"Don't think it ends here, Jiang He! Even if you've locked down my Water Dragon again, my powerful offensive is already unstoppable!"
Bastion Misawa's fighting spirit burned even brighter as he gestured toward the Duel Disk on his left arm. At that moment, a faint glimmer began to shine from the Graveyard slot of his Duel Disk.
"Is it that black dragon monster he discarded on the first turn with the Spell Card Graceful Charity...?" Jiang He murmured, raising an eyebrow as he guessed what was coming.
"Exactly! It's the Carboneddon I sent to the Graveyard with the effect of Graceful Charity during the first turn!" Bastion said, a confident smile returning to his face. "I've been laying the groundwork for this secondary tactic for nearly three turns!"
"I activate the effect of Carboneddon in my Graveyard! By banishing this card while there are ten or more cards in my Graveyard, I can Special Summon Hyozanryu from my hand or Deck!"
Roar!!
A diamond-like shimmer erupted from Bastion's Graveyard, and a massive diamond soon materialized on the field before him. A split second later, the giant gem cracked open, releasing beams of light that transformed into a massive, silver-white winged dragon with horns. It let out a deafening roar, its body sparkling with a crystalline luster.
[Hyozanryu]
[Level: 7]
[Attribute: Light]
[ATK: 2100]
[DEF: 2800]
"So that was the plan! Bastion didn't just use Graceful Charity to set up the summon of Water Dragon; it was a setup for this, too! What a powerful chain of plays!" Jaden Yuki praised, visibly impressed. He hadn't expected Bastion to have another layer of strategy ready to go.
"If that's the case, Jiang He might be in trouble...!" Alexis Rhodes frowned, looking toward Jiang He with concern. She wondered silently, What will you do now, Jiang He?
However, when Alexis looked over, she realized that Jiang He didn't seem nervous at all.
"Since I noticed you putting Carboneddon into the Graveyard so early, how could I not have a countermeasure ready?" Jiang He said with a faint smile, staring down the newly summoned Hyozanryu.
"Wait, could it be...?!" At his words, the expressions of Bastion, the spectating students, and even Professor Crowler shifted. Their eyes darted toward Jiang He's field, specifically toward the one remaining face-down card sitting next to Fiendish Chain, which was currently binding the Water Dragon.
Jiang He quickly confirmed their suspicions with a sweep of his hand.
"I activate my other face-down card! The Trap, Floodgate Trap Hole!"
"When your opponent Summons a monster: Change that monster to face-down Defense Position, and it cannot change its battle position!"
Roar!!
The massive Hyozanryu, which had only just appeared, let out an unwilling roar before the ground beneath it collapsed. It curled back into the shape of a giant diamond, falling into a horizontal, face-down position on the field. It remained there, silent and immobile, as if it had been thrown into a dungeon.
"..." Bastion's expression was indescribable. His lips trembled and his eyes went blank, reflecting the absolute lack of peace in his heart.
He was numb. Completely and utterly numb.
[Ding! Bastion Misawa's Emotion Points +800!]
"..." Even the students watching the duel broke out in cold sweats, feeling a deep sense of empathy for Bastion. They all looked at Jiang He's sunny, smiling face with strange expressions. Only one thought echoed through their minds: How can he smile so brightly while playing like that?
"Playing cards with you is like being in prison!"
Alexis Rhodes covered her face with her hand, feeling a headache coming on. She suddenly felt that Jiang He had been incredibly merciful during their duel the previous night. It was a good thing she had surrendered early...
Syrus Truesdale and Jaden Yuki also twitched, taking a step back in unison. Even someone as obsessed with dueling as Jaden found his desire to challenge Jiang He beginning to waver. He wasn't so sure he wanted to sign up for that kind of torture anymore.
"M-Misawa-kun... if you're feeling unwell, we can suspend the practical lesson. You can go to the health room to rest," Professor Crowler offered weakly from the sidelines.
"No. This is a trial for me! This is a duel unlike any I have ever calculated or considered!" Bastion snapped back to his senses, looking at Jiang He with a heavy, solemn expression. "Give me everything you've got, Jiang He! My turn ends!"
"Since you put it that way, Bastion, I'll use this gift to properly 'make friends' with you!"
"My turn, draw!"
To ensure he drew the exact "gift" he wanted, Jiang He activated the once-per-duel guaranteed Miracle Draw ability of his Clear Mind as he placed his hand on the deck.
"That feeling is back!" Jaden and Zane Truesdale, along with a few others, felt a stir in the air. Even Lyman Banner, the teacher from the Slifer Red dorm, blinked in surprise. Is that the mental willpower of a powerful duelist...?
"Accept this gift of friendship, Bastion! I Tribute your Water Dragon and Hyozanryu to Special Summon the soul of my deck to your side of the field! Come forth, my ace monster, Lava Golem!"
Jiang He's lips curled into a smirk as he revealed the card he had just drawn.
Roar/Hiss!!
Bastion's Water Dragon, which had been bound in various ways since its arrival, and the imprisoned Hyozanryu both let out frustrated cries before dissolving into particles of light. In their place, a massive, humanoid demon made of molten rock rose from the ground with a thunderous boom.
It towered behind Bastion.
"Lava... Lava Golem?!" Bastion gasped in shock. Before he could react, a black cage hanging from a chain on the Lava Golem's chest slammed down, trapping him inside!
Wait, you're using such a toxic thing to make friends?! Bastion's face turned green.
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