"I set two cards." Two set cards appeared on the tabletop in front of Kaiba, "Turn end. Come on, if you can attack, let me see it!"
At the end of the turn, Elemental Hero Gaia's special ability had also expired, and its attack power returned to normal.
[Elemental Hero Gaia, Attack Power 3150 → Attack Power 2200]
"My turn!"
After drawing a card, Youyu glanced at the two set cards on Kaiba's field with some concern.
Since his opponent is Kaiba Seto, a duelist who "never gets stuck," he could rule out the possibility that the opponent set a Fusion as a bluff...
In the official tournament of the Linked World in the past life, there was a case where a contestant covered a "Fusion" Magic Card in the backfield as a trap to scare the opponent (and it actually worked). Therefore, backfield setting Fusion became a meme between Linked World players.
But since it's President Haima, he wouldn't do such a thing, right?
Even so, Youyu doesn't have any cards he can play now.
The only two Monsters he drew had already fused into Gaia on the field, and of the remaining Magic Trap, none can clear the backfield.
It looks like the only choice now is a direct confrontation.
Even knowing there's a trap set in the backfield, without a better option, the only choice is to ignore it and proceed. Even if you carefully avoid it, that pit won't disappear by itself; sooner or later, you have to deal with it.
"Gaia!" Youyu ordered directly, "Attack directly!"
The bulky Elemental Hero charged forward, crossing Kaiba's empty field, and its massive metal fist slammed down towards Kaiba.
"Hmph, this was completely expected!" Kaiba waved his hand, "Trap Card activated, Counter Gate! Negate the opponent's direct attack, and I can draw a card from the deck!"
The massive black fist crushed against the transparent barrier like an iridescent iris, and the force of the punch was entirely absorbed.
Gaia withdrew back to Youyu's side, and Kaiba drew a card.
"Turn ends."
"It's my turn!" Kaiba glanced at the card he drew and immediately inserted it into the Duel Disc, "Activate 'Pot of Greed', draw two more cards from the deck!"
If Youyu was still the player from before, he'd surely be hopping mad at this moment, but now his mindset has transformed, calm and unruffled.
After all, his deck now contains three of these too...
"Activate 'Thunder Dragon's effect from my hand!" Kaiba showed Youyu a "Thunder Dragon" and immediately discarded it into the graveyard, "discard it and add up to two 'Thunder Dragons' from the deck to my hand. I add two Thunder Dragons to my hand!"
Next, I activate the Magic Card 'Ancient Rules'!"
Kaiba inserted the card, and an ancient, yellowed scroll appeared in front of him.
"This Magic Card allows me to special summon a Normal Monster above level five from my hand without tributing. What I'll summon is this guy... 'Serpent Night Dragon'!"
The black dragon's coiled and twisted body emerged from the ancient scroll, spreading its vast form. With red eyes, a sharp long mouth, and small wings, its figure resembled more of a colossal serpent than a dragon.
[Serpent Night Dragon, Attack Power 2350]
"This isn't over yet!" Kaiba pointed to his feet, "Here, I activate the set card, Magic Card - Polymerization!"
Youyu nearly spat out a mouthful of blood.
So, the president actually set a Polymerization...
"Fuse the two Thunder Dragons in my hand!" Kaiba raised his right hand high, "Come forth, Fusion Summon! 'Twin-Headed Thunder Dragon'!"
The images of the two dragons vanished into the vortex of fusion, and sharp lightning struck the ground. The entirely crimson two-headed dragon flapped its wings, descending from the heavens as the two heads issued a roar that echoed to the sky.
[Twin-Headed Thunder Dragon, Attack Power 2800]
The watching duelists were unsettled.
"Summoning monsters with 2350 and 2800 attack in one turn!?"
"Indeed worthy of Kaiba Seto, is this the duel of a top duelist?"
Kaiba began to inflate once more: "Hahahaha! Open your eyes, this is absolute power! Serpent Night Dragon, attack Gaia!"
Earth's hero quickly clashed with the black flying dragon. Gaia fought back vigorously, his massive fists relentlessly striking yet the dragon easily evaded each blow. Utilizing the advantage of flight, the black dragon launched a thrust, piercing through the hero's black iron armor with sharp teeth.
Soon, Gaia's body shattered into pieces and disappeared from the field.
[Youyu, LP 4000 → LP 3850]
Youyu's field instantly became barren while Kaiba's side had grown into two powerful high-level monsters. But Youyu wasn't flustered at all; instead, he smiled: "What a pity, President."
"Hmm?" Kaiba frowned, "What are you trying to say?"
"I mean, if your Twin-Headed Thunder Dragon could attack this turn, my LP would only be 1050, and the LP gap between us would be overturned." He shrugged, "But Fusion Monsters can't attack in the turn they are summoned, what a shame."
Kaiba snorted without responding, coldly announcing, "Turn ends."
"Then my turn, draw a card.
Activate 'Graceful Charity', draw three cards from the deck, then discard two."
What? You're asking why I drew a Forbidden Card again?
That's right.
If your deck is stuffed with three 'Pot of Greed' and three 'Graceful Charity', you'd realize your hand is full of these things too, it's unforgettable fun.
Youyu smiled gently and said to Kaiba: "Fusion Summon can rapidly summon powerful high-level monsters without tribute, so it must be restricted from attacking in the summoning turn, right, President?"
Kaiba: "..."
"But as a trade-off, Fusion also requires spending a hand full of cards. If attack cannot be launched immediately, it becomes passive for oneself." Youyu said, drawing a card from his hand, "Because the way to summon high-level monsters without tribute isn't the only one."
At this point, the grave zone of Youyu's Duel Disc flashed, and a Monster Card popped out from the graveyard.
"Activate the effect of 'Elemental Hero Necroshade' in the graveyard; only once while in the graveyard, can I summon a level 5 or higher Elemental Hero without tribute."
So, I summon directly from my hand without tribute — 'Elemental Hero Edgeman!'"
[Elemental Hero Edgeman, Attack Power 2600]
"I see, 'Graceful Charity's effect allows 'Necroshade' to be discarded to graveyard, enabling rapid summoning of high-level monsters? Kaiba chuckled, "Certainly a beautiful tactic. But this level of attack isn't enough to defeat my 'Twin-Headed Thunder Dragon.'
"Not over yet. From the hand, activate the Magic Card, 'H - Heated Heart'; Edgeman's attack power increases by 500 points until the end of the turn."
[Elemental Hero Edgeman, Attack Power 2600 → Attack Power 3100]
"Oh, exceeding Twin-Headed Thunder Dragon's attack power, eh?"
"Edgeman, attack Twin-Headed Thunder Dragon!"
The golden hero accepted the command, rushing forward as the engines behind him spewed golden trails. The sharpened metal blade sliced through the massive form of the Thunder Dragon, scattering a great deal of electricity, and the two-headed giant dragon exploded into a vast fireworks display in the air.
[Kaiba Seto, LP 1800 → LP 1500]
"Turn ends." Youyu said, "At this moment the effect of Heated Heart disappears, Edgeman's attack power returns to normal."
[Elemental Hero Edgeman, Attack Power 3100 → Attack Power 2600]
A spectator swallowed hard: "What a breathless duel."
"Summoning high-level monsters so easily and each side rapidly defeating the opponent's high-level monster..."
The stunned spectators found it unimaginable.
It felt like the two individuals on the field weren't playing the same game as them.
"My turn." Kaiba narrowed his eyes at the card he drew, "Seems this guy wants to battle you too."
Youyu: "?"
Kaiba revealed a slight smile.
"Then let you witness once again the legendary Super Rare Card, my strongest servant..."
Youyu's expression became serious.
Is it coming?
"From my hand, activate the Magic Card - Cost Down! By discarding a card from my hand, the level of a monster in my hand is lowered by two levels." Kaiba drew a card and with a fierce expression, raised the card above his head.
"I'll use Serpent Night Dragon on the field as tribute... Come forth, my strongest servant —
——Blue-Eyes White Dragon!"