"Turbulence's effect—Special Summon two 'Cloudian – Smoke Balls' from the Deck!"
Adrian played a Spell from his hand.
"Next, I activate the Spell 'Double Summon'! This turn I can Normal Summon one additional time, for two Normal Summons total.
I Tribute two 'Cloudian – Smoke Balls' on my field to Tribute Summon—
—Cloudian – Eye of the Typhoon!"
It was as if nature's pent-up rage exploded. The wind was no longer a gentle whisper but a furious beast, surging from all directions—an invisible hand twisting the air into a mad spiral. The currents entwined and gathered, finally condensing into the entity of a storm.
The air was drawn taut, forming a chaotic sea of cloud. At its center, a massive cloud mass took on a humanoid form, shaping a torso and arms. A giant single eye opened within the swirling mist, like a rolling thundercloud.
This was Adrian's current ace of the Cloudian Deck—his strongest monster now—Cloudian – Eye of the Typhoon!
[Cloudian – Eye of the Typhoon, ATK 3000]
"Clouds aren't just gentle and carefree," Adrian declared. "They possess unimaginable tenacity—and anger.
Once you incur the wrath of the clouds, you face absolute annihilation!"
He pointed at Kira's field.
"Cloudian – Eye of the Typhoon, attack Silent Magician LV8!"
Silent: "!"
Attacking despite lower ATK?
She gripped her staff, magic surging, ready to respond—when a gale struck. She could barely stand and dropped to one knee; the card beneath her turned sideways.
[Silent Magician LV8, ATK 3500 → DEF 1000]
Silent's heart tightened.
Switched to Defense… why?
"Eye of the Typhoon's effect," Adrian said coolly. "When it declares an attack, change the battle position of all monsters on the field except 'Cloudian' monsters!"
Silent Magician excels at offense but is poor on defense; she was forced by the typhoon to retreat for now.
"Cloudian - Nimbusman, direct attack!" Adrian barked. "I'm taking this duel!"
"Not necessarily."
Kira raised his hand casually.
"I activate the set Trap 'Pinpoint Guard.'
When your opponent declares an attack, Special Summon 1 Level 4 or lower monster from your Graveyard in Defense Position."
Kira revealed the monster leaving his GY.
"I Special Summon 'Royal Magical Library' in Defense Position."
[Royal Magical Library, DEF 2000]
Adrian blinked. "When did that monster…?"
Then he recalled.
Discarded last turn by the Tricky…
"A monster Special Summoned by Pinpoint Guard cannot be destroyed by battle or card effects this turn," Kira said.
"Tch."
Adrian clicked his tongue.
"Then I activate the Spell 'One Day of Peace.' We both draw 1 card, and until the end of the opponent's next turn, all damage either player takes becomes 0."
Turbulence can only exist in Attack Position; if it turns to Defense, it self-destructs. And while Cloudians aren't destroyed by battle, Turbulence only has 800 ATK—getting attacked means huge damage.
This was clearly Adrian's safety measure to avoid damage.
"And I activate the Spell 'Lucky Cloud'."
"Because I Summoned two copies of 'Cloudian – Smoke Ball' this turn, I can draw two cards at the End Phase."
Adrian sent the used Spell to the GY.
"Turn end. At this End Phase, I draw two cards from my Deck."
He drew two, then spoke in a deep voice.
"Eye of the Typhoon's downside: at each End Phase, this card's ATK must decrease by 500." (Anime effect)
[Cloudian – Eye of the Typhoon, ATK 3000 → 2500]
The real card removed this annoying downside; in cardboard, Eye of the Typhoon is stronger than in the anime.
"My turn. Draw."
Kira drew, narrowed his eyes, gauged Adrian and the Cloudians, then suddenly laughed.
Adrian frowned. "What's so funny?"
"Nothing. I just realized your Deck reveals your inner contradictions."
Kira studied him with interest.
"Cloudians change with the weather. In fair weather, they're cute. In foul weather, they're sinister and grim.
Such infinite faces, skillfully worn as needed—that's you, isn't it, Adrian Gecko?"
Adrian: "…"
"You're an excellent spy, the Gecko Group's perfect soldier. But after so long in disguise—after so many masks—do you even remember which face is truly yours?"
Adrian replied coolly, "You needn't concern yourself with me. I know exactly who I am and what I want."
"Do you?"
Kira's smile turned stranger, sending a faint chill up Adrian's spine.
"Care to play a little dark game?" Kira chuckled.
"What?" The phrase "dark game" put Adrian instantly on edge.
"No need to be tense. It's just a little game," Kira smiled. "We won't wager anything important—it's more like… let's say, helping you face yourself."
He pointed at Adrian's Duel Disk.
"Your Deck—the Cloudians—symbolizes your self-perception, right? Mysterious and resilient clouds that recover no matter the blow; ever-changing, with countless faces when needed.
Then let's make this little game a condensed version of your life, using the Deck closest to you."
Adrian was baffled. "What are you talking about?"
"Hard to explain—experience it, and you'll understand."
Kira smiled.
"My turn. Draw."
"I activate the Spell 'Magical Stone Excavation,' discarding two cards to return a Spell from my GY to my hand."
He discarded two.
"I return the Equip Spell 'Wonder Wand' from the GY to my hand."
"At this moment, 'Royal Magical Library' also triggers. Each time a Spell is activated, place a Spell Counter on it."
Kira pointed at the Library's glowing counters and smiled.
"Don't blink. The fun starts now."