"Reaper of Prophecy, direct attack!!!"
The phantom of Lamor raised the scythe in its hand, and the force of that swing seemed to split the heavens and the earth! A pitch-black crack spread through the space, accompanied by the sharp sound of shattering glass, falling towards Judai!
Attack power 4100, taking this hit definitely means the end!
"Judai, dodge it!" Yubel shouted sternly.
"I know!" A card popped out from Judai's Duel Disc's graveyard area, "I banish the 'Necro Gardna' that I discarded to the graveyard as the cost when I activated 'Karma Cut'!
This turn, negate one attack from the opponent!"
The loyal Necro Gardna appeared like a phantom shield in front of Judai, blocking that earth-shattering slash in the air. Although Judai felt as if the ground beneath him shook in response, he withstood it.
Even though the damage didn't penetrate, at the moment that slash fell, Judai felt as though his entire world trembled. The bone-chilling dark magic enveloped him, making him feel as if he were falling into an icy abyss.
In a daze, he seemed to see a phantom. A world drenched in dark magic filled his entire view —
— countless scattered bones, numerous broken Duel Discs standing in the battlefield like defeated swords.
He stood on the ground, wearing that pitch-black heavy armor, with the wind carrying the scent of blood blowing ceaselessly, his cloak rising and falling behind him alone.
It was exactly the scene he had seen in his nightmares.
His hands and feet felt cold, and even his breath became labored.
Until Yubel's voice rang in his ears: "What are you spacing out for? It's coming!"
Judai suddenly snapped back to reality, realizing that yet another aggressive wave of magic was rushing toward him. He only had time to reflexively raise his arm before his whole body was blasted away.
Although Lamor's attack was blocked, there remained the "Wheel of Prophecy" on the opponent's field that hadn't attacked. Though not as strong as Lamor, its attack power was still 3200, a considerable pain.
[Judai, LP 4000 → LP 800]
This wasn't just holographic imagery; intense pain shot through his body, and eerie magic surged through his limbs.
At that moment, it wasn't just pain that struck him, but a primal urge that even overshadowed the pain and burning sensation.
Judai felt as if his body was about to be torn apart, a beast dormant within him was awakening.
"Judai!"
Yubel angrily looked at the mage opposite.
"What did you do?"
"Nothing, just fulfilling my duties as a subordinate." Lamor smiled and drew two cards, "Set two cards, and my turn ends.
At this moment, the effect of 'Spellbook of Judgment' activates! A total of nine Magic Cards were activated this turn, so I can add up to nine 'Spellbooks' from the deck to my hand."
The Spellbooks recently retrieved began popping out one after another.
"I add six cards to my hand: 'Spellbook of Secrets', 'Spellbook of the Master', 'Spellbook of Eternity', 'Spellbook of Fate', 'Spellbook of Wisdom', 'Spellbook of Life'.
Although I can search for nine cards, this time I'm only choosing six since the hand limit only allows for so much, and I'd have to discard anything exceeding six cards at the end phase.
"Then, Special Summon a Level 6 or lower Spellcaster-Type monster from the deck." Lamor said, "Come forth, 'Emperor of Prophecy'!"
[Emperor of Prophecy, Attack Power 2300]
"Also, thanks to the 'Spellbook Hall', Ample's attack power increases by 500."
[Emperor of Prophecy, Attack Power 2300 → Attack Power 2800]
With that, Lamor's turn finally ended.
But there was something wrong with Judai.
He was half-kneeling on the ground, supporting himself with one hand, sweat pouring down his forehead like rain.
"Judai!" Yubel frowned, and upon seeing his condition, showed an expression of astonishment, "You..."
"No...it's nothing."
Judai staggered to his feet.
He hadn't noticed it himself, but there was a brief moment when his eyes turned a burning shade of gold, hollow and cold.
"My... turn."
He took a deep breath, trying hard to steady his erratic breathing.
He had zero cards in hand, and the field was empty. If he couldn't draw something useful this turn, it was truly game over.
Judai shook his head, trying to dispel the phantom images constantly floating in his mind, forcing his attention back to the duel.
"...Draw!"
He felt the vision doubling, and used extra effort to see what he had drawn clearly.
Then he smiled with joy.
Indeed, his deck would never betray him no matter when.
"I activate the Magic Card 'Pot of Reversal' from my hand!" Judai directly revealed the card, "You can only activate this when you have no cards on your field and only this card in hand. Draw cards from the deck equal to the number of face-up cards the opponent controls!" (Anime card)
He took another deep breath.
"You have three Spellcasters and one Continuous Magic, so I draw four cards!"
Judai then revealed another card from the new hand: "Magic Card 'Legacy of a Hero'! If there are two or more Level 4 or higher 'Hero' monsters in the graveyard, draw three cards from the deck!"