"My turn, draw a card."
The Light of Destruction moved mechanically and calmly, like a cold machine driven solely by the purpose of victory, without a hint of panic.
"Banish the level 6 'Kozmo DOGfighter' and the level 8 'Kozmo Dark Destroyer' from my hand, totaling over level ten 'Kozmo' monsters, to summon again!
The ultimate weapon for conquering the galaxy, the Planet Fortress—
——Kozmo Dark Planet!!!"
Once again, the formidable structure descended, resembling a man-made planet of death. That super fortress appeared from the sky, confronting the Winged God of Ra!
[Kozmo Dark Planet, ATK 4000]
"Dark Planet, which we struggled so hard to defeat, is back again..." Judai said.
"But this should be their last card," Yubel noted, "In other words, this is their ultimate trump card. Perhaps they've already exhausted all their resources."
"But we still have The Winged Dragon of Ra on our side, it's not so easy to..."
Yubel seemed to ponder briefly, though perhaps not so optimistic.
Indeed, the Light of Destruction quickly raised another card from his hand: "Sacrifice 'The Winged Dragon of Ra' to special summon this card on your field—
——Kaiju Shidzuchieru!"
The noble divine bird cried out weakly, using the last of its strength to unleash its flames, but ultimately, it dissipated helplessly in mid-air.
The mechanical kaiju descended from the sky like it had crossed the entire galaxy, slamming forcefully onto the field before Youyu!
[Kaiju Shidzuchieru, ATK 3300]
"At this moment, the effect of the Continuous Trap 'Remove Brainwashing'!" said the Light of Destruction, "'Kaiju Shidzuchieru' returns to my field!"
The scene of the fallen Egyptian God was recreated once more, leaving Youyu and Judai with an empty field, which was utterly desperate.
"How could this be, even Ra is..."
"Could it be that the Earth... we're really powerless?"
Yet witnessing this situation, Youyu remained unfazed.
"Solving it directly with a kaiju again... it's nearly an undefendable method. But if you underestimate me, that's quite troublesome."
"Oh?" the Light of Destruction said, "Are you saying you have a strategy prepared just for this?"
"Exactly."
Youyu threw out his hand with a flourish.
"The moment you sacrificed 'The Winged Dragon of Ra' to the graveyard, the 'Immortal Phoenix' slumbering in my graveyard has already awakened!
Purge everything with the purifying flames of rebirth—
——The Winged Dragon of Ra - Immortal Phoenix, Summon!!!"
A beam of light shot from Youyu's Duel Disk Grave Zone into the sky, illuminating the entire horizon the moment it blossomed! The clouds burned as they transformed into the form of the Immortal Phoenix, spreading its blazing wings mightily!
[The Winged Dragon of Ra - Immortal Phoenix, ATK 4000]
"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" Judai's eyes lit up, "Even if we can't prevent Ra from being destroyed by a kaiju, it instead evolves into a stronger form?
As expected of Teacher Youyu!"
"Not only that," Yubel added, "At the end of the turn, by sending itself to the graveyard, the Immortal Phoenix can resurrect 'The Winged Dragon of Ra - Sphere Mode' from the hand, deck, or graveyard, ignoring its summoning conditions.
It's literally a 'Phoenix' that never dies."
"I see!" Judai realized, "This way, even a kaiju can't deal with Ra!"
"...I suppose that's a countermeasure against the kaiju."
The Light of Destruction lifted his gaze to the heavens, at the phoenix reborn from the ashes.
"An attack of 4000, unaffected by any Magic, Trap, or Monster Effect, indeed makes the 'Immortal Phoenix' state even stronger than Ra.
But if you think that's enough to stop our fleet, you're too naive. Battle Phase!"
The Light of Destruction lifted his arm once more.
"Kozmo Dark Planet, attack 'The Winged Dragon of Ra - Immortal Phoenix'!"
The Death Star activated once more, as if a dormant beast in the starry sky was awakened. Enormous energy was fed into a terrifying superlaser, locking directly onto the Immortal Phoenix.
This was an extinction shot! Even constrained by the Duel Monsters' game rules, it still possessed earth-shattering formidable power!
The Immortal Phoenix wasn't about to be defeated, cloaked in fervent flames. The scorching onslaught seemed to burn through the entire sky, charging against the extinction laser with unbeatable vigor!
"With attack points of 4000 each... do they intend to perish together!?" Ed anxiously exclaimed from the island below.
"This is bad, if the Immortal Phoenix perishes here, they'll have to face the Kaiju's attack directly next..." Mitsuzawa warned in a panic.
"Mamma mia! This really is the end of the world, Norne!" Professor Chronos bit off another piece of his handkerchief.
The ethereal phoenix clashed with the world-ending Death Star in the sky, waves of energy entwined and spread violently outward, the energy shaking heaven and earth!
The Academy Volcano roared uneasily, the earth trembled as if the island was about to be torn apart. The sea roiled, and the sky was tinged with gold.
"Perish together? That's not our kind of timid strategy," the Light of Destruction said, "What we aim for is ultimate annihilation, everything is wiped out in divine light, even gods are no exception!
Activate Quick-Play Magic 'Concentrating Current' from my hand! Select one of my monsters, and until the end of the turn, its attack increases by its defense!
I will increase 'Kozmo Dark Planet's defense by 4000 points!"
[Kozmo Dark Planet, ATK 4000 → ATK 8000]
A clash originally equal in strength turned completely one-sided with the interference of the magic support!
"This is bad!"
Countless hearts leapt into throats instantly.
If the Winged Dragon is defeated here, 4000 points of battle damage will occur directly, potentially ending this duel...
"But with the Kozmo DOGfighter defeated, the trap lockdown is lifted." Youyu made a grand gesture, "Reveal the Set Card! Trap Card 'Power Wall'!
When I would take battle damage from an opponent's monster's attack, until that damage becomes zero, send cards from the top of my deck to the graveyard!
Each card cancels 500 points of battle damage!"
The intelligent Duel Disk already ejected the cards he needed, and he quickly drew them all out.
"I'm sending eight cards to the graveyard!" Youyu declared, "To cancel 4000 points of battle damage!"
The Winged Dragon was shattered into sparks under the doubled extinction laser, but the terrifying force still charged forward. However, the barrier formed by the fluttering cards valiantly resisted this terrifying onslaught, booming loudly in the ears.
The body of the Winged Dragon was crushed, its flames dispersed, and the scattered embers merged with the terrifying impact, forming a white light engulfing everything, nearly paralyzing Youyu's senses.
And in the instant the disappearing Winged Dragon entered the graveyard, he felt a tremor, a power surging through his organs.
This feeling was familiar.
It was the Three Egyptian Gods' power already lying dormant in the graveyard during this duel.
When he opened his eyes, he saw a white curtain of light, filled with soft, warm light, utterly different from the violent "Light of Destruction" filled with destruction.
He saw a face with gentle lines, feminine in appearance, benevolent like a god, seemingly smiling.
But before he could comprehend what was happening, the light curtain vanished. He felt the world swirl, then returned to reality.
The Light of Destruction was silent for a moment.
"...Tenacious humans." He finally spoke after over ten seconds, "'Concentrating Current's effect prohibits my other monsters from attacking this turn... you've narrowly escaped death.
Perhaps destiny does not intend for your end just yet."
He waved his arm: "Set two more cards face down, and end my turn."