Chapter 46: National Duel Monsters Tournament
Although filled with curiosity about the contents of the Box, Yugi still restrained himself, placing the Box at his feet and looking up at the TV Screen. "The Match seems to have started."
His words drew everyone's attention back to the Program on the Television. After a universally disliked but necessary Sponsor Commercial Break, the Grand Finals of the Japan Region National Duel Monsters Tournament, organized by Industrial Illusions, had begun.
The Black Side Player taking the First Turn was "Insect" Weevil, who specialized in using a Combination of Insect Monsters and Spell Cards. The White Side Player taking the Second Turn was "Dinosaur" Rex, whose Dinosaur-Type Monster Specialty was powerful Strength and extremely high Precision.
"My Turn, Draw a Card." After glancing at the Hand he drew, Weevil Set three Cards in his Spell/Trap Zone, then with a Sinister Smile, he performed a Set Summon of a Monster onto the Field before ending his Turn.
"He actually Set three Traps in his Spell/Trap Zone right away, this Weevil's Deck is so Shady." Looking at Weevil's "T" formation play on the TV Program, Hayato felt quite annoyed by his Operation, stemming from a poor Impression of the Duelist himself.
Joey Wheeler gave Hayato a speechless glance. Speaking of Opening Three Sets, I remember it seems like Hayato was the one who used this move the most, right? Among everyone here, he's the only one who has no right to call others Shady—just as he thought this, Joey Wheeler glanced at Yugi again.
Recently, when Dueling, Yugi had also started to increasingly favor Set Card Battle. Shady Duelists were showing Signs of person-to-person transmission.
"My Turn!"
Although both were fourteen years old, it was clear that Rex didn't have the exaggerated height of a certain precocious delinquent priest with a Tattoo on his face and permed hair. However, the Aura that appeared the moment he drew a Card made people involuntarily forget he was only 14.
Looking at the Monster on Weevil's Field, Rex chuckled and Summoned his own Monster: "Mere defense is useless against my invincible Dinosaur Army! I Summon [Wild Raptor]!"
"Roar!"
Unlike Weevil's plain opening, accompanying Rex's Summon declaration, a Dinosaur with a Pitch-Black Body appeared on the Field. It had sturdy legs that clearly excelled at running and Claws sharp enough to Tear Apart an entire Deck in one go, full of domineering Aura!
[Wild Raptor] [4☆/Earth] [Dinosaur-Type/Normal] [1500/800]
I've seen this move, Double Summon a second Monster and then overlay for a Divine Judgment Dragon, right? Watching Rex's Operation, Hayato couldn't help but recall the fun Dinosaur Deck he often played in his previous life. Using [Rescue Rabbit] to Special Summon two [Wild Raptor] and then overlaying for an Xyz Summon was one of his most frequently used Operations.
"ATK is actually as high as 1500 points! This is Bad, in that case, my Monster!" Weevil also cooperated quite well with Rex's actions, showing an Expression that was a mix of fear, panic, and despair, like a meat sandwich.
Seeing Weevil fall into Panic, Rex couldn't help but feel Great Joy and quickly ordered: "Then go, [Wild Raptor], use your Claws to Attack and Crush that Monster!"
The Set Card on Weevil's Field was easily Torn Apart by [Wild Raptor] as it rushed forward, revealing its True Form. It was the 2☆ Insect Type Monster [Evil Scorpion].
[Evil Scorpion] [2☆/Earth] [Insect Type/Normal] [900/200]
Facing [Wild Raptor]'s 1500 ATK, [Evil Scorpion] was instantly Defeated, but strangely, its Corpse didn't disappear immediately.
Seeing his Monster on the Field Destroyed in one hit, Weevil's face suddenly changed: "Haha, you fell for it, Rex! I just happen to have a Trap Card on my Field that can Respond to 'a Monster being Destroyed', and now I Activate it!"
It turned out his previous Panic was all a disguise, purely to lure Rex into Attacking his Monster. One of the three Set Cards in Weevil's Spell/Trap Zone was flipped up, revealing its True Form: [Trap of the Fellow Traveler]!
"When a Monster is Destroyed and sent to your Graveyard, you can Activate this Card, Targeting one Monster on the Field to Destroy it." Weevil showed a Sinister Smile, his Finger pointing at the [Wild Raptor] that had just Attacked. "Industrial Illusions has released quite a few New Cards recently, you who Dueling Reckless are about to lose the Match!"
"I'm going to Destroy that [Wild Raptor]!"
The Corpse of [Evil Scorpion] remaining on the Field twitched when [Wild Raptor] wasn't paying attention. Immediately, [Evil Scorpion]'s tail stinger suddenly launched a Sneak Attack towards the defenseless [Wild Raptor]. Lethal Poison was Injected into [Wild Raptor]'s Body through the stinger. Without even a Struggle, [Wild Raptor] just Fall down. The Corpses of both Monsters simultaneously turned into Light Points and Disperse.
Not only that, Rex's Life Points also decreased by 750 points because [Wild Raptor] was Destroyed.
[Rex: 2000 LP → 1250 LP]
"Hehehehe~ Now you have no Monsters on your Field, right? You'll lose the Match directly when the Turn ends." Weevil stated his Plan, while also feigning Regret. "It's truly a pity, you finally made it to the Finals, but you were taken care of by me before you even lasted through the first Turn."
"Don't look down on Yours Truly, my Turn isn't over yet, Weevil!" Rex's face showed no sign of seriousness, but rather an Expression as if this was expected. "In my Main Phase 2, I Activate the Spell Card [Double Summon], and then I Summon [Greedy Corpse Dragon]!"
"Roar!"
With the same High-Decibel Roar upon its Appear and the same Pitch-Black Body standing upright, Rex once again Summoned a Dinosaur Monster, and its ATK was even stronger than the [Wild Raptor] that was just Destroyed!
[Greedy Corpse Dragon] [4☆/Earth] [Dinosaur-Type/Normal] [1600/1200]
"When I saw the Set Card in your Spell/Trap Zone, I had my suspicions. [Wild Raptor] was just a bait. Don't look down on Yours Truly, Weevil!"
The two in the Television fell into an intense back-and-forth of Attack and Defense. You use a Trap to Destroy my Monster, I use a Spell to Increase Defense and Reflect Attack, Evenly Matched.
"Amazing, amazing!" Joey Wheeler was dumbfounded. Before the Match started, he thought that Weevil, the guy using Insects, would surely be Crushed by Rex's Dinosaurs, but now it seemed that both sides had quite powerful Dueling Strength.
Hayato looked at the Trap Cards used by both sides, showing a Satisfied Smile, and thought to himself: That Pegasus guy, he still won't agree to promote the 4000 LP Rules, but he's quite active in Printing Cards.
There's one more chapter before the main character gets into trouble.
(End of Chapter)