"Attack of the Mirror Knight derivatives."
The Judge's voice was calm yet stern.
"Continue attacking 'Cyber Twin Dragons.'
The second Mirror Knight, its Long Sword reflecting a chilling gleam in the mirror, fearlessly charged at the Twin Dragons.
"But the Cyber Twin Dragons are protected by the effect of the 'Dimension Guardian,' they shouldn't be destroyed," Keihei said in confusion.
Even though that Mirror Knight can likewise use its shield to substitute destruction, both sides have their own methods of preservation, doesn't this attack just become meaningless, completely futile?
"No." Kaiba said in a deep voice, "It's coming."
Keihei was still puzzled, but the battle on the field had already started. The Cyber Twin Dragons spewed bright flames, counterattacking, the strong light clashing against the knight, who raised its Shield to block.
The Shield firmly blocked the light stream of the Cyber Dragons, exploding into fragments under the bombardment. Simultaneously, the domineering impact traversed the knight's armor and surged directly toward the Judge.
However, at that instant, the eye in the Judge's rear field suddenly opened. Suddenly, it was like a Black Hole opening, an endless gravitational pull, absorbing all the impact aftermath and flame light into the eye.
Keihei suddenly realized, "When he attacked... he didn't activate the Mirror Knight's effect..."
The Judge also spoke, "I do not activate the Mirror Knight's effect, do not duplicate the attack power of the Cyber Twin Dragons, thus in this round of attack, the Mirror Knight itself only has 500 attack power from the Orichalcos Barrier.
After damage calculation, use the Shield in the Mirror Knight's hand as a substitute for destruction, so the Mirror Knight will not be destroyed by battle.
However, this battle itself will deal me 2300 points of battle damage."
Saying this, he pointed to the lone eye in the rear field that was absorbing and digesting. At this moment, the energy and flames had fully disappeared into the opened eye, the Orichalcos eye closed again, seemingly digesting energy.
Last turn, when the Killer Tomato self-destructed, Chidara also absorbed some damage, but after that, it was removed from the field by the effect of 'Absolute Zero,' the previously absorbed part should have been invalidated.
Now, it had just absorbed 2300 points of damage anew.
"Furthermore, I still have six remaining 'Mirror Knight derivatives' in my field this turn that have not attacked yet."
The Judge raised his hand.
"Mirror Knight derivatives, all-out attack. Attack the 'Cyber Twin Dragons.'
The knights' fierce assault, six Mirror Knights lined up like a long queue, drew their swords one after another.
Their attack power is zero, said to be utterly powerless in the world of Duel Monsters, essentially fodder for instant elimination in front of the Cyber Twin Dragons. But the knights charged forward fearlessly, swords unsheathed, reflecting the Twin Dragons' image clearly on their shields.
Six knights, like moths to a flame, continuously collided. Each attack accompanied by a crisp sound, a shield in the knight's hand shattering into debris.
Until all the shields of the knights were shattered into powder under the impact from the Evolutionary Light Flame's assault.
"Lastly, it's the 'Mirror Knight's Call.'" The Judge waved his hand, letting the Ritual Monster join the ranks of self-destructing, "Attack the 'Cyber Twin Dragons.'
[Mirror Knight's Call, Attack Power 500]
This Ritual Monster itself is also a 0 attack panel, clearly not apt for direct combat. But obeying its master's command to charge, it could only rush forward headlong, the entire flying prism looked like someone carrying an appliance and hurling it out with great force.
The Cyber Twin Dragons continued counterattacking. The Mirror Knight's Call body does not have the shield its summoned derivatives have that can substitute destruction, the flame beam shattering the prism in midair into fragments.
"When the Mirror Knight's Call is destroyed, all Mirror Knight derivatives are also destroyed."
A series of popping explosions, the shapes of those knights covering the Judge's field shattered continuously, like countless glass shattering together, exploding into a ground filled with sparkling fragments.
At this point, Yugen naturally saw the intention, only locking his brows.
Undoubtedly, the Judge was accumulating damage for Chidara.
Ultimately, Chidara will perish upon crashing into the Cyber Twin Dragons, triggering its final ability. Chidara's parting words will special summon Silenos from the card deck, capable of absorbing all damage and becoming the invincible Divine Puppet.
Indeed, the Judge delivered the final command as Yugen anticipated.
"Battle." The Judge said, "Orichalcos-Chidara, attack the 'Cyber Twin Dragons.'
"Indeed."
Kaiba also saw through the opponent's intention, stating deeply.
"That thing is coming."
Judai and Hibiki Midori also felt a tightness in their hearts, clearly understanding the unfolding strategy by now.
It was that strongest Demon God of Orichalcos that ended Hibiki Momiji with one strike!
Chidara's kamikaze assault is the final fuse, once it is countered by the Termination Dragon, that thing will come. With the damage it has absorbed so far...
"Yugen!"
Judai couldn't help worrying aloud, a scene flashed before his eyes of Hibiki Momiji standing firm against that terminal Demon God.
Yet, Yugen remained composed as he continued to respond.
"Activate the Cover Card, Trap Card——"
"No matter what you do, it's useless." The Judge decisively interrupted, "With the Third Layer Barrier already activated, any magic or trap effect becomes invalid against my monsters.
Traps cannot stop Chidara's attack."
"I know, but what I'm affecting is not your monster, but mine," Yugen said, "Trap Card 'Subspace Material Transmission Device,' remove one monster on my field from the game until the end of the turn.
I remove 'Cyber Twin Dragons' from the game!"
The Other Dimension's ripple opened, the intricate mechanical transmission device appeared on his field. Along with a ripple in the air, like opening a black hole, the two-headed mechanical dragon was sucked in, quickly vanishing.
"Oh, there's this move, right!" Judai said, "Even if you can't affect the opponent's monster, you can send away your own. This way, Chidara can't self-destruct, Silenos's summoning fails!"
Though Yugen could have activated earlier to avoid the Mirror Knights' kamikaze attacks accumulating damage, if he did that, the Mirror Knights' attacks would directly fall on Yugen himself.
Although the Mirror Knights themselves have 0 attack power, with the barrier enhancement, each has 500 attack power. Eight knights plus a Mirror Knight's Call, along with Chidara himself, completely enough to take Yugen down in one go.
But by activating the trap at the moment Chidara attacks, Yugen only needs to endure Chidara's negligible one thousand output. If the self-destruction fails, the previously accumulated damage becomes utterly meaningless.
Chidara crashed into Yugen, who raised his Duel Disc to block in front, staggering back half a step.
[Yugen, LP 3800 → LP 2800]
"You've seen through my strategy again, you brat."
The Judge frowned.
"Indeed. If Chidara loses its attack target and cannot self-destruct, Silenos cannot appear, my subsequent offensive is thus interrupted..."
Pausing, his expression turned grim.
"But I am the God of the End, bringing judgment to this world, such tactics are also within my calculations.
From the hand, activate Speed Attack Magic 'Mysterious Chinese Pot'!
Sacrifice my monster on the field, absorbing its attack value as Life Points!"