You Yi: I am both a warrior and a mage! (smiles)

“I activate the effect of the Ingenious Witch, discarding a Spell Card from my hand and releasing the Ingenious Witch herself, to Special Summon ‘Witchcrafter Artisan – Gem Witch’ from my deck in Attack Position!”

The loving mother sacrifices herself and a Spell Card, exchanging them for one of her many “daughters”—the Gem Witch.

She wears a dress of interlacing violet and black, with flowing hair in shades of purple and blue. Cradled in her arms is an enormous wrench-like staff, the jaws of which grip a sparkling, rectangular red gem.

(Witchcrafter Artisan – Gem Witch, Level 5, ATK: 2000)

‘Incredible! In the blink of an eye, she summoned a monster with 2000 attack points!’

Staring at the Gem Witch on the field, Pandora couldn’t help but gasp. A mere 300-attack-point apprentice magician actually possesses an effect that can pull a high-attack monster straight from the deck!

From his perspective, the only way to get a high-attack monster onto the field with just two cards in a single turn is to send it to the graveyard first, then use a spell or trap with a resurrection effect to bring it back.

Ritual Summoning requires a Ritual Spell, a Ritual Monster, and the tribute monsters in hand or on the field. Fusion Summoning is even more complicated, needing three or more cards.

So, seeing Yugi effortlessly summon a high-attack monster with a tactic different from his own, Pandora couldn’t help but shudder.

But while Pandora was still reeling in surprise, Yugi’s play was far from over—

“I activate the second effect of Ingenious Witch in the graveyard: by banishing her and the Quick-Play Spell ‘Witchcrafter Display’—which was sent to the graveyard by her first effect—I can Special Summon ‘Witchcrafter Artisan – Tailor Witch’ from my hand in Attack Position!”

A tight-fitting indigo leather jacket and pants accentuate her slender figure—her modest but firm curves outlined beneath the outfit. Her right eye is hidden by a sweep of purple-blue bangs. In her hand, she wields a brown-handled wand shaped like a pair of scissors, while a myriad of needle-like floating cannons levitate around her, manipulated by her magic.

(Witchcrafter Artisan – Tailor Witch, Level 7, ATK: 2400)

The Ingenious Witch’s second effect allows her to banish herself and a “Witchcrafter” Spell from the graveyard, copying and activating the effect of the banished Spell.

“I activate the Spell Card ‘Pot of Greed’—I draw two cards, then proceed to the Battle Phase!”

Glancing at the two cards he’d just drawn, Yugi moved straight into the Battle Phase. But across from him, Pandora was utterly bewildered.

Wait! Wasn’t Yugi’s deck supposed to be a unique “Elemental Hero” deck themed around Fusion Summoning—one of a kind in the world? So why—

Staring at the two beautiful, alluring magician girls on Yugi’s field, Pandora was left with nothing but question marks.

Why is it the same kind of Spellcaster deck as mine?!

While Pandora was still in a daze, Yugi had already issued his attack command.

The Gem Witch swung her massive wrench-staff, flinging the crimson gem from its jaws. At that moment, the attacked set monster was flipped face-up.

A large, bright red tomato—with a devilish face grinning from its skin.

Its 1100 defense was no match for Gem Witch. As the red gem dazed Killer Tomato, Gem Witch leapt forward, bringing her wrench down hard on the tomato’s head.

“Tch! I activate the effect of the destroyed ‘Killer Tomato’—I Special Summon the second ‘Killer Tomato’ from my deck in Attack Position!”

Clicking his tongue at the sight of his monster being smashed, Pandora searched his deck and summoned another tomato.

“Killer Tomato, huh…”

Yugi hadn’t expected Pandora’s first set monster to be the classic tomato with a destruction trigger effect.

But that effect only activates when it’s destroyed by battle. If it’s destroyed by a card effect—

“I activate the second effect of Tailor Witch! By discarding a Spell Card, I destroy your face-up ‘Killer Tomato’!”

Empowered by the discarded Spell Card, Tailor Witch flicked her left hand, and her needle-like floating cannons swiveled, targeting Pandora’s fresh ‘Killer Tomato’.

“Bang!”

Several slender beams shot forth, instantly obliterating the tomato. Since it was destroyed by an effect, Pandora couldn’t trigger its destruction ability.

“With no monsters left to defend you, Pandora, take this direct attack!”

Ignoring the two set cards in Pandora’s back row, Yugi commanded Tailor Witch to attack directly.

The six floating cannons whirled and fired in unison, six streaks of light darting toward Pandora.

Just as the six beams were about to strike, a large, red demon-faced tomato leaped out, intercepting the 2400-point blast.

(Pandora: 4000LP → 3000LP)

“Killer Tomato? The lost life points… Is it a Trap Card?”

Noticing Pandora’s life points drop by 1000, Yugi muttered softly.

“That’s right! It’s the Continuous Trap Card, ‘Call of the Haunted’!”

With a low chuckle, Pandora revealed a trap card depicting a graveyard rising from his back row.

“The ‘Killer Tomato’ revived by ‘Call of the Haunted’ was sent to the graveyard again by your attack, letting me Special Summon ‘Magician Puppet – Lijin’ from my deck in Attack Position!”

A small clown puppet wearing a red hat appeared on Pandora’s field.

(Magician Puppet – Lijin, Level 4, ATK: 1300)

“That’s my third monster. But, Mr. President, you have no third monster left to attack with, do you?”

Fanning his cards to cover the lower half of his face—his mask covering the rest—Pandora’s eyes narrowed into a mocking smile.

“Heh, sore wa dō ka na?”

With a light laugh, Yugi slid his remaining Spell Cards into the graveyard slot, then selected a monster from his last two cards and placed it on the field.

“By discarding a Spell Card, I activate Gem Witch’s first effect to Special Summon ‘Witchcrafter Artisan – Forge Witch’ from my hand!”

Answering Pandora’s “expectation,” Yugi summoned his final monster.

Sunny and cheerful, her fiery red hair blazed as she rested a wine-red, scarecrow-shaped hammer over her shoulder.

(Witchcrafter Artisan – Forge Witch, Level 4, ATK: 1800)

‘He’s fallen for it, President Yugi!’

Seeing Forge Witch appear, a flash of cunning crossed Pandora’s eyes. This was exactly what he’d been waiting for—Yugi to keep Special Summoning monsters!

“At this moment, I activate the Trap Card ‘Black Magic Resurrection Coffin’!”

A coffin adorned with a purple crystal cross and a green-black magic circle appeared before Pandora.

The lid sprang open, instantly absorbing both Pandora’s Lijin puppet and Yugi’s Forge Witch.

As Yugi narrowed his gaze, a magician in a red-and-black French robe, wielding a green staff, appeared on Pandora’s field.

“Special Summon! My ace magician—the Dark Magician!”