Chapter 306: Slime Destroyed
"Bond Link, shatter the darkness with the endless bonds of light, *The Dark Magicians*!"
The vortex caused by the Fusion dissipated, revealing on the Duel Field two Monsters standing side-by-side: *Dark Magician* and *Dark Magician Girl*, who, despite being two distinct monsters, were counted as one. However, their current name was *The Dark Magicians*.
*The Dark Magicians* [Level 8/DARK Attribute]
[Spellcaster-Type/Fusion/Effect]
[2800/2300]
"Oh, it's the card Yugi and Chumley used to defeat Pegasus!" Joey exclaimed excitedly from the Audience Seating, seeing *The Dark Magicians* appear. "He Summoned such a high-Level monster on the first turn, that's Yugi for you."
"But what's the use of high ATK? If it can't Destroy *Revival Jam*, even a god can't inflict damage on Marik, right?" Mai Valentine poured cold water on his enthusiasm.
Kaiba and Chumley had both used God Cards before. Although *The Winged Dragon of Ra* left the Field quite undignified, Mai Valentine still vividly remembered the oppressive aura it exuded upon its Summon. And the only one of the *Egyptian God Cards* that hadn't appeared, *Osiris*, seemed to be in Marik's Hand. Could Yugi, without a God Card, defeat Marik?
"Don't worry," Chumley said, quite confident in Yugi. "I think Yugi has already figured out a way to counter *Revival Jam*'s defense. Or rather, *Revival Jam*, with no resistance outside of its revive ability, is actually just a fodder monster." He added, "Look, Yugi is about to make his move."
On the Duel Field, Yugi played a card from his Hand: "While *Revival Jam* can absorb and revive from both battle and effect destruction, what if it's this card? I Pay 1500 Life Points to Activate *Herald of the Abyss* from my Hand!"
[Yugi: 4000 → 2500 LP]
As his Life Points decreased, Yugi's body involuntarily felt a wave of weakness. When Marik activated *Dark Snake Syndrome* last turn, this Duel had already quietly transformed into a Shadow Game. Actively paying Life Points was fine, at most causing physical weakness, but losing Life Points due to an effect or battle would bring considerably heavy pain.
Marik's expression turned grim: "You're paying a full 1500 Life Points to activate a card?"
"The effect of *Herald of the Abyss* can only be activated by me declaring a Type and an Attribute," Yugi explained the card's effect. "If a monster with the Type and Attribute I declared exists on your opponent's Field, your opponent must send that monster to the Graveyard."
"What I declare is, naturally, *Revival Jam*'s WATER Attribute, Aqua-Type!"
On Yugi's Back Row, an ominous black mist rose, and within the mist, a grinning skeleton emerged, pointing its finger at Marik's *Revival Jam* on the Field. This was neither a physical attack nor spell damage; *Revival Jam*'s life was stripped away in an instant, and it was sent to Marik's Graveyard without even a chance to resist.
Because this was not destruction, *Revival Jam*'s effect could not be activated. Furthermore, *Herald of the Abyss* itself had the ability to seal the effects of monsters sent to the Graveyard and cards with the same name.
"Then, once per turn, when a Spell/Trap Card's effect is activated, I activate *The Dark Magicians*' effect." Yugi drew a card from his Deck. "I draw one card from my Deck, and if it's a Spell/Trap Card, I can Set it directly on the Field."
Saying this, Yugi glanced at the card he drew, placed it in his Spell & Trap Zone, and then waved his hand to command: "Let this monster pass judgment on you, Marik. *The Dark Magicians*, direct attack Marik!"
"Dual Magic!"
At Yugi's command, *Dark Magician* and *Dark Magician Girl* both raised their staves. At the tips of their two-colored staves, a purple magic orb, wrapped in blue lightning, converged and was pushed by the master and apprentice duo towards Marik, who had no monsters on his Field!
"Heh heh, trying to finish me quickly? That won't do, Nameless Pharaoh. If this Duel ends without you fully experiencing pain, I won't be able to rest easy." Marik grinned maliciously, flipping over a set card in his Back Row: "I activate the Trap Card *Absorption Shield*! I negate *The Dark Magicians*' attack, and I gain Life Points equal to its ATK."
The magical projectile accurately struck Marik, but after hitting him, the magical energy contained within *The Dark Magicians*' attack was rapidly absorbed by Marik. His Life Points not only didn't decrease, but actually soared upwards.
[Marik: 4000 → 6800 LP]
Watching *The Dark Magicians*' attack fail, Yugi showed a knowing smile: "As expected, although you prepared the troublesome *Revival Jam* as the first layer of defense on your Field, Marik, you really did have other means prepared in your Back Row."
"But my attack isn't over yet, Marik!"
Saying this, Yugi activated the card he had just drawn and set with *The Dark Magicians*' effect: "If a card Set by *The Dark Magicians*' effect is a Quick-Play Spell Card or a Trap Card, it can be activated the turn it is Set. I activate the Quick-Play Spell Card, *De-Fusion*!"
As Yugi activated the *De-Fusion* card, the crowd, expecting some dazzling new virtual projection to appear on the Field, saw *Dark Magician* and *Dark Magician Girl*, who had been standing side-by-side, glance at each other and step apart.
*Dark Magician* [ATK 2500]
*Dark Magician Girl* [ATK 2000]
"Because of *De-Fusion*'s effect, *The Dark Magicians* leaves the Field. At the same time, its Fusion Materials in my Graveyard—*Dark Magician* and *Dark Magician Girl*—are Special Summoned back to my Field."
Seeing Yugi's composed expression, Marik clicked his tongue in annoyance: "Since you Special Summoned monsters from the Graveyard, the effect of *Card of Safe Return* activates, and I can draw three cards."
Similar to *Revival Jam*, the *Card of Safe Return* Marik used also had its anime version effect, allowing him to draw three cards every time a monster was Special Summoned from the Graveyard, without restriction to whose monster it was.
However, even with three cards drawn, Marik couldn't play any of them for the moment, only able to watch as *Dark Magician* and *Dark Magician Girl*, who had merely stepped apart, shamelessly regained their ability to attack.
"Attack continues!" Yugi's lips curved into a smirk as he mercilessly commanded, "First, it's *Dark Magician Girl*'s attack!"
At Yugi's command, *Dark Magician Girl* raised her short staff and chanted a spell. A blue magic orb manifested and rapidly flew towards Marik.
Marik's gaze subconsciously darted to his other two Set cards in the Back Row. One was *Metal Reflect Slime*, which could increase ATK and Defense Points based on the damage his opponent inflicted on him. The other card was *Call of the Haunted*, which could revive monsters from the Graveyard.
If he chose to use *Call of the Haunted* to revive *Revival Jam* from his Graveyard, the two monsters on Yugi's Field could at most inflict 2000 damage, leaving him with 4800 Life Points.
There was also *Metal Reflect Slime*, which, upon activation, would become a high-defense monster with 3000 Defense Points, capable of completely blocking the attacks of Yugi's two monsters.
But Marik thought it over and decided against it. Compared to his Life Points, he felt it would be more worthwhile to save these two cards to unleash their maximum potential later. The effect of *Herald of the Abyss* hadn't disappeared yet, and if a revived *Revival Jam* were to be destroyed again this turn, Marik wouldn't have any additional revive methods ready anytime soon.
Although *Metal Reflect Slime* had high Defense Points, it had no resistance. As a Trap Monster, it couldn't even be revived by *Call of the Haunted*. If Yugi destroyed it with a card like *Thousand Knives*, the loss would be too great.
At the moment of decision, *Dark Magician Girl*'s attack struck him.
"Cough... uh!"
[Marik: 6800 → 4800 LP]
"Next is *Dark Magician*!"
"Urgh!"
[Marik: 4800 → 2300 LP]
As comfortable as Marik felt earlier absorbing *The Dark Magicians*' attack, that's how painful it was to be directly hit by two Dark Magic attacks. After a brief exchange, Marik's initially six thousand-plus Life Points were reduced to even lower than Yugi's, who had paid 1500 Life Points.
"I set one card, and my turn ends." After glancing at his Hand and keeping one card, Yugi ended his turn.
[Yugi: 2500 LP, Hand: 1]
*Dark Magician* [ATK 2500]
*Dark Magician Girl* [ATK 2000]
[Set Card]
Marik's breathing was heavy as his head hung low from the pain of two consecutive direct attacks. It was his turn. When Marik finally looked up, Yugi was surprised to find that, despite Marik's earlier cries of agony, there wasn't even a trace of pain on his face. Instead, he seemed rather pleased and enjoying himself?
"This feeling... this pain and torment... is there anything more enjoyable in the world?" Marik's expression contorted as he dug a finger into his temple. However, he wasn't a vampire and knew his limits, so he didn't let his ecstasy push him to actually drill a finger through his temple.
"It seems your performance is over, Nameless Pharaoh. In that case, it's time for my judgment. My turn, draw!" Marik drew a card, then pointed his hand towards Yugi: "During my Standby Phase, *Dark Snake Syndrome*'s effect activates, inflicting 200 effect damage to both players!"
"Hiss~!" As Marik's words fell, Yugi's palm, where he had been bitten by *Dark Snake Syndrome*'s serpent earlier, erupted in sharp pain. It felt both like being frozen by bone-chilling ice and burned by fire.
Unlike Yugi, though Marik's hand also twitched instinctively from the pain, the expression on his face was one of pure, massage-like pleasure.
[Marik: 2300 → 2100 LP]
[Yugi: 2500 → 2300 LP]
"My turn begins! I activate my two Set cards in the Back Row!" Marik reached for the Spell & Trap Zone on his Duel Disk, flipping over two Set cards: "The Continuous Trap Card, *Call of the Haunted*, and the Continuous Trap Card, *Metal Reflect Slime*!"
"First, the effect of *Metal Reflect Slime* is processed! This card becomes an Effect Monster upon activation, and is Special Summoned to my Field in Defense Position!"
On Marik's Back Row, as if a dam had broken, a large amount of metallic liquid surged from the activated *Metal Reflect Slime* card. On Marik's Field, it coalesced as if alive, forming the image of a tall minotaur.
*Metal Reflect Slime* [Level 10/WATER Attribute]
[Aqua-Type/Trap/Effect]
[0/3000]
'A monster with 3000 Defense Points!?' Kaiba on the Spectator Stands frowned. How was it that this DEF value, neither too much nor too little, happened to be at a level that *Blue-Eyes White Dragon* couldn't destroy?
Recently, he had noticed something. In every Duel Monsters match, whenever a monster with high ATK or high DEF appeared, people would subconsciously compare it to *Blue-Eyes White Dragon*, especially when the monster's ATK or Defense Points happened to be exactly 3000.
'Tch, this is annoying.'
Kaiba always felt this was some kind of malice. His invincible Blue-Eyes wasn't meant to be used as a unit of combat power calculation.
Compared to Kaiba, who suddenly felt annoyed and looked disgruntled on the Spectator Stands, Yugi felt a slight confusion.
'This card, Marik should have Set it last turn, right? Why didn't he use it when *Dark Magician* and *Dark Magician Girl* attacked earlier?'
In his Mind, Yugi Muto offered his thoughts: 'Although I can't figure out why either, if Marik felt it was worth preserving this card even at the cost of 4500 Life Points, then this card must have some important purpose later on.'
"Are you wondering why I preserved this card until now, Nameless Pharaoh~?" Marik smiled, activating another card: "Just wait a little longer. If it's that monster, any amount of waiting will be worth it."
Speaking in an inscrutable manner, Marik activated his second set card: "I activate the Continuous Trap Card, *Call of the Haunted*! I revive *Revival Jam* from my Graveyard!"
"At the same time, because of *Card of Safe Return*'s effect, I draw three more cards!"
Declaring that he would draw cards, Marik placed his finger on the top card of his Deck, but then let out a ferocious, maniacal laugh: "I feel it! That monster has arrived!"
Yugi's heart involuntarily pounded faster. Although Marik hadn't drawn a card, Yugi felt an aura he had sensed before. It was the aura of a God Card!
(end of chapter)