Yumi must keep her cool when faced with the dangerous Volcanic deck's effect damage strategy.
After the duel, Yumi returned to her room to prepare. Though she was tempted to let the euphoria of winning get the better of her, she kept her cool as the next matches proceeded. Along with Miss Fukukado, she watched on the provided television, seeing who would make it to the second round and, more importantly, be her next opponent.
This proved to be a more difficult task than anticipated. They saw the woman who'd be dueling Yumi next but the match in question concluded in only three turns, giving them little chance to see what might be in her opponent's deck. The best information they had was that it was focused on dealing effect damage, something Yumi was at least somewhat prepared to counter.
Before she knew it, she was being called out once more to take the stage. Thankfully, swapping between her main and side decks was taken care of fairly early on, so there wouldn't be any need to rush. She was as ready as she could be to take on this new challenger.
It was only during the walk over that she realized she hadn't yet solved the mystery of the third card, though. She hoped she'd remember that by the next time, but given her apparent absentmindedness that caused her to write it down in the first place, it wasn't a safe bet.
Just like last time, she was welcomed onto the stage with a round of cheers, this time being a bit more intense given she won in the first round. Overall, it helped to bolster her confidence, virtually any anxiety she had left melting away as she found her place on the field. This was where she belonged, she thought.
This seemed to be her opponent's belief, as well, judging by the dramatic brush of her long, dark hair with her hand and the confident smile gracing her lips. Yumi quickly began to curse everyone she knew for not warning her that there would be so many hot girls at this tournament, heart rate skyrocketing as her opponent made the walk towards her.
"How will she match up against our next contestant?" the announcer spoke. "Welcome our visitor back once again with all your might! Here she comes, Minerva Almánzar!" The cheers kicked up again at this command, Yumi hurriedly coming to meet the woman in the middle to exchange decks.
As they each cut the other's cards, Yumi couldn't help but look her over as she'd do with any pretty lady she met. Black shoes and slacks, a white button up with the sleeves rolled to her elbows, and a violet suit jacket worn over her shoulders like a cape made for a look she'd absolutely steal if she had any confidence whatsoever she could pull it off. Around her neck was an intricate, three-pronged golden pendant, really helping to make her green eyes pop. Most interesting of all were the bright red flames inked into her dark forearms. She'd only seen a few people with tattoos before, but she always admired how nice they looked.
"Um..." Yumi tried to figure out how best to word what she wanted to say as she took her cards back. "Hey, your name isn't Japanese." She almost slapped herself, realizing that was probably rude. "I mean..."
"It's Dominican," she said while plugging her deck into the strange, almost gun-shaped duel disk on her arm. She was probably used to these sorts of questions by now.
"Oh, that's nice. I mean, I asked because that's near Mexico, right? Because I'm half Mexican."
"Neat, I'm half Haitian." Though she previously looked a bit annoyed, this comment seemed to brighten her mood just a bit judging by the small quirk at the corner of her lips. They weren't exactly countrymen by any metric, but she found Yumi's enthusiasm to talk about this subject a bit cute. Certainly better than when most Japanese people brought up her race in the past.
They nodded to one another before returning to their sides of the field, ready to start the match on the announcer's signal. Seconds later, he gave the word, both shouting, "Duel!" as they took their cards.
Minerva was the first to play, something she was clearly quite happy about. Her last duel only lasted a few turns, so the full extent of her strategies were still a mystery. "My deck doesn't seem like it wants to waste any time," she said, taking a monster in hand. "I summon Volcanic Rocket and use its effect!"
From out of her card appeared a burning, mechanical creature, the sound of metal scraping metal screeching out as it opened its mouth. "When I summon it, I can add a Blaze Cannon card from my deck or Graveyard to my hand." Her duel disk shot the card out of itself, Minerva catching it a good foot or so out from her deck to reveal it – Blaze Cannon Magazine. Adding it to her hand, she set two cards in the backrow before ending her turn.
"Draw!" Yumi declared, pleased with what she'd gotten. She had plenty of options to start things off, though her main goal was to try and end things as quickly as possible. Blaze Cannon was a staple of Minerva's strategy from the previous duel, her opponent barely having a chance to respond before being wiped out by it. The sooner she built her field and steamrolled over it, the better.
"I'll start off by playing the Magic Card, Unexpected Guy!" She slipped the card into her duel disk, the image appearing in front of her. "Since I don't have any monsters out, I can summon one of my friends straight from the deck." Sorting through her options, she pressed the card on the screen. "Let's pick you today, Scaredy Lion!"
Cowardly as always, the monster came out shivering and shaking to stand in front of Yumi. "I'm not done, though! Come out, Rescue Rabbit!"
As soon as the tiny creature hopped onto the field, Minerva raised her hand. "Trap, activate! Gozen Match!" Her card flipped up, shining. "From now on, neither of us is allowed to have more than one Attribute of monster on the field at a time."
Unlikely as it was that this was sided in just for her, it certainly hurt Yumi's strategy. One of the downsides of having a deck like hers was that her monsters were invariably quite diverse. Forcing her to stick with a single Attribute – in this case, EARTH – effectively stopped her entire Extra Deck. Almost, at least.
"Fine," she replied with a pout. "I'll still use Rescue Rabbit's effect. I banish it to summon a pair of Normal Monsters from my deck. Since I can only use EARTH monsters right now, I'll get a pair of Rusty Swordsmen!"
The clatter was nearly deafening as the cartoonish knights shambled to the field. "They won't be here for long," Yumi continued, her monsters looking to each other in confusion. "I overlay both Level 4 Rusty Swordsmen to build the Overlay Network!" The warriors were pulled into the swirling mass, their energy combining to create new power.
"Let's go, Xyz Summon! Rank 4, Kachi Kochi Dragon!" Exploding out of the wormhole was her monster, roaring in preparation for battle.
"I'm impressed," Minerva complimented. "Most people have a harder time coping with this strategy, but you adapted almost immediately."
Yumi suddenly felt bashful, scratching her head and blushing. "Well, I'm just doing what I normally do," she mumbled, shaking her head to regain her composure. She couldn't be melting all over the stage like this after just a few nice words. She had a duel to win.
"I'm going to equip Scaredy Lion with the card Golden Fiddle next," she explained, her confused lion awkwardly pawing at the instrument it was suddenly gifted. "This means it gains 200 ATK for each Level it has." This made for a total of 2100.
"I see," Minerva nodded. "In that case, it's about time I use my set card, Blaze Cannon Magazine!" The card flipped up, conjuring a military-style missile launcher behind her. "Using its effect, I dispatch my Volcanic Bullet to draw a new card." She showed another of her monsters before quickly tossing it to the Graveyard, her duel disk ejecting another card for her to grab like last time.
While drawing was always a benefit, it was unclear what she hoped to gain by doing this right now. "Battle!" Yumi declared, throwing her fist forward. "Kachi Kochi, you start! Get rid of Volcanic Rocket!" The monster did was it was told, firing a blast from its mouth and soundly tearing through the enemy. This hit Minerva for a measly 200 damage, but that was only the start. Should things go her way, Yumi would completely wipe out her opponent's Life Points.
That was wishful thinking, though, something Minerva was not about to let slip by unpunished. "When my FIRE monster is destroyed, I'm allowed to summon this from my hand," she said, slapping a card onto the field. "Come out, Sunburn the Scorching Cataclysm!"
In a pillar of flames, the god-like being descended to the field, its powerful shout briefly drowning out the cheering of the crowd. At 2600 ATK, it beat out both of Yumi's monsters. "When I summon my monster this way," she continued, "I can target the destroyed monster and attack you for half its ATK value."
Volcanic Rocket had a total of 1900 ATK. Half of that was 950, Yumi bracing as the enemy conjured a ball of fire between its four arms. Letting loose, the image of its slain ally briefly appeared in the flames as they shot across Yumi. Her Life Points dropped to 3050, the true terror of this burn strategy showing itself.
Thankfully, it wasn't the end of the world. Yumi had prepared for this during her downtime and her deck didn't seem to be ready to roll over just yet. "I'll set two cards and end my turn," she said, unable to attack again. She'd have to ride things out for now and hope for something better next turn. Saying that, she wasn't exactly sure what to hope for, especially with Gozen Match still severely limiting her offensive options.
Minerva began her turn by drawing. It would not be the last time that happened. "I use the effect of Volcanic Bullet in my Graveyard," she said, her Life Points dropping by 500. "I add a second copy to my hand." Taking the card, she revealed it. "Blaze Cannon Magazine activates, letting me dispatch Volcanic Bullet to draw a new card."
Just like last time, she got an extra draw. After that, she repeated Bullet's effect again, taking the third copy and adding it to her hand. At the cost of 1000 Life Points, she surely had something big coming up.
"I play Magic Planter," she said, placing the card on the field. A bubbling cauldron rose up from the ground underneath Blaze Cannon, swallowing it up like it was nothing. "I destroy a Trap on my field to draw two more cards," she explained, taking both from the top of her deck.
She chuckled at this. "Well, that's a bit unexpected, but I won't complain." Playing another card, it was revealed to be a second copy of Magic Planter. "I'll get rid of Gozen Match to draw another two cards."
That was good news insofar as it meant Yumi was no longer locked down by the restriction, but Minerva's hand now contained a total of seven cards. "Next, I use Foolish Burial, letting me dispatch Volcanic Counter straight from my deck."
A smile formed across her lips. "Now it's time for me to show you what this deck can really do," she said. Apparently, she'd just been messing around before now. "I banish the Blaze Cannon Magazine in my Graveyard, dispatching a Volcanic monster from my deck."
Another card was ejected before being shown to Yumi. "My choice is Volcanic Buckshot, hitting you for 500 damage when it's sent to the Graveyard. The moment it's sent there, though, its real effect activates. By dispatching the other two copies I have, all monsters on your field are destroyed!"
Several spectators were shocked by this despite it being the crux of her strategy in the last duel, others whooping and hollering at the devastating combo. Yumi's allies were not among those, understandably watching with concern to see how she'd cope with this massive setback.
"I activate both my set cards!" she declared. "First, Majesty Eclipse! For the rest of the turn, I take no effect damage! Second, Armored Block, letting a monster equipped with a Magic Card escape destruction until the end!"
A yellow pyramid of energy covered her, the resulting explosion from the Volcanic Buckshot trio bombarding it with all it had to no avail. While Kachi Kochi Dragon was swept up in the flames and blown to bits, Scaredy Lion managed to cower behind the violin just enough to escape damage.
"Smart card," Minerva said. "But that's only one turn. Do you think you can avoid that next time?"
"Next time?" Whether it was an accidental slip or intentional intimidation tactic, Minerva had essentially confirmed her ability to recycle those cards. Truly, it was a terrifying strategy, giving her the potential to hit for a disgusting 1500 damage over and over again so long as she had the resources to keep moving cards back to her deck.
As if to answer this speculation, Minerva played her next card. "I summon Imperial Guard of the Flame Monarch and activate its effect. On a Normal Summon, I can return four Pyro-Type monsters from my Graveyard to my deck." Grabbing her cards, she held them up. "I'm picking my three Buckshots and a single Bullet."
Placing them on top of her deck, it shuffled itself, ejecting a fresh pair. "Then, I get to draw two more cards." As if she hadn't done enough of that this turn.
Yumi's problems were far from over, though. "You blocked effect damage, but not battle damage," she pointed out. "That means Sunburn can still attack. Torch Scaredy Lion until it turns to ash!"
"When Scaredy Lion gets attacked, it can switch to Defense Mode automatically," Yumi explained, her monster resisting the attack by hiding behind the instrument once again. "Armored Block's effect still applies, meaning you can't destroy it this whole turn."
"I see," she replied with a click of her tongue. "In that case, I'll set three cards before ending my turn. I'm curious to see if you can keep resisting me. Don't let me down, enana."
Yumi's knowledge of Spanish was limited at best, but she felt like she'd just been called something affectionate. No time for distracting thoughts, though, as she was staring down the barrel (almost literally) of a killer deck and had to make a move.
Drawing a card, Yumi moved to begin her counterattack. "I guess the audience isn't all I'm trying to impress now," she said, taking Scaredy Lion's card off the board. "I release my monster to Advance Summon a new one! It's showtime, Majesty Magician!"
The crowd's enthusiasm for the match only grew at the appearance of Yumi's ace monster, the magician stepping forward with a bow towards its enemies. "My monster can't go into battle unarmed, though," she added, placing another card on the field. "Equip Magic, Broken Wand!"
Twirling its cane, Yumi's magician tossed the item into the air, the resulting explosion and cloud of smoke giving way to a transformed wooden staff that it grabbed above its head. The additional 500 ATK the card provided would be well used, now putting Majesty Magician as the strongest monster on the field.
"Time to counterattack," Yumi commanded, throwing her hand forward. "Attack Imperial Guard with Majesty Bolt!" Spinning the staff above its head, Majesty Magician let loose a burst of energy from the end targeting the enemy monster. Should the attack connect, it would inflict major damage and hopefully spell the beginning of the end for Minerva.
As the attack hurtled forward across the field, one of the set cards rose up. "That won't be enough," Minerva said. "Trap activate, Magic Cylinder! Send that attack right back to yourself!" Catching the energy was a question mark-branded cylinder rising from out of nowhere, its twin appearing off to the side. After disappearing down the one, the Majesty Bolt came out the other directed at Yumi.
Majesty Magician itself seemed uncharacteristically flustered, leaping out of the way of the attack before trying to use its magic to grab hold of the beam. Tugging with all its might, it actually did manage to break the attack apart and send some of the damage crashing into the ceiling, though the rest still hit Yumi all the same.
This was all the result of the Majesty Eclipse in her Graveyard, banished to halve the effect damage she just took. Instead of being hit with the full 3000 ATK, Yumi's Life Points were now at a low but still manageable 1550. Not ideal, but far better than the alternative.
"Should have seen that coming," Yumi scolded herself. It was obvious a straightforward attack like that wasn't the best approach. Her opponent's entire deck was built around inflicting effect damage in the harshest ways possible, so it shouldn't have come as a surprise that she'd run into a card like that.
Still, she figured it was best to get it out of the way now. At least with Eclipse, she was somewhat spared an otherwise game-ending hit. So long as she remained cautious, she should still be able to pull out a win. Maybe she'd even turn the tables at some point and make Minerva's cards work for her, too.
Standing around thinking about all this wasn't getting her anywhere, though. "I end my turn," she declared, unable to do anything else at the moment. It was a fairly anticlimactic way to end a turn like this, but this should at least keep her opponent at bay for the time being.
Minerva began her turn, immediately setting to work bludgeoning whatever sense of security Yumi might have had into submission. Her first action was to summon Volcanic Rocket, adding another copy of Blaze Cannon Magazine from her deck to her hand. From there, she really started to get mean. "Battle! Imperial Guard, attack Majesty Magician!"
"What?" Yumi exclaimed. "You're just going to destroy it even though you stopped me last time?"
"Plans change," she said simply. There didn't seem to be any trickery at work given the monster's attack landed ineffectually. Majesty Magician cut through the flames without any issue, sending a burst of power right back and blasting the Guard into pieces.
This wasn't simple confusion, though. Hanging in the air where the monster had previously stood was a pulsing flame, seeming to grow bigger with each heart-like beat. "I took battle damage, so now my Volcanic Counter's effect activates."
The card ejected from her Graveyard for her to hold up. "I banish this card. If I have at least one other Volcanic monster in my Graveyard, you take the same amount of damage I just took." The fire exploded after that, nearly knocking Yumi backwards as all 1300 points of self-inflicted damage came back around to the both of them.
At 1500 and 250, Minerva was clearly dominating. Though it would take her at least another turn, victory seemed all but assured. "I set a card. Turn end."
The set card was almost certainly Blaze Cannon, meaning she likely had another Volcanic Counter in her hand right now. Why else would she leave Volcanic Rocket in Attack Position like that? Sure, it would have saved a whole 200 damage, but switching Guards to Defense Position was the safer option. Conveniently enough, she'd be able to hang on with just 400 Life Points should Yumi attack her monster now. Even if she tried to play it safe and attack Sunburn, that would still be more than enough to erase the last of her Life Points now, too.
But Yumi wasn't about to back down now. She'd take that challenge. She'd have to even if the field was currently dangerous and rife with potential issues. Waiting another turn meant almost certain defeat.
Upon entering the Main Phase, Minerva raised her hand. "I activate Blaze Cannon Magazine," she said, just as many predicted. "I send Volcanic Counter to the Graveyard to let me draw a card." Again, just as planned. Any move Yumi made would mean death.
As such, the only thing she could do was bet on the card she'd just drawn. "Battle!" she declared, Minerva visibly confused at this decision. "Majesty Magician, attack Volcanic Rocket with Majesty Bolt!"
"That doesn't seem smart," Minerva told her. "Did you already forget Volcanic Counter's effect? And my set cards?"
Yumi smiled. "Either I win now or I lose next turn," she stated. "I think I'd like to win now, and it'll be because of this card. Activate, Grandeur!" She tossed the card into her duel disk, its image shining in front of her. "This lets me equip a monster with an Equip Magic in my Graveyard. I power up Majesty Magician with Scaredy Lion's Golden Fiddle!"
Thanks to the magician's own effect, it was a valid target for the Equip Magic. This increased its ATK to a total of 4600. "Change your Majesty Bolt into a Majesty Symphony!"
"Then I guess I'll have to do this," Minerva said, activating another card. "Holy Barrier – Mirror Force!"
"Avoid it, Majesty Magician!" Against all odds, Yumi's monster did as commanded, the nimble sorcerer expertly dodging the destructive reflection of Mirror Force at every turn. "Did you forget I still have Armored Block in my Graveyard?" she asked. "If my equipped monster is going to be destroyed, I can banish this instead. The attack goes through!"
Majesty Magician came up to Rocket in the blink of an eye, grabbing the monster by its neck and tossing it into the air. From there, it produced a golden violin bow from out of its sleeve, the fiddle itself materializing inside its staff. Playing it more like a cello, it only pulled the bow across the strings once, the sharp chord being all that was needed to end things.
Almost as if some self-destruct feature had been activated on the monster, Volcanic Rocket immediately exploded overhead, raining fire down onto Minerva as Majesty Magician took a bow. Her second set card was another copy of Gozen Match, turning out to be entirely useless at this point in time. Resources exhausted, her Life Points dropped to 0, Volcanic Counter stuck resting in the Graveyard with its effect bypassed.
Despite her aggressive strategy and wealth of cards, Yumi's careful use of resources had won the day this time, even if just barely. With a long sigh, Minerva pouted. "He's going to be really disappointed," she muttered to herself, thinking to her teacher who was no doubt watching the battle from his family home and shaking his head disapprovingly.
Despite this, she came forward to congratulate Yumi on her victory all the same. "You were really good out there," she told her, holding her hand out.
"Oh, uh...thanks," she said nervously, awkwardly returning the handshake. "That was a really tough situation. I hope I can see more of your deck sometime."
"I don't know how long I'll be in Japan, but..." She gave a small laugh, then said, "How about if I see you at the World Tournament one of these days?"
Her face lit up. With a nod, Yumi agreed. "Definitely!"
Cards Used in Order of Appearance
Volcanic Rocket
FIRE
Level 4
Pyro/Effect
1900 ATK/1400 DEF
When this card is Summoned: You can add 1 "Blaze Accelerator" card from your Deck or Graveyard to your hand.
Blaze Cannon Magazine (Blaze Accelerator Reload)
Continuous Trap Card
This card's name becomes "Tri-Blaze Accelerator" while in the Spell & Trap Zone. During either player's Main Phase: You can send 1 "Volcanic" card from your hand to the Graveyard, and if you do, draw 1 card. You can only use this effect of "Blaze Accelerator Reload" once per turn. During either player's Main Phase: You can banish this card from your Graveyard; send 1 "Volcanic" card from your Deck to the Graveyard.
Unexpected Guy (Unexpected Dai)
Normal Spell Card
If you control no monsters: Special Summon 1 Level 4 or lower Normal Monster from the Deck.
Scaredy Lion
EARTH
Level 4
Beast
1300 ATK/ 1000 DEF
Rescue Rabbit
EARTH
Level 4
Beast/Effect
300 ATK/100 DEF
Cannot be Special Summoned from the Deck. You can banish this face-up card you control; Special Summon 2 Level 4 or lower Normal Monsters with the same name from your Deck, but destroy them during the End Phase. You can only use this effect of "Rescue Rabbit" once per turn.
Gozen Match
Continous Trap Card
Each player can only control 1 Attribute of monster. Send all other face-up monsters they control to the GY.
Rusty Swordsman
EARTH
Level 4
Warrior
1500 ATK/1000 DEF
Kachi Kochi Dragon
EARTH
Rank 4
Dragon/Xyz/Effect
2100 ATK/1300 DEF
2 Level 4 monsters
Once per turn, when this card destroys an opponent's monster by battle and sends it to the Graveyard: You can detach 1 Xyz Material from this card; it can attack once again in a row.
Golden Fiddle
Equip Spell Card
You can only equip this card to a Level 4 or lower Normal Monster with 1500 or less ATK and DEF. The equipped monster gains these effects: This card gains ATK equal to its Level x 200 while in Attack Position and DEF equal to its Level x 300 while in Defense Position. If this card is selected as an attack target while in Attack Position: You can switch this card to Defense Position.
Volcanic Bullet (Volcanic Shell)
FIRE
Level 1
Pyro/Effect
100 ATK/0 DEF
Once per turn: You can pay 500 LP; add 1 "Volcanic Shell" from your Deck to your hand. This card must be in the GY to activate and to resolve this effect.
Sunburn the Scorching Cataclysm (Scorching Cataclysm Sunburner)
FIRE
Level 8
Fairy/Effect
2600/200 DEF
If a face-up FIRE monster(s) you control is destroyed by battle or an opponent's card effect: You can Special Summon this card from your hand, then, you can inflict damage to your opponent equal to half the ATK of 1 of those destroyed FIRE monsters in your GY. You can only use this effect of "Cataclysmic Scorching Sunburner" once per turn.
Magic Planter
Normal Spell Card
Send 1 face-up Continuous Trap you control to the GY; draw 2 cards.
Foolish Burial
Normal Spell Card
Send 1 monster from your Deck to the GY.
Volcanic Counter
FIRE
Level 3
Pyro/Effect
300 ATK/1300 DEF
When you take battle damage while this card is in your Graveyard: Banish it from your Graveyard, then if there is a FIRE monster other than "Volcanic Counter" in your Graveyard, inflict damage to your opponent equal to the amount of battle damage you took.
Volcanic Buckshot (Volcanic Scattershot)
FIRE
Level 2
Pyro/Effect
500 ATK/0 DEF
If this card is sent to the Graveyard: Inflict 500 damage to your opponent. If this card is sent to the Graveyard by the effect of a "Blaze Accelerator" card: You can send 2 "Volcanic Scattershots" from your hand and/or Deck to the Graveyard; destroy all monsters your opponent controls.
Majesty Eclipse
Normal Trap Card
You take no effect damage this turn. During either player's turn, except the turn this card was sent to the Graveyard: You can banish this card from your Graveyard; halve one instance of effect damage you take this turn.
Armored Block
Quick-Play Spell Card
Target 1 monster you control equipped with an Equip Spell Card; it cannot be destroyed by battle or card effects this turn. If a monster you control equipped with an Equip Spell Card would be destroyed, you can banish this card from your Graveyard instead.
Imperial Guard of the Flame Monarch (Royal Firestorm Guards)
FIRE
Level 4
Pyro/Effect
1700 ATK/1200 DEF
If this card is Normal Summoned: Target 4 Pyro-Type monsters in your Graveyard; shuffle all 4 into the Deck, then draw 2 cards.
Majesty Magician
DARK
Level 8
Spellcaster/Effect
2500 ATK/2000 DEF
You can Tribute Summon this card by Tributing 1 monster that was originally a Level 4 or lower Normal Monster with 1500 or less ATK and DEF. This card is treated as an appropriate target for a card that specifically designates a Level 4 or lower Normal Monster with 1500 or less ATK and DEF while face-up on the field or in the Graveyard (its Level and ATK/DEF do not change).
Broken Wand
Equip Spell Card
You can only equip this card to a Level 4 or lower Normal Monster with 1500 or less ATK and DEF. The equipped monster gains these effects: This card's original ATK increases by 500. When this card attacks or is attacked by a monster with higher ATK: You can return this card to your hand and end the Battle Phase.
Magic Cylinder
Normal Trap Card
When an opponent's monster declares an attack: Target the attacking monster; negate the attack, and if you do, inflict damage to your opponent equal to its ATK.
Grandeur (Swords at Dawn)
Quick-Play Spell Card
Target 1 Equip Spell Card in your Graveyard and 1 appropriate monster on the field, equip the Equip Spell Card to that monster. Destroy that Equip Spell Card during the End Phase. If you activate this card, you cannot Special Summon for the rest of this turn. You can only activate 1 "Swords at Dawn" per turn.
Holy Barrier – Mirror Force (Mirror Force)
Normal Trap
When an opponent's monster declares an attack: Destroy all Attack Position monsters your opponent controls.
Came out a little slower than normal. August is always a bad time for me and it hurts my schedule. Hopefully I'll get back on track soon so you won't be waiting too much longer.
Volcanics are truly terrible in the good way. Burn decks suck, but you can't even be mad at them because they work for that damage. They wipe your whole field and slap you in the dick and you have to say thanks after. Just awful in the best way, and that made it really hard to write this duel because I kept giving them really good cards.
I had to rewrite things a total of three times before I finally got where I wanted to be. The first didn't even make it to the end because it dragged to over 20 turns, though it is kind of notable for getting the two of them to 50 and 75 LP. The second was better but I wasn't super satisfied with the ending. Third is what we ended up with now. While I would have liked to summon the Devil (Minerva had it in hand by the last turn, confirmed), this was still a pretty good win.
I've been looking for an excuse to have Yumi meet someone else from Central America and Minerva gave me a good chance for that. The fact they met in a tournament means they didn't have much time to talk, but maybe we'll get to see a little more sometime down the line. Maybe we'll even get a name for her mysterious instructor who taught her how to fight using the Volcanic deck.
That's about all we've got for now. Join us next time for something really exciting. Thanks for reading. Share if you're enjoying. Always remember to hang off a cliff while practicing how to draw trading cards.