Chapter 141: Breaking the Cocoon and Becoming a Butterfly, Symbol of Growth
"The final, my Turn. Draw a Card!"
Drawing a Card from the top of the Deck, Joey Wheeler lowered his head to check it, but suddenly froze. "This Card is... Is that how it is? I think I understand now."
"Activate Spell Card, Warrior Returning Alive! I Recycle one Warrior Type Monster from my Graveyard to my Hand."
Joey Wheeler began selecting a Card to Recycle from his Graveyard, which left the watching Tristan somewhat confused. "Does Joey Wheeler have any powerful Warrior Type Monsters in his Graveyard?"
"The one with the highest ATK should be that Black Panther Warrior, right? But that Card only has 2000 ATK Points, which can't compare to Yugi's Dark Magician. Moreover, Black Panther Warrior has the Negative Effect of requiring a Monster Tribute to Attack," Bakura analyzed.
Téa thought for a moment, and indeed, as Bakura said, the strongest Warrior Type Monster Joey Wheeler had used was Black Panther Warrior. "In that case, does Joey Wheeler want to Summon Black Panther Warrior to act as a Wall, minimizing the Damage taken as much as possible to stall for Turns?"
Samejima, sitting in front of them, heard Téa's words, turned around, and said to them, "Although I haven't known him for long, I can tell to some extent that Joey Wheeler is a person with considerable backbone. With the strongest Monster in his Deck already defeated, he wouldn't make meaningless attempts to stall for time. This is a Duelist's Glory."
"I think I might know the Monster Joey Wheeler plans to Summon." Hayato, however, did think of a Monster. The Summoning Condition for that Monster currently existed in Joey Wheeler's Graveyard. "When it comes to showing his growth, there's no Monster more suitable than that one."
Meanwhile, Joey Wheeler on the Field finally found the Card he wanted. "The Card I'm adding to my Hand is this one, Gearfried the Iron Knight! Then I Normal Summon it in Attack Position!"
The knight of steel returned from the Graveyard, but the Field was no longer the same. Joey Wheeler's original great advantage had already turned into Yugi's advantage. He had to face the Dark Magician, which had 2700 ATK Points and had changed from Spellcaster to Warrior.
[Gearfried the Iron Knight] [ATK 1800]
"Yugi, now, watch closely. This is my growth from this period, my transformation!" Playing a Card from his Hand, Joey Wheeler said excitedly, "What is called Armor is both protection for oneself and a Restraint on oneself."
"The time for breaking the Cocoon and becoming a butterfly has arrived! Having undergone much Tempering, shed the steel Armor that Shackles you, Gearfried! Activate Spell Card, Release Restraint!"
As soon as Joey Wheeler finished speaking, the Armor of Gearfried the Iron Knight standing on his Field suddenly cracked open without receiving any Attack. Accompanied by Hayato's voice-over from outside the Field saying "Cast Off," Gearfried the Iron Knight's Armor shattered and fell off, revealing the figure of the person restrained by the Armor.
His sturdy body was covered in scars left by battles, and his hand and foot joints were wrapped in white bandages used for training. Although his hands were empty, having emerged from the Armor, Swordmaster Monk just standing there made one feel a unique sharpness from afar, like that of a peerless divine sword.
Swordmaster Monk [7☆/Light]
[Warrior Type/Effect]
[2600/2200]
"What a, what a powerful Monster!" Téa covered her mouth in surprise, her gaze repeatedly shifting between Dark Magician and Swordmaster Monk. "Although Yugi's Dark Magician has slightly higher ATK, Swordmaster Monk is clearly more like a Warrior Type."
"Breaking free from the restriction of avoiding the use of weapons, he became a powerful Warrior who could use anything as a sword, and was even given the title of Sword Saint," Hayato exclaimed.
Samejima strongly agreed. "What a Duel that truly brought out the charm of Duel Monsters. Now the Victory or Defeat of the Duel is somewhat hard to distinguish again."
Joey Wheeler glanced at his Hand: one Flag of Courage that increases a Monster's ATK, one Forbidden Lance that decreases a Monster's ATK, and one Metalmorph. Setting the Metalmorph which couldn't be Activated this Turn, Joey Wheeler placed both remaining Cards in his Hand onto the Field and Activated them!
"Flag of Courage! It increases the ATK of my monsters by 200 Points during my Battle Phase!"
"Forbidden Lance! It decreases the ATK of Dark Magician by 800 Points and makes it unaffected by the Effects of other Spell and Trap Cards!"
A command flag appeared behind Swordmaster Monk, its pattern symbolizing courage fluttering in the Wind, causing its ATK to be increased.
[Swordmaster Monk] [ATK 2600 → 2800]
And suddenly, a Golden Spear appeared in front of Dark Magician, descending from the sky. After piercing its abdomen, it turned into countless Particles and Dispersed in the Wind. The Power on Dark Magician's body disappeared the moment it was pierced by the holy spear. The Great Sword in its Hand turned into nothingness, but just as it was about to pick up its Wand to use as a Weapon, it remembered that it had broken it earlier.
[Dark Magician] (Warrior Type → Spellcaster Type) [ATK 2700 → 1700]
Seeing Joey Wheeler's series of Operations, Kujaku Mai, leaning on the Railing, couldn't help but say in surprise, "Swordmaster Monk's ATK is 1100 Points higher than Dark Magician, and Yugi's Life Points are 900. That guy, could he really defeat Mutou Yuugi?!"
"This is my full Power, all of my growth from this period, Yugi!" Joey Wheeler clenched his fists excitedly and shouted loudly at Swordmaster Monk, "Attack Dark Magician, Gearfried!"
"No-Sword Style - Hand Blade Attack!!!"
"Haa!"
Although his hands were empty, Swordmaster Monk didn't need to rely on the advantage of a Weapon. He just raised his Right Hand and made a Hand Blade gesture, and rushed towards Dark Magician who was also unarmed.
"That's truly amazing, Joey Wheeler." Yugi watched Swordmaster Monk gradually approach Dark Magician. Even though he was about to lose the Duel, a relieved smile appeared on his face. "Your Conviction entrusted in the Duel Monsters, your Resolve, I have felt it all."
"Let me repay you in my own way!" Yugi waved his hand. "I Activate my Set Card on the Field, Magic Cylinder! This Card is a magical Cylinder controlled by a Spellcaster. It can not only Transfer substances, but also absorb a Monster's Attack and reflect it back!"
"Here it comes, Joey Wheeler!"
Because Dark Magician was freed from the influence of Forbidden Lance, although it lost the Power of a Warrior, it was also able to regain its powerful Mystical Power. Swordmaster Monk charged forward, and it showed no fear. Its empty hand swiped through the air, and a Cylinder appeared before the Hand Blade Swordmaster Monk thrust out.
Although its Aura was astonishing, unfortunately, the Sword Saint's strike that could pierce anything failed to transcend the Restraint of the Rules. Under the Transfer of Magic Cylinder, Swordmaster Monk's Hand Blade appeared behind itself. Swordmaster Monk was Destroyed from behind by its own Hand Blade and sent to the Graveyard.
Watching his final effort disappear from the Field, Joey Wheeler instead breathed a sigh of relief. He looked at Yugi with a smile and said, "My Turn ends, Yugi."
[Joey Wheeler: 2700 LP]
[Flag of Courage] [Set Card]
"Then, my Turn." Drawing a Card, Yugi looked at Joey Wheeler's empty Field, and at Dark Magician who was freed from the influence of Forbidden Lance and had picked up its Great Sword again. He commanded:
"Dark Magician, perform a Direct Attack against the opponent Duelist!"
"Eeyah!"
A flash of sword Light, and Dark Magician's figure had already appeared not far in front of Joey Wheeler. The Great Sword in its Hand was slowly being withdrawn. While walking towards Yugi's Field, Dark Magician's figure began to Disperse.
[Joey Wheeler: 2700 LP → 0]
"I announce that the Winner of this Match is," As Joey Wheeler's Life Points on the Scoreboard reached zero, the Old Butler appeared promptly by the Duel Platform and said through the Microphone, "Mutou Yuugi!"