Chapter 526: The Despicable World-Destroyer Enters Kaiba Dome
Lord of D., Diamond Dragon, and Emerald Dragon—Kaiba's three Monsters on the Field were chosen as Tributes and Released. Unlike other Monsters that are Released, they didn't shatter into pieces and go directly to the Graveyard; instead, they weathered into dust and scattered.
Following this, suffocating gales swept across the land. A massive vortex appeared in the sky, created by virtual projection, and within that vortex, a pair of eyes suddenly opened!
Burly arms reached out from the clouds, tearing apart the dark sky. Yugi then realized that the "God" had already appeared; its form was simply so colossal that it was hard to imagine it was a Duel Monster!
"Gales sweep the land, all things turn to dust before divine might. Heed my command and Descend!"
Kaiba bellowed,
"Obelisk the Tormentor!"
The blue Giant God stood tall upon the earth!
Obelisk the Tormentor [ATK4000]
"To have Summoned a Tribu... Giant God by the third Turn already, Kaiba certainly has some tricks up his sleeve," Chumley quickly corrected his slip of the tongue, not voicing his true thoughts, a smile full of anticipation for the upcoming Duel gracing his face.
Joey, however, was a little nervous: "Now's not the time to be admiring Kaiba's strength, Chumley. Obelisk the Tormentor has a massive 4000 ATK, and it possesses the powerful Resistance shared by all Egyptian God Cards."
"Even though I don't know what that Set Card in Yugi's Back Row is, if you just let Obelisk Attack the Dark Magician Girl with only 2000 ATK, Yugi's remaining 1600 Life Points will be wiped out, and he'll lose just like that!"
"Exactly, Yugi. While I don't know what that card in your Back Row is, there's no need for me to know now. Because what stands before you isn't some ordinary Monster; it is Kami!"
Kaiba, with an empty Hand, looked scornfully at Yugi's Dark Magician and Dark Magician Girl on the Field, feeling victory was already in his hand. After all, Obelisk the Tormentor had already established such an overwhelming presence; how could he possibly lose now?
However, Kaiba suddenly remembered that if he were to Attack Yugi, he would still have to engage in Battle with a Monster on Yugi's Field, not launch a Direct Attack. This left Yugi with room for tricks, such as Soul Barrier, which prevents damage as long as a Monster is present, or Desert Sunlight, which changes a Monster's Battle Position.
To be safe, he still needed to Destroy the card in Yugi's Back Row, or at the very least, Seal it.
Though he held no cards, Kaiba glanced at the six cards in Yugi's Hand and the Set Card in his own Back Row, a triumphant expression on his face. "Card of Safe Return is a card for replenishing the Hand and drawing cards; while it allows for drawing a large number of cards at once, the Cost is that Yugi, you also draw many cards. As Chumley often says, powerful cards often come with great risks."
"But for me, with my unwavering determination to climb to the pinnacle, I can even utilize this Negative Effect," Kaiba sneered, pressing the button to Activate his Set Card. "Activate my Set Card in the Back Row, the Trap Card Power Balance!"
"This card can only be Activated when my Hand is empty. My Opponent chooses half the cards in their Hand to Discard and Send to Graveyard, then I can Draw cards from my Deck equal to the number of cards my Opponent Discarded from their Hand."
"Yugi, because of Card of Safe Return's Effect, your Hand size increased to three cards. So now, you must Discard three cards from your Hand, and I will consequently Draw three cards!"
As Kaiba's Set Card Activated, Yugi looked at his Hand with a slight hesitation. After a moment's thought, he selected three cards from it: "In that case, these three cards are what I Discard."
Witnessing Yugi Send three unknown cards to the Graveyard, Kaiba Drew three cards. Seeing the cards he Drew, Kaiba's eyes lit up, and he immediately burst into maniacal laughter: "Yes! Yugi! The victory of this Duel has undeniably fallen into my hands!"
"I Enter my Battle Phase, and then, in response to entering the Battle Phase, I Activate the Quick-Play Spell Card Anti-Magic Arrows from my Hand!"
As Kaiba inserted the card from his Hand into the Duel Disk, numerous magical arrows suddenly appeared out of thin air above Yugi and Kaiba's heads, raining down. All of them accurately struck both players' Back Rows, and the Set Card in Yugi's Back Row was firmly pinned to the ground by Anti-Magic Arrows!
"Anti-Magic Arrows' Activation cannot be Chained by Spell, Trap, or Monster Effects. Its Effect is to block the Activation of all Spell/Trap Card Effects for both you and me this Turn, meaning that card in your Back Row can no longer be used!" Kaiba's finger pointed at the Dark Magician Girl in Attack Position on Yugi's Field. "Then, next is Obelisk the Tormentor's Attack!"
"Crush that Dark Magician Girl, Obelisk!!"
"Fist of Fate!!!"
In Dark Magician Girl's terrified eyes, the blue Giant raised its meteor-like fist. The movement, seemingly heavy, was in fact swift, visible compressed air enveloping the fist, turning into a blue shockwave that slammed down heavily on Dark Magician Girl!
"Eek!!"
Although she put up a magical defense in front of herself, facing the power of a God Card, Dark Magician Girl's Barrier was easily broken, not even counting as a sheet of paper. The little witch was Destroyed and Sent to Graveyard, and the terrifying impact's airflow shook the virtual projection of the airship beneath their feet, kicking up sky-obscuring dust that enveloped Yugi's figure.
Seeing this, Kaiba frowned. Thanks to Chumley, Kaiba had somewhat grasped the existence of the "no visible damage if there's smoke" rule. Although he watched Dark Magician Girl be Destroyed, because he didn't directly witness Yugi's Life Points drop to zero, a thought instead arose in Kaiba's mind: "Yugi can survive this Attack."
And in reality, it was indeed so.
"Kuri~"
Amidst the gradually dissipating dust, the figure of Kuriboh beside him slowly became transparent. Yugi, unharmed, having dodged the damage, met Kaiba's gaze: "Oh dear, that was dangerous. Thanks to you, Kaiba, for Kuriboh being drawn into my Hand with Card of Safe Return earlier."
"Tch, that Fodder Monster again, of course," Kaiba scoffed, pursing his lips. The more he didn't want to see something, the more he seemed to encounter it. He didn't know how many times it had happened now; Kaiba noticed that every time Yugi's Life Points were on the verge of being wiped out, a Kuriboh would always appear in his Hand, as if glued there.
And Chumley was the same; Rainbow Kuriboh was just as troublesome.
Kaiba, grumbling about both Yugi and Chumley, was completely oblivious to any self-reflection; when it came to "glued-to-hand cards," he was actually more proficient than both Yugi and Chumley.
Even after Summoning Obelisk the Tormentor, he couldn't finish off Yugi. While Kaiba was annoyed, he also thought, "It's Yugi, after all; this level of resilience is only natural."
Anti-Magic Arrows' Effect had already ended when Kaiba ended his Turn. After Yugi used his Monster Kuriboh's Effect to reduce this battle damage to zero, Kaiba glanced at the two cards in his Hand and Set them both.
"I Set all the cards in my Hand. My Turn Ends." Kaiba inserted the cards into his Duel Disk's Spell & Trap Zone. His face showed no "disappointment" or "annoyance" but rather an expression of eager anticipation as he looked at Yugi.
[Kaiba: 4000 LP, Hand 0]
Obelisk the Tormentor [ATK4000]
[Set Card] x2
Kaiba readily agreed with what Chumley had said before the Duel. After all, while he desired victory, it wasn't a mere victory. He yearned only for the triumph achieved after both sides had burned their Duelist Souls to fight with all their might.
Since he had already Summoned Obelisk, Yugi likely wouldn't keep Kaiba waiting long and would surely Summon Slifer the Sky Dragon this Turn.
"My Turn, Draw."
"Then, I Activate Pot of Greed's Effect, and Draw two more cards."
Anti-Magic Arrows' Effect had already ended when Kaiba ended his Turn. After Activating the Pot of Greed he had just Drawn, Yugi Drew two cards. Glancing at the Slifer the Sky Dragon that was Added to his Hand last Turn, a smirk played on Yugi's lips.
"Kaiba, I can feel your desire for victory in your Duel. However, I will not lose this Duel, because I have a reason I must defeat you."
Recalling everything Yugi Muto had described seeing in the illusion, Yami Yugi's gaze became firm. "I will use Slifer the Sky Dragon to defeat your Obelisk!"
"Hmph, good spirit, Yugi. If you can Summon Slifer the Sky Dragon, then by all means, try. After all, only a God can defeat a God." Kaiba, anticipating the Summoning of Slifer the Sky Dragon, smirked, but then added, "However, if you think that's enough to defeat me, then you're twenty thousand years too early!"
With a commanding presence, Yugi played a card from his Hand: "As a Cost to Discard one card from my Hand, I Activate the Normal Spell Card Joker's Straight. I Special Summon Queen's Knight from my Deck, then I Add either King's Knight or Jack's Knight to my Hand. I choose King's Knight. After that, I can Normal Summon one Monster from my Hand."
"Come forth, King's Knight!"
The two Knights, representing "Q" and "K" in poker, appeared on Yugi's Field, standing beside the Dark Magician. The sword in King's Knight's hand and Queen's Knight's sword crossed and rose, and then another sword materialized out of thin air, resting where the two Warriors' blades met.
"If Queen's Knight exists on my Field, King's Knight can Special Summon one Jack's Knight from the Deck during its Normal Summon. And because King's Knight's Summon is due to Joker's Straight's Effect,"
Yugi glanced at the "JQK" Three Knights that had appeared on his Field.
Queen's Knight [ATK1500]
King's Knight [ATK1600]
Jack's Knight [ATK1900]
"Kaiba, I have gathered the three Tribute Monsters required to Summon Slifer the Sky Dragon on my Field!"
"Is that so." Seeing the Three Knights gathered on Yugi's Field, combined with the almost certainly existing Slifer the Sky Dragon in Yugi's Hand, Kaiba knew Yugi intended to Summon a God next.
However, while he anticipated a Battle between Gods, Kaiba wasn't someone who would intentionally hold back for such a reason. Yugi wanted to Summon Slifer the Sky Dragon, but what if Kaiba preemptively Destroyed his Tributes? What would Yugi do then?
Thinking thus, Kaiba sneered and pressed the button to Activate his Set Card: "Too bad, Yugi. While I, too, look forward to you Summoning a God, you'll have to survive this move first. Don't fall so easily into the Abyss."
"I Activate my Set Card, the Quick-Play Spell Card Ultimate Fusion! This card allows me to use Blue-Eyes White Dragon and Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon from my Graveyard as Fusion Materials, returning them to the Deck for a Fusion Summon." Kaiba caught the three cards the Duel Disk automatically Searched from his Graveyard. "My chosen Fusion Materials are three Blue-Eyes White Dragons!"
"Come forth, Ultimate Dragon, transcending all creation, reveal your mighty Power to me! Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon!"
The three Blue-Eyes White Dragon cards were returned to Kaiba's Deck. The Duel Disk automatically Shuffled, and Kaiba slammed a Fusion Monster Card onto the Duel Disk.
With a different appearance from Neo Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon—an original version, yet its immense Power remained unchanged—the Ultimate Dragon appeared on Kaiba's Field!
"ROAR!" x3
Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon [ATK4500]
"When Neo Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon exists in my Graveyard, it grants the Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon on my Field the ability to not be Targeted by any of your Effects, nor be affected by any of your Effects. Furthermore, Ultimate Fusion's second Effect begins processing!"
Kaiba extended a finger skyward. Beside Obelisk, the Ultimate Dragon's three heads opened their mouths, and three beams of light shot towards Yugi's Field!
"Based on the number of Blue-Eyes White Dragon and Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon used for the Fusion, I can Destroy three cards on your Field!"
"I'll spare that Dark Magician for now, but your hard-won Tributes for Slifer the Sky Dragon will be Sent to Graveyard by Blue-Eyes' Attack, Yugi!"
"Resilient, invincible, supreme!"
The three beams of light instantly struck Queen's Knight, King's Knight, and Jack's Knight on Yugi's Field with lightning speed. The "JQK" Three Knights, on the Field for less than a minute, were thus Destroyed by the Power of Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon and turned into dust.
"Hmm?" Kaiba frowned, watching the dust float up from Yugi's Field into the air.
Normally, when a Monster is Destroyed, the virtual projection effect should show it shattering into fragments. For Fusion Summons, the Monster's body would twist and deform, while Ritual Summons and Tribute Summons would show the Monsters turning into specks of light.
This form of turning into dust isn't right...
Kaiba glanced at the Obelisk the Tormentor on his Field. Earlier, when Summoning Obelisk the Tormentor, Kaiba's Monsters had also dissipated into dust.
That means—
(end of chapter)
In the illusory sky projected by the Kaiba Dome's ceiling, the clouds that had previously been torn apart by (Obelisk the Tormentor) gathered once more. Unlike the somewhat gray clouds before, this time the converging clouds were entirely pitch black.
A few streaks of yellow lightning flashed within the dark clouds pressing down like a fortress. Noticing the faint phantom, Kaiba's lips curved into a smile: "You truly didn't disappoint me, Yugi!"
Yugi held a Card from his Hand above his head. Amidst the flashing lightning, Yugi called out the True Name of the Card in his Hand—
"When Thunder and Chaos Converge, Ancient Spellbooks Bound in Chains, Unrivaled in Power and Limitless!"
"Respond to my command and Summon, Kami!"
"(Slifer the Sky Dragon)!!"
"Wooooargh!!!"
(Slifer the Sky Dragon) [Level 10/Divine]
[Divine-Beast Type/Effect]
[?/?]
"Ya-da-ze! Yugi has Summoned (Slifer the Sky Dragon)! Now Kaiba isn't the only one with a God Card on his Field!"
Beside Chumley, Joey cheered excitedly because Yugi had Summoned (Slifer the Sky Dragon). At the same time, he heard other voices from behind him:
"Yosh! We made it!"
"They've already Summoned a God."
"At least we're not too late."
"Yugi!"
Looking back, Tristan, Marik, Ishizu, and Téa had also arrived at the Kaiba Dome. Their timing was pretty good; they had only missed the first three Turns, and at least they saw the entire process of Yugi Summoning (Slifer the Sky Dragon) this Turn.
Looking at (Slifer the Sky Dragon), whose massive dragon head emerged from the dark clouds above, even though they had witnessed the entire process, it didn't mean they understood how Yugi had actually Summoned (Slifer the Sky Dragon).
Joey noticed the eyes of those who had arrived late turning towards him, and quickly shook his head, indicating that he, too, had no idea what was going on. After all, he was Joey.
However, Yugi on the Field proactively explained his recent actions.
"Chaining to your (Ultimate Fusion), Kaiba, I just Activated this Quick-Play Spell Card, [Divine Speed Summon], from my Hand. Because of its Effect, I can Normal Summon one Level 10 Monster during either player's Main Phase or Battle Phase."
In a very Yugi-esque fashion, the smoke and dust that had risen when (Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon) previously unleashed its light pillar and struck the ground slightly dissipated, revealing the [Divine Speed Summon] Card Yugi Activated from his Hand. "Luckily, it's my Turn, so I could Activate a Quick-Play Spell Card directly from my Hand. How fortunate, Kaiba."
Looking at Yugi on the Field holding a Card whose Effect was so perfectly timed it might as well have been a fresh Card Creation, let alone Kaiba, who was being provocatively mocked, even Chumley on the side felt like complaining.
Although the Card [Divine Speed Summon] had no mention of "God" anywhere on it except for the character "God" in its name, it was indeed a Support Card for the (Egyptian God Cards) Archetype. Chumley even had one.
However, Chumley's copy was one he drew while trying to get [The Creator God of Light, Horakhty], whereas Yugi's was clearly a Card Creation. To be able to create Cards just a few Turns after getting (Slifer the Sky Dragon) back, that's so like you, Yugi.
"Hmph, I see. You used the Effect of [Divine Speed Summon] to choose the three Cards on your Field that were targeted for Destruction by (Ultimate Fusion)'s Effect as Tributes, didn't you? You truly are a troublesome yet exhilarating Opponent, Yugi!"
Kaiba's mindset was rather good. Although (Slifer the Sky Dragon)'s appearance was unexpected, the fact that a God had appeared was enough. He was somewhat satisfied with the power Yugi displayed, the only flaw being...
(Slifer the Sky Dragon) [ATK0]
"Although you Summoned (Slifer the Sky Dragon) to fight me at full strength, Yugi, unlike (Obelisk the Tormentor), (Slifer the Sky Dragon)'s ATK isn't a fixed value."
Kaiba sneered, "With an empty Hand, you don't even have the ability to Activate any Cards that Replenish your Hand. To Summon (Slifer the Sky Dragon) yet be unable to unleash its Power, you truly disappoint me, Yugi!"
"Heh heh, is that so, Kaiba?"
Yugi drew the Set Card from his Spell & Trap Zone and showed it to Kaiba: "Since I decided to Summon (Slifer the Sky Dragon), it's naturally because I have a way to increase its ATK."
"The Card I had Set in my Backrow is (Card of Sanctity). I Activate it! Both players Replenish their Hands to six Cards!"
"Nani?!"
[Yugi: Hand 0→6]
[Kaiba: Hand 0→6]
As Yugi drew six Cards, Kaiba, though slightly surprised, also promptly drew six Cards. And with the increase in Yugi's Hand, the lightning surrounding (Slifer the Sky Dragon) on his Field grew thicker.
(Slifer the Sky Dragon) [ATK0→6000]
Seeing the increase in (Slifer the Sky Dragon)'s ATK, Yami Yugi couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief, saying to Yugi Muto within the (Millennium Puzzle):
In the previous Turn when Kaiba used [Attack Negation] to skip Yugi's Battle Phase, Yami Yugi had (Card of Sanctity) in his Hand, hesitating whether to Activate it during Main Phase 2. But Yugi Muto advised him not to use it.
In the next Turn, Kaiba actually used (Card of Sanctity) for Yugi, and after Summoning (Obelisk the Tormentor), he even used a (Power Balance) to cut Yugi's Hand in half to Replenish his own Hand.
It was fortunate that Kaiba had used that (Power Balance) at that time. Otherwise, Yami Yugi could fully imagine what would have happened if he had attacked (Obelisk the Tormentor) with (Slifer the Sky Dragon).
If he had attacked Kaiba with six Cards in Hand, (Power Balance)'s Effect would have forced him to Discard three Cards directly, causing (Slifer the Sky Dragon)'s ATK to decrease. The "God" that is unaffected by Traps would, therefore, fall into Kaiba's Trap.
"Enter Battle Phase! Go, (Slifer the Sky Dragon)!" Yugi glanced at the Card in his Hand and immediately declared entry into the Battle Phase, completely disregarding the Set Card in Kaiba's Backrow. "Attack (Obelisk the Tormentor)!"
"Hyper Conductor Wave - Thunderforce Attack!"
Not the upper mouth typically used for "Thunderforce Attack", but the lower mouth was used when (Slifer the Sky Dragon) initiated its official Attack. Lightning converged into its mouth, forming a pillar of light like heavenly thunder that struck down, aiming directly at (Obelisk the Tormentor) on Kaiba's Field!
Although it was a God of Destruction, even (Obelisk the Tormentor) could not escape being Destroyed under such a powerful, Divine Wrath-like Attack!
The blue giant God raised its fist, swinging it towards the falling lightning in an attempt to resist, but pure Will could not have the slightest effect on the ATK clearly written within the Duel Rules. The giant God's once invincible iron fist now showed a phenomenon previously only seen on its Targets, gradually cracking and shattering!
In the Audience Seating, Tristan and Téa watched as Yugi's (Slifer the Sky Dragon) gained the upper hand, their faces lighting up with joy: "Yosh! The advantage is on Yugi's side!"
Tristan wanted to share his joy with Joey, but when he turned his head, he saw that neither Chumley, Ishizu, Marik, nor Joey showed any happy expressions over Yugi's temporary advantage.
"In that case, it should be Yugi's victory, right?" Tristan's excitement was slightly dampened, and his voice held a hint of uncertainty. Joey beside him heard this and shook his head: "I'm not as naive as you think, Tristan."
The Joey of old had, after so many Duels, matured somewhat. "If it really were Yugi's advantage, do you think that guy Kaiba would still have that expression on his face?"
Hearing Joey say that, Tristan and Téa couldn't help but look towards Kaiba.
Kaiba's face showed no joy or sorrow. Even as (Obelisk the Tormentor) before him was suppressed and fell into a disadvantage in the clash between Gods, Kaiba merely watched in silence.
Suddenly, he spoke: "Indeed, merely relying on the Power of God Cards, I have no chance of defeating you, Yugi."
As if drawing a conclusion, or perhaps lamenting something, Kaiba pressed the button to Activate his Set Card: "In countless Duels to this day, I've discovered that while the Power of God Cards from the past is immense, it is limited. The more one relies on these relics of the past to create the future, the more they will lead themselves to a destined defeat."
The Card in Kaiba's Backrow Activated. The moment Yami Yugi saw the Card Art, his heart tightened as if squeezed, and his pupils contracted. Immediately, Yugi Muto's voice echoed from within the (Millennium Puzzle):
The Card Art depicted a glowing Pyramid. Though it should have been a Card filled with hopeful light, it now gave off a suffocating sense of despair!
"Kaiba, you—"
Yugi spoke up, wanting to stop Kaiba's next move. He suddenly realized that he and Aibo, in their attempt to prevent the prophetic Phantom they had seen earlier by finding Kaiba for a Duel, had instead been progressing step by step towards that predicted future!
"I no longer need God Cards, Yugi!" Kaiba's hand shot up, pointing towards the sky. "My future will be forged by my own hands! For victory, I am willing to Forfeit (Obelisk the Tormentor)!"
"I Activate the (Continuous Trap) Card, (Pyramid of Light)!"
"Burying the Gods of the past, I will forge a future that belongs to me!"
From the Set Card that Activated in Kaiba's Backrow, a pillar of blue light shot skyward, reflecting off the Kaiba Dome's sky-projected ceiling. It cast down four walls of light from above, not only encircling both Yugi and Kaiba but also separating the two struggling Gods from the Field!
"Gah!!"
As the four triangular walls of light formed a blue Pyramid, Yami Yugi heard Yugi Muto's pained voice coming from within the (Millennium Puzzle).
"Aibo!" Compared to the anomaly of the two God Cards being isolated, Yami Yugi was clearly more concerned about Yugi Muto's condition. Seeing the (Millennium Puzzle) inexplicably begin to spark with electricity, and Yugi Muto's form turn into a Phantom beside him, Yami Yugi anxiously called out to his friend.
"My, my Other Self!"
A suction force emerged from the (Millennium Puzzle), directly Targeting Yugi Muto's Soul right beside Yami Yugi. Only managing to call out to his friend once, Yugi Muto was unable to resist this Power and transformed into a golden light, being absorbed into the (Millennium Puzzle)!
"Aibo!"
"Aibo!"
The anomaly of the (Millennium Puzzle) after Kaiba Activated (Pyramid of Light) made Yami Yugi extremely anxious. He called out again to the friend who had vanished from his side, but the two, who could always communicate telepathically in the past, now found Yami Yugi's calls met with nothing but silence, like a stone sinking into the sea, receiving no response whatsoever.
"Aibo, I can't hear your voice anymore. The (Millennium Puzzle) is completely silent." Holding the (Millennium Puzzle), which now felt like an ordinary golden pendant with no abnormality, Yugi still received no response, and anger gradually welled up in his heart. "What in the world happened!"
"Hmph, although it's a Trap Card, (Pyramid of Light)'s ability to Banish God Cards is independent of the Duel Monsters Rules. Even a God cannot escape this Power." Kaiba didn't care about Yugi's current predicament. With his arms crossed over his chest, he looked at the furious Yugi. "Now, let us resume our struggle with the Power of our own Monsters, Yugi!"
"Hmph hmph, hehe, hahahahaha!!"
Kaiba's irrelevant response, completely out of sync with his own mood, made Yugi's already bad mood even more irritated. He glanced at (Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon) on Kaiba's Field and (Dark Magician) on his own Field. After turning (Dark Magician)'s Card sideways, he drew three Cards and Set them: "Tch, in that case, I'll only see Aibo again if I defeat you, Kaiba."
"I change (Dark Magician) to Defense Position, Set three Cards, and End Turn."
[Yugi: 1600 LP, Hand 3]
[(Dark Magician) [ATK2500→DEF2100]]
[Set Card] X3
"My Turn. The Card (Pyramid of Light) was originally something I specifically prepared for Hayato, but using it in a Duel against you, Yugi, isn't a waste either. Draw!" Kaiba's finger rested on his Deck, then he forcefully Drew a Card. Glancing at the drawn Card, Kaiba's lips curled into a smirk. "Then, Yugi, allow me to show you another Card I've prepared that surpasses the Gods!"
"I Release (Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon) on my Field, and from my Hand—"
"You can't Summon that troublesome Card..."
Kaiba hadn't finished speaking when a third voice suddenly echoed within the "(Pyramid of Light)", which now contained only Kaiba and Yugi.
Kaiba didn't even have time to see who had interrupted him before a hand suddenly gripped his throat and lifted him up.
"K-kisama!"
Yami Yugi watched the muscular man who had abruptly appeared in the "(Pyramid of Light)" and lifted Kaiba, just as Yugi Muto had seen in the Prophecy. He was on high alert.
The man who had suddenly attacked Kaiba and stopped him from Summoning the Card in his Hand burst into maniacal laughter: "Hahahaha, I feel the Aura of a God, such immense Power!"
"I, Anubis, have returned!"
(end of chapter)
Chapter 528: Anubis is about to obtain victory
Inside the (Pyramid of Light), Yugi's connection to the (Millennium Puzzle) was severed, and Kaiba was ambushed by Anubis.
Outside the (Pyramid of Light).
"That Pyramid is—!" Because he had heard Ishizu talk about the Stone Tablet with Chumley at the exhibition hall, Marik immediately connected the (Pyramid of Light) before him with that Stone Tablet. "It can actually affect even a God!"
Beside the (Pyramid of Light), (Slifer the Sky Dragon) and (Obelisk the Tormentor), who had initially been fighting each other with the fury of sworn enemies, ceased their battle in perfect synchronicity the moment the blue (Pyramid of Light) isolated Yugi and Kaiba.
It was almost as if they were corporate drones who feigned arguments in front of their boss due to business conflicts, but would actually go out for drinks together after work.
They even waved to Chumley.
"What's up with this? Once this 'Pyramid' appeared, we can't see what's going on inside at all!" Joey glared at the (Pyramid of Light) forming on the Field, grumbling unhappily. "The tense Duel was interrupted at a critical moment, it's like a patient with anorexia finally gets a bite of interesting food, only for it to be taken away."
"I wonder what the outcome of Yugi and Kaiba's Duel will be after all…"
"Hmm?"
Tristan stopped mid-sentence, looking strangely at one side of the blue Pyramid. Under his gaze, golden patterns appeared on the smooth surface of the Pyramid. A relief of the Eye of Udjat emerged from within the (Pyramid of Light), and within that crimson eyeball, a massive surge of dark power accumulated, welling up like a tide.
The Eye of Udjat appeared for only a few breaths. The eyeball seemed to have finished accumulating power, and a red whirlwind was unleashed, assaulting the direction where everyone was!
"Woah, what is that thing!" X2
Startled by the sudden whirlwind rushing towards them, Tristan and Joey immediately embraced each other, shouting in unison. Téa, who had been too focused watching the Eye of Udjat, was also startled and hid fearfully behind Ishizu.
"Roar!"
Although excluded from the Duel, (Slifer the Sky Dragon) still retained considerable power. It immediately blocked the red storm in front of everyone, with (Obelisk the Tormentor) following closely behind.
They thought that while the (Pyramid of Light) before them looked uncomfortable, it was just a Duel Monster Card. They were invincible God Cards; there was nothing to fear.
But the moment (Slifer the Sky Dragon) touched the whirlwind, it realized that wasn't the case. Although the (Pyramid of Light) was constructed based on a Trap Card within Duel Monsters, which they should be immune to, the power it released was extremely powerful at Countering them.
In fact, (Slifer the Sky Dragon) felt its own power being absorbed!
Entangled by the red Aura, trapped as if in quicksand, (Slifer the Sky Dragon) struggled and then dissipated into ashes. Even the Egyptian God Cards, virtually at the pinnacle of Duel Monsters, couldn't withstand this power. (Obelisk the Tormentor) also followed in (Slifer the Sky Dragon)'s footsteps.
Facing the red whirlwind that could even devour Gods, Chumley and Ishizu did not retreat in fear. They knew that Marik, Joey, and the others behind them had no ability to resist this wicked dark power, and they had to step forward to protect them.
The (Millennium Rod), (Millennium Necklace), and (Millennium Ring) – three (Millennium Items) imbued with immense power – glowed with golden light, forming a semi-circular Barrier that protected everyone in the Audience Seating, like an unmoving rock in the middle of a raging river.
Yet, even so, Joey and the others who were protected still felt a suffocating sensation, as if even a moment outside the Barrier would cause their souls to be swept away by the storm.
"Th-this is!"
At the main control console of the Kaiba Dome's ceiling, Mokuba watched the anomaly below, his face filled with disbelief. He had actually experienced many supernatural events to date. Although Kaiba's belief in science had somewhat influenced him, Mokuba wasn't as stubborn as Kaiba and at least accepted the existence of psychic power and the like.
But before today, the most exaggerated "supernatural phenomenon" he knew of was merely the widespread fainting during the last KC Cup. Other than that, it was just Pegasus's usual tricks, all things that seemed silent and uneventful.
However, the attack launched by the (Pyramid of Light) on the Audience Seating completely exceeded Mokuba's imagination.
But he didn't have much time to marvel.
Because with the disappearance of (Slifer the Sky Dragon) and (Obelisk the Tormentor), the (Pyramid of Light) seemed to draw immense power from the "destroyed Gods." A pillar of light erupted from the Pyramid's apex, shooting straight into the Virtual Projection of the sky, instantly burning away the Virtual Projection devices on the Kaiba Dome's ceiling, revealing the ground and the destroyed ceiling's true form.
Not only that, the blue pillar of light continued to exert its power. Thanks to the KaibaCorp's Money Power, which ensured top-tier quality in all of Domino City, the Kaiba Dome's ceiling was instantly torn apart and collapsed by the light pillar. The azure light pillar seemed to extend infinitely into the sky.
And this time, it pierced into the real sky. The midday sky instantly turned to night, and vast dark clouds pressed down towards the ground, as if the world was ending!
What made Mokuba even more anxious was that with a part of the ceiling destroyed, the originally complete structural integrity was shattered into different shapes, causing the ceiling to gradually crack, with the risk of complete disassembly at any moment.
How could Mokuba dare to stay? Of course, he chose to leave quickly. Fortunately, his actions were decisive. The moment Mokuba left, the Virtual Projection main control device he had been at was directly hit by a falling piece of the ceiling and plummeted to the ground!
For a moment, the Kaiba Dome was crumbling apart, as if the world would be destroyed in the next second.
"That light, it's a light that will destroy the world!" Ishizu maintained the (Millennium Necklace)'s power, looking up at the sky-piercing pillar of light, her expression grim. "Could the (Prophecy) on that (Sarcophagus) be…?"
"Light? Why would light bring destruction?" Joey, who often played RPG games and believed that "light is justice," didn't quite understand Ishizu's words.
Chumley, however, understood Ishizu's meaning: "Light isn't necessarily the light of justice. Some light exists purely to destroy and create despair and terror."
When he Dueled Anubis before, Chumley indeed felt the Aura of the Light of Destruction. The (Pyramid of Light) at this moment was clearly a doomsday device perfectly suited to the needs of the Light of Destruction. If it wasn't stopped, the world truly faced the crisis of being destroyed!
Upon hearing Chumley say that "light brings despair and terror," Téa looked worriedly in the direction of the Pyramid. Unfortunately, due to the Pyramid's opaque structure, she couldn't see Yugi's situation inside at all.
However, as her gaze fell upon the Eye of Udjat on the Pyramid, she seemed to see something. She raised her hand and pointed at the eyeball continuously releasing the whirlwind, saying urgently, "Look there, Yugi is in there!"
Hearing this, Chumley looked at the eyeball's position. Sure enough, as Téa said, Yugi's figure appeared within that eyeball. Yugi was currently lying unconscious in an open space, his life or death unknown.
"Yugi!"
"Hey, Yugi!"
Tristan and Joey saw that Yugi's condition was not right and anxiously shouted at the eyeball, attempting to project their voices to wake the fallen Yugi, but they received no response.
In his anxiety, Joey recklessly tried to step forward out of the protective circle to make his voice as loud as possible.
However, Chumley grabbed his shoulder.
"Calm down, Joey."
"Chumley?" Joey's impatience was clearly written on his face. "Yugi, Yugi is in there, how can I calm down!?"
No one knew what state Yugi was in. Although they didn't know what was going on with that eyeball, since Ishizu said the light released by the Pyramid was evil light, that eyeball was probably nothing good. How could Joey not worry about Yugi's situation?
"Calm down, Joey." Chumley held back Joey, who was about to rush forward again, and repeated what he had just said. "I also saw that Yugi's situation isn't good, but you can't put yourself in danger just because you want to save Yugi."
"I'll be the one to save Yugi."
Chumley's tone was unyielding. He forcefully pulled Joey behind him and stood in front of him.
"Chumley, I'm coming with you!" Joey still refused to give up. "I'm going to save Yu—what are you doing, Tristan!"
Joey was pulled back by Tristan.
"If my feeling isn't wrong, that 'Eye of Udjat' seems to be continuously absorbing surrounding power to provide energy for the 'Pyramid's' light," Marik sighed helplessly from the side. "Ordinary people would have their souls stolen instantly just by getting close."
"But there's a way to get in. That's to wrap yourself in a powerful kind of power and proceed, but that powerful power must be what the 'Eye of Udjat' desires. Which is—!"
"(The Winged Dragon of Ra)." Chumley drew the Card from his waist and placed it on his Duel Disk. (The Winged Dragon of Ra) did not manifest alone as it usually did during Duels, but transformed into flames in the form of the (Immortal Phoenix), coiling around Chumley.
Joey understood Chumley's meaning after hearing Marik's explanation. Although he was very unwilling, it seemed only Chumley could enter that eye.
"Chumley, I'm counting on you." Joey looked at Chumley, entrusting him solemnly.
Chumley turned his head, glanced back at everyone, and gave a thumbs-up: "Yeah, Yugi and I will come back together. It's a promise."
(The Winged Dragon of Ra) carried Chumley towards the crimson Eye of Udjat. Chumley successfully entered the giant eyeball and arrived in a world of spatial distortion.
And immediately upon entering this space, the last wisp of (The Winged Dragon of Ra)'s power wrapped around Chumley was stripped away.
"A-ah…"
The voice of (Ra) in his ear gradually weakened. Chumley landed steadily on the open ground and glanced at the dimmed (The Winged Dragon of Ra) Card on his Duel Disk, feeling a slight apology: "Sorry, (Ra), I need you to bear with it for a while."
Putting away the Card, Chumley then had time to survey this world where up, down, left, and right were completely distorted and inverted. Stairs, walls, roofs, and floors were arranged haphazardly in this world, making it difficult to discern direction. Numerous doors interspersed throughout further increased the complexity of the space.
Chumley's waist felt somewhat empty at this moment because, before entering here, he had left the (Millennium Rod) behind to help Ishizu protect Joey and the others. However, the (Millennium Ring) did accompany Chumley into this place. And fortunately, the (Millennium Ring)'s "pathfinding" function still seemed to work normally here.
Chumley had a slight impression of the detailed progression of the (Pyramid of Light) incident. He knew that the figure who appeared in the Eye of Udjat earlier was Yugi Muto, who had swapped places with Dark Yugi. However, due to the power of the (Pyramid of Light), Yugi Muto, along with everything within the (Millennium Puzzle), was transferred into the (Pyramid of Light).
Chumley remembered that the space within this (Pyramid of Light) was not very dangerous. However, it contained the key to destroying the (Pyramid of Light) Card, which was Anubis's true body.
The last Duel made Chumley realize that even a Shadow Game couldn't defeat Anubis. It seemed only by destroying the (Pyramid of Light) Card during a Duel could he be defeated. This time, Chumley stopped Joey partly to prevent him from getting into danger according to the original plot, and partly to "speedrun" as much as possible.
Chumley wasn't worried about Yugi's current condition. After all, he knew that the (Pyramid of Light) wasn't actually dangerous. The only danger lay in the room containing Anubis's true body. Therefore, finding that dangerous room to deal with Anubis was faster than searching for Yugi, who might be wandering around.
Thinking this, Chumley used the (Millennium Ring)'s power to search for "evil power in this space." However, to Chumley's surprise, the five golden cones of the (Millennium Ring), which should have pointed in one direction, now pointed in two different directions. One of the directions was clearly a door not far behind him?
Even Chumley was a little confused about what was happening.
"Could it be that I ran directly to the entrance of the Final Boss Room?"
In his confusion, Chumley preemptively drew a few cards into his hand, ready to activate them at any moment, while holding the (Millennium Ring) with his other hand as he approached the room.
Turning the doorknob, Chumley easily pushed open the unlocked door. Looking past the doorway, both unexpectedly and yet logically, Chumley couldn't help but exclaim, "It really is the entrance to the Final Boss Room…"
"Heh heh, surprised, Chumley-kun?" Inside the room, Bakura looked at Chumley at the doorway with a smug expression.
(end of chapter)
Chapter 529: The Esteemed Pharaoh Conquers His Loyal World Today
"It seems I've gathered another piece of a God's Power..."
Inside the (Pyramid of Light), Anubis was replenishing his energy reserves with the powers of (Slifer the Sky Dragon) and (Obelisk the Tormentor) that had been absorbed by the (Pyramid of Light), using this to create a physical body within the (Pyramid of Light) to interfere with Yugi and Kaiba's Duel.
This new body was in excellent condition, its powerful grip tightly clasping Kaiba's neck, preventing him from speaking or breathing, and even causing him to "suffocate" into unconsciousness due to nerve compression.
Just then, Anubis felt the (Pyramid of Light) deliver another powerful force to him. It felt very similar to the (Slifer the Sky Dragon) and (Obelisk the Tormentor) he had absorbed earlier, likely being the Card, (The Winged Dragon of Ra).
Anubis, in an excellent mood, reached for the Duel Disk on Kaiba's wrist. After removing the Duel Disk along with all of Kaiba's Cards on it, Anubis casually tossed the unconscious Kaiba aside like a piece of trash.
"Power is still continuously surging up, hm~ hmm, this feeling is truly wonderful, so wonderful I could sing a song."
"This feeling of pleasure and comfort is unprecedented. The power of a God Card is truly perfect for me; it's making me unbelievably high!"
Laughing, Anubis put Kaiba's Duel Disk on his own hand, then pressed his face against the (Pyramid of Light) Card activated on the Duel Disk. The cool, smooth Card surface rubbed against his face as he savored the Power within the Card.
"However, now that I haven't fully achieved victory, it's better to calm down a bit. Rubbing such a smooth and soft Card against my face really makes one feel peaceful~"
Opposite Anubis, Yugi reined in the anger rising in his heart towards Anubis, the suspected mastermind behind his separation from his cherished Aibo, and watched the opponent warily.
"Who exactly are you, you bastard?"
"Hmph?" Anubis glanced at Yugi, seemingly displeased that his intimacy with the (Pyramid of Light) had been interrupted by Yugi. "Do nameless nobodies like you even deserve to know my name?"
"If it weren't for that prophecy requiring the existence of you and that Fodder Monster over there to create the perfect conditions for my Revive, do you think I would have spared that mortal's life?"
Anubis sneered, looking at Yugi: "However, now, not even that fellow named Hayato from before can stop me from Destroying this World. Therefore, I shall be magnanimous enough to permit an inferior existence like you to respectfully address me as 'Lord Anubis'."
"Anubis?"
On one hand, Solomon Muto had participated in an archaeological team led by Professor Arthur in Egypt for a long time and often brought back "souvenirs." On the other hand, Yami Yugi had learned from Ishizu, Marik, and others that he was likely a Pharaoh from a certain period in Egypt before he lost his Memory. Thus, he had some understanding of this name.
In his Memory, this seemed to be the name of the God of Death in Egyptian mythology. Yugi unconsciously repeated it.
However, Anubis suddenly became enraged by Yugi's attitude: "What's with that tone of yours? It's not 'Anubis,' it's 'Lord Anubis'! Speak my name with the reverence of a Slave who would offer their life to their master, you foolish mortal!"
"I have no intention of debasing myself like that. Furthermore, you seem to be the mastermind behind me not hearing Aibo's voice, correct?" Yugi's gaze was quite dangerous, as if confirming the saying, "The desire to 'knife' someone cannot be hidden." "If that's the case, then if I eliminate you, I can bring Aibo back to my side, right?"
"Heh heh, fool, do you wish to dance as well?" Anubis arrogantly looked at the serious-faced Yugi. "Do you truly believe that merely uttering grand statements like 'I'll definitely take you down' is enough to defeat me?"
Anubis, who had been hiding inside the (Pyramid of Light) Card within Kaiba's Deck and observing their Duel until now, didn't think Yugi was very strong. In his opinion, Yugi had been pressured by Kaiba almost the entire time. Although he nearly made a comeback with (Slifer the Sky Dragon), he was still very weak. Not only were his Life Points only 1600, but he only had one (Dark Magician) on his Field.
Although he had been eliminated once by Hayato and barely managed to escape, Anubis didn't believe that Duelists with Hayato's level of Power were commonplace in this World, as tainted as it was a thousand years ago. One or two at most, and it shouldn't coincidentally be this guy in front of him with multicolored, starfish-like hair.
"Even if you don't attack me, your life will still be taken by me, as it's necessary for my complete Revive. But since you've challenged me proactively, I presume you're prepared to suffer double punishment for both your Soul and body, right?" Anubis casually glanced at the Cards he had taken from Kaiba, drawing one of them.
"Anyway, there's still a bit of time until the World is Destroyed, so I'll just amuse myself with your pain and lamentations for a while. However, I don't really want to use these Cards, so I'll use this Card, ('Hand Destruction'),"
Having experimented with using a Duel Disk during the previous Shadow Game with Hayato, Anubis, with the sheer Power and precision of his physical body, casually flung the Card into the Duel Disk's Spell & Trap Zone. A projection of the ('Hand Destruction') Card appeared before him.
"('Hand Destruction')'s Effect is that Duelists with Cards in their Hand Discard all Cards in their Hand, then Draw Cards from their Deck equal to the number of Cards they Discarded."
Anubis said, Discarding all six Cards he had casually taken from Kaiba into the Graveyard: "I will Discard all six of these Cards, then Draw six Cards from my own Deck."
Because he had Absorbed the Power of the (Egyptian God Cards), Anubis had plenty of energy to squander, creating a Deck out of thin air to place on the Duel Disk as a replacement. However, when using Kaiba's Duel Disk, the automatically activated Shuffle function made Anubis frown.
It seemed he had tampered with the Card order when building the Deck, so the automatic Shuffle of the Duel Disk messed up the Card order?
After the Deck automatically Shuffled, Anubis Drew six Cards. After looking at the Cards he Drew, he couldn't help but sigh in relief, seemingly having still Drawn the Cards he wanted.
Yugi also Discarded the three Cards previously in his Hand and Drew three Cards. Even though it was Anubis's Turn, he proactively played a Card: "Because of your ('Hand Destruction')'s Effect, I Drew (Marshmallon) from my Deck. And because of a Card's Effect, (Marshmallon), added to my Hand from my Deck, can be Special Summoned to my Field immediately."
"I Special Summon (Marshmallon) in Defense Position."
(Marshmallon) [DEF300]
"Tsk, tsk, a Monster so weak it defies my imagination. It's even worse than those Monsters called (Ojama) from before. After all, even those disgusting Monsters had at least 1000 DEF." Anubis looked at the white blob that appeared on Yugi's Field and commented disdainfully, "However, it suits its user well, both equally inferior."
"Let me show you the Monsters truly suitable for use in a Duel ritual, and what true Power and might are!" Anubis Drew two Cards from his Hand. "Because the (Pyramid of Light) exists on my Field, I will Pay 500 Life Points twice to Special Summon these two Monsters from my Hand!"
"(Andro Sphinx) and (Sphinx Teleia)!"
[Anubis: 4000 → 3500 → 3000 LP]
As if he couldn't produce any new tricks, the two Sphinx Monsters—one with a lion's body and human head, the other with a human body and lion's head—that he had used once before in the Duel with Hayato, crashed onto his Field accompanied by Lightning, after Anubis Paid a total of 1000 Life Points. Their Aura was overwhelming.
(Andro Sphinx) [ATK3000]
(Sphinx Teleia) [ATK2500]
"Monsters with 2500 ATK and 3000 ATK, and they can be easily Summoned for just 500 Life Points each?!"
Yugi watched the two Monsters on Anubis's Field in shock. After all, his and Kaiba's Ace Monsters—(Dark Magician) and (Blue-Eyes White Dragon)—also had ATK of 2500 and 3000 respectively, but both required two Monsters as Tribute for a Tribute Summon.
But then again, why would anyone use two Monsters and a Normal Summon to Tribute Summon a Normal Monster without an Effect?
A single ('Ancient Rules') could accomplish that, or Cards like ('Level Burst') or ('Cost Down'), and even dedicated Special Summon Cards like ('Sage's Stone').
And using a ('Polymerization') and ('De-Fusion') Combo to Summon would be even dumber.
Of course, this isn't implicitly referring to anyone.
Yugi's expression satisfied Anubis greatly. Seeing his Monsters appear should indeed elicit such an astonished expression; that was normal. That Hayato from before, despite seeing such powerful Monsters, had maintained a calm expression the whole time. The panicked expression he had finally managed to force out of Hayato later turned out to be just a disguise to trick him, which made him furious just thinking about it.
"Although I detest that fellow, one thing he said was correct. My (Andro Sphinx) and (Sphinx Teleia), as such powerful Cards, naturally come with considerable risk."
"Not only does Special Summoning require the Payment of Life Points, but they cannot Attack during the Turn they are Summoned or Special Summoned."
Listening to Anubis's self-praise, Yugi was somewhat speechless. He had merely expressed a slight admiration for the decent Battle Power of the Monsters his Opponent Summoned, nothing more. If those two (Sphinx) Monsters had no other troublesome Effects, they would just be ordinary Cards.
As for powerful Cards, Yugi didn't believe those Monsters could compare to God Cards like (Slifer the Sky Dragon), (Obelisk the Tormentor), and (The Winged Dragon of Ra). Yugi even felt that his own (Dark Magician), with sufficient Card support, would be stronger than his Opponent's, especially since those two (Sphinx) Monsters even had a self-limiting Effect that prevented them from Attacking.
Anubis noticed the confidence in Yugi's eyes, raising an eyebrow. He said displeased, "However, even though (Andro Sphinx) and (Sphinx Teleia)'s Own Effects have the restriction of not being able to Attack, that doesn't mean you're safe, mortal."
"I Activate the Spell Card ('Foolish Burial'), Sending ('Dark Ruler Ha Des') from my Deck to the Graveyard, allowing me to Activate Trap Cards directly from my Hand this Turn! I Pay 1000 Life Points to Activate ('Skill Drain') from my Hand!"
[Anubis: 3000 → 2000 LP]
With the Activation of ('Skill Drain'), blue smoke simultaneously rose from the four Monsters on Anubis's and Yugi's Fields, dissipating into the air and clearing their Effects.
However, Yugi's (Marshmallon) on the Field originally only had a Special Summon Effect, and (Dark Magician) was a Normal Monster with no Effect whatsoever. ('Skill Drain') essentially drew a blank from them.
But Anubis's original goal was merely to restore (Andro Sphinx) and (Sphinx Teleia)'s ability to Attack.
"Enter my Battle Phase! First, I will Attack your (Dark Magician) in Defense Position with (Andro Sphinx)!" Anubis pointed towards Yugi's Field. "When (Andro Sphinx) Destroys a Monster in Defense Position, it inflicts damage to the Opponent's Life Points equal to half the Destroyed Monster's ATK!"
Upon hearing Anubis's words, Yugi pressed the button to Activate a Set Card: "In that case, I Activate my Set Card on the Backrow, the Trap Card ('Dark Magician's Illusion')!"
With the Activation of Yugi's Set Card, the (Dark Magician) kneeling in Defense Position on his Field drew a line on the ground in front of him with his emerald staff. The Magical Energy left by the staff's tip on the ground formed a Magical Energy shield, blocking in front of the (Dark Magician).
(Andro Sphinx), which had launched an Attack at Anubis's command, swung its sharp claws. But even with an ATK of 3000, it was merely repelled upon striking the shield!
"My Spellcaster-Type, Dark Attribute Monster with 2000 or more ATK on the Field cannot be Destroyed by Battle until the End of the Turn, nor is it affected by my Opponent's Effects. At the same time, its Own Effects are Negated." Yugi said triumphantly, "And my (Dark Magician) on the Field is a Normal Monster, so it has no effects to be negated by ('Dark Magician's Illusion') or your ('Skill Drain')."
"Tch, in the end, it's just a turtle-like Effect, and your only Spellcaster-Type, Dark Attribute Monster with 2000 or more ATK is that (Dark Magician)."
Anubis looked at the other (Marshmallon) on Yugi's Field. "Then I will Attack that (Marshmallon) with (Sphinx Teleia)! (Sphinx Teleia)'s Effect allows it to directly Destroy a Monster in Defense Position without performing Damage Calculation."
Although the lion-bodied (Sphinx Teleia) had a feminine appearance, when it moved, it displayed the full posture of a fierce beast like a lion, pouncing out and Destroying Yugi's (Marshmallon) on the Field with a single blow.
"However, because of ('Skill Drain'), (Sphinx Teleia)'s Effect is Negated. But even without that Effect, Destroying a Monster as lowly as a frog's piss is an easy task."
Anubis sneered disdainfully, but just then, he noticed that the Destroyed (Marshmallon) didn't go directly to the Graveyard; instead, it suddenly transformed into a Hand.
"Since you look down on (Marshmallon) so much, at least experience its Power." Yugi's Hand moved away from the button to Activate a Set Card, and the Set Card on his Field Flipped, revealing the Card's name—
to be continued
(end of chapter)
Chapter 530: 13500 ATK!? So Strong, Too Strong!
"The Set Card I activate is, (Fellow Traveler)!"
Under Anubis's gaze, Yugi read out the name of his Set Card. "When a monster on the field is destroyed and sent to my Graveyard, I can activate this card by targeting one monster on your opponent's field. Destroy that target."
From the (Marshmallon) that had just been destroyed by (Sphinx Teleia), a ghostly hand reached out, extending towards Anubis's Field. Yugi continued to explain, "Anubis, in my opinion, you're just someone who has some Cards but has absolutely no grasp of their Power or Heart (of the Cards)."
"If it were anyone else, upon seeing me use 'Dark Magician Illusion' to protect (Dark Magician), they would likely start wondering why I bothered to Summon (Marshmallon) in the first place. But you, with your arrogant and self-important attitude, just recklessly launched an Attack."
"Before, I thought your (Sphinx) and (Skill Drain) Combo was somewhat impressive. But now, it seems you might actually just know this one Combo."
Yugi's casual remark was completely accurate. Anubis was momentarily speechless, as he indeed only knew that one Combo, and then, slightly enraged and indignant, he said, "Don't get cocky, you brat!"
"It's still My Turn, and the Effect of «Dark Ruler Ha Des» is still active. Chaining to your (Fellow Traveler), I Activate the Trap Card (High-Speed Draw) from my Hand. I can Target and Destroy any number of Monsters on my Field, two or more, and for every two, I can Draw one Card from my Deck."
"I Destroy (Andro Sphinx) and (Sphinx Teleia) on my Field, circumventing the Effect of your (Fellow Traveler), and Draw one Card from my Deck!"
"What?! He actually chose to Destroy his own Monsters!"
Yugi's face showed a look of considerable surprise.
Before the hand formed by (Fellow Traveler) reached Anubis's Field, with the Activation of (High-Speed Draw), many hands shot out from beneath (Andro Sphinx) and (Sphinx Teleia) on his Field, grabbing the two Monsters and dragging them into the Graveyard, stealing (Fellow Traveler)'s target.
Drawing a Card, Anubis sneered, "Hmph, although you mortals of a thousand years later engage in such tricks of sacrificing your own Monsters in the Duel Ritual, even I must admit that such methods can sometimes be useful."
"Don't think you're the only ones who can Destroy their own Monsters, brat."
Even though Yugi didn't know what Anubis had experienced before, from Anubis's performance in Duels so far, he could somewhat deduce that Anubis had seemingly been cornered by an opponent's Trap Card Strategy in a Duel, and had suffered a crushing defeat due to some kind of Monster-Destroying Strategy.
In any case, it's probably safe to suspect Chumley first.
Just as Anubis was basking in the pride of "using barbarian methods to control barbarians" and regaining some face with a Strategy learned from Chumley, he suddenly found it odd that the ghostly hand created by Yugi's (Fellow Traveler)'s Effect was still there. And, taking advantage of (Andro Sphinx) and (Sphinx Teleia) being swallowed into the Graveyard as a cover, it had moved next to the (Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon) on Anubis's Field?
After Anubis took Kaiba's Duel Disk, he took Kaiba's Hand and the Cards on his Field at the time, but he also discarded Kaiba's Deck and the Cards in his Graveyard. Although he didn't think he did anything wrong at the time, this coincidentally caused the complete immunity that (Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon) had gained from the Effect of (Neo Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon) in Kaiba's Graveyard to disappear!
To Anubis's astonishment, (Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon) almost voluntarily moved towards (Fellow Traveler), was Destroyed, and Sent to Graveyard!
"No, impossible!" Anubis clearly hadn't anticipated this situation. "The Effect of your (Fellow Traveler) should have its Target chosen before Activation! How can you re-Target after I Destroyed (Andro Sphinx) and (Sphinx Teleia) with (High-Speed Draw)?"
"In a Chain resolution, my (Andro Sphinx) and (Sphinx Teleia) should have been Destroyed by (High-Speed Draw), and then your (Fellow Traveler) would have missed its Target because the Destroyed Targets disappeared!"
"When did you manipulate something with a Card?!"
Hearing this, Yugi just smiled mysteriously, "Then Anubis, when did you get the illusion that '(Fellow Traveler)'s Activation Target wasn't (Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon)'?"
"Wha— What?!"
Yugi looked at Anubis and calmly said, "When I Activated (Fellow Traveler) earlier, I merely said it was to demonstrate that even a weak Monster like (Marshmallon) has a unique role in a Duel. I never said I Targeted that Monster on your Field with (Fellow Traveler) at the time."
"Just because you felt your authority was challenged, you hastily Activated (High-Speed Draw), never imagining that my initial Target was to Destroy (Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon)."
"Just as I evaluated you before, you are simply a Puppet of Power, unable to comprehend the Heart (of the Cards), and incapable of controlling their Power."
"Gah, gah!" Hearing Yugi say this, Anubis clearly couldn't accept such a poor assessment of himself. "That (Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon) is that guy Seto Kaiba's Monster, and a Monster he highly treasures! Even though you're his Opponent, why can you so easily Destroy someone else's important Card?!"
In Anubis's mind, shouldn't Yugi, facing (Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon), want to Take Control of that Card from him instead of Destroying it?
Yugi's gaze fell on Kaiba, who was still unconscious nearby. He recalled their past together, and a slight smile tugged at his lips. "While Kaiba is my Opponent, and a very troublesome guy who's too proud to easily admit defeat, he is indeed a very important friend in my Heart (of the Cards). And I would certainly never use underhanded means to harm his Monsters."
"However!"
Yugi's tone changed, and he glared sharply at Anubis. "That premise only applies in a fair Duel. Anubis, you interfered with the sacred Duel between Kaiba and me. If Kaiba were conscious, he would likewise not want his (Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon) to fall into your hands!"
"If the Duel ended with (Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon) under your Control, then (Blue-Eyes) would be truly pathetic."
After Yugi said this, he found it slightly amusing himself, because he had actually said these exact words much earlier, even before Duelist Kingdom, when Pegasus invited him to participate via a mailed Videotape.
Unknowingly, so much time had passed since he awoke from the (Millennium Puzzle). Yet, despite the passage of time, Yugi's thoughts on Duel Monsters hadn't changed in the slightest.
"Tch, in that case, drown in your defeat with those pathetic ideals." Anubis scoffed at Yugi's thoughts, Sending the (Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon) on the Duel Disk to the Graveyard. "However, for making me display a look of awkward confusion, like a priest who received a prophecy from a temple but can't find a way to interpret it, prepare to face my wrath!"
"Did you think you outsmarted my Draw? But my scheme is superior to yours. Because (Andro Sphinx) and (Sphinx Teleia) were Destroyed on my Field simultaneously, I can Pay 1000 Life Points to Special Summon the strongest (Sphinx) from my Deck!"
[Anubis: 2000→1000LP]
Where (Andro Sphinx) and (Sphinx Teleia) were Destroyed, mist rose from the ground and gathered in the air, transforming into a bolt of Lightning that struck down, as (Theinen the Great Sphinx), sewing the two Monsters together, appeared on Anubis's Field!
[(Theinen the Great Sphinx)][ATK3500]
"Not only that, when (Theinen the Great Sphinx) is Special Summoned successfully, I Activate its other Effect." Anubis pointed to himself. "I Pay another 1000 Life Points to Increase (Theinen the Great Sphinx)'s Attack until the end of the Next Turn, by the combined Attack of all Monsters in my Graveyard!"
"In my Graveyard, there are three Monsters: (Andro Sphinx) with 3000 Attack, (Sphinx Teleia) with 2500 Attack, and the recently Destroyed (Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon) with 4500 Attack. Therefore, (Theinen the Great Sphinx)'s Attack will Increase by 10,000!"
"Impossible!" Yugi exclaimed in surprise. "Your Life Points are only 1000. If you Pay 1000 Life Points, the Duel will be my victory! Moreover, because of (Skill Drain)'s presence, (Theinen the Great Sphinx)'s Effect cannot even Activate!"
Yugi's reasoning was clear and logical, but to his surprise, Anubis triumphantly played a Card. "Hmph, who do you think I am? As long as I use this Card, everything will proceed perfectly."
"Quick-Play Spell Card (Emergency Provisions), I can Send Spell/Trap Cards on my Field to the Graveyard to Gain Life Points equal to their number X 1000. (Theinen the Great Sphinx) doesn't have the self-limiting Effects that (Andro Sphinx) and (Sphinx Teleia) do, so let (Skill Drain) provide its final utility!"
With that, Anubis Sent (Skill Drain) and (Emergency Provisions) from his Field to the Graveyard. His Life Points first Gained 1000, then decreased due to Paying Life Points to Activate (Theinen the Great Sphinx)'s Effect.
And (Theinen the Great Sphinx) on his Field, due to (Skill Drain) Leaving the Field and Anubis Paying Life Points, saw its Attack skyrocket!
[Anubis: 1000→2000→1000LP]
[(Theinen the Great Sphinx)][ATK3500→13500]
"Attack, thirteen thousand five hundred points!"
Even Yugi, who was used to grand spectacles, couldn't help but be dumbfounded to see Anubis Summon such a Monster with an exaggerated Attack on the Field.
An ordinary Duel Monster with 3000 Attack was already considered very strong; (Blue-Eyes White Dragon) even became a standard unit for measuring Monster Attack. One of the Egyptian God Cards, (Obelisk the Tormentor), only had 4000 Attack, and 5000 Attack was almost synonymous with the famous, high-DEF (Five-Headed Dragon).
And the ferocious Demon Monster before him had an Attack higher than the combined Attack of all the aforementioned Monsters.
If it were the beginning of the Duel, and his Deck was in its complete form instead of its current state, Yugi would have at least nine ways to honorably deal with that rather unbecoming (Theinen the Great Sphinx), nine ways!
However, now, neither 'Dark Magic Burst', (Thousand Knives), which can directly Destroy Monsters, nor (Slifer the Sky Dragon), which can Increase ATK infinitely, were available, having been used in the previous Duel with Kaiba. This left Yugi with no good way to counter it.
The silver lining was that Yugi's (Dark Magician) on the Field was in Defense Position, and thanks to 'Dark Magician Illusion''s Effect, it wouldn't be Destroyed for now.
"Hmph, seeing my invincible (Theinen the Great Sphinx), you must have profoundly felt fear, haven't you?"
Anubis Set the last Card from his Hand onto his Backrow. "I'll let you struggle for one more Turn. I Set one Card, and my Turn End Phase."
"But Next Turn, your Life Points, along with this World, will be Destroyed!"
[Anubis: 1000LP, Hand 0]
[(Theinen the Great Sphinx)][ATK13500]
[(Pyramid of Light)][Set Card]
It was Yugi's Turn, but he wasn't in a hurry to Draw a Card; instead, he was still contemplating his Strategy in his mind.
'To counter Kaiba, although my Deck had Cards prepared to directly Destroy Monsters, my concern for (Deep-Eyes White Dragon) led me not to include Cards like (Mirror Force). Looking back, it was indeed a miscalculation.'
'I can't find any Cards in my Deck that could create a possibility of defeating that (Theinen the Great Sphinx). However, if I were to bypass the Monster and directly Damage the Duelist's Life Points…'
Yugi glanced at (Catapult Turtle) in his Hand, and an idea sparked in his Heart (of the Cards). But just as he was about to Draw a Card and execute his Strategy, a voice suddenly echoed in his ear:
"That won't work, Yugi."
"This voice, it's Chumley!"
Instantly recognizing the owner of the voice, Yugi turned his head to look around him, but he couldn't find the source of the sound anywhere.
Anubis, seeing Yugi delay Drawing a Card, urged him, "Although I know you brat must be terrified seeing my invincible (Theinen the Great Sphinx), hurry up with your moves! My patience is very limited. Don't keep looking around; Draw a Card like a Slave diligently working, fearing the whip's fall!"
Coincidentally, just as Anubis impatiently urged him, Yugi heard Chumley's voice again. "Hey, Yugi, over here, over here."
With the second guidance of the voice, Yugi looked up, and although he couldn't see outside through the blue walls of the "(Pyramid of Light)", he could see the "Eye of Udjat" also carved on the inner wall, and Chumley's figure now appeared within that red eyeball.
Thanks to 'Miss Clear' for the 100-point reward.
Someone in my neighborhood has been diagnosed, so it's almost certain that the community will be locked down. It's quite… something.
I still have instant noodles, but they're Uni-President's Laotan Sauerkraut flavor, which is even more… something.
These past few years have been really difficult.
(end of chapter)