Yugioh [796-798] (Patreon)

Chapter 796: Why Does Your Prisma Need a Tribute?

"Gladiator Beast Laquari, direct attack!"

The ferocious Gladiator Beast warrior roared, wreathed in blazing flames, pouncing toward Kira's empty field like a starving tiger!

But Kira remained calm.

"Then I activate my set card, the Continuous Trap 'Firewall'," Kira said. "Its effect can be used when the opponent declares a direct attack. By banishing 1 Pyro monster from my GY, I negate that monster's attack."

Kira picked up a Pyro monster card leaving the GY.

"Last turn, 2 Pyro monsters were sent to the GY by the Continuous Spell 'Volcanic Wall.' I banish one of them, 'Volcanic Shell,' from play to negate 'Gladiator Beast Laquari's' attack."

Flames erupted from the ground, forming a blazing barricade before Kira. The Gladiator Beast's full-force strike slammed into the wall of fire; it let out a dull, pained cry and staggered back.

Mello's expression grew even darker.

Because although Kira didn't say it, he strongly suspected this Continuous Trap also had no "once per turn" restriction. As long as the GY still had Pyro fuel, no matter how many times he attacked, the flaming barrier would stop him.

And that Continuous Spell "Firewall" kept feeding Pyros to the GY every turn while also burning his LP. The Blaze Accelerator was blowing up his monsters, and the ammo it spent turned into fuel to power "Firewall."

Gladiator Beasts do have ways to deal with back row. Their ace "Gladiator Beast Gyzarus" pops any two cards on summon, and its key material "Gladiator Beast Bestiari" also pops a back row card when Special Summoned by a GB effect.

The problem is…
You still have to be able to summon them.

If he couldn't even resolve a single battle, his GBs were all just vanillas, with no way to tag in Bestiari or summon Gyzarus. Even drawing Bestiari didn't help, because it only pops back row when Special Summoned by a GB effect—Normal Summon does nothing.

Without back row removal, this setup was a nightmare.

Mello curled his lip.

"Quite a hassle… tch, I'll leave it at that. I set a card and end my turn."

"My turn. Draw," Kira said. "The Continuous Trap 'Firewall' requires upkeep. During my Standby Phase, if I don't pay 500 LP, it's destroyed. I'll pay the LP to maintain it."

A blast of searing flame burst from the trap, wrapped around Kira, and shaved off some LP.

[Kira, LP 3500 → 3000]

"Careful playing with fire," Mello said meaningfully. "Flames can ravage the enemy line, but if you slip, they'll burn you too."

Kira smiled. "Thanks for the tip. I'll be careful. But now it's your turn to worry."

He swept his arm.

"I activate the effect of the Continuous Spell 'Volcanic Wall.' Once per turn, send the top 3 cards of my Deck to the GY, then inflict damage to the opponent equal to the number of Pyro monsters among them x 500."

Kira milled three, then whistled.

"Ha, not bad."

He revealed the three.

"Two Pyros—1000 total."

Mello snorted.

Against Volcanics, every LP point becomes precious. He couldn't allow the opponent to burn at will.

"I activate my set card!" Mello said. "Trap Card 'Damage Translation'! The turn this card is activated, all effect damage I take becomes half! And during the End Phase of this turn, for each instance of effect damage I took this turn, I Special Summon that many 'Ghost Tokens' to my field in Defense Position!"

Two Pyro silhouettes appeared, turning into fire-serpents and spiraling into Kira's back-row spell. The Continuous Spell spewed flames in a sweeping wave, blowing across Mello's field like a storm.

"Damage halved by Damage Translation!"

As Mello shouted, the fire-serpents already washed over him.

[Mello, LP 3000 → 2500]

"Mmm, all burn this turn is halved, and I'd even be gifting you token resources—doesn't seem worth pressing further. I'll hold."

Kira shrugged, unconcerned, and smiled.

"Next, the Continuous Spell 'Blaze Accelerator'—its effect. By discarding a Pyro monster with 500 ATK or less from my hand, destroy a monster on your field."

He showed the shell he'd searched last turn.

"I discard 'Volcanic Shell' from my hand as ammunition for Blaze Accelerator. Fire!"

Blazing energy flooded the cannon; it thundered as it fired. Laquari couldn't resist—its chest was blown open and it shattered.

"And again, 'Volcanic Shell' in the GY," Kira continued. "Once per turn, if it's in the GY, pay 500 LP to add 1 'Volcanic Shell' from Deck to hand."

[Kira, LP 3000 → 2500]

Kira revealed the last Shell he searched and added it to hand.

Mello watched, expression neutral, mind racing.

That turtling fortress was annoying, but it also seemed to cost LP to keep running. If he could win the LP tug-of-war, there was a path.

"I set 1 and end my turn," Kira said.

"End Phase, Damage Translation's effect!" Mello said. "Since I took effect damage once this turn, I Special Summon 1 Ghost Token!"

[Ghost Token, DEF 0]

"My turn. Draw!"

Mello's voice rang out.

"You seem to have studied the power of Gladiator Beasts. You probably think if you seal battle, I'm helpless. I admit it—you've got ideas, Duel King.

"This tactic is troublesome, but not insurmountable. I'll show you that even without battle, I can unleash true Gladiator power! I tribute the 'Ghost Token' on my field to Tribute Summon! Appear—

—Level 5, Elemental HERO Prisma!"

Kira: "?"

Seeing an Elemental HERO pop out of a GB deck was jarring, but that wasn't what shocked Kira most. It was—

Huh?
Why does your Prisma need a tribute?

Isn't Prisma Level 4?

[Elemental HERO Prisma, ATK 1700]

When the crystal-bright HERO appeared, Kira remembered.

Right—Prisma did show up in the anime in Jaden's hands. And in the anime it was indeed Level 5 and needed a tribute, but its stats and effect were the same as the card in real life…
With that, he couldn't help making a face at the Prisma.

He hated to say it, but this was the weakest Prisma he'd ever seen in two lifetimes…

But in Mello's eyes, that look meant something else entirely.

Rage flared.

That disdain was an insult, wasn't it?

Chapter 797: Prisma-Gladiator

"Don't get cocky, Duel King," Mello said. "I activate Elemental HERO Prisma's effect! Once per turn, by revealing 1 Fusion Monster to your opponent, I can send 1 monster listed as a material on that Fusion Monster from my Deck to the GY. Then, until the End Phase, Prisma's name is treated as the sent monster's!"

Mello revealed a Fusion Monster.

"I reveal Gladiator Beast Gyzarus! And from my Deck, I send 'Gladiator Beast Bestiari,' a listed material, to the GY."

His Deck resolved. He pulled Bestiari, showed it, and sent it to the GY. Prisma's arm panels opened; its crystal body refracted prismatic light, projecting the silhouette of a Gladiator Beast onto its clear frame.

"This turn, Prisma is treated as 'Gladiator Beast Bestiari.'"

Mello showed another card in hand.

"And when I control a 'Gladiator Beast,' this card can Special Summon itself from my hand unconditionally. Come—'Test Tiger!'"

A small tiger leapt onto the field, dressed in vivid colors.

[Test Tiger, ATK 600]

Test Tiger was a major boost when released, loosening the GB engine's reliance on actual battle to function.

Prisma's inclusion served the same idea. Prisma-Gladiator was once a top meta build, because Prisma's ability effectively fetched any GB from the Deck without needing battle.

Of course, in reality, a key reason the build was so strong was that Prisma was buffed to Level 4. If it were the anime's Level 5 needing a tribute, that'd be… rough.

"Test Tiger's second effect," Mello said. "Tribute this card to target 1 'Gladiator Beast' I control; return it to the Deck, then Special Summon any 'Gladiator Beast' from my Deck."

The tiger let out a low growl, then dissolved into golden motes.

"I tribute Test Tiger, then return the 'Elemental HERO Prisma' that's treated as 'Gladiator Beast Bestiari' to the Deck!"

The image of Bestiari flickered across Prisma's crystal facets; a green whirlwind wrapped the HERO, spiraling it back into Mello's Deck.

"From my Deck, I Special Summon 'Gladiator Beast Darius!'"

As named, a humanoid horse in heavy armor arrived, long tail swishing behind it.

[Gladiator Beast Darius, ATK 1700]

"Darius's effect: When this card is Special Summoned by the effect of a 'Gladiator Beast,' I can Special Summon 1 'Gladiator Beast' from my GY, but its effects are negated."

A green cyclone burst from Mello's GY onto his field—the Bestiari he'd just sent with Prisma.

"Return, Gladiator Beast Bestiari!"

Invisible wind blades sliced the air; metal turbine wings took form. The avian GB appeared in the storm.

[Gladiator Beast Bestiari, ATK 1500]

"Then I return 'Gladiator Beast Bestiari' and 'Gladiator Beast Darius' to the Deck to contact fuse!"

Mello barked the call.

"Ancient raptor warrior, merge with the soul of the arena and become a seasoned champion! Descend now—

—Gladiator Beast Gyzarus!"

Fusion materials: Bestiari + any 'Gladiator Beast.' The raptor's turbines spun at max, stirring a green cyclone. The Gladiator Beasts dissolved into the storm. The field seemed to become a distant, ancient arena; the sky was torn by unseen forces. The green vortex howled, swallowing everything, as if piercing through time to ancient Rome.

Steel feathers split the gale. Forged from an emperor's soul, the winged warrior in iron armor swept its blades through the tempest, each cut roaring like thunder.

Gladiator Beast Gyzarus, summoned!

[Gladiator Beast Gyzarus, ATK 2400]

"Not bad," Kira said. "Even with no battles resolved, you still managed to bring out Gyzarus?"

"I told you, you can't bind Gladiator power that easily."

Mello raised his voice.

"Gyzarus's effect! When Special Summoned, destroy up to two cards on the field. I target your Continuous Spell 'Blaze Accelerator' and Continuous Trap 'Firewall'!"

The Blaze Accelerator was the Volcanic core and key damage engine. The Firewall was sealing his GBs from fighting—top priority threats.

Gyzarus beat its wings; volleys of steel feathers rained like bullets. The massive metal cannon and the blazing wall guarding Kira were blasted to scrap in an instant.

"Your defenses are broken!" Mello shouted. "Gyzarus, direct attack!"

The steel wing-blades swept forth, a green storm surging toward Kira!

"Managing to break the lockdown and summon your ace under such unfavorable conditions—truly the power of Gladiators.

"But…"

Kira's smile turned knowing.

"How will you handle the next layer of lockdown?"

"What?"

Kira snapped his fingers.

"Continuous Trap 'Gravity Bind'—as long as this card remains on the field, Level 4 or higher monsters cannot attack!"

Mello: "…"

A gravity wave pulsed out, pinning Gyzarus to the ground mid-lunge. Even the green storm unraveled under the crushing weight and vanished.

Mello's mouth twitched.

He should've expected it.

Gravity Bind was one of Kira's classic lockdown traps. If he was going full stall-burn, of course he'd pack the grandfather of self-locking.

"What's wrong? You finally summoned Gyzarus—aren't you going to attack?"

Kira asked with a squinting smile.

Mello snorted heavily.

"I set 1 and end my turn."

Chapter 798: Tri-Blaze Accelerator

"So you finally summoned Gyzarus, only for the turn to end like that?"

Kira feigned disappointment.

"I was expecting something special this turn."

Mello's face twitched again.

But perhaps remembering he was the big bad and had an image to maintain, he kept silent behind a scowl.

In truth, though Gyzarus is the GB ace, it isn't usually left on the field. Like other GBs, it has the End Phase tag-out effect if it battled, returning to the Deck to summon others.

As a noble Fusion, it can call any two GBs from the Deck except Bestiari.

Its greatest value is popping two on summon, then tagging out after a swing; next turn you fuse again to pop two more, and the GBs you bring out can adapt to the situation, sustaining advantage while dismantling the opponent's board.

Of course—only if it "battled."

With attacks sealed, it could only stare helplessly.

"If you're not attacking, I'll keep going," Kira said. "My turn. Draw.

"First, the Continuous Spell 'Volcanic Wall.' Once per turn, send the top three cards of my Deck to the GY. If there are Pyro monsters among them, inflict damage equal to their number x 500."

He milled three.

"Mm, only one Pyro this time. Still better than nothing—take 500."

A Pyro silhouette flashed and became flame, fueling his Continuous Spell. A fireball shot out and exploded in Mello's face.

[Mello, LP 2500 → 2000]

"Next I Normal Summon 'Volcanic Rocket' in Defense."

True to its name, it entered with a whoosh, trailing a burning tail like a fresh-launched rocket.

[Volcanic Rocket, DEF 1400]

"Volcanic Rocket's effect: If this card is Summoned, Special Summoned, or flipped, add 1 card with 'Blaze Accelerator' in its name from my Deck or GY to my hand."

Kira calmly retrieved a Spell from his GY.

"I add the Continuous Spell 'Blaze Accelerator' from my GY."

"Again…" Mello ground his teeth.

That damned cannon—he'd just gotten rid of it last turn…

"Then I activate the Continuous Spell 'Blaze Accelerator' again."

The steel cannon reappeared on Kira's field, its magma-bathed casing glowing dangerously.

But he wasn't done.

"Next, I send 'Blaze Accelerator' to the GY to evolve it!"

Mello: "!"

It upgrades?

"This card can only be activated by sending a face-up 'Blaze Accelerator' you control to the GY—

—Tri-Blaze Accelerator!"

Scorching flames erupted, engulfing the cannon. Bathed in fire, it evolved into a tri-barreled heavy weapon mounted on a massive frame, its cavernous barrels seeming to churn with molten lava.

"With the tri-barrel upgrade, its capabilities improve. Tri-Blaze Accelerator: Send any Pyro monster from your hand to the GY to destroy a monster your opponent controls."

Kira revealed his Volcanic ammo again.

"I send 'Volcanic Shell' from my hand to the GY to destroy 'Gladiator Beast Gyzarus.'"

The shell loaded; the tri-cannon fired with thunder. The blazing shot punched through Gyzarus's chest. Even an ancient emperor couldn't withstand modern firepower—consumed by flame, it crumbled to ash.

Mello raised an arm to shield himself from the blast. "Compared to the original, Tri-Blaze loosened the ammo restriction?"

The original Blaze Accelerator required Pyros with 500 ATK or less. Tri-Blaze accepts any Pyro—meaning every Volcanic monster becomes ammo.

And of course, no once-per-turn restriction. In other words, no matter how many monsters he summoned, Kira would blow them all away on his turn.

"Not only that," Kira added. "When Tri-Blaze Accelerator destroys an opponent's monster, it also inflicts 500 damage."

The flames swept onward, scorching Mello, who grunted and staggered half a step.

[Mello, LP 2000 → 1500]

"The more monsters destroyed, the more burn," Mello snarled.

"But like the original, after using Tri-Blaze's effect, I can't declare attacks this turn," Kira said, pausing to smile. "Well, 'Gravity Bind' is still on the field anyway. Most monsters couldn't attack to begin with."

Mello: "…"

In other words, Gravity Bind mostly just suppressed him. The Volcanic deck never intended to attack.

"I set 1 and end my turn," Kira said.

"You may think I'm cornered. Your strategy is indeed troublesome for Gladiator Beasts," Mello said coldly. "But I won't lose to something like this.

"During the End Phase, I activate my set Trap, 'Rainbow Life'!"

His set card flipped. A seven-colored rainbow arced behind him like a brilliant bridge.

"Rainbow Life—by discarding 1 card," Mello sneered, "I recover my LP to the value at the start of this turn, then gain LP equal to all damage I took this turn on top of that!" (Anime effect)

[Mello, LP 1500 → 2500 → 3500]

"Oh? So you nullified all the damage and even recovered," Kira said. "You're pretty stubborn yourself."

"And the card I discarded was the Spell 'Card of Compensation,'" Mello added. "When this card is discarded from the hand to the GY, I draw 2 cards!"

Mello drew, then declared in a ringing voice:

"I already possess power—the ultimate light of the cosmos. I will not fail, not be belittled—never again!

"I am cosmic justice!

"And if anyone denies it or stands in its way, I will purify them with absolute light… even you!"