Is this the world of card dealers? Yada thieves!

While the Amazonian Empress is present, the "majesty" resistance applied across the entire field is extremely troublesome. If Misawa wants to break through Tania's defenses, the Amazonian Empress is the one that must be dealt with first. In comparison, even the mysterious face-down card in Tania's back row has a slightly lower priority.

As the area on the field became empty, Misawa also figured out that Tanya's face-down card in the back row wasn't a card to protect her monster from destruction. Otherwise, given her special regard for "Amazonian Empress," she would have activated that face-down card long ago.

After [Amazonian Empress] leaves, Tania is left with the "battle destruction immunity" combination of [Amazonian Pet Tiger King] and [Amazonian Queen] on the field. Although it is still a bit troublesome, it has become much easier to deal with without the resistance to being targeted and destroyed by effects.

"The effect of [Giant Plant] activates, Special Summon [Lonefire] from my Graveyard."

【Lone Spark】【DEF1400】

Seeing that Tanya hadn't opened her face-down card for a special summon with the chain [Lone Spark], Misawa ruled out the possibility that it might be a summoning trap like [Torrent Tribute], and then began to confidently and boldly play: "Spell Card [Calling Star Celestial Platform], return one Level 6 monster from my hand and face-up monsters on the field to the bottom of the Deck to activate this card, I return [Giant Plant] Unit 2, whose effect has already been activated, to the bottom of the Deck."

The second [Giant Plant] was returned to the bottom of the deck, but Misawa didn't care at all. The reason was that his [Lone Spark] on the field could release itself at any time to Special Summon the [Giant Plant] that had just returned to the deck back to the field. Then, there was still a [Giant Plant] in his graveyard. If needed, he could always reproduce the combo of infinitely reviving the [Giant Plant] from his previous turn.

Unfortunately, although one of the two cards I drew was a monster card, it wasn't the [Cannon Soldier] that best fit my deck for this invincible combo.

However, Misawa was not discouraged. Instead, he played a card in his hand and said: "The first effect of [Chemical Electric World] is that once per turn, I can summon a Gemini monster of level 5 or higher without Tributing, regardless of how many Tributes that monster requires."

"Carbon and Oxygen, the raging flames of battle spread between these two elements, producing wondrous chemical reactions in this chemical world, merging into a demonic and ferocious entity—"

"【Evolutionary Fusion Beast - Dioxane Ghost God】!"

The gray "C" and green "O" elements appeared out of thin air in this [Chemical Electricity World], gathered towards Misawa's field, and reacted violently together, suddenly bursting into a ferocious fire!

Solid and gas merged to form a plasma body. In the battle against Tania, Misawa also used his trump card monster - the superior [Combined Beast] - [Evolutionary Combined Beast - Dioxane Demon], which was born based on the reaction equation of "carbon", "oxygen" and "carbon dioxide" in chemical reaction!

【Evolution Fusion Beast - Dioxane Ghost God】【8☆/Dark】

[Demon Race/Dual/Effect]

[2800/200]

Misawa had previously used similar monsters in the academy's internal duels: the "Chemical Fusion" monsters [Water Dragon] and [Water Dragon - Cluster]. Although one was a Water attribute and the other a DARK attribute, both monsters were clearly decks that excelled at strong attacks. However, even though [Evolution Fusion - Dioxon] had the highest attack power of 2800 points, the highest among the monsters Misawa had summoned so far, Tania's [Amazon Pet Tiger Lion King] still had a higher attack power.

However, Misawa confidently smiled and said, "The effect of [Evolution Fusion Beast - Dioxygen Demon] in its double summon state is that once per turn, you can banish 1 dual monster from my graveyard, target 1 card on your opponent's field, and destroy that card."

"Although its attack power is not as strong as [Amazonian Pet Tiger Lion King], without [Amazonian Empress] and [Evolution Fusion Beast - Dioxin], it can still achieve the result of defeating [Amazonian Pet Tiger Lion King] using its own effect!" Misawa said, taking a card from the graveyard. "I banish the Gemini Monster [Dark Storm Dragon] from my graveyard and target [Amazonian Pet Tiger Lion King] on your field, Tanya, destroying it!"

"Dioxin Demon Strike!"

Seeing that Misawa's newly summoned Minotaur monster was about to activate its effect on her [Amazonian Pet Tiger Lion King], Tanya pressed the button to activate the face-down card in time: "This wind, this feeling, this is what a duel should be like!"

"But I'm not so easily dealt with, Misawa-kun. I'm opening the cover card—"

Chapter 1138 Although I'm reluctant to admit it, I seem to have fallen for this woman named Tanya.

"I'm not so easily defeated, Misawa-kun. Open my back card—" Tania declared, waving her hand as the card in front of her flipped open, revealing a red border.

"[The Will of Amazon]!"

The revealed card shows a heavily wounded Amazonian warrior who, despite his severe injuries, stubbornly rises from the ground, determined to continue the battle. Tanya also takes a card from her graveyard and says, "Continuous Trap Card [Will of the Amazon], Special Summon one Amazonian monster from my Graveyard in Attack Position. I choose [Empress of the Amazon]!"

Having revived from the graveyard for the second time, the [Amazonian Empress] returns to the battlefield under the blessing of [The Will of the Amazon]. This means that the "majestic" resistance that had just disappeared from the [Amazonian] monster has returned. It also means that the destruction effect of [Evolution Fusion - Dioxon], which has already selected [Amazonian Pet Tiger Lion King], will fall on the indestructible [Amazonian Pet Tiger Lion King], wasting this effect!

"Although the Amazonian Empress, Special Summoned by Amazon's Will, cannot change its battle position, it must attack whenever it can, and if Amazon's Will leaves the field, the Amazonian Empress will also be destroyed."

Tanya explained the negative effect of the card she had activated, then looked at Misawa and said, "But that's enough. [Amazonian Empress] will once again protect the [Amazonian] monsters on my field."

"What card do you have left, Misawa-kun? But even a powerful card like [Lightning Strike] that can clear the field with one card is useless now. Even if you use it, you can only destroy [Amazonian Empress] at most, but my [Amazonian Pet Tiger Lion King] and [Amazonian Queen] will still exist."

"With the monsters on your field, none of them have enough attack power to break through [Amazonian Pet Tiger King], especially since it has the protection of [Amazonian Queen] which makes it indestructible in battle. Without a doubt, I have won this duel. It is a victory for me, Misawa-kun, where both my Life Points and the monsters on my field surpass yours in every aspect!"

"Although you can no longer guard the key, don't be discouraged, Misawa-kun. Marrying into our Amazon tribe is an exciting thing, isn't it?"

Hearing Tanya's words, Misawa smiled: "Yes, besides the key bet, Tanya, you also made that agreement that if I lose to you, I will have to marry into the Amazon tribe."

"The effect of [Evolution Fusion Beast - Dioxane Demon] is the last effect destruction method I can use. After that, I have no way to deal with the [Amazon] monsters on your field, and I can't break through the [Amazon] defense. Not only in 'courage', but also in 'wisdom', Tanya, you are temporarily ahead of me."

After a pause, Misawa looked at the last card remaining in his hand and smiled: "But it's not enough. I need to protect the key to the 'Seven Essence Seal' entrusted to me from being won by you. I have a reason not to lose to you, Tanya!"

"Use this card that Principal Kobayashi gave me to extinguish your last hope of a desperate comeback!"

As Misawa flipped the card in his hand, revealing its red border, his memory returned to a time long ago, after his duel with Jaden.

At that time, I was defeated because I had been hit by two summoning traps, two effect traps, and one attack trap by Jaden in a duel. I was humiliated by being directly attacked several times by the [E·hero Winged Man] with only 1000 attack power until my life points were zero. I was racking my brains about how to defeat Jaden, whose deck had a lot of trap cards. When I returned to the Yellow Dorm, I happened to see Principal Kobayashi Hayato carrying a battery and discharging it into the lake on the island.

When he was caught in the act, Principal Kobayashi looked quite nervous and explained that he was doing a good deed by releasing a unit of electricity, and the lake god was rewarding him with several kilograms of fish. After the reader expressed his belief, Principal Kobayashi said that he could tell at a glance what kind of trouble the reader was having and that he could help him solve it.

When he explained to Principal Kobayashi the troubles he encountered during his duel with Jaden, he said, "I really guessed right." "I'll get you a bowl of beef noodles, oops, I mean, an extra card I drew." Principal Kobayashi then tossed him a card, saying that the card was the best way to solve his troubles—if you can't beat a trap card, then add one to your deck to counter the annoying red traps.

"Among the first-year students, besides Jaden and Manjoume, you're the one I have the most faith in. Work hard to become a powerful duelist and then guard the Viridian Dojo, Misawa of 'Earth'!" With that, Principal Kobayashi ran off from the lakeside carrying a full bucket of fish, but he also gave an extra instruction on how to use this card—

"This card can only be activated when the opponent activates a Trap Card. I activate a Counter Trap Card from my hand, [Red Reboot]!" Recalling the movements taught by Hayato, and with the card in his hand held high above his head by Misawa, he shouted, "This is the Ruler of Duels!"

(Wrong, it's this one.)

"Reset!"

As Misawa made his move, a male voice automatically spoke English lines from his Duel Disk. Judging from the voice, it was clearly Hayato's voice, even though he wasn't present. Before he could even insert the card into the Duel Disk, Tanya saw a clock taller than a person appear out of thin air behind Misawa!

"What... what's going on?"

The one who answered Tanya was Maeda, who was standing outside the arena. He looked at the clock behind Misawa with surprise and said, "There is an unconfirmed rumor in the academy that our principal, Hayato Kobayashi, was involved in the design of the Duel Disk of the Duel Academy. He submitted a special request to the Kaiba Group, which was that when a specific card is used to perform a specific action and is activated with a specific sound, the academy's standard Duel Disk can trigger a special sound effect."

“But before the four students, only the third-year student ‘Kaiser’ used the exclusive Trap Card ‘Infinite Impermanence’ given to him by the principal, and when he shouted any line containing ‘struggle,’ it would trigger a very nice gothic organ electronic music. So, everyone just assumed that ‘Kaiser’ might be using a special Duel Disk.” Maeda paused, looking at the clock face behind Misawa. “But now it seems that it might not be a rumor; it’s just that most people don’t have that specific card.”

"I see, I completely understand now." Although Tanya didn't really understand why anyone would deliberately add random sound effects to the Duel Disk, just like how humans seem to like adding random light effects to mice, keyboards, and even computer cases—did that somehow improve performance? However, that didn't stop her from pretending to completely understand. "But what I'm more concerned about is that card can actually be activated from the hand? A Trap Card can be activated directly without being set?"

"This card first appeared in the quarterfinals of the famous tournament 'Duel City' five years ago, when the Duel King Hayato Kobayashi encountered Isis Ishtar, a user of the 'Gravekeeper' deck."

Misawa didn't notice that Maeda Hayato behind him subconsciously shuddered when he heard "Gravekeeper," seemingly filled with fear and ominous memories of this deck. He continued, "Although Principal Kobayashi didn't use this card in that duel, but only officially used it in the semi-finals against Mr. Muto Yugi, the deck list of the top eight players later released by Kaiba Group shows that the card 'Red Reboot' already appeared at that time."

"However, for a long time, no one else has ever used this card; it has only existed as one of the many cards unique to the Duel King."

“Until recently, Principal Kobayashi gifted it to me, and now I will use it to defeat you, Tanya!” Misawa said, looking at Tanya. “Although most, if not all, trap cards need to be set for one turn before they can be used normally, [Red Reboot] is said to be the embodiment of Principal Kobayashi’s ‘divine talent’ and can be activated directly from the hand without being set. The cost is paying me half of my Life Points!”

Misawa: 3000 → 1500 LP

Because of the payment of Life Points, although it wasn't very noticeable, this duel was a true dark game. Even though the penalty for losing was reduced to the minimum due to Tania's subjective will, Misawa, who had lost more than half of his Life Points, couldn't help but turn pale and be affected. However, he still raised his hand and pointed to the [Will of the Amazons] that Tania had opened on the field, as well as the [Empress of the Amazons] that had already revealed its form on her field.

"The effect of [Red Reboot] is to negate the activation of the opponent's Trap Card and set it face-down. After that, the opponent can choose another Trap Card from their Deck and set it face-down in their Spell & Trap Zone. However, during the turn after [Red Reboot] is activated, the opponent cannot activate any Trap Cards until the end of the turn!"

The instant Misawa finished speaking, starting from the card [Red Reboot] he inserted into the Duel Disk, an invisible wave suddenly spread out and permeated the entire [Chemical Electric World]. Whether it was the [Amazonian Empress] about to rise, the effect of [Evolution Fusion Beast - Dioxin] flying in mid-air, the gradually becoming glossy fur of the [Amazonian Pet Tiger Lion King], or the red lightning flashing in the sky, everything froze, as if time had stopped!?

Behind the bewildered Misawa, the hands of the clock stopped ticking and then, enveloped in a burst of green energy, began to move backward at an incredible speed!

Everything around seemed to rewind time, returning to its previous state. The fur on the [Amazonian Pet Tiger-Lion King] dried again, the [Amazonian Empress] crouched down and returned to its state after being revived from the graveyard, and disappeared back into the graveyard along with the [Will of the Amazon] which was put back on its cover. The moment the clock behind Misawa stopped and reversed, the [Will of the Amazon] on Tania's back field returned to its inactive state?

"boom!"

Unable to activate "The Will of the Amazons," and forced to choose another unusable Trap Card to Set and place in her back row, Tanya watched helplessly as her "Amazonian Pet Tiger King," now without its blessing, was destroyed by its effect, and couldn't help but show a pained expression. It wasn't a look of heartache for the monster; Tanya seemed more like Misawa, who had suffered battle damage earlier, and she involuntarily took several steps back, as if she had been quite shocked.

"Are you alright, Tanya?" Even though they hadn't even entered the battle phase, and only the [Amazonian Pet Tiger Lion King] was disrupted by the effect, Tanya seemed a little off, so Misawa subconsciously asked her with concern.

"...I'm fine. In fact, I'm all 'kare kare da' right now!" Forcing herself to cheer up, Tanya looked at Misawa excitedly, seemingly unaffected, and said, "Great performance, Misawa-kun! That's the kind of courage and wisdom you need to show. Your performance is getting more and more exciting for me!"

"But don't hold back or worry about me. The stronger you are, the better. There is no such thing as 'gentleness' when it comes to Amazon women. Go all out and face me head-on!"

Even though only one monster remained on the field—the Amazon Queen in defense position—along with two unusable trap cards, Tania revealed an unusually genuine smile.

She is the last queen of the Amazons, and the Amazon Queen is the last remnant of her triple barrier on the field, but this does not mean her defenses are crumbling. The Amazon Queen's effect is that as long as she is in the Monster Zone, Amazon monsters cannot be destroyed by battle. This effect also applies to herself, meaning that while the Amazon Queen is in Defense Position, unless Misawa has monsters with defense-piercing effects, she cannot be damaged at all.

However, Tanya had inexplicable confidence in Misawa; the man she valued was absolutely capable of having the courage and wisdom to overcome her!

Seeing the smile on Tania's face, Misawa nodded and looked at the monsters on his field: "I will change all the monsters on my field from defense position to attack position."

[Lone Spark] [DEF1400→ATK500]

【Soul Scissors】【DEF350→ATK550】

[Super Combination Warcraft - Laputinus] [DEF2200→ATK2200]

【Evolution Fusion Beast - Dioxane Ghost God】【ATK2800】

Of all the monsters on his field, Lone Spark has the lowest attack power. However, Misawa knows that the outcome of a duel is never determined by the stats of the monsters. Although the Giant Plant combo has "infinite" potential, it cannot help him defeat Tanya's "invincible" Amazon Queen. Besides the Giant Plant, he actually has other Plant-type monsters in his deck that he can Special Summon.

The seemingly weakest [Lone Spark] is precisely the final step to achieving victory!

"I can procure the effect of [Lone Spark] once per turn, and Special Summon a Plant-Type monster from my Deck." Sending [Lone Spark] from the Duel Disk to the Graveyard for the umpteenth time, Misawa catches the card retrieved from the Duel Disk. "I Special Summon [Great Rising Angel - Rose Fairy] from my Deck!"

"And once per turn, use the effect of [Great Rising Angel - Rose Fairy] to negate the effects of all other face-up cards on the field except for her, until the End Phase!"

Composed of two pairs of wings made of black and red rose petals, one resembling the wings of an angel and the other as ferocious as the wings of a demon, the angel, dressed in golden armor and white cloth, descended from the sky and appeared on Misawa's field. Upon her appearance, she scattered countless "rains" of rose petals everywhere.

【Great Rin Demon Angel - Rose Fairy】【8☆/Land】

[Plant Race/Special Summon/Effect]

[2900/2400]

Just as if corresponding to the core of Tania's OTK tactic in the previous duel—the ever-growing [Rose Derivatives] in the [Black Garden]—the monster that Misawa summoned at the end was also the [Great Rin Demon Angel - Rose Fairy], which was accompanied by roses. The falling petals were just like the shower of flowers of celebration and blessing scattered by the best man and bridesmaids in a wedding hall.

The effect of 【Great Rin-Angel - Rose Fairy】 was successfully activated, negating the effects of 【Amazon Queen】 and the other three monsters on Misawa's field. However, neither 【Evolution Fusion Beast - Dioxono Demon God】, 【Super Fusion Beast - Laputinus】 nor 【Soul Scissors】 needed to use their effects anymore. Tanya's 【Amazon Queen】 also stood up from her chair, took her weapon, and faced the inevitable battle.

"The equation for victory has been established, Tanya, I enter my battle phase!" Misawa's gaze pierced through the falling petals, pointing directly into Tanya's eyes. "Here we go, Tanya!"

Hearing Misawa's words, Tanya smiled and said, "Then come on, I'm all ready!"

"First, the [Super Synergistic Monster - Laputinus] attacks the [Amazon Queen] with the Flame of Balmk!"

The limb-spanning evil dragon opened its mouth and spewed dragon breath towards the Amazon Queen. Under normal circumstances, the Amazon Queen, with an attack power of 2400, could easily dodge the dragon breath and counterattack. However, because it was in a defensive stance, it had no choice but to meet the attack in order to protect the Amazon Queen behind it. Then, due to the nullification of its own effects, it was unable to maintain its life and was destroyed and sent to the graveyard.

However, her sacrifice was not without effect; at least it protected Tanya's base score, which remained at the maximum of 4000 points.

"The direct attack of [Soul Scissors], Thunderous Strike - Evil Shock!" Misawa shouted again, "Then comes the direct attack of [Great Frosty Angel - Rose Fairy], Wind and Flower Dance Formation!"

The attacks from the lightning-infused [Soul Scissors] and [Great Rin Demon Angel - Rose Fairy] struck Tania one after another, reducing her life points significantly. This nearly caused her to lose her footing, as she was already in poor condition and had to take several steps back, panting heavily due to the rapid decrease in her life points.

Tanya: 4000→3450→550LP

Although Misawa could easily wipe out Tanya's Life Points with his two-monster attack, Tanya knew that this wasn't Misawa intentionally humiliating her. On the contrary, Misawa was responding to her precisely because he knew her thoughts and that she wanted to confront his attacks more directly.

"A duel is a battle for survival, where there is no room for giving up or showing mercy. This is how the true warriors of the Amazons live, even survive, through force. I'm truly lucky to have met someone who understands me so well, Misawa-kun." Tanya reached out and caught a petal falling in front of her, looking at Misawa. "But, all good things must come to an end, Misawa-kun, even for us. It's come to an end."

Misawa didn't voice Tania's unspoken meaning, assuming she was referring to the end of the duel. He nodded and gave the final attack command: "Yes, this is indeed the final attack, Tania. Now, take this: [Evolution Fusion Beast - Dioxygen Demon God]'s final direct attack!"

"The world turned to ashes!"

The [Evolved Fusion Beast - Dioxygen Ghost God], engulfed in flames, swung its arm, while Tanya opened her arms and faced the oncoming slash head-on. She was hit without any resistance, and her last life points were taken away by the flying flame slash.

Tanya: 550LP → 0

As a result of the final attack, Tanya's long hair, which had been tied up, came loose, and the black glove she always wore on her left hand fell to the ground. Smiling at Misawa, a purple power emanated from Tanya's body, and white hairs sprouted from her skin. Not only Tanya, but also the [Savage Arena] where Misawa and Maeda were located, and the [Amazons] within it, were enveloped in a purple light.

When the purple light completely dissipated, what appeared in front of Misawa and Maeda was an open space. The place where Tanya had been was now occupied by a white tiger, but the iron rings on its head, neck and limbs, as well as the scar on its right eye, proved that the tiger was Tanya herself.

"Ta...Tania...?"