"My turn, draw!" Rafael said, "Spell Card – Graceful Charity: Draw 3 cards, then discard 2 cards."
After changing the cards in his hand, Rafael glanced at Shining Flare Wingman on Yuei Vu's field and the indestructible "Intrigue Shield" protecting him, and couldn't help frowning slightly.
As long as there was that layer of shield, not only he could not cause combat damage, but attacking recklessly could cause a backlash. This layer of defense still made him feel quite tricky.
But he has prepared countermeasures!
"Activate Equip Spell – Axe of Despair!" Rafael played an equipment card again, "Equip to Guardian Grarl! The equipped monster gains 1000 ATK!"
Although the 'Gravity Axe – Grarl' was destroyed and went to the graveyard, Rafael's deck mainly focuses on Equip Spell Cards, and naturally, there was no shortage of other substitutes.
Guardian Grarl picked up this devil-like heavy ax in one hand and weighed it in his hand as if he felt that although it was not the usual handy one, it was still passable.
[Guardian Grarl, ATK 2500 → ATK 3500]
"The attack power exceeds that of Shining Flare Wingman." Yuei Vu said lightly, "But you should not have forgotten that the 'Intrigue Shield' can protect the equipped monster from being destroyed in battle once, right?"
"Of course, so my target from the beginning is not him, but his controller – you!" Rafael snorted, and played the second card, "Activate Equip Spell: Shooting Star Bow – Ceal! Equip it to 'Guardian Grarl'!
The equipped monster's attack power is reduced by 1000, but it can directly attack the opposing player in exchange! "
Another bow appeared in the hands of this strong lizardman warrior. Its side effects and the positive benefits brought by the devil's ax canceled each other out, but gave this powerful guardian the ability to jump over monsters and attack directly!
[Guardian Grarl, ATK 3500 → ATK 2500]
[Yuei Vu, LP 2200]
"Amazing!" Yugi Muto couldn't help but praise, "It ignored the defensive effect of the 'Intrigue Shield' and directly caused damage to the player!"
"Yeah." Yami Yugi also said, "After the first battle between us, Rafael has also grown up. Even without the dark power of 'The Seal of Orichalcos', he is now stronger than that time, and will definitely be stronger in the future!"
"Let's go, Guardian Grarl!" Rafael ordered, "Attack Yuei Vu directly!"
The lizardman guardian pulled the bowstring, and the moment he let go, it was like releasing a burning meteor, drawing a perfect arc from high in the sky, and falling straight towards the top of Yuei Vu's head!
At this moment, Yuei Vu's trap has also been activated: "Open the set card: Trap Card – Half Unbreak! Target 1 monster on the field; this turn, that monster cannot be destroyed by battle, also any battle damage I take from attacks involving that monster is halved!"
Rafael frowned: "But what I want to attack you is a direct attack, even if you use this trap…"
"That's not necessarily true." Yuei Vu shook his fingers and smiled, "The monster I want to target with 'Half Unbreak' is——
—Guardian Grarl! "
"What!?"
Not only Rafael but also the surrounding audience was shocked.
Protect the opponent's monsters with your own traps!?
It was still the most professional player about traps, Yugi Muto, that was the first to react: "That's right! 'Half Unbreak' not only prevents monsters from being destroyed in battle, but also halves the battle damage caused by attacks involving that monster. The first effect benefits the monster, but the second effect doesn't necessarily benefit the controller of that monster. So if Yuei Vu uses it on the opponent's monster…"
"Guardian Grarl's battle damage to Yuei Vu will also be halved." Yami Yugi folded his arms and nodded in approval, "This move is really beautiful!"
The spherical protective cover released by the halving and unbreakable quickly enveloped "Guardian Grarl". While this protective cover provided Grarl with invincible resistance for a turn, it also weakened his offensive ability, so that when the arrow that went out fell in front of Yuei Vu, its power was not as good as before.
Boom!
The arrow exploded before Yuei Vu, turning into a gorgeous flame and smoke screen.
[Yuei Vu, LP 2200 → LP 950]
"There is still such a method…it is indeed quite beautiful."
Rafael nodded with an expression that showed his admiration.
"Set three cards, I end my turn."
"So strong… Both of them are so strong." Yugi Muto said, "The strength of these two people is completely different from that of ordinary duelists."
And one thing was really admirable, that was, until now, there was really not a single monster in Rafael's GY.
…but that may be the end of it soon.
"It's my turn, draw!" Yuei Vu said, "Activate Spell Card – Card of Demise! I can draw cards until I have 5 cards in my hand. During my 5th Standby Phase after activation, send all cards in my hand to the Graveyard."
Watching Yuei Vu replenish five cards in one go, Rafael's expression froze and he held his breath.
Are you coming?
"Summon Elemental HERO Stratos!"
The sound of the turbine running sounded, and a violent gust of wind blew up in the field! The hero in a high-tech suit fell slowly with his arms around his arms, his feet dangling in the air, and his sight behind the blue eyepieces seemed to be as sharp as a knife.
As soon as this high-tech hero appeared on the stage, he immediately aroused cheers from the players.
A group of screwballs cheered like a festival, shouting something like "If there are three skies", "be a hero", etc., the emotions were very excited for a while.
"The effect of Stratos." Yuei Vu said, "When this card is Normal or Special Summoned, I can destroy Spells/Traps on the field, up to the number of 'HERO' monsters I control, except this card."
Rafael's eyes flashed, and he glanced at the three set cards at his feet.
"Do you want to tear through my back row defense first? It's not that easy!" Rafael shouted, "Open the set card: Continuous Trap – Crystal Seal!
This card can seal a monster on the opponent's field in a crystal. That monster cannot attack, be Tributed, change its battle position, activate its effects, or be selected as an attack target!
I choose 'Elemental HERO Stratos'! " (animation card)
The crystal barrier rose from the ground, instantly surrounding Stratos from all sides. The hurricane rolled up by the turbine behind the Sky Hero and suddenly hit a wall as if it couldn't penetrate the shackles of this crystal.
Rafael chuckled: "In this way, the effect of 'Elemental HERO Stratos' cannot be activated."
"That's not necessarily true." Yuei Vu chuckled, and quickly drew another card from his hand, "Quick-Play Spell – Mask Change! Send 1 'HERO' monster I control to the Graveyard, then Special Summon 1 'Masked HERO' monster from my Extra Deck with the same Attribute.
I sent 'Elemental HERO Stratos' to the GY!
Slice evil with sharp winds—
——Masked HERO Blast, transform! "
A green whirlwind rolled up, and instantly exploded centered on Stratos. The impact of the transformation special effect instantly broke through the shackles of the crystal barrier, turning into a green exoskeleton armor covering the hero's body, and the red scarf fluttered in the wind.
[Masked HERO Blast, ATK 2200]
"Because Stratos escaped the effect of 'Crystal Seal' through transformation, his effect is still effective." Yuei Vu said.
Rafael frowned: "Then according to the effect of Stratos, you can destroy one of my S/T cards…"
Even so, he wasn't nervous.
The other two set cards of his, one was the "Negate Attack" which could invalidate the attack and force the end of the battle phase, and the other was the Continuous Trap Card "Gravity Bind" which could forbid all level 4 or higher monsters from attacking.
No matter which one the opponent destroyed, the remaining one was enough to help him survive this turn…
"No." Yuei Vu smiled and shook his fingers, "The effect of 'Elemental HERO Stratos' is that I can destroy Spells/Traps on the field, up to the number of 'HERO' monsters I control, except this card.
Look, how many heroes are there besides Stratos on my field now? "
Rafael: "Now the monsters on your field are 'Elemental HERO Shining Flare Wingman' and 'Masked HERO Blast'…"
Rafael suddenly stopped when he said this, his face changed suddenly.
"Could it be that..."
"That's right." Yuei Vu said, "Stratos's effect is activated when he is successfully summoned, so at the moment he is Normal Summoned, his effect has already been triggered, even if he himself goes to the GY, it will not affect the activation.
But when Stratos's effect resolved, he had already transformed into 'Masked HERO Blast'. So now there are a total of two 'heroes other than Stratos' on the field.
Therefore, I can choose up to two S/T cards on the field to destroy. "
Rafael, you did not expect this, did you? This is the power of the sky hero!
Yuei Vu pointed to Rafael's back row.
"So those two set cards are all destroyed!"
Stratos, who should have entered the GY, emerged as a phantom, and the huge metal hang glider turbine roared behind him! The white whirlwind roared and blasted out, involuntarily tearing Rafael's two remaining set cards into pieces.
"Then there is the effect of the Masked HERO Blast!" Yuei Vu continued, "If this card is Special Summoned: I can target 1 face-up monster the opponent controls; its ATK becomes half its current ATK! I target 'Guardian Eatos'!"
A green whirlwind rolled up, roaring and engulfing the guardian's figure. The goddess faltered and her power was weakened.
[Guardian Eatos, ATK 2500 → ATK 1250]
"You actually broke through all my defenses…" Rafael closed his eyes and smiled softly, "It's stunning."
In fact, Yuei Vu still had another effect of "Masked HERO Blast" that he didn't use. He could bounce a magic trap on the field back to the owner's hand by paying 500 LP.
Of course, Rafael also had no more pit on his back row.
"Battle!" Yuei Vu said, "'Elemental HERO Shining Flare Wingman', attack 'Guardian Eatos'!"
Like a fluorescent meteor piercing the sky, the metal body of the Shining Flare Wingman burst out, and the engine behind him spewed out an invisible tail flame.
Eatos, who was weakened by the storm, was no match for this hero at all. In just a split second, her body was pierced, her wings were torn, and she disappeared in mid-air as fly ash.
Rafael closed his eyes calmly, accepting the impact of the stereo image.
[Rafael, LP 3000 → LP 1750]
"Then there is the effect of Shining Flare Wingman." Yuei Vu said, "If this card destroys a monster by battle and sends it to the GY: Inflict damage to the opponent equal to that monster's original ATK."
While speaking, Shining Flare Wingman folded his arms and gently landed in front of Rafael, the engine under his feet caused transparent ripples on the ground.
"Eatos's original attack power is 2500." Rafael said calmly, "I lost."
When your skills are not as good as others, the last thing you can do is willingly accept defeat.
[Rafael, LP 1750 → LP 0]