"Summon Wisel Attack 5!"
[Wisel Attack 5, ATK 2000]
Primo: "Because the 'Meklord' components on the field have been replaced, Meklord Emperor Wisel's attack points go up as well!"
[Meklord Emperor Wisel, ATK 5000 → ATK 5800]
"And the effect of 'Wisel Attack 5'!" The Ghost under Primo's control showed a ghastly grin. "This card doubles any battle damage dealt to your opponent when a monster with '∞' in its name on your field battles!"
"Double battle damage..."
Kira's expression changed.
"Wisel's ATK is 5800 now. Breaking through Black Luster Soldier would mean dealing 2800 damage initially…"
Doubling that makes it an instant 5600 points!
"Right! This is the power of the Meklord Emperor! The ability to kill in a single blow!" Primo burst out in laughter. "Like I said, be destroyed by the foolish power of the Meklord Emperor you attempted to use against me!
'Meklord Emperor Wisel, attack Black Luster Soldier!
Stardust Sword Slash!'"
A dragon's soul within Stardust let out a roar as the Meklord Emperor swung its sword for the attack. A translucent blade of energy tore a long fissure along the racetrack, surging toward the Black Luster Soldier.
If this attack goes through, it's the end!
Yet at that very instant, as the fatal blow approached—
Kira's tense face instantly relaxed, turning into a mischievous grin as if saying, "You fell for it."
"Nani?" Primo was caught off guard.
"Absorbing Synchro Monsters for overwhelming boost, and gaining OTK power against Synchro users—indeed, terrifying.
But great power demands caution. Or else, it's easy to end up like this..."
Kira slowly raised his arm, and waved dramatically.
"I activate my Set card, the trap 'Dimension Wall'!" announced Kira. "When your monster declares an attack, you take the battle damage instead of me!"
"You take the damage instead... I see." At that moment, Primo finally understood.
No wonder this guy seemed to know all about the Meklord Emperor's effect, yet still left his Synchro Monster Stardust Dragon on the field. Stardust Dragon was there precisely to be absorbed, to power up Wisel ∞.
Because only if Wisel's attack was high enough—even threatening a one-hit kill—would 'Dimension Wall' reach its maximum effectiveness.
With just one trap, he could pull off a reversal from absolute disadvantage.
If someone were to get one-shot by something like this, wouldn't it be infuriating?
But—
"Hahahaha, clever stratagem, but the power of the Meklord Emperor is above such petty tricks!"
Primo laughed heartily, swinging his arm.
"The new Mindcore component—'Wisel Attack 5'—has another effect!
While it remains on the field, once per turn, when a monster with '∞' in its name declares an attack and your opponent activates a trap card, negate and destroy that trap!"
Primo clenched his fist.
"Negate and destroy 'Dimension Wall'!"
The trap that had promised a miraculous turnaround instantly fractured before a dimensional rift, shattering with a crash.
"You let me absorb Stardust Dragon, thinking you could use reflected damage for an instant kill, but you underestimated the strength of the Meklord Emperor!" Primo sneered. "Let your arrogance be your downfall!"
"It's true. Very strong, far too strong. 5800 ATK, double damage, and even negates traps... too strong."
Kira sighed, but leisurely flipped over another face-down card.
"So I'll activate another trap: 'Magic Cylinder.'
Negate an opponent's monster attack and inflict damage to your opponent equal to that monster's attack."
Primo's wild laughter stopped short, freezing on his lips.
Huh?
Magic Cylinder?
He watched as those dazzling magic barrels appeared on the field. The sword strike filled with Wisel ∞'s power, fueled by a dragon's soul, shot toward the Magic Cylinder. Only then did Primo snap back to reality.
Shit!
Magic Cylinder!
A sudden spark flashed through Primo's mind—maybe Kira actually did know about Wisel Attack 5's effect and had foreseen this.
'Dimension Wall' could have reflected 5600 damage in one blow, but if that didn't finish the job, Black Luster Soldier would be unprotected.
But 'Magic Cylinder' not only returns 5800 damage, it also negates the attack, so Black Luster Soldier would survive. In every respect, 'Magic Cylinder' was the better option.
And yet, the first thing Kira used was 'Dimension Wall.' It was now obvious that 'Dimension Wall' was bait, to draw out Wisel Attack 5's negation effect. The real finishing move was 'Magic Cylinder' all along.
But seriously, how many damn tricks did this guy have? Trap after trap after trap!
Primo, gnashing his teeth: "Then Quick-Play Spell, 'Double Cyclone'!"
He quickly played another spell. Twin hurricanes, one red and one gold, shot out from the card image.
"Double Cyclone can destroy a Spell/Trap on my field and one on yours," Primo stated.
"I choose my own 'Stardust Dragon'—currently equipped on the field as a Spell—in the Spell & Trap Zone, and one of your remaining Set cards!"
The red cyclone locked onto one of Kira's set cards, howling as it slashed across the field.
"Then at this instant, I activate a Set card: Trap Card 'Card of Pandora.'
If my Set Spell/Trap is targeted, transfer that target to this card, then draw two cards from the deck!"
The red cyclone swept up the trap, shattering it in midair.
Kira drew two cards effortlessly.
Primo's cyclone was disrupted—but Kira knew Primo's real purpose wasn't to destroy his back row, but rather his own.
The golden cyclone swept across the attacking Wisel, stripping the dragon soul from its blade. Stardust Dragon shattered, dissolving into star fragments, and returned to Kira's graveyard.
Primo: "With Stardust Dragon as its Equip Card destroyed, Meklord Emperor Wisel's attack points drop!"
[Meklord Emperor Wisel, ATK 5800 → ATK 3300]
"Barely escaped with my life, huh?"
Kira smiled.
"But with 'Magic Cylinder,' you still take damage equal to Wisel's current attack—3300 points."
Boom!
A blast, reflected by Magic Cylinder, exploded on the ghost's chest, toppling the mechanical phantom. A hole was blown open on its chest plate, sparking with exposed wiring.
[Ghost, LP 4000 → LP 700]
Primo, biting his tongue in rage: "Kisama! (You bastard!)"
…