NOVPUB
Chapter 125 - 125: The Handtraps From Within
Chazz: "My turn, draw!"
Once again, he was under pressure, and his LP reversed. Chazz clenched his teeth.
So, it's the same as before?
So much effort, so much preparation...
He couldn't allow himself to fall again—especially not here, not in front of this guy.
"Quick-Play Spell: Burial from a Different Dimension, return up to three banished monsters to the Graveyard. I return 'Dark End Dragon'!"
The black dragon's shadow appeared, sinking into the Graveyard.
"Then Equip Spell: Premature Burial!"
Chazz revealed a card.
"Pay 800 LP, select a monster in your Graveyard and Special Summon it in Attack Position, then equip this card!"
[Chazz, LP 1000 → LP 200]
His LP was now a flickering candle, a vortex erupted in the Graveyard, and the fierce black dragon returned!
"Revive Dark End Dragon!"
[Dark End Dragon, ATK 2600]
Busty-senpai in the stands: "He's revived Dark End Dragon again. If he uses its effect to get rid of VWXYZ, then attacks directly, that would be a dramatic reversal."
"Indeed," a nearby senior nodded, "Chazz's new ace, Dark End Dragon, is a scary monster."
"But via this revival, Dark End Dragon loses its destruction immunity," Kira said, "Now I activate my set card, Trap Card—Bottomless Trap Hole!
When your opponent summons a monster with 1500+ ATK, destroy and banish it."
A dark pit opened beneath the dragon, leading straight to another dimension. Without Hardened Armored Dragon's protection, Dark End Dragon couldn't resist.
"I knew it wouldn't be that easy," Chazz shouted, "Quick-Play Spell— Duality!
By tributing a LIGHT or DARK monster, Special Summon a monster of the opposite Attribute from your hand!" (Manga effect)
Also, a card from the manga Chazz was only made real after many years and effect changes.
"I tribute the DARK 'Dark End Dragon'!"
A storm of darkness, the black dragon was swallowed up. Then dazzling light burst forth, holy and blinding, piercing the darkness.
"Dispel the darkness, let the light shine, illuminate the path to victory—
—Light End Dragon, summon!!!"
From the light appeared a majestic dragon, eyes like diamonds, wings like radiant halos, exuding overwhelming power.
[Light End Dragon, ATK 2600]
This was Chazz's first time revealing his new ace in public—so strong and beautiful, the holy dragon was a sharp contrast to the dark dragon just defeated.
"You even saved a counter for traps," Kira smiled, "That's real progress."
"Hmph, your annoying attitude ends here!"
Chazz revealed two more cards.
"Spell Card— Wonder Clover! By discarding a Level 4 Plant from my hand, one monster I control can attack twice this turn!
I discard 'Mystic Tomato,' so 'Light End Dragon' can attack twice!"
Busty-senpai frowned: "But even so, Light End Dragon's ATK is lower than Catapult Cannon's, so extra attacks don't matter..."
But no one doubted Chazz had something planned.
"Battle—Light End Dragon attacks VWXYZ-Dragon Catapult Cannon!"
Spectators: "Attacking with a weaker monster!?"
Chazz declared: "At this moment, Light End Dragon's effect! When battling, it loses 500 ATK, and the opponent's monster loses 1500 ATK until end of turn!"
He raised his arm.
"Light Expansion!!!" 𝔫𝖔𝔳𝖕𝖚𝔟.𝔠𝔬𝖒
Blinding white light exploded from the white dragon, swallowing the steel machine.
[Light End Dragon, ATK 2600 → 2100]
[VWXYZ-Dragon Catapult Cannon, ATK 3000 → 1500]
Spectators: "The ATK reversed!"
"Now Light End Dragon has the advantage—destroy that mech!" Chazz shouted.
The white-hot light pierced VWXYZ's armor, shattering the fusion giant.
[Kira, LP 1900 → LP 1300]
"One more attack!"
Chazz shouted.
"With Wonder Clover, Light End Dragon attacks again!!!
Light Ascension!!!"
White light surged like a tidal wave, countless blades slashing toward Kira. Chazz held his breath, eyes wide, afraid to miss a moment.
Victory—
But not yet.
Boom!!!
The light crashed into an illusory barrier, a translucent machine appearing to shield Kira.
"NANI!?" Chazz exclaimed.
"Kiteroid in my Graveyard—once per duel, I can make battle damage from a direct attack zero." Kira smiled, "You discarded it with 'Card Destruction.' Looks like hand-hate effects have risks."
"Ugh...!" Chazz twitched.
Kiteroid...!
That feeling of victory within reach, only for it to vanish—like waking from a dream—he almost needed heart medicine.
But I still have the advantage!
"...Then I set a card, turn end," Chazz said coldly.
He still had one last card, one last chance.
"My turn, draw," Kira said, "Spell Card—Card of Adversity. If your opponent controls a Special Summoned monster and you control none, draw two cards." (Anime Card.)
After drawing, he revealed a card.
"Equip Spell— Dimensional Catapult!
I can revive VWXYZ-Dragon Catapult Cannon from the Graveyard, ignoring summoning conditions, and equip this card—it loses its effects." (Anime card)
Also, a support card used by Chazz in the anime was never made into a real card.
"By this effect, VWXYZ-Dragon Catapult Cannon is revived!"
[VWXYZ-Dragon Catapult Cannon, ATK 3000]
"Then, Machina Fortress's effect in the Graveyard—I can Special Summon it by discarding Machine monsters from my hand with a total Level 8+.
I discard Level 8 'Machina Megaform'—Fortress returns!"
A vortex opened, and the armed fortress returned.
[Machina Fortress, ATK 2500]
Busty-senpai swallowed: "In an instant, he summoned two powerful monsters and reversed the game..."
These days, most duelists struggle to summon even one high-level monster. Both players fielding big monsters non-stop—truly elite.
Are all this year's freshmen monsters?
"Battle," Kira said, "VWXYZ-Dragon Catapult Cannon attacks Light End Dragon!"
Catapult Cannon's barrels locked on, energy beams and rockets fired, threatening to swallow the holy dragon.
Busty-senpai: "He's attacking even knowing Light End Dragon's effect..."
On this field, by calculation, he should attack with Fortress first.
If Fortress attacks first, Light End Dragon's effect drops Fortress to 1000 while Light End Dragon becomes 1600. Fortress is destroyed, and Kira takes 600 damage.
Then VWXYZ attacks, Light End Dragon's effect again, Catapult Cannon drops to 1500, but Light End Dragon drops to 1100. Chazz has 200 LP left; if the attack lands, Kira wins.
So why attack with VWXYZ first? Miscalculation?
"I don't know what you're planning...but at this moment, Light End Dragon's effect! Drops itself by 500, Catapult Cannon by 1500!
Light Expansion!"
[Light End Dragon, ATK 2100 → 1600]
[VWXYZ-Dragon Catapult Cannon, ATK 3000 → 1500]
"Whatever you're planning, this is the final blow!" Chazz declared, flipping his last card.
"Damage step—Quick-Play Spell: Forbidden Chalice! Target one face-up monster, it gains 400 ATK, and its effects are negated!"
"Oh? So you're negating..."
"Hahaha! That's right, I'm negating my own Light End Dragon's effect!"
Chazz laughed.
"Light End Dragon's effect is negated, so its ATK returns to normal, plus gains 400 more!"
[Light End Dragon, ATK 1600 → 2600 → 3000]
The crowd gasped.
"Negating its effect to recover ATK and even gain more—what a clever use!"
"The self-debuff is continuous, so negation restores its ATK, but the opponent's ATK drop is a one-time effect, so Catapult Cannon stays at 1500 until end of turn."
If the attack lands, Kira takes 1500 damage—Chazz's comeback is real!
"It's over! Light End Dragon, counterattack! Light Ascension!"
"Not so fast." Kira interrupted with a smile, "Activate set card—Trap: Ambushed Shield!" (Anime card)
A trap once used by Pharaoh Atem in the original series, covering Kaiba's monsters.
"Tribute a monster—add its DEF to a target monster's ATK until end of turn. Since this is an ATK change, it can be activated during the damage step. The field won't revert even if the monster count changes."
Chazz's face changed: "NANI!?"
"I tribute Machina Fortress, its 1600 DEF is added to Catapult Cannon."
Machina Fortress dissolved into golden light, energy surging into Catapult Cannon; the steel giant powered up!
[VWXYZ-Dragon Catapult Cannon, ATK 1500 → 3100]
The crowd gasped again.
"ATK reversed again!"
Busty-senpai clutched her chest: "Even in this situation..."
"Damn it...!" Chazz's face twisted.
He'd done so much—was this wall still insurmountable?
But it wasn't over.
Because Fortress was tributed, Kira had no more attackers this turn. Light End Dragon would survive, and Chazz would be left with 100 LP.
Not over yet!
"Do you know why I attacked with VWXYZ-Dragon Catapult Cannon?" Kira suddenly asked.
Chazz blinked.
Huh?
How should I know?
"I don't know why, but it just feels right to finish our duel with this guy," Kira smiled. "Of course, only if I'm confident it's lethal—otherwise, it'd be disrespectful, right?"
Chazz's pupils shrank.
What does he mean—lethal?
Is it possible he still has a counter?
"From my Graveyard, I activate the trap 'Skill Successor.' During my turn, I can banish it from the Graveyard to give a monster 800 ATK until end of turn!"
[VWXYZ-Dragon Catapult Cannon, ATK 3100 → 3900]
Chazz's eyes went wide.
You even have graveyard traps?
Is this another handtrap from the start?
Chazz was about to cough up blood.
What kind of inside job handtraps are these...!
"This is the finale." Kira said, "Catapult Cannon, attack!
Divine Justice!"
A barrage of rockets and cannon fire swept the field. Light End Dragon was consumed, explosions erupting in Chazz's field.
[Chazz, LP 200 → LP 0]
