Chapter 22: Shuanglian, Rising to Fame in a Single Battle (2)

"Activate the effect of 'Nightmare's Torment,'" Li Guanqi declared. "Destroy 'Yubel Sprite' and add 'Hellgrave Crawler' to my hand."

Green thorns whipped through the air, shredding the 'Yubel Sprite.'

A card popped out from the deck, landing in Li Guanqi’s palm.

"The effect of 'Yubel Sprite,'" he continued. "When this card is destroyed, special summon 'Yubel!'"

He then chained the effect of 'Nightmare Throne,' adding 'Yubel—The Hated Knight' to his hand. Afterward, he could have special summoned it without regard to summoning conditions.

Li Guanqi glanced subtly at the rest area in the Qianque Palace, pondered for a moment, but chose only to add the card to his hand without special summoning.

Qingji frowned, puzzled as to why he could summon but chose not to.

There were only two 'Yubel' monsters on the field.

Li Guanqi didn’t press the advantage further. He drew another card and said, "Set a card face-down and end my turn."

"End phase."

"'Yubel’s' effect: release another 'Yubel.'"

"The graveyard effect of 'Demon Lotus': if 'Yubel' is on the field at the end of your turn, this card can be special summoned."

A strange lotus flower slowly bloomed from a white light, its dark red petals sharp like claws.

Chronicle markers: 2 → 3 → 4

Qingji narrowed her eyes and pressed the final card check button for her team.

First turn ended.

Field front: 'Yubel,' 'Demon Lotus.'

Field back: 'Torment,' 'Chronicle,' and a set card.

Field Spell: 'Throne.'

Hand: 'Hellgrave Crawler,' 'The Hated Knight,' and one dark card.

Red side’s base points: 4000.

All revealed information was displayed on the commentary big screen.

"So that’s it," Zicai realized. "'The Hated Knight' has a negative effect in the end phase, so it wasn’t special summoned."

"Although you could destroy it with 'Hellgrave Crawler,' that would lose a dodge effect in the opponent’s turn."

"This seems like a half-finished deck. Without link cards, I feel it would be much stronger with them..."

"That’s a matter for later," Hongmi interrupted. "Player 0748 only has 'Demon Lotus' as a resistance point on the field."

"The rest is a set card and a dark card in hand."

"Not much resistance—there’s a chance for a one-turn kill!"

"Is that all?" Qingji closed the card check, waved her arm, and declared, "My turn! Draw!"

'Serpent Queen Nyameni.'

"Hmph," she smirked, decisively drawing a card. "Activate Spell Card: 'Serpent Queen’s Serpent Divergence.'"

"Discard 'Nyameni' from hand to add one 'Serpent' monster and one 'Serpent' Spell/Trap card to hand."

A classic discard one, search two effect—if it could be negated, it definitely would be.

Li Guanqi didn’t chain, nostalgically recalling the first day of Lady Ash Blossom.

"So the set card isn’t a trap," Qingji glanced at Li Guanqi with a cold, mocking smile.

"I add 'Serpent Reptile' and 'Serpent Retribution' to my hand."

"'Serpent Reptile'..." Li Guanqi murmured, entering a state of vigilance.

The searched monster was likely targeting zero-attack monsters.

Qingji took the cards and, with a flick of her eyes, gestured toward the graveyard. "Activate the graveyard effect of 'Nyameni.'"

"If your opponent controls a monster with 0 attack, this card can be special summoned."

"Rua!"

'Nyameni' suddenly leapt from the ground, making a funny face at Li Guanqi, startling him.

"Hehe."

Having scared him, 'Nyameni' grinned mischievously and slithered back toward her side.

"So cute," Li Guanqi thought grimly.

"Hiss—" Hongmi took a deep breath and realized, "'Serpent' can counter the new deck!"

"'Yubel' decks are full of 0 attack monsters, which triggers many 'Serpent' effects."

"The new deck was just gaining momentum, and now it’s being countered."

"Game set!"

As the commentator spoke, the Qianque Palace fans’ excitement instantly soared.

"Hahaha!"

"Last match countered 'White Bone.' Karma’s a wheel!"

"Didn’t expect to be countered yourself, huh?"

"Instant kill? Let me win one more!"

The Biyu Long fan group dared not retort, worriedly looking at Li Guanqi, quietly cheering him on.

Li Guanqi himself remained calm.

"Is he not afraid?" Qingji murmured softly, drawing another card. "Then witness this card!"

"Activate field spell: 'Serpent Retribution!'"

A blue-green beam shot into the sky, accompanied by eerie hissing sounds of snakes from all directions, growing nearer.

"Summon 'Serpent Reptile!'"

"When this card is summoned, gain control of one 0 attack monster your opponent controls!"

Qingji sneered, gesturing at 'Yubel,' shouting, "Take it!"

"That’s full-on countering!" Zicai exclaimed.

The entire Biyu Long group’s hearts tightened, their gazes trembling.

'Serpent Reptile' flicked its forked tongue, eyes spreading a mesmerizing light. 'Yubel' glowed red, struggling and trembling.

Before losing control, 'Yubel' slowly turned toward Li Guanqi, casting a pleading look.

Li Guanqi squinted, waving his hand and shouting, "Chain activate 'Demon Lotus' effect!"

"Release this card; your opponent’s effect becomes the destruction of one 'Yubel' monster on the field."

'Demon Lotus' dissolved into a golden light screen; 'Yubel’s' charm was lifted, and it shattered with a bang.

"Activate 'Yubel’s' effect!"

"Only when a card is destroyed can this activate—special summon one 'Yubel—The Hated Knight!'"

"Chain activate 'Nightmare Throne’s' effect: add 'Yubel—The Hated Knight' to hand, then special summon it ignoring summoning conditions!"

"Roar, Hated Knight!"

The void suddenly tore open, and two massive two-headed demonic dragons flew out, blotting out the sky.

Their bodies were pitch black, scales shimmering with cold light, four blood-red eyes filled with rage, staring fiercely at Qingji.

A terrifying pressure enveloped the entire arena.

Countless spectators gripped the iron barriers tightly, palms sweating, bodies trembling uncontrollably.

"What... what kind of monsters are these..."

The two commentators were dumbfounded. "Never expected such monsters to have zero attack."

'Yubel—The Hated Knight'

Level 11.

Attack: 0

Defense: 0

"Great... fantastic~" Qingji showed an excited expression, her face flushed. "Hahaha..."

"Activate field spell 'Serpent Retribution’s' effect!"

"When your opponent activates a monster effect..."

"Gain control of one of your opponent’s 0 attack monsters, then special summon a 'Serpent Spawn' on your opponent’s field!"

"Gotta take it again!" Hongmi roared. "Player 0748, will you surrender your 'Hellgrave Crawler'?"

Double grabs, unstoppable.

This wasn’t just a normal system counter; it was a ruthless counter to the death.

Li Guanqi lowered his head, looking at his hand. After a moment of thought, he chose not to chain.