Elemental Hero Absolute Zero, Attack Power six thousand!
"Next, I'll activate Earthman's effect, allowing me to sacrifice an Elemental Hero on my field; Earthman can absorb that monster's Attack and Defense Power!"
Hibiki Momiji said.
"Therefore, I'll sacrifice 'Elemental Hero Great Tornado Hero', and its Attack Power is absorbed by Earthman!
The Earth Magma!!!"
Great Tornado Hero's form dissolved into points of light, all its energy absorbed, merging into Earthman's body.
Earthman's entire body suddenly turned a surging red, like lava erupting from deep within the Earth's veins. The destructive power surged, the intensely hot magma transformed into a winding fire dragon, shooting out from his back, as if carrying a heat capable of melting metal and stone.
[Elemental Hero Earthman, Attack Power 2500 → Attack Power 5300]
"Right away, a monster with Attack Power of five thousand three and one with six thousand!"
Judai looked on with admiration written all over his face.
This is Mr. Momiji, known as the strongest hero on the surface...
Hibiki Momiji, counterattacks in a dire situation!
Yugen silently observed, resting his chin in his hand, pondering.
If it were him, he might choose to have Earthman absorb the Attack Power of 'Elemental Hero Absolute Zero Hero' here. Not only would Earthman's Attack Power instantly exceed ten thousand, but more importantly, he could trigger Absolute Zero Hero's strongest ability "Absolute Zero"—which destroys all opponent's monsters when leaving the field.
Then he suddenly remembered, oh right, this effect was added after becoming a Physical Card.
In the manga, Absolute Zero only had one effect, which was increasing Attack Power based on the number of Water Attributes on the field. In the Physical Card environment, this effect was almost as overlooked as the Great Cosmos's effect, typically people only utilized Absolute Zero's field-clearing ability...
Indeed, even in Hibiki Momiji's Hero Card Deck, there are so many areas waiting for improvement and exploration.
What a pity, if Absolute Zero had the field-clearing effect, Hibiki Momiji might have even more ways to utilize it.
Come to think of it, absorbing Great Tornado Hero wasn't particularly necessary. After all, the increased Attack Power of Earthman would revert to its original state at the end of the turn.
But of course, with a Soul Card, boosting Attack Power for momentum is standard practice, nothing strange about it.
"Begin the battle!" Hibiki Momiji shouted, "First, 'Elemental Hero Earthman', attack 'Elemental Hero Flash Hero'!"
The Attack Power was more than sufficient. The opponent's entire field was already affected by Great Tornado's halving of Attack and Defense; if Hibiki Momiji's full attack succeeded, it would complete the counterattack from a desperate situation!
But of course, things wouldn't seem to go that smoothly.
"Then I activate the Trap 'Monster Swap'." The Judge said, "During the opponent's monster attack declaration, return one of my monsters on the field to my hand, then Special Summon one Four-Star Monster from the hand."
He glanced over his few monsters on the field.
"Then I'll return 'Elemental Hero Phoenix Lad' to my hand, Special Summon this card from my hand—
——Orichalcos Qidala." (Original Card)
Phoenix Lad's body dissipated, transforming into a flame soaring back into his Card Deck. A strange spiky monster appeared in his backfield, its entire body almost entirely occupied by a single bizarre eye.
[Orichalcos Qidala, Attack Power 500 → Attack Power 1000] (Orichalcos Boost)
"What?" Hibiki Momiji frowned.
It wasn't just because the monster looked strange, but also because of its placement upon summoning.
It appeared behind the four Elemental Heroes on the field, right where the Magic Trap Zone should be.
"Orichalcos Barrier, second effect. That is, my Monster Zone and Magic Trap Zone are interchangeable, monsters can be summoned in the Magic Trap Zone." The Judge explained calmly.
"Moreover, before all the monsters in the front Monster Zone are defeated, the opponent cannot target the monsters in the back zone for attacks."
Hibiki Momiji frowned even more.
Such a bizarre effect.
And this monster also made him inexplicably uneasy.
Seto Kaiba in the audience similarly narrowed his eyes.
"This guy..."
Of course, he wouldn't forget this card.
Because it was one of the key cards used by Dazi, Orichalcos's spokesperson back then.
"Given up using the Hero series, finally revealing their true monster?" Kaiba said calmly.
In a certain sense, it might be an acknowledgment of Hibiki Momiji as an opponent.
But having reached this point, there's no way Hibiki Momiji would back down now.
"Rewind the battle declaration, but my attack continues," Hibiki Momiji said, "Continue attacking 'Elemental Hero Flash Hero'!"
[Elemental Hero Flash Hero, Attack Power 2750]
The Earth Magma Slash!
As if grasping the flame made from lava in its hand, slashing it into a blade! The fiery blade swept across Flash Hero, melting its body, reducing it to nothing in this strike.
"Great!" Judai exclaimed, "Caused massive damage in one go..."
"No." Yugen shook his head.
"Huh?"
Flash Hero broke apart, its interior flame, the explosive energy seemingly drawn by an invisible force, all absorbed into the opponent's backfield's eerie large eye.
That same ominous monster that just entered the field, Orichalcos Qidala.
The Judge's Life Points remained unscathed.
"What?" Hibiki Momiji was shocked.
"Orichalcos Qidala has an effect that absorbs battle damage." The Judge said calmly, "As long as this card is on the field, all battle damage I receive turns to zero."