Chapter 245: Marik, the Freeloading Genius
Hayato could swear that the language Marik was chanting was one he had never heard before, and it didn't quite match any language in his memory; even trying to repeat the sounds Marik made was beyond Hayato.
Yet, somehow, he understood exactly what Marik was chanting now—
"Divine Beast of the Heavens, please heed my call and transform yourself from the orb of light. Bring me victory in this battle. Envelop the desert with your radiance and show my enemies your wrath. Unleash your inner power, and let us win together!"
"Appear in this Shadow Game, I call your name, (The Winged Dragon of Ra)!"
As Marik's words fell, the colossal golden sphere in the sky began to transform.
Giant, blade-like wings unfurled, blotting out the sky and sun; sharp claws extended from its limbs, exuding aggression; a Millennium Ring was placed behind the transformed head of (The Winged Dragon of Ra), like a sun.
"That is, (Ra)!" Ishizu widened her eyes. Although the Egyptian God Cards had the restriction that "those without a (Millennium Item) cannot use them," as the strongest among the Egyptian God Cards, (The Winged Dragon of Ra) had even higher requirements for its user.
Although the Tomb Keepers, to which Ishizu belonged, had kept the Egyptian God Cards after Pegasus completed them, Ishizu had never seen (Ra)'s true form until today, and she felt fear from the bottom of her heart for its presence, ruling the world like the sun.
"Hayato, even I have to admit that the Monster you possess does indeed have the ability to contend with (Slifer the Sky Dragon), one of the Egyptian God Cards," Marik said with a smile. "But the power of (Ra) is the most powerful existence among the Egyptian God Cards!"
"Its Attack and Defense Points will become the sum of the two values of the Tributes!"
In the Millennium Ring behind (The Winged Dragon of Ra) on Marik's Field, Hayato saw the three Monsters that had been Tributed earlier.
(Speedroid Double Yoyo) [ATK 300/DEF 100]
(Slifer the Sky Dragon) [ATK 4000/DEF 4000]
After combining the three Monsters, (The Winged Dragon of Ra)'s current power was—
(The Winged Dragon of Ra) [Level 10/Divine]
[Divine-Beast Type]
[ATK 4600/DEF 4200]
"It inherited (Slifer the Sky Dragon)'s power too? But even (Ra), its current Attack is no match for my (Armed Dragon Thunder LV10) on the Field!" Hayato said calmly.
(Armed Dragon Thunder LV10) [ATK 5000]
Thanks to its Effect that Destroyed (Speedroid Double Yoyo) earlier, (Armed Dragon Thunder LV10)'s Attack had increased by another 1000 points, making it 400 higher than (The Winged Dragon of Ra).
"Hmph, you fool, you can't even imagine the limits of (Ra)'s power," Marik said smugly. "If the God's power isn't enough, then I'll Tribute my own Life Points!"
"What?!"
Marik raised a hand and pointed at (The Winged Dragon of Ra) in the sky: "Upon (Ra)'s successful Summon, Activate its Effect! I will Fusion myself with (Ra), reducing my Life Points to 1, and convert all the rest into (Ra)'s Attack and Defense Points!"
Watching Marik, after his words fell, become enveloped by a pillar of light projected from (The Winged Dragon of Ra)'s body and slowly ascend, Hayato subconsciously turned his head and quipped to Ishizu: "Wife, tell Bull Demon King to come out and see God with us."
"Wife" Ishizu: ...
"Bull Demon King" Odion: ...
With a displeased expression from (The Winged Dragon of Ra), Marik ascended the pillar of light to its head. His entire lower body seemed to dissolve into the God beneath his feet as if dematerialized. His Life Points returned to a mere 1 point; in contrast, the aura emanating from (The Winged Dragon of Ra) became stronger.
(The Winged Dragon of Ra) [ATK 4600/DEF 4200 → ATK 5100/DEF 4700]
"This is the power of (Ra)'s perfect form! Now receive the scourge of God, Hayato!" Marik's expression was somewhat frenzied. He pointed a hand at Hayato's (Armed Dragon Thunder) on the Field: "Obey my command, (Ra)! Annihilate that Monster for me!"
"God Phoenix Blast!"
"The (Armed Dragon Thunder LV10) on my Field can Activate its Effect when it's Special Summoned by an (Armed Dragon)'s Effect and its Attack is 100 or more! It cannot be Destroyed by Battle!"
"Although it won't be Destroyed by Battle, you'll still take all the Damage caused!" Marik was already eager to see Hayato's pained expression. "The power of God cannot be completely restricted by the Rules of Duel Monsters; even if it's just a little Damage, it will be a pain like the soul being torn apart!"
"Be reduced to ashes in the sun's scorching flames!"
Blazing flames spewed from (The Winged Dragon of Ra)'s mouth. The golden solar flames instantly engulfed Hayato's Field. (Earthbound Immortal Wiraqocha Rasca), seeing the unfavorable situation, ascended prematurely to escape, leaving (Armed Dragon Thunder LV10) and Hayato to be swallowed by the flames together.
Hayato had originally prepared himself to endure the pain, but watching the solar flames fall upon him, surprisingly, he didn't feel a trace of heat. Instead, the flames surrounding him felt as gentle as the autumn afternoon sun.
Hayato: 2000 → 1900 Life Points
"Huh? What's going on?" Marik was also quite puzzled. According to his countless experiences punishing subordinates with (Ra), Hayato should now be screaming in pain on the ground, unable even to stand. But why did Hayato not look pained at all?
Unable to find the reason, Marik's first thought was Hayato's (Millennium Ring). Compared to other (Millennium Items) that possess (Future Sight), mind-reading, and thought-control, the (Millennium Ring) only had the useless abilities of interfering with other (Millennium Items) and finding paths, according to the records of the Tomb Keepers.
"Did he escape a calamity with the (Millennium Ring)? Hmph, I'll deal with you completely next turn." Marik sneered, returned the previously revealed (Golden Ladybug) to his Hand, and Set two Cards. "Set a Card, my turn ends."
Marik: 1 Life Point, Hand 1
(The Winged Dragon of Ra) [ATK 5100]
Set Card X2
It was his turn. Hayato momentarily put aside the doubts in his heart and refocused on the Duel. "My Turn, Draw!"
This turn, Hayato only Drew an unknown Card. Casually Setting it, Hayato looked up at Marik, who was Fusioned with (The Winged Dragon of Ra) in the sky. "Marik, your God is indeed very powerful. And if I'm not mistaken, it should have a hidden Effect that you haven't used yet, right?"
"However, I won't give you a chance to use it! You, who pursued greater power, gave up many things you originally possessed, and now, that will be the reason for your defeat!" Hayato raised his hand and pointed at Marik.
"(Earthbound Immortal Wiraqocha Rasca), Direct Attack Marik, Death Singularity!"
"Marik, in order to increase (Ra)'s Attack, just Paid his Life Points down to 1!" Hearing Hayato's words, Ishizu also understood what the flaw he spoke of was. "(Earthbound Immortal Wiraqocha Rasca) possesses an Effect that is unaffected by Spell/Trap Cards. If this Attack is successful, Hayato wins!"
Compared to her past self, who panicked when (Future Visions) changed, the current Ishizu wished even more to see the future changed. She shouted at Hayato: "Go, Hayato!"
Odion, standing by, saw this and silently turned his gaze to Marik, or rather, to the Set Card in Marik's Backrow, seemingly not worried that Marik would lose because of this: 'If nothing unexpected happens, Lord Marik's Set Card in the Backrow should be that particular Card...'
Sure enough, Marik had already anticipated that Hayato would use (Earthbound Immortal Wiraqocha Rasca) for a Direct Attack. "Fool! Did you think I wouldn't anticipate this move? As an incarnation of God, I had already calculated everything!"
"Activate my Set Card! (De-Fusion), to separate me and (Ra), and my Life Points will be restored by an amount equal to (Ra)'s Attack!"
(Earthbound Immortal Wiraqocha Rasca) lunged towards (The Winged Dragon of Ra), or rather, Marik on top of (The Winged Dragon of Ra)'s head. But with the Activation of (De-Fusion), Marik detached himself from within (The Winged Dragon of Ra).
Under everyone's surprised gazes, Marik stomped forcefully on (Ra)'s head, leapt into the air, and swung his fist, actively Attacking (Earthbound Immortal Wiraqocha Rasca)!
Marik: 1 → 5101 → 5100 Life Points
"Whimper, whimpers~" Failed to Attack Marik and was even batted back, (Earthbound Immortal Wiraqocha Rasca) fled back to Hayato's Field, letting out pitiful whimpers.
"Hahahaha, pathetic, pathetic, pathetic! An Attack of this level, I could spend an entire day with you!" Marik felt the unusually abundant Life Points surging within him at this moment. He made an extremely showy squirrel-like landing, endured the pain in his knees, and taunted Hayato.
"Roar!" Compared to Marik, who had gained most of the Life Points after (De-Fusion), (The Winged Dragon of Ra)'s condition was not good at all. The Life Points on Marik's body didn't come from nothing; it was all taken from its body.
(The Winged Dragon of Ra) [ATK 0/DEF 0]
Even though it only invested 500 points during the Fusion, after (De-Fusion), he actually swindled away all its power. Seeing Marik, such a freeloading genius, it would be strange if (The Winged Dragon of Ra)'s mood were good.
"Could this Duelist please not step onto the Field himself?" Hayato quipped casually. He looked at the returning (Earthbound Immortal Wiraqocha Rasca) and Marik, who had instantly Gained a large amount of Life Points, feeling a slight sense of trouble.
(end of chapter)