"The combination of King Tiger and Strongman's Suffering is quite interesting."
Yugen nodded in agreement.
It's actually an unconventional summoning lockdown combo, which is quite unexpected. After all, usually, it's us who play these kinds of tactics more often...
Of course, he knew King Tiger's effect well, since it had once even been popular, especially in an environment where mainstream decks relied heavily on low-attack Subordinate Monsters.
"The 'Sea Otter Tree Bear' destroyed by King Tiger's effect was a Beast Race Monster."
Yugen revealed another card in his hand.
"When a Beast Race Monster on your own Field is destroyed and sent to the graveyard, pay 1000 Life Points to Special Summon 'Forest Guardian - Green Baboon' from your hand!"
[Yugen, LP 4000→LP 3000]
The Green Baboon thumped its chest and roared as it appeared beside his motorcycle, glaring angrily at the opponent through the high-speed Gale.
[Forest Guardian - Green Baboon, Attack Power 2600]
"Oh? So you have a counter for the King Tiger combo?" The rider in black spoke with a hoarse voice, "However, even so, Green Baboon still has to accept the effect of Strongman's Suffering reducing its Attack Power.
Green Baboon is a Seven-Star Monster, so its Attack Power decreases by 700 points."
[Forest Guardian - Green Baboon, Attack Power 2600→Attack Power 1900]
"That'll do." Yugen waved his hand, "Forest Guardian - Green Baboon, attack 'King Tiger'."
With a wild roar, the Forest Guardian accelerated and dashed from Yugen's Field to the opponent's speeding motorcycle side. With a punch, King Tiger groaned, its head being smashed sideways, and it tumbled to the ground, rolling away and being left far behind by the two speeding motorcycles, exploding into pieces.
[Black-clad Rider, LP 4000→LP 3800]
"Great!" Iwao took up the role of hype man, "With that, the King Tiger lockdown combo is broken!"
"Heh, is it really that easy?"
The black-clad rider sneered. The moment he drifted around a curve, a massive black machine appeared at his side, the chassis dragging along the ground, striking a long streak of bright sparks.
An eerie mist released from the machine, and as the mist dissipated, King Tiger had returned to the Field.
[King Tiger, Attack Power 1700]
"Nani?" Iwao was shocked.
"The Trap Card 'Time Mechanism' allows the Monster destroyed in battle to return to the Field in the same state." The black-clad rider said, "Nice counter, but it doesn't seem so easy to break through."
Yugen wasn't angry, simply waved his large hand, "Then cover three cards and end the turn."
Both sides continued to duel without slowing down, speeding full tilt toward the power plant, occasionally showcasing maneuvers to weave between the blocking zombies.
It turns out that dueling to strengthen the body isn't just talk; Yugen realized that the Elf and the Dark Game powers he trained indeed enhanced his physical and reaction abilities.
Otherwise, a normal human would find it challenging to duel and perform such high-difficulty motorcycle racing simultaneously.
Of course, it was clear that the opponent wasn't an ordinary human either.
"My turn, draw card."
The black-clad rider drew a card, the rear of the motorcycle knocking a wandering zombie far away as he drifted around another curve.
Zombie: "???"
"Activate the Cover Card, Trap Card 'Sixth Sense'." Yugen activated a backfield card, "Declare two numbers, and the opponent rolls a die.
If the declared number comes up, I draw that number of cards.
If not, I send that many cards from the top of my deck to the graveyard."
"Oh? Then which numbers will you declare?"
"Five and six, of course." Yugen replied.
The image of a virtual die appeared, rolling and landing.
Number 4.
"Just 4... it'll do."
Yugen drew four cards from the top of his deck.
In any case, Sixth Sense is almost always a win-win when activated, usually just a matter of how much you gain.
"Send four cards to the graveyard."
Four cards were sent to the graveyard, but one soon burst with golden light.
"One of the cards sent to the graveyard is 'Scholar Spirit'." Yugen said, "When Scholar Spirit is sent to the graveyard, draw a card from the deck." (Original Card)
"Only number 4? It seems the goddess of fate isn't favoring you much."
The black-clad rider chuckled, then slowly drew another card.
"You are speeding towards the abyss of despair, just unaware of it. And this card will push you closer to that endpoint.
Activate Continuous Magic 'Strongman's Suffering'!"
Beside him, Iwao could hardly contain himself: "There's actually a second one? That's too much!"
The Continuous Magic Card hovered beside the rider, and he threw his head back in laughter.
"Strongman's Suffering, no need for further explanation, right? All your Monsters' Attack Powers decrease by their Star Level times 100. And this effect can stack!
Forest Guardian - Green Baboon's Star Level is 7, take the effects of both Strongman's Suffering!"
[Forest Guardian - Green Baboon, Attack Power 1900→Attack Power 1200]
"An Upper-Level Monster with 2600 Attack Power, weakened to such a low point..."
As an outsider, Iwao couldn't help but grit his teeth.
"And with King Tiger on the field, any Monster with an Attack Power under 1400 will be destroyed upon summoning..."
"Indeed!" The black-clad rider laughed heartily, "Any Seven-Star Monster will have its Attack Power reduced by 1400 points, meaning a Seven-Star Monster needs at least 2800 Attack Power just to barely land without being destroyed.
Hehe, and even if you manage to summon it, even a 3000 Attack Power Monster would drop to 1600, and still wouldn't be a match for 'King Tiger'.
Iwao gritted his teeth: "Such a despicable combo..."
But the black-clad rider seemed to take this as a compliment, satisfied with his reaction. He then sized up Yugen, but couldn't help frowning under the helmet.
This person seemed a bit too calm, somewhat unsettling to him.
"Heh, pretending to be calm in such a situation."
The black-clad rider said.
"No worries, soon enough I'll tear off that façade of yours along with everything else.
I normally summon 'Newt'."
[Newt, Attack Power 1900]
"With Newt, attack 'Forest Guardian - Green Baboon'!"
Having been double-weakened by Strongman's Suffering, Green Baboon, now a tiger fallen to the plains, could only rage powerlessly, facing a mere Four-Star Subordinate, and retreated in silence.
[Yugen, LP 3000→LP 2300]
The impact of the Dark Duel, a surge of darkness tore through Green Baboon's destroyed body, hitting him. His motorcycle wobbled with it, like a leaf in the rapids.
"Activate Trap 'Companions'."
Yugen waved his hand, activating a backfield card.
"When a Monster is destroyed and sent to your own Graveyard, destroy a Monster on the Field." Yugen said, "Destroy 'King Tiger'."
The already destroyed Green Baboon appeared like a spirit, let out a roar, and seized King Tiger on the field. The latter struggled unwillingly but was finally dragged into the Underworld by the spirit.
"I see, using a Trap to resolve King Tiger, at least lifts the summoning lockdown and avoids my second attack."
The black-clad rider raised his voice.
"But it won't work!
Continuous Trap 'Call of the Living Dead', revive the Monster in attack position from the graveyard.
Return to the field once more, King Tiger!"