Mars's final board may have just been a single Link monster with 2800 ATK and no field effect, looking weak and unimpressive...
But compared to the anime's "Zun-ge," who obsessed over his dumb lion and did nothing else, this was already much better.
Plus, those three set cards in the back row were still kind of scary.
Li You recalled what he knew about the "Salamangreat" deck. Among those face-downs, one was likely the archetype's signature trap "Salamangreat Roar," another might be the Quick-Play spell "Salamangreat Rage" that was recovered earlier.
As for the third… hard to say, but it didn't seem like a major threat.
Li You said, "Alright then, it's my turn. Draw."
As soon as he drew his card, Mars immediately flipped one of his set cards and declared:
"During your Standby Phase, I activate the Continuous Trap Card 'Salamangreat Gift' and use its second effect. I discard one 'Salamangreat' monster from my hand to draw two cards."
"Hand refill, huh?" Li You shrugged. "No objections here."
One less fake threat—this was getting easier.
Mars hand: 5 cards
Li You asked, "Anything else?"
Mars shook his head.
Li You smiled. "Mars, actually—I do agree. Link Summon really is the most advanced summoning method."
Mars looked surprised. "You think so too?"
Li You grinned slyly. "Because I've mastered it as well!"
Everyone—including Mars and the spectators—was shocked. "What? You too?!"
With a slight smile, Li You decided to show, not tell.
"First, I activate the Spell Card 'Dragon Shrine' and send a Normal Dragon monster from my deck to the grave. I choose 'Blue-Eyes White Dragon.'"
Spectators were stunned: "Blue-Eyes White Dragon?! Could this Zarc actually be Li You…?"
Zarc's identity suddenly became a hot topic in the chat. Hearing all the commotion, Li You chuckled and felt like pulling a little prank.
"Next, as part of Dragon Shrine's resolution, I send another Dragon from the deck to the grave—'The White Stone of Legend.' When it's sent to the grave, I add one 'Blue-Eyes White Dragon' to my hand."
The White Stone of Legend: Level 1, ATK 300
"Next, I Normal Summon 'Sage with Eyes of Blue' and activate his effect to search a Level 1 LIGHT Tuner from my deck. Mars, any response?"
A silver-haired, refined-looking young mage stepped into the duel arena, waving a long wand.
Mars observed quietly and shook his head.
Then, Li You raised his hand and revealed a formation he was all too familiar with—
The Link Gate!
"Sage with Eyes of Blue" leaped into the lower-left corner of the triangle, triggering a gust of ancient draconic wind!
Mars exclaimed in excitement: "You really can Link Summon!"
Li You smirked. "Child's play...
"Manifest, the circuit of pride and soul!
"Arrow confirmed——!
"Summoning condition: 1 Level 4 or lower Dragon or Spellcaster-type monster.
"I set my 'Sage with Eyes of Blue' to the Link Marker—Circuit Combine!
"From the ancient stone tablets carved with mystery and might, come forth into a new age and shine once again!
"Link Summon—appear now, Blue-Eyes Whelp!"
Blue-Eyes Whelp: Link-1, ATK 300
"Roar—!"
A youthful yet proud dragon cry echoed from the Link Gate. A familiar tower rose behind Li You, a miniature replica of the Alcatraz Duel Tower where Seto Kaiba held the Battle City finals in the DM anime.
It was there that Kaiba and Yugi brought their destined rivalry to a close.
At the top of the tower, a baby-sized Blue-Eyes White Dragon perched like a figurine, giving a soft cry like it had just hatched.
[Shize Yunsuan]: "Is this Zarc really Li You? Li You does have Link monsters, but he's never summoned this Link-1 before. Let's keep watching…"
The newly born Blue-Eyes Whelp looked around curiously, then fluttered its small wings and landed beside its summoner, Li You, rubbing its smooth little forehead against his arm.
Li You petted the tiny dragon affectionately and said, "Alright, get back to work!"
Heartlessly sending the baby dragon off.
The whelp flew back to the top of the duel tower, its blue eyes shining with a dazzling laser. Though small, it held the proud dignity of the Blue-Eyes lineage and would destroy any enemy with full power!
Li You said: "When 'Blue-Eyes Whelp' is Link Summoned, its effect activates—I add a Field Spell Card 'Sanctuary of Radiance' from my deck to my hand."
A majestic temple appeared on his field, sacred and radiant, dedicated to the legendary White Dragon.
Li You then showed the card he had searched earlier with "Sage with Eyes of Blue."
"Effect of 'Maiden in White': I send this card from hand to grave, and set one Continuous Trap Card 'True Light' directly from my deck face-up in my back row."
A stone tablet carved with a simple but lifelike sketch of the Blue-Eyes White Dragon stood on Li You's field.
Mars asked in surprise, "Directly set face-up?"
[Shize Yunsuan]: "What a powerful effect—he's directly activating a Continuous Trap. Normally, you have to set a trap and wait a turn. This one is live immediately!"
Li You smiled. "Exactly. This is the power of a modern-era card."
Blue-Eyes: Dark Magician? Red-Eyes? Do you have effects this efficient? Oh wait, Red-Eyes—you don't even have a proper grave to lie in!
Mars frowned.
He didn't know what that trap card did, but his instincts told him—it wasn't good.
Without hesitation, he played his strongest disruption.
"Even though I'd like to see your full combo, my duelist instincts are telling me—if I let you continue, things will get out of hand.
"In that case! I chain my face-down card to your spell effect: Counter Trap 'Salamangreat Roar'! Since I control a Link monster from the archetype, I negate your monster effect and destroy it!"
Mars's Sunlight Phoenix flared its wings and unleashed a roar of flame toward Li You.
Li You raised an eyebrow, completely unfazed. With a smirk, he said:
"Of course it's that card… But Mars, your Counter Trap may be powerful—but I've never worried about it, no matter when you activate it."
Mars blinked. "Why?"
Li You pulled out a card from his hand and smiled playfully:
"Because I've got something stronger—
"Chain Link 3! I pay half my Life Points to activate the Counter Trap 'Red Reboot' from my hand! I negate your trap and reset it face-down—and you can't activate any more traps this turn!!"
~# Keep the chapters coming — Support with Power Stones!