[Blue-Eyes White Dragon] [Level 8/LIGHT]
[Dragon/Normal]
[3000/2500]
After Summoning one Blue-Eyes, Kaiba's actions were not over: 'Next, I activate my Set Card in the Back Row, the Continuous Trap [Birthright]! Targeting one Normal Monster in my Graveyard, I Special Summon it in Attack Position!'
'Return, [Blue-Eyes White Dragon]!'
From the Field, from the Graveyard, from his Hand, Kaiba finally gathered all three [Blue-Eyes White Dragon]s sleeping in his Deck this turn and Summoned them all to his Field. For a moment, even the ominous dark mist shrouding the S.S. St. Ann Airship seemed to be dispelled, leaving only the dazzling holy light of the three White Dragons in everyone's eyes!
[Blue-Eyes White Dragon] [ATK3000]
[Blue-Eyes White Dragon] ([Birthright]) [ATK3000]
[Blue-Eyes White Dragon] (Dragon Shield) [ATK3000]
'Crush! Destroy! Grand Slam!' Kaiba, who had summoned his three wives—I mean, his three Ace Monsters—seemed exceptionally excited.
'So strong, so strong!' Although usually not fond of Kaiba, Joey couldn't help but show a shocked expression watching the three [Blue-Eyes White Dragon]s appear together. 'Their Attack is 600 points higher than [Red-Eyes Black Dragon]'s, and there are three of them!'
'As expected of Kaiba, easily doing what we can't. It truly makes one's heart pound and inspires admiration!'
Chumley also sighed. However, Ishizu, standing beside him, didn't have much confidence in Kaiba: 'But President Seto Kaiba is still walking his original path. Even after summoning all three [Blue-Eyes White Dragon]s, the future fate of "all three White Dragons disappearing" already surrounds him.'
'Entering my Battle Phase!' Kaiba commanded, 'Triple Burst Stream of Destruction!'
Just as the three Blue-Eyes all opened their massive mouths, about to unleash a dragon's breath capable of obliterating all obstacles, Bakura interrupted: 'To recklessly let all your monsters attack, since you're so eager to die, I'll grant your wish!'
'Because of [Dark Sanctuary]'s effect, when a monster possessed by a Vengeful Spirit attacks, the attack is negated, and you take damage equal to half its attack, and I gain Life Points equal to that value.'
'What!?' Kaiba looked in disbelief as one of the three Blue-Eyes on his Field suddenly stopped its attack, and a grey orb of light flew out of its body, just like the previous [Assault Wyvern].
[Kaiba: 3900 LP → 2400 LP]
[Bakura: 1000 LP → 2500 LP]
'How could the Vengeful Spirit? Shouldn't it be on [Assault Wyvern]?'
Facing Kaiba's confusion, Bakura smugly said: 'Surely you didn't think sending [Assault Wyvern] to the Graveyard would release the Vengeful Spirit, Kaiba? As long as [Dark Sanctuary] remains on the Field, the Vengeful Spirit will wander forever.'
'Before each of your Battle Phases, I can manipulate the Vengeful Spirit to possess one of your monsters. This effect doesn't even require activation, and you can't confirm which monster will perform the attack.'
'How can there be such a cheating card!' Even Joey couldn't stand it anymore. 'This kind of card that unilaterally gains an advantage, how is it any different from that scoundrel Pegasus!'
In a private hospital room somewhere, Pegasus, enjoying a delicious dinner with a manga in hand, suddenly sneezed.
'Hmph, you seem to underestimate me, just for controlling one Blue-Eyes?' Kaiba ordered with a cold face. 'Don't forget, I have three Blue-Eyes in total! I'd like to see how you'll block the remaining two!'
'[Blue-Eyes White Dragon], Direct Attack Bakura!'
Two white aurora beams struck one after another, and Bakura calmly activated his Set Card: 'Activate Set Card, [Wall of Disruption]!'
'You can activate this card when your monster declares an attack! It lowers the attack of all monsters on your Field by the number of monsters you control X 800 points!' Bakura sneered. 'Although the number has increased, unfortunately, that has become your biggest stumbling block, Kaiba?'
'Because you have three [Blue-Eyes White Dragon]s on your Field, the attack of all monsters on your Field decreases by 3 X 800, which is 2400 points!'
[Blue-Eyes White Dragon] [ATK3000 → 600]
[Blue-Eyes White Dragon] (Dragon Shield) [ATK3000 → 600]
[Blue-Eyes White Dragon] ([Birthright]) [ATK3000 → 600]
The dragon's breath, which originally seemed to have the aura to destroy heaven and earth, fell upon Bakura, but failed to produce the expected effect. Under the baptism of light and wind, it merely rustled Bakura's hair, his two rabbit-ear-like locks swaying in the breeze: 'Oh my, oh my, is this your wrath, Kaiba? It feels just like a gentle breeze.'
[Bakura: 2500 LP → 1900 LP]
[Bakura: 1900 LP → 1300 LP]
'Damn it!' The [Blue-Eyes White Dragon]'s seemingly inevitable attack was actually weakened to this extent, causing Kaiba to flare up in anger. But all the monsters on the Field had already attacked, and even he was temporarily at a loss.
'Set two cards, turn end.' With reluctance, Kaiba helplessly ended his turn.
At the same time, Bakura also spoke: 'Because your turn has ended, Kaiba, the effect of [Destiny Board] activates again.'
Next to the 'D' and 'E' letters on Bakura's back row, the letter 'A' solidified from mist.
'In that case, you only have two turns left~' Kaiba's cold snort was Bakura's reply. 'Hmph!'
[Kaiba: 2400 LP, Hand: 2]
[Blue-Eyes White Dragon] [ATK600] x3
[Set Card] x2
'It's my turn again, draw.'
Bakura glanced at the card in his Hand and played it: 'Summon [Souls of the Forgotten] in Defense Position, then end my turn.'
'Because of [Dark Sanctuary]'s effect, I tribute [Souls of the Forgotten] during the End Phase.'
[Bakura: 1300 LP, Hand: 0]
[Destiny Board] ['E'] ['A'] [Set Card]
Field: [Dark Sanctuary]
Compared to Kaiba, whose every turn's operations were quite intricate due to [Destiny Board]'s effect as he tried to defeat Bakura as quickly as possible, Bakura ended his turn quite decisively.
After all, for him, there was no pressure of 'losing in a few more turns.' That was something Kaiba had to bear. He just needed to keep his Life Points from dropping to 0, then wait two more turns for an easy victory.
'My turn!' Kaiba drew a card; it was [Jar of Avarice]. This card has the effect to recycle cards from the Graveyard back into the Deck and then draw a card, but because it's a Trap Card, even if he drew it this turn, Kaiba couldn't use it, so he simply set it.
'Set one card, then I activate the Spell Card, [Magic Planter].' Kaiba played a card from his hand. 'I send my Continuous Trap Card [Birthright] on the Field to the Graveyard, and then draw two more cards from my Deck.'
As [Birthright] entered the Graveyard, the [Blue-Eyes White Dragon] that had been revived by that card also returned to the Graveyard. After Kaiba drew two cards, he then activated a card he had set last turn: 'Next, I activate the effect of my Set Card, [Call of the Haunted], to revive [Blue-Eyes White Dragon] from the Graveyard!'
'Come back, Blue-Eyes!'
[Blue-Eyes White Dragon] ([Call of the Haunted]) [ATK3000]
Watching the [Blue-Eyes White Dragon] repeatedly jump between the Graveyard and the Field, Bakura chuckled: 'Oh, so you removed the [Wall of Disruption]'s influence that way? But I can still use [Dark Sanctuary] to have the Vengeful Spirit possess that Blue-Eyes~'
The [Wall of Disruption]'s effect to reduce monsters' attack is permanent; as long as Kaiba's [Blue-Eyes White Dragon] remains on the Field in Face-up Position, it cannot escape the influence. However, by having the Blue-Eyes leave the Field and then return, just as Kaiba did, the [Wall of Disruption]'s effect can be removed, restoring its attack.
'Heh heh, try it if you can.' Kaiba sneered. 'Activate the Spell Card [Book of Moon], changing my [Blue-Eyes White Dragon] on the Field to Face-down Defense Position, then, I Flip Summon [Blue-Eyes White Dragon] again!'
On Kaiba's Field, another [Blue-Eyes White Dragon] had its attack restored to normal. Now, only the [Blue-Eyes White Dragon] equipped with [Dragon Shield] still had 600 attack. However, since [Dragon Shield] itself has an effect that prevents the monster's attack from dealing damage to either player, Kaiba had no intention of restoring its attack.
'Then, entering my Battle Phase! You can command your Vengeful Spirit now.' Kaiba said with a sneer, 'Choose, Bakura, which [Blue-Eyes White Dragon] will you have the Vengeful Spirit possess?'
'Here we go, [Blue-Eyes White Dragon]!'
The two [Blue-Eyes White Dragon]s, whose attack had been restored to 3000 points, both opened their mouths. As Kaiba expected, a grey orb of light indeed emerged from one of the Blue-Eyes!
[Kaiba: 2400 LP → 900 LP]
[Bakura: 1300 LP → 2800 LP]
'Hmph, so what if you blocked one [Blue-Eyes White Dragon]'s attack?' Kaiba, without changing his expression, withstood the impact of the light orb, only taking a step back. However, his pale face showed that he was actually forcing himself to endure. 'This single attack, with 3000 attack, can you take it?'
'Burst Stream of Destruction!'
Because of [Dragon Shield]'s effect, one of Kaiba's [Blue-Eyes White Dragon]s cannot be used for a Direct Attack; because of [Dark Sanctuary], one of Kaiba's [Blue-Eyes White Dragon]s' attack was negated. But even with only one [Blue-Eyes White Dragon], Kaiba was confident it was fully enough to clear Bakura's remaining Life Points!
However, just as the torrent of light was about to erupt, Bakura once again activated his Set Card: 'The moment your [Blue-Eyes White Dragon] deals damage to me, I activate this card, the Trap Card, [Nutrient Z]!'
The invincible [Blue-Eyes White Dragon]'s attack descended upon Bakura. Compared to the weakened version due to [Wall of Disruption] before, this time the [Blue-Eyes White Dragon]'s attack was at full power. Yet, the impact of this [Blue-Eyes White Dragon]'s attack was even less effective than last time; even though the attack clearly hit, Bakura's Life Points shown before Kaiba not only didn't decrease at all, but instead unbelievably increased?!
[Bakura: 3800 LP]
'I was almost taken down by you, what a pity, Kaiba.' Bakura said smugly. 'Because of [Nutrient Z]'s effect, when I would take 2000 or more Battle Damage, I can use this card. During damage calculation, I gain 4000 Life Points.'
[Bakura: 2800 LP → 6800 LP → 3800 LP]
'It's not an attack negate, but rather, compared to the Life Points gained, [Blue-Eyes White Dragon]'s attack wasn't enough?' Joey frowned. 'Is Kaiba going to lose?'
Mai Valentine sighed: 'Even Seto Kaiba, who controls three [Blue-Eyes White Dragon]s, can't defeat that guy named Bakura, even though he looks so frail.'
'Before you write Kaiba's epitaph,' Chumley glanced at Joey and Mai Valentine, 'why don't you two consider letting go? [Dark Sanctuary] has been active for so long, after all.'
The two were startled at his words, only then noticing that ever since Kaiba destroyed [Dark Necrofear] and Bakura activated [Dark Sanctuary], Mai Valentine, who had slight trypophobia, instinctively threw herself into Joey's arms and clung to him, and they had been hugging ever since.
Separating in a hurry, Mai Valentine and Joey both flushed red, babbling confusing phrases like 'it was an accident,' 'I couldn't help myself,' and 'I didn't mean to.'
Meanwhile, Kaiba on the Field paid no attention to what was happening in the audience seating; for him, dueling was more important.
It was clearly a finishing blow, but Bakura dodged it again, making him quite irritated.
His last two cards in hand were [Enemy Controller] and [Defense Seal], which originally fit Kaiba's aggressive play control Deck perfectly. However, Bakura's Deck didn't follow conventional tactics, so these two cards remained in Kaiba's hand without any chance for activation.
'My turn, end.' Helplessly, Kaiba ended this turn. At the same time, without Bakura needing to remind him again, Kaiba saw the appearance of the letter 'T' on Bakura's back row.
This was the fourth turn after Kaiba activated [Card of Demise], and the second to last turn before Bakura's [Destiny Board] effect would secure his victory.
At the start of the next turn, Kaiba would have to discard all cards in his hand, and if he failed to clear Bakura's Life Points before the End Phase, he would lose because [Destiny Board] would have gathered all of the [Spirit Message] cards.
[Kaiba: 900 LP, Hand: 2]
[Blue-Eyes White Dragon] (Dragon Shield) [ATK600]
[Blue-Eyes White Dragon] [ATK3000]
[Blue-Eyes White Dragon] ([Call of the Haunted]) [ATK3000]
[Set Card]
'Then, it's my turn.' Bakura picked up the drawn card and examined it, his face breaking into an exaggerated, theatrical smile, seemingly surprised by the card he had drawn. 'My luck is quite good, Kaiba.'
'Activate the Spell Card, [Pot of Greed], to draw two cards from my Deck.'
'Then, I Set one card, Summon [The Portrait's Secret] in Defense Position, end turn.'
After simple operations, [The Portrait's Secret], which had just appeared on Bakura's Field, became a tribute for [Dark Sanctuary], just like its predecessors. Only one Set Card remained on the monster zone due to [Dark Sanctuary]'s effect, along with the four letters 'D,' 'E,' 'A,' 'T' on Bakura's back row.
'My turn, draw.' Kaiba drew the card; it was the Spell Card [Heavy Storm]. This card has the effect to destroy all Spell and Trap Cards on the Field. Originally, it would have been a very good card, especially since Bakura's Deck was primarily Traps.
But...
'Because of [Card of Demise]'s effect, this turn is the fifth turn's Standby Phase after I activated it.' Kaiba, without changing his expression, sent [Heavy Storm] which had just been added to hand, along with [Defense Seal] and [Enemy Controller] which were already in his hand, directly to the Graveyard. 'I send all cards in my hand to the Graveyard.'
'Hoh-hoh-hoh, what a shame, I seem to have seen [Heavy Storm].' Bakura looked at the cards Kaiba sent to the Graveyard; the topmost one was the [Heavy Storm] he had just drawn. 'If you had drawn it one turn earlier, my [Spirit Message] cards, [Destiny Board], and [Dark Sanctuary] that I painstakingly gathered on the Field would all be destroyed, and then I would surely lose.'
'But it seems now, you are ultimately one move short, Kaiba.'
Confidently believing Kaiba to be out of options, Bakura smugly drew the Set Card from his Duel Disk and showed it to Kaiba: 'I can tell you, my Set Card in the back row is [Drowning Mirror Force]! If you Direct Attack me, all your monsters in Attack Position on the Field will return to your Deck.'
'Besides, my Life Points are 3800, and you can only use one [Blue-Eyes White Dragon] to attack me. There's no way you can clear my Life Points!'
'In other words, at this very moment, you have no chance of victory. I'm guaranteed to win!'
At this moment, Kaiba's hand was empty. The three [Blue-Eyes White Dragon]s on the Field had not broken through the power of [Dark Sanctuary] and [Drowning Mirror Force]. Moreover, if he guessed incorrectly which [Blue-Eyes White Dragon] the Vengeful Spirit possessed, Bakura's Life Points would even increase. All he could use was just one [Jar of Avarice].
Facing Bakura's taunts, facing an apparently unavoidable defeat, Kaiba suddenly became calm. Even the constant wind rushing past his ears from the airship's flight seemed to quiet down a bit.
'Ishizu.' Looking at the silent Kaiba, Chumley suddenly called out to Ishizu beside him. 'Why don't you try looking into the future again now?'
Ishizu's finger rested on her Millennium Necklace: 'I've tried, Chumley. "All three [Blue-Eyes White Dragon]s disappear from Seto Kaiba's Field." Clearly, he attacked Bakura, and all three [Blue-Eyes White Dragon]s were bounced back to his Deck by [Drowning Mirror Force]'s effect. The future still hasn't changed.'
'The future, huh? Honestly, why bother looking at it?' Chumley said with a laugh, shouting towards Kaiba on the Field. 'Hey Seto, did you hear Ishizu's prophecy for you?'
'I can't hear such boring things!' Kaiba retorted coldly, but his very response proved he had heard everything.
'I activate the effect of [Jar of Avarice], which I set last turn. I recycle five cards from my Graveyard back into my Deck, then draw one card.' On Kaiba's Field, an ugly large jar appeared, sucking five cards from Kaiba's Graveyard into it and shaking.
'Placing your hopes on that card? It's useless, useless!' Bakura sneered, about to say something, but Kaiba interrupted him with a cold face: 'You're so noisy, you fodder.'
'What did you say?'
'I said, you fodder, be quiet. You've been noisy since the duel began.' Kaiba said, closing his eyes and placing his finger on his Duel Disk's Deck. 'My future won't be decided by boring things like "prophecy" or "fortune-telling." Only I can choose my path forward!'
As Kaiba spoke, he drew the top card from his Deck. Almost simultaneously, a rift suddenly appeared in the [Dark Sanctuary] shrouding the Sky Duel Arena and began to spread.
Feeling the sensation emanating from the rift, Bakura also had a look of surprise: 'Th-this feeling is!'
'I tribute all three [Blue-Eyes White Dragon]s on the Field!' Raising the card in his hand high, the [Jar of Avarice] before Kaiba cracked open, revealing a blue-bordered card. 'Should it descend, a scorching gale shall sweep the land, and all living things shall become corpses!'
'Descend, [Obelisk the Tormentor]!'
The moment Kaiba placed the card on his Duel Disk, accompanied by a soaring symphony, the [Dark Sanctuary] that had long shrouded the area was instantly ripped apart by a colossal figure. [Obelisk the Tormentor], whose form seemed to touch the heavens, revealed its true self amidst the light particles of the three [Blue-Eyes White Dragon]s being Tributed, declaring to the world what it truly meant to be a God!
[Obelisk the Tormentor] [Level 10/DIVINE]
[Divine-Beast/Effect]
[4000/4000]
'Just its appearance makes me feel breathless.' Joey looked up at the towering god. 'Is that a "God Card"?'
'That's, [Obelisk the Tormentor]!' Yugi was also utterly shocked. After learning about the existence of the Egyptian God Cards from Ishizu, this was his first time seeing a true god summoned. 'Compared to beings like [Uria, Lord of Searing Flames], this truly is a "god"!'
'[Obelisk the Tormentor], attack Bakura!' Kaiba waved his hand and ordered. 'This is a divine strike,'
'God Hand Crusher!'
'D-damn it, it's a God Card!' Bakura hadn't expected Kaiba to pull off a Heart of the Cards for a god at such a critical moment. 'I activate my Set Card, [Drowning Mirror Force]! All your monsters in Attack Position will be bounced back to your Deck!'
'And [Dark Sanctuary]'s effect, the monster possessed by the Vengeful Spirit's attack is negated!'
Regarding Bakura's double assurance, Kaiba sneered: 'You fodder seem to have misunderstood something. Using these effects on [Obelisk the Tormentor]?'
'This isn't a monster, it's a god!'
[Dark Sanctuary]'s Vengeful Spirit, [Drowning Mirror Force] that reflects power – facing all obstacles in its path, [Obelisk the Tormentor] responded with its invincible iron fist!
A terrifying shockwave obliterated everything in an instant, and Bakura couldn't help but let out a shriek:
'Uh-huh! Urgh-ah-ah-ah!!!'
[Bakura: 3800 LP → 0 LP]
After the divine might subsided, and Bakura's Life Points were confirmed to be completely nullified, while everyone in the audience seating was still immersed in the god's power, the remarkably calm Croquet stated: 'The victor has been decided. Duelist Bakura's Life Points have been nullified, therefore the winner of this duel is—'
'Seto Kaiba!'
(end of chapter)