Cherreads

Chapter 19 - Eroding the Defensive Line

"Test of Demonic Wardrobe"

This wasn't a default system card but something Shadi had included among the cards—likely cobbled together from monster parts and hides by the Millennium Scales. Whatever its origin, it proved extremely useful to You Ming's current deck.

> "By paying 800 LP, I can reveal the top four cards of my deck and Special Summon any Level 3 or lower Normal Monsters among them."

You Ming LP: 4000 → 3200

There was no pain, no weakness afterward—just a straightforward effect. As if back in a casual duel at a card shop, You Ming fired the Spell Card and flipped the top four cards.

> "Level 1 'White Bone' and Level 2 'Attic Imp'—I'll Special Summon both in Defense Position, shuffle the rest back into the deck."

White Bone (Lv 1) – Dark / Zombie – ATK 300 / DEF 200

Attic Imp (Lv 2) – Dark / Fiend – ATK 550 / DEF 400

Low stats, no effect—it was exactly what Kaiba Corp's heir couldn't hide his skepticism over.

> "You spent precious LP to summon two weaklings?"

You Ming only shrugged.

> "They're the foundation of my tactic."

Naya nodded thoughtfully.

> "Alright. But your monsters will be affected by 'Mecha Drive Night'—their type and stats will change."

White Bone: Zombie → Machine | DEF 200 → 0

Attic Imp: Fiend → Machine | ATK 400 → 0

Now their stats were literally zero. You Ming winced, but kept going.

> "Because I control monsters and you have Normal Monsters on the field, I can activate this card."

He revealed a green aura—magic was being unleashed.

> "'Soul Unsealing'—I can choose five Normal Monsters from my deck…"

He rifled through his deck.

> "'New Moon Dragon,' 'Dark-World Warrior Dark Blade,' 'Fiend Soldier,' 'Demon Summoner.'"

He paused over a card—caught Naya's attention.

> "Is everything okay?"

> "Yeah… nothing."

You Ming hesitated, then slid his finger to cover "Red-Eyes Black Dragon."

He didn't want misunderstandings—this wasn't the time. Instead, he chose:

> "The fifth card is 'Tri-Magic Dragon.'"

He placed all five cards on the table.

> "By 'Soul Unsealing,' I'll add one to my hand."

> "You chose 'Demon Summoner'?"

Naya asked, curious.

> "Yes—I'll use it as a Tribute summon, causing two Tribute monsters to Gravestones."

Naya lifted an eyebrow.

> "Not the higher ATK 'Tri-Magic Dragon'?"

Unfazed, You Ming played calmly.

> "I didn't use my Normal Summon yet, so I'll Tribute White Bone to summon Level 6, 'Demon Summoner.'"

Demon Summoner (Lv 6) – Dark / Fiend – ATK 2500 / DEF 1200

A powerful single-Tribute monster. But Naya reminded him:

> "The 'Mecha Drive Night' effect still applies—its type and ATK are altered."

Demon Summoner: Fiend → Machine | 2500 → 2000

> "Even as a higher-level Monster, you still can't attack me."

You Ming smiled:

> "I'm done my setup—what matters are your three face-down cards."

Naya calmly responded:

> "In that case, as soon as you draw, I'll activate my face-down cards."

You Ming nodded:

> "I'll see how you break through it."

Naya drew:

> "My turn—draw. First set card is a Quick-Play Spell."

Without waiting, You Ming flipped it.

> "'Offering for the Dead'—by skipping my next Draw Phase, I can target and destroy one Monster."

> "But I can't target your Gear-Commander."

He nodded.

> "Then I'll destroy the Gear-Commander."

Naya's brow furrowed.

> "It's immune from effects. You just read that."

You Ming was prepared:

> "Right—but my turn isn't done. If you don't chain… I'll Tribute my DEF 400 Attic Imp to chain this card.

He revealed another classic:

> Trap Card – "Deck Destruction Virus"

> "A virus card?!"

Naya's confusion deepened.

> "Original conditions require battle or contact," he reminded.

You Ming clarified:

> "My version just needs a Tribute."

He then explained this sealed version:

> "My virus doesn't destroy your deck, but it destroys matching Monsters on the field and in your hand, then also destroys any future matching cards you draw."

He placed his cover cards in the Spell & Trap Zone. Naya studied the effect.

> "So my defense is gone."

> "Yes—the virus destroys your powered-up Lieutenant and Red Gear, and since your Lieutenant is destroyed, the Equip Gears will go, too."

> "Now, no more Gears exist, so Gear‑Commander loses immunity…"

Naya stared, carefully processing.

> "Once Virus resolves, you'll resolve 'Offering for the Dead,' destroying the Commander, leaving me with no monsters…"

He paused, then rose his voice:

> "Nicely played."

He showed You Ming his remaining hand cards.

> "'Yellow Gear' and the one I just drew, 'Mecha Unit Soldier' (ATK 1600)—both will be destroyed."

He placed Soldier in the Graveyard, cleared all his Monsters. His field now held only continuous Spells.

But he wasn't done:

> "However, 'Mecha Unit Defense Grid' lets me recycle a Machine if it's destroyed."

He tensed.

> "I'll add Gear‑Commander back to my hand… then summon Yellow Gear, add another Green Gear, then Special Summon Commander again—so I get another 3000-ATK attacker with destructive effect."

As he reached for the Graveyard, You Ming acted.

> "I can't let you do that—when you trigger Defense Grid, I'll Tribute my Demon Summoner and chain my third back-row card."

You Ming removed Demon Summoner, then flipped:

> Trap Card – "Shadow Deck Destruction Virus"

> "Another Virus card?"

He nodded, calmly.

> "Yes—it destroys Dark Monsters with ATK 2000+ when they're Tributed, and your ATK 1500- monsters are also destroyed."

Naya grimaced. He sent his remaining Gears to the Graveyard, and now only held one higher-level monster left that couldn't be summoned.

> "I can't do anything else this turn. And thanks to your Virus, for the next three turns, every Monster I draw will be destroyed."

You Ming probed:

> "What's that card in your hand?"

Silence fell. Naya looked at him, resigned.

He revealed:

> Spell – "Dimension Fusion."

Naya exhaled:

> "That's why you removed the high-ATK target…"

He paused, then covered his deck slowly.

> "You win."

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