Wanna Duel? I've Got the Pharaoh's Deck! [4]

[Triangle Ecstasy Spark]
Normal Spell
Until the end of this turn, “Harpie Lady Sisters” becomes 2700 ATK, your opponent cannot activate Trap Cards, and the effects of all Trap Cards they control are negated.

A signature support card for [Harpie Lady Sisters], sharing its name with their iconic attack. For one turn, it completely locked down Traps—basically a “Harpie” version of [Jinzo].

While it didn’t have the sheer power or permanence of [Harpie’s Feather Duster], it was more than enough for Hoshino Mai in this situation.

“So now, if your face-downs are all Traps, Yuuhi-kun, they’ll be completely sealed away,” Mai said with a smile. “The only thing left to protect you is that one set monster on your field.”

With [Harpie Lady Sisters] buffed by the Spell, and assuming his monster wasn’t a flip effect, it wouldn't survive the hit. Once his shield crumbled, [Harpie Queen] would deliver her devastating “warm welcome”—likely wiping out half his LP in one go.

A fast path to defeat.

“But before that—my Trap Card still can activate!”

Despite the looming danger, Yuuhi didn’t panic. Calm composure—that was the most important thing in a duel.

He tapped a button on his Duel Disk, and one of his long-waiting face-downs flipped open, challenging Mai’s momentum.

“I activate the Trap Card—[Gravity Bind]! All Level 4 or higher face-up monsters on the field switch to Defense Position!”

Thanks to activation timing rules, [Gravity Bind] went off before [Triangle Ecstasy Spark] locked it down.

Invisible pressure slammed into the field. The Harpies buckled under the weight, knees bending as their stances shifted—forced into Defense Position.

In the game, monster positions come in two forms: Attack and Defense. And unless you're a rare case like [Superheavy Samurai], monsters in Defense Position can't attack.

“Aww, so my plan’s busted?” Mai didn’t seem especially bothered. “Well then, I’ll set two cards. Turn end.”

Her attack stalled, Mai casually placed two cards face-down and passed the turn with a relaxed grace.

Yuuhi, watching her, was a little surprised.

No Link Summon?

From watching her previous duels, he knew Mai could Link Summon. And Link Monsters, unlike other types, don’t have Defense Position—they wouldn’t be affected by [Gravity Bind] at all.

Plus, newly summoned monsters wouldn’t be subject to its effect anyway.

“Yeah, that might’ve been a good way to break through,” Mai said, picking up on his doubt, “but don’t forget, this is an exhibition duel. Pushing too hard ruins the performance. So I’ll play it my way. Don’t think too much about it, Yuuhi-kun.”

…In other words, she was confident she could win no matter what he did?

Looking at her smile—pure, perfect, idol-like—Yuuhi raised his hand.

“Got it… Draw!”

He looked at the card he drew, then immediately slipped a card into his Spell/Trap Zone.

“I activate the Spell Card—[Dark Hole]! Destroy all monsters on the field!”

“What? [Dark Hole]?”

Mai blinked, visibly surprised. “But won’t that destroy your monster too?”

“Yeah. That’s fine.”

There wasn’t a trace of hesitation on Yuuhi’s face. This was clearly a calculated move.

A black sphere appeared in the center of the field, and with a surge of overwhelming suction, all three monsters—Mai’s Harpies and Yuuhi’s set monster—were dragged inward and annihilated in an instant.

But the moment those monsters vanished, a familiar ding rang out from Yuuhi’s Duel Disk—a signal that a card effect had activated.

“My set monster was [Witch of the Black Forest]. When she’s sent from the field to the GY, I can add 1 monster with 1500 or less DEF from my Deck to my hand. Then—I activate my other face-down!”

He pressed the button, and another set card flipped up—

“Trap Card—[Soul Rope]!”

“I pay 1000 Life Points to activate its effect. When a monster I control is destroyed and sent to the GY, I can Special Summon a Level 4 monster from my Deck.”

[Yuuhi LP: 4000 → 3000]

A surge of life force flowed from Yuuhi’s chest into the card. The Trap’s background shimmered with a soft yellow glow—the signature color of Normal Monsters. From it emerged a female knight in pink armor, her gear adorned with card suit motifs—hearts, diamonds, spades, clubs.

[Queen’s Knight]
Level 4 / LIGHT / Warrior
ATK: 1500 / DEF: 1600

“Then, I Normal Summon the monster I added to my hand: [King’s Knight]! When he’s summoned while I control [Queen’s Knight], I can Special Summon [Jack’s Knight] from my Deck!”

[King’s Knight]
Level 4 / LIGHT / Warrior
ATK: 1600 / DEF: 1400

[Jack’s Knight]
Level 5 / LIGHT / Warrior
ATK: 1900 / DEF: 1200

Twin flashes of light appeared beside [Queen’s Knight]—one golden, one silver. A commanding swordsman in gold armor, and a younger knight in sleek black and white plate.

The three Poker Knights crossed blades, forming a sparkling forest of steel under the sun.

Mai’s field was now wide open. In contrast, Yuuhi—after wiping the field with [Dark Hole]—had summoned three monsters in a single turn.

The situation had flipped completely.

Together, their combined ATK totaled 5000. If all three attacks went through, it’d be an instant OTK.

“Whoa, what?! Is this guy actually gonna win?!”

“No way… He didn’t even look that strong! That luck’s insane!”

The reversal sent murmurs through the crowd.

No one had expected it. The boy who’d raised his hand first might actually take Mai’s first loss of the day—something none of the earlier challengers had come close to doing.

The swords of the Poker Knights now pointed straight at Hoshino Mai. And yet, she remained calm, smiling, unshaken.

“A brilliant strategy, Yuuhi-kun. But… you’re just a bit short. Don’t forget—my field still has a face-down card.”

Even though [Dark Hole] had cleared her front line, just like Yuuhi, she’d left a card in hiding.

If he charged in recklessly, he could end up losing everything.

But if he succeeded… the reward would be massive.

Then there's no way I can back down now!

Doubt flickered on his face for only a second—then was replaced with resolve.

“Let’s find out then! I enter the Battle Phase! [Queen’s Knight], direct attack on Miss Mai!”

“So you really are attacking.”

Seeing that she hadn’t shaken him, Mai gracefully swept her arm and flipped her two set cards.

“But I wasn’t lying—you won’t finish me off this turn, Yuuhi-kun. I activate the Trap Card—[Half or Nothing], and the Quick-Play Spell—[Emergency Provisions]!”

[Emergency Provisions]
Quick-Play Spell
Send any number of other Spell/Trap Cards you control to the GY; gain 1000 LP for each.

“First, I send both [Hysteric Sign] and [Half or Nothing] to the GY—gaining 2000 Life Points.”

[Mai LP: 4000 → 6000]

“Then, Yuuhi-kun, you must choose—either halve the ATK of your monsters until the end of this turn, or end the Battle Phase right now.”

“That’s easy—I’ll take the ATK reduction!”

OTK was no longer possible, but he could still shave off as much LP as possible.

[Queen’s Knight ATK: 1500 → 750]
[King’s Knight ATK: 1600 → 800]
[Jack’s Knight ATK: 1900 → 950]

“Battle continues—[Queen’s Knight] attacks! Then [King’s Knight], and finally [Jack’s Knight]—direct attacks!”

“Ah—!”

[Mai LP: 6000 → 3500]

Each Poker Knight struck true, their blades piercing Mai’s holographic silhouette. Though halved in power and facing a boosted LP pool, the damage was still significant.

It just wasn’t enough to win the duel.

Still, Yuuhi had done everything he could this turn.

“I activate the Spell—[Swords of Revealing Light].”

With the battle over, he slipped his last card into the Duel Disk during Main Phase 2.

A rain of glowing blades fell from the sky, encircling Mai in a shimmering, impenetrable cage of light.

“This card will destroy itself after three of your turns. While it remains on the field, your monsters can’t declare attacks. I end my turn. My monsters’ ATK returns to normal.”

“Trying to stall for three turns with [Swords of Revealing Light]? I’m afraid that won’t work, Yuuhi-kun.”

Mai’s words cut through his plan like icewater.

“During the End Phase, I activate the second effect of [Hysteric Sign]!”

[Hysteric Sign – Effect (2)]:
During the End Phase of the turn this card is sent from the hand or field to the GY: Add up to 3 “Harpie” cards with different names from your Deck to your hand.

After the back-and-forth over the past two turns, Mai’s resources weren’t much better than his—just one card in hand, and whatever she drew next.

But thanks to [Emergency Provisions] sending her Continuous Spell to the GY, the situation had changed completely.

“I’ll add the following to my hand—[Harpie Dancer], [Harpist], and…”

Three cards popped from her deck and were shuffled with practiced grace. Holding them between her fingers, she flashed them for Yuuhi to see.

Among them was the spell that would shatter his defenses in an instant.

“—[Harpie’s Feather Duster].”

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This is a fan translation of 打牌吗？ 我王样卡组！by 夏日戏言 All rights to the original work belong to the creator. Please support them by exploring their original work or sharing it with others if you can. Thank you for reading and supporting my efforts to bring this story to a wider audience!