Chapter 13: Is It a Dog?

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[Yu Xuan, LP 4000]
[Kajiki Makoto, LP 4000]

Today, Kajiki was lucky enough to go first. Kajiki drew his six-card starting hand and immediately brightened up upon seeing it.

A perfect hand.JPG.

If Yu Xuan’s previous opponents often underestimated him due to his unimpressive record, Kajiki Makoto definitely did not.

He had watched Yu Xuan’s past matches, especially the quarterfinal against Manjo Me, and after reviewing it felt that while Yu Xuan was not to be underestimated, he seemed more like an opportunistic player. His strength was undeniable but not overwhelming.

“Hmph, once you know my tactics in advance and are prepared, you’re nothing to fear,” Kajiki declared boldly. “My turn!”

Kajiki’s morale surged. Without hesitation, he slammed a card down, signaling an immediate fusion. Using "Mechanical Sergeant" and "Mechanical King" in hand, he fused directly to summon an eight-star monster—the "Perfect Mechanical King."

This card was revised into an effect monster in its real-life form, but originally in the anime, it was a fusion monster. Its original effect was that for every Machine-type monster on the field, its attack increased by 500. Since it was itself a Machine-type, it guaranteed a minimum of 3200 attack upon summoning.

[Perfect Mechanical King, Attack: 2700 → 3200]

Starting off with the deck’s top dog, Kajiki felt the game was already halfway won. His opening hand included a Blue-Eyes White Dragon with an extra 200 attack—how could he lose?

Then it was Yu Xuan’s turn.

Yu Xuan stayed calm and summoned the “Giant Rat” first. A furry, drug-mutated giant rat hopped onto the field, baring its teeth and emitting a fierce low growl.

[Giant Rat, Attack: 1400]

Yu Xuan waved his hand and ordered, “Giant Rat, attack the Perfect Mechanical King.”

The Giant Rat blinked confusedly, as if to say, “Are you serious? Its attack is more than double mine.”

Why not send me to capture Tang Sanzang and his disciples instead?

But a master’s order is an order. The huge rat charged headlong into the Mechanical King, predictably being shattered in one hit.

[Yu Xuan, LP 4000 → LP 2200]

Starting off with a suicidal attack left the opponent stunned.

What’s the meaning of this? Are duelists so polite now? Opening the match by giving your opponent a warm welcome?

Could the dojo have secretly hired actors to play against him?

But Yu Xuan quickly realized the Giant Rat’s attack was a setup. It had a graveyard effect: when destroyed by battle and sent to the graveyard, it could special summon a Level 4 or lower Earth attribute monster from the deck.

Upon hearing this, Kajiki merely chuckled to himself.

Attack 1500 or below? That’s all just fodder, right?

“Special summon this card from the deck,” Yu Xuan revealed the searched card, “Magic Attacker!”

[Magic Attacker, Attack: 600]

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A little creature that looked like it jumped straight out of a chibi cartoon bounced onto the field, waving a tiny wand. Its cute appearance made it seem like it was just here to charm.

“The effect of Magic Attacker lets it attack your player directly,” Yu Xuan waved his hand. “Direct attack!”

[Kajiki Makoto, LP 4000 → LP 3400]

Kajiki barely flinched after taking 600 points of damage. “Hah, just this little damage? It’s nothing...”

Clearly, he hadn’t grasped the gravity of the situation.

Yu Xuan smiled faintly. “My Battle Phase ends. I now activate the Equip Spell ‘Guardian’s Power’ on Magic Attacker.”

Then the turn ended.

Seeing the golden glow surrounding Magic Attacker but no change in attack power, Kajiki frowned.

Is this just an empty buff?

Unlike Yu Xuan’s previous life, duelists in this world can’t instantly see the effects on the opponent’s cards. Only cards whose effects you know and remember can be immediately recognized and countered.

“My turn!”

Kajiki drew a card and said, “I normally summon Mechanical Sergeant to attack!”

[Mechanical Sergeant, Attack: 1600]

“Since the number of Machine-type monsters on the field increased, Perfect Mechanical King’s attack rises by 500.”

[Perfect Mechanical King, Attack: 3200 → 3700]

Kajiki waved his hand. “Mechanical Sergeant attacks Magic Attacker!”

Mechanical Sergeant stepped forward to strike, but before it could act, the golden glow on Magic Attacker flickered.

“At this moment, the effect of Guardian’s Power activates,” Yu Xuan explained. “When the equipped monster declares an attack during battle, place a Magic Counter on this card. For each Magic Counter on Guardian’s Power, the equipped monster gains 500 attack.”

[Guardian’s Power, Magic Counters: 0 → 1]

[Magic Attacker, Attack: 600 → 1100]

“Hah! That little boost is nothing!” Kajiki shouted. “Battle continues! Mechanical Sergeant destroys that weakling!”

However, when his metal fist struck, only a faint golden ripple appeared. After it faded, Magic Attacker still stood firm, unscathed.

Kajiki was stunned: “Why!?”

“Another effect of Guardian’s Power,” Yu Xuan continued. “When the equipped monster would be destroyed, you can remove a Magic Counter to negate its destruction by battle or effect.”

[Guardian’s Power, Magic Counters: 1 → 0]

[Magic Attacker, Attack: 1100 → 600]

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Kajiki frowned. “Wait a minute...”

“You said Guardian’s Power only places counters when the equipped monster declares an attack, right?” Kajiki thought he’d found a loophole. “But it was my attack; your monster never declared one. How can it still add counters...?”

He began doubting whether he had misunderstood something.

“Is this your first day dueling?” Yu Xuan said, feigning exasperation, explaining patiently like to a novice in the card battle club: “Guardian’s Power doesn’t say ‘when the equipped monster declares an attack,’ but ‘during the attack declaration phase of the equipped monster’s battle.’”

Kajiki: “?”

What’s the difference?

“Whether you attack or I do, a battle between monsters always involves an attack declaration phase. So anytime monsters battle, the effect to place counters triggers.”

Yu Xuan continued to explain the profound intricacies of the game’s terminology patiently.

Kajiki: “!”

What? That means it’s invincible?

Every time it’s attacked, it gains counters, and when the counters are removed, its destruction is negated...

That makes any monster equipped with this card virtually immortal!

“Wait...”

Kajiki furrowed his brow, realizing it wasn’t so simple.

“But battle damage should still be calculated, right?” he asked doubtfully.

“Oh, that’s the effect of Magic Attacker itself,” Yu Xuan said. “When Magic Attacker battles, any damage it would take is reduced to zero.”

Kajiki: “!?”

Battle damage is zero... Wait, something’s off.

Because of Guardian’s Power, Magic Attacker can’t be destroyed no matter what.

And because of Magic Attacker’s own effect, the opponent takes no battle damage.

Plus, Magic Attacker can attack the opponent directly... Not only that, but the more times it attacks, the stronger it becomes thanks to Guardian’s Power.

Hsss~

Kajiki gasped, horrified.

Whoever came up with such a devious tactic...

...must be a damn genius?!