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## Chapter 365: Classic Spiritual Energy Absorption
"In front of This Great One, all you can do is turtle up and defend, huh? Heh heh, then I'll attack now. My Turn, Draw!"
Manjome drew a card smugly, but awkwardly discovered that the card he drew this turn was the same as the one Jaden used last turn: Pot of Greed.
Normally, Pot of Greed, which lets you draw two cards for no cost, would be a pretty good card. However, Manjome currently has Light and Darkness Dragon on the field. It's not just Jaden's cards whose activation can be sealed by Light and Darkness Dragon; Manjome's cards are the same.
"I Attack Position Summon Infernal Warrior."
Not wanting to waste a card, Manjome Summoned a Monster Card onto the field. Beside the giant black and white dragon, a fully armed warrior holding a scimitar appeared.
[Infernal Warrior] [4☆/DARK]
[Warrior-Type/Effect]
[1200/1400]
"Now, enter the Battle Phase!" Manjome excitedly raised his hand and pointed at Death Stalker in Defense Position on Jaden's field, "Go, Infernal Warrior! Attack Death Stalker!"
At the same time, Jaden, across from Manjome, Activated his Set Card in the Backrow: "Then I'll Chain to your Attack Declaration, Manjome-chan! Activate Trap Card Sakuretsu Armor!"
"This card can directly Destroy the Monster that Declared an Attack!"
"First, it's not Manjome-chan, call me Mr. Manjoume!" Jaden's somehow cute way of addressing him annoyed Manjome, who considered himself a mature adult. "Second, don't forget the Effect of Light and Darkness Dragon so quickly!"
The Set Card in Jaden's Backrow flipped open, and a dangerous red light shot towards the attacking Infernal Warrior. Just as it was about to hit, Light and Darkness Dragon, standing on the ground, turned and swung its tail. Its black and white tails whipped out like whips, instantly shattering Sakuretsu Armor and protecting Infernal Warrior.
However, at the same time, just like its wings before, the light on Light and Darkness Dragon's tails dimmed and shattered.
[Light and Darkness Dragon] [2300/1900 → 1800/1400]
Infernal Warrior's scimitar easily cut off Death Stalker's head, Destroying it and Sending it to the Graveyard. But Jaden looked at Manjome's Light and Darkness Dragon and showed a look of understanding, muttering to himself, "Oh, so that's how it is."
Manjome didn't hear Jaden's muttering. Seeing that Jaden's Monster on the field was Destroyed and Sent to the Graveyard, he couldn't help but laugh smugly: "Heh heh, heh ha ha ha, now you have no Monsters on the field! Prepare to receive This Great One's Direct Attack!"
The two-colored giant dragon opened its mouth and began to gather its attack. But looking at Light and Darkness Dragon, Jaden smiled and said to Manjome, "Manjome-chan, Light and Darkness Dragon is indeed a Monster with a pretty good Effect. But its Effect requires its Attack and Defense to decrease by 500 points, and it's a Mandatory Activation, right?"
"It's Mr. Manjoume!" He instinctively retorted, then Manjome belatedly realized that Jaden had accurately stated part of Light and Darkness Dragon's Effect. "How the heck do you know that!?"
"Huh, so it really is like that." Jaden scratched the back of his head somewhat sheepishly. "I wasn't entirely sure before, but is it really like that?"
"As for how I found out, it's because when I used Pot of Greed earlier, I didn't hear Manjome-chan give Light and Darkness Dragon any command; it just moved on its own. It's just like Slifer the Sky Dragon used by Player Marik in the Duel City Top 4!"
"Hmph, so what if you found out?" Manjome raised an eyebrow. "Light and Darkness Dragon, Direct Attack the Opponent Duelist! Twin Polar Dragon Breath!"
The two-colored dragon breath spewed from Light and Darkness Dragon's mouth, hitting Jaden, who had no Monsters on the field, in an instant. His Life Points decreased accordingly.
[Jaden: 4000 → 2700 LP]
Looking at Jaden's decreased Life Points, Manjome frowned: "That's not right. 4000 - 1800 should be 2200 points, shouldn't it?"
"Of course, it's because I Activated this card," Jaden's voice came from the opposite side of the field. Manjome looked up and saw a card in Jaden's Backrow being Destroyed by Light and Darkness Dragon and Sent to the Graveyard.
"Absorption Shield. It normally has the Effect of absorbing an Attack and converting it into my Life Points, but because of your Light and Darkness Dragon, Manjome-chan, its Effect was Negated."
Jaden's face showed a helpless expression, but then he smiled: "However, because of this, Light and Darkness Dragon's Effect was Mandatorily Activated again, decreasing its Attack and Defense by 500 points."
[Light and Darkness Dragon] [1800/1400 → 1300/900]
"Why is your Deck full of Mr. Hayato's cards?" Manjome frowned. "Hmph, even if you use Mr. Hayato's cards, it's useless. The truly powerful one isn't the card, but the Duelist! I'll finish you off Next Turn!"
In Manjome's Hand, he had a Lightning Vortex and a Blue-Eyes White Night Dragon with 3000 Attack. Next Turn, he planned to Tribute Light and Darkness Dragon and Infernal Warrior to Tribute Summon Blue-Eyes White Night Dragon, then Use Lightning Vortex to Destroy all Monsters on the field, and then Direct Attack to Deplete Jaden's Life Points.
Hmm, no matter how he thought about it, it was a super~ perfect plan! This Great One is indeed a Duel Monsters genius!
"My Turn, End Turn."
[Manjome: 2000 LP, Hand 4]
[Infernal Warrior] [ATK 1200]
[Light and Darkness Dragon] [ATK 1300]
"You're going to finish me off Next Turn? It seems, Manjome-chan, you have quite a powerful strength in your Hand." Hearing Manjome's threat, Jaden instead showed an excited smile.
"It's Mr. Manjoume!"
"What, are you already trembling with fear? But I won't accept your surrender."
Jaden shook his head: "Not at all. I just realized something, which is that I'm actually only one step away from completing the puzzle for victory. Everything depends on whether I can Draw that key card this time."
"One Draw can create a whole new future. Duel Monsters is really interesting, isn't it?" Giving Manjome a smile, Jaden Drew from his Deck. "My Turn, Draw!"
"Alright, I Drew it!" Putting the card into his Hand excitedly, Jaden Drew another card. "I Activate Spell Card Monster Reborn!"
"Hmph, I thought you were going to Use some kind of card. Muda da muda da muda da! I told you, as long as Light and Darkness Dragon exists on the field, your resistance is Muda da!"
"Roar!"
Light and Darkness Dragon swung its claws, and the Ankh symbol of Monster Reborn that had just appeared on the field was instantly torn apart. It was Sent to the Graveyard before it could Take Effect.
[Light and Darkness Dragon] [1300/900 → 800/400]
Just as Manjome was about to mock him, Jaden excitedly said, "Alright, this means my victory."
"Manjome-chan, your Light and Darkness Dragon's Defense is already less than 500 points. This means it can no longer Use its Effect, right?"
"Na, Nani?" Manjome was also stunned, only then remembering that Light and Darkness Dragon's Effect could only be Used a total of four times, and after four times, it couldn't Use its Effect anymore.
But he felt that he couldn't lose his momentum, so he retorted stubbornly: "I, I naturally know that, but so what? Can you still Summon a Monster with over 2800 Attack to defeat me in one Turn?"
"A Monster with over 2800 Attack, that's a bit too difficult," Jaden chuckled. "However, a Monster with 2300 Attack is possible."
"Set one card from my Hand. Because I only have one card left in my Hand, I can Normal Summon this Monster without Tributing!"
Hearing this familiar Effect, Manjome's eyes widened. Because he suddenly remembered that this jellyfish head had said before the Duel started that he was using a Gaia the Fierce Knight Deck?
"The Monster with this Effect is—"
"That's right! It's Mr. King of Games's early Ace Monster! Come forth, the Dark Knight riding a warhorse faster than the wind! Swift Gaia the Fierce Knight!"
On Jaden's field, the figure of Swift Gaia the Fierce Knight, whose price had soared recently due to Mr. Hayato's publicity, appeared. As soon as it appeared, it spurred its warhorse and charged towards Manjome.
Jaden didn't notice that there was anything wrong with his Monster activating its Attack on its own without being given a command. He said excitedly, "Enter my Battle Phase! Swift Gaia the Fierce Knight, Attack Light and Darkness Dragon! Spiral Spear Strike!"
The two-colored giant dragon, whose Attack had been reduced to only 800 points, only had the presence of a high-level Monster but lacked actual power. It was easily pierced by Gaia's spear and Destroyed, Sent to the Graveyard.
"Ugh!" Along with this Attack, Manjome felt a pain much stronger than a normal Virtual Impact. He staggered back two or three steps before standing firm.
[Manjome: 2000 → 500 LP]
"Then, in my Main Phase 2, I'll flip the card I Set earlier." Before Manjome could recover, Jaden impatiently flipped the card he had just Set in his Backrow.
"Continuous Spell Card, **Psychic Feel Zone**. This card's Effect is that during each player's End Phase, they can Tribute one Monster on the field and inflict damage to the opponent equal to half the Tributed Monster's Attack."
"This is the final blow, Manjome-chan!"
"It's Mr. Manjoume! Uwaaa!!!"
Manjome, who had just regained his footing, looked up and saw Swift Gaia the Fierce Knight transform into a phantom image and crash into him. He only had time to retort to Jaden before being hit by Gaia.
In the instant before being hit, Manjome vaguely saw a blurry humanoid figure with wings on its back next to Jaden.
"In front of This Great One, all you can do is turtle up and defend, huh? Heh heh, then I'll attack now. My Turn, Draw!"
Manjome drew a card smugly, but awkwardly discovered that the card he drew this turn was the same as the one Jaden used last turn: Pot of Greed.
Normally, Pot of Greed, which lets you draw two cards for no cost, would be a pretty good card. However, Manjome currently has Light and Darkness Dragon on the field. It's not just Jaden's cards whose activation can be sealed by Light and Darkness Dragon; Manjome's cards are the same.
"I Attack Position Summon Infernal Warrior."
Not wanting to waste a card, Manjome Summoned a Monster Card onto the field. Beside the giant black and white dragon, a fully armed warrior holding a scimitar appeared.
[Infernal Warrior] [4☆/DARK]
[Warrior-Type/Effect]
[1200/1400]
"Now, enter the Battle Phase!" Manjome excitedly raised his hand and pointed at Death Stalker in Defense Position on Jaden's field, "Go, Infernal Warrior! Attack Death Stalker!"
At the same time, Jaden, across from Manjome, Activated his Set Card in the Backrow: "Then I'll Chain to your Attack Declaration, Manjome-chan! Activate Trap Card Sakuretsu Armor!"
"This card can directly Destroy the Monster that Declared an Attack!"
"First, it's not Manjome-chan, call me Mr. Manjoume!" Jaden's somehow cute way of addressing him annoyed Manjome, who considered himself a mature adult. "Second, don't forget the Effect of Light and Darkness Dragon so quickly!"
The Set Card in Jaden's Backrow flipped open, and a dangerous red light shot towards the attacking Infernal Warrior. Just as it was about to hit, Light and Darkness Dragon, standing on the ground, turned and swung its tail. Its black and white tails whipped out like whips, instantly shattering Sakuretsu Armor and protecting Infernal Warrior.
However, at the same time, just like its wings before, the light on Light and Darkness Dragon's tails dimmed and shattered.
[Light and Darkness Dragon] [2300/1900 → 1800/1400]
Infernal Warrior's scimitar easily cut off Death Stalker's head, Destroying it and Sending it to the Graveyard. But Jaden looked at Manjome's Light and Darkness Dragon and showed a look of understanding, muttering to himself, "Oh, so that's how it is."
Manjome didn't hear Jaden's muttering. Seeing that Jaden's Monster on the field was Destroyed and Sent to the Graveyard, he couldn't help but laugh smugly: "Heh heh, heh ha ha ha, now you have no Monsters on the field! Prepare to receive This Great One's Direct Attack!"
The two-colored giant dragon opened its mouth and began to gather its attack. But looking at Light and Darkness Dragon, Jaden smiled and said to Manjome, "Manjome-chan, Light and Darkness Dragon is indeed a Monster with a pretty good Effect. But its Effect requires its Attack and Defense to decrease by 500 points, and it's a Mandatory Activation, right?"
"It's Mr. Manjoume!" He instinctively retorted, then Manjome belatedly realized that Jaden had accurately stated part of Light and Darkness Dragon's Effect. "How the heck do you know that!?"
"Huh, so it really is like that." Jaden scratched the back of his head somewhat sheepishly. "I wasn't entirely sure before, but is it really like that?"
"As for how I found out, it's because when I used Pot of Greed earlier, I didn't hear Manjome-chan give Light and Darkness Dragon any command; it just moved on its own. It's just like Slifer the Sky Dragon used by Player Marik in the Duel City Top 4!"
"Hmph, so what if you found out?" Manjome raised an eyebrow. "Light and Darkness Dragon, Direct Attack the Opponent Duelist! Twin Polar Dragon Breath!"
The two-colored dragon breath spewed from Light and Darkness Dragon's mouth, hitting Jaden, who had no Monsters on the field, in an instant. His Life Points decreased accordingly.
[Jaden: 4000 → 2700 LP]
Looking at Jaden's decreased Life Points, Manjome frowned: "That's not right. 4000 - 1800 should be 2200 points, shouldn't it?"
"Of course, it's because I Activated this card," Jaden's voice came from the opposite side of the field. Manjome looked up and saw a card in Jaden's Backrow being Destroyed by Light and Darkness Dragon and Sent to the Graveyard.
"Absorption Shield. It normally has the Effect of absorbing an Attack and converting it into my Life Points, but because of your Light and Darkness Dragon, Manjome-chan, its Effect was Negated."
Jaden's face showed a helpless expression, but then he smiled: "However, because of this, Light and Darkness Dragon's Effect was Mandatorily Activated again, decreasing its Attack and Defense by 500 points."
[Light and Darkness Dragon] [1800/1400 → 1300/900]
"Why is your Deck full of Mr. Hayato's cards?" Manjome frowned. "Hmph, even if you use Mr. Hayato's cards, it's useless. The truly powerful one isn't the card, but the Duelist! I'll finish you off Next Turn!"
In Manjome's Hand, he had a Lightning Vortex and a Blue-Eyes White Night Dragon with 3000 Attack. Next Turn, he planned to Tribute Light and Darkness Dragon and Infernal Warrior to Tribute Summon Blue-Eyes White Night Dragon, then Use Lightning Vortex to Destroy all Monsters on the field, and then Direct Attack to Deplete Jaden's Life Points.
Hmm, no matter how he thought about it, it was a super~ perfect plan! This Great One is indeed a Duel Monsters genius!
"My Turn, End Turn."
[Manjome: 2000 LP, Hand 4]
[Infernal Warrior] [ATK 1200]
[Light and Darkness Dragon] [ATK 1300]
"You're going to finish me off Next Turn? It seems, Manjome-chan, you have quite a powerful strength in your Hand." Hearing Manjome's threat, Jaden instead showed an excited smile.
"It's Mr. Manjoume!"
"What, are you already trembling with fear? But I won't accept your surrender."
Jaden shook his head: "Not at all. I just realized something, which is that I'm actually only one step away from completing the puzzle for victory. Everything depends on whether I can Draw that key card this time."
"One Draw can create a whole new future. Duel Monsters is really interesting, isn't it?" Giving Manjome a smile, Jaden Drew from his Deck. "My Turn, Draw!"
"Alright, I Drew it!" Putting the card into his Hand excitedly, Jaden Drew another card. "I Activate Spell Card Monster Reborn!"
"Hmph, I thought you were going to Use some kind of card. Muda da muda da muda da! I told you, as long as Light and Darkness Dragon exists on the field, your resistance is Muda da!"
"Roar!"
Light and Darkness Dragon swung its claws, and the Ankh symbol of Monster Reborn that had just appeared on the field was instantly torn apart. It was Sent to the Graveyard before it could Take Effect.
[Light and Darkness Dragon] [1300/900 → 800/400]
Just as Manjome was about to mock him, Jaden excitedly said, "Alright, this means my victory."
"Manjome-chan, your Light and Darkness Dragon's Defense is already less than 500 points. This means it can no longer Use its Effect, right?"
"Na, Nani?" Manjome was also stunned, only then remembering that Light and Darkness Dragon's Effect could only be Used a total of four times, and after four times, it couldn't Use its Effect anymore.
But he felt that he couldn't lose his momentum, so he retorted stubbornly: "I, I naturally know that, but so what? Can you still Summon a Monster with over 2800 Attack to defeat me in one Turn?"
"A Monster with over 2800 Attack, that's a bit too difficult," Jaden chuckled. "However, a Monster with 2300 Attack is possible."
"Set one card from my Hand. Because I only have one card left in my Hand, I can Normal Summon this Monster without Tributing!"
Hearing this familiar Effect, Manjome's eyes widened. Because he suddenly remembered that this jellyfish head had said before the Duel started that he was using a Gaia the Fierce Knight Deck?
"The Monster with this Effect is—"
"That's right! It's Mr. King of Games's early Ace Monster! Come forth, the Dark Knight riding a warhorse faster than the wind! Swift Gaia the Fierce Knight!"
On Jaden's field, the figure of Swift Gaia the Fierce Knight, whose price had soared recently due to Mr. Hayato's publicity, appeared. As soon as it appeared, it spurred its warhorse and charged towards Manjome.
Jaden didn't notice that there was anything wrong with his Monster activating its Attack on its own without being given a command. He said excitedly, "Enter my Battle Phase! Swift Gaia the Fierce Knight, Attack Light and Darkness Dragon! Spiral Spear Strike!"
The two-colored giant dragon, whose Attack had been reduced to only 800 points, only had the presence of a high-level Monster but lacked actual power. It was easily pierced by Gaia's spear and Destroyed, Sent to the Graveyard.
"Ugh!" Along with this Attack, Manjome felt a pain much stronger than a normal Virtual Impact. He staggered back two or three steps before standing firm.
[Manjome: 2000 → 500 LP]
"Then, in my Main Phase 2, I'll flip the card I Set earlier." Before Manjome could recover, Jaden impatiently flipped the card he had just Set in his Backrow.
"Continuous Spell Card, **Psychic Feel Zone**. This card's Effect is that during each player's End Phase, they can Tribute one Monster on the field and inflict damage to the opponent equal to half the Tributed Monster's Attack."
"This is the final blow, Manjome-chan!"
"It's Mr. Manjoume! Uwaaa!!!"
Manjome, who had just regained his footing, looked up and saw Swift Gaia the Fierce Knight transform into a phantom image and crash into him. He only had time to retort to Jaden before being hit by Gaia.
In the instant before being hit, Manjome vaguely saw a blurry humanoid figure with wings on its back next to Jaden.
