"Vision Hero Multiply Guy, direct attack!"
The Vision Hero in blue armor launched a sprint. With only 800 attack points, under normal circumstances, it might be an attack that could be ignored, but at this moment, it's a fatal blow that could end this duel!
Z-ONE's face lifted up.
From the gaps of his steel mask, a sharp gaze like blades shot out, and under the shadows, one could vaguely see his pupils of azure color.
"Flip Cover Card."
A Trap Card flipped open in front of him, the power within the trap pierced through Hell, as if whispering of the undead.
"Trap Card - Necro Fusion," he said. "Banish Monsters from the graveyard used as Fusion Material, and conduct a Fusion Summon of a Fusion Monster."
Youyu's gaze flickered.
To conduct Necro Fusion right at this moment!?
The floor of the stadium in front of Z-ONE cracked, twisted mechanical arms reached out, steel blades pierced the ground. Three gigantic iron creatures burst out, brandishing their claws as if venting their defeated rage.
"The three 'Crimson Nova the Dark Cubic Lord' in the graveyard, fuse!"
The three Cubic Gods were respectively encased in cubes and gradually dissipated into countless golden particles. These particles gathered together, forming a pulsating golden current, intertwining and merging at one point, expanding at a terrifying rate visible to the naked eye.
Sculpted energy formed sharp claws, followed by the extension of long golden arms. Its limbs swayed like a creature without bones, yet as strong as steel. An eye opened at the center of the swirling particles, looking around this world.
It swung its arms, the blade split the ground, sparks burst forth like fireworks. The divine power was overwhelmingly released, the dimensional field trembled as if on the verge of collapse.
Dark Cubic God, Triple Fusion!
Crimson Nova Trinity the Dark Cubic Lord, Summon!!!
[Crimson Nova Trinity the Dark Cubic Lord, Attack Points 4500]
The single eye of the Evil God closed, the thirst for blood and impulse for destruction filled that terrifying body, simply gazing upon that body invoked instinctive fear deep within one's heart.
Even duelists like Yugi and Kaiba, seasoned in countless battles, couldn't help but feel a long-forgotten sense of dread upon seeing this uniquely hideous body.
In the original history, it should have been the ultimate Cubic Evil God born from the combination of Aigami's "Quantum Cube" power and the evil thoughts of the "Millennium Ring."
Yet this card was somehow replicated by Z-ONE using unknown scientific technology!
"...Then Multiply Guy, attack terminated."
With a vast disparity in power, there's no need to continue the attack. Because a battle recall occurred due to the appearance of the Monster on Z-ONE's side, he may choose to terminate.
"Turn End."
The attack didn't get through, but the Vision Hero Multiply Guy with only 800 attack points remained on the field, which is not a good omen.
The opponent has a formidable attack power of 4500, even just touching it for a moment would mean Youyu's defeat!
"However, Youyu's field still has two Set Cards..." Yugi's gaze fell upon Youyu's backfield.
Obviously, his greatest reliance lay on these Set Cards.
"At the end of the turn phase, the attack power of Vision Hero Trinity will also revert to its original state," said Youyu.
[Vision Hero Trinity, Attack Points 5800 → Attack Points 3300]
"My turn, draw card."
A card flew out in front of Z-ONE. He glanced over through the mask's gaps at Youyu's backfield Set Cards, evidently paying close attention to the Set Cards.
But this did not affect his next action: "Battle. Crimson Nova Trinity the Dark Cubic Lord, attack Vision Hero Trinity!"
"Flip Cover Card." Youyu's backfield was not merely for show, "Trap Card - Graverobber! Acquire a card from the opponent's graveyard; it may be used at any time this turn when conditions are met!"
"Trying to use traps from my graveyard to dodge damage, huh." Z-ONE said coldly, "But that won't work. I pay half of my Life Points to activate the counter 'Red Reboot' from my hand."
Youyu: "!"
Damn it, how come you have that card too?
Alright, he's from the future, of course he'd have cards like that, but the problem is...
...That you actually used that card on me!?
Youyu, who has always been the one to use Reboot to trick others, today for the first time, experienced the pain of being on the receiving end...!
Counter Trap - Red Reboot. The activation of the opponent's Trap Card is negated, and it is Set face-down on the field again. After that, the opponent may choose any Trap Card from their deck to Set on the field, but until the end of this turn, they cannot activate any Trap Cards.
This card can also be activated from the hand by paying half your Life Points.
[Z-ONE, LP 800 → LP 400]
The Graverobber, with its big head and small body, was just about to appear but was abruptly rebooted, as if an invisible hand forcibly shoved it back into the card, Set face-down on the field.
Youyu selected another Trap Card from his Deck, waved his hand, and Set it at his feet... of course, it couldn't be used this turn either.
"Continue attacking."
The limbs of the Evil God of Cubic swung wildly, the War Axe roaring heavily as its long golden arms danced like whips, weaving together a deathly symphony.
"Youyu's traps are all sealed!" Even Yugi couldn't help but exclaim, "This is bad!"
For a player like Yugi, who relies heavily on traps, a trap nemesis like "Red Reboot" is simply their archenemy.
But Youyu... still has one last card!
——Kuriboh!!!
That's right, although he had numerous new Hand Pits and a handful of grave pits, the one that once again showed up to deflect damage and resolve the crisis was still the invincible Kuriboh!
This is the superior point of Kuriboh.
Other defensive cards like Kiteroid, Swift Scarecrow, Necro Gardna, etc., would either be limited to blocking damage only when directly attacked, or—like Necro Gardna—its effect is described as "negating the opponent's attack."
Since its attack is negated, it means this effect impacts the opponent's monsters. Unfortunately, "Crimson Nova Trinity the Dark Cubic Lord" cannot be targeted by effects nor destroyed by effects.
In other words, its attack cannot be negated.
But Kuriboh is different. Kuriboh's effect can "turn one battle damage to 0," which affects the battle damage rather than the attacking monster, so even damage from a god can be handled by it.
And only it can handle!
This is why, despite the plethora of similar-positioned, flashy effect successors now flooding the scene, Kuriboh remains irreplaceable!
Trinity's armor was shattered, its body blasted away, exploding in mid-air. The golden blade dragged a swirling darkness, like a shooting star cutting through leaden clouds, yet it met only the protective layer unfolded by Kuriboh's body.
However, a portion of the terrifying darkness still leaked out, sweeping through with vigorous force against Youyu. Youyu grunted, staggered in his steps, feeling a fiery sensation like being scorched through.
[Youyu, LP 1150 → LP 575]
"Huh? Even though it was blocked, why is it still..." Mokuba was puzzled.
"The effect of 'Crimson Nova the Dark Cubic Lord,'" Z-ONE explained. "When it declares an attack, the opponent's Life Points are halved."
"Ah?" Mokuba exclaimed, "This thing... it's too strong!"
Youyu half-knelt on the ground, struggled to stand up with arms feeling like lead, and took a deep breath.
He knew it wasn't over yet.
"The other effect of 'Crimson Nova the Dark Cubic Lord,'" Z-ONE's mask gleamed coldly, "it also inherits the effect of 'Crimson Nova'. When it destroys a monster in battle, it can attack again."
"It can attack again!?" Almost everyone exclaimed out loud.
With an attack power of 4500, not targetable by effects nor destroyable by effects, halves the opponent's Life Points when attacking, and even has consecutive attack effects...
...this thing is outright cheating!
Youyu squinted.
"Alright, I believe you don't have another Kuriboh to block this attack. And with the effect of 'Red Reboot', you can't use any traps."
Z-ONE paused.
"Under these circumstances... tell me, can you still confidently say you can change the predetermined fate?"
Youyu: "..."
"Continue battling."
[Crimson Nova Trinity the Dark Cubic Lord, Attack Power 4500]
[Vision Hero Multiply Guy, Attack Power 800]
"Cubic Lord, attack Multiply Guy." Z-ONE's voice seemed to grow more ominous, "Bring an end to the Duel King."