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# Chapter 498: What a Beautiful Thing, This Liberation
After Summoning **Rainbow Neos** to the Field, Judai looked down at his last three remaining cards: **E•HERO Flash**, **E•HERO Bubbleman**, and a Spell Card of unknown purpose.
The effect of the **Rainbow Neos** he summoned is, once per turn, you can choose one type of card to send to the Graveyard, then return the corresponding target card to the Deck. They are---
"one monster on your Field" corresponding to "monster(s) on the Opponent's Field",
"one Spell/Trap Card on your Field" corresponding to "Spell/Trap Card(s) on the Opponent's Field",
and "the top card of your Deck" corresponding to "card(s) in the Opponent's Graveyard".
Logically, it seemed like just by activating the second effect to return the Field Spell Card that Paradox previously activated back to his Deck, he could destroy the condition necessary for **Malefic Stardust Dragon**'s existence, killing two birds with one stone.
The problem is, Judai's **Rainbow Neos** is different from the real-life card version of **Rainbow Neos**, which has a simpler effect. His **Rainbow Neos** has the prerequisite of "returning the target card to the Deck," meaning it's the accursed targeting effect!
And unfortunately, the **Malefic Territory** that Paradox previously activated happened to provide **Malefic World** with targeting resistance. Furthermore, this resistance exists on the activated **Malefic World** itself, so even destroying **Malefic Territory** would be useless.
The third effect, which returns card(s) in the Opponent's Graveyard to the Deck, wouldn't be very meaningful if used now. Therefore, Judai chose to activate the second type of **Rainbow Neos**'s effect.
"I haven't performed a Normal Summon yet this turn. I Set one card from my Hand. I Normal Summon **E•HERO Flash** in Attack Position, then use the effect of **E•HERO Bubbleman** in my Hand."
"When **E•HERO Bubbleman** is the only card in my Hand, I can Special Summon it directly!"
**E•HERO Bubbleman**, who looks like a bootleg Batman, and **E•HERO Flash**, whose English name is simply "Flash", appeared together on Judai's Field. Looking at these two somewhat similar "Hero" monsters, it's hard not to suspect if DC's Justice League ran to the wrong set again.
**E•HERO Flash** [Level 4 / LIGHT]
[Warrior Type / Effect]
[1100 ATK / 1600 DEF]
**E•HERO Bubbleman** [Level 4 / WATER]
[Warrior Type / Effect]
[800 ATK / 1200 DEF]
Although it has the nickname "Greed Hero", it's a pity that the necessary condition to activate **E•HERO Bubbleman**'s draw effect is "acting alone," meaning there can't be other cards on your Field when it's summoned. So this time, the "Greed Hero" couldn't help Judai get a free card.
In response, **E•HERO Bubbleman**, standing on Judai's Field in Defense Position, imitated Batman's accent and said in a low voice, "I'm Bubbleman."
However, Judai wasn't planning to use it to gain card advantage this time anyway, but rather wanted it to be the necessary sacrifice for **Rainbow Neos** to activate its effect.
"Another Special Summon, huh? In that case, my Hand increases to four cards, while your Hand is now empty," Paradox said, drawing a card. "Furthermore, they're all weak monsters with less than 1500 ATK."
Hearing this, Judai smiled. "Heh heh, don't underestimate my 'Hero' monsters, Paradox. Even the smallest heart of justice can bloom into a dazzling light of hope."
Extending his finger towards the deity-like **Rainbow Neos**, Judai said loudly, "Once per turn, I activate the effect of **Rainbow Neos** to send **E•HERO Bubbleman** on my Field to the Graveyard!"
"Then, because the type sent to the Graveyard is 'monster on my Field', return all monsters on your Field, Paradox, to the Deck!"
"What!?" Hearing that Judai was going to tribute him, **E•HERO Bubbleman** also had a bewildered expression.
There's no reason! Clearly, the "Flash" who is always tributed in bootlegs is **E•HERO Flash** standing next to me, so why is it me, who imitates Batman, that suffers!?
Sigh, this, this isn't right, right? Who, who is trying to trap me today? Judai-san, you're trying to trap me, right!?
"Sorry, **Bubbleman**, this is a necessary sacrifice!" Judai said with a righteous expression, clenching his hand into a fist and swinging it out. "Then, let **Stardust Dragon** find liberation, **Rainbow Neos**!"
"Beyond the Rainbow Hole!"
As the reluctant **E•HERO Bubbleman** turned into a blue radiance and rose up, **Rainbow Neos**'s hands came together in front of its chest, gripping the radiance that **Bubbleman** had become, transforming it into a giant, multicolored spear.
Spreading the rainbow wings on its back, it leaped high into the air. **Rainbow Neos** maintained a throwing form, locking onto **Malefic Stardust Dragon** from above, then hurled the spear of light!
Paradox, whose Spell/Trap Zone had no Set cards to activate, watched helplessly as the spear of light landed, then transformed into a swirling, multicolored portal that rapidly expanded, instantly capturing **Malefic Stardust Dragon**.
**Malefic Stardust Dragon** inherited **Stardust Dragon**'s ability "Sacrifice's Sanctuary", which can negate and destroy destruction effects. Even the indiscriminate power of destruction like Dark Hole could be resisted. But **Rainbow Neos**'s effect wasn't destruction, but a gentle redemptive power. Therefore, even **Malefic Stardust Dragon** didn't have the ability to escape this power, disappearing into the Rainbow Hole under the gaze of Judai and the others.
However, before Judai could relax even slightly, he saw a rapidly spinning scythe shoot out from within the gradually closing Rainbow Hole, piercing the chest of the completely defenseless **Rainbow Neos**!!
"Nani!"
Seeing **Rainbow Neos**'s body, whose chest was pierced by the scythe, wrapped in visible grudge spirits, its size continuously shrinking until it even entered a paper talisman, Judai was quite unexpected. Turning his head to look at Yusei Fudo, who was equally bewildered, he said, "Yusei-san, you never mentioned **Stardust Dragon** had this kind of effect!"
"Why does even the effect that bounces it back to the Deck also cause my **Rainbow Neos** to be destroyed?"
Yusei Fudo also didn't understand what happened. "**Stardust Dragon**'s effect should indeed only have the ability 'Sacrifice's Sanctuary'. I couldn't possibly be mistaken. That guy Paradox said that Sin Monsters inherit all the power of the original monsters, so the effect of 'Sacrifice's Sanctuary' shouldn't change either."
"But what in the world---"
Just then, Hayato spoke up from the side. "I guess it's **Ghost Ogre & Snow Rabbit**, right?"
"**Ghost Ogre & Snow Rabbit**?" Hearing this, Fudo Yusei was also startled. After recalling for a moment, he vaguely remembered there seemed to be a card with that name, and that card's effect seemed like...
"Oh? I didn't expect that Fudo Yusei, who lives in the future, couldn't guess what happened, but Hayato Kobayashi, who lives in an era without even Tuner Monsters, guessed this card."
Standing on the "Shinri-go", Paradox sent **Ghost Ogre & Snow Rabbit**, which was added to his Hand by **Maxx "C"**, to the Graveyard. And on his Field, the expressionless girl **Ghost Ogre & Snow Rabbit**, who had recycled the scythe and paper talisman, completely ignored Paradox and vanished directly.
However, before vanishing, **Ghost Ogre & Snow Rabbit** did glance at Hayato. After their gazes met, **Ghost Ogre & Snow Rabbit** nodded with an expressionless face, as if saying hello, then dispersed into a rabbit-shaped will-o'-the-wisp.
"When the effect of a monster on the Field or a face-up Spell/Trap Card is activated, I can discard **Ghost Ogre & Snow Rabbit** from my Hand or Field to destroy that card whose effect was activated."
Paradox said proudly, "Although I cannot negate that effect, at least I can achieve mutual destruction. You cannot defeat me, who has gathered the strongest cards from every era!"
"Tsk, I miscalculated. The field setup I did all at once just now instead provided the opponent with a countermeasure." Judai looked somewhat troubled at the only **E•HERO Flash** remaining on his Field, but he wasn't overly disheartened by **Rainbow Neos** being destroyed. Instead, he said seriously, "Stop being so proud, Paradox!"
"Although it's not my full power, at least take this Direct Attack!"
"Enter Battle Phase! Then **E•HERO Flash** Direct Attack the Opponent Duelist!"
"Godspeed Storm!"
(End of Chapter)
After Summoning **Rainbow Neos** to the Field, Judai looked down at his last three remaining cards: **E•HERO Flash**, **E•HERO Bubbleman**, and a Spell Card of unknown purpose.
The effect of the **Rainbow Neos** he summoned is, once per turn, you can choose one type of card to send to the Graveyard, then return the corresponding target card to the Deck. They are---
"one monster on your Field" corresponding to "monster(s) on the Opponent's Field",
"one Spell/Trap Card on your Field" corresponding to "Spell/Trap Card(s) on the Opponent's Field",
and "the top card of your Deck" corresponding to "card(s) in the Opponent's Graveyard".
Logically, it seemed like just by activating the second effect to return the Field Spell Card that Paradox previously activated back to his Deck, he could destroy the condition necessary for **Malefic Stardust Dragon**'s existence, killing two birds with one stone.
The problem is, Judai's **Rainbow Neos** is different from the real-life card version of **Rainbow Neos**, which has a simpler effect. His **Rainbow Neos** has the prerequisite of "returning the target card to the Deck," meaning it's the accursed targeting effect!
And unfortunately, the **Malefic Territory** that Paradox previously activated happened to provide **Malefic World** with targeting resistance. Furthermore, this resistance exists on the activated **Malefic World** itself, so even destroying **Malefic Territory** would be useless.
The third effect, which returns card(s) in the Opponent's Graveyard to the Deck, wouldn't be very meaningful if used now. Therefore, Judai chose to activate the second type of **Rainbow Neos**'s effect.
"I haven't performed a Normal Summon yet this turn. I Set one card from my Hand. I Normal Summon **E•HERO Flash** in Attack Position, then use the effect of **E•HERO Bubbleman** in my Hand."
"When **E•HERO Bubbleman** is the only card in my Hand, I can Special Summon it directly!"
**E•HERO Bubbleman**, who looks like a bootleg Batman, and **E•HERO Flash**, whose English name is simply "Flash", appeared together on Judai's Field. Looking at these two somewhat similar "Hero" monsters, it's hard not to suspect if DC's Justice League ran to the wrong set again.
**E•HERO Flash** [Level 4 / LIGHT]
[Warrior Type / Effect]
[1100 ATK / 1600 DEF]
**E•HERO Bubbleman** [Level 4 / WATER]
[Warrior Type / Effect]
[800 ATK / 1200 DEF]
Although it has the nickname "Greed Hero", it's a pity that the necessary condition to activate **E•HERO Bubbleman**'s draw effect is "acting alone," meaning there can't be other cards on your Field when it's summoned. So this time, the "Greed Hero" couldn't help Judai get a free card.
In response, **E•HERO Bubbleman**, standing on Judai's Field in Defense Position, imitated Batman's accent and said in a low voice, "I'm Bubbleman."
However, Judai wasn't planning to use it to gain card advantage this time anyway, but rather wanted it to be the necessary sacrifice for **Rainbow Neos** to activate its effect.
"Another Special Summon, huh? In that case, my Hand increases to four cards, while your Hand is now empty," Paradox said, drawing a card. "Furthermore, they're all weak monsters with less than 1500 ATK."
Hearing this, Judai smiled. "Heh heh, don't underestimate my 'Hero' monsters, Paradox. Even the smallest heart of justice can bloom into a dazzling light of hope."
Extending his finger towards the deity-like **Rainbow Neos**, Judai said loudly, "Once per turn, I activate the effect of **Rainbow Neos** to send **E•HERO Bubbleman** on my Field to the Graveyard!"
"Then, because the type sent to the Graveyard is 'monster on my Field', return all monsters on your Field, Paradox, to the Deck!"
"What!?" Hearing that Judai was going to tribute him, **E•HERO Bubbleman** also had a bewildered expression.
There's no reason! Clearly, the "Flash" who is always tributed in bootlegs is **E•HERO Flash** standing next to me, so why is it me, who imitates Batman, that suffers!?
Sigh, this, this isn't right, right? Who, who is trying to trap me today? Judai-san, you're trying to trap me, right!?
"Sorry, **Bubbleman**, this is a necessary sacrifice!" Judai said with a righteous expression, clenching his hand into a fist and swinging it out. "Then, let **Stardust Dragon** find liberation, **Rainbow Neos**!"
"Beyond the Rainbow Hole!"
As the reluctant **E•HERO Bubbleman** turned into a blue radiance and rose up, **Rainbow Neos**'s hands came together in front of its chest, gripping the radiance that **Bubbleman** had become, transforming it into a giant, multicolored spear.
Spreading the rainbow wings on its back, it leaped high into the air. **Rainbow Neos** maintained a throwing form, locking onto **Malefic Stardust Dragon** from above, then hurled the spear of light!
Paradox, whose Spell/Trap Zone had no Set cards to activate, watched helplessly as the spear of light landed, then transformed into a swirling, multicolored portal that rapidly expanded, instantly capturing **Malefic Stardust Dragon**.
**Malefic Stardust Dragon** inherited **Stardust Dragon**'s ability "Sacrifice's Sanctuary", which can negate and destroy destruction effects. Even the indiscriminate power of destruction like Dark Hole could be resisted. But **Rainbow Neos**'s effect wasn't destruction, but a gentle redemptive power. Therefore, even **Malefic Stardust Dragon** didn't have the ability to escape this power, disappearing into the Rainbow Hole under the gaze of Judai and the others.
However, before Judai could relax even slightly, he saw a rapidly spinning scythe shoot out from within the gradually closing Rainbow Hole, piercing the chest of the completely defenseless **Rainbow Neos**!!
"Nani!"
Seeing **Rainbow Neos**'s body, whose chest was pierced by the scythe, wrapped in visible grudge spirits, its size continuously shrinking until it even entered a paper talisman, Judai was quite unexpected. Turning his head to look at Yusei Fudo, who was equally bewildered, he said, "Yusei-san, you never mentioned **Stardust Dragon** had this kind of effect!"
"Why does even the effect that bounces it back to the Deck also cause my **Rainbow Neos** to be destroyed?"
Yusei Fudo also didn't understand what happened. "**Stardust Dragon**'s effect should indeed only have the ability 'Sacrifice's Sanctuary'. I couldn't possibly be mistaken. That guy Paradox said that Sin Monsters inherit all the power of the original monsters, so the effect of 'Sacrifice's Sanctuary' shouldn't change either."
"But what in the world---"
Just then, Hayato spoke up from the side. "I guess it's **Ghost Ogre & Snow Rabbit**, right?"
"**Ghost Ogre & Snow Rabbit**?" Hearing this, Fudo Yusei was also startled. After recalling for a moment, he vaguely remembered there seemed to be a card with that name, and that card's effect seemed like...
"Oh? I didn't expect that Fudo Yusei, who lives in the future, couldn't guess what happened, but Hayato Kobayashi, who lives in an era without even Tuner Monsters, guessed this card."
Standing on the "Shinri-go", Paradox sent **Ghost Ogre & Snow Rabbit**, which was added to his Hand by **Maxx "C"**, to the Graveyard. And on his Field, the expressionless girl **Ghost Ogre & Snow Rabbit**, who had recycled the scythe and paper talisman, completely ignored Paradox and vanished directly.
However, before vanishing, **Ghost Ogre & Snow Rabbit** did glance at Hayato. After their gazes met, **Ghost Ogre & Snow Rabbit** nodded with an expressionless face, as if saying hello, then dispersed into a rabbit-shaped will-o'-the-wisp.
"When the effect of a monster on the Field or a face-up Spell/Trap Card is activated, I can discard **Ghost Ogre & Snow Rabbit** from my Hand or Field to destroy that card whose effect was activated."
Paradox said proudly, "Although I cannot negate that effect, at least I can achieve mutual destruction. You cannot defeat me, who has gathered the strongest cards from every era!"
"Tsk, I miscalculated. The field setup I did all at once just now instead provided the opponent with a countermeasure." Judai looked somewhat troubled at the only **E•HERO Flash** remaining on his Field, but he wasn't overly disheartened by **Rainbow Neos** being destroyed. Instead, he said seriously, "Stop being so proud, Paradox!"
"Although it's not my full power, at least take this Direct Attack!"
"Enter Battle Phase! Then **E•HERO Flash** Direct Attack the Opponent Duelist!"
"Godspeed Storm!"
(End of Chapter)
