"Since you didn't draw a monster card, are you stalling for next turn?" said the academy vanguard.
This was a simple math problem. The monsters on Yuji's field had attack powers of 2700, 2500, and 2400 respectively.
Currently, only one monster remained on the opponent's field with 1700 ATK.
Yuji could use [Constellar Ptolemy M7] with 2700 ATK to destroy the opponent's monster through battle and inflict 1000 points of battle damage.
However, at that point there would be no monsters on the opponent's field, and the opponent could use [Ancient Gear Reborn]'s continuous trap effect to summon a monster from the graveyard to block the next attack. The remaining monsters - whether [Utopia] with 2500 ATK or [Malevolent Sin] with 2400 ATK - weren't enough to defeat the opponent who still had 3000 Life Points.
The battle-hardened academy vanguard understood this clearly.
"Battle Phase!" Ignoring the opponent's words, Yuji waved his hand and entered the Battle Phase.
"[Constellar Ptolemy M7] attacks [Ancient Gear Wyvern]!"
The mechanical wyvern in mid-air shattered under the laser fired by M7, and the fragments also struck the academy vanguard below.
Academy Vanguard LP: 4000→3000
"[Malevolent Sin] attacks directly!"
"At this moment, I activate the continuous trap [Ancient Gear Reborn]! Once per turn, when I control no monsters, I can target 1 'Ancient Gear' monster in my Graveyard and Special Summon it!"
"Rise again! [Ancient Gear Hunting Hound]!"
[Ancient Gear Hunting Hound] DEF: 1000
"[Malevolent Sin] attacks [Ancient Gear Hunting Hound]!"
The mechanical hound that had just returned from the graveyard fell to the sin spider's fangs before it could steady itself.
"My Life Points remain at 3000, but your monster's attack is only 2500. What will you do now? I'll finish you next turn." The academy vanguard sneered.
"There won't be a next turn." Yuji said calmly.
"Then give it your best shot." The academy vanguard said. They were still in the Battle Phase - even if Yuji had Equip Spells to increase his monster's ATK, it was too late.
"[Utopia] attacks directly!"
"Just futile rage! Come on! Vent your anger now! Once you and your companions become cards, you'll never have another chance!" Facing [Utopia]'s attack, the academy vanguard even spread his arms in welcome, his eyes full of mockery.
"At this moment, [Utopia]'s effect activates!"
"When a monster declares an attack, I can detach 1 Xyz Material from this card to negate that attack! Light Wing Shield!"
[Utopia] swung his sword forward, but at the moment when the blade nearly struck the opponent's forehead, the golden orb around [Utopia] flashed, and his wings halted in a burst of light.
"Hahaha! Is this a joke? What's the point of such a meaningless combo?" The academy vanguard laughed.
"Now I activate my set card - Quick-Play Spell, [Double or Nothing!]!"
"When a monster's attack is negated, I can target that monster - it can attack once more during this Battle Phase. During the Damage Step of that attack, the monster's ATK doubles."
"Nani?" The academy vanguard's expression changed drastically.
In the air, a bingo machine materialized from nowhere. As the lever pulled down, the rotating disks stopped one by one, displaying ×2, ×2, ×2.
"[Utopia] attacks! Rising Sun Slash!"
[Utopia] ATK: 2500→5000
Energy gathered in [Utopia]'s wings and poured into his sword as he flew forward and brought it down.
Academy Vanguard LP: 3000→0
After taking [Utopia]'s strike, the previously arrogant academy vanguard now lay breathless on the ground. The duel disk in this world was black technology that gave monsters physical form. Direct attacks became real physical attacks. With the original body's lingering hatred toward the academy's Obelisk Force, [Utopia]'s strike carried lethal intent.
Yuji walked up to the collapsed academy vanguard and aimed his duel disk at him.
Seeing this, the opponent mustered his last strength to crawl backward, pleading:
"Don't turn me into a card! I can provide valuable information about the academy army! I can help you fight! Please don't turn me into a card!"
Yuji didn't bother responding and casually pressed the hidden button on the duel disk. Amidst the opponent's screams, he transformed him into a card.
As if an invader would truly feel remorse?
Yuji picked up the card and examined the frightened expression captured on it.
[Current main task node completed. Rewards have been issued, and the shop module has been unlocked. Please explore it yourself, host]
The electronic notification of task completion sounded in his mind at the perfect moment.
Just as Yuji was about to examine the system's changes more closely, the little boy who had found him earlier offered him a coat.
"Thank you, Chief Yuji." The little boy said.
"It's fine. What were our casualties from this sneak attack?" Yuji carefully searched his predecessor's memories and recalled that this little boy was named Shinjo Katsu. Before the war, he had been one of Heartland Academy's most talented freshmen.
(T/N: Xincheng Sheng = Shinjo Katsu)
After the war began and the four academy principals died one after another, he had followed Yuji to protect survivors. Due to the original owner's introverted nature, Shinjo Katsu acted more as the actual leader of this resistance team, while the original Yuji served as their strongest fighter.
"Chief Yuji, why are you suddenly asking about this?" Shinjo asked in surprise.
"Yesterday I had a realization. We can't continue like this. This kind of aimless resistance has no future." Yuji said gravely. Since the system had given him this task, acting like the passive original owner made no sense - he couldn't just wait for the tomato-haired protagonist from the Standard Dimension to arrive and save them.
"We need to unite the XYZ Dimension's remaining forces. If we don't, the enemy is a well-trained army. They'll gradually eliminate our scattered strength. By the time we realize it, it'll be too late." Yuji said as he watched more survivors gathering behind him.
"It's not that simple, Chief Yuji." After hearing Yuji's words, Shinjo's eyes dimmed.
"Why not?" Yuji frowned. Could no one else in this world understand such basic strategy?
"Before the principals died, there might have been such an opportunity, but now..." Shinjo hesitated.
"Be more specific, Shinjo." Yuji sighed. From Shinjo's tone, he realized things were more complicated than expected.
After considering his words, Shinjo explained: "Since the four principals were killed in the academy army's surprise attack, apart from Diamond Academy where only their chief survived that day, the other two academies are like us. Under their chiefs' leadership, they're protecting groups of survivors and fighting independently."
(A/n : Mc is from heartland, while kaito from clover, shay and yuto from spade, so Fang Pian could be diamond as they were named after card suites)
(End of this chapter)