Is this the world of card dealers? Yada thieves!

[Red-Eyes Undead Dragon] [2400/2000→2700/2300]

【Immortal Coral Dragon】【ATK500】

【Red-Eyes Immortal Dragon Emperor】【ATK2800】

[The Pharaoh's Incarnation] [DEF600]

【Crazy Killer Clown】【ATK400】

Looking at the card he had drawn, "Amon" couldn't help but show a satisfied expression. Instead of activating it immediately, he pointed to the [Immortal Coral Dragon] on his field and said, "Next, during my Main Phase, I will activate the effect of [Immortal Coral Dragon] to send any Zombie monster from my Deck to the Graveyard and change its Level to the difference between its original Level and the Level of the card sent to the Graveyard."

"It sounds complicated, but it's actually very straightforward. The card I sent to the graveyard is this Level 1 [Magic Cylinder - Bayonet Demon]. Its Level is 5 Levels lower than [Immortal Coral Dragon]'s Level, so [Immortal Coral Dragon]'s Level will become 5 Level."

[Immortal Coral Dragon] [6☆/Dark→5☆/Dark] [ATK500]

Also due to the increase in the number of undead monsters in the graveyard, the attack power of [Red-Eyes Undead Dragon] has increased, becoming comparable to that of [Red-Eyes Undead Dragon Emperor].

[Red-Eyes Undead Dragon] [2700/2300→2800/2400]

After adjusting the levels of the monsters on the field, "Amon" naturally began his Synchro Summoning once again—needless to say, one of them was the old actor, [Pharaoh's Avatar]. After jumping back and forth between the field and the graveyard so many times, even a Zombie monster like it was almost exhausted.

"Send my Level 5 Tuner monster [Immortal Coral Dragon] and Level 3 Non-Tuner monster [Pharaoh's Avatar] from my field to the Graveyard as Synchro Materials. The material requirement is one or more Zombie-Type Tuner monsters plus one non-Tuner monster!"

"Embrace the 'Light of Evolution,' receive the power of immortality! Synchro Summon, Level 5☆ + 3☆ = 8☆!"

"Roar! - [Giant Skeleton Dragon - Shining]!"

【Giant Bone Dragon - Shining】【8☆/Light】

[Undead/Synchro/Effect]

[2800/2800]

[Red-Eyes Undead Dragon] [2800/2400→3000/2600]

As the attack power of [Red-Eyes Undead Dragon] continued to rise, Jaden saw a familiar dragon monster appear again after [Red-Eyes]. Its golden scales and wide wings were none other than Kagurazaka's ace monster, [Giant Dragon Shining].

However, its scarlet eyes, pale green tongue, ferocious claws and teeth, and skin-and-bones muscles all indicated that the "Shining Dragon" in front of it was actually the same as the previous [Red Eyes], a product of "undead corpseization" after accepting the so-called "immortal" power. Although it retained the light attribute, its race had completely degenerated into the undead.

Jaden murmured to himself, "The Kagurazaka cards too..."

"[Giant Bone Dragon - Shining] activates its effect the moment it is summoned! If this card is Special Summoned, you can target 1 monster card on your opponent's field or in their Graveyard and banish that monster."

Looking at the monsters on Jaden's field, showing no interest in targeting [M. Hero Dark Claw] (whose effect has been negated) or [M. Hero Atomic Fire] (which has the lowest ATK), "Amon" pointed to [E. Hero Shining Neoswing] and said, "[E. Hero Shining Neoswing] is just immune to card effects, but [Giant Skeleton Dragon - Shining]'s effect can banish it. Let's use this card to cut off that annoying 'Neocrypha's' head!"

"At the same time, the effect of [Pharaoh's Avatar] activates again. This time, instead of Special Summoning [Pharaoh's Avatar], I Special Summon [Magic Cylinder - Bayonet], which I previously sent to the Graveyard. Self-chain C1 [Giant Bone Dragon - Shining] C2 [Pharaoh's Avatar]!"

By activating the effects of two cards in succession, "Amon" effectively avoided the possibility of the unknown face-down card on the field countering his [Giant Skeleton Dragon - Shining] effect after Jaden activated it—although he felt that if Jaden had any counters, he should have used them long ago and wouldn't have kept them until now.

While Jaden can only activate cards through chain effects of [Pharaoh's Avatar], that doesn't mean he can't protect his [E·Hero Shining Neos] from being banished—the Quick-Play Spell Card [Form Change] has been waiting for a long time.

"In that case, I'll chain the effect of [Pharaoh's Avatar] to activate my backrow face-down card, the Quick-Play Spell Card [Shape Change], which can only be activated by targeting one-piece [Hero] Fusion Monsters on my field. I've chosen [E-Hero Shining Neoswingman]."

As Jaden picked up the card 【E·hero Shining Neos】 from his Duel Disk, 【E·hero Shining Neos】 on his field activated a component of its armor. The parts immediately unlocked and exploded, turning into countless flashes of light that swept away the poisonous mist that 【Giant Bone Dragon - Shining】 was trying to infiltrate.

"Return this [E·hero Shining Neoswing] from my field to my Extra Deck, and then Special Summon a [M·hero] monster with the same original Level but a different name as that monster from my Extra Deck as the effect of [Mask Change]."

"Form-Change! [M·hero Light Fang]!"

Having shed all his armor, [E·hero Shining New Universe Wingman] returns to the battlefield with a light and agile movements. The spot where the flame emitter was originally mounted on his body has been replaced with a pair of sharp arm swords, sharp and dazzling!

【M·hero Light Fang】【8☆/Light】

[Warrior Race/Fusion/Effect]

[2500/1800]

"【M·Hero Koga】 gains ATK based on the number of monsters your opponent controls. Each monster on your opponent's field gains 500 ATK!" Jaden said, looking at "Amon." "If you think that getting my 【E·Hero Shining Neoswing】off the field will solve everything, then the truth is, 【M·Hero Koga】will unleash even greater power after shedding its armor!"

Then came the effect handling of "Amon's" [Pharaoh's Avatar] and [Giant Bone Dragon - Shining]. The effect of [Giant Bone Dragon - Shining] was wasted because the target disappeared, but [Pharaoh's Avatar] successfully Special Summoned a gun-like monster from "Amon's" graveyard.

【Matsubasa - Bayonet Demon】【1☆/Dark】

[Undead/Effect]

[500/0]

[Red-Eyes Undead Dragon] [3000/2600→2900/2500]

At the same time, because "Amon" had a full five monsters on the field, [M·hero Koga]'s attack power skyrocketed, increasing by a full 2500 points!

【M·hero Light Tooth】【ATK2500→5000】

This level of attack power surpasses that of most Duel Monsters and is comparable to the 5000 attack power of the top-ranked [Five Divine Dragons]!

"Such high attack power, is it even useful? The second effect of [Giant Bone Dragon - Shining] can be activated by targeting 1 face-up monster on the field other than this card if it is in the Monster Zone or if a monster is Special Summoned from either player's Graveyard!" Watching Jaden's [M. Hero Lightfang]'s attack power soar, "Amon" coldly activated the second effect of [Giant Bone Dragon - Shining], "I naturally chose [M. Hero Lightfang], and its effect will be negated under the effect of [Giant Bone Dragon - Shining] until the end of this turn!"

Although the "Cast-Off" method was used to blow up the armor and avoid the banishment effect of [Giant Bone Dragon - Shining], what was unexpected was that [Giant Bone Dragon - Shining] actually had a second effect that nullified the effect. This time, [M·hero Lightfang] obviously didn't have a second armor that could be detonated to avoid the effect.

However, Jaden and [M·Hero Koga] were clearly unwilling to watch the other's effect take effect on them. He waved his hand and said, "Even so, I must at least activate the effect of [M·Hero Koga] before it is nullified!"

"Once per turn, banish one [Hero] monster from my Graveyard, then target one face-up monster on the field and activate its effect. That monster's ATK is reduced to the ATK of the monster banished by this effect until the end of this turn. This effect can also be activated during your opponent's turn!"

Jaden took a card from his graveyard and showed it, saying, "The card I banished is this one, [M. Hero Dark Demon], which has 2800 ATK. Therefore, I can reduce the ATK of one of your monsters by 2800 until the end of the turn. The one I chose is naturally your [Red-Eyes Undying Dragon Emperor], reducing its ATK from 2800 to exactly 0!"

Chapter 1774 Duel Academy's Life-Saving King

【M·hero Dark Demon】was a card that Jaden summoned last turn, intending to use it to directly attack "Amon". However, due to the effect of 【Messenger of Peace】, "Amon" did not take damage last turn. Therefore, Jaden changed his strategy and chose to use 【M·hero Dark Demon】【Mask Change】to replace 【M·hero Dark Claw】on his field at this moment. Although the former is the advanced form of the latter, Duel Monsters are very flexible.

At this moment, [M·hero Dark Demon] also exerted its last bit of power under the power of [M·hero Light Fang], transforming into a shockwave mixed with the power of light and darkness that shot towards [Red-Eyes Undying Dragon Emperor] on the field "Amon", instantly reducing its attack power to 0!

At the same time, [M·hero Lightfang] was also forced to fall into the undead aura released by [Giant Bone Dragon - Shining], the golden light on his body dimmed and the enhanced attack power disappeared.

【M·hero Light Tooth】【ATK5000→2500】

[Red-Eyes Immortal Dragon Emperor] [ATK2800→0]

The monsters on both sides fought to a standstill, causing "Amon" to frown and express his dissatisfaction at losing a monster he could use in battle: "Hey! Are these [Hero] monsters all monsters? They're such a nuisance!"

"But since Jaden, you chose to retaliate by lowering my monster's attack power, I'll retaliate in kind—[Magic Cylinder - Bayonet Demon] effect activated!"

"Once per turn, you can target one face-up monster your opponent controls. Lower that monster's ATK by 1000 for each monster your opponent controls. Jaden, you currently control three monsters." Pointing to Jaden's field, "Amon" said, "Experience the bitterness of betrayal—rebel against the beautiful Jaden!"

Grabbing the gun-shaped undead monster [Magic Cylinder - Bayonet Demon] on the field, "Amon" aimed at it with the purple-glowing muzzle and pulled the trigger. A beam of energy, guided by the red dot, struck Jaden's [M·Hero Atomic Fire], which had the lowest attack power on the field, reducing its attack power by a full 3000 points!

Just like the counterattack of [M·hero Koga] just now, "Amon" also reduced the attack power of [M·hero Atomic Fire] on the field of Jaden to 0 points!

【M·hero Atomic Fire】【ATK2600→0】

Keep in mind that Jaden only has 2000 Life Points left. 【M·Hero Atomic Fire】 means that either 【Red-Eyes Undead Dragon】 or 【Giant Dragon - Shining】 with an attack power higher than 2000 on the field can easily wipe out Jaden's Life Points and defeat him by attacking 【M·Hero Atomic Fire】!

“Look, Judai, what have the [Hero] you trust done? They can’t do anything, they can’t protect anything. Your trust in them will only turn into disappointment and hurt you.” Feeling confident of victory, “Amon” said calmly, “But I’m the only one who won’t do that. I will never leave you, Judai.”

"Make a choice, Jaden—either give up the boring and unreliable [Hero], or be defeated here by me?"

Faced with this choice, Jaden, as always, gave the same answer without hesitation: "I choose to stand with my trusted comrades and defeat you here!"

"Tsk... Negotiations have broken down." With an annoyed smirk, "Amon" said coldly, "Then don't blame me for being ruthless, knocking you down here, and then dragging you to a place where no one can find you so we can slowly relive our past love."

"Enter my battle phase and attack [M·hero Atomic Fire] with [Red-Eyes Undead Dragon]!"

Jaden could have activated the effect of [M·Hero Light Fang] at this moment by declaring a chain attack, reducing the attack power of the corresponding attacking monster and turning the tables on "Amon". However, he had already used up the effect of [M·Hero Light Fang], which was now nullified, under the pressure of the effect of [Giant Bone Dragon - Shining].

However, if "Amon" thinks that this is enough to kill Judai, Judai will tell him that he's overthinking it.

"To counter the opponent's attack declaration, I must first activate this face-down card in my back row—the Trap Card [Hero Aura]!"

As a card that Jaden obtained from a special supplement pack distributed to each student when he first enrolled in school a long time ago, although there is no description of "Hero" on the card itself, the image of "E·hero Flame Winged Man" on the card alone is enough reason for Jaden to add this card to his deck, and it has indeed come in handy now.

"After activating, the [Hero Aura] card becomes an Equip Card, equipping it to one Warrior-Type monster on my field with 1500 or less ATK. I initially just set it up randomly to bait out a [Whirlwind], but now it's actually come in handy." Jaden said, pointing to the only monster on his field that met the requirement, "Equip [Hero Aura] to [M. Hero Atomic Fire]!"

Before Jaden activated the effect of "Amon's" [Magic Cylinder - Bayonet Demon], Jaden didn't have a single monster with less than 1500 ATK on his field. He thought that drawing this [Hero Aura] was a bad idea, and he really only intended to use it to "bait out the wind." But even he couldn't have imagined that "Amon" would switch decks halfway through the duel, and that the Zombie deck he used would happen to have a card like [Magic Cylinder - Bayonet Demon] that could greatly reduce the opponent's monster's ATK.

“Perhaps, this is fate, ‘Amon,’ my deck is responding to me!” Jaden paused, explaining the card’s effect, “Because of the effect of [Hero Aura], monsters with an attack power of 1900 or more cannot attack the equipped monster!”

Unlike effects that prevent a monster from being attacked, the effect of [Hero Aura] is "cannot attack." Due to this subtle difference—commonly known as the "K language"—the effect of [Hero Aura] is determined as follows: if a monster with 1900 or more ATK activates this card and equips it to the attacked monster during an attack, unless it is activated during the Damage Step, which would allow the attack to continue, or if it is like "Amon" which only allows [Red-Eyes Undead Dragon] to declare an attack, the attack will trigger the rollback rule.

"Tsk, those annoying [Hero] decks, how many times are you going to interfere between me and Jaden!" Despite being blocked by the effect of [Hero Aura] and having no [Hero] field on any of his cards, "Amon" still directed his displeasure at Jaden's [Hero] deck. "Then I'll crush that disgusting [M·hero Dark Claw] before it recovers its effect!"

"Soul Flame Bullet!"

The iconic attack of the former Red-Eyes Black Dragon has been transformed into "Soulfire Bullet" due to changes in itself. A solid blue fireball is spat at Jaden's M·hero Dark Claw on the field.

(In the alternate version, he really does become a Rider-Kick)

Despite having his effects nullified, [M·hero Dark Claw] mustered his strength and managed to retaliate with a flying kick, but numbers are numbers. He was engulfed and destroyed by the flames, though he also negated most of the damage from the flames, only reducing Jaden's base score slightly.

[Yuki Jaden: 2000→1900LP, 3 cards in hand]

"It's not over yet! Next up is [Giant Skeleton Dragon - Shining]'s attack!" Because of the interference of [Hero Aura], even though [M·hero Atomic Fire] with 0 attack power was on Jaden's field, "Amon" couldn't use these high-attack monsters to disrupt Jaden's life points. So he simply used them to destroy the other two monsters on Jaden's field first - first [M·hero Dark Claw], and then [M·hero Light Fang].

"Target: [M·hero Light Fang], Shining Decay Breath!"

In the original attack move name of [Shining Dragon], "Shining Breath", corresponding to the current "Undead Corpse" state of [Giant Bone Dragon - Shining], "Amon" has been described as "rotten". And the dragon breath it spits out is indeed not as pure gold as the old [Shining Dragon], but presents a strange blackish-purple color.

【M·hero Light Fang】snatched his arm sword, slashing and weaving sword energy in front of him, constantly reducing the opponent's attack. However, he was also affected by the nullification effect and could not muster enough power to completely negate the attack. Otherwise, even if he could only receive the attack power boost from one monster, he could still overpower 【Giant Bone Dragon - Shining】 - but there are no ifs.

"Oh!"

[Yuki Jaden: 1900→1600LP, 3 cards in hand]

Another monster was destroyed, and Jaden's Life Points dropped again. What's worse, although the high-attack monster on "Amon"'s field had already attacked, there were still two other monsters on "Amon's" field whose attack power was not limited by "Hero Aura"!

"The [Hero Aura] can only withstand monsters with an attack power of 1900 or more, but my [Crazy Killer Clown] and [Magic Cylinder - Bayonet Demon] are not limited by that and can easily shatter your [M·Hero Atomic Fire]!"

"Amon" sneered: "Your only unnegotiated effect on the field, [M·hero Atomic Fire], has the ability to be undestroyed by card effects or battle once per turn, right? But I have two monsters!"

"I will crush your last [Hero]!"

[Magic Cylinder - Bayonet Demon] fired its energy cannon again, and [M·hero Atomic Fire] immediately raised the laser gun directly connected to the reactor in his hand to counterattack and shatter the energy cannon. However, there were two monsters attacking him at the same time. [Crazy Killer Clown] took the opportunity to sneak up on him, and his dagger pierced through the gap in [M·hero Atomic Fire]'s armor, destroying his heart.

"boom!"

The self-destructing [M·hero Atomic Fire] stirred up a whirlwind, and Jaden's Life Points continued to drop. The monsters on the field were completely wiped out, and even his own Life Points became as fragile as a candle in the wind!

[Yuki Jaden: 1600→1100→700LP, 3 cards in hand]

Seeing Jaden panting heavily in pain as his Basic Score plummeted to a very low level, "Amon" was unusually excited and kept asking Jaden, "Can you feel it, Jaden? Can you feel it? This kind of pain, this kind of uncomfortable feeling, this kind of loneliness where everyone is drifting away from you?"

"Can you feel it? My love for you is exactly the same as the love you give me!"

Upon hearing these words, Judai forced himself to stay alert and retorted, "Whose love... would be as twisted as yours!"

"I'm glad you still have this spirit, Judai, but I don't like what you said." Looking very unhappy, "Amon" frowned. "I won't give you any more chances. Although you've survived this round, you're in this situation because of my mistake, which saved your life."

"During my Main Phase 2, I send my Level 2☆ Tuner monster [Crazy Killer Clown] and Level 1☆ Non-Tuner monster [Magic Cylinder - Bayonet] as Synchro Materials to the Graveyard. The material requirement is to have one Tuner monster plus one or more non-Tuner monsters."