Chapter 118: Which Priest Healed the Opponent?!
"The moment you activate the attack, your Life Points will drop to 3500 Points. Since that's lower than my Life Points, the effect of that Megamorph will become positive, increasing Masked Dragon's ATK to 2800 Points?!" Keith wasn't a Duel novice either; he instantly understood Hayato's combo, his expression turning serious.
His current Life Points were only 3700 Points. If Masked Dragon's attack succeeded, he would be in danger.
"As expected of the All-American Champion, 'The Bandit' Keith. You're absolutely right," Hayato complimented, then ordered, "Then, enter the Battle Phase. I'll first use Sand Moth to attack the Electric Torturer in Defense Position."
"You want to clear the Monster blocking the way first, and then use Masked Dragon for a Direct Attack on me?" Keith said through gritted teeth. "Then, because of Toll's effect, you have to pay 500 Life Points."
[Hayato: 4000LP → 3500LP]
At this moment, as the difference in Life Points between the two players changed, the stone tablet held by Masked Dragon once again shone with light. However, this time the light didn't cause it to shrink; instead, after restoring Masked Dragon's stats to their original state, it continued to enlarge, until its size doubled.
[Masked Dragon][ATK700 → 1400 → 2800]
"Just a mere 500 Life Points. Sand Moth's attack continues! Sandstorm Burial!"
A sand whirlwind swept across Keith's field. Although the Electric Torturer, which had previously destroyed all of Hayato's Set Cards, had a powerful effect, its internal components were too precise, resulting in very low ATK and DEF. It was easily destroyed by Sand Moth with 2000 ATK and sent to the Graveyard.
At this moment, Keith hesitated for a moment. Among the two cards he Set last turn, one was Time Machine, which could revive a destroyed monster. If he activated this card, he could summon the recently destroyed Electric Torturer again to block Masked Dragon's impending Direct Attack.
But if he did that, even if he saved his Life Points, Keith still wouldn't have any effective means to destroy the Masked Dragon with 2800 ATK next turn. On the other hand, if he took the Direct Attack, his Life Points would plummet to only 900 Points. Even if Hayato still held a dangerous Goblin Thief in his hand, it would be difficult to finish him off.
And because of the Life Points change, Megamorph would become a card that brought a debuff, and Masked Dragon's ATK would drop back down to only 700 Points. That way, he would have plenty of room for a counterattack.
"Next is Masked Dragon's direct attack! Go, Masked Dragon! Megaton Impact with 2800 ATK!"
[Hayato: 3500LP → 3000LP]
Dragging its massive body, Masked Dragon obeyed the order of its trainer, Hayato Kobayashi, and unleashed Megaton Impact for a direct attack on Bandit Keith. The damage was outstanding!
"Ugh!" Even Keith, who considered himself a tough guy, couldn't help but cry out in pain from the physical sensation simulated by the virtual projection system after taking 2800 Points of impact in one go. His Life Points instantly dropped like a dive.
[Keith: 3700LP → 900LP]
Because of using Megaton Impact's effect, Masked Dragon was affected by recoil. While its body was unable to move, its ATK also dropped back down to only 700 Points.
"Set two cards." Hayato didn't play the Goblin Thief from his hand. Instead, he Set it along with another card on the field. He didn't want to activate this card right now, which was essentially helping Keith lower his Life Points and lock LP. Anyway, if he wanted to use it for a finishing blow, he could activate it from the field anytime. Setting it could also bait a Mystical Space Typhoon and protect the other card.
"Ah, what a shame. I feel like Hayato made a mistake," Joey Wheeler sighed. "If he hadn't equipped Megamorph to Masked Dragon just now, but instead equipped it to Sand Moth, wouldn't 2000 double be 4000? Hayato could have won with a direct attack."
Mai Valentine heard Joey Wheeler's words and gave him an annoyed look. "Where did this idiot come from? Losing to someone like you is truly my shame."
"What do you mean by that?!" Joey Wheeler protested. Although you're a beauty and in my strike zone, you absolutely cannot insult my Dueling prowess! "Was I wrong?"
"Joey Wheeler-kun, actually, Hayato did nothing wrong." Yugi awkwardly tugged on Joey Wheeler's sleeve, stopping him from continuing his foolishness. "Hayato-kun's Megamorph increases the monster's original ATK."
Samejima, standing nearby, saw that Joey Wheeler still didn't quite understand even after hearing Yugi's explanation, so he added, "Although Sand Moth's current ATK is 2000 Points, that's the data after its effect swapped its ATK and DEF. Its original ATK is still 1000 Points. If you used Megamorph, even if the double effect was triggered, its ATK would still only be 2000 Points."
Meanwhile, among the "Amateur Duelist" trio of Tristan , Téa , and Bakura, Bakura's eyes were practically turning into starry eyes as he watched the field. He said admiringly, "Although Masked Dragon's ATK dropped back down, that Bandit Keith's Life Points are only 900 Points. He's practically a flickering candle."
Hearing the voice coming from Bakura's side, Hayato couldn't help but turn back and glare—You traitor, are you buffing the opponent?! Everyone else is doing a team fight for DPS, and you're putting healing on the boss?
Bakura looked somewhat confused.
"Phew, that really hurt. It's my first time taking such high damage on the Duel Platform." Leaning on the railing of the Duel Platform with one hand, Keith recovered from the pain he just felt and looked up at Hayato. "You're much more interesting than that amateur from the last match."
"Is that so? I'll take that as a compliment," Hayato said. Just as he was about to say "End Turn," Keith spoke first before he could. "Before your turn ends, I'll activate my Set Card!"
"Xing Zhen Hu!"
As Keith's Set Card in the Spell/Trap Zone flipped open, the two cards Hayato had just Set in his Spell/Trap Zone suddenly fell into a jar. A large stone was pressed down on the mouth of the jar, sealing both cards inside.
"You can only activate Xing Zhen Hu by choosing two Set Cards in your Spell/Trap Zone. As long as this card remains on the field, those two cards of yours cannot be activated." Keith smiled smugly. He remembered one of those two cards was Goblin Thief. This kid clearly wanted to trick him into using a card like Mystical Space Typhoon to destroy his Set Cards.
Setting two cards at once, only to have them used against you. Truly, greed knows no bounds, trying to swallow an elephant like a snake, hmph ha ha ha.
"Tch, I got greedy," Hayato regretted his recent operation somewhat. But he couldn't blame anyone else; he just didn't expect Keith to bring a card like Xing Zhen Hu. In Duelist Kingdom, where most Duelists preferred strategies involving Spell Cards combined with monsters, or even simply accumulating monsters, very few people would actively Set Spell/Trap Cards.
'Could this guy Keith's Deck have been specifically adjusted to counter me?' Hayato thought to himself.
(End of Chapter)