Chapter 226: Instant Fusion
Seeing Hayato's Sky Galloping Gaia the Dragon Champion about to unleash its Dragon Flame to change Dark Magician's Battle Position and inflict Piercing Damage, Pandora immediately activated his Set Card in the Back Row:
"Right at this moment, Activate Trap Card!"
"It's useless! Spiral Reborn, revived by Spiral Reborn, cannot be targeted by card effects, nor can it be destroyed by effects!"
"Heh heh, who said my Set Card was targeting your Gaia, King of Games?" Pandora laughed maniacally. "My Set Card is Position Change! The targets I choose are Dark Magician and Fusion Killer!"
The moment the Set Card activated, a red Magic Circle appeared simultaneously beneath Dark Magician and Fusion Killer on Pandora's Field. A bright light radiated from the Magic Circle, completely engulfing the figures of the two Monsters. As a result, Gaia couldn't see at all what was happening inside the Magic Circle.
"Pierce!" The sound of a Lance piercing flesh came from the Lance, but Gaia felt a little confused—he had attacked Dark Magician once before, and it shouldn't have felt like this; it was too soft. Last time he poked its chest, could he have poked its butt this time?
Just as he was about to pull out his Lance, Gaia was surprised to find that his Lance seemed to be stuck inside the Magic Circle and couldn't move at all. At the same time, two Tentacles extended from within the Magic Circle and seized the opportunity to wrap around Gaia's body!
As the light dissipated, it was revealed that under the cover of the Magic Circle, Pandora's Dark Magician had actually swapped positions with the Fusion Killer he had just Summoned. Dark Magician, still protected by Safe Zone, moved to a spot not far behind Gaia, while the Monster Gaia had just attacked was actually Fusion Killer!
Sky Galloping Gaia the Dragon Champion [ATK 2600 → 0]
"You think you can use this move to Destroy my Gaia? It's not that simple! You've only absorbed Gaia's power; its Effect can still be used!" Hayato commanded. "Change Fusion Killer's Battle Position! Hayato Flames!"
Fusion Killer [ATK 1400 → DEF 1200]
Gaia, who was responsible for the main Battle, was entangled by Fusion Killer. Fortunately, Curse of Dragonfire was not entangled. Instead, it opened its mouth and spewed a large amount of Hellfire, scorching Fusion Killer. Seizing the chance, it carried Gaia into the air and returned to Hayato's Field.
However, although he avoided Gaia being Destroyed by Battle, because Fusion Killer's Effect is still active regardless of its Battle Position, Hayato's Life Points took reflected Damage.
[Hayato: 4000 → 2800 LP]
Sky Galloping Gaia the Dragon Champion's Attack ended in failure. Now Pandora's Life Points still had a full 2100 remaining. Even if the Odd-Eyes Wizard Dragon Hayato had just Summoned were to Attack Fusion Killer, it wouldn't inflict any Damage because Hayato had just changed it to Defense Position.
"In that case..." Hayato flipped his Set Card in the Back Row. "My last Set Card, Return of the Dragon Lords! Special Summon one Banished Monster to my Field! Come back, Gaia the Fierce Knight!"
"Then, Gaia the Fierce Knight Attack Fusion Killer!"
Without the [Fusion Monster] Attribute, Gaia attacked Fusion Killer again. However, this time, it couldn't use its Effect to reduce Gaia's ATK anymore. At the same time, thanks to Spiral Spear Strike's Effect, Gaia still retained its piercing damage!
[Pandora: 2100 → 1000 LP]
With that, the only Monster on Hayato's Field that hadn't attacked yet was Odd-Eyes Wizard Dragon. But at the same time, the only Monster remaining on Pandora's Field was Dark Magician, still protected by Safe Zone.
Coincidentally, the ATK of both Monsters was exactly the same, both 2500. However, if he were to Attack recklessly like this, Dark Magician, which cannot be Destroyed by Battle, would be completely unharmed, while Hayato's Odd-Eyes Wizard Dragon would be Destroyed as a result.
"You're out of moves, Kobayashi Hayato? Your bold words just now were indeed empty talk; saying you'd finish me this Turn was completely useless!" Although Pandora's Life Points were only 1000, he wore an expression as if he had already won.
"I'm not afraid to tell you, I know my Deck order perfectly. The card I'll draw next Turn is Pot of Greed, and the cards after that are The Force, which can absorb half of a Monster's ATK to boost my monster's ATK, and Spellbook, the Equip Spell Card exclusive to Dark Magician!"
"Although Gaia the Fierce Knight Summoned by Return of the Dragon Lords will be returned to your Hand at the End Turn, I can perfectly absorb the ATK of that Odd-Eyes Wizard Dragon!"
"I, who can perfectly predict the cards I will draw next, am Invincible! And I have already foreseen your despair after your defeat!"
Hayato listened to Pandora's arrogant words and sneered coldly, "Are you so proud of predicting the cards you'll draw in the future through the trick of Shuffling?"
"Does foreseeing a bad future make people despair? On the contrary! Even if you know the future will be a despair as deep and dark as 'death', as long as you have the resolve to entrust everything to your Deck, you can change everything!" Hayato said, showing a card in his Hand. "Resolve will blow away all despair, and even humans will change because of it!"
"I'll prove it here with this card! Quick-Play Spell Card, Instant Fusion!"
"From my Field select Fusion Material Monsters and send them to the Graveyard, and Fusion Summon 1 Fusion Monster from my Extra Deck. The Monster Fusion Summoned by this effect is destroyed during the End Phase. But, the brilliance of an instant can surpass eternity!"
A giant vortex appeared on Hayato's Field, and in just an instant, it swallowed Performapal Mechanicalchaser and Odd-Eyes Wizard Dragon from Hayato's Field.
A Ghoul dressed like a gentleman but with a hideous, green-faced, and fanged appearance appeared in Hayato's Hand. Although it was a Monster from a fantasy setting, this Ghoul was holding a machine gun in its hand!?
Performapal Gatling Ghoul [Level 8 / DARK]
[Fiend Type / Fusion / Effect]
[2900 / 900]
"Performapal Gatling Ghoul can turn your cards into its power! When it is Fusion Summoned, for each card on your Field, inflict 200 Damage to you!"
"Rat-a-tat-tat!" Performapal Gatling Ghoul's machine gun opened fire. However, although it fired a barrage of bullets, only two hit Pandora.
[Pandora: 1000 LP → 600 LP]