Chapter 1116 - 1089: The Self of Abhorrence
Provocation.
Blatant provocation.
But what Yugen said is true. Everything he had on the field before had already been cleared by the Black Rose Dragon, leaving nothing behind. The Volcano Queen he summoned this turn was countered by the Thorny Wall, and he ended up not covering any new cards on the back row.
To be frank, now there’s only one card left on his field, the Pure Love Warrior "Mind Control Removal," which can return all brainwashed monsters to their original owners. But as long as Akiza Izinski doesn’t foolishly revive a monster from Yugen’s graveyard, this "Mind Control Removal" is effectively useless now, with no chance to defend in the opponent’s turn.
It’s a completely empty field. At this moment, Yugen is like bare-skinned, taunting with open arms, waiting to see if Qiu has the guts to come in.
But this only made Qiu even more annoyed.
"Exactly how much do you underestimate me... You’d better not regret it!"
Qiu first pointed at the small Phoenix Flower Seed on her field.
"At the end phase of your turn, the monsters summoned by the ’Enemy Attack Alert’ effect return to the owner’s hand.
’Phoenix Flower Seed’ returns to my hand."
The small flower seed transformed into a golden light and flew back to Akiza Izinski’s hand.
"Then it’s my turn, draw!"
Qiu drew another card.
"At this moment, the Trap ’Synchro Regression’ effect activated last turn!
The Synchro Monster returned to the extra deck for the activation of Synchro Regression is specially summoned back to the field during this turn’s preparation phase.
Come back once more—
—Black Rose Dragon!!!"
The storm of roses whipped up again, countless blood-red petals re-coalescing and transforming into the dragon’s wings. The Black Rose Dragon moved its long tendrils, riding the storm that seemed to sweep everything clean.
[Black Rose Dragon, Attack Power 2400]
"Next, summon the card that returned to my hand at the end of the last turn." Qiu said, "Normal Summon ’Phoenix Flower Seed’!"
[Phoenix Flower Seed, Attack Power 0]
"The monster effect of Phoenix Flower Seed, send this card to the graveyard for a special summon from the hand ’Phoenix Amaryllis’.
Bloom once more—
—Phoenix Amaryllis!"
The flower seed hit the ground, then seemingly ignited, growing rapidly at a speed visible to the naked eye in the flames, until once again it expanded into the blazing amaryllis flower form.
[Phoenix Amaryllis, Attack Power 2200]
"So, there’s a second version." Yugen said, "Looks like you really fancy this monster."
Well, being a forbidden card, its strength is evident, after all.
"Since you’ve chosen such a suicidal option, as you wish!
Battle!"
Qiu shouted sharply again.
"Black Rose Dragon’s direct attack!
Black Rose Trick!"
The Black Rose Dragon let out a sharp roar, and from its petal-formed wings, vines shot out. The swirling blood-red roses danced around the vines, shrieking as they hurtled towards the open-field Yugen.
Yugen leisurely revealed a card from his hand.
"Then I discard ’Kite Robot’ from my hand."
Yugen said lazily.
"Kite Robot is discarded during the opponent’s direct attack declaration to make one battle damage zero."
Black Rose Dragon’s full power telekinesis infused and its all-out furious strike blasted onto that small cartoon-like personified kite, instantly dissipating into nothing.
Qiu: "Still have hand card monster effects!?"
Yugen chuckled lightly: "Just this?"
Qiu gritted her teeth: "Not over yet! Phoenix Amaryllis’s direct attack!"
Phoenix Amaryllis also received a telekinetic infusion, with vines bursting in flame, charging fiercely toward Yugen.
"Then I’ll activate ’Kite Robot’ effect from the graveyard." Yugen said nonchalantly, "When Kite Robot is in the graveyard, it’s possible to turn direct battle damage to the player into zero once." (original effect)
"What!?" Qiu was astonished, "It can block from the graveyard...?"
This monster can block two strikes with just one card?
"Out of cards?" Yugen kept up his output.
"Uh... not over yet!" Qiu said, "Phoenix Amaryllis’s monster effect! When Phoenix Amaryllis attacks, it destroys itself after damage calculation!
Your ’Kite Robot’ turns battle damage to zero, not invalidating the attack itself, so the battle still stands.
Therefore, after the battle, Phoenix Amaryllis self-destructs!"
Flames burst from the plant body, quickly engulfing the entire Amaryllis, until it burned the flower itself into ashes.
"Then another effect of Phoenix Amaryllis," Qiu said, "when Phoenix Amaryllis is destroyed and sent to the graveyard, it deals 800 points of damage to the opponent!"
Sparkling flames splattered from the exploding Amaryllis, raining down on Yugen.
[Yugen, LP3600→ LP2800]
Yugen closed his eyes quietly, absorbing all of Qiu’s anger and determination. But the damage was only eight hundred points, even though drenched with all Qiu’s might, the impact seemed merely to flutter his attire.
Qiu exclaimed: "You...!?
Absorbing the damage, Yugen slowly opened his eyes and said sluggishly: "Just that? Didn’t eat?"
Qiu: "......"
This is no longer just provocation; she feels insulted.
Since childhood, upon awakening her powers, Qiu has lived in constant agony, suffering from the burden of her strength.
She often hated her power, hated her uncontrollable strength. Everyone feared her might, even she did.
And today is a rare occasion where she unreservedly unleashed her full force, trying to strike her opponent to the bone.
But her full-on assault was disregarded!
This sensation is unprecedented in her life. No one had ever dared to deny her power... no, not even many dared not be afraid of her strength before. But this person before her seemed not only fearless but disdainful.
As if saying, can this really be called power?
Hitting like having missed a meal, this lightweight level, perplexed what you are even troubled about.
Qiu: "You... you you..."
"What’s with ’you,’" Yugen ruthlessly interrupted, "I told you, being perpetually afraid and negating oneself, your power is ultimately just at this level.
Without power, how do you plan to avenge, to protect?
You can’t even safeguard the little things you don’t want to lose, is this what you desire?"
He paused, shook his head.
"Since the beginning of time, those chosen by the Red Dragon have always been exceptional. Every Dragon Sealer throughout history isn’t merely powerful, they’re heroic enough to protect their cherished things by giving it all.
And you..."
He paused, made a regretful gesture, shaking his head.
"Perhaps even the Red Dragon can overlook things sometimes."
Qiu: "..."
"Speaking of which," Yugen smiled strangely, "actually, up to now, the deck I’ve been using is not the usual one.
You know, why did I choose to duel with Plant Race cards against you?"