Who Let Him Play Yu-Gi-Oh!-Chapter 144: The Decisive All-Out Attack

"My turn, draw."

The instant Kira drew his card, a dazzling blaze erupted from the Duel Disk's graveyard zone. A fiery bird soared skyward.

It was as if the tranquil sky had been torn open. Countless blazing particles gathered into form, swirling in the air, as if fire itself had been given life.

The rising flames unleashed tremendous energy, gradually taking on a majestic shape—a golden divine bird, its feathers shimmering with radiant light, its eyes burning like stars, noble and imposing.

"When Sacred Phoenix of Nephthys is destroyed by a card effect and sent to the graveyard, it can revive itself during my next Standby Phase. So, Sacred Phoenix of Nephthys is revived!" said Kira.

[Sacred Phoenix of Nephthys, ATK 2400]

"Furthermore, when revived by its effect, all Spell and Trap cards on both sides of the field are destroyed!"

The onlookers gasped: "It can wipe the back row when revived?!"

"The combo of Silent Magician and Nephthys has minimized the benefits Lord Tenma got from Beast King's board wipe," remarked a woman with a black headband—Tilla Mook, a card professor who had once dueled Yugi and a top Vampire deck user under Tenma.

"Lord Tenma made the most out of Beast King Barbaros's destructive power, yet it was resolved so effortlessly. Not only that, but this boy keeps finding chances to counterattack while defending."

The other experts nodded in agreement.

Indeed. Although it seemed like Tenma was always on the offensive, he had spent most of his Life Points attacking, while Kira's LP remained untouched.

"Is he just a Duel Academy student?" Tilla Mook frowned.

"Honestly, he's already stronger than many of us card professors."

Kirk: "..."

"Is Phoenix's wipe setting up a follow-up offensive?" Tenma said gravely. "But it won't be that easy."

He activated a face-down card: "Continuous Trap—Fiendish Chain!

With these evil chains, I bind one monster on the field; it can't attack and its effect is negated!"

Sinister green chains shot out from the trap card, binding the Phoenix. The golden divine bird struggled, but its flames dimmed—the scene suddenly looked oddly like some kind of bondage play.

"Phoenix's effect is negated, so my back row is safe," Tenma said.

"Main Phase then," Kira revealed another card. "I activate the Spell Card 'Dark Hole'!

All monsters on the field are destroyed!"

A pitch-black vortex appeared, like a rift in the Milky Way, threatening to erase everything with its gravity.

Tenma frowned: "Destroying my defense while freeing Phoenix from Fiendish Chain, so it can clear my back row again next turn?

A clever move, but—"

He raised his hand, flipping another set card.

"I activate the Counter Trap—Magic Drain!

When your Spell is activated, negate it and destroy it. Unless you discard a Spell from your hand to negate this card."

Kira: "I won't discard a Spell."

"Then 'Dark Hole' is negated!"

The black vortex vanished instantly, and the storm of gravity dissipated, returning the field to silence.

Kira: "Then I'll Normal Summon 'Mystic Tomato' in Attack Position."

[Mystic Tomato, ATK 1400]

"'Mystic Tomato' attacks your face-down 'Beast King Barbaros'!"

The spectators' hearts leaped as the grinning Tomato bounced forward, headbutting the face-down monster.

Oh no, the silly Tomato's attacking the king!

Beast King Barbaros has 3000 ATK but only 1200 DEF—now he's going to suffer the shame of being headbutted by a mere tomato!

But Tenma wasn't about to let the attack through: "I flip my set card! Counter Trap—Negate Attack!

Negate your attack and forcefully end the Battle Phase!"

A counter vortex opened, and the little Tomato was knocked back, dizzy and disappointed at missing the chance for a KO.

Kira: "Then I'll set a card and end my turn."

"My turn, draw."

Tenma played the card he drew.

"Activate 'Pot of Greed'—draw two cards."

He drew, then immediately played another.

"Activate Spell Card 'Magical Planter.' Send a Continuous Spell you control to the Graveyard to draw two cards." (anime effect)

Though the real card now only works with Continuous Traps, in this duel, with both types on the field, it made no difference.

"I send 'Precious Cards from Beyond' to the graveyard, and draw two cards."

Tenma paused after drawing, then smiled slightly: "My hunch was right. There's a reason Seto Kaiba took an interest in you—you truly are a duelist worth going all out against.

So, I'll duel with everything I've got—

I summon my evolved ultimate monster—!"

The card professors' faces changed—they knew what was coming.

"Is Lord Tenma about to... bring out 'that'?"

Tilla crossed her arms, smiling: "Things are getting interesting."

Tenma revealed a card.

"Activate the Spell 'Polymerization'!

I fuse the 'Beast King Barbaros' on my field with 'Machine Lord Ür' in my hand!"

Machine Lord Ür appeared, and both monsters merged into a swirl of golden light, vanishing into the fusion vortex. A new beast took shape—a spiral lance, red armor gleaming with a metallic sheen.

The King of Beasts donned crimson metal, returning even more formidable!

Beast Machine King Barbaros Ür, Fusion Summon!

(This is Tenma's true ace, summoned in the manga after breaking free from the Wicked God's control. In the real card game, this was changed to an Effect Monster.)

[Beast Machine King Barbaros Ür, ATK 3800]

"It's here—Lord Tenma's strongest monster!"

The professors stirred—even they hadn't seen Tenma duel this seriously in years.

Tenma: "Then, I Normal Summon 'Seraphim Saber' from my hand!" (anime card)

[Seraphim Saber, ATK 1600]

A Level 4 Fairy-type monster that raises the ATK of other Fairies by 300—nothing special, but a classic from Tenma's arsenal.

"Continuous Trap 'Ultimate Offering' is activated!" Tenma declared. "I pay 500 Life Points for an extra Normal Summon!"

[Tenma, LP 1500 → 1000]

"I pay another 500 LP, tribute 'Seraphim Saber'—

—Level 6, Twinheaded Beast, Summon!"

[Twinheaded Beast, ATK 1700]

"This turn, I'll launch my decisive all-out attack!" Tenma called. "If you can withstand it, show me!"