Chapter 1232: Counterstrike!

Lina: "Level 2 Tuner monster 'Krebons'! Level 3 'Hushed Psychic Cleric'! Tuning!"

[2 + 3 = 5]

"The magical circuit reconstructs the equation of life—the crystallization of science and magic! Synchro Summon! Level 5, Magical Android!"

Within the Synchro light ring appeared a gear-shaped magic array. Mechanical conduits spread out like blood vessels from the void. Accompanied by the crackling of electric arcs, a metallic humanoid embedded with crystals slowly descended from the light curtain.

[Magical Android, ATK 2400]

Lina's teammate Victor outside the field praised: "Excellent! Lina completed the Synchro Summon first. As long as we keep this up—"

But before he could finish, Kira spoke: "At this moment, I activate the Counter Trap 'Black Horn of Heaven'! When your opponent Special Summons a monster, you can activate this card to negate that Special Summon and destroy that monster!"

A pitch-black horn floated into the air.

The horn seemed to have a pair of demonic wings flapping on either side as it slowly rose, blowing a forbidden trumpet.

The Magical Android, which had just landed and had yet to stabilize, began to sway. Sparks and crackling electricity erupted across its body before it exploded under the forbidden sound, bursting into a fireball. Burning fragments scattered in all directions.

Lina: "Nani!?"

Even the airplane-haired commentator couldn't help but say: "Ohh! Lina's Synchro Monster was destroyed before it could even land properly. It seems Player Kira came prepared even though he's dueling alone!"

Kira continued: "And at this moment, the effect of my 'Bountiful Artemis' on the field also activates. Each time you or your opponent activates a Counter Trap while Bountiful Artemis is on the field, draw 1 card from your Deck."

Kira drew a card, then smiled: "What a shame. Your Synchro Summon doesn't seem to have succeeded."

Lina gritted her teeth: "It's just one Trap Card. Don't get cocky."

"Just one Trap Card?" Kira laughed. "It looks like you don't understand at all. You don't understand the terror of Counter Fairies."

Just now, Lina used two monsters as materials to Synchro Summon "Magical Android." Kira removed it with a single Counter Trap—essentially a one-for-two exchange. After activating the Counter Trap, Bountiful Artemis's effect let Kira draw another card, widening the card advantage even further.

A single Trap had earned Kira a massive advantage. This was why Bountiful Artemis was one of the cores of the Counter Fairy deck. Every time a Counter Trap was activated, you could naturally draw a card, and as resources flowed, the opponent would quickly fall behind in tempo.

But Lina continued her plays: "Send 'Hushed Psychic Cleric' from the field to the Graveyard to Special Summon the monster that was previously banished by this card's effect. Therefore, I Special Summon the banished 'Esper Girl'!"

The youthful-looking psychic loli with blonde hair returned to Lina's field.

[Esper Girl, ATK 500]

"Effect of Esper Girl: When this card is Special Summoned after being banished, banish the top card of your Deck face-down."

Lina took the top card of her Deck and directly placed it into the card slot on the side of her Duel Runner.

"Then I activate my Set card!" Lina declared. "Continuous Trap 'Powerful Rebirth'! Target a monster with 4 or fewer stars in your Graveyard, Special Summon that monster, and increase its Level by 1 as well as its ATK and DEF by 100! Revive 'Hushed Psychic Cleric'!"

The Cleric that had just gone to the Graveyard returned to the field once more. This time it was wrapped in the power of the Trap, its entire body blazing with energy like flames. Its Level rose from the original 3 to 4.

"Level 2 Tuner monster 'Esper Girl'! Level 4 'Hushed Psychic Cleric'! Tuning!"

[2 + 4 = 6]

"Born from the chaotic storm of thought is the embodiment of madness. Feed on twisted psychic power and tear apart reality! Synchro Summon! Level 6, Psychic Nightmare!"

Within the Synchro light ring, a transparent vortex twisted into being.

The spinning psychic rings exploded within the mental storm. Purple-black neural fibers burst forth from the void, wrapping around the Synchro light pillar to weave the outline of a demon. Huge bony wings crackled with psychic lightning, and floating spinal segments released electric arcs.

[Psychic Nightmare, ATK 2400]

The airplane-haired commentator said excitedly: "Ohh! Who would have thought that after Lina's first Synchro Summon was countered, she would immediately perform a second Synchro in the same turn!"

"Double Synchro!" Teammate Victor outside the field also affirmed. "Lina's got some skills!"

Lina herself felt quite pleased with her performance.

Weren't you good at disrupting? Try disrupting this one!

"At this moment, the follow-up effect of 'Esper Girl' also activates." Lina said. "When 'Esper Girl' is sent from the field to the Graveyard, add the card that was banished face-down by this card's effect to your hand."

Lina added the card that Esper Girl had previously banished to her hand.

Esper Girl banished one card from the top of the Deck when Summoned and added it back to the hand when it left the field. Through this Synchro operation, she had effectively drawn one card from the Deck.

"Then I activate the effect of Psychic Nightmare!" Lina declared. "Once per turn, you can randomly select one card in your opponent's hand and guess whether it is a Monster, Spell, or Trap. If you guess correctly, this card's ATK increases by 1000 until the end of your opponent's next turn!"

Guessing correctly granted +1000 ATK, and there was no penalty for guessing wrong. Even if wrong, it was a free random look at one of the opponent's hand cards. It was always advantageous and basically an effect that had to be activated every turn.

"But at this moment, you triggered another Trap." Kira smiled.

Lina: "Nani!?"

"Counter Trap 'Divine Wrath'!" Kira raised his hand. On the side of his speeding Duel Runner, a Trap card flipped over. Thunder rumbled in the sky with overwhelming force. Dark clouds churned above Psychic Nightmare, clearly bringing ill intent.

"When a monster effect is activated, discard one card from your hand. Negate that effect's activation and destroy that monster!"

Kira sent one card from his hand to his Duel Runner's Graveyard.

Heavenly lightning crashed down, exploding violently on Psychic Nightmare.

The demon let out a miserable cry and was blasted into fragments before it could make any move.

"And of course, because a Counter Trap was activated, the effect of 'Bountiful Artemis' activates once again."

Kira leisurely drew another card.

"When a Counter Trap is activated, I draw one card from my Deck."

At the same time, another card in Kira's hand was already revealed.

"Next, the effect of 'Van'Dalgyon the Dark Dragon Lord' in my hand also activates. When a Counter Trap you control negates your opponent's card, you can Special Summon this card directly from your hand.

Come forth, Van'Dalgyon the Dark Dragon Lord!!!"