"Elemental Hero?"
Hibiki Momiji was equally surprised, but quickly narrowed his eyes.
"I am really being underestimated..."
Choosing to deliberately use Elemental Heroes, which he excelled at, against him, Momiji felt his dignity as a champion was being challenged.
"Fight!" the Judge said, "Elemental Hero Phoenix Lad, attack 'Elemental Hero Sky Hero'. "
Phoenix Lad flapped his wings, sprinting forward, and punched as if it carried an explosion wrapped in flames. The high-temperature punch within the flames pierced through Sky Hero's chest, and the exploding flames instantly burned Sky Hero to nothing.
[Hibiki Momiji, LP 4000→LP 3700]
Momiji protected his arms in front of him, staggering back under the residual damage of the flames.
"This pain..." he gritted his teeth.
As expected, another Dark Duel.
Just like that night he encountered...
Catching a glimpse from the corner of his eye, he saw his sister's worried gaze beneath the stage.
Then Hibiki Momiji straightened up, smiled slightly at her, and gestured that it was nothing.
"Activate the Cover Card, Trap Card 'Hero Mark'!"
Hibiki Momiji waved his hand to flip over the field.
"When your Elemental Hero on the field is destroyed by battle, Special Summon a 4-star or lower 'Elemental Hero' from your hand or deck."
He pulled out from his deck, quickly drawing a card from it.
"Come forth, Elemental Hero Forest Hero!"
The muscular hero with a green body yet dressed like a primitive man, followed the guidance of the mark's projection, half-squatted in front of Momiji, using his log-like thick arms to block in front.
[Elemental Hero Forest Hero, Defense Power 2000]
"Good, with 2000 defense, it should be able to block the subsequent attack!" Judai said.
"Then the battle ends." The Judge slowly raised his hand, "'Guardian Sphinx's effect, once per turn, this card can actively return to face-down defense position.
I cover 'Guardian Sphinx' in face-down."
The guardian with a lion body and human face lurked back into the covered card, positioned on the Judge's field as if waiting to strike.
"Then cover a card and the turn ends."
Hibiki Momiji frowned.
He remembered the card's effect. Guardian Sphinx, when successfully flipped summon bounces all opposing monsters back to the hand, a very powerful effect.
If he does not resolve this troublesome monster first, he will fall into a passive disadvantageous position.
"My turn, draw!" Momiji said, "During the preparation phase, the effect of 'Elemental Hero Forest Hero' on the field, once per turn during your preparation phase, add a Magic Card 'Fusion' from your deck or graveyard to your hand."
Momiji drew the searched card from his deck.
"Then activate the Magic Card 'Fusion'!" Momiji directly played the searched card, "Fuse 'Elemental Hero Ocean Hero' in my hand with 'Elemental Hero Forest Hero' on the field!"
"Ocean combined with forest." The Judge said indifferently, "here it comes."
The forest and ocean gathered into the fusion vortex, transforming into the embodiment of the third planet. A white giant stood towering, shaking the earth when its feet landed, carrying up immense dust.
[Elemental Hero Earthman, Attack Power 2500]
"Planet Series, Earth."
The Judge looked up at the white giant, showing an intriguing smile.
"Hah, it's getting interesting."
Hibiki Momiji said: "Then activate Magic Card 'Hero's Legacy.' When there are two or more heroes of 4-stars or higher in your graveyard, draw three cards from your deck." (Original card)
Momiji drew three more cards.
"Earthman, attack the covered 'Guardian Sphinx' that turned into a face-down position!" Hibiki Momiji shouted, "Earth Impact!"
As his voice fell, an unprecedented gravitational force exploded from Earthman, pulling the Judge's covered monster and the surrounding air towards the direction of the earth, seemingly bound by invisible chains, slowly dragged over.
Earthman stepped forward, his form like a white cannonball blasting out. As if carrying enough momentum to shake the stars, Earthman's fists struck straight towards the covered Sphinx.
But just as it was about to hit, a shadow suddenly flashed out, unexpectedly blocking his punch's trajectory.
Elemental Hero Phoenix Lad!
"What?!" Hibiki Momiji was shocked.
Why is Phoenix Lad...?!
"Trap Card 'Earth-bound Spirit's Temptation', can change the opponent's attack target." The Judge said.
Indeed, the Trap Card had unknowingly flipped over in his backfield. The spirits surrounding the field eerily redirected Earthman's attack trajectory, and his mighty punch pounded fiercely onto Phoenix Lad.
[Elemental Hero Phoenix Lad, Attack Power 2100]
"Then the effect of 'Elemental Hero Phoenix Lad'... Yet as an expert on heroes, Hibiki Momiji should know this, right?" The Judge said.
Hibiki Momiji: "Phoenix Lad will not be destroyed by battle... But you still need to accept the damage."
[Judge, LP 4000→LP 3600]
It's the same soul-wrenching damage, but the tornado only ruffled his hair and clothes. The Judge didn't even blink, seemingly unaffected by this level of damage.
Momiji took a deep breath.
Even his ace Earth's attack failed to work. Guardian Sphinx was successfully retained by the opponent, if flipped next turn, it's dangerous.
But...
Hibiki Momiji glanced over his hand cards.
There's still a way.
"Set three cards in the backfield, turn ends." Hibiki Momiji said.
"Then to my turn, draw."
The Judge casually waved his hand.
"'Guardian Sphinx' flip summon."
The giant sphinx with a lion body and human face emerged from the covered card again, towering on the field. A formidable energy burst from its massive body.
"When Sphinx is successfully flip summoned, bounce all opposing monsters on the field back to their owner's hand." The Judge said, "Earthman shall retreat."
It came as expected.
Hibiki Momiji said solemnly: "Then activate the cover card, counterattack Trap 'Heaven-Ascending Horn'!
Sacrifice one monster on your field to negate and destroy the opponent's summon, special summon, or flip summon."
He pointed to his field.
"Use 'Elemental Hero Earthman' as a sacrifice, negate and destroy Sphinx's flip summon!"
The sacrificing Earthman was as if transformed into a burning soul form, wrapped in golden flames charging out! He hugged Sphinx like a self-destructing bomb, body blazing intensely, blasting Sphinx along with himself into pieces.
"Finally managed to resolve that troublesome sphinx." Judai said worriedly, "But sacrificing Earthman, now Mr. Momiji's field is completely empty..."
The Judge also chuckled lightly.
"I see. Hibiki Momiji, the champion willing to do anything, but alas, dueling, like most things in the world, cannot change the result solely by determination.
Now..."
His expression turned colder.
"Let you understand the deeper meaning of this saying."