CHAPTER 398: CHAPTER 397: A CHALLENGE TO THE CHAMPION (BONUS)

"Elemental Hero?"

Koyo was also taken aback for a moment, but quickly narrowed his eyes.

"So, you’re really underestimating me."

To deliberately choose Elemental Heroes—his specialty—to fight against him, Koyo felt his dignity as a champion was being challenged.

"Let’s battle," the Arbiter declared. "Elemental HERO Phoenix Enforcer, attack ’Elemental Hero Stratos’."

Phoenix Enforcer flapped his wings, dashing forward. His fist, wreathed in flames, crashed forth like an explosion. The blazing punch pierced right through Stratos’s chest, and in an instant, the erupting fire consumed Stratos entirely.

[Koyo, LP 4000 → LP 3700]

Koyo crossed his arms before himself, staggering back under the aftershock of the flames.

"This pain..." He gritted his teeth.

Sure enough, it was another Shadow Duel.

Just like that night he once experienced...

From the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of his sister in the audience, her face full of worry.

Koyo quickly straightened, smiled reassuringly at her, and made a gesture to show he was fine.

"I activate my set card—Trap Card, ’Hero Signal’!"

With a swipe, he flipped over his back row card.

"When an Elemental Hero on my field is destroyed by battle, I can Special Summon a Level 4 or lower ’Elemental Hero’ from my hand or Deck."

He drew a card from his Deck.

"Come on out, Elemental HERO Woodsman!"

A muscular hero, his body green and dressed like a primitive warrior, appeared on the field following the projection marker, landing in front of Koyo and blocking with his log-like arms.

[Elemental HERO Woodsman, DEF 2000]

"Nice, with 2000 Defense, he can block the next attack!" Jaden said.

"Then the battle ends," the Arbiter raised his hand. "’Guardian Sphinx’s’ effect: once per turn, it can flip itself face-down into defense position."

"I set ’Guardian Sphinx’ face-down."

The Sphinx-like guardian slipped back under the card, placed on the Arbiter’s field, lying in wait.

"Then I set a card face-down and end my turn."

Koyo frowned.

He remembered this card’s effect. Guardian Sphinx: when successfully Flip Summoned, it bounces all opponent’s monsters back to their hand—a powerful effect.

If he didn’t deal with this tricky monster soon, he’d be put at a huge disadvantage.

"My turn—draw!" Koyo said. "In my Standby Phase, ’Elemental HERO Woodsman’s’ effect activates. Once per turn, I can add a ’Polymerization’ Spell from my Deck or Graveyard to my hand."

Koyo drew the card he searched for.

"Then I activate ’Polymerization’!" He played the card he just retrieved. "I fuse ’Elemental Hero Ocean’ in my hand with ’Elemental HERO Woodsman’ on the field!"

"Ocean and forest," the Arbiter observed calmly. "Here it comes."

Forest and ocean swirled into the vortex of fusion, forming the embodiment of the third planet. A giant white figure appeared, its feet shaking the earth as it landed.

[Elemental HERO Terra Firma, ATK 2500]

"The Planet series: Terra."

The Arbiter looked up at the white giant, a curious smile forming.

"Heh, this is interesting."

Koyo continued: "Now I activate the Spell Card ’Hero’s Legacy’. If there are at least two Level 5 or higher Heroes in my Graveyard, I draw three cards." (Manga card)

Koyo drew three more cards.

"Terra, attack the face-down ’Guardian Sphinx’! Earth Impact!"

As his voice fell, Terra unleashed a massive gravitational force, pulling not only the set monster but seemingly the air around it toward herself, as if bound by invisible chains.

Terra stepped forward, launching herself like a white cannonball. With enough momentum to shake the stars, she drove both fists straight at the covered Sphinx.

But just before the blow landed, a shadow flashed out—unexpectedly intercepting the attack.

Elemental Hero Phoenix Enforcer!

"What!?" Koyo exclaimed.

Why Phoenix Enforcer!?

"The Trap Card ’Call of the Earthbound’—it can change your attack target," the Arbiter explained.

Indeed, at some point, the Trap had been activated in his back row. Ghostly spirits swarmed the field, redirecting Terra’s attack to Phoenix Enforcer instead.

[Elemental Phoenix Enforcer, ATK 2100]

"And Phoenix Enforcer’s effect... Although as a Hero expert, I’m sure you already knows it," the Arbiter said.

Koyo replied, "Phoenix Enforcer can’t be destroyed by battle, but you still take the damage."

[Arbiter, LP 4000 → LP 3600]

The soul-shaking impact barely ruffled the Arbiter’s hair and clothes. He didn’t even blink, as if unfazed by the damage.

Koyo took a deep breath.

Even his ace, Terra, couldn’t break through—the Arbiter had successfully preserved Guardian Sphinx, making the next turn dangerous if it flipped again.

But...

Koyo glanced at his hand.

He still had options.

"I set three cards face-down and end my turn," Koyo said.

"My turn, draw."

The Arbiter casually drew.

"’Guardian Sphinx,’ Flip Summon."

The Sphinx’s colossus reemerged, towering on the field. An intense energy radiated from its body.

"When Sphinx is Flip Summoned, all your monsters return to your hand," the Arbiter said. "Terra, take your leave."

Just as expected.

Koyo said grimly, "Then I activate my set card: Counter Trap ’Horn of Heaven’!

I tribute one of my monsters to negate the opponent’s Summon, Special Summon, or Flip Summon and destroy it."

He pointed to his field.

"I tribute ’Elemental HERO Terra Firma’—Sphinx’s Flip Summon is negated and destroyed!"

Terra became a burning soul, wrapped in golden flames as he charged! Like a living bomb, he embraced Sphinx, both igniting in a blinding blaze and shattering together.

"That finally takes care of that troublesome Sphinx," Jaden said worriedly, "But Terra had to be sacrificed, which means Mr. Koyo’s field is now empty..."

The Arbiter chuckled softly.

"I see. As a champion, you will stop at nothing, huh... But it’s a pity—dueling, like most things in life, can’t be changed by resolve alone.

Now..."

His expression grew colder.

"Let me show you just how true that is."