Tenma slapped down the card he drew.
"I summon 'Lancer Lindwurm!'"
Despite the name, it was a Dragon-type monster—green wings, spiral lance in hand, glaring at Kira's set monster.
[Lancer Lindwurm, ATK 1800]
"Lancer Lindwurm inflicts piercing damage when attacking defense position monsters," Tenma said. "Attack!"
Lancer Lindwurm's wings beat as its lance struck.
"But with 'Spirit Barrier' on the field, as long as I control a monster, I take no battle damage—even from piercing effects," Kira replied.
"And the monster you attacked is..."
The set monster flipped face-up, revealing a grinning, single-eyed pot.
"Morphing Jar!" Kira announced. "When this card is flipped, both players discard their entire hands and draw five cards from their decks."
Though its slow flip effect is outdated now, Morphing Jar was once a powerful forbidden card and a comeback tool in tournaments.
Like Sacred Phoenix of Nephthys, this was a farewell gift(loot) from Shell, one of the New Dorma Three Swordman. Though he's gone, his will and cards will be inherited.
"So, with Morphing Jar's effect..." Kira drew five cards at once.
Tenma replenished his hand as well, eyes narrowed as he assessed the situation.
Tenma: "I set two cards and end my turn."
Kira drew, paused for a moment, then smiled.
"As expected of Mr. Tenma—truly impressive. Looks like if I don't bring out my real strength, I'll be in trouble..."
The card professors were stunned.
So up to now, this wasn't his real strength?
"Oh?" Tenma looked quite intrigued.
"So, you were holding back until now?"
Kira smiled, drawing a card.
"All right, here I go."
He raised his right arm—and on the field, a swirling black vortex opened as if leading to the underworld. Two energies, one light and one dark, rose into the sky and intertwined.
"I banish the LIGHT 'Magician of Faith' and the DARK 'Apprentice Magician' from my graveyard!
Souls of light and darkness, offered to the field of chaos—summon the legendary warrior! The world is split open—
—Black Luster Soldier - Envoy of the Beginning, summon!"
From the surging chaos, light and darkness intertwined. At the height of chaos, a powerful force burst forth like the rising sun.
Darkness was dispelled, the blade of light and darkness cut through the chaos, and the warrior's armor gleamed with mystery as he strode into the storm.
[Black Luster Soldier - Envoy of the Beginning, ATK 3000]
"Envoy of the Beginning?!"
Many onlookers couldn't hide their shock.
That legendary warrior, in the hands of a mere student?
Mokuba nodded approvingly: "Oh, looks like you've mastered the power of chaos now."
Big Brother would be proud, too.
"Envoy of the Beginning, attack 'Lancer Lindwurm!'" Kira ordered. "Chaos Double Slash!"
The Warrior's blade split the air with light and darkness, inflicting 1200 points of battle damage. Tenma was down to 1000 LP—the attack would decide the match!
"Then I activate 'Ultimate Offering's' effect," Tenma replied. "Pay 500 LP for a Normal Summon!
I tribute 'Lancer Lindwurm' and summon 'Cursed of Dragon' in Defense Position!"
[Tenma, LP 1000→500] Nᴇw ɴovel chaptᴇrs are published on NoveI(F)ire.net
[Cursed of Dragon, DEF 1500]
"I see, using that to block the attack and avoid damage," Kira realized.
Ultimate Offering's effect can only be activated during the Main Phase or the opponent's Battle Phase. That's why Tenma couldn't use it after drawing with Morphing Jar the last turn—otherwise, he would've summoned a new wall then.
But if the card didn't have that restriction, or if Tenma had chosen to attack last turn, he'd have paid his LP down to 500 and wouldn't be able to use it this turn.
The blade fell, splitting Cursed Dragon in two—it exploded and vanished from the field.
"'Envoy of the Beginning's' effect: when it destroys a monster by battle, it can attack again."
The card professors tensed.
Tenma's defense was razor-thin, but it wasn't over. The Envoy could attack again—this time, it would mean defeat.
And with only 500 LP left, Tenma couldn't pay for another wall.
But Tenma immediately revealed another card.
"When a monster on my field is destroyed by battle or card effect and sent to the graveyard, I can Special Summon this card from my hand—
—'Interplanetarypurplythorny Dragon,' Defense Position!" (Who came up with this name. lol)
[Interplanetarypurplythorny Dragon, DEF 1100]
The second slash of the Envoy fell, sword energy filling the sky. The Thorn Dragon was pierced and collapsed in a shower of blade light.
But Tenma flipped his set card: "I activate my trap—Time Machine!
When a monster is destroyed by battle and sent to the grave, I can Special Summon it back to its original position!
I revive 'Interplanetarypurplythorny Dragon!'"
A heavy black machine emerged from the mists of time, and time reversed on the field. Before the smoke cleared, the broken pieces were drawn back together, and the purple-black dragon reappeared.
[Interplanetarypurplythorny Dragon, DEF 1100]
"He blocked both attacks from the Envoy and kept a monster on the field..." Mokuba nodded. "As expected of Pegasus's prized pupil—Tenma has some tricks up his sleeve."
Kira wasn't surprised that his attack had been stopped.
"Then I set two cards and end my turn."