"I set a card in the back row."
Kagemaru operated the mechanical arm, and that agile arm inserted a card into the Duel Disc, covering the back row.
"Then activate a Magic Card from my hand..."
Kagemaru made a large gesture, and a Magic Card was played.
"Magic Card 'Forced Activation'!" (Original Card)
"Forced Activation?"
Yugen raised an eyebrow.
"That's right, as the name suggests, it's a card that can forcibly activate the set cards on the field!" Kagemaru said, "It can forcibly activate the effect of a cover card regardless of the conditions!"
Yugen also recognized this card. It's a card that David used in GX. When dueling against Asuka, he used this card to forcibly activate Asuka's cover card 'Double Samba Dance'.
The reason he remembered was not because he remembered the specific plot of the manga, but because not long ago he had just taken David's entire deck, so he also had this card.
This card's description in the manga was "forcibly open a covered card on the field", which is an unscientific description, but similar to the Magic Card 'Bait Puppet' in the physical card environment.
However, Bait Puppet has an additional note that if the Trap activated by force activation is at an incorrect timing, then the effect is nullified and destroyed. But this manga card doesn't have such a restriction.
Which means, if in the manga David had used the physical card 'Bait Puppet' and forced the activation of Asuka's cover card 'Double Samba Dance', then Double Samba Dance could only be activated during the Monster attack declaration, so it would be deemed incorrect timing, and should be nullified and destroyed.
But without this restriction, this card suddenly becomes overpowering.
It can not only forcibly activate set traps but also bypass some stringent activation conditions to forcibly activate some powerful traps.
So the players often say that there are Divine Cards in anime, which isn't without reason.
Many of these cards have become more manageable after more than ten years of environment development, and quite a few have been turned into physical cards. But some of them, without cutting or weakening, will be difficult to see the light of day in this lifetime.
"According to the effect of 'Forced Activation', activate the Trap that was just set this turn." Kagemaru said, "Continuous Trap 'Blood Compensation'!
By paying 500 Life Points, you can add a Normal Summon of a Monster."
Kagemaru revealed another card from his hand.
"I pay 500 Life Points and offer 'Air Hummingbird' on the field as a sacrifice, Upper-level Summon! Level five—
—Virtual Air Hummingbird!"
[Kagemaru, LP 4000 → LP 3500]
Blood seeped out from the Card, turning into pools of blood on the ground. Air Hummingbird seemed to sink into that pool of blood and disappeared, then emerged from the pool of blood, transforming into a new bird beast.
Virtual Air Hummingbird, Summon!
[Virtual Air Hummingbird, Attack Power 2200]
"Such a powerful move on the first turn." Yugen said with a smile.
"Facing the King, I must give it my all." Kagemaru said coldly, "Is it confidence or arrogance, let me verify it right now.
Battle! Virtual Air Hummingbird's direct attack!"
The Air Hummingbird flapped its wings and flew at full speed, its cyclones like thousands of blades straight at Yugen.
"As the chairman wishes."
Yugen snapped his fingers.
"Activate cover card, Trap Card 'Attack-Inducing Armor'!
This card can equip any Monster on the field with Inducing Armor!"
A card often used by Kaiba in the anime, now fully realized as a physical card with the same unscientific effect and rewritten according to the K language specification.
A layer of demon-like armor appeared out of thin air and without any explanation, it attached to Kagemaru's Synthetic Air Hummingbird. Air Hummingbird let out a cry, flapping its wings frantically, but couldn't escape.
"Attack-Inducing Armor can equip any Monster on the field. And the Monster equipped with the armor is forcibly granted the taunt effect."
Yugen smiled.
"The attack target will be redirected to the Monster equipped with the armor for forced damage calculation."
Kagemaru: "!"
The Inducing Armor was worn on his own Synthetic Air Hummingbird...
"Exactly, therefore, the attack of Virtual Air Hummingbird is redirected." Yugen smiled, "Its current attack target is its own ally."
Virtual Air Hummingbird seemed to be on a killing spree, letting out a cry, and charged at its ally. Synthetic Air Hummingbird shouted desperately, perhaps calling for its ally, don't get excited. But it was useless, the wind blades stirred by the talons slashed the Air Hummingbird into two.
[Kagemaru, LP 3500 → LP 2300]
"Grr..."
Kagemaru gritted his teeth in the Life Support Pod. His Life Support Equipment shook slightly under the energy impact, and even the liquid inside the pod turned a murky shade.
"There was indeed a trap..."
Kagemaru muttered in dismay. He wasn't particularly surprised, but the traps always had to be triggered, and without a Magic Removal, just waiting around wouldn't do any good.
"Then the turn ends."
"My turn, draw card."
Yugen glanced at the card drawn and casually waved his hand.
"Set a card, and the turn ends."
Kagemaru: "?"
Huh?
Just another set card...
"You..." Kagemaru narrowed his eyes.
Even if it's said you're the King, isn't this a bit too arrogant?
Just how much are you looking down on me?
"My turn, draw card!"
Kagemaru shouted.
As if influenced by his anger, even the mechanical arm seemed to draw the card with more force.
"Activate Magic Card 'Akasha Record'. Draw two cards from the deck. If any of them have been used in this duel, they must be removed from play." (Original Card)
Kagemaru drew the cards, then snorted heavily.
"Do you think using Traps alone is enough to handle me?"
"Very well then, if that's the case..."
The mechanical arm raised a card high.
"Magic Card 'Great Storm'!"
"Destroy all Magic and Trap Cards on the field!"
A pitch-black storm whipped up, like thousands of wind blades, sweeping toward Yugen's back row.
Once the back row is breached, the opponent's defense line is essentially bare, allowing for an immediate breakthrough in this turn's offensive.
Kagemaru's gaze became sharp again.
The Duel King will pay for his overconfidence!
"Just as it happens, the back row bane Great Storm, how troublesome it is."
Yugen waved his hand.
"Then the Counterattack Trap 'Anubis's Judgment'.
Discard a card from your hand to negate and destroy your opponent's Magic Card with an effect that destroys Magic and Trap Cards on the field."
Kagemaru: "!?"
What did you say?
The pitch-black whirlwind on the field gathered, transforming into the image of a jackal. Anubis showed a fierce expression, revealing fangs, and counterattacking Kagemaru's field!
Not only did it dissolve the Great Storm, but it also went on to attack Kagemaru's Virtual Air Hummingbird field.
"And after that, you can also destroy opponent's face-up Monster on the field, dealing damage equal to its attack power." Yugen said flatly.
Kagemaru's pupils contracted.
The face-up Monster on the field, isn't it...
[Virtual Air Hummingbird, Attack Power 2200]
"And so, Virtual Air Hummingbird is destroyed!"
Virtual Air Hummingbird exploded on the spot into pieces!
"Ugh!"
[Kagemaru, LP 2300 → LP 100]