Chazz stared at the impenetrable wall before him, momentarily dazed.
That feeling of helplessness he'd had before, when facing Kira—the sense that nothing he did mattered, that all efforts were futile—returned.
He'd gone through so much, he'd gotten so much stronger. He'd crawled out of hell and vowed never to fall again.
But in the end, the gap between them hadn't narrowed at all.
Chazz had figured out Misawa's analysis, too: his only move was to sacrifice his LP and command a token to suicide attack.
But he was sure Kira had prepared for that. Even without trying, he sensed it would almost certainly fail.
Almost subconsciously, he glanced back at the audience.
And met his two brothers' furious glares. Without a word, he could almost hear their voices.
"What the hell are you doing, Chazz?"
"Forget it, forget it. You were always the black sheep anyway. My fault for expecting more..."
"Maybe you really are destined to be with the bottom-feeder losers..."
"...No. This isn't right.
Why should he be the black sheep?
Chazz clenched his fist.
No, it's not over yet. This duel—this one duel—he absolutely can't lose!
Chazz raised his head, and a challenger's fighting spirit blazed in his eyes as he looked again at the unbeatable lock before him.
This time, he'd stake everything on his draw!
His pupils shrank as he held the drawn card high.
"Oh?" Kira narrowed his eyes, smiling.
Things were getting interesting.
Chazz shouted, "Mini Guts! By tributing one of my monsters, I select one of your monsters and reduce its ATK to 0 until the end of the turn!"
"Amazing!" Misawa jumped up. "He actually had this move... Even I didn't think of it..."
"But with Blader on the field, all card effects are negated," Syrus said, still confused. "Wouldn't the Spell be negated?"
"Blader can negate any effect," Alexis explained. "But only the effect, not the cost. 'Tributing a monster' is a cost, not an effect.
Activation costs can't be negated."
"Right. By tributing one of the three tokens as a cost, the number of monsters drops to two—and Blader's lock is broken," Misawa said. "So, when 'Mini Guts' resolves, Chazz only has two monsters.
Meaning, Blader's 'negate all effects' is no longer active."
He looked at Chazz with admiration.
"The Chazz who fought his way back from North Academy really is a new person. To find hope in a near-impossible situation—he's surpassed his old self."
"..." Newest update provided by novel·fire.net
"I tribute one 'Ojama Token' to reduce your Attack Position 'Ojama King's' ATK to 0!"
[Ojama King, ATK 3000 → ATK 0]
The Ojama Yellow Spirit popped out again, pleading: "Boss, don't hit my brother! Or at least not in the face!"
Chazz let out a deep breath.
He couldn't help glancing again at his brothers in the audience.
This time, their faces finally showed a glimmer of approval.
Yes—he'd decided long ago, he wouldn't be the black sheep anymore.
Chazzz's gaze was resolute.
He would use his own hands to take back his rightful place!
Kira smiled and nodded. "Not bad—you even broke through the Blader lock. Impressive..."
"Hmph, your composure ends here," Chazz said. "With only two monsters on my field, the lock is broken! I activate 'Trade-In'! I discard a Level 8 monster to draw two cards!"
He sent a card to the Graveyard and drew two more.
"Next, 'Graceful Charity'! Draw three, discard two!"
Now free from the lock, Chazz's deck cycling accelerated at full speed.
Of course, he knew the crisis wasn't over. If he summoned another monster, his field would again have three, and Blader would lock him out once more.
"But this card will shatter your sinister formation—"
Chazz raised another card high.
"Spell Card, 'Dark Hole'! Destroy all monsters on both sides of the field!"
A collapsing celestial body emerged, warping space. Chazz's tokens and Kira's Ojama King and Blader were all sucked in and obliterated.
"When 'Ojama Tokens' are destroyed, you take 300 damage for each," Kira said.
[Chazz, LP 4000 → 3400]
"Tch, but at least the field is clear again," Chazz said.
"Then, I activate 'Level Modulation'! My opponent draws two cards, and I Special Summon an LV monster from my Graveyard, ignoring its Summoning condition!"
A monster card emerged from the Graveyard.
"So, I revive this card from my Graveyard! Return to the field—
—Armed Dragon LV7, arise!"
A storm erupted as the iron-armed dragon returned!
[Armed Dragon LV7, ATK 2800]
"Monsters Special Summoned by 'Level Modulation' can't attack or use effects this turn.
But! I tribute 'Armed Dragon LV7' to upgrade it even further!"
LV7's form dissolved into golden light, a storm swirling as the dragon evolved. Crimson brilliance slashed the sky; amidst the tempest, a vast figure emerged—steel scales, razor-sharp armor glinting coldly, its eyes burning with fire.
"The ultimate Armed Dragon, Armed Dragon LV10, summoned!"
[Armed Dragon LV10, ATK 3000]
PS: Bonus Chapter at 100 PS.