"Dodged the effect of the Earth Emperor, huh." Iwamaru said, "But this way, you're left with only two cover cards.
I then activate the Magic Card 'Heaven and Earth's Treasure Scroll' from my hand.
During the turn of an upper-level summon, draw two cards from the deck. However, the cards drawn this turn cannot be used, and if they can be set, at least one must be set before the end of the turn."
Iwamaru draws two cards.
"The effect of the Continuous Trap 'Free Ride'." Yugen said, "When the opponent draws cards outside of the Draw Phase, I draw two cards from the deck."
Yugen also draws two cards.
"Then comes the effect of 'Rock Spirit-Titan' in my hand." Iwamaru said, "Although Rock Spirit-Titan is a 4-star monster, it cannot be normally summoned and can only be special summoned by banishing earth attribute monsters from the graveyard."
Another burst of golden light erupted from the graveyard area on Iwamaru's duel disc as he displayed the card he withdrew and placed it into the card box at his back.
"I banish the earth attribute 'Ore Giant' from the graveyard and special summon 'Rock Spirit-Titan'!"
A giant clad in armor and wielding a heavy axe appeared on his field. His skin was like rock, and the heavy axe in his hand swung with a whooshing sound of the wind.
[Rock Spirit-Titan, Attack Power 1700]
"It's the battle phase now." Iwamaru said, "First, 'Rock Spirit-Titan' attacks 'Leader-Zargul'!"
Rock Spirit swiftly approached, letting out a loud shout, swinging the heavy axe with wide, forceful strokes. Leader Zargul crossed his arms to defend but was still split apart by the powerful axe, flying backward like a kite with a broken string, tragically exiting the field.
[Yugen, LP 2500→LP 2200]
"Boss!"
"Boss, are you alright!"
After leaving the field and becoming a spirit body, Zargul rolled among his companions, being hastily assisted by the Black Scorpions beside him.
"Cough, cough, I'm fine... Damn." Zargul grimaced, showing his teeth, "I was careless for a moment."
"Next is the attack of the Earth Emperor!" Iwamaru said, "Earth Emperor Granmat attacks 'Black Scorpion - Thorny Mina'!"
The Earth Emperor's towering, majestic body approached swiftly, launching a massive golden fist!
But at the moment the blow struck Mina, she weirdly exploded ahead of time. A mass of red substance unpredictably spread from her explosion point toward the Earth Emperor until it completely covered and devoured him.
Iwamaru: "!"
What's happening?
"When Mina is destroyed in battle, the virus using her as a medium also triggers."
Yugen smiled, pointing to the back row.
"Trap Card 'Death Deck Destruction Virus.'
It triggers when your dark attribute monster with 1000 or less attack power is destroyed in battle. It destroys all monsters with 1500 or more attack power from the opponent's hand, field, and deck!" (Original effect)
Iwamaru's pupils shrank, and his heart seemed to skip a beat.
What... what!?
All monsters with 1500 or more attack power, isn't that...
"Yes." Yugen chuckled softly, "All monsters with 1500 or more attack power, including your Emperors... will step down here first."
Indeed, the Death Deck Destruction Virus selected by Yugen for this duel was the same version as President Kaiba's original, not the laboratory-modified physical card version.
Because, as mentioned earlier, Yugen believed the death poison's physical card and animation version each had its own merits. Particularly the animation version, which might be very useful against certain opponents but could easily backfire against others.
Sending all beasts with 1500 or more attack power in the opponent's deck to the graveyard sounds like an effect that could easily provide the opponent with a massive graveyard resource.
But against the person in front of him, this is a very suitable choice. Because Yugen knew that he was facing the "Emperors."
The renowned Emperors all have an attack power of 2400, perfectly meeting the condition for attack power above 1500, and more importantly, the Emperors rely on upper-level summoning, triggering effects at the moment of summoning.
In other words, blowing up the opponent's entire deck of Emperors into the graveyard prevents upper-level summoning. Even if the opponent revives the Emperors from the graveyard, they're just whiteboards with attack power 2400, the threat has largely dissipated.
Emperors that can't be upper-level summoned don't have effects; they're basically toothless tigers without any threat.
Iwamaru obviously realized the serious problem too.
He stared wide-eyed, incredulous, as that virus devoured his two monsters on the field, then proceeded to ruthlessly cover his deck, pulling out all four Great Emperors one after another.
"No!"
"My Emperors, my power... no..."
"Yamekuro (Stop it)!!"
But no matter how wretchedly he cried, it couldn't change anything. All Emperors were devoured by the virus before his very eyes, crushed into dust and dispersed into the wind.
"Well, theoretically, when your Rock Race monster is destroyed, you can activate the effect of 'Guiding Ore Vein' and summon a same-name card from the deck." Yugen laughed, "But your deck's same-name cards have all been blown to the graveyard, and you don't have any monsters to summon."
Iwamaru: "..."
"So, you're playing a pure Emperor deck, huh?"
Yugen chuckled.
"So now, having lost all your Emperors, how much combat power do you have left?"
Iwamaru stayed silent, but his teeth were grinding loudly.
He glanced at the cards in his hand, thought for a moment, and then drew two cards.
"Set two cards, ending the turn."
Though the situation was critically unfavorable, Iwamaru's eyes were determined, clearly not giving up yet.
Yugen squinted his eyes.
Does he think that even without the Emperors, his deck still has the power to continue fighting?
Interesting.
"End of turn phase, activating cover card." Yugen said, "Trap Card 'Too Deep Tomb.'
You can select any monster from your or the opponent's graveyard. During your own next preparation phase, the selected monster is special summoned to your field."
Iwamaru's facial expression twitched again.
Select from own or opponent's graveyard?
"Correct, all monsters with attack power 1500 or above have been sent to the graveyard from your entire deck." Yugen laughed, "Which means I can choose any monster with attack power 1500 or above from your deck to summon.
Ha, the scope is really broad, which one should I choose?"
Iwamaru: "..."
"I guess this one's the best choice after all."
Yugen pointed towards the opponent's duel disc and said.
"I will summon 'Earth Emperor Granmat' from your graveyard during the next turn's preparation phase on my field."
Iwamaru: "..."
As just mentioned, the Emperor series only have their powerful effects when summoned through upper-level summoning. Reviving from the grave belongs to special summon, even if summoned out, they're just whiteboards, only a 2400 attack power striker.
Which means it doesn't matter which Emperor he chooses. So Yugen simply chose the Earth Emperor, after all, it's the opponent's soul card, and the opponent might feel more attached.
Look, the opponent is so happy his face is twitching.