Chapter 136: Swap Strategy
"Open Set Card, [Counter Gate]! This card can only be Activated when a Direct Attack is declared. It negates that Attack!"
Joey Wheeler's Set Card flipped open, and a dimensional gate appeared. **Queen's Knight**, who had charged forward to Joey Wheeler's side and was about to strike with its sword, couldn't stop its momentum in time and rushed into the gate. When it reappeared on the Field, it was back on Yugi's side.
"A Card that can only be Activated during a Direct Attack, huh?" Yugi said with a smile, looking intrigued. "Did you anticipate that I would Destroy your **Rocket Warrior**, Joey Wheeler?"
Joey Wheeler rubbed his nose slightly sheepishly and chuckled, "Well, based on what I know about you, Yugi, you either Destroy with a Spell Card Effect or increase your Monster's ATK for Battle Destruction. The **Sakuretsu Armor** and [Counter Gate] I Set just happen to handle those two situations."
"Now, let's process the second Effect of [Counter Gate]. After negating the Attack, I can Draw a Card from my Deck." Joey Wheeler Drew a Card from his Deck, glanced at it, and showed it to Yugi. "The Card I Drew is this one, **Gearfried the Iron Knight**. It's a Monster that can be Normal Summoned, so I can Summon it in Attack Position."
"Come forth, **Gearfried the Iron Knight**!"
[Gearfried the Iron Knight] [Level 4 / Earth Attribute]
[Warrior Type / Effect]
[1800 ATK / 1600 DEF]
Watching the tall Warrior clad in steel Armor emerge from the dimensional gate, Yugi exclaimed, "Even though it's Level 4, its ATK and DEF are top-notch for its Level? But I remember, **Gearfried the Iron Knight** has a rather fatal Negative Effect, doesn't it?"
"Ah, that's right. Although it gained powerful Battle Power from its steel body, **Gearfried the Iron Knight** cannot be Equipped with any Cards to boost its Battle Power." Joey Wheeler smiled confidently. "But it doesn't matter. I believe **Gearfried the Iron Knight**'s own Power is enough to defeat other Monsters."
"Is that so?" Yugi smiled, Setting two Cards in his Spell/Trap Zone. "Set two Cards. My Turn Ends. It's your Turn, Joey Wheeler."
[Yugi: 4000 LP, Hand 1]
[Queen's Knight] [ATK 3000 → 1500]
[Set Card] [Set Card]
"Even though it's only the second Turn, the Duel between them is really intense," Téa exclaimed from the Spectator Area. "Yugi Summoned a Monster with 3000 ATK on his Turn, and Joey Wheeler actually managed to block Yugi's Direct Attack. Both of them are really serious."
Honda nodded, "After all, they know each other inside and out. And only by putting their whole Heart into it can they show the greatest respect for the other person."
"They on the Field can pour their entire Heart into the Duel, but the ones most conflicted right now should be us off the Field. At least, I don't know who I should be cheering for right now," Hayato said, crossing his arms over his chest and looking at the Duel Field.
Joey Wheeler: "My Turn, Draw a Card!"
Drawing a Card with high Aura, a look of joy appeared on Joey Wheeler's face as he placed the Drawn Card onto the Field. "Attack Position, Summon **Panther Warrior**!"
The black panther Warrior appeared on Joey Wheeler's Field, holding a curved sword. Although it was a Level 4 Monster, its high ATK of 2000 Points was enough to classify it as a Powerful Monster. However, there are gains and losses. Just like **Gearfried the Iron Knight** has the drawback of not being able to use Equip Cards, **Panther Warrior** must Tribute one of its own Monsters each time it Attacks.
'Is he Planning to use **Gearfried the Iron Knight** to Destroy my **Queen's Knight** first, then Tribute **Gearfried the Iron Knight** to Direct Attack with **Panther Warrior**? That's a pretty good Combo, Joey Wheeler.'
Thinking this, Yugi glanced at a Set Card in his Spell/Trap Zone. 'However, I can't Go Easy on you in this Duel.'
"Battle Phase! I'll Attack your **Queen's Knight** with **Gearfried the Iron Knight**! Try to withstand this, Yugi!" Joey Wheeler waved his hand forward, and the steel Knight, receiving its command, charged towards **Queen's Knight**.
A smile played on Yugi's lips. "You're too impatient, Joey Wheeler! I Activate my Set Card, **Monster Reborn**!"
"That Card is... this is bad!" Clearly, Joey Wheeler recognized the Card Yugi used.
"**Monster Reborn** is a Card that can be Activated when your Monster declares an Attack. Its Effect is to swap a Monster in my Hand with a Monster on the Field." Yugi Recycled **Queen's Knight** to his Hand and played another Card. "Come forth, **Giant Shield Gardna**!"
**Queen's Knight**'s figure disappeared from Yugi's Field, replaced by a massive Shield. A muscular Warrior crouched behind the giant Shield, ready to receive **Gearfried the Iron Knight**'s Attack.
[Giant Shield Gardna] [Level 4 / Earth Attribute]
[Warrior Type / Effect]
[100 ATK / 2600 DEF]
"The number of Monsters on my Field hasn't changed, so the Attack Replay Rules don't apply to **Gearfried the Iron Knight**'s Battle right now."
"So, I will take Difference Damage equal to the Difference between **Gearfried the Iron Knight**'s ATK and **Giant Shield Gardna**'s DEF," Joey Wheeler finished the latter half of the sentence Yugi didn't say.
**Gearfried the Iron Knight**'s fierce charge was blocked by the giant Shield. What could resist heavy steel was even heavier steel. **Gearfried the Iron Knight** was forcefully pushed back to Joey Wheeler's Field by **Giant Shield Gardna**, and as the Stakes for exerting force, **Giant Shield Gardna** also switched from Defense Position to Attack Position.
[Joey Wheeler: 4000 LP → 3200 LP]
[Giant Shield Gardna] [2600 DEF → 100 ATK]
Watching **Giant Shield Gardna** on Yugi's Field change from Defense Position to Attack Position, Joey Wheeler couldn't help but hesitate. He didn't know if he should Attack now.
**Panther Warrior**'s ATK is 2000 Points. Against **Giant Shield Gardna**, which only has 100 ATK, it could easily Destroy it. But if he missed this opportunity, once **Giant Shield Gardna** was switched back to Defense Position by Yugi next Turn, its high DEF of 2600 Points was something the Monsters currently on Joey Wheeler's Field couldn't break through.
Not to mention, **Panther Warrior**'s Attack comes at the Cost of Tributing **Gearfried the Iron Knight**. The usually Reckless and impulsive Joey Wheeler, because of the many reasons behind this Duel, truly couldn't bring himself to gamble.
Just as Joey Wheeler was hesitating, Yugi, standing opposite him, seemed to see through his Inner Thoughts at that moment and spoke with a smile, "Hesitating like this isn't the Joey Wheeler I know."
"Yugi?" Joey Wheeler's gaze met Yugi's. Unlike Joey Wheeler, whose mind was focused on his sister despite Dueling, Yugi's eyes were incredibly clear.