Is this the world of card dealers? Yada thieves!

"The effect of 【Amazon's Secret】when used directly is a normal 【Fusion】 without any additional abilities. If I have 【Fusion Recycle】 in my hand that can synergize with the 【Fusion】 spell card, using it directly is undoubtedly the worst choice. Besides, you can only use one of its two effects per turn." Tanya shrugged. "Making the most efficient use of cards is also a kind of wisdom."

"[Amazonian Empress]..." Tania paused for a moment, glancing at the [Amazonian Empress], which didn't have the lively performance of other [Amazonian] monsters and just stood in front of her like an ordinary image, before continuing, "...If she is successfully Fusion Summoned, an effect can be activated to Special Summon one [Amazonian] monster from my Deck."

"I Special Summon 'Princess of the Amazons' in Attack Position, and upon its Special Summon, I activate its effect to add one 'Amazon' Spell/Trap Card from my Deck to my hand. I choose 'Amazon Curse Master'. Also, if an 'Amazon' monster is Special Summoned, I activate the effect of 'Amazon Tiger Cub' in my Graveyard and Special Summon it to my field!"

【Princess of the Amazons】【3 stars/location】

[Warrior Race/Effect]

[1200/900]

[Amazonian pet tiger cub] [2 stars/location]

[Orc/Effect]

【500/500→800/500】

After Tanya put down the card, the [Amazonian Princess] appeared on the field, once again showing the difference of the [Amazonian Empress]. At the same time, an adorable tiger cub suddenly appeared next to her and stuck to her side.

"Two more monsters have appeared in the blink of an eye?" Misawa wasn't surprised that Tania had only now Special Summoned the Amazonian Pet Tiger, which could have been summoned much earlier. She was simply wary that the last face-down card in her back row might be a card like the Trap Hole.

—In the past, Misawa might not have paid much attention to summoning traps like [Trap Hole], but after his recent duels with Jaden, he had a different perspective. Anyone who falls victim to summoning traps four or five times in a single duel will learn their lesson. After the worst duel, Misawa almost hallucinated Jaden shouting "Activate Trap Card!" when he lifted the covers to sleep that night.

Tanya could have used Amazonian Tiger Cub as a fusion material when she fused with Amazonian Tiger King. However, she probably put Amazonian Tiger Cub back then because she was afraid of losing all her monsters with a summoning trap. But after the special summons of three Amazonian monsters in a row, Tanya has probably ruled out the possibility that the card was a summoning trap.

"As long as [Amazonian Pet Tiger] exists on the field or in the Graveyard, its card name is treated as [Amazonian Pet Tiger], and its ATK increases by 100 points for each [Amazonian] monster in my Graveyard." Tania explained the effect of [Amazonian Pet Tiger]. "Since I have [Amazonian Pet Tiger], [Amazonian Empress], and [Amazonian Warrior Captain] in my Graveyard, its ATK increases by 300 points."

After a pause, Tania, who had just added Amazon Curse Master to her hand using the effect of Amazon Princess, immediately played it back out, saying, "Next, the Normal Spell Card Amazon Curse Master is activated. Under the effect of the Secret Technique, I can exchange the original ATK of one monster from each player until the end of the turn."

(Although it's called the Curse Master, it's a Spell Card, not a Monster Card)

"I've chosen to swap the original attack power of the [Amazonian Pet Tiger] with the [Dark Storm Dragon]!"

Misawa saw the runes from the Amazonian Secret Technique reappear in the air behind Tanya. This time, Misawa clearly saw that the one controlling those runes was a thin, short old woman. Although she was too old to hunt and fight like other young Amazons, the secret technique she possessed could unleash power comparable to or even stronger than that of the younger Amazons, and it had a variety of uses.

Besides assisting in summoning the Amazonian Empress through [Fusion], the [Amazonian Cursed One] now precisely applied runes to the [Dark Storm Dragon] and [Amazonian Pet Tiger] on Misawa's field. The next moment, Misawa saw that the [Dark Storm Dragon] on his field looked listless, while the [Amazonian Pet Tiger] instantly became energetic.

[Dark Storm Dragon] [ATK2700→ATK500]

[Amazonian Pet Tiger Cub] [ATK800→ATK2700]

After the attack power was swapped, the attack power of the [Amazonian Pet Tiger Cub], which originally had less than 1500 points (used to distinguish whether it was a "minor monster"), suddenly soared to 2700 points. Although it was a cub, it was more ferocious than an adult tiger.

On the other hand, the Amazon Cursed One swapped its "original attack power" instead of its "attack power," resulting in its attack power being reduced to a mere 500 points. The balance of power was completely reversed!

The effect of [Amazonian Empress] allows you to summon any high-level, high-attack [Amazonian] monster from your deck. However, Tanya ultimately chose [Amazonian Princess] because she knew that with the assistance of spell cards, the [Amazonian] monsters could unleash a fighting power even greater than the pure power of monsters. After all, "courage" without "wisdom" is just recklessness.

Looking at the monsters on Misawa's field, Tania smiled and declared without changing her expression: "Although you have deployed quite a few monsters on the field, unfortunately, Misawa-kun, your monsters will only vanish like snowflakes in front of the Amazon tribe and me."

"Entering the battle phase, I use [Amazonian Pet Tiger] to attack [Giant Plant]!"

"Use the [Amazonian Pet Tiger] to attack the [Giant Plant]!"

As a Level 6☆ Gemini Monster, [Giant Plant] has a resurrection effect that is unrestricted by card name and can be used once per turn when it is Gemini Summoned. Although its 2400 ATK is not as high as the standard 2500 ATK of the protagonist's ace, it can still be compared to [Red-Eyes Black Dragon], which is also good at repeatedly jumping from the graveyard to the field.

However, these 2400 attack points were insufficient compared to the 2700 attack points stolen by the [Amazonian Pet Tiger Cub] from the [Dark Storm Dragon]. With a roar, the [Amazonian Pet Tiger Cub] pounced on a [Giant Plant] as if acting spoiled, but caused great damage. The thick [Giant Plant] was actually broken in two by the seemingly tender tiger's claws and fell down with a crash!

Misawa Daichi: 4000→3700LP

After the duel began, Misawa suffered his first battle injury, but this was only the beginning. As Tanya's other monsters attacked, he would suffer damage again and again.

However, before Tania could issue her second attack declaration, Misawa raised her own question: "Just now... why couldn't I activate Geka?"

The other face-down card in his back row is indeed not a summoning trap, but a classic attack trap, [Magic Cylinder]. It can negate the attack of a monster and then inflict damage equal to the attacking monster's ATK. It is extremely useful when dealing with monsters with high ATK. In self-defense, it is very likely to accidentally kill the opponent on the spot.

Just now, Misawa had pressed the button to activate the face-down card, intending to activate [Magic Cylinder]. He planned to explain that he had just activated [Magic Cylinder] to show off while Tanya was confused about the sudden failure of the attack and the damage he had suffered. He clearly pressed the button, but the face-down card on the field remained motionless.

Why are you just staring, my Geka! Have you betrayed me?!

"Face card? I see. So your face card is a card that targets other characters. Were you trying to target my [Amazonian Pet Tiger Lion King]?" Tanya learned some information about Misawa's face card from him and smiled with narrowed eyes. "But unfortunately, in most people's eyes, animals and humans can't 'marry' each other, right?"

Using a pun, Tania placed her hand on the motionless [Amazonian Empress]'s shoulder and said, "I have to tell you about [Amazonian Empress]'s powerful second effect. As long as [Amazonian Empress] is in the Monster Zone, all [Amazonian] monsters on my field other than this card will not be targeted by my opponent's effects, nor will they be destroyed by my opponent's effects."

With an attack power higher than Blue-Eyes White Dragon, it can Special Summon any Amazonian monster from the Deck upon entering the field, and it can also grant "Mighty" resistance to all other Amazonian monsters. What kind of cheat is this? You might as well say that it can also land two punches in one turn.

"—By the way, let me add her third effect: the Amazon Empress, created by fusing with either the Amazon Empress or the Amazon Queen, can perform two attacks in a single battle phase."

I was just thinking to myself, "Wow, you're really something!"

Thinking to himself, Misawa looked at the [Amazonian Empress] and said, "What a troublesome card."

'Yes, she's just a stubborn, troublesome woman, doing pointless, foolish things on her own. She claims to protect everyone, but she doesn't protect herself at all.' Tanya glanced at the Amazonian Empress, who stood motionless like a block of wood, and sighed.

“So next up is [Amazon Princess], no, for the time being her card name is [Amazon Queen]. I'm using her to attack your [Dark Storm Dragon] whose ATK becomes 500. Bear with the pain, Misawa-kun.” Tania said, then added…

"Furthermore, when [Amazon Princess] declares an attack, her effect activates, sending the [Amazon Pet Tiger] that I have already attacked to the Graveyard, Special Summoning one [Amazon] monster other than [Amazon Princess] from my Deck in Defense Position, and Special Summoning [Amazon Queen]!"

To avoid becoming the opponent's weak point next turn, it is most efficient for Tanya to release the [Amazonian Pet Tiger] that has already attacked. Since it has already attacked and cannot continue fighting, it might as well go to the graveyard to rest. Meanwhile, the [Amazonian Queen], which has only existed in the effect description of Tanya's [Amazonian Princess] and has never appeared, has finally appeared on Tanya's field.

"Princess," "Queen," and the Amazonian Empress from Tania's graveyard, culminating in the Amazonian Queen on the field—this "evolutionary chain" is finally complete. The Amazonian Queen, wearing a skull mask covering one eye and sporting blue hair, is in defense position and cannot attack during this battle phase. She simply uses a long sword as a cane, leaning on the ground, and sits on her throne watching the others fight.

[Amazon Queen] [6 stars/location]

[Warrior Race/Effect]

[2400/1800]

Unfortunately, the special summoning effect of [Amazonian Pet Tiger] can only be used once per turn. Otherwise, Tanya would have really liked to Special Summon it from the Graveyard again and fill her Monster Zone, which would have been just like Misawa's, allowing her to fill her front row with monsters in one turn.

The addition of new monsters does not affect the Amazonian princess's attack on the Dark Storm Dragon. Although the former's attack power is only 1200 points, it is still higher than the latter's current attack power of only 500 points.

With Tania's cry of "Pierce the Deaththorn Spear!", the Amazonian princess, spear in hand, pierced the whirlwind body of the Dark Storm Dragon, which vanished into the void along with the dissipating air currents. Misawa also sustained combat damage, his base score decreasing further, but Tania failed to notice the smirk playing on his lips.

Misawa: 3700 → 3000 LP

—Then, right where the Dark Storm Dragon left, a strangely shaped pair of scissors suddenly appeared after the storm had dispersed.

Chapter 1137 Chemical Combination - CO2

【Soul Scissors】【2☆/Dark】

[Demon Race/Effect]

[550/350]

Tanya was stunned when she saw the scissor-shaped monster that suddenly appeared on the field. The ability of the Dark Storm Dragon that she destroyed with the Amazonian Pet Tiger Lion King was, if she remembered correctly, similar to the effect of the Great Storm. It could destroy all the Spell/Trap Cards on the field by sending one face-up Spell/Trap Card to the Graveyard.

For a Level 8☆ Gemini monster with 2700 ATK that requires two Normal Summons to use its effect, this effect can't be described as extremely powerful, it's just a bit lacking. But we didn't see that face-down card in Misawa's back row open, so how come there's an extra monster on Misawa's field after [Dark Storm Dragon] was destroyed?

Wait a minute, that monster card is called "Soul Scissors"? Didn't I hear that name earlier this turn? What was its effect again...?

Tanya didn't have to think for long before Misawa explained the origin and effect of the [Soul Scissors] that appeared on his field: "Tanya, you sent [Amazon's Secret] to the graveyard with [Lightning Vortex] and then used that cost. But you're not the only one who uses cards to incur costs. Remember the [Scapegoat's Darkness] that I used to defend against [Lightning Vortex]?"

“I see. So it’s the card that ‘Darkness of the Scapegoat’ sent to the graveyard? Indeed, ‘Soul Scissors’ is a Level 2☆ DARK monster.” Tanya glanced at ‘Soul Scissors’ and then said, “But how did it end up on your field?”

"That's because of the first effect of [Soul Scissors]. If this card is in its Graveyard Growth state and a monster on the field is destroyed by battle or card effect and sent to the Graveyard, you can activate this effect to Special Summon this card. However, as a cost, if this card is Special Summoned by this effect leaves the field, it will be banished."

After a pause, Misawa looked at the monster on Tania's field and said, "But the best weapon is one that only needs to be used once. The [Soul Scissors] only needs to be used once, because that one use is enough to cut through obstacles and create enough opportunities!"

"If [Soul Scissors] is Special Summoned from the Graveyard, target one monster your opponent controls and activate its second effect to destroy that monster." Pointing to the only targetable card among all the monsters on Tanya's field, "The card I want to destroy is, of course, [Amazonian Empress]!"

"What?!"

To Tania's astonishment, the resurrected Soul Scissors on Misawa's field opened its blades and pointed them at the Amazonian Empress on its own field. The Amazonian Empress, which had been granted resistance to being targeted by effects and destroyed by effects, was actually the most vulnerable of all. Although it swung its greatsword in time, it was completely helpless against the Soul Scissors, which seemed to have a physical form but was actually in a soul form. After being hit, it was immediately destroyed and sent to the graveyard.

With the disappearance of the Amazonian Empress, the blessing that had been placed on the Amazonian monsters vanished instantly. Although nothing seemed outwardly special, the fur clothing on the Amazonian monsters suddenly became dry and lacked the glossy sheen that had previously made them look like they were still alive.

At the same time, the disappearance of the Amazon monsters' "powerful" resistance also means that the "magic tube" in Misawa's back row has also been "unsealed". As long as Tanya lets the monsters continue to attack, he can take the opportunity to activate it to counterattack and give Tanya a big surprise.

However, having already learned from Misawa that her back row card was an attack declaration trap targeting attacking monsters, Tania naturally didn't want to send her only unattacked card, [Amazonian Pet Tiger King], to its doom. Cards like [Explosive Armor] might have a strange curse of "never working," but sending them to their doom is a different story.

Tanya glanced at the [Amazonian Empress] card that had been destroyed and removed from the Duel Disk, sighed, and looked up at Misawa, saying, "Back in [Lightning Vortex], you already had a plan in place to deal with the strong attack of the [Amazonian] monsters, Misawa-kun? Your strategic wisdom of thinking three steps ahead is quite remarkable."

“Although I’ll have to step into that trap eventually, even if I leave it for the next turn, I’ll refrain from using [Amazonian Pet Tiger King] to attack and trigger it this turn.” Tania sent the [Amazonian Empress] card to the graveyard and said, “My battle phase will end here for now.”

Tanya clenched her fists and suddenly muttered to herself, "It's hard to describe this feeling. Should I call it luck or misfortune? I've witnessed you being destroyed once again, but I now have the opportunity to use this power I've gained to bring you back."

"Although it won't be the elderly who create a new era, I want to do it even if it's just once!"

Tanya raised her head, her eyes burning with a fierce fighting spirit, and stretched out her hand—

“During my Main Phase 2, since I didn’t attack this turn, the second effect of [Amazon Pet Tiger King] can be used, targeting one [Amazon] card on my field and one [Amazon] Warrior-Type monster in my Graveyard.” Tanya pointed to [Amazon Princess], the card with the lowest attack on her field. “I chose [Amazon Princess] and [Amazon Empress] in my Graveyard.”

"The target [Princess of the Amazons] is destroyed, and after that, the [Empress of the Amazons] in my Graveyard is Special Summoned to my field!"

Tanya chose to be destroyed without complaint. The Amazonian princess smiled and nodded at her, willingly sacrificing her young life for the Amazonian queen who was about to be resurrected in the tomb. The Amazonian pet tiger-lion king moved in sync with Tanya, raising its head and roaring at the sky.

"Awooo—!!"

The aura of the king of beasts unfolded, and the simple roar stirred up a real gale, as if the aura itself had materialized. With the help of the Amazonian pet tiger-lion king and the Amazonian princess, the [Amazonian Empress] was given a second life and returned to the field after being revived from Tanya's grave.

【Amazonian Empress】【ATK3200】

The effects of Special Summoned monsters are only effective when [Amazonian Empress] is Fusion Summoned, and there is a limit of once per turn for the card name. This time, [Amazonian Empress] has also lost the effect of attacking twice when it was summoned with its third effect, and only has the protective effect of protecting other [Amazon] monsters left. It is still standing on Tanya's field as before.

But seeing [Amazonian Empress] return to her field, Tanya seemed to have let go of some knot in her heart and breathed a sigh of relief. She placed the last card in her hand face down on the back field and said, "I've set up a face-down card. My turn is over."

Tanya: 4000 LP, 0 cards in hand

[Amazonian Pet Tiger Lion King] [ATK2900]

[Amazon Queen] [DEF1800]

【Amazonian Empress】【ATK3200】

【GaiKa】

"Tanya..." The observant Misawa had naturally noticed Tanya's many unusual reactions after the appearance of the [Amazonian Empress], and had some guesses that she might be a special being to Tanya. However, although he was a bit of a straight man, he was not a block of wood, so he did not ask about matters that were obviously Tanya's sore spot.

Moreover, although he did care about Tanya, he was also well aware that he was making a very important decision concerning the key to the "Seven Essence Seal." He had a reason to win the duel no matter what, so he would not hold back against Tanya. Rather, giving his all in the duel was the greatest respect he could show to his opponent.

"My turn, draw a card!"

Misawa's spirited shouts brought Tanya back from her reverie. She glanced at the Amazonian Empress's retreating figure, smiled with relief, and looked back at Misawa, saying, "Mizawa-kun, I'm so sorry. Tanya... I... forgot about the duel during the duel."

"Please, lend me your power once more, [Amazonian Empress]. And let me immerse myself once more in our duel, Misawa-kun!"

"My Amazonian Empress will grant other Amazonian monsters resistance to being targeted by effects and destroyed by effects; Amazonian Pet Tiger King will force your monsters to attack only it; and the effect of Amazonian Queen will prevent other Amazonian monsters on my field from being destroyed by battle. This is my triple chain of protection. Show your courage and wisdom to face the trials of the Amazons and defeat me!"

Misawa examined Tanya's three monsters on the field and nodded: "I see. Although you stopped fighting during the previous battle phase, you used that time to strengthen your defenses in preparation for my counterattack."

“I only have four monsters left on my field. My four monsters are no match for your three monsters; there's still a significant and insurmountable gap in strength.” Looking at the cards he had drawn, Misawa said seriously, “I must regroup my forces!”

“First, once per turn, I target one card on my opponent's field and activate the third effect of the Field Spell Card [Cyclone Electric World].” Pointing to his own [Giant Plant] Unit 1, Misawa said, “I banish all Double Monsters on my field that are in a Double Summon state until my opponent's End Phase, and destroy the targeted card. My target is, Tanya, your [Amazonian Empress]!”

The giant plant on Misawa's field was suddenly struck by a bolt of red lightning from the void, turning into dust and dissipating. This freed up a spot on Misawa's field and also caused the Amazonian Empress, who had finally returned to Tania's field, to be surrounded by lightning. A flash of red lightning, and the Amazonian Empress was destroyed for the second time and forced to leave the field.