"Finally, I activate the Magic Card 'Shield Shattering', which can destroy monsters in Defense Position on the field," said Snake River. "Destroy 'Vampire Grace'!"
A green light pierced through the body of the elegant vampire lady, who screamed and exploded into pieces.
"Additionally, the 'Duke of Vampires', summoned by the effect of 'Vampire Awakening', will self-destruct at the end of the turn."
The duke also exploded into a cloud of blood mist. During the opponent's turn, Yugen summoned two high-level Vampires, but both exited the stage hastily within the same turn.
Snake River cleared three monsters from the opponent's field in one turn, leaving it empty and feeling a surge of triumph.
"Set a card, end of turn." Snake River chuckled smugly, "This turn was just a cleanup; next turn, my snakes will bury you completely."
"Then I really must get anxious now,"
Yugen chuckled lightly.
"Then it's my turn, draw a card.
Activate the Magic Card 'Angel's Charity', draw three cards from the deck, then discard two cards from the hand."
Yugen replaced the cards in his hand.
"Next, I activate the Magic Card 'Revive the Dead'. Revive a monster from the graveyard."
Snake River snorted heavily, "Reviving another high-level Vampire?"
"Haha, not this time," Yugen laughed. "Snake card deck—seems to be full of shadowy figures, each with a sinister look, hardly bright at all."
Snake River was taken aback, seemingly puzzled by what his opponent suddenly meant.
"What do you mean?"
"Nothing, just thinking being too dark is not good."
Yugen took a card from the graveyard and revealed it.
"The monster I want to revive from the graveyard is this one—
—Vampire Slayer!"
[Vampire Slayer, Attack Power 1600]
Snake River quickly realized this was a Vampire discarded by the effect of Empire last turn, yet still found it odd.
A Four-Star with 1600 Attack Power. In the graveyard, there was clearly the duke and Grace, both high-ranking Vampires.
Considering last turn's exhibited abilities, the duke, when Special Summoned, can force the opponent to discard cards from the deck, further triggering the 'Vampire Empire's field effect to explode cards.
Why avoid such good choices and opt for an unimpressive Four-Star...
What happened next puzzled him even further.
"Battle," Yugen announced, "Vampire Slayer, attack 'Curse Incarnation - Ouroboros'."
Snake River: "!"
Sending low-attack monsters to suicide?
"Although I don't understand what you're aiming for..." Snake River shouted, "Ouroboros's effect reduces the attack power of any monster it battles by 300 during the battle!"
[Vampire Slayer, Attack Power 1600→Attack Power 1300]
"It doesn't matter," Yugen said calmly, "Vampire Slayer, when battling Dark Attribute monsters, doesn't perform damage calculation, directly destroys the opponent's monster."
Snake River: "??????"
What... what did you say!? (囊...囊大多!?)
Direct destruction of Dark Attribute, which means...
He immediately realized the severity of the problem.
It's his entire card deck, isn't it?
Indeed, his entire Snake card deck was composed of Dark Attributes.
This inherently means that this whip-holding Slayer has become nearly invincible against his army of snakes!
Ouroboros was whipped to shreds by a Slayer whose attack power was seven hundred lower, and Snake River felt his world crumbling.
No, aren't Vampires supposed to be Dark Attribute? How come there's a card like this?
Oh, no wonder it's called Vampire Slayer, meant to slay Vampires, right?
Specializing in slaying Vampires, yet with a name containing Vampire, it can freely be searched from the card deck by the Vampire system—how ironic...
"Set a card, the turn is over,"
Yugen set down a card in the backfield, smiling at Snake River.
"That's why I said, being too dark is no good."
Snake River: "..."
Suddenly, he couldn't help but want to ask, how can you say that with a straight face?
Then he suddenly realized this hypocritical "Vampire Slayer", although its effect specifically targets Dark Attribute, it itself is also Dark Attribute.
For some reason, he felt it was a spitting image of the smug man in front of him. How could there be monsters and owners that fit so well...
Snake River gritted his teeth.
He had to think of something.
"My turn, draw a card!"
Snake River announced.
"Activate the Magic Card 'Shuffle Revive'!
If no monsters are on the field, Special Summon one monster from the graveyard with its effects negated. However, the monster special summoned by this effect will be banished from the game at the end of the turn."
He pulled a card from the graveyard.
"Awake again, Curse Incarnation - Ouroboros!"
[Curse Incarnation - Ouroboros, Attack Power 2000]
Well, even if revived, as long as it's still Dark Attribute, it won't overcome Yugen's seemingly invincible Vampire Slayer.
"Targeting the weakness of my card deck's Dark Attribute, huh? Tsk, if you think such a degree can stop the advance of my snake army, you're too naive.
Activate set card, Trap Card 'Offering to the Poisonous Snake'! Choose your own Reptile Race and two of the opponent's cards on the field; that Reptile and those two cards of the opponent are destroyed!"
"I see, reviving Ouroboros is just ammunition for the offense?" Yugen commented.
"Hence, choose the Reptile Race 'Curse Incarnation - Ouroboros', your 'Vampire Slayer', and the backfield Covering Card; destroy three cards!"
Ouroboros let out a cry and was consumed by the energy released by the trap, transforming into a missile. It blasted out, obliterating Yugen's front Vampire Slayer and the back Cover Card, both disintegrating into ash.
Snake River laughed heartily.
"Now your field is empty, and the might of the Snake Card Deck is just beginning.
I proceed with the Normal Summon 'Lamia'!"
[Lamia, Attack Power 1300]
"Upon successfully summoning Lamia, add an Eight-Star Snake Monster from the card deck to the hand," Snake River announced, "From the card deck, search for the most powerful ace of the Snake card deck—
——"Evil Dragon Ananda, appear now!"
The air seemed to solidify, an eerie play of light and shadow burst forth with oppressive power.
Though it was called a Snake Monster, it was accompanied by a low, prolonged dragon's roar! The shaking howl carried endless majesty and boundless evil; the Eight-headed Giant Snake was covered in scales glistening with eerie light, as if it contained the ancient and evil great power, spewing black flames from its mouth.
Evil Dragon Ananda, summoned!
[Evil Dragon Ananda, Attack Power?]
With the big monster's appearance, the atmosphere indeed seemed entirely different, and it appeared to give Kaiba a great deal of confidence, sweeping away the depression caused by that Vampire Slayer.
"Of course, this turn I've already conducted a Normal Summon, but Evil Dragon Ananda, as the pinnacle of the Snake Card Deck, possesses the ability to Special Summon itself anytime.
This card can be Special Summoned by banishing from the game all Snake Monsters on your field and in your graveyard."
Yugen explained.
"Furthermore, Evil Dragon Ananda's attack and defense points become the number of Snake Monsters banished x600!"
In other words, all the Snake Monsters he has summoned in the Duel so far. Two Black Mambas, one Ouroboros, plus the Lamia that was just on the field.
"Four Snake Monsters, so the attack power increases by 2400!"
[Evil Dragon Ananda, Attack Power 2400]
"Due to Lamia's effect, if this card is banished from the game, choose one Reptile Race monster on your field, and that monster cannot be destroyed by effects until the end of the next turn.
Thus, Ananda gains destruction immunity!
And with the number of banished snakes increasing, Ananda can grow infinitely strong, truly the zenith of the Snake Card Deck!" Yugen announced loudly, "And now your field has no monster to protect you, nor any Cover Card.
Go, Evil Dragon Ananda's direct attack!"
The eight snake mouths of the Evil Dragon opened in unison, spewing ink-black flames!
At this moment, Yugen's field was barren, and the surging flames seemed to be about to engulf him. With no defense line and nowhere to escape, it appeared he was indeed cornered by those black flames.
But at that critical moment, a card in his hand moved by itself!
The card automatically landed on the Duel Disc, and a graceful figure flew out, using its petite body to shield him.
Kaiba: "!? What flew over there?"
"Vampire Princess's effect," Yugen said, "can be activated during a monster attack declaration, Special Summon this card from the hand in defense position."
[Vampire Princess, Defense Power 2000]
The pale-faced lady with the black parasol atop her head, her black dress like petals, seemed frail enough to be blown over at any time.
"Tch, still hiding tricks in your hand, using a Miscellaneous Monster to bear the brunt?"
Kaiba snorted disdainfully.
"Then the attack continues. Evil Dragon Ananda, quickly crush this mere Miscellaneous Monster."
"Hahaha, it's no mere Miscellaneous Monster."
Yugen smiled slightly.
"The Princess is the ace of the Vampires, you know."
The Princess also smiled slightly at this, nodding to him.
Yugen unhurriedly extended an arm forward.
Then, the Princess lifted her hem and gracefully approached her master. Respectfully bowing, she then revealed her small fangs, lightly biting onto her master's arm.
Kaiba's pupils contracted, as if sensing something.
"That monster... an Elf!?"
One person possesses so many Elves?
This man, who is he? Is he really just an ordinary minion under Kaiba?"
"Vampire Princess's effect, during the damage calculation between an Undead Race monster on your field and an opponent's monster, pay in multiples of 100 up to 3000 Life Points to increase that monster's Attack Power and Defense Power by the value paid, only during the damage calculation."
Yugen paused, smiling easily.
"Thus, by offering my blood, Princess gains power. I'm going to give her the maximum, 3000 Life Points!"
[Yugen, LP 3400→LP 400]
[Vampire Princess, Defense Power 2000→Defense Power 5000]
The Princess took a big gulp of blood, a hint of color on her previously pale face. She wiped the corner of her mouth and respectfully bowed to Yugen again, then turned towards the opponent with a menacing smile.
"Defense Power... 5000!?"
Kaiba's expression hardened.
After the Princess's appearance, he had already re-issued the attack command, the attack declaration couldn't be canceled. This time, he would take backfire damage exceeding 2000 points!
But he could withstand it.
He didn't expect a monster could simultaneously serve as hand trap and Anti-Armor, and he suffered this hidden loss unknowingly.
But it would only provide a boost in damage calculation. After this Life Point payment, his opponent's LP became a mere flicker, and by the next turn...
Then Yugen said, "Activate Trap Card from the hand."
Kaiba: "!? How can you activate a Trap from the hand?"
"The two cards you just destroyed, besides 'Vampire Slayer,' one was the Trap 'Cross Counterattack Trap.' I can activate a Trap Card from my hand the turn it is sent to the graveyard by the opponent.
And I'm going to activate this card."
Yugen revealed the Trap Card in his hand.
"Trap Card 'Nio Stance.' Doubles the Defense Power of one monster on your field until the end of the turn, then its defense becomes 0 at the end of the turn.
So I'll double Princess's defense power."
Kaiba's pupils constricted once more.
Double 5000 defense would be...
[Vampire Princess, Defense Power 5000→Defense Power 10000]
"Defense Power... ten thousand!?"
Kaiba was dumbfounded.
Wait, stop! I don't want to attack anymore!
Ananda, come back, return to me...
But the Eight-headed Giant Snake already charged forward.
Princess casually swung her parasol, and the enormous impact rolled back like a monstrous wave.
"Aaaaaaah!!!"
[Kaiba, LP 4000→LP 0]