"He actually blocked it!"
The airplane-headed commentator looked like he wanted to jump onto his desk.
"Kira beautifully took that hit and blocked Broder's full-power strike from Loki, Lord of the Aesir! Broder's desperate counterattack has failed. Now summoning Loki has instead become a problem for himself.
If Loki gets absorbed next turn too, Team Ragnarok will have to face a Meklord Emperor that has absorbed two Lord of the Aesir. At that point, do they still have any chance to turn the tables!?"
"Damn it!"
Dragan, who had been cheering for his teammate just seconds ago, was now furiously slamming the table.
"Is there really no way to punish that bastard!? Is he just going to toy with our gods however he wants!?"
Halldor's expression was also as dark as water. He remained silent.
"…I set one card and end my turn," Broder said heavily.
He had nothing else he could do. The only card left in his hand was that one.
The only barrier left that could prevent him from losing both gods to the Meklord Emperor's instant kill next turn was that single Set card.
Kira: "My turn. Draw."
Kira lazily raised his hand.
"Then, as promised, I'll be receiving your second god as well.
Go, Meklord Emperor Wisel. Absorb 'Loki, Lord of the Aesir.'"
The chest of the Meklord Emperor opened once again. Energy chains shot out, wrapping around Loki's limbs and body. It seemed the second Lord of the Aesir would inevitably follow in Thor's footsteps and become nourishment for the Meklord Emperor.
"Not yet!"
Broder's expression darkened as he shouted sharply.
"I won't hand over our gods so easily!
Activate the Set card, Continuous Trap 'Nordic Relic Svalinn'!"
The Trap Card flipped over, releasing transparent ripples. The moment those ripples touched the Meklord Emperor, the energy shield on Wisel's arm suddenly flickered like a faulty light bulb before completely going out.
The metallic luster on the armor surface quickly dulled with a layer of gray shadow. The energy conduction patterns at the joints dimmed like a powered-off circuit board. Most noticeably, the reaction furnace in the Meklord Emperor's chest rapidly faded from brilliant azure blue to a weak dark red, like dying embers. The energy chains that had been shooting toward Loki naturally dissipated.
"Nordic Relic Svalinn can only be activated when a 'Lord of the Aesir' exists on my field. It is the strongest shield for protecting gods!" Broder clenched his fist. "This Continuous Trap can, once per turn, negate the effects of all face-up cards on the opponent's field until the end of the turn!"
Kira raised an eyebrow slightly.
This one is actually quite powerful.
Negating card effects was like using an eraser to wipe away a card's text—commonly called "erasing" among duelists. Since the Lord of the Aesir had quick effects and were full-field AOE, this resistance was indeed very strong.
No wonder Team Ragnarok had been rampaging unchecked in this Synchro Dimension with few opponents. With the power of gods plus such powerful supporting cards, few people could normally stand against them.
"Sorry, but between your Synchro-killing Meklord Emperor and my god, it looks like the power of the god still wins," Broder said triumphantly. "This way Loki won't be absorbed.
Moreover, with its effects negated, the Meklord Emperor can no longer gain ATK from the equipped 'Thor, Lord of the Aesir.' Its ATK returns to its original value!"
[Meklord Emperor Wisel, ATK 6000 → ATK 2500]
"Not only did he prevent Loki from being absorbed, he also sealed the Meklord Emperor's offense!" the airplane-headed commentator said. "With the Meklord Emperor's ATK back to normal, it's no longer a match for Loki. That's quite a beautiful counter!"
Dragan, who had been furious moments ago, now showed a smile: "Broder really does have some skills."
"Very impressive," Kira smiled. "Then I'll activate the Spell Card 'Spell Books from the Pot.' Both players draw three cards from their decks."
"Next is this card. Continuous Spell 'Burden of the Mighty.' All monsters on the opponent's field lose ATK equal to their own Level × 100!"
Broder's smile vanished: "Nani?"
"Loki, Lord of the Aesir is Level 10," Kira said. "Looks like even the strong have their own troubles."
[Loki, Lord of the Aesir, ATK 3300 → ATK 2300]
Broder frowned.
His ATK was overtaken again… but it was still fine. Even if it attacked, it would only deal 200 damage. Moreover, Loki could automatically revive at the end of the turn. And when Loki revived, he could also retrieve one Trap Card from the Graveyard—so it was actually a gain.
Kira: "Next, I activate the Spell Card 'Double Attack' from my hand.
By discarding one monster from my hand, I target a monster on the field whose Level is lower than the discarded monster's Level. That target monster can attack twice this turn."
Kira sent one card from his hand to the Graveyard.
"I send the other 'Nimble Momonga' (Level 2) from my hand to the Graveyard and target the Level 1 'Meklord Emperor Wisel' on the field.
This turn, Wisel can attack twice."
Broder: "???"
He stared wide-eyed at the Meklord Emperor, his face full of disbelief.
You're telling me this thing is Level 1!?
2500 ATK, can steal gods, and even has a Spell negation effect…
And you're saying this is a Level 1 monster?
Kira smiled.
The world of Yu-Gi-Oh! is quite wonderful, isn't it?
"Here we go—first attack," Kira said. "Meklord Emperor Wisel, attack 'Loki, Lord of the Aesir'!"
The back armor of Meklord Emperor Wisel suddenly split open into six thruster ports. Azure plasma flames burst out like a dragon's breath. The overdriven thrusters emitted a piercing screech, leaving long trails of flame behind. Its mechanical joints groaned with metal fatigue, but the molecular vibration blade on its right arm glowed with a dazzling crimson light.
Before Loki could even retract his mocking smile, the white blade had already pierced his divine core. The moment the blade touched the god's body, Loki's emerald pupils contracted sharply. Spiderweb-like golden cracks appeared beneath his skin. His entire body shattered like a glass artwork crushed by an invisible hand.
[Broder, LP 4000 → LP 3800]
"Second attack," Kira said. "Meklord Emperor Wisel, direct attack!"
Wisel's blade swung again, striking Broder's Duel Runner. Broder's body shook once more. His Duel Runner rocked like a lone boat in a storm, looking like it could capsize at any moment.
[Broder, LP 3800 → LP 1300]
"Damn thing…"
Broder looked wretched as he barely stabilized his Duel Runner, gritting his teeth in fury.
To push him and his Lord of the Aesir into such a state—it was simply too much.
"Next, I activate the Spell Card 'Magic Planter.' Send one Continuous Spell on the field to the Graveyard and draw two cards."
Kira sent the Continuous Spell in his backrow to the Graveyard.
"I send 'Burden of the Mighty' to the Graveyard and draw two cards."
"Finally, I set one card and end my turn."
…