Is this the world of card dealers? Yada thieves!

"Huh? So that guy's display had so many things hidden inside?" After listening to Ryuzaki's explanation, Jonouchi scratched the back of his head. "Ryuzaki, I didn't notice any of these things at all. You're really amazing, both Amelda and Ryuzaki."

Ameruda didn't seem to care much that Ryuzaki's professional commentary had revealed his combo. Raphael actually knew all of what he was talking about, after all, the two of them had been working together in the Doma organization for over ten years and knew each other's decks inside and out.

Furthermore, there are some things that Ryuzaki didn't explain. For example, not only are [Mech Soldier] and [Mech Sniper] given resistance to the effect target by [Mech Force's Defense Circle], but [Mech Fortress] itself also has the effect of checking the opponent's hand and discarding one card when it becomes the target of the opponent's monster effect, and it also has a synergy with [Mech Force - Mega Transformation] in the graveyard when it is destroyed.

Despite all the preparations, Amelda still lacked confidence in her ability to defeat Raferu. Though unwilling, Amelda had to admit that Raferu was the strongest of their Doma trio. Even before losing her "Dark [Mechs]," she had struggled against Raferu, let alone now.

However, he had to complete the duel with Rafael. This was something only he, as one of the three musketeers of Doma, as a pawn in Dartz's hands like Rafael, and as someone who had broken free from the shackles of darkness within himself, could do.

"Entering my battle phase, I'm about to attack, Rafael!" Declaring the start of the battle phase, Amelda pointed to Rafael, who was currently without any monsters on the field. "First, the [Machine Soldier]'s direct attack, Sonic Impact!"

Upon receiving the attack command, the [Mech Soldier] leaped high into the air, dragging the long sword on its right arm, and launched a sudden attack on Rafael, who was currently facing an empty field. Upon seeing this, Rafael also pressed the button to activate the face-down card.

Even before the attack arrived, Rafiru's base score was suddenly reduced by a large amount.

[Rafiru: 4000→1000LP]

As Rafael's base score plummeted, several strands of white light rose from his body, forming a barrier in front of him. The slashes unleashed by the [Mech Soldier] were completely blocked by the seemingly thin barrier without causing the slightest ripple.

"The Continuous Trap Card [Guardian of Light] can only be activated by paying a multiple of 1000 Life Points. It prevents your opponent's monsters with ATK less than or equal to the amount paid from attacking." Protected by the card's effect, Rafael, unaware that he had just paid 3000 Life Points, calmly stated, "I paid 3000 Life Points to prevent all of Amelda's monsters with ATK less than 3000 from attacking."

"Using 3000 Life Points to block the attacks of the monsters on my field? What a worthwhile trade." Amelda didn't expect to defeat Rafael with her first attack. She casually set her cards face down. "End my Battle Phase, then set one card face down and end my turn."

[Ameruda: 4000LP, 0 cards in hand]

[Mech Soldier] [ATK1600]

[Mech Sniper] [ATK1800]

[Mech Fortress] [ATK2500]

[The defensive perimeter of the mech forces] [GaiKa]

Rafael's [Guardian of Light] effect is continuous as long as the card is face-up on the field, and does not require targeting. Therefore, even Amelda's [Mech Soldier] and [Mech Sniper] cannot be prevented from attacking. Furthermore, because Rafael paid a whopping 3000 Life Points, even [Mech Fortress] cannot attack.

Although Rafael's base score has been reduced to only 1000 points, he can no longer be damaged until Amelda summons a monster with an attack power of over 3000 points.

However, both sides are in similar situations. Amelda cannot attack with monsters with an attack power of less than 3000 due to the effect of [Light Barrier], while Rafael is also unable to attack Amelda due to the combo of [Mech Force Defense Circle] and [Mech Sniper].

But just as Amelda announced the end of her turn, Rafael pressed the button to activate the face-down card again: "Before your turn ends, Amelda, I will activate this card, the Continuous Trap Card [Life Drain Device]."

Beside the [Guardian of Light] that protected Rafael from attack, another rather eerie device rose up.

Although the card has been activated, its effect does not seem to have met the activation conditions. The Life Absorption Device remains on Rafael's field without functioning, and Rafael begins his turn.

"During my turn, due to the effect of [Guardian's Treasure Card], I draw two cards from my deck," Rafael said, not bothering to check what cards he had drawn after his hand size increased to two. Instead, he pointed to [Life Drain Device] on his field. "Then, during my Standby Phase, due to the effect of [Life Drain Device], I recover half of the Life Points I paid last turn!"

"What?!" To Amelda's astonishment, the [Life Absorption Device] began to operate, spitting out a green energy ball that merged into Raferu's body!

"Last round I paid 3000 base points because of the effect of [Light Barrier], so I now have 1500 base points restored."

[Rafiru: 1000→2500LP]

After taking a deep breath, Rafael played another card: "Now that my Life Points have been restored, and there are no other cards in my deck that require Life Points to activate, the [Life Absorption Device]'s function ends here."

"I activate the Spell Card 'Magic Flowerpot' to send my face-up 'Life Drain Device' to the Graveyard, and I draw two cards from my Deck."

"Once it has no further use, the [Life Absorption Device] will be discontinued."

As he spoke, Rafael increased the number of cards in his hand to three. Looking at the cards he had drawn, Rafael looked up at Ameruda.

"So, are you ready, Ameruda? As a traitor to Doma, a betrayer who tried to thwart Lord Dartz's plans, are you prepared to face my punishment?"

"Activate the spell card, [Black Hole]!"

Chapter 637 A man can't beat a dog.

"Magic Card, [Black Hole]!"

Ameruda's two lower-level [Mech] monsters possess a certain degree of resistance due to the [Mech Force's defensive perimeter], making them untouchable by ordinary targeted destruction methods or combat-based methods.

Therefore, Rafael drew the [Black Hole] card that he had activated at that moment.

The light began to distort as a dark spot suddenly appeared on Rafael's field. In just a moment, the three monsters on Amelda's field were crushed and destroyed by the deformed force field, and the field was completely wiped out.

"A Black Hole that destroys all monsters on the field without targeting them..." With a frown, Amelda sent three of her monster cards to the Graveyard.

"Normally, the use of [Black Hole] would come at the cost of destroying all the monsters on my field. However, since I currently have no monsters on my field, the only monster that will be destroyed is you, Amelda."

"It's a shame that the field that was laid out was completely wiped out, but Rafael, you should know the characteristics of my [Mech] deck, right?"

Looking at the pile of scrap metal left behind after his [Mech] monsters were destroyed, Amelda waved his hand and said, "Not fueled by the undying flames of revenge, but by the resolve within my heart, resurrect, my monsters!"

"【Mech Force - Super Transformation】!"

From the ruins, the broken parts were pieced together again and repaired themselves using the surrounding spare resources. The mechanical giant, which resembled the [Mech Fortress], stood on the earth, though its appearance was not quite the same!

[Mech Force: Super Transformation] [ATK2600]

"If [Mech Force: Mega Transformation], which was the cost of Special Summoning [Mech Fortress] last turn, is in the Graveyard, you can activate this effect when [Mech Fortress] on my field is sent to the Graveyard."

As Ameruda spoke, she took out the card 【Mech Fortress】 that she had just sent to the graveyard, and said, "Ban 【Mech Fortress】 and Special Summon 【Mech Force: Mega Transformation】 from the graveyard in Attack Position!"

"Furthermore, the second effect of [Mech Forces' Defense Circle] is that if a face-up Machine-Type monster on my field is destroyed, add one Machine-Type monster from my Graveyard to my hand."

"I chose the [Mech Sniper] class."

Rafiru raised an eyebrow as he watched Ameruda retrieve the card from the graveyard into his hand.

He had just used [Black Hole] to turn Ameruda's field upside down, but in the blink of an eye, the opponent had revived the monster. Moreover, if [Mech Sniper] was recalled, it would mean that Ameruda could complete the attack blockade again in the next turn.

Although delaying the fight would be advantageous to him, Rafael did not want to waste too much time in a duel with Ameruda, who was not supposed to be his opponent.

"The combo of [Mech Force's Defense Circle] and [Mech Sniper] has a prerequisite: you must have a Level 7 or higher Machine-Type monster on your field, Amelda." As she spoke, Rafael played a card from her hand. "In that case, you just need to destroy [Mech Force: Mega Transformation] this turn."

"I activate the Equip Spell Card [Meteor Bow - Blazing Flame] to equip [Mech Force - Mega Transformation] on the field!"

As Rafael played a card, a burst of fire shot out from the card he activated in the back row and rushed towards Amelda's [Mech Force: Mega Transformation] standing on the field. After landing in his hand, it adapted to the size of the giant mechanical soldier and transformed into a longbow wrapped in flames.

The fact that these mechanical soldiers use retro, even somewhat fantastical, longbows creates a rather strange contrast.

In reality, the appearance of the Meteor Bow - Blazing Flame was indeed a negative thing for Ameruda.

"【Meteor Bow - Blazing Flame】, I remember that card was a necessary condition for 【Guardian - Hill】 to appear." Only a day had passed since Rafael's duel, so I still remembered that card. "But besides that, I remember its effect was to reduce the equipped monster's ATK by 1000 points?"

As the game states, the flames ignited on the Meteor Bow - Blazing Flame are no good for mechanical equipment. The high temperature not only deforms the metal armor, which is already a repair item, but also greatly interferes with the operation of the internal circuitry.

The giant mechanical soldier froze at its feet and knelt directly on the ground.

[Mech Force - Super Transformation] [ATK2600→1600]

“Powerful cards often come with huge risks, don’t they? Compared to the direct attack capabilities that [Meteor Bow - Blazing Flame] grants to [Mech Force - Super Transformation], a mere 1000 points of attack power reduction is nothing, right?”

Rafael chuckled, his tone sarcastic, his expression suggesting he was about to say, "Hurry up and thank Fly Bro!" He then played his last card: "Because of the existence of [Meteor Bow - Blazing Flame], I Normal Summon [Guardian - Hill] from my hand in Attack Position."

A Flame Clan wolf beast warrior clad in magma armor appeared on the Rafiru field. Although he was empty-handed and had no corresponding weapon, his highly professional fighting stance indicated that he was a qualified archer.

【Guardian - Hill】【ATK1700】

Unfortunately, although [Mech Force - Super Transformation] originally had higher attack power, due to [Meteor Bow - Blazing Flame], [Guardian - Hill] now has 100 more attack power.

Even though it's just a small amount, Rafiru won't let it go.

"Enter battle phase," Rafael waved his hand, looking at the [Mech Force - Mega Transformation] on the field in Amelda, and ordered [Guardian - Hill], "Attack [Mech Force - Mega Transformation], Dolphin Cyclone!"

Instead of using his usual bow and arrow, [Guardian-Hill] attacked the giant mechanical soldier with his fists. With a few punches and kicks, he performed a scene of "tearing apart a Gundam" in front of everyone. Ameruda's counterattack against [Black Hole], [Mech Force: Super Transformation], was once again sent back to the graveyard, and his base score dropped by 100 points.

[Ameruda: 4000→3900LP]

Since it wasn't in the Dark Game, a mere 100 points of damage wasn't even enough to make Ameruda frown. Helplessly, he put [Mech Force - Super Transformation] into the graveyard and said, "What a pity, the recovery effect of [Mech Force's Defense Circle] has a limit of once per turn, so I can't use it a second time this turn."

"However, because [Mech Force - Super Transformation] was sent to the graveyard, Rafael, the [Meteor Bow - Blazing Flame] you activated will also have to be destroyed and sent to the graveyard."

“You don’t need to tell me that.” Rafael picked up the [Meteor Bow - Blazing Flame], which had lost its equipped monster, shook it slightly in his hand as if to show it to Amelda, and sent it to the graveyard. He then said, “Next, I end my turn.”

[Rafiru: 2500LP, 0 cards in hand]

【Guardian - Hill】【ATK1700】

[Guardian Deity's Treasure Amulet] [Light's Protective Barrier]

"My turn," Ameluda said, her fingers resting on the deck. She seemed to sense something and paused slightly before drawing a card. "Draw!"

Flip the card drawn this turn. It is a normal spell card called "Reorganization of Mech Forces". This card does not have an extremely powerful effect, but it has a very strong ability to search for cards.

Although it requires discarding a card as a cost to activate, how can change occur without breaking the old and sacrificing something?

“I activate the Spell Card [Reorganization of the Mech Force] by discarding [Mech Sniper] from my hand,” Ameruda sent the card in his hand to the graveyard, and retrieved two cards from the Duel Disk and drew them. “I add two [Mech] cards of different names other than [Reorganization of the Mech Force] from my Deck to my hand.”

"Next, using the effect of [Mech Radiation Soldier] in my hand, I discard one [Mech] monster from my hand and Special Summon it from my hand in Defense Position."

[Mech Radiation Soldier] [DEF2400]

Because Rafael paid 3000 Life Points to activate [Guardian of Light], the [Mech-Radiant Soldier] currently on Amelda's field, despite having attack power comparable to [Guardian-Shell], is still unable to attack. As a precaution, Amelda places it in Defense position.

Amelda either needs to find a way to destroy Rafael's back row cards, or summon a monster with an attack power higher than the 3000 Life Points Rafael paid. Otherwise, Amelda has no way to deal with Rafael for the time being.

"My turn is over." With no other options, Ameruda ended his turn, but glanced at the graveyard.

His deck doesn't have many monsters with an attack power exceeding 3000. Even including the [Mech Force: Destruction Force] which has become a blank card, there are only two, and the summoning conditions are quite demanding.

However, there are monsters with an attack power of exactly 3000, and they have already been sent to Amelda's graveyard. Although an attack power of 3000 is still within the range of the [Guardian of Light]'s seal, there is at least a possibility of breaking through the seal, as long as he can summon it first.

[Ameruda: 3900LP, 0 cards in hand]

[Mech Radiation Soldier] [DEF2400]

[The defensive perimeter of the mech forces] [GaiKa]

"My turn, draw cards." Rafael announced, drawing two cards from his deck. However, compared to the previous turn's godlike draws—a [Black Hole] followed by the matching [Guardian] and its corresponding equipment card—this turn's cards were much more "normal."

"I set one card to the top of my hand and activate the Spell Card 'Heavenly Treasure Card.' Both players draw cards from their decks until they have six cards left in their hands. Since I have zero cards in my hand, I can draw six cards."

The saying "a true duelist can even decide his own card draw" is perfectly exemplified by Rafael, who drew the "Heavenly Treasure Card," a card that had become a limited card due to its overwhelming power.

Seeing Rafael begin drawing cards, Amelda also drew a card: "You're not the only one with zero cards in hand; I can draw six cards just the same."

[Rafiru: Hand cards 0→6]

[Ameruda: Hand cards 0→6]

Ameruda glanced at the card he had drawn and realized that his luck was pretty good. He had already drawn a card that could break the seal of the [Light Barrier]. But before he could be happy, he heard Rafael's voice.

"Summon [Support Guardian] in Defense Position, then activate the Equip Spell Card [Goddess's Holy Sword - Eagle Spirit] to equip [Support Guardian]."

With the playing of two cards, a new monster wielding a longsword appeared on Rafael's field. However, compared to [Support Guardian], what was more eye-catching at this moment was Rafael, surrounded by white light and exuding a menacing aura.