"I've heard the Supreme King is a king from another world—the ruler of twelve dimensions," Kira said.
"You must be stronger than this, right?"
Kira knew the Supreme King wasn't at full power. He hadn't fully devoured Jaden's heart and lacked his hallmark Super Polymerization. Also, channeling into reality through Jaden likely limited his output—who knew how much of his prime he could muster?
Even so, the darkness felt at the Red Dorm was genuinely strong. He was still the Supreme King—no full power, but not to be taken lightly.
The Supreme King, meanwhile, regarded Kira with increasing caution.
He had roamed twelve dimensions and rarely met opponents. Yet the aura of power from this man could vaguely match his own.
He knew at once this was a rare opponent—one who'd take real effort to defeat.
Such a strong foe in this other world? No wonder he dared come to the Supreme King's castle—he really had some skill.
Having crushed all comers for years, the Supreme King was bored of stomping weaklings. Meeting someone who could actually fight stirred his interest.
"My turn. Draw," said the Supreme King. "I activate the Spell Card 'Graceful Charity.' Draw three cards, then discard two."
At once, another Spell appeared midair.
"Because I discarded the Spell 'Card of Compensation,' I draw two cards," he said. "Then I Tribute 'Juragedo' to Tribute Summon!
Piercing fiend, with indomitable claws shatter the enemy!
Evil HERO Malicious Edge, Summon!"
Juragedo melted into a black mire, and a blue-clad fiend emerged with arms folded. His body bristled with dangerous spikes that masked half his face; vicious claws like a certain adamantium mutant's protruded from the backs of his hands, and the sneer at his mouth mocked his prey.
[Evil HERO Malicious Edge, ATK 2600]
Though the look has changed a lot, from ATK and effect, this is clearly the darkened Bladedge.
"Even though Malicious Edge is Level 7, if the opponent controls a monster, it can be Tribute Summoned with just one Tribute."
The Supreme King played an Equip Spell.
"Next, the Equip Spell 'Vicious Claws.' The equipped monster gains 300 ATK."
"Buffing Malicious Edge?" Kira asked.
"No, not Malicious Edge," the Supreme King said calmly. "Even with a boost, it's far short of Silent Magician.
I'll equip Vicious Claws to 'Breaker the Magical Warrior.'"
The red-armored warrior suddenly found razor claws strapped to his arms—like forged dragon talons of steel. He swung twice, and a gloom erupted from the claws, shrouding him in dark miasma; even his complexion turned ashen.
[Breaker, ATK 1600 → 1900]
"You're equipping my monster?" Kira blinked.
"Correct," the Supreme King said icily. "Battle. 'Evil HERO Malicious Edge' attacks 'Breaker the Magical Warrior!'"
Malicious Edge's claws slashed for Breaker's throat.
Breaker thrust his sword out—blade light flashed and was cut into pieces by the claws. He raised his shield to block, but a flying kick crashed into his shield arm; the magic shield flew spinning into the air.
Disarmed of both sword and shield, he had no choice but to counter with the very Vicious Claws he'd just gained. Malicious Edge laughed derisively, seized Breaker's wrist, and slashed.
A clang—claws met claws. Despite the huge ATK gap, Breaker somehow weathered the blow and staggered back, not destroyed. The impact still transmitted to Kira.
[Kira, LP 4000 → 3300]
But then the equipped claws popped off, whirled into the air, and like hidden blades zipped spinning toward Silent Magician.
"Another effect of Vicious Claws: if the equipped monster is destroyed by battle, instead of being sent to the Graveyard, this card returns to the owner's hand. Then destroy 1 other monster your opponent controls besides the battling one, and inflict 600 damage."
"I see," Kira said, intrigued. "That's creative."
Clearly the Equip is meant for your own monster: it boosts ATK and, when that monster is destroyed by battle, the equip saves itself by returning to hand, then pops an opponent's monster and burns for 600—quite good.
But the Supreme King equipped it to the opponent's monster. Even though the equipped monster is the opponent's, the Equip Card itself is controlled by the Supreme King in his S/T zone, so "destroy 1 monster your opponent controls" still targets Kira's field from the equip's perspective.
So Kira would take battle damage and then lose a monster plus 600 effect damage.
Well—if it went through.
Silent Magician, expressionless, faced the incoming claws without panic. She casually flicked her staff. A white surge knocked the spinning claws aside.
"Nice combo, but what a shame," Kira said. "Silent Magician LV8 is unaffected by your Spell Cards."
"Tch…"
The Supreme King clicked his tongue, feeling more keenly how troublesome this opponent was.
"I activate the Spell 'Card of Burial Magic.' Banish from my Graveyard the Spell Cards 'Hero's Legacy,' 'Graceful Charity,' and 'Card of Compensation' to draw two cards."
He drew two.
"Then 'Card of Heaven and Earth.' Since I Tribute Summoned this turn, draw two cards. Cards drawn this way cannot be used this turn; if they can be set, at least one must be set."
He drew two more, then quickly pulled out three cards.
"I set three and end my turn."
"My turn. Draw," Kira said.
"I activate the Spell 'Spell Power Grasp.' Place a Spell Counter on a card I control that can hold Spell Counters, then add a 'Spell Power Grasp' from my Deck to my hand.
I place a Spell Counter on 'Breaker the Magical Warrior.'"
[Breaker the Magical Warrior, ATK 1600 → 1900]
"Then Breaker's effect. Remove his Spell Counter to destroy a Spell/Trap in your backrow!"