[Flower Synchroist, Attack Power 400]
The tiny Synchroist, with its appearance resembling an unbloomed flower bud, has short arms and legs. In the center of the bud are two large eyes, carrying a somewhat sly smile.
"Is the Synchroist arriving?" Yugen said.
Shirley: "Level 2, Adjusted Monster 'Flower Synchroist'!
Level 6, 'Centaur Mina'!
Star-Tuning!"
[2+6=8]
A fragrant breeze swept across the burning battlefield, and the silver starlight suddenly pierced the sky. The Synchro Card emitted a gentle radiance, and a graceful knight figure lightly leaped up in the halo, transforming into dazzling starlight.
"Noble White Lily, the time for revolution has arrived! Bring victory into my hands! Synchro Summon—
—Level 8, Flower Knight!"
Countless pink petals appeared out of nowhere, swirling and coalescing like a blizzard. Within the cluster of petals appeared a knight clad in silver armor, with vines subtly entwining in the crevices of the armor. As the long sword entwined with roses swung, it excited space, bursting with pure impact.
[Flower Knight, Attack Power 2700]
"Is this Shirley's ace monster?"
Akiza Izinski said.
"But, this attack power is still not enough to surpass Scrap Iron Dragon…"
Before the words were finished, Shirley interrupted with a clear voice: "Of course, I know that!
Centaur Mina used as Synchro Material for Flower Knight, effect activation!
When this card is sent to the graveyard as Synchro Material for Warrior Race, Wind Attribute Synchro Monsters, it can destroy one face-up monster on the field!"
The disappeared phantom of the Centaur as Synchro Material reappeared, seemingly transformed into energy and filled into the knight's sword. The sword struck, and the Centaur's phantom rode on sword qi, cutting through the waves and piercing directly through Scrap Iron Dragon.
"A beautiful counterattack."
Yugen blocked the explosive wave from Scrap Iron Dragon with one hand, smiling contentedly.
"But at this moment, the effect of Scrap Iron Dragon also activates.
When Scrap Iron Dragon is destroyed and sent to the graveyard, choose any 'Scrap Iron' monster from your graveyard other than Synchro Monsters, and the chosen monster is Special Summoned on the field."
The remaining parts of Scrap Iron Dragon did not disappear but were instead recombined and reassembled like they were drawn by an invisible magnetic force, transforming into a new Scrap Iron monster.
Scrap Iron Beast, resurrected!
[Scrap Iron Beast, Defense Power 1300]
Shirley clicked her tongue: "A pile of scrap iron, yet it never ends... but I still have monster attacks remaining!
Go, Flower Knight, attack 'Scrap Iron Beast'!"
Flower Knight stepped forward, drew her sword, and a strike with petals flying everywhere targeted the newly resurrected Scrap Iron Beast. The small Scrap Iron Beast was unable to withstand and was immediately cleaved into two halves.
"Next, 'Apprentice Knight' direct attack!"
Shirley swept her arm.
The delicate and charming little knight leaped forward, the sword blade slashing directly, and sword qi broke through space aiming directly at Yugen.
Seeing Yugen about to get hurt, Akiza instinctively held her breath: "There's still 'Dimension Wall' Trap in the back row as defense, and Shirley's 'Centaur Mina' that can negate Trap effects has already gone to the graveyard as Synchro Material, attacking recklessly can easily be countered and cause injury.
But Shirley should also understand this…"
She wouldn't be naive enough to think Shirley forgot the existence of Dimension Wall.
"Oh? Knowing the trap is there, yet not avoiding and opting to get closer to me, Godwin?"
Yugen laughed, waving his big hand.
"Interesting, then I'll accept this taunt.
Activate Cover Card, Trap Card 'Dimension Wall'!
When the opponent declares a monster attack, the battle damage from that battle is taken by the opponent instead of me!"
The trap failed to activate in the previous turn now flipped over again, and the rift of dimension split open once more, forming a shielding barrier in front of Yugen.
Yet Shirley indeed had a countermeasure: "At this moment, Flower Knight's effect activates!
Once per turn, when the opponent activates the effects of Magic or Trap Card, that activation is negated and destroyed!"
With countless petals swirling around the knight's long sword, the sword cut through the petals. The activating trap dimmed, and the dimensional rift seemed to be filled with countless petals, disappearing as the Trap Card shattered into golden powder.
"So impressive…" Akiza inwardly praised, "Surely, there's a counter-strategy to Dimension Wall. This duelist named Shirley is indeed formidable…"
Shirley's ace, Flower Knight, possesses the ability to negate Magic Traps, which is considered quite potent in the current environment.
Even though in today's modern Yu-Gi-Oh! setting, it's generally recognized that negating monster effects is more valuable than negating Magic Trap effects, early version players and Duel Links players should understand that in much earlier Yu-Gi-Oh! settings, it was the opposite, with resistance to Magic Trap being more valuable than monster effect resistance.
The reason why monster effect resistance is more valuable now is due to the bloated speed in the current environment as new monster effects become increasingly abnormal, serving various roles such as expansion, field clearing, and opponent disruption, replacing most functions of old Magic Trap effects.
But in much earlier Yu-Gi-Oh! settings, monster effects hadn't swelled to today's extent, and Magic Traps still occupied an important position, hence cards that could negate Magic Trap effects were considerably valued at the time.
That being said, possibly considering the rarity of resistance to Magic Traps in the Synchro Era, K Society weakened Flower Knight's effect when making it a Physical Card.
After becoming a Physical Card, Flower Knight gained the restriction of "only being able to negate one Magic Trap activation per turn on your turn," which the original animation version did not have, allowing an activation negation opportunity both on your turn and on the opponent's turn. This was precisely the key psychological battle between Yusei and Shirley over this per-turn resistance capability in the animation. If using the weakened Physical Card effect, Yusei would have already beaten Shirley out of the water.
"Dimension Wall activation is invalidated, Apprentice Knight attack continues!"
Shirley declared.
"Take this!"
"Don't rush."
Yugen leisurely activated the second card in the back row.
"Activating Cover Card, Trap Card 'Wall of Power'!
When receiving battle damage from an opponent's attack, send the top cards from the Card Deck to the graveyard for every 100 points of damage, making the battle damage 0!" (Original effect)
Yugen immediately tossed out a whole bunch of cards from the top of his deck, and the cards flew chaotically, forming a solid barrier before him.
"Sending the top ten cards from the deck to the graveyard, negating battle damage!"