novelhk #1556 - Baoyu and God (V)
#1556 - Baoyu and God (V)
“Johnny!” Before John fell, [Gem-Knight Sapphire Pegasus] quickly spread its wings to catch him, anxiously asking, “Are you alright?”
“It's all because of me that—”
“No, don't worry about it, Sapphire. No one could have predicted that he'd have a face-down card like that,” John shook his head, straightening up with the help of [Gem-Knight Emerald Tortoise]. “If anything, it's my fault for not clearing the trap properly and letting you guys get hit, causing Amethyst to be destroyed.”
“But at least, let's keep Amethyst on the field for now.” Picking up the [Gem-Knight Amethyst Cat] card from his duel disk, John said, “When [Gem-Knight Amethyst Cat] in face-up Attack Position is destroyed in the Monster Zone, it is placed as a Continuous Spell Card in my Spell \u0026 Trap Zone.”
“Huh? Actively filling up the last spot in your Spell \u0026 Trap Zone?” Frans sneered at John's move. “That's why I said your [Gem-Knights] are just trash. Look, their effects are outdated and their strength isn't high, and now they're even taking up your already limited five Spell \u0026 Trap Zones.”
“Like you are now, with all five zones occupied, you can't even play a single Spell Card, can you?”
[John Anderson: 1100 LP, Hand 1]
[Gem-Knight Ruby Carbuncle] (Golden Rule) [DEF 300]
[Gem-Knight Emerald Tortoise] [ATK 2600]
[Gem-Knight Sapphire Pegasus] [ATK 3000]
Backrow: [Jewel Flash], [Gem-Knight Amber Mammoth], [Gem-Knight Cobalt Eagle], [Gem-Knight Amethyst Cat]
With an Equip Spell Card [Golden Rule], a Continuous Trap Card [Jewel Flash], and three [Gem-Knights] as Continuous Spell Cards, John has no space left in his backrow to place any more cards. Even though he has one card in his hand, if it's a Spell or Trap Card, he'll be stuck with it!
“You know, John Anderson, I heard your name from Mr. Pegasus. It seems that before you got the [Gem-Knight] deck, you participated in regional duel tournaments and even won with your Insect deck, right?” Frans suddenly started talking about John's past. “In other words, you have considerable talent, talent as a duelist.”
“But you've been deceived by the so-called 'heart of the cards'! Wake up, John Anderson! What really matters in cards is power. Like now, you have no power and are even being held back by your own cards!”
Saying that, Frans even put on a sincere expression: “If you abandon that so-called 'heart,' you could become stronger. You know, the true meaning of 'bonds' is being bound, trapped, and unable to escape. That's your current state!”
“Not a shackle!” However, facing Frans's words, John remained unmoved, denying without hesitation. “The bond between me and the [Gem-Knights] is not something you can understand so easily. Put away that rhetoric of influencing others' wills, Frans!”
“In some cases, duelists can improve by leaps and bounds by breaking away from the limitations of their original decks, but sometimes, whether it's in life or duels, you have to carry something heavy to walk steadily. Some duel with honor and dignity, some pursue the joy of victory, and in my opinion, it is the existence of the [Gem-Knights] that gives my duels weight!”
“The weight of duels…” Frans didn't react to John's words, but Jaden couldn't help but think, because not only John, but he had also heard this word from two other people before, Edo and Aster. Although their dueling styles and strengths were different, they were undoubtedly genuine professional duelists, and the so-called professional level was not only reflected in strength but also in experience.
But these two people, without prior agreement, had both said to Jaden in their respective duels that Jaden's duels were too lighthearted and lacked weight.
Taking advantage of John's words at this moment, Jaden couldn't help but think deeply—Professor Crowler's duels carried his dignity as a teacher, Zane's duels meant the satisfaction of victory to him, Edo followed fate but dueled in a direction that resisted fate, and John fought alongside spirits who were regarded as family.
So what about himself? Asking himself, his duels were based on his love and admiration for heroes, and were conducted according to "what a hero would do," but what he poured into the duel was, in the end—
“Stubborn!” Frans's words interrupted Jaden's thoughts, letting him temporarily put aside this question that didn't need an immediate answer and shift his attention back to the duel.
“Am I stubborn, or are you deluded, Frans? Let's answer with this card—proving that the [Gem-Knights] are not a shackle to me, but a genuine bond!” John said, picking up the card on his duel disk, “The second effect of the Continuous Trap Card [Jewel Flash] is activated!”
“If there is a [Gem-Knight] card placed in my Spell \u0026 Trap Zone, I can send this face-up card in my Spell \u0026 Trap Zone to the Graveyard to activate it.” Sending the card to the Graveyard, John also retrieved a card, “Special Summon 1 [Gem-Knight] monster from my hand or Graveyard. Then, all damage I take this turn is halved!”
“The card I choose is [Gem-Knight Topaz Tiger] in my Graveyard, and I Special Summon it to my field in Attack Position.”
[Gem-Knight Topaz Tiger], which was destroyed and sent to the Graveyard earlier for [Jewel Flash], returned to John's field. Also, as [Jewel Flash] left John's backrow, the buffs on his [Gem-Knights] disappeared.
[Gem-Knight Emerald Tortoise] [ATK 2600→600]
[Gem-Knight Sapphire Pegasus] [ATK 3000→1800]
[Gem-Knight Topaz Tiger] [4☆/Earth]
“That card has such an effect?” John also raised an eyebrow, helplessly looking at [Gem-Knight Topaz Tiger] and saying, “Although I let you come out, it seems like you won't have a chance to attack for the time being, Topaz.”
“It doesn't matter, there will always be a time when I can attack. Just remember to let me go first when that time comes,” [Gem-Knight Topaz Tiger] licked its paw indifferently, glancing at Frans.
“Since Topaz can't attack, then my Battle Phase ends for now, and I enter my Main Phase 2.” Placing the remaining card in his hand in the Spell \u0026 Trap Zone, because Frans's face-down card in the backrow was finally gone, John could safely start his plays. “I activate the Spell Card, [Rare Value].”
(Anime version)
“It can only be activated if there are two or more [Gem-Knight] cards in my Spell \u0026 Trap Zone. Randomly send one [Gem-Knight] card in my Spell \u0026 Trap Zone to the Graveyard, and then I draw two cards from the deck.”
“Isn't this just turning your 'family' into goods that can be exchanged for resources in the blink of an eye?” Frans mocked.
But John just glanced at him and continued, “The one that was randomly selected is [Gem-Knight Amber Mammoth].”
Drawing the [Gem-Knight Amber Mammoth] card from the duel disk, John put it into the Graveyard with some reluctance, whispering, “Sleep for a little while, Amber, I'll bring you back soon.”
“Then, I draw two cards under the effect of [Rare Value].” After drawing cards from the deck, John looked at the cards he drew and played them. “Next is the Spell Card [Pot of Greed], I draw two more cards from the deck!”
[John Anderson: 1100 LP, Hand 1→2→3]
“Finally drew it, the card I needed. Then, next…” Seeing the card he drew, John was overjoyed, and waved his hand towards his field, “Once per turn, targeting an Attack Position monster on my field that has attacked this turn, I can activate the effect of [Gem-Knight Emerald Tortoise]. Change that monster to Defense Position. I choose [Gem-Knight Emerald Tortoise] itself.”
“Keeping the green hills around~” Losing its ATK boost, [Gem-Knight Emerald Tortoise] seemed to slow down as well, shrinking into its shell and changing to Defense Position.
[Gem-Knight Emerald Tortoise] [ATK 600→DEF 2000]
“Next, I activate the Spell Card [Monster Reborn].” As promised before, without letting [Gem-Knight Amber Mammoth] wait too long in the Graveyard, John Special Summoned it back to the field, “Special Summon [Gem-Knight Amber Mammoth] from my Graveyard in Defense Position!”
“Return, Amber!”
[Gem-Knight Amber Mammoth] [DEF 1600]
The giant mammoth returned to John's field once again, becoming a shield for him and the other [Gem-Knights]. Its strong back gave people a sense of security.
“Set two cards, my turn ends.”
[John Anderson: 1100 LP, Hand 0]
[Gem-Knight Ruby Carbuncle] (Golden Rule) [DEF 300]
[Gem-Knight Emerald Tortoise] [DEF 2000]
[Gem-Knight Sapphire Pegasus] [ATK 1800]
[Gem-Knight Topaz Tiger] [ATK 1600]
[Gem-Knight Amber Mammoth] [DEF 1600]
Backrow: [Gem-Knight Cobalt Eagle], [Gem-Knight Amethyst Cat], [Set Card] X2
“Heh, is that all? After making so much noise, you just set two cards in your backrow.” Frans looked disdainfully at John's backrow, drawing a card from the deck, “Then, my turn, draw!”
“Spell Card [Magical Stone Excavation], send the Continuous Trap Card [The Sun God Unites] on my field to the Graveyard, I draw two cards from the deck.”
Starting by sending the temporarily useless [The Sun God Unites] on his field to the Graveyard, Frans drew two cards and smiled: “The same combination seems to be playing out again. I will activate the Spell Card [Pot of Greed] again, drawing two cards from the deck.”
[Frans: 3900 LP, Hand 0→1→2→3]
Backrow: [The True Sun God]
Field: [Grave of the Superancient Organism]
Continuously activating cards from his hand, without seeing John activating a counter trap like [Jewel Flash] from before, Frans confidently played a card, saying, “Although I only made one card of [The Winged Dragon of Ra], I filled it with three copies of each of its support cards. Now I will activate the second [Ancient Chant], adding [The Winged Dragon of Ra] from my Graveyard to my hand and allowing me to Normal Summon once in addition to my Normal Summon this turn!”
“Next, the Spell Card [Monster Reborn] is activated! I only returned two [The Sun God's Attendant] to the deck before, and there is still one [The Sun God's Attendant] left in the Graveyard. I Special Summon it to the field in Attack Position and activate its effect, Special Summoning the other two [The Sun God's Attendant] from my deck!”
[Frans: 3900 LP, Hand 3→2]
[The Sun God's Attendant] [ATK 1100]
[The Sun God's Attendant] [ATK 1100]
[The Sun God's Attendant] [ATK 1100]
Backrow: [The True Sun God]
Field: [Grave of the Superancient Organism]
Once again, Frans gathered the tributes needed for the god's Tribute Summon on the field!
“Monsters that are Special Summoned cannot attack in the turn they are Summoned, only [The True Sun God] can ignore this restriction. However, the [The Winged Dragon of Ra] that will appear next will still be Normal Summoned!”
Raising the card in his hand high, Frans laughed wildly: “Banish [Ancient Chant] from the Graveyard, descend once again, [The Winged Dragon of Ra]!”
The three [The Sun God's Attendant] once again turned into sacrifices for the god's descent. The sun's illusionary beast—[The Winged Dragon of Ra] returned to Frans's field once again. This time, it still didn't give up the idea of bringing divine punishment to Frans, but the Field Spell Card [Grave of the Superancient Organism] still existed, and the solid iron chains once again bound the god.
“Do you see, John Anderson? The essence of the so-called 'bond' is the current situation of [The Winged Dragon of Ra]. The heart of the cards is such a worthless thing.” Frans spread his arms. “It doesn't matter at all whether the cards have a heart or not! The only thing that matters is power!”
[The Winged Dragon of Ra] [?/?→3300/1800]
“Once again, I pay my Life Points to increase the power of [The Winged Dragon of Ra]. Because the Life Points I paid when I paid to 100 Life Points were 3800 points, the ATK and DEF of [The Winged Dragon of Ra] will also increase by 3800 points!”
[The Winged Dragon of Ra] [3300/1800→7100/5600]
Once again transforming into purple mist, Frans flew to the top of 【The Winged Dragon of Ra】 and merged with it. Compared to 【The Winged Dragon of Ra】's first appearance, its attack power now is only 100 points lower, still reaching a high of 7100!
“Even if the attack power is increased so much, the effect of 【Crystal Beast Amber Mammoth】 can forcibly redirect attacks!”
Hearing John's words, Frans smirked: “Ah, of course I know that effect, but what did you think I drew this turn that made me willing to pay life points to 【The Winged Dragon of Ra】 again?”
“Entering my battle phase, then I activate the Quick-Play Spell Card 【Enemy Controller】! This card can change the battle position of one monster you control. I choose to change 【Crystal Beast Amber Mammoth】 from Defense Position to Attack Position!”
Under the effect of 【Enemy Controller】, although 【Crystal Beast Amber Mammoth】 was unwilling, it was forcibly changed to Attack Position on the field.
【Crystal Beast Amber Mammoth】【DEF1600→ATK1700】
“Next, I will attack your 【Crystal Beast Topaz Tiger】, which has the lowest attack power on your field. With a vacant card zone in your back row, it can avoid destruction and be sent to the Graveyard, triggering the effect of 【Grave of the Superancient Organism】, but the battle damage caused by 【The Winged Dragon of Ra】's 7100 attack power is unavoidable!” Frans sneered, “Now, try using 【Crystal Beast Amber Mammoth】 to attract an attack again?”
“【The Winged Dragon of Ra】 attacks, Blaze Cannon!”
Faced with Frans's choice, John did not hesitate: “In that case, I choose to have 【Crystal Beast Amber Mammoth】 redirect the attack again, and activate my face-down card—the second Continuous Trap Card, 【Crystal Brilliance】!”
“All 【Crystal Beast】 monsters gain attack equal to their original defense!”
【Crystal Beast Ruby Carbuncle】【300/300→600/300】
【Crystal Beast Emerald Tortoise】【600/2000→2600/2000】
【Crystal Beast Sapphire Pegasus】【ATK1800→3000】
【Crystal Beast Topaz Tiger】【ATK1600→2600】
【Crystal Beast Amber Mammoth】【1700/1600→3300/1600】
Seeing the collective increase in his monsters' attack power, Frans raised an eyebrow: “To increase the attack power to 3300 points… If I hadn't paid my life points down to only 100, the 3300 attack power gained from the tribute might not have been enough to break through your monster's defense.”
He paused, then said contemptuously: “But now, I have won, John Anderson!”
“Pegasus was truly blind! Not only did he choose that Maeda Hayato's so-called 'thoughtfully designed' card in the card design contest instead of my powerful card, but he also let you, this young punk, make a foolish choice! But now, I will prove that I am right with victory!”
In Frans's view, firmly believing that Duel Monsters cards are more about strength than so-called 'heart,' his imminent victory over John Anderson is the best proof that he is right!
The attack originally directed at 【Crystal Beast Topaz Tiger】 was redirected to 【Crystal Beast Amber Mammoth】, and the original 4500 battle damage would be reduced to 2800, but either way, it would be enough to wipe out John Anderson's remaining 1100 life points!
“No, the one who won is me, Frans. No, that's not quite right either,” John suddenly said, pressing the button to activate his face-down card, “Yes, we won! With this bond and unity!”
“When 【Crystal Beast Amber Mammoth】 becomes the target of an opponent's monster's attack, activate the Trap Card 【Crystal Formation - Amber】!”
As John pressed the button, another face-down card in his back row flipped open, depicting an image of 【Crystal Beast Amber Mammoth】 with the power of six gems gathering in the amber on its forehead. After John's face-down card was activated, his 【Crystal Beasts】 indeed gathered their power into the gems on their bodies, just like in the card's illustration, whether it was the four 【Crystal Beasts】 in the front row or the other two 【Crystal Beasts】 in the back row that were temporarily in gem form!
“But, because of the presence of 【Grave of the Superancient Organism】, 【The Winged Dragon of Ra】 will not——”
“I never said that 【Crystal Formation - Amber】 would affect 【The Winged Dragon of Ra】!” John interrupted, pointing to his 【Crystal Beast Amber Mammoth】, “This card's effect is that this turn, 【Crystal Beast Amber Mammoth】 gains attack equal to the combined attack of all face-up attack position 【Crystal Beast】 monsters on my field!”
“Although 【Crystal Beast Emerald Tortoise】 and 【Crystal Beast Ruby Carbuncle】 are in face-up defense position, there are also 【Crystal Beast Sapphire Pegasus】 and 【Crystal Beast Topaz Tiger】 in face-up attack position. 【Crystal Beast Amber Mammoth】 will gain attack equal to their combined attack, which is 5600!”
In Frans's horrified eyes, 【Crystal Beast Amber Mammoth】's attack power soared, finally stopping at a level that even exceeded 【The Winged Dragon of Ra】!
【Crystal Beast Amber Mammoth】【ATK3300→6300→8900】
“Impossible! 8900 attack power!?” Frans wore an expression of disbelief, “How could those weak 【Crystal Beasts】——”
“A single 【Crystal Beast】 alone is of course impossible, but I said it, this is the power of bonds!” John waved his hand, “The attack declaration has already been made, and you can't withdraw it even if you don't want to accept it. In your words, it's 'the fate of the strong to trample the weak,' right? So, let's go together with everyone's share, Amber!”
“Amber Impact!”
Facing 【The Winged Dragon of Ra】's flame cannon, 【Crystal Beast Amber Mammoth】, which had become gigantic after absorbing a huge amount of power, raised its long trunk, and its huge tusks crashed into the fireball, actually managing to hold it back!
While 【Crystal Beast Amber Mammoth】 held off 【The Winged Dragon of Ra】, 【Crystal Beast Sapphire Pegasus】 also took 【Crystal Beast Topaz Tiger】 straight to Frans in the high sky along the iron cables of 【Grave of the Superancient Organism】. In Frans's resistant expression, 【Crystal Beast Topaz Tiger】 launched an attack!
“Jackpot!”
【Frans: 100LP→0, Hand 0】
It took five chapters to finish this duel, which is a bit rushed. Without the Crystal Gods, the Crystal Beast system really can't produce any tricks—so I specifically let John appear once now, because I wanted to give him a card that even the official is 'admitting to be from the archetype' in the pre-built deck (laughs).