Thunder Emperor Harmon, summon!
One of the Three Phantom Demons, reputed to possess the power to plunge the world into chaos, and it's not an exaggeration.
Many may feel that Principal Jiaodao's description of the Phantom Demons is overblown, thinking the Three Phantom Demons, while powerful in the Duel Monsters Realm, aren't at the top tier. Saying they could destroy the world seems excessive.
It's actually not exaggerated at all.
Though the Three Phantom Demons seem less grand than the previous generation's Phantom Gods, and their strength in terms of animation effects is not as good as the Phantom Gods in terms of both resistance and effect.
But the phrase "plunge the world into chaos" does not refer to their performance in duels.
In the duel between Judai and Kagemaru, during just one duel, the Phantom Demons already displayed their reason for being able to bring darkness.
These are abilities outside of duels.
The Three Phantom Demons can be said to be the nemesis of all dueling spirits in the entire world.
During Judai's duel, in just a brief moment, the Three Phantom Demons summoned by Kagemaru absorbed a vast amount of dueling spirit energy. Even many spirits thousands of miles away were affected, nearly drained.
With just this power, the Three Phantom Demons can deliver a devastating blow to all Duel Monsters Cards worldwide. In a world where everything, from the extraordinary to the basic laws, is built on cards, saying they can drag the entire world into chaos and darkness is not alarmist or exaggerated.
At this moment, Kagemaru, who has pursued Phantom Demon power all his life, is fortunate enough to be the first in years to personally feel the power of the Phantom Demons.
Such pressure and power, just witnessing it nearly suffocates one.
"This is... Phantom Demon."
Looking up at the massive image, Kagemaru couldn't help but grit his teeth.
Damn.
This should have been his power.
The hope that he could survive.
"Thunder Emperor Harmon's attack." Yugen waved his hand, "Attack 'Convection Air Hummingbird'."
Kagemaru said in a deep voice, "You activated a Continuous Trap 'Super Gravity Net' on your field, monsters above Level 4 cannot attack..."
"Yes, but Harmon is an exalted Phantom Demon." Yugen chuckled, "Traps are useless against Phantom Demons."
This is what Kagemaru originally said to Judai after the Phantom Demons appeared in the anime. Traps are ineffective against Phantom Demons, and only magic activated during the current turn works.
The animation effect of the Phantom Demons is somewhat similar to the resistance of the previous generation's Phantom Gods. In DM, the description of the Phantom God's resistance is "Traps are useless against Gods, Magic Cards only work for one turn."
It's somewhat similar to Phantom Demons, although in the GX anime, the resistance of Phantom Demons is more aligned with the real card description.
Translated roughly: all Three Phantom Demons are unaffected by trap effects. Magic only takes effect in the turn it's activated. If activated one turn ago, like Continuous Magic Cards or typical magic like 'Light Sealing Sword', Phantom Demons can resist once the activation turn ends.
However, Phantom Demons seem to have no resistance against monster effects and cannot forcefully leave the field, nor such hidden resistance against control changes as the resistance shown by Malik's Sky Dragon in the game.
Otherwise, Judai's New Bubble Hero wouldn't have been able to take them down with a single strike.
Elemental Hero New Bubbleman is only Level 4, but can directly destroy monsters that it battled. This effect worked on Phantom Demons, so Phantom Demons should have neither resistance against monster effects nor destruction resistance.
But they are entirely immune to traps.
Kagemaru gritted his teeth.
Traps are ineffective against Phantom Demons, so if a Phantom Demon Card Deck is used, the Super Gravity Net is basically useless.
Doesn't that mean only his side can't attack?
"Thunder Emperor Harmon's attack." Yugen said, "Thunder of Lost Joy!"
Harmon raised its head to the sky, seeming to shoot a flash of lightning into the air. In the dark cloud, snakes of thunder surged, azure lightning gathering, striking Kagemaru's field where the Air Hummingbird was!
With only 100 LP remaining, Kagemaru couldn't possibly withstand this blow. Against the great power of the Phantom Demon even the slightest contact spelled destruction.
"Activate the Cover Card, Trap Card 'Peaceful Envoy'!" Kagemaru shouted, "All battle damage I take this turn becomes 0, and monsters can't be destroyed by battle."
Three Peaceful Envoys appeared on Kagemaru's field, holding peace talismans. Energy was released, forming a transparent force field shielding Kagemaru's field.
It was a sacred damage-free zone, even the Thunder Emperor's lightning couldn't penetrate it. The towering thunderstorm splashed like water on the barrier, its electric light scattered and spread, unable to deal damage.
"And chain activate Speed Attack Magic 'Emergency Food'! Send the activated Trap Card 'Peaceful Envoy', 'Blood Compensation', and 'Nightmare Mirage Tube' to the graveyard, recover 3000 LP!"
[Kagemaru, LP 100→LP 3100]
Four backfield cards vanished all at once, transformed into a golden warm current flowing into Kagemaru's Life Support Pod. The old man took a deep breath, quickly restoring his life points.
Finally escaping the brink of LP exhaustion, he sighed slightly with relief, but the Phantom Demon's oppressive presence remained, his anxious heart still unable to rest.
"Blocked Harmon's attack, as expected of the chairman." Yugen chuckled, "The chairman indeed is as sharp as ever. Then set two Cover Cards, turn end."
Kagemaru: "..."
Although he has always prided himself on being sharp as ever, hearing it from this person's mouth now felt completely different.
Especially the entire duel's pace is in the opponent's hands; all efforts so far can only be described as desperately struggling, already reaching hazardous situations.
And now he must face opponents like the Phantom Demons...
Will he lose?
The thought flashed through his mind.
Could this really be the end for him?
The Duel King, and behind that king the terrifying Phantom Demons, in the old man's hazy eyes at this moment seemed to have become a towering mountain of terror. One he has never seen before, an almost insurmountable peak...
No, he must go beyond it.
He wants to live, he must live on. This is something he decided long ago, willing to pay any price for it.
If God stands in his way, then he will even defeat God.
"My turn!"
The voice is still hoarse, muddied through the Life Support Pod's equipment. Yet at this moment the aged figure seemed a bit more upright, drawing cards with mechanical arms yet appearing to stir a ring of transparent airwaves.
Yugen is too familiar with this rhythm.
Countless opponents he's faced, countless people when realizing they're at a dead end do this.
This is the rhythm of a desperate struggle, a last-ditch effort.
The old man lifted his head, looking at Harmon, seeming to have a fire burning in his eyes.
"Phantom Demon power, no matter what, must be in my grasp!"