Chapter 301: The Gravekeeper Boss
Although it possessed the Effect to change the Battle Position of an attacking Monster, if it had attacked the Gravekeeper's Priestess instead of Gravekeeper's Spiritualist, it could have dealt maximum Damage. However, Hayato knew that all the Resources he could muster On the Field were not enough to Deplete Ishizu Ishtar's Life Points; she would still be left with 300 Life Points.
Hayato, deeply aware of the Power of the "Life Point Lock" cheat, always adhered to the principle of "if you're going to hit, hit to kill in one go." Since he couldn't kill her, he might as well maximize his own Advantage.
As Gravekeeper's Spiritualist was Destroyed and Send to Graveyard, and Ishizu Ishtar's Life Points decreased, Hayato spoke, "Because of the Effect of Spiral Spear Strike that I used, Sky Galloping Gaia the Dragon Champion, which is treated as Gaia the Dragon Champion, dealt Damage to you. The second Effect of Spiral Spear Strike Activates."
"I Draw two Cards from my Deck, then choose one Card from my Hand to Discard." After choosing a Card and Send to Graveyard, Hayato looked at the remaining Card in his Hand and said, "Now, my Turn End."
[Hayato: 4900 LP, Hand 1]
[Sky Galloping Gaia the Dragon Champion] [ATK 3600 → 2600]
[Set Card] [Spiral Spear Strike]
Currently, whether it was the Combat Power of the Monsters On the Field, Life Points, or the Resources in the Backrow and Hand, Hayato held the Advantage. Ishizu Ishtar's Life Points were only 1800. Next Turn, Hayato could easily Deplete Ishizu Ishtar's remaining Life Points by using Sky Galloping Gaia the Dragon Champion's Effect to change Gravekeeper's Priestess's Battle Position.
In other words, this Turn was Ishizu Ishtar's last Turn.
With her finger resting on her Deck, the current situation was entirely unfavorable to her, causing Ishizu Ishtar to instinctively want to use the Power of the Millennium Necklace to glimpse the Future. However, as if remembering something, a smile appeared on her face. She did not use the Power of the Millennium Necklace to peek into the possibilities of the Future, but instead drew a Card without hesitation.
"My Turn, Draw Card!"
"I Activate the Set Card On the Field, Spiritual Rites! I Target one Monster with 'Gravekeeper' in its Name in my Graveyard and Special Summon it. This Effect is not affected by Necrovalley's restrictions!" Ishizu Ishtar flipped over the Card she had Set On the Field last Turn due to Red Reboot's Effect. "I choose Gravekeeper's Visionary to Revive On the Field!"
"In the Name of Osiris, dust returns to dust, earth returns to earth, and the departed soul returns to the human world..." As Gravekeeper's Priestess chanted the ancient Egyptian spell, Gravekeeper's Visionary, which had previously been Destroyed and Send to Graveyard by Gaia the Dragon Knight, Revived On the Field for Hayato.
However, because this was not a Fusion Summon like before, but a Revive from the Graveyard, Gravekeeper's Visionary did not use the ability to "inherit the Power of the Fusion Material Monsters," retaining only his most basic Power.
[Gravekeeper's Visionary] [ATK 2000 → 2500]
"Even with Necrovalley On the Field, only you can Special Summon Monsters from the Graveyard. That's quite the double standard," Hayato said, watching as Spiritual Rites, having Taken Effect, went to the Graveyard. "However, Gravekeeper's Visionary without the ATK Increase from Fusion Material still has less ATK than Sky Galloping Gaia the Dragon Champion."
[Sky Galloping Gaia the Dragon Champion] [ATK 2600]
Ishizu Ishtar smiled. "After all, it's your Ace Monster, Hayato. I didn't expect Gravekeeper's Visionary alone to defeat it. The Monster I will use to defeat Sky Galloping Gaia the Dragon Champion is someone else."
"I Tribute Gravekeeper's Priestess On the Field. At this time, the Effect of Gravekeeper's Oracle in my Hand applies. When this Card is Tribute Summoned, I can Tribute three Monsters or one 'Gravekeeper' Monster."
"This is the supreme being of the Gravekeeper clan, who presides over everything and can even Judge the Gods under the Pharaoh's command, Gravekeeper's Oracle!"
As Gravekeeper's Priestess expressed a relaxed "Finally off work," a stone throne appeared in his place. The man on the throne was burly, with golden hair, a rare sight among Gravekeeper Monsters. While stroking a luxurious serpent staff in his Hand, he curiously observed Hayato standing opposite him.
He looked nonchalant, but the Rainbow Kuriboh in Hayato's Hand, drawn earlier by Spiral Spear Strike, nervously called out to Hayato: "Kuriboh, Kuriboh Kuribohli!"
"You're saying, this guy has God Level Power?" Hayato was also surprised, only then noticing Gravekeeper's Oracle's Level. "He's actually a Powerful Level 10 Monster!"
[Gravekeeper's Oracle] [Level 10 ☆ / DARK]
[Spellcaster Type / Effect]
[2000 / 1500 → 2500 / 2000]
Gravekeeper's Oracle's physique looked ordinary, even less impressive than Gravekeeper's Visionary beside him. But Hayato knew well that while a Duel Monster's physique was useful, what truly determined their strength was always their Effect.
Noticing Hayato's wary Gaze, Gravekeeper's Oracle revealed a contemptuous smile on his face. "Oh, Interesting Gaze. Have you already sensed the vast disparity in Power? This feeling... it's Ra's aura. No wonder."
"However, the Gravekeeper clan is not someone just anyone can defeat, not even a user of Ra!"
Gravekeeper's Oracle slammed his staff onto the ground. A massive gravity was instantly applied to Sky Galloping Gaia the Dragon Champion in the sky. No matter how hard Curse of Dragonfire struggled, the suddenly doubled gravity pressed Gaia and Curse of Dragonfire firmly onto the ground, rendering them unable to move?!
"Gravekeeper's Oracle can use a number of its three Effects corresponding to the Number of Monsters Tributed for its Tribute Summon. Since I only Tributed Gravekeeper's Priestess, one Monster, I choose to Activate Gravekeeper's Oracle's third Effect."
"All Monsters On the Field will have their ATK and DEF decreased by 2000 points!" Ishizu Ishtar said, pointing her Hand towards Sky Galloping Gaia the Dragon Champion, who was pressed to the ground by gravity. "Even the ruler of the sky can only offer its neck when suppressed by Power from the ground."
[Sky Galloping Gaia the Dragon Champion] [ATK 2600 → 600]
"Then, I Activate Gravekeeper's Visionary's Effect. I Activate it during my Turn's Main Phase. During this Turn's End Phase, I will add one 'Gravekeeper' Monster or Necrovalley Card from my Deck to my Hand." Ishizu Ishtar Activated Gravekeeper's Visionary's Effect in advance, then waved her Hand and commanded,
"Enter my Battle Phase. Gravekeeper's Visionary, Attack Sky Galloping Gaia the Dragon Champion!"
Seeing Gravekeeper's Visionary raise his long staff, about to Attack Sky Galloping Gaia the Dragon Champion while it was unable to move, Hayato immediately played the Card in his Hand: "Muda da! I Activate the Effect of the Invincible Rainbow Kuriboh!"
"When an opponent's Monster Declares an Attack, Equip Rainbow Kuriboh from my Hand to that Monster. And a Monster equipped with Rainbow Kuriboh Cannot Attack to avoid being accused of discriminating against LGBT!"
A beam of Rainbow Light bloomed from Hayato's Hand. Rainbow Kuriboh, riding a seven-colored light curtain, precisely intercepted Gravekeeper's Visionary's Attack and transformed into a circular cage, Restraining it.
"You sealed Gravekeeper's Visionary's Attack? But I have another Monster On the Field." Ishizu Ishtar seemed to have anticipated that Hayato held a life-saving Rainbow Kuriboh. "Gravekeeper's Oracle, Attack Sky Galloping Gaia the Dragon Champion!"
"God's Judgment!"
Matching Ishizu Ishtar's Attack Declaration, Gravekeeper's Oracle raised his serpent staff again. A thick Magic Power cannon was easily released without any charging, the Attack directly hit the immobile Sky Galloping Gaia the Dragon Champion.
[Hayato: 4900 → 3000 LP]
The Smoke and Dust stirred up by the Attack dissipated quite quickly due to the wind in the valley. However, On the Field for Hayato, although his Life Points did decrease, Sky Galloping Gaia the Dragon Champion, suppressed by gravity, remained On the Field.
On Hayato's Backrow, he flipped over a Set Card.
"Attack Reflector is a Trap Card that can only be Activated during the Battle Phase," Hayato said, pointing to the Card. "It makes the Damage taken by my Life Points become 0, or makes one Monster not be Destroyed by Battle or Effect. Here, I Activate the latter."
"You saved your Monster's survival by decreasing your own Life Points? It should be more important to save your Life Points," Ishizu Ishtar shook her head. "My Turn End. Then, because of Gravekeeper's Visionary's Effect, I add Throne of Necrovalley to my Hand."
[Ishizu Ishtar: 1800 LP, Hand 1]
[Gravekeeper's Oracle] [ATK 2000]
[Gravekeeper's Visionary] (Rainbow Kuriboh) [ATK 2000]
Field: [Necrovalley]
"My Turn, Draw Card." Adding the top Card of his Deck to his Hand, Hayato sighed, looking at the Monsters On the Field for Ishizu Ishtar. "Just last Turn I had a huge Advantage, and in one Turn, it's been reversed."
"Isn't that the charm of Duel Monsters? Every Drawing Cards can change the Future, and the situation every second is different from the last." Ishizu Ishtar's face held a smile. "If it weren't for your reminder, Hayato-kun, I would have almost forgotten how Interesting Dueling is."
Back in childhood, Duel Monsters was so Interesting (referring to using Present Underworld to bring a smile to Marik's face). When exactly did she start treating Duel Monsters as a tool, a means, and no longer a game?
Gravekeeper's Oracle, nicknamed Gravekeeper Boss.
Gravekeeper's Visionary, nicknamed Gravekeeper Second Brother.
Gravekeeper's Spiritualist, nicknamed Gravekeeper Ancestor.
(End of Chapter)