There's no way to evade it, the magic power of High Priestess of Prophecy fiercely swept towards Yubel's face!
In the nick of time, Yubel gritted her teeth and flipped over a card in the back row: "Trap Card 'Aggressive Defense'! When the opponent declares a direct attack, the opponent's monster's attack is halved only during damage calculation!" (Animation Card)
[High Priestess of Prophecy, ATK 3500 → ATK 1750]
The violent magical bombardment was at its peak, Yubel crossed her wings like a tightly sealed shield protecting her body, but still, the explosive blast was so strong that it flipped her over, engulfing her entirely in the light of the explosion as dark smoke billowed into the sky.
As the smoke cleared, Yubel struggled to half-kneel on the ground, looking extremely battered.
This was the kind of mental shock that only occurs in battles between top-level Dark Duelists, feeling like the body was being pierced sharply. But after the sharp pain, she felt numb, losing sensation in half of her body.
[Yubel, LP 2400 → LP 650]
"Hoh? You actually managed to hang on?"
Reaper of Prophecy shook his head.
"But what you've done is merely prolong your own agony. You might as well give up; I am no longer what I used to be, and you don't even resemble the warrior you once were.
You have no chance of winning."
Yubel tried to stand up, but seemed out of strength, failing twice.
"...The follow-up effect of 'Aggressive Defense'." She tried to steady her breathing, "Draw one card."
The side of Reaper of Prophecy's Duel Disc's field area ejected, allowing the Field Magic that had been returned to the hand last turn to be included once again.
"Field Magic 'The Grand Spellbook Tower' is activated again."
He paused briefly as the scene transformed and buildings arose, before continuing.
"This is the eighth card."
He then lightly waved his hand.
"I set two cards on the field, end the turn... and at this moment, the effect of the forbidden spell 'Spellbook of Judgment' is activated!"
The sacred flash appeared once more, a blinding light illuminating the sky, akin to a divine judgment!
Yubel had to cover the light source with her half-folded wings: "That light is..."
"Based on the number of Magic Cards activated this turn, add 'Spellbook' cards from the deck to the hand. I've activated seven Magic Cards this turn... And you activated one 'Forbidden Dress', making a total of eight.
Therefore, I can add up to eight 『Spellbook』 cards to my hand."
The deck shuffled rapidly and one card after another was ejected precisely from the deck. Reaper of Prophecy waved his hand to draw all the cards into his hand, showing them to Yubel.
"According to this effect, I added 'Spellbook of Knowledge', 'Spellbook of Secrets', 'Spellbook of the Master', 'Spellbook of Eternity', 'Spellbook of Power', 'Spellbook of Wisdom', 'Spellbook of Fate', 'Spellbook of Life'...
...all into my hand!"
In the raging storm of magic power, eight Spellbooks cascaded out like a flowing stream, creating an awe-inspiring scene.
"Of course, in the end phase, any cards in hand exceeding six must be discarded." He shrugged nonchalantly.
Even though only six cards can be held at the end of his turn, he still searched eight to the maximum.
Perhaps it was to pile up more Spellbook resources in the graveyard, to act as ammo for 'High Priestess of Prophecy' and 'Spellbook of Fate'... or maybe it was simply because this kind of display seemed grander and more imposing, delivering a psyche impact to the opponent.
After a momentary pause, Reaper of Prophecy continued sharply, "However, 'Spellbook of Judgment' also has further effects!
Depending on the number of cards added to the hand through this effect, summon any Spellcaster-Type monster from the deck that is of corresponding level or below!"
Yubel's expression changed again.
It even has the ability to summon any monster from the deck...
Is this Magic Card imprinted with a monster?
"This turn, I added eight cards to my hand." Reaper of Prophecy said, "Therefore, I can special summon a level-8 or lower Spellcaster-Type from the deck.
The one I'm going to summon based on this effect is none other than myself——
——Reaper of Prophecy!!!"
The Mage was summoned, a stream of black energy shot out from the deck, transforming into a scythe-bearing black-robed Mage who lightly landed on the ground, looking exactly like the Reaper of Prophecy with the Duel Disc.
[Reaper of Prophecy, ATK 2000]
"When Reaper of Prophecy is summoned or special summoned, it gains different effects based on the types of 'Spellbook' Magic Cards in the graveyard.
If three or more types of 'Spellbook' exist in the graveyard, its attack increases by 600."
[Reaper of Prophecy, ATK 2000 → ATK 2600]
"If four or more types exist in the graveyard, add one Spellbook Magic Card with 'Spellbook' in its name from the deck to your hand... though this effect doesn't matter now."
As of now, the Spellbooks in Reaper of Prophecy's hand can be said to be as complete as possible, and the search effect from the deck is negligible.
"If five or more types exist in the graveyard, special summon one level 5 or above Dark Attribute Spellcaster-Type from the deck."
Reaper of Prophecy pointed a finger toward the sky.
"Come forth! Wheel of Prophecy!!!"
The wild magic warrior landed on the field with a crash, his crimson cape flowing behind him, resembling a golden-maned lion.
[Wheel of Prophecy, ATK 2700]
"Effect of Wheel of Prophecy!" Reaper of Prophecy continued, "When this card is special summoned successfully by the effect of a Spellcaster-Type monster, select any number of 'Spellbook' Magic Cards from the banished zone to return to the deck.
The remaining 'Spellbook' cards in the banished zone will return to the graveyard."
Reaper of Prophecy revealed three Spellbooks at once.
"Now among the Spellbooks I have banished, there are 'Spellbook of the Master', 'Spellbook of Power', 'Spellbook of Knowledge', I will return them all to the deck."
The three cards were inserted back into the deck, which automatically shuffled in the Duel Disc's slot.
"Now my turn has completely ended." Reaper of Prophecy finally lowered the Duel Disc, "Alright, it's your move. Though personally, I suggest you give up.
Continuing isn't really meaningful, it's merely more suffering."
"Shut up." Yubel said impatiently.
At this moment, she was still half-kneeling on the ground, struggling up shakily after failing twice more.
Reaper of Prophecy watched her silently.
"Why bother?" he said after a moment of silence, "We weren't enemies to start with. I'm here to assist the great King, our missions should align."
"I said shut up!"
Yubel snapped angrily.
She finally stood up—though her knee wobbled once, she managed to stand straight.
"What do you know?" she stubbornly said, "The current King, you don't understand him at all!"
Reaper of Prophecy raised an eyebrow: "Are you saying you alone understand him?"
"..."
Yubel didn't speak.
But what was there to say?
From when Judai was just a novice Duelist, she had been watching over him.
In this lifetime, she witnessed Judai grow up step by step. They became inseparable, living together, each becoming a part of the other.
By closing her eyes, she could see Judai's appearance. By quieting down, his cheerful, joyful laughter always echoed in her ears.
"...No one understands him better than I do."
She vowed to fight for him.
No matter who the opponent was, or how strong.
Reaper of Prophecy said she had forgotten what it means to be a warrior; he was wrong.
There are times when an honorable warrior, even in front of an unbeatable opponent, must step forward.
Yubel reopened her eyes.
Reaper of Prophecy noticed that in her heterochromatic eyes, a cold, hollow flame was burning.
"It's my turn!"