chapter 21 Character of a hero

"You want to become a hero who protects everyone?"

After hearing Ilin's past, You Ling felt that the red-haired beauty standing before him was incredibly cool in that moment.

At the same time, You Ling realized his previous mistake.

In this Elven Continent, it wasn't just about wanting to play a HERO deck to become a hero.

Rather, it was those who wanted to become heroes who were granted HERO decks.

"My turn, draw!"

Inspired by Ilin's determination, You Ling drew his card with extra vigor, wishing he could draw two cards at once.

Of course, no matter how high his fighting spirit was, the tactics available in Aisha's deck remained unchanged.

"I summon 1 monster in face-down defense position and set 1 card. Turn end."

Once again, it was the familiar one-defense-one-set strategy, ending the turn in a flash. The spectators had already grown accustomed to Aisha's playstyle.

If this were a stall-heavy trap deck, it wouldn't be so bad, but Aisha simply didn't have that many powerful or annoying trap cards.

No matter how you looked at it, Aisha's strategy seemed to be nothing more than enduring attacks, with no clear path to counterattack.

Even in her duel against Kevin, if it weren't for the lucky swap of the Red-Eyes Black Dragon from her hand to turn the tide, Aisha would have been on the defensive from start to finish.

"I told you it was luck. Otherwise, how could the underdog beat the top student in the grade?"

Meanwhile, those who had bet on Aisha's loss in Ilena's betting pool were already gloating, showcasing their "wisdom" and "foresight."

"My turn, draw!"

As Ilin drew her card to start her turn, she kindly reminded, "Just defending like this won't be enough to beat me, Little Ai."

You Ling retorted, "That depends on whether you can break through Witch of the Black Forest's 2100 defense points first."

"Oh? You think I can't handle it... Hehe, I've been underestimated. Then let me show you my new HERO!"

After drawing her card, Ilin flung a monster card onto the duel field.

Amidst a crackling burst of dazzling electricity, a cool Elemental HERO descended onto the grounds of Fusion Academy.

"I summon in attack position—Elemental HERO Sparkman!"

[Elemental HERO Sparkman ★★★★ Light]

[Warrior-Type ATK: 1600 DEF: 1400]

Aisha: "It's the monster Lin-chan summoned yesterday! Pika pika, and it's wearing a mask. It's so cool! But its attack power isn't high enough to surpass Witch of the Black Forest."

"You must have something else planned, right, Lin?"

"Of course!"

Ilin smiled as she drew a Spell Card from her hand, sending a bolt of electricity toward Sparkman on the field.

"—I activate the Equip Spell Card Spark Blaster, equipping it to Elemental HERO Sparkman!"

The Spark Blaster, a futuristic-looking weapon that clashed with the sword-and-magic aesthetic of the Elven Continent, was now wielded by Sparkman.

However, after the Equip Spell was successfully equipped, Sparkman's attack power remained unchanged, leaving the spectators puzzled.

"That weapon looks pretty powerful. Why doesn't it increase attack power at all?"

"It doesn't boost defense either. What's the point of an Equip Spell then?"

The more puzzled the onlookers were, the more smug Ilin, who had crafted this HERO-exclusive card, became. Her lips curled into a triumphant grin.

You Ling said, "Spark Blaster, the exclusive Equip Spell for Elemental HERO Sparkman. Although it doesn't boost stats, once equipped, it can activate an effect to change the battle position of an opponent's monster. Am I right?"

[Spark Blaster Equip Spell Effect: Can only be equipped to "Elemental HERO Sparkman." During your Main Phase, you can change the battle position of 1 face-up monster. After this effect is used 3 times, destroy this card.]

"How is that possible?" Ilin's smug grin instantly vanished. "Little Ai, how do you know the effect of this card? That doesn't make sense."

Spark Blaster, which Ilin had been using as her secret weapon, was indeed the exclusive Equip Spell for Elemental HERO Sparkman.

Those who hadn't summoned Sparkman shouldn't have been able to see this card in the Spell Catalog.

This was one of the rules of spell crafting in the Elven Continent.

Certain monsters or specific series of Spell/Trap Cards couldn't be crafted—or even viewed in the Spell Catalog—unless you had already summoned the required monster.

There was no way Aisha could have known the effect of Spark Blaster.

But You Ling was an exception.

Having once wanted to use a HERO deck, how could You Ling not memorize the effects of HERO cards? Even if this Spark Blaster wasn't typically included in standard HERO decks.

"Since the effect's been discovered, there's no helping it." Ilin pointed at Witch of the Black Forest on Aisha's field, which was in defense position.

"Change Witch of the Black Forest from defense position to attack position. Fire away, Spark Blaster!—Lightning Shot!"

A bullet of electricity shot from the barrel, accurately hitting the flat chest of the blue-haired witch.

A tingling electric shock coursed through the witch's body, causing the pure and cute-looking witch to stick out her tongue and roll her eyes in an "Ahegao" expression.

[Witch of the Black Forest DEF: 2100 → ATK: 0]

Ilin said, "Although it has a high defense of 2100, its 0 attack points are also its greatest weakness."

Forcing Aisha's monster into attack position with 0 attack points meant that any battle involving Witch of the Black Forest would deal direct damage to You Ling, just like a direct attack.

"Let's end this in one strike!" Ilin immediately played her second Spell Card of the turn.

"Burn, my hero!—I activate the Spell Card H - Heated Heart!"

[H - Heated Heart Spell Card Effect: Increase the ATK of 1 monster you control by 500 until the end of the turn. If it attacks a Defense Position monster, inflict piercing battle damage.]

A giant flaming "H" materialized, transferring its power to Sparkman.

Amidst the intertwining flames and lightning, Ilin's coolest hero was ready to deliver the finishing blow.

"Elemental HERO Sparkman · Blazing Form!"

[Elemental HERO Sparkman ATK: 1600 → 2100]

Standing on the opposite side of the duel field, You Ling, through Aisha's sensitive and fair cheeks, could clearly feel the intense heat of the blazing flames.

"Seize victory, Sparkman!—Lightning Flame Knight Kick!"

The hero's flying kick, with 2100 attack points, blasted through the witch's 0 attack points.

Witch of the Black Forest destroyed.