The data fragments splattered in the void track condensed into a crimson trajectory, the scorching light streak tearing the dragon sword like an invisible war chariot.
The dark green armor shimmered like fireflies in the overloaded energy, the head armor shaped into a sharp inverted triangle, the armor petals like violently torn metal radiating outward. Its right hand held a weapon packed with mechanical aesthetics, a black firearm with multi-layered nested barrels, the nozzle emitting a golden light blade resembling a flowing ion cutting beam. Silver-white blades ejected from both sides of the waist, forming a metallic storm around the waist as it moved.
[Technology Attribute: Blade Gunman, Attack Power 3300]
The first milestone Accelerated Synchro Monster in Yu-Gi-Oh! animation history, Technology Attribute: Blade Gunman!
"Has it appeared, the Accelerated Synchro Monster," Yugen chuckled.
The animated Blade Gunman was quite formidable.
Firstly, its main effect: when Blade Gunman is affected by Magic or Trap Cards, by sending a card from your hand to the graveyard, you can negate the effect.
Yes, as long as Blade Gunman is affected, it can be activated. The physical card was nerfed so that it only works if Blade Gunman is targeted by the effect of a Magic or Trap, which was quite a significant nerf.
Besides, this card can voluntarily exclude itself from the game during the opponent's turn.
Excluding oneself might seem pointless at first glance, but with a little thought, its strength becomes apparent.
This means that no matter if Blade Gunman faces attack from a stronger monster, effect destruction, exclusion or bounce, it can voluntarily exclude itself to dodge any attack.
Then in the next turn, the Blade Gunman excluded by its effect will return to the field.
The physical card also has this effect, but each time it is excluded, it must exclude a Technology Attribute from the graveyard as a cost, which weakens its practicality quite a bit. Exclusion without cost means this monster is hard to deal with, and even if you destroy all the duelists on the opposing side, it might still survive like a cockroach.
Furthermore, the animated Blade Gunman had an effect not present in the physical card: in the animation, when Blade Gunman is destroyed by battle, the set of Synchro Materials used during its Synchro Summon can be Special Summoned onto your field.
Note that Blade Gunman is an Accelerated Synchro Monster, and in the animation, Accelerated Synchro can be performed during the opponent's turn, even in the battle phase.
In other words, even if the opponent destroys Blade Gunman with a high-attack monster, Blade Gunman can just revert back to its original Synchro Materials, and then an accelerated Synchro can be performed immediately—provided there's something left in the duelist's extra deck to summon.
Setting offense aside, Blade Gunman's defense is incredibly resilient and difficult to deal with.
"Go, Technology Attribute: Blade Gunman!" Antinomy said, "attack the Netherworld King Dragon - God of Judgment with Blade Gunman!"
Blade Gunman's back thrusters fired, charging at full speed towards the Netherworld Dragon, the light saber slashing horizontally, slicing the Netherworld Dragon in half.
[Yugen, LP 3500 → LP 3000]
Netherworld Dragon was successfully destroyed. Antinomy frowned, glancing at the remaining Cover Cards in the opponent's backfield.
Isn't there a Trap that responds to attacks?
But even if there's a Trap, his Blade Gunman is fearless.
Antinomy pondered for a moment and then gestured to set another card in the backfield.
"Set a card, end turn."
Yugen: "My turn, draw a card."
He looked at the imposing Blade Gunman on the opponent's field, saying reluctantly: "Near absolute resistance to Magic Traps, high attack power and can run on its own, you've summoned quite the troublesome opponent for me.
No choice, I have to solidify my defense and watch for changes first..."
As he spoke, he set a monster.
"Set a monster in Face-down Defense Position on the field."
Then he swung his hand again to set a card.
"Then set another card face-down, end turn."
Antinomy pondered.
Only a Defense Monster and Cover Card… Is it really that he has no choice but to watch and wait?
Or is there a hidden plan within?
"My turn, draw a card!"
Antinomy scanned his hand, resolving immediately in his mind.
No matter what, attack first, he had confidence in his Blade Gunman.
"Activate Equipment Magic 'Meteor Strike' to equip on 'Technology Attribute: Blade Gunman'," Antinomy said.
A magical image appeared in his backfield, pouring surging energy into Blade Gunman, attaching to the light blade of the gun.
"A monster empowered by 'Meteor Strike' inflicts piercing damage when attacking a Defense Monster!"
Antinomy swung his fist.
"Let 'Technology Attribute: Blade Gunman' gain piercing ability, inflicting damage exceeding the Defense Power when the Attack Power surpasses the opponent's Defense Power.
Battle!
Technology Attribute: Blade Gunman, attack the Face-down Defense Monster!"
Blade Gunman's back thrusters fired again, charging out like riding a heatwave. The light blade slashed across, the Cover Card flipped, quickly revealing a dark, ridiculous-looking pot.
[Transformation Pot, Defense Power 600]
"Transformation Pot's flip effect," Yugen said, "Both players discard all cards in their hands, then each draws cards from their Deck until their hand reaches five cards."
Antinomy: "However, you'll endure the battle damage exceeding its Defense Power from Blade Gunman!"
[Yugen, LP 3000 → LP 300]
Taking a huge chunk of damage in one go, the storm unleashed from Blade Gunman's gun directly passed through Yugen's D-Wheel, causing the D-Wheel to skid, the tires emitting a sharp friction sound, swaying like leaves in the wind.
With one hit, enduring 2700 damage, even the High-speed Count dropped by two at once. Originally both sides' High-speed Count had reached seven, but taking over 2000 damage, Yugen's High-speed Count dropped to five, falling further behind the opponent's Triangle Eagle.
"Ouch, such merciless attack," Yugen said, his face still wearing a smile, "that was indeed effective. However, at this moment, my Trap also activated."
Yugen pointed to the backfield.
"Trap Card 'Damage Capacitor'."
When you take Battle Damage, discard one card from your hand to Special Summon a monster with Attack Power less than the damage from your Deck in Attack Position."
A beam of light flew out from Yugen's deck, transforming into a soft, round, white object that jumped in front of his D-Wheel.
"Special Summon 'Cotton Candy'!"
[Cotton Candy, Attack Power 300]
"Cotton Candy?"
Antinomy said.
"I see, you assume that I've finished my attacks for this turn, so you dared to summon such a weak monster in Attack Position...
But! This carelessness will lead directly to your defeat!"
Antinomy shouted.
"I activate the effect of 'Technology Attribute: Transparent Metal Skeleton' in my hand.
When there's a monster destroyed by battle or effect on the field, this card can be Special Summoned from your hand."
[Technology Attribute: Transparent Metal Skeleton, Attack Power 1100]
"Special Summoning a new monster during the Battle Phase?"
Yugen's face seemed to change a bit.
"Damn it!"
[Yugen, LP 300]
[Cotton Candy, Attack Power 300]
Cotton Candy, in Attack Position, faced additional attacks from the just summoned Metal Skeleton, which would directly declare his defeat!