I set two cards, then end my turn."
Sima Jie finished his actions cleanly and directly, announcing the end.
"My turn. Draw."
You Ye slowly drew a card, his eyes briefly sweeping over the three face-down cards on Sima Jie's field.
He looked up at Sima Jie—but Sima Jie only smiled calmly, showing no intention of reacting.
Entering Main Phase 1, You Ye checked his hand, then revealed a card.
"I have no monsters on the field. I Special Summon Kashtira Unicorn from my hand.
Then I activate Unicorn's second effect—once per turn, I add one Kashtira Spell from my Deck to my hand."
You Ye, glanced at Sima Jie again.
Still no response. No trap activation. No monster effects.
The search went through.
"I add the Continuous Spell Kashtira Docking Zone, then activate it."
"Next, I Normal Summon Psychic Beast.
When this card is successfully Summoned, I can banish one Psychic-type monster from my Deck. This card becomes the same Level as the banished monster."
The moment You Ye spoke, Sima Jie pointed to one of his face-down cards.
"Chain Link 2—I flip up the Continuous Trap Ninjitsu Art of Falling Leaves, activating its first effect."
"I target my face-down Green Ninja Trainee.
That monster is tributed, and I Special Summon one Ninja monster from my Deck.
When this card leaves the field, that monster is sent to the Graveyard."
"So it's a Ninja Continuous," You Ye muttered softly.
As an 'outsider' with deep system knowledge, he instantly understood Sima Jie's line of play.
But instead of focusing on what he already knew, his attention shifted to the remaining two face-down cards.
Those were the real threats.
With no further chains from You Ye, effects resolved in reverse order.
Chain Link 2: Ninjitsu Art of Falling Leaves tributed Green Ninja Trainee and Special Summoned Heavy Ninja – Magnet Monk from the Deck.
Chain Link 1: Psychic Beast banished Kashtira Fenrir from the Deck and became Level 7.
After the resolution, Sima Jie pointed at his monster.
"Heavy Ninja – Magnet Monk, effect one—once per turn.
When this card is Summoned, I can target up to two face-up monsters on the field.
Those monsters are changed to face-down Defense Position, and monsters flipped by this effect cannot change their battle positions."
"I target your Kashtira Unicorn and Psychic Beast!"
"Then Chain Link 2—Green Ninja Trainee's second effect.
Once per turn, when this card is sent from the hand or field to the Graveyard, I can target one monster on the field and change it to face-up Attack Position or face-down Defense Position."
"I target Gun Ninja – Firelight."
Seeing no response from You Ye, Sima Jie immediately announced a resolution.
"Resolve!
Chain Link 2—Green Ninja Trainee flips Gun Ninja – Firelight face-down.
Chain Link 1—Heavy Ninja – Magnet Monk resolves!"
With a heavy stomp, Magnet Monk slammed its foot onto the duel platform.
The entire arena trembled.
An invisible magnetic force surged outward, engulfing Kashtira Unicorn and Psychic Beast.
Both monsters were forcibly sealed, transforming into stone-like statues before flipping into face-down Defense Position.
You Ye wasn't surprised.
This was standard Ninja control play—
But the problem was that these monsters were permanently sealed.
"That permanent flip is annoying," You Ye thought.
Fortunately, Kashtira monsters could still be Tribute Summoned if needed—
Otherwise, these face-down cards would be extremely hard to deal with.
Still, the real concern remained those last two face-down cards.
He needed to force them out.
"I pay 3000 Life Points and Special Summon Thunder Fairy Deity from my hand."
"Then I activate my Continuous Spell Kashtira Docking Zone—once per turn, I can Special Summon one Kashtira monster from my banished zone."
"At this moment—Chain Link 2, Maxx 'C'!" Sima Jie declared.
"Each time you Special Summon, I draw one card!"
You Ye instantly understood Sima Jie's plan.
His own interaction was limited.
So as long as Sima Jie didn't get OTK'd, he could rely on Maxx 'C' to choke You Ye's turn and drag the duel into a resource war—where a 60-card Ninja deck had the advantage.
And Sima Jie was right.
You Ye had no Ash Blossom in hand.
If he wanted to avoid a slow beatdown war, he had to keep pushing.
His eyes flicked to Sima Jie's final face-down card.
Sima Jie noticed the hesitation and smiled faintly.
His first objective was achieved—the tempo was now in his hands.
Effects resolved:
Chain Link 2: Maxx "C" resolved successfully.
Chain Link 1: Kashtira Docking Zone Special Summoned Kashtira Fenrir from the banished zone.
"Fenrir's effect—once per turn, I add one Kashtira monster from my Deck to my hand.
I add Kashtira Riseheart."
"I enter the Battle Phase.
Fenrir declares an attack—then activates its effect!"
"Once per turn, when it declares an attack, I target one face-up card you control and banish it face-down!"
"…It triggers on attack declaration too?" Sima Jie frowned.
According to his intel, Kashtira effects triggered mainly when the opponent activated effects.
This was new—and bad.
"You're targeting my Continuous Trap, aren't you…" He realized.
"Correct," You Ye said calmly.
"I target Ninjitsu Art of Falling Leaves. Banish it face-down."
"And don't forget," You Ye continued with a smile,
"When that card leaves the field, the monster it summoned is sent to the Graveyard."
"…Yes," Sima Jie replied darkly.
Fenrir hurled its twin axes.
The Continuous Trap shattered—and Heavy Ninja – Magnet Monk was sent to the Graveyard.
"Because my attack target left the field, Fenrir's attack is redirected.
I attack your face-down Gun Ninja – Firelight!"
Fenrir charged forward, cleaving the face-down monster in half.
Immediately, Sima Jie responded.
"Gun Ninja – Firelight's effect!
When this card is flipped, I can Special Summon one Ninja monster from my hand or Graveyard face-down—except itself."
"I Special Summon Heavy Ninja – Magnet Monk face-down Defense Position!"
"You can't break through it," Sima Jie said confidently.
"Magnet Monk has 2900 DEF.
Your Thunder Fairy Deity has only 2700 ATK."
"If you attack, you'll lose.
And on my next turn, I'll overwhelm you with resource advantage!"
His smile returned.
Victory was within reach.
"Is that so?" You, Ye, replied calmly.
"Then I enter Main Phase 2."
He stopped attacking.
Of course—he hadn't miscalculated.
"Kashtira Riseheart effect—Special Summon itself from my hand.
I enter self-lock: I can only Xyz Summon from the Extra Deck."
"Then Riseheart's effect—
I banish Kashtira Unicorn from my Deck and make Riseheart Level 7."
"I overlay Kashtira Fenrir, Thunder Fairy Deity, and Kashtira Riseheart!"
"Xyz Summon—Rank 7!"
Dark Armed Dragon of Annihilation
A jet-black dragon with blade-like wings descended from the void.
Dark Armed Dragon of Annihilation
Dragon / Xyz / Effect
Rank 7 | DARK
ATK 2800 / DEF 1000
Sima Jie's pupils contracted.
He knew this card.
A terrifying Rank 7 powerhouse.
And now he understood—
You Ye, had deliberately pushed through Maxx "C".
Three Special Summons for three cards—
a 3-for-3 trade to limit Sima Jie's next turn.
"You're forcing my hand," Sima Jie admitted.
"If I had drawn Ash, Called by the Grave, or Crossout… you'd be in trouble."
"Maybe," You Ye replied lightly.
He pointed to the dragon.
"I activate Dark Armed Dragon of Annihilation.
Detach one Xyz material, target one card you control—destroy it.
Then I banish one card from my Graveyard."
"I detach Kashtira Fenrir, targeting Heavy Ninja – Magnet Monk!"
"Chain Link 2!" Sima Jie snapped.
"Graveyard effect of Gun Ninja – Firelight!"
"When an opponent's effect targets my Ninja or face-down monster,
I Special Summon this card face-down and return the targeted card to hand!"
Resolution:
Chain Link 2: Magnet Monk returned to hand; Firelight Special Summoned face-down.
Chain Link 1: Dark Armed Dragon's effect fizzled.
Without hesitation—
"I activate it again.
Detach Kashtira Riseheart—destroy your face-down Gun Ninja – Firelight!"
No response.
Firelight was pierced and destroyed.
You Ye, banished Maxx "C" from his Graveyard.
"Third activation.
Detach the final material—target your last face-down card!"
Still no response.
The set Spell was destroyed.
It was Crossout Designator.
"…You were protecting Maxx 'C'?" You Ye was genuinely surprised.
"Yes," Sima Jie admitted calmly.
"I planned to go to Turn 3."
"Impressive," You Ye nodded sincerely.
He set one card and ended his turn.
The duel was far from over.
Kashtira R7 had officially begun.