Chapter 5: Instant Kill

In a duel of mental strength, the biggest difference between human duelists and monster duelists is that humans think during the duel!

Of course, intelligent spirit beasts are similar to humans in duels.

For the 3-star monster [The 13th Gravekeeper], its summoned form is its greatest strength. As long as it's defeated, Yan Youhuan can claim victory!

...If it were that simple, lone duelists wouldn't die outside town every day.

In the protective barrier, the duel continued.

**[Yan Youhuan's Life Points: 8000]**

**[Monster's Life Points: 8000]**

Silently, two green lights flashed before the yellow-brown humanoid skeleton, aiming at its form.

Yan Youhuan noticed two dark purple cards in front of the skeleton vanishing one after another, and then saw two peculiar objects that looked like flowers hovering beside the skeleton.

They rotated, emitting a strange purple light, with two dark purple lines shooting from the flower centers, connecting to the skeleton's neck.

**[The 13th Gravekeeper, ATK 1200 → 1500 → 1800]**

"Equipped with the spell card [Amethyst]? And two of them!" Yan Youhuan recognized these cards but remained calm. "A bit troublesome for a new 3-star duelist."

This spell card is a special equipment card for undead-type monster cards, each boosting the monster's attack by 300 points.

With the enhancement of two Amethysts, [The 13th Gravekeeper] raised its long, rusty sword glowing with purple light and charged towards Yan Youhuan's field.

The rusty sword struck, the blade hitting the female warrior. With a cry of pain, [Wilderness Warrior] turned into white light and vanished, leaving her sword embedded in the ground.

Yan Youhuan felt a wave of pain through his body, and his life points changed.

**[Yan Youhuan's Life Points: 8000 → 7700]**

In mental strength duels, life points determine the duelists' fate, with reductions causing physical harm and shock. Yan Youhuan read in books that duelists with weak bodies or those who duel frequently could die from heavy life point damage.

With the monster's destruction, not only did Yan Youhuan's life points change.

**[Well-Prepared Captain, ATK 1600 → 1400]**

This was the effect of the continuous spell card [United Forces]. Fewer monsters mean less attack boost.

Now, the situation seemed to favor [The 13th Gravekeeper].

Yan Youhuan remained calm, extending his hand towards the sword left by the female warrior, "I activate [Wilderness Warrior]'s special effect!"

As a 4-star monster with only 1100 ATK, it naturally had special abilities.

As Yan Youhuan spoke, the sword embedded in the ground emitted an earthy yellow light, then was engulfed by a yellow pillar of light.

The light appeared suddenly but vanished within seconds.

With its disappearance, the number of monsters on Yan Youhuan's field doubled.

Carrying on the will of the fallen warrior, [Wilderness Warrior] could special summon a warrior-type monster with 1500 or less ATK from the deck in attack mode when destroyed in battle.

Now, the newly summoned monster hovered in the air, with an eagle's head, white and purple feathers covered in tight armor.

Holding a sword, it faced the enemy.

**[Falcon Knight, ATK 1000 → 1400]**

**[Well-Prepared Captain, ATK 1400 → 1600]**

"Your attack is over, now it's my turn!" Seconds later, seeing the yellow-brown skeleton remain still, Yan Youhuan quickly reached for his duel disk, "Draw!"

"I normal summon [Charging Captain] in attack mode and use its effect to special summon [New Warrior] from my hand!"

A new monster, armored in green and holding twin swords, appeared on Yan Youhuan's field. Beside it, a younger female warrior with a sword and dark cloak appeared.

**[Charging Captain], Earth Attribute 3-star monster, effect: When summoned, special summon one 4-star or lower monster from the hand.**

With two new warrior monsters, Yan Youhuan's monsters' attack points changed again.

**[Well-Prepared Captain, ATK 1600 → 2000]**

**[Falcon Knight, ATK 1400 → 1800]**

**[Charging Captain, ATK 1200 → 2000]**

**[New Warrior, ATK 1000 → 1800]**

To have four high-attack monsters on the second turn is Yan Youhuan's current strength.

With memories of a past champion, he knows how to build a deck for survival in this world.

Now part of the mysterious organization [Dream Pursuers], his power will soon transform dramatically with his past knowledge.

"I activate the spell card [Strongest Shield] and equip it to [Falcon Knight]!"

Yan Youhuan played his last card.

He was ready for the kill!

With the spell card activated, the sword of the hovering Falcon Knight glowed, transforming into a long-handled golden shield!

**[Strongest Shield] effect: When equipped to an attack position monster, its attack increases by its original defense.**

**[Falcon Knight, ATK 1800 → 2500]**

"Enter the battle phase!"

"[Falcon Knight], attack [The 13th Gravekeeper]!"

With the command, the Falcon Knight flew above the yellow-brown skeleton, slamming its weapon down.

A crashing sound, and the skeleton shattered into light.

**[Monster's Life Points: 8000 → 7300]**

"[Falcon Knight]! Continue attacking the duelist!"

With another command, the weapon struck the monster duelist.

With a special effect allowing two attacks per battle phase, [Falcon Knight] hit again.

The duelist fell, life points plummeting.

**[Monster's Life Points: 7300 → 4800]**

It's not over.

Yan Youhuan still had three monsters to attack!

A spoon and sword struck next, following Yan Youhuan's orders, hitting [The 13th Gravekeeper].

**[Monster's Life Points: 4800 → 2800 → 800 → 0]**