The black armor tightly envelops the Hero's strong body, and black ribbons flutter behind him. The fusion of two phantoms intertwines and transforms into reality, with the footsteps of the pitch-black Hero heavily landing on the ground, causing the gravel underneath to crumble.
Vision Hero Worship, Summon!
[Vision Hero Worship, ATK 2800]
"Vision Hero, that's Youyu's new power!" Yugi said.
Jonouchi and the others had already jumped down from the audience seats and ran to the front row to watch.
"But in terms of attack power, it's just a bit short." Jonouchi said, "But with Youyu, he must have a plan, right?"
"Brother!"
Mokuba also jumped down from the control panel's direction, running to his brother's side. But he still hadn't figured out the identity of the silver-haired sister beside his brother and just felt that she looked kind and somewhat familiar.
Kisara noticed Mokuba's gaze and, feeling a bit embarrassed, lowered her head and raised her small hand to greet him.
"I activate the effect of 'Vision Hero Multiply Guy' from the Magic Trap Zone!" Youyu said, "Using one 'Hero' monster on the field as a tribute, Multiply Guy can be specially summoned from the Trap Zone onto the field.
I use 'Elemental Hero Airman' as a tribute, and in defense position, summon 'Vision Hero Multiply Guy'!"
The Hero materialized from the phantom, clad in blue-black armor. He landed on the field in a crouched position, the armor humming with a dull resonance.
[Vision Hero Multiply Guy, DEF 700]
Worship's body was enveloped by a dim light, with the black ribbons continuing to flutter.
"When Multiply Guy is successfully summoned from the Trap Zone, it allows a monster on your field to gain 800 attack. Increase the attack power of 'Vision Hero Worship'!"
[Vision Hero Worship, ATK 2800 → ATK 3600]
"Great, that's the spirit!" Honda shouted, "Strike him down in one swift blow, Youyu!"
Youyu said: "Battle Phase! I use 'Vision Hero Worship' to attack 'Crimson Nova the Dark Cubic Lord'! Ambition Punishment!!!"
The airflow lifted Vision Hero's garments, with a transparent vortex spreading from his feet. A blazing pillar of light simultaneously rose from beneath Worship and the Cubic Lord, the explosive current tearing the massive Dark Cubic Lord in half from bottom to top.
Crimson Nova's eyes widened as if charged with blood, filled with unwillingness. Its arms spun and flew out, the blades piercing the ground with a clang, and the mechanical body shattered into pieces amidst a series of explosions.
[Z-ONE, LP 4000 → LP 3400]
Normally, using "Vision Hero Multiply Guy" to add another attack could deal more damage, but doing so would risk leaving Multiply Guy with only 800 attack on the field for the next turn.
To be cautious, Youyu chose defense position when summoning Multiply Guy.
"Set one card face-down, turn end."
Z-ONE remained calm throughout, as if having anticipated the destruction of his ace monster. His Duel Disc emitted a subtle mechanical hum, and another card automatically flew out.
"Draw card." He glanced at the card drawn, which then automatically flipped over and inserted into the Duel Disc.
"Magic Card 'Painful Choice'. Choose five cards from the deck, and the opponent picks one to add to my hand, leaving the rest sent to the Graveyard."
Five cards flew automatically from different parts of Z-ONE's deck, which immediately shuffled in the slot. The five cards lined up and were revealed to Youyu.
They were two more "Crimson Nova the Dark Cubic Lord," two Continuous Magic "Cubic Dharma," and the Magic Card "Cubic Wave."
Z-ONE has three other "Cubic" Monsters in hand; by simply showing those three cards, "Crimson Nova the Dark Cubic Lord" could come out unconditionally. If he adds these two to his hand, it would be quite troublesome.
The Continuous Magic "Cubic Dharma," when existing in the Graveyard, can remove itself from play to recover "Cubic" monsters in the Graveyard, another significant nuisance.
Youyu pondered: "Continuous Magic 'Cubic Dharma'."
Though there'd still be one "Cubic Dharma" entered the Graveyard, there's no helping that. This at least somewhat diminishes the opponent's available resources.
But soon, he realized it wouldn't matter what choice he made.
"Flip Cover Card." Z-ONE calmly unveiled the Trap at his feet, "Trap Card 'Disgraceful Charity', this turn, all cards discarded to the Graveyard via Magic effects return to their respective hands." (Anime Card)
Youyu: "..."
Hey, that's too much, isn't this practically precise extraction?
"So the four cards sent to the Graveyard via 'Painful Choice' all return to my hand."
Four cards were added to his hand in one go, and Z-ONE immediately played one of them.
"Continuous Magic 'Cubic Dharma'. Once per turn, send one 'Cubic' card from the hand to the Graveyard, draw one card from the deck.
I send another 'Cubic Dharma' from my hand to the Graveyard, and draw a card from the deck."
A new card automatically flew from the deck, and the Continuous Magic that had just entered the Graveyard promptly ejected.
"The effect of Continuous Magic 'Cubic Dharma' in the Graveyard, remove this card from play to recover 'Cubic' monsters in the Graveyard.
I add 'Crimson Nova the Dark Cubic Lord' from the Graveyard to my hand."
Youyu squinted his eyes.
With this, there are now three 'Crimson Nova' in the opponent's hand...
"I reveal 'Duza the Meteor Cubic Vessel', 'Dark Garnex the Cubic Beast', and 'Cubic Emperor Geira Guile', three 'Cubic Monsters' from my hand—
—Crimson Nova the Dark Cubic Lord, summon all three bodies!"
Silver-white blade lights descended, with the darkness cut into multiple sections like a massive curtain. Countless eyes opened from the darkness, scanning erratic purple-black lasers. Three huge bodies surged out side by side, each head adorned with deep purple cubes, twisted and grotesque, laughable yet fierce.
[Crimson Nova the Dark Cubic Lord, Attack Power 3000] x3
"You've got to be kidding me?" Jonouchi stared at the dark vortex conjured by the Dark Cubic Lord, "Three such powerful monsters... all at once!?"
"Too strong." Yugi couldn't help but praise, "The power of 'Cubic' used by Aigami is on a completely different level!"
Aigami (already withdrawn): "My Quantum Cube... my card deck..."
"Activate the Magic Card 'Cubic Wave' from my hand." Z-ONE said coldly, "Select one monster on the opponent's field to halve its attack power, while doubling the attack power of a monster on my field.
Halve the attack power of 'Vision Hero Worship' and double the attack power of one of my 'Crimson Nova the Dark Cubic Lord'."
The golden wave spread, like a heavy chain binding Vision Hero. The invisible weight made the Hero kneel on one knee, struggling to breathe.
[Crimson Nova the Dark Cubic Lord, Attack Power 3000 → Attack Power 6000]
[Vision Hero Worship, Attack Power 3600 → Attack Power 1800]
"This is bad!" Jonouchi said, "If we take so many consecutive attacks..."
"Youyu!" Mokuba couldn't help but shout.
"Let's see if you can handle it, Duel King Youyu." Z-ONE entered the Battle Phase, "First, 'Crimson Nova the Dark Cubic Lord', attack 'Vision Hero Worship'!"
The Cubic Lord with attack power of six thousand swung its sharp blades wildly, all eyes widened, the light metallic clatter sounding like an uncontrollable low hum of excitement.
A sliver of silver light accompanied by a sharp tearing sound flew close, enveloped midway by a golden glow, like a falling shooting star!
"Flip Cover Card!" Youyu's gaze sharpened, "Trap Card - Draining Shield! Negate one opponent's attack, and restore Life Points equal to that monster's attack power!"
The rainbow-colored energy barrier took the full brunt of the attack, and the war axe laden with glittering gold was firmly smashed against it. The domineering impact was entirely absorbed by the trap effect, slowly transferring it into Youyu's body.
[Youyu, LP 3500 → LP 9500]
"Draining Shield, is it?" Z-ONE's voice remained as steady as a still pond, "Then an additional attack. The second 'Crimson Nova the Dark Cubic Lord' will continue to attack 'Vision Hero Worship'."
Another flash of gold, accompanied by a slicing sound, split the Hero in two. The impact wrapped in golden waves hit Youyu, feeling as if a heavy hammer smashed into his chest, his bones mournfully screaming as if they were about to shatter.
[Youyu, LP 9500 → LP 8300]
"Crimson Nova's effect. When it destroys an opponent's monster in battle, it can make an additional attack." Z-ONE continued, "Attack 'Vision Hero Multiply Guy'."
The second wave of offense, the sharp blade sliced through Multiply Guy, dissolving into a phantom.
"Next is the third 'Crimson Nova'." Z-ONE continued, "Direct attack!"
The joints of the Dark Cubic Lord worked, sounding like gleeful metals cheering. The golden light turned into crisscrossing blades, slicing over and over through Youyu's body. The searing pain felt like it was severing nerves, as though his body was briefly cut apart and stitched back together.
[Youyu, LP 8300 → LP 5300]
"Great, now their attack attempts have been exhausted!" Mokuba cheered, "As expected of Youyu, even enduring so many attacks..."
"It's not over yet." Kaiba said casually.
"Huh?"
"Set two cards on the field."
A Set Card appeared in front of Z-ONE, while his icy gaze lifted.
"At the end phase, Crimson Nova the Dark Cubic Lord's effect activates again. During your end phase, both players take 3000 points of damage."
The fervently hungry eyes of the Dark Cubic Lord burst with a purplish-black light, countless lasers crisscrossing. The earth was rent apart, walls scorched with radial fissures.
Youyu was struck again, staggering back half a step, feeling as though his flesh was once more torn apart.
[Youyu, LP 5300 → LP 2300]
Indeed, the thickest armor takes the hardest hits, though tough as nails, the pain is indeed real...
Youyu staggered a bit.
"In the graveyard... the effect of 'Vision Hero Multiply Guy'. When taking damage, you can place this card in the Magic Trap Zone."
A fleeting outline, and the Multiply Guy who had just left the field returned in ghostly form.
"Indeed, a very powerful damage capability, but this condition should be the same for the enemy." Kaiba narrowed his eyes.
Sure enough, the indiscriminate barrage from the Dark Cubic Lord also struck Z-ONE. But Z-ONE remained calm, simply flipping another Set Card.
"Discard one card from hand, activate the Trap Card 'Rainbow Life'." he said, "This turn, all damage received is converted into Life Points recovery."
A seven-colored rainbow light rose like a shield, turning the domineering Cubic impact entirely into warm and peaceful nutrients, absorbed into Z-ONE's body.
[Z-ONE, LP 3400 → LP 6400]
"Life Points... 6400!?" Mokuba exclaimed.
"Oh no." Jonouchi said, "With two 'Crimson Nova' remaining, if both deal 3000 points of damage as well..."
"The effect of 'Crimson Nova the Dark Cubic Lord' that deals 3000 points of damage can only be activated once per turn by cards with the same name."
Z-ONE's words put everyone at ease.
Thank goodness, if all three Cubic Lords did that, it would have been too insane...
"My turn is over." Z-ONE's gaze turned to Youyu, "Come on, it's your turn."