Chapter 156: Gransol (17)
Although the Attack of Arcana Knight Joker had ended, Yugi's Battle Phase was not over yet.
"If Gaia the Fierce Knight is Destroyed, Hayato, you won't be able to Summon Gaia the Dragon Champion anymore, right?" Yugi glanced at Swift Gaia the Fierce Knight and Curse of Dragon, making a decision in his Heart. "However, better safe than sorry. I remember you have a Dragon Mirror, Hayato."
"In that case, Dark Magician, Attack Swift Gaia the Fierce Knight!"
Dark Mystical Power transformed into an energy sphere, blasting into Gaia. Although they were two different versions with different Attributes and Effects, because they were both Gaia, the Ending was the same. Hayato's second Gaia was also Destroyed and Send to Graveyard. Only a Curse of Dragon with 2000 ATK Points remained on the Field.
[Hayato: 1200 → 1000LP]
"Exactly 1000 Points. After you, is it my turn to Lock LP?" Hayato looked at the System. The lit-up New Feature made him hesitate, unsure whether to Activate it. However, recalling the Gaia that had just broken through Pegasus's seal and responded to him, Hayato resolutely gave up on using the System's New Feature.
Although using that Feature would likely bring him Victory, allowing him to defeat even Yugi who had drawn Arcana Knight Joker, he still wanted to defeat Yugi together with Gaia and the others.
Yugi did not possess the Mind Reading Ability, so he naturally didn't know the struggle in Hayato's Inner Thoughts at this moment. "End Turn. It's your turn, Hayato."
[Yugi: 2300LP, Hand 0]
[Dark Magician ATK 2500]
[Arcana Knight Joker ATK 3800]
"My Turn, Draw a Card."
Hayato lowered his head to confirm the Card he drew, then looked helplessly at Arcana Knight Joker on the Field. Its Resistance to negate Effects by Discarding a Hand Card when targeted by an Effect, and its powerful Attack and Defense with no blind spots... Hayato thought through his Deck Building, and there wasn't a single Card that could defeat Arcana Knight Joker alone.
"Change Curse of Dragon to Defense Position. My Turn End." Although the Card he drew was useful, this single Card alone still couldn't construct an Equation to defeat Yugi.
[Hayato: 1000LP, Hand 1]
[Curse of Dragon DEF 1500]
[Set Card]
Yugi: "My Turn, Draw a Card."
Looking at the Card he drew, Yugi smiled. "Although it came a little late, it's not too late."
"Spell Card, Mystical Space Typhoon! Destroy the Set Card in your Spell/Trap Zone, Hayato!"
A storm arrived, swirling around the Set Card in Hayato's Spell/Trap Zone. As it shattered, a shadow suddenly shot out from Hayato's Field.
"You fell for it, Yugi!" Hayato showed a relieved smile. "The Card I Set was Cursed Coffin, a Trap that Activates its Effect after being Destroyed. The fact that you would prioritize destroying my Trap was already within my calculations!"
Its main body was Destroyed and Send to Graveyard by Mystical Space Typhoon, but the ominous power within Cursed Coffin entwined around Yugi's Field, stirring restlessly. With Cursed Coffin Destroyed, Yugi had to make a choice—Discard a Hand Card, or Destroy one Monster on his Field.
Calling it a choice, there was actually no choice at all. Yugi currently had no Hand Cards, and Arcana Knight Joker's combat power was higher than Dark Magician's. After some hesitation, Yugi made his choice. "Sorry, Dark Magician. Please rest in the Graveyard for a while."
"Now, take Revenge for Dark Magician's sacrifice, Arcana Knight Joker!" Yugi waved his Hand forward. "Attack Curse of Dragon!"
A breathtaking Finishing Blow reappeared on the Field. Arcana Knight Joker struck casually, as if plucking a leaf with its Hand, easily slicing down the flying dragon coiled on Hayato's Field. However, because it had been switched to Defense Position beforehand, Hayato's Life Points did not decrease again.
"End Turn."
[Yugi: 2300LP, Hand 0]
[Arcana Knight Joker ATK 3800]
Hayato: "My Turn, Draw a Card."
"Phew, it really came just in time." Although the smiling face on the Card Art was disgusting, Hayato believed that no Duelist could refuse the powerful Effect of this Card. "Spell Card, Pot of Avarice. I return 5 Monster Cards from my Graveyard to my Deck, then Draw two Cards."
From Hayato's Graveyard, Noble Knight Artorigus, Ojama Black, Curse of Dragon, and two Gaia monsters were returned to the Deck. Hayato shuffled briefly and drew two Cards.
"Then I Normal Summon Card Trooper, and Activate its Effect. Send 3 Cards from the top of my Deck to the Graveyard. This Card's ATK increases by the number of Cards Send to Graveyard X 500 Points, which is 1500 Points."
[Card Trooper ATK 400 → 1900]
"1900 ATK Points, that's half of Arcana Knight Joker's. Could it be, Hayato, that you drew that Megamorph?"
Yugi had a deep Impression of that Card. Hayato's Life Points were currently lower than Yugi's, placing him within Megamorph's effective range. If equipped to Card Trooper, it could achieve Mutual Destruction with Arcana Knight Joker.
"No, I didn't draw Megamorph. However, I drew another Monster that can defeat Arcana Knight Joker." Hayato said, revealing his Hand. Yugi's first glance saw the unusually high Level on that Monster Card.
"Last Turn, I used Magical Stone Excavation to Send two EARTH Attribute Monsters to the Graveyard. Then, just now, Card Trooper Send three more EARTH Attribute Monster Cards to the Graveyard. Now, the number of EARTH Attribute Monsters in my Graveyard is exactly 5!"
As Hayato spoke, phantoms appeared on his Field—
Spirit Tiger
Little White Rabbit
Shield Warrior
Earthbound Fighter
Gatekeeper
The figures of the five Monsters transformed into five burning flames, Connection on Hayato's Field, constructing a giant Formation, as if offering a sacrifice to some existence.
Hayato slammed the Card in his Hand onto the Field. "For the great Ground that gives birth to all things, nothing is impossible! Everything exists within it! When there are exactly five EARTH Attribute Monsters in the Graveyard, Special Summon from my Hand!"
"Don't close your eyes, Yugi! Witness the Light from a Divine-Beast! Descent! Earthbound Immortal Gransoil!"
The Ground roared, thunder bellowed, and Hearts trembled. Under everyone's gaze, a majestic figure burst forth from beneath the earth, so tall it seemed to reach the sky. Just looking at its figure standing on the Field, a thought suddenly arose in Yugi's Heart—
The existence before him had transcended Duel Monsters. It wasn't a Monster, but a Divine-Beast.
[Earthbound Immortal Gransoil ATK 2800]
(End of this chapter)