So even if Polymerization itself was banned, he would still have several flashy ways to Polymerization. But Non-Fusion Area was not limited like that at all. It shut down Fusion Summoning itself, no matter whether it came from Fusion Gate, Miracle Fusion, or anything else.
"Yeah... considering it's Yugen," Daichi Misawa said thoughtfully. "That really does feel like his style."
And in this world, Non-Fusion Area was a pretty rare card. It was not something just anyone could get, but Yugen was different. After all, everyone knew he had good ties with the two biggest card printers in the world.
"Eh? Then big bro can't perform Fusion Summon now." Sho Marufuji stared blankly. "How is he supposed to play like this? That's way too nasty."
He imagined himself in that position, and he would probably already be shutting down. Angry, frustrated, and half ready to give up, he would be caught in that helpless rage where defeat settled into his heart before the second half of the duel had even begun.
But the one standing on the field was not Sho Marufuji. It was Judai Yuki.
Judai Yuki lowered his head and stayed still for a few seconds. Then he suddenly looked up again, his eyes shining with excitement.
"As expected! As expected, you're amazing, Yugen! You aimed right at the weakness of my Elemental HEROs. Ha, this is exactly how it should be. This is what your Duel is supposed to be like."
He laughed as he spoke.
"If it wasn't like this, it wouldn't be interesting."
Judai Yuki's reaction caught many of the spectators off guard.
Quite a few students outside the field had suffered under the Yellow-Clad Lord before. Some felt sorry for Judai Yuki, while others happily watched the mess unfold. But none of them expected this Jellyfish Hair to get excited after being pushed around so badly and so provocatively by his opponent. It almost made people wonder whether some strange masochistic streak had just awakened in him.
"Hmm, this is a little unexpected, but it does feel very Judai Yuki," Asuka Tenjoin murmured to herself from the high stands.
"Yeah."
At some point, Ryo Marufuji had appeared behind her with his arms folded, and he gave the same answer. "That is exactly what makes him special. That kind of passion, almost an obsession with Duel, is something no one else can match."
"If Polymerization is sealed, then my Polymerization Spell naturally becomes useless too." Judai Yuki glanced at the Continuous Trap in Yugen's Back Row and scratched his head with a grin. "Man, that really is a Student Council headache, Yugen."
Yugen smiled as well. "All right, your favorite Fusion Summon is unusable now. So what are you going to do, Judai Yuki?"
"Heh, who knows? I'll just take it one step at a time," Judai Yuki said with a laugh. "If you think my Hero only rely on Polymerization, then you're badly mistaken.
I Summon 'Elemental HERO Wildheart'!"
Elemental HERO Wildheart, ATK 1500
"Then I equip Elemental HERO Wildheart with its signature Equip Spell, 'Cyclone Boomerang'!" Judai Yuki said. "The Equip Monster gains 500 ATK!"
Elemental HERO Wildheart, ATK 1500 -> ATK 2000
"Even without Polymerization, the combination of Hero and magic can still reach the level of a High-Level Monster. And Elemental HERO Wildheart is unaffected by any Trap effects, which makes him the best Hero for this Duel." Judai Yuki thrust out a fist. "Go, Elemental HERO Wildheart, Break Strike 'Lancer Dragonute'!"
The wild Elemental HERO roared and hurled the boomerang from his hand. It cut through the air like a burst of Mystical Space Typhoon, slashed across the lancer's body, and blew him apart on the spot.
Yugen, LP 4000 -> LP 3600
"Good, I got one back," Judai Yuki said. "End turn."
"Then, my turn., Draw," Yugen said. "In the Standby Phase, I also activate the effect of 'Charge of the Light Brigade' in the Graveyard. I banish this card in the Graveyard and another card with the same name from the Deck, then draw one card." (ANIME EFFECT)
After drawing, he immediately played that card. "Spell Card 'Pot of Greed'. Draw two cards from the Deck."
At once, another burst of golden light flashed from his Graveyard, and two Card slipped away. "Then I banish the DARK Monster 'Lancer Dragonute' that you just knocked down to the Graveyard, and the LIGHT Monster 'Magician of Faith' from my Graveyard!
The souls of light and darkness guide the power of Chaos, and now the dark mage descends here.
Chaos Sorcerer, Summon!"
One light soul and one dark soul turned into twin beams and twisted together into the vortex overhead. Violent Chaos power burst out from within it, and a black pillar of two-colored light descended, forming the image of a mage who wielded both light and darkness.
Chaos Sorcerer, ATK 2300
"Oh, it finally appeared, the Chaos power that Yugen commands." Judai Yuki looked even more excited. "Looks like I'll finally get to fight that legendary monster today."
Yugen said, "Chaos Sorcerer, attack 'Elemental HERO Wildheart'!"
Chaos Sorcerer crossed both hands and unleashed a storm of black-and-white magic. Elemental HERO Wildheart was swallowed instantly and crumbled into dust inside the shock wave.
Judai Yuki, LP 3600 -> LP 3300
Judai Yuki raised an arm to block the blast and called out, "You fell for it, Yugen. The 'Cyclone Boomerang' equipped to Elemental HERO Wildheart has another effect!
When this equipped card on the field is sent to the Graveyard, all Spell and Trap Cards on the field are Destroyed, and the opponent takes 500 damage for each card Destroyed!" (ANIME EFFECT)
After being printed in real life, this card was changed so it only triggers when the Equip Monster is Destroy by an effect, and the damage was reduced to 100 per destroyed card. That made it much weaker than the original version.
"I see!" the gold-medal commentator Daichi Misawa said, his eyes lighting up. "Elemental HERO Wildheart itself was just bait. The real target was 'Non-Fusion Area'!"
Hayato Maeda added, "That way, the Polymerization restriction on Judai Yuki's side gets Release, and on his next turn he can speed up the attack with the Polymerization he is best at."
But Yugen immediately activated another Back Row. "Then I activate my facedown card, Counter Trap - Judgment of Anubis!
I discard one card from my hand to negate and Destroy a Spell effect that includes 'Destroy Spell and Trap Cards on the field'!" (ANIME EFFECT)
Black mist swept across the field and formed the dark image of the god Anubis. Elemental HERO Wildheart's boomerang plunged into it and was swallowed at once by the darkness until it was crushed into scraps.
"Ah," Judai Yuki said, "so even the boomerang didn't make it..."
"And after Anubis's curse is applied, I can Destroy one Monster on your field and inflict damage to you equal to that Monster's ATK."
Yugen paused, then smiled lightly. "But Elemental HERO Wildheart on Judai Yuki's field was already Destroyed by battle, so there is no Monster there now. That means this effect cannot trigger. What a pity."
The black mist faded, and the image of the god Anubis vanished with it. When the battle finished resolving, Non-Fusion Area was still on the field.
"Heh, just like I thought, Yugen's setup isn't so easy to crack." Judai Yuki grinned. "Looks like I'll have to think of a few more ways around it."
Yugen said, "I set one Monster facedown, then set two more Back Row. End turn."
"Then it's My Turn! Draw!" Judai Yuki said. "I activate a Spell Card! 'Pot of Greed'. Draw two cards from the Deck."