Golden Artificial Life Form, summon!
[Golden Artificial Life Form, Attack Power 1500]
This monster does indeed fit the style of an Alchemist.
"The Attack Power and Defense Power of the Golden Artificial Life Form increase by 300 points for each of its own cards banished from the game," said Daitokuji.
"The effect of the 'Alchemy Cauldron', all of the teacher's cards so far in this duel have been banished from the game," Yugen said calmly.
"That's right! I have a total of nineteen cards banished from the game, so the Golden Artificial Life Form's Attack Power increases by 5700!"
[Golden Artificial Life Form, Attack Power 1500→Attack Power 7200]
"An Attack Power of over seven thousand in an instant." Yugen remarked in admiration, "That's incredible."
"This is Alchemy, with Alchemy nothing is impossible."
Daitokuji smiled slightly and then raised his hand.
"If I don't get a little serious, this strike could end it directly! Golden Artificial Life Form, attack 'Water Spirit Akuaelia'!"
The Water Spirit turned pale with fright. Faced with such a powerful force, it seemed there was nothing she could do. The artificial life form easily shattered the spirit into pieces, and a tyrannical cyclone, undeterred, surged towards Yugen.
"Then, the effect of 'Chestnut Ball' in my hand." Yugen said, "Discard Chestnut Ball from the hand, and the battle damage becomes 0."
"Kuriboh!"
Chestnut Ball jumped onto the field, spreading its arms to shield him.
"Chestnut Ball, a subordinate monster that once created numerous miracles beside the First Generation Duel King. It is indeed interesting to see such a similar choice by the new generation Duel King."
Daitokuji smiled.
"But it's not that easy.
Activate the cover card, Counterattack Trap 'True Sword Victory'!
The effects of monsters or Magic Trap Cards activated during the damage step, cancel the activation and destroy!"
With the Counterattack Trap targeted, as if a Sword Qi materialized, slicing through the hovering shadow of the Chestnut Ball before Yugen, seemingly ready to shatter it to pieces.
If Yugen loses his only shield like this, the overwhelming blow from the Artificial Life Form would be enough to finish it instantly!
"If this move cannot be resolved, the legend of the Duel King ends here!" Daitokuji declared loudly.
"Teacher really leaves no room to breathe..."
Yugen slowly raised his right arm.
"Then the Counterattack Trap 'Counter-Counter Attack'!
Negate the activation of the Counterattack Trap and destroy it."
Daitokuji: "Counter-Counter Attack Trap to counter the Counterattack Trap!?"
Red light shot from that trap, shattering the Sword Qi of the 'True Sword Victory'. The beam continued unabated, blasting the trap card before Daitokuji as well.
The trap was countered, and the attack of the Artificial Life Form continued, but it only struck the Chestnut Ball with its arms spread open. The residual waves of the tyrannical shock were completely blocked by the Chestnut Ball, not harming Yugen in the slightest.
"Hehe, after all, it's not so easy to take down the Duel King." Daitokuji regretfully smiled, but not unexpectedly.
This instant confrontation in the round was like the blink of an eye. Daitokuji suddenly revealed a monster with seven thousand Attack Points for a fierce attack, engaging in life or death struggle within a short damage calculation step, yet Yugen effortlessly neutralized it.
"Set two cards, end of turn," Daitokuji said.
The duel had just begun for a few turns, and he even felt that the opponent was probing more and not using full strength, but he could faintly sense that this student he once personally taught was now the greatest opponent he had ever encountered in his life.
Daitokuji was an Alchemist, but he was also a Duelist. In the end of his life, encountering the pinnacle of the Dueling Realm, his heart was inevitably stirred, resolved that in this battle regardless of the outcome, he would give his all as the best examination for both the opponent and himself.
Yugen: "My turn, draw a card.
Activate Magic Card 'Adversity's Treasure Scroll'. If there is a Special Summoned monster on the opponent's field and no monsters on my field, draw two cards."
"Come on, Yugen... no, Duel King!" Daitokuji exclaimed, "Let me witness it, the King's power!"
"Alright. I will do my best and also let the teacher see the progress I've made this past year."
"Come on!" Daitokuji exclaimed.
"Alright." Yugen said, "Then I will summon this card—
——Face of the Undead!"
Daitokuji: "?"
What did you summon?
Following this, he saw in bewilderment a pale, twisted child's head, half of the cranial structures growing out of a hole in its forehead, tentacles flailing around its head, appearing on Yugen's field.
[Face of the Undead, Attack Power 1200]
A monster from the Underworld, just appearing brings a sinister aura... of course, that's only natural. After all, the master of the Face of the Undead in the animation was the dark persona of Ryo Bakura, the Great Evil God Zok himself, originally a representative of the Underworld side.
Daitokuji had never seen this monster, but just from its appearance, he could sense an ominous aura. He looked at this dead man's face, then at Yugen, unable to help but fall into silence.
This student was indeed impressive, but everything he did and the cards he used made one feel like it was not of the righteous path...
"The effect of the Face of the Undead, when this card is successfully summoned," Yugen chuckled, "all of both players' banished cards are returned to their respective owner's deck and shuffled."
"What did you say?"
Daitokuji was shocked.
What kind of counter-alchemy effect is this!?
"Counting the 'True Sword Victory' just now, teacher, you have a total of twenty cards banished. While I have 'Mobius the Frost Monarch' banished in this duel.
A total of twenty-one cards, all shuffled back into our respective decks!"
The dead man's face released its power, all the cards banished thus far floated above the two people, eerily hovering like ghosts on the field. Then, as if swept by an invisible storm, all the cards were thrown into a fully operating mixer, and after a rapid blend, they swiftly flew back into their respective decks.
"The Attack Power of the Golden Artificial Life Form is determined by its own banished cards," Yugen said, "Now that all the banished cards are shuffled back, the Attack Power of the Golden Artificial Life Form returns to its original state."
[Golden Artificial Life Form, Attack Power 1500]
Daitokuji gritted his teeth: "Uh..."
Yugen, this kid... indeed targeted the weaknesses of his Alchemy Card Deck.
Not only the Golden Artificial Life Form, but also his ace Original Sun Helios series all uses banished cards to gain Attack Power.
To think he directly emptied out his banishment zone...
Daitokuji squinted his eyes.
"You've really shown your skill."
"Haha, teacher, you're flattering me." Yugen smiled, "And the Face of the Undead also has a subsequent effect.
When this card shuffles the banished cards back into the deck upon summoning, this card's Attack Power increases by 100 points for each card shuffled back."
Daitokuji's face slightly changed: "Both players have 21 cards banished and shuffled back."
"Therefore, the Attack Power of Face of the Undead increases by 2100!"
[Face of the Undead, Attack Power 1200→Attack Power 3300]
An Attack Power of 3300!