Chapter 1282: Shifting Field

"The real show is only just beginning!"

The fake Leo was riding high with excitement, but his sister behind him immediately poured cold water on him.

"You're getting carried away again, Leo. Why didn't you summon my Ancient Fairy Dragon?"

"Eh!?"

The fake Leo froze, then looked back at his sister with some embarrassment.

"Ah, well… I mean, the duel has only just started. There's no reason to drop the ultimate move right away, right? I'll use my Power Tool to test the opponent first. If it doesn't work, then Luna's Ancient Fairy Dragon can finish it off. This, uh…"

The fake Leo stammered, but the gloomy loli stared at him expressionlessly for a moment, said nothing, and lowered her head to continue petting her Kuriboh plushie.

The fake Leo breathed a sigh of relief.

Good, at least Luna seemed to accept it for now.

In that case, he had to perform well—otherwise she might throw a tantrum later.

Nothing in the world was scarier than Luna throwing a tantrum.

Muttering to himself, the fake Leo raised his hand and played another card: "Activate Equip Spell Axe of Despair! Equip it to Power Tool Mecha Dragon!"

A ferocious axe with a demonic face appeared on the field and was grabbed by the Power Tool Dragon. Once held, the axe handle connected to the mechanical dragon's arm; mechanical structures extended from the limb to cover the axe's surface, as if the axe had become part of its steel body.

"The monster equipped with Axe of Despair gains 1000 ATK!" the fake Leo said.

[Power Tool Mecha Dragon, ATK 2300 → 3300]

"At this moment, Power Tool Mecha Dragon's effect also activates," he continued. "When this card equips an Equip Spell, draw 1 card from the Deck!"

The fake Leo drew a card.

"That ends my turn!"

He felt quite pleased with himself.

Heh, summoning Power Tool Dragon right away, boosting it to 3300 ATK and even drawing a card. He thought his performance was pretty good.

"My turn, draw."

Kira casually played a card from his hand.

"Let's test the King's new power on you."

The replica twins: "?"

The King's new power? What was that? It didn't sound good.

The next moment, however, Kira played a monster completely outside their expectations.

"I summon Berry Magician Girl!"

The summoned creature was a tiny magician girl—or rather, a magician toddler, since she was extremely small. She had butterfly-like little wings, short arms and legs, and even seemed to have a pacifier in her mouth.

[Berry Magician Girl, ATK 400]

The fake Leo was astonished. "A monster with only 400 ATK?"

And it was in Attack Position, no less.

"Berry Magician Girl's effect: When this card is successfully Summoned, add 1 'Magician Girl' monster from your Deck to your hand."

The Berry girl waved her tiny wand. Magical power flowed into Kira's Deck, which glowed with a faint golden light. A card automatically popped out.

"I add Kiwi Magician Girl from my Deck to my hand."

Kira showed the retrieved monster, added it to his hand, then selected another card.

"I Set one card. Turn end."

"Huh? That's it?"

The fake Leo looked puzzled at the play, but then grinned broadly. "Putting a 400-ATK monster in Attack Position? What's he doing? This guy might actually be weak!"

The fake Luna said coldly, "That's why I say the scarecrow is broken—simple-minded. There's definitely something tricky about that monster."

The fake Leo pouted, unconvinced. "Tch, whether there's a trick or not, we'll find out by trying… My turn, draw!"

During this turn's Standby Phase, the Field Spell Journey's Dawn activated.

"This card can be sent to the GY during your Standby Phase to activate Fairy Tale Chapter 2 from your hand or Deck!"

A card popped out of the fake Leo's Deck. He drew it and played it with a flourish.

"The Fairy Tale enters its second chapter! Ta-da! Fairy Tale Chapter 2 – Seething Sun!"

The entire fairy-tale world suddenly shook violently. The gentle morning light seemed splashed with boiling lava; the sky instantly turned a sickly orange-red. The always-smiling sun god was undergoing a horrifying transformation. Its round golden outline twisted into jagged edges; two burning eyebrows stood on end. Its once-kind eyes glared blood-red, spraying tangible flames of rage from the pupils. Its open mouth no longer showed neat white teeth but uneven, sharp fangs. Every roar spewed lava-like fireballs.

Kira rested his chin on his hand. "I see—an auto-changing Field Spell."

"Exactly," the fake Leo laughed. "The Fairy Tale series changes sequentially by chapter during each Standby Phase! This turn it has advanced from the Prologue to Chapter 2!

And each chapter's effect is different.

The Prologue Field's effect was that battle damage taken by both players is halved! As for Chapter 2's effect…"

The fake Luna cut in coldly, "Leo, you talk too much. Why are you revealing so much to the enemy?"

The fake Leo hurriedly shut his mouth, not daring to speak further.

"A-anyway, the new Fairy Tale Field is now active!" he said. "Next, I activate another Equip Spell from my hand: Twin Swords of Flashing Light – Tryce!"

New double blades appeared on the field, equipping to the left and right of the mechanical dragon. Just like the previous Axe of Despair, the equipped swords were not simply held but seemed assimilated by extending steel parts from the Power Tool Dragon's body, becoming part of its equipment.

Whether in the anime or manga, the Power Tool series was specialized around Equip Spells, so Leo's Deck naturally contained various functional Equip cards.

"Twin Swords of Flashing Light can only be equipped by discarding 1 card from the hand. Its effect: The equipped monster loses 500 ATK, but it can attack twice during the Battle Phase.

Therefore, I reduce Power Tool Mecha Dragon's ATK by 500. Power Tool can now perform a double attack!"

[Power Tool Mecha Dragon, ATK 3300 → 2800]

"Here it comes!"

The fake Leo shouted.

"Power Tool Mecha Dragon, attack Berry Magician Girl!"

The Power Tool Dragon began charging, releasing arcs and lightning across its body. Endless energy poured into the Axe of Despair and Twin Swords equipped on its power arms, forming a thunderous strike that rushed straight at Kira.

Kira's lips curved upward slightly.

This was exactly what he had been waiting for.

…