Ryuga: "My turn, draw!"
After drawing, he paused and then smiled.
"Heh, Gravity Bind and A Legendary Ocean, plus Abyss Soldier and Sinister Serpent? Impressive setup—but too bad, it crumbles before this card! I activate the Spell Card—"
"—Harpie's Feather Duster!"
Destroy all Spells and Traps your opponent controls!
"The ultimate backrow wipe!"
"Hahaha! Goodbye, A Legendary Ocean and Gravity Bind! Your lockdown means nothing to me!"
"Chain: I activate the set card, Trap Card 'Raigeki Break'," Kira responded. "I discard a card to destroy one card on the field."
"I destroy your 'Dark Driceratops.'"
A demonic hand burst from storm clouds, lightning crashing down, obliterating the Dark Driceratops.
"Ugh, you had a trap too..."
Ryuga frowned, annoyed at losing his high-level monster so quickly. But it was fine.
"But your backrow is still gone, thanks to Feather Duster!"
Gravity Bind and A Legendary Ocean were destroyed. The beautiful underwater city collapsed in the storm.
"Your nasty lockdown is finally over!"
"True, but one of the cards you just destroyed was the Spell 'Spell Calling'," Kira said. "When it's destroyed by an opponent's effect while set, I can set two Spell Cards from my deck." (Anime effect)
His Duel Disk immediately let him set two cards.
"I set another 'A Legendary Ocean' and the Continuous Spell 'Level Limit – Area B.'"
[Level Limit – Area B: All Level 4 or higher face-up monsters must switch to Defense Position.]
It was the Spell version of Gravity Bind, an old-school stall staple.
And with another A Legendary Ocean, Kira's lockdown could be reinstated next turn.
Ryuga's face twitched.
Who the hell taught you to duel ?!
"Your turn's not over yet, teacher." Kira smiled.
"Tch, don't need you to remind me." Google seaʀᴄh novel·fire·net
A vein popped on Ryuga's forehead.
Calm down, this brat is just trying to tilt you.
Continuous Spells can't be activated until next turn, so he still had options.
"I activate 'Graceful Charity,' draw three, discard two."
He drew, discarded two, and summoned a monster.
"I summon 'Exiled Force'!"
[Exiled Force, ATK 1000]
"Exiled Force's effect: Tribute itself to destroy a monster on the field! I tribute it to destroy 'Abyss Soldier!'"
A violent one-for-one removal. The mercenaries swarmed Abyss Soldier and blew themselves up, leaving a smoking crater.
"Your annoying soldier is gone! Next, I activate 'Ultra Evolution'! Banish one Dinosaur and one Machine from my hand or Graveyard to Special Summon a LIGHT Dinosaur from my hand or deck!" (Anime effect)
Another anime card, only printed in real life ten years later.
"I banish 'Dark Driceratops' (Dinosaur) and 'Fusilier Dragon, the Dual-Mode Beast' (Machine) from my Graveyard! The fusion of technology and life—the ultimate evolution! Witness my ace monster!"
A golden beam shot from Ryuga's deck.
"The perfect fusion of technology and life—after endless evolution—"
"—Cyber Dinosaur, appear!!!"
A massive white-armored dinosaur, gleaming with blue electricity and covered in mechanical parts, stomped onto the field.
This was Ryuuga's ace monster from the manga. (Note: In real cards, its type and effect changed.)
[Cyber Dinosaur, ATK 2500]
"Not done yet! Spell Card—'Double Attack'! Discard a monster to let a monster with lower Level attack twice! I discard Level 8 'Sauropod Brachion' to let Cyber Dinosaur attack twice this turn!"
The students were buzzing.
"Backrow wipe and double attack—OTK incoming?"
"This new teacher's pretty strong..."
"If these attacks go through, Kira might..."
Cyber Dinosaur's two attacks meant 5000 damage, and Kira only had Bubbleman (ATK 800) on the field.
Ryuga's eyes were fierce.
Before the stall lock returns, the duel will be decided this turn!
"Battle! First, Cyber Dinosaur attacks Bubbleman!"
Cyber Dinosaur lunged, jaws crushing Bubbleman. Kira staggered back.
[Kira, LP 4000 → 2300]
Attack succeeded, and Ryuga grinned: "Cyber Dinosaur, attack again! Direct attack! I win—"
"Hold on, teacher. You may not have noticed, but the card I discarded as cost for 'Raigeki Break' was this."
Kira smiled, showing a card in his Graveyard.
"'Makyura the Destructor.' The turn it's sent to the Graveyard, I can activate Traps from my hand."
"So, when you declared a direct attack, I activate this card from my hand—"
Kira played a Trap. Its hologram appeared.
"Trap Card— Drowning Mirror Force! When your opponent declares a direct attack, all their Attack Position monsters return to the deck!"
Ryuga's face contorted in agony.
But it was too late. The blue water barrier formed, and Cyber Dinosaur slammed into it, got swept away, and returned to the deck.
Ryuga's eyes were red.
And it didn't even go to the hand—it went back to the deck!
Now he was left with no cards and no field. A moment ago, he was about to win, and now—total reversal. Dueling is like life: ups and downs.
With nothing left, he could only pass, gritting his teeth as Kira cheerfully prompted him.
"My turn, draw. Standby Phase: 'Sinister Serpent' returns to my hand from the Graveyard."
Kira happily picked up Sinister Serpent. Ryuga's eyes grew even redder.
"Normal Summon a second 'Abyss Soldier.'"
[Abyss Soldier, ATK 1800]
"Then I activate the two cards you helped me search for last turn.
First, Field Spell 'A Legendary Ocean'—my Abyss Soldier's Level drops to 3 again.
Then Continuous Spell 'Level Limit – Area B'—all Level 4 or higher monsters switch to Defense Position.
Oh, and thanks to A Legendary Ocean, Abyss Soldier's ATK increases."
[Abyss Soldier, ATK 1800 → 2000]
Ryuga's face twitched.
It's back. That same setup, that same feeling.
"Abyss Soldier, direct attack."
The trident stabbed into his heart—he felt a real chill.
[Ryuga, LP 4000 → 2000]
Ryuga clutched his chest, gritting his teeth.
"Set one card, turn end." Kira smiled. "Your turn, teacher."
Ryuga's face was cold.
He could still draw. There was still a chance.
It's just a one-sided stall lock, a 2000-ATK Level 3 beater, and an infinite bounce combo. I'll topdeck my way out of this...
"Activate set card, Trap—Drop Off." Kira politely announced. "During your Draw Phase, the card you draw is discarded immediately."
The card he just drew went straight to the Graveyard before he even saw it. The field fell into a long, awkward silence.
It was as if a cold wind blew through the arena.
"Huh, teacher, you're not doing anything this turn? You're too polite. Well, your time's up—my turn, draw."
"Abyss Soldier, direct attack."
[Ryuga, LP 2000 → LP 0]