Assassin LP: 4000→2000.
"Is it really 'Final Countdown'??"
"Oh no, it's that card!"
Many students panicked seeing this card appear.
Serena, of course, recognized this card, and the moment she saw it, her trust in Tenjo Hikari turned into concern.
Because this card was simply too "dangerous."
"Paying 2000 life points to activate." The assassin explained the card's effect that all students knew, grinning, "On the 20th turn after this card's activation, I will claim victory!"
Accompanied by his shout, a giant, pitch-black grin emerged in the sky above the road, followed by 20 colorless flames slowly igniting in the air.
20 turns.
Normally, a duel would be decided within twenty turns.
But—
That is the "normal situation."
Any student who had somewhat learned about this card knew that a deck containing such a card is not a deck that can be "taken down in twenty turns" easily.
"Next, I set a Monster and a card, ending my turn."
"Ah—of course!"
"This is so despicable! Using such a card upfront, leaving no chance for a reaction!"
"Exactly!"
The assassin remained unconcerned.
He wanted Tenjo Hikari's life, not prestige.
"At this moment, step forward into the final hour!"
"The first turn!"
Boom—
A black flame burned and turned crimson red.
19 turns remaining.
"My turn, draw." Tenjo Hikari remained unaffected and directly started his draw phase.
He reviewed his hand cards.
"Activate Continuous Spell Card, Scatter Fusion."
"Ha, Fusion, is it…" The assassin seemed completely unconcerned.
"This card's effect can only be activated when there are Monsters on the opponent's field." Tenjo Hikari picked up his Extra Deck and selected from it, "Send the Fusion Materials determined by the non-Rock-Type Gem-Knight Fusion Monsters from your Deck to the Graveyard, Fusion Summon that Fusion Monster from the Deck.
This card destroys that Monster when it leaves the field. After this effect activates, until the end of the turn, non-[Gem-Knight] Monsters cannot be Special Summoned from the Extra Deck."
Tenjo Hikari glanced around: "I send Gem-Knight Garnet and Gem-Knight Crystal from the Deck to the Graveyard and Fusion Summon—Valiant Red Knight.
Gem-Knight Ruby."
Unlike Crystal, the knight wore shining red armor and appeared on his field.
Gem-Knight Ruby, LV 6, Earth Attribute, Pyro-Type, ATK 2500.
"Ah! It's Ruby!" Serena noticed this card and immediately clapped her hand in realization, "Oh, right, since the Final Countdown costs 2000 life points, if there are only 2000 life points left, using Ruby's piercing effect to attack a Set Monster, if its DEF is below 500, the duel could be decided in one turn!"
"Piercing?"
"As expected of Tenjo Hikari, he devised a strategy in an instant."
Ruby swung the scythe in its hand, appearing above the Set card and slashing at the Set card, the scythe piercing through the Set Monster, revealing a giant blue-furred rat.
"Squeak squeak squeak!!!"
The blue-furred rat screamed.
"It's a Giant Rat, DEF 1450!"
"Nice, that results in 1050 damage!"
Assassin LP: 2000→950.
"When a Giant Rat is destroyed and sent to the Graveyard by battle, you can Special Summon one Earth Attribute Monster with 1500 or less ATK from your Deck, I Special Summon another Giant Rat."
Another blue rat appeared on the field.
Giant Rat, LV 4, Earth Attribute, Beast-Type, ATK 1400.
?
This is too classic.
Many students were puzzled.
If that's all, then trying to last 20 turns is too far-fetched.
"Set a card, end turn."
Meanwhile, another flame ignited in the sky.
"Hehehe, Tenjo Hikari, you must be thinking, if it's like this, it's impossible to last 20 turns, right?"
The assassin drew a card, looked at his hand, and sneered.
In reality, not only students, but even this assassin had said it.
Starting by paying 2000 life points, then passively taking hits, and still hoping to last past 20 turns?
That's impossible, absolutely impossible.
But—
He had that confidence.
"My turn, let me show you the source of my confidence, trying to defeat me with piercing damage? A mere thousand points is not enough!
Activate Trap Card.
Triple Option!"
Huh?
Tenjo Hikari was slightly surprised seeing this card.
The card image depicted three Gaia facing each other.
"Triple Option, what card is this, I've never heard of it?"
"You ask me, I don't know either…"
Some students looked puzzled at each other.
It's an unseen card.
Apparently, none of the students present had ever seen or even heard of this card.
44 sneered: "Triple Option's effect can only be activated by declaring a type of Monster Card in the Extra Deck. Both players reveal their entire Extra Deck, the player with more of the declared type restores 3000 LP."
"Oh, indeed, Senior Tenjo used a Fusion Monster, so he should have one less card than the opponent."
"That's not necessarily the case, few people can fill the Extra Deck like Senior Hikari."
In this world, Extra Monsters are quite scarce.
"Hehe, what I want to declare is…Xyz Monster!"
"What?"
"Ah!?"
"What did he say—"
Tenjo Hikari was a bit surprised, but only a little: "My Xyz Monsters are 0."
"Haha…I am—1!" The assassin revealed a black card.
"1?!"
"How, how could it be!"
"This guy managed to obtain an Xyz Monster like Caesar?!"
"And it's a usable Xyz Monster?!"
Assassin LP: 950→3950
"Good, now there's no need to worry about life points." He grinned, "Then, I Normal Summon the third Giant Rat!"
"And then…"
Tenjo Hikari observed a red light suddenly appearing on his forehead, a mysterious character emerged on his hand.
"What is that?!"
A student exclaimed.
They couldn't identify what it was, but they could see that the assassin was utilizing some powerful "force," a special power that ordinary spirits couldn't wield!
"Oh?" Tierra watched this person's actions with interest.
"Ah ah ah ah ah—" The character on his hand grew increasingly bright, gradually becoming fully visible, enlarging, surrounding him.
Tenjo Hikari slightly discerned.
Oh—
85 huh?
"Using two Monsters to construct the Xyz Network!!"
The two Giant Rats transformed into black spheres, then a massive rotating black vortex appeared before the assassin.
Boom—boom—
The two black spheres collided into the vortex. After some hovering, a colossal cube gradually ascended, upon which a gigantic number from Another Dimension—85 was etched!
Simultaneously, the number glowed red, the giant cube split open, rotated, and subsequently revealed the eye within, ominously observing the world.
"Manifest!"
"Rank 4!"
"NO.85 Crazy Box!"