won't lose.
Let me show you something special, a card embodying the so-called 'privilege' that only us Pursuit Team are permitted to use!
I first Normal Summon 'Ten-handed Warrior'!"
[Ten-handed Warrior, Attack Power 700]
"That scoundrel Scrap's Attack Power is high, eh? Then I'll break through from its weakness!
The monster effect of Ten-handed Warrior, once per turn, can change one opponent's Attack Position monster to Defense Position. I will change Scrap Warrior to Defense Position!"
[Scrap Warrior, Attack Power 3100 → Defense Power 1300]
"Impressive, Brother Ushio!" The junior subordinate timely praised, "With only 1300 Defense Power, it's easy to break through in Defense Position!"
"Hehe, then Level 2, Adjusted Monster 'Ten-handed Warrior'!
Plus Level Four, Assault Gun Dog!
Star-Tuning!"
[2+4=6]
"Synchro Summon——
——Imperial Guardian!"
[Imperial Guardian, Attack Power 2800]
"Ho, it indeed came." Yugen smiled.
This card was early banned due to its overly powerful effects and loose summoning conditions. Later, the summoning conditions were modified to require an Earth Attribute for it to be released.
Moreover, it seems there are usage restrictions even in the animation. From Ushio's and Yusei's conversation, it appears the privilege to use it is only granted to their Pursuit Team. With just Six-Star Level, an Attack Power of 2800, and mighty effects, it certainly deserved the Forbidden Card title in the Synchro Era.
"Imperial Guardian, attack Scrap Warrior!"
Scrap Warrior focused and crouched in defense, crossing its arms tightly before him. However, its panel had only 1300, no match for Imperial Guardian, and was immediately pierced and shattered.
But after being defeated, Scrap Warrior wasn't ejected. Instead, it was entangled by Imperial Guardian's cord and dragged over to Ushio's field, summoned in Defense Position.
Ushio laughed heartily: "Imperial Guardian's effect! When you destroy an opponent's monster in battle and send it to the graveyard, gain control of that monster and Special Summon it to your field in Defense Position!"
The junior subordinate again praised timely: "He snatched even the opponent's Synchro Monster, Brother Ushio is mighty!"
"Hahaha!" Ushio laughed, proud, "Next, Assault Gun Dog, attack 'Doppelganger Derivative'!"
Assault Gun Dog rushed out, snapping at one of the derivatives on Yugen's field.
[Yugen, LP4000 → LP3200]
"The turn ends." Ushio stood akimbo, "So, have you felt the power of authority?
Next turn, I'll switch your Scrap Warrior to attack and trigger an all-out assault. Even if you summon another monster, it'll only be captured by Imperial Guardian!"
The junior subordinate praised again: "This guy has no chance at all!"
"Seems like a headache huh...
My turn, draw card."
Yugen squinted his eyes.
"Imperial Guardian, with simple summoning conditions yet tremendous Attack Power and the ability to permanently seize monsters, is indeed formidable... Well, though the monster is strong, the controller might not necessarily be."
Ushio frowned, "What did you just say, kid?"
Taunting, aren't you?
"Just stating the facts. No matter how strong the monsters are in a duel, if the Duelist is no good, it's useless. After all, the one who needs to stand last in a duel is not the monster, but the Duelist, right?"
Yugen mysteriously smiled and slowly drew a card from his hand.
"I activate the Equipment Magic 'Waste Fall' from my hand.
This card inflicts damage to the opponent's Life Points equal to half the Attack Power of the destroyed monster when the equipped monster sends a monster destroyed by battle to the graveyard."
Ushio was taken aback.
Equipment Magic...
But this guy only has a derivative with 400 Attack Power left on the field?
He stared at the chubby, big-eyed derivative holding a toy-like rifle for a long time.
Are you planning to equip this thing? Can it really take me down?
"I'll equip your 'Imperial Guardian' with the Equipment Magic 'Waste Fall'..."
Yugen paused and revealed a dangerous smile.
"...to your 'Imperial Guardian'."
Ushio: "?"
Lackey: "?"
Ushio didn't get it. Equipping such a strong item to his own monster, what does it mean?
"Activate Magic Card 'Planet Transformation'," Yugen said, "Add Field Spell from the card deck to my hand.
I'll add the Field Spell 'Celestial Sanctuary' from the deck to my hand.
Then, activate the Field Spell 'Celestial Sanctuary'."
A holy and pristine palace rose from the ground, surrounded by white clouds, creating a solemn and sacred atmosphere.
"When 'Celestial Sanctuary' is on the field, the battle damage from Angel Race monsters is reduced to zero against me," Yugen said, "Next, I summon 'Divine Call New Star' in Attack Mode."
[Divine Call New Star, Attack Power 1400]
"Battle," Yugen announced, "Divine Call New Star attacks 'Imperial Guardian'."
Ushio and his lackey: "??? "
Is it suicide? Has he gone mad!?
"Destroy it, Imperial Guardian!" Ushio bellowed.
Indeed, Divine Call New Star crashed head-on into Imperial Guardian, leaving no ripples.
Yugen said, "The effect of Celestial Sanctuary, the battle damage from Angel Race against me is 0."
"Heh, not sure what your plan is, but the effect of Imperial Guardian!" Ushio laughed loudly, "Once again, it retrieves the monster sent to the graveyard by battle from my field as a Special Summon!"
"As you wish, Mr. Ushio," Yugen chuckled, "But before the Special Summon, Divine Call New Star has already been sent to the graveyard by battle, fulfilling the conditions for activating this card.
Divine Call New Star, when sent to the graveyard by battle, can Special Summon another Angel Race with Attack Power below 1400 from the card deck."
Ushio frowned, "Even if so, it's meaningless..."
"It's not meaningless at all." Yugen wiggled his finger, "Did you forget, Mr. Ushio? The 'Waste Fall' I just gave you as equipment."
Ushio paused, frowning as he thought for a moment.
Waste Fall, inflicts half the Attack Power of the destroyed monster as damage to the opposing player when the monster equipped with it destroys a monster in battle...
Ushio was a bit unsure, "So... you'll take damage equal to half the Attack Power of your destroyed Divine Call New Star because of your own Equipment Magic effect?"
"Well... not necessarily," Yugen laughed.
The next moment, a burst of energy suddenly emanated from Imperial Guardian and struck Ushio ferociously. Caught off guard, Ushio stumbled, staring in disbelief at his dwindling Life Points.
[Ushio, LP2100→ LP1400]
Ushio was dumbfounded, "You... I... why...!?"
Clearly, my monster destroyed yours, why am I losing Life Points?
Yugen enjoyed the look of bewilderment on his opponent's face, finding it quite amusing.
It seems Brother Ushio's knowledge of K language is failing.
"I said, the monster equipped with Waste Fall gives damage to the 'opposing player' when it destroys a monster in battle," Yugen explained with a smile, "And this 'opposing player' is not from the perspective of the monster equipped, but rather from the perspective of the Equipment Magic 'Waste Fall' itself.
Mr. Ushio, think about it, although it's equipped on your monster, who currently owns this 'Waste Fall'?"
Ushio's brain overloaded for several seconds, then he stammered, "It's... it's you..."
"That's right. While Waste Fall is equipped on your monster, it's mine. So each time my monster is destroyed by battle with your Imperial Guardian, Waste Fall inflicts damage to the 'opposing player'—in other words, you—equal to half the Attack Power of the destroyed monster."
Ushio opened his mouth wide, unable to speak for a while, then he closed it, then opened it again...
Huh? Is that how it works?
Is that how you play a Waste card deck?
A moment ago, he found the person in front of him quite similar to a certain annoying crab head, but now that feeling of déjà vu had completely vanished.
The reason was simple.
That crab head, though annoying, is definitely not so underworld-like!
"The effect of Divine Call New Star, I Special Summon Divine Call New Star Unit Two from the card deck."
[Divine Call New Star, Attack Power 1400]
"Divine Call New Star Unit Two, attack 'Imperial Guardian'!"
Divine Call New Star Unit Two also charged in like a moth to a flame, crashing into Imperial Guardian and shattering.
"The effect of Waste Fall, inflicts another 700 points of damage."
[Ushio, LP1400→ LP700]
Ushio's face turned pale.
No...
You can't be planning to bash me to death using such cannon fodder repeatedly, right?
"The final hit."
Yugen said with a smile.
"Divine Call New Star Unit Three, attack 'Imperial Guardian'."
"The effect of Waste Fall, 700 points of damage."
Ushio: "..."
[Ushio, LP700→ LP0]