That was not quite true. Yugen included it for the Draw effect of Pot of Greed, and since Greedman was also WATER, it could serve as ammunition for Abyss Soldier's Bounce Effect when needed.
"When Elemental HERO Bubbleman is Summoned and I control no other cards, I draw two cards from my Deck."
"Next, I activate the Spell Card Graceful Charity. I draw three cards from my Deck, then discard two." Yugen Do continued, "I set two cards and end my turn."
"Then My Turn!!"
Longya drew and narrowed his eyes at the Elemental HERO Bubbleman crouching in Defense in Yugen's Front Row.
A standard Elemental HERO build. But since Professor Chronos de Medici personally recommended this freshman as an opponent, he must have something special.
"I Summon Phantasmal Shell Dragon!"
A dark and elegant Different Dimension dragon appeared. Though Level 4, it had 2000 ATK, and as a high attack monster without drawback, it was a valuable Rare Card.
Phantasmal Shell Dragon, ATK 2000
"Let me see what you are planning!" Longya shouted. "Battle! Phantasmal Shell Dragon attacks Elemental HERO Bubbleman!"
Yugen flipped his Back Row card at once. "I activate my Continuous Trap Card Gravity Bind! All monsters Level 4 or higher on the field cannot declare attacks!"
A crushing force spread from the trap. Phantasmal Shell Dragon froze before it could move, pinned down by the immense gravity.
"Gravity Bind?" Longya frowned.
A stall strategy? Combined with Elemental HERO? That was unusual.
"I set one card and end my turn."
"My Turn! Draw."
At that moment, Yugen's Duel Disk flashed gold as a monster Card slid out from his Graveyard.
"The Sinister Serpent I discarded last turn activates its Effect Activation. While it is in the Graveyard, it returns to my hand during my Standby Phase."
He took back Sinister Serpent. "Now I normal Summon Abyss Soldier!"
Abyss Soldier, ATK 1800
The WATER warrior stepped out with a trident in hand. Longya frowned slightly.
"Abyss Soldier's effect lets me discard a WATER monster to return one card on the field to its owner's hand." Yugen revealed the recovered Sinister Serpent. "I discard Sinister Serpent to the Graveyard and return Phantasmal Shell Dragon to your hand."
A whirlpool surged forward. Phantasmal Shell Dragon dissolved into light and flew back as a Card to Longya's hand.
Longya stiffened. With Sinister Serpent returning every turn, Abyss Soldier's Bounce Effect had almost no cost.
"So that is the combo. Annoying."
He adjusted his glasses. "But both Elemental HERO Bubbleman and Abyss Soldier are Level 4. With your own Gravity Bind on the field, they cannot attack either. You cleared my field but cannot strike. It seems your lock works against yourself, Yugen."
"Thank you for the advice, sir," Yugen replied calmly. "But I have something in mind. I activate the Spell Card Terraforming to add a Field Spell from my Deck to my hand."
He revealed the card. "Field Spell, Legendary City Atlantis."
A new slot opened on his Duel Disk. "I activate it."
Water flooded the arena projection. Ancient ruins rose beneath the sea, and sunlight filtered down through the surface.
"While Legendary City Atlantis is on the field, all WATER monsters in both hands and on the field lose one Level, and they gain 200 ATK."
Elemental HERO Bubbleman: Level 4 to 3, ATK 800 to 1000 Abyss Soldier: Level 4 to 3, ATK 1800 to 2000
"Nani?!?!"
Longya immediately understood. With their Levels reduced to 3, Abyss Soldier and Elemental HERO Bubbleman were no longer restricted by Gravity Bind. The attack lock now applied only to his side of the field.
This was a classic pattern of Abyss Control. The Deck focused on one sided control, using combinations to limit attacks, summons, and even Spell and Trap Cards. It was the kind of strategy that slowly wore down an opponent's patience.
Not only that, Abyss Soldier now stood at 2000 ATK. To defeat it by battle under Gravity Bind, Longya would need a Level 3 or lower monster with over 2000 ATK.
In the stands, Asuka Tenjoin watched quietly. "That really suits his style."
"Yeah." Daichi Misawa crossed his arms. "Yugen Fujiki always chooses the path that wins by not letting the opponent Duel if he can."
Asuka Tenjoin nodded in agreement.
Longya said nothing, but his expression tightened.
"Switch Elemental HERO Bubbleman to Attack Position. Battle." Yugen Do declared. "Abyss Soldier attacks directly!"
The trident shot forward through swirling water toward Longya.
"Not so fast!" Longya shouted. "I activate my Trap Card Hero's Visit! When you declare an attack, I randomly select one card from my hand. If it is a monster, I Special Summon it. Otherwise, it goes to the Graveyard!"
He held five cards.
Yugen pointed casually. "Second from the left."
Longya laughed. "Unfortunate for you. You picked this!"
He revealed the card. "Level 6, Dark Triangle Wyvern Dragon!"
Dark Triangle Wyvern Dragon, ATK 2400
"As expected of a teacher. It will not be that easy," Yugen said with a faint smile. "In that case, I cancel my attack."
"My Battle Phase ends. Main Phase 2."
He set one more card. "I end my turn."
Longya: "My Turn! Draw!"
After drawing, he paused for a moment, then smiled. "Heh. A lock with Gravity Bind and Legendary City Atlantis, plus the combo of Abyss Soldier and Sinister Serpent. Not bad at all."
"But sadly, in front of this card, that kind of lock is nothing. From my hand, I activate the Spell Card Harpie's Feather Duster. Destroy all Spell and Trap Cards on your field!"
He threw his head back and laughed. "Legendary City, Gravity Bind, all of it gets destroyed!"
"Then I chain my set card, Trap Card Raigeki Break," Yugen said calmly. "Discard one card, and destroy one card on the field."
He slid a card from his hand into the Duel Disk, and it fell into the Graveyard. "I destroy your Dark Triangle Wyvern Dragon."
Dark clouds formed above, and a bolt of lightning struck down. The dragon was blown apart in an instant.
"Still had a trap, huh." Longya clicked his tongue, but waved his hand. "Doesn't matter. Your back row still gets wiped!"
Gravity Bind shattered, and the pressure on the field vanished. The storm swept through Atlantis, and the underwater city collapsed into nothing.
"Now your annoying lock is finished!"
"Not quite," Yugen Do said evenly. "The card you destroyed was Spell Calling. When it's destroyed and sent to the Graveyard, I can set two Spell Cards from my Deck."
Two cards popped out from the Deck. "I set another Legendary City Atlantis to the Field Zone, and Continuous Spell Level Limit Area B to my back row."
Longya's smile froze.
"Your turn isn't over yet, teacher," Yugen reminded him gently.
"Tch. I know."
He forced himself to calm down. "Spell Card Graceful Charity. I draw three cards, then discard two."
After resolving it, he slapped a monster onto the field. "Summon Marauding Captain!"
The mercenary appeared with 1000 ATK. "I tribute it to destroy your Abyss Soldier!"
The soldiers rushed forward and exploded, taking Abyss Soldier with them in a blast.
"Next, I activate Spell Card Ultimate Evolution Pill! I banish a Machine and a Dinosaur from my hand or Graveyard, then Special Summon a LIGHT Dinosaur!"
"I banish Dark Triangle Wyvern Dragon from my Graveyard and Morphtronic Cannon Soldier! Witness my ace!"
A beam of light shot from his Deck. "Cyber Dinosaur, Summon!"
The white armored mechanical beast landed heavily, electricity crackling around its body. It had 2500 ATK.
"Not done yet! Spell Card Double Attack! I discard a Level 8 monster so Cyber Dinosaur can attack twice this turn!"
The students watching began to murmur. Two attacks from 2500 attack points meant 5000 damage.
"Battle! Cyber Dinosaur attacks Elemental HERO Bubbleman!"
The mechanical jaws crushed Elemental HERO Bubbleman instantly, and the shock pushed Yugen back a step.
Yugen LP 4000 to 2300.
"Second attack! Direct attack! This Duel is mine!"
"Please wait, teacher," Yugen said with a small smile. "The card I discarded for Raigeki Break was Executioner Makyura. The turn it's sent to the Graveyard, I can activate Trap Cards from my hand."
"From your hand?!"
"At the moment of your direct attack, I activate Trap Card Waboku!"