The Fool, the beginning of all Tarot Cards, or perhaps the representation of their end, symbolizing infinite possibilities. In various Tarot-related works, it is often given special significance.
And here, in this series of Secret Ceremony Power, it is also quite a unique card.
How unique is it?
Just look at its 0 attack, 0 defense stats, and you'll see a glimpse.
[Secret Ceremony Power 0 - Fool, Attack Power 0]
"I know, the number 0 of Secret Ceremony, Secret Ceremony Power 0 - The Fool, even among all ceremonies, has quite special abilities."
Yugen smiled with narrowed eyes.
"Once The Fool is summoned to the field, it cannot be destroyed by battle, nor can its representation be changed to defense position. In other words..."
Mizuchi realized: "A target summoned to the opponent's field with 0 attack that can't switch to defense or be destroyed..."
Equivalent to all Yugen's attacks becoming direct attacks on Saio!
Saio: "......"
In fact, this strategy wasn't originally Yugen's creation. If one must say, Saio taught him... but not the Light of Destruction persona, rather the outer persona of Saio.
In the conclusion of GX, Takuma Saiou said his sister Mizuchi was taken by Darkness and had to duel with Judai. Previously, he found the opportunity to secretly slip this Fool card into Judai's card deck, and then, with the trap "Absolute Destiny Deciding Power", forcibly summoned The Fool from the deck to Judai's field. So Judai ended up with this stubborn target on his field.
Coupled with the previous trap, "Death God's Tour", Judai couldn't perform any summons, special summons, or flip summons, so he couldn't even use The Fool as fusion material or as a tribute for an upper-level summon, becoming a tenant stuck on the field.
While Yugen didn't engage in the kind of Butterfly antics depicted in the animation, slipping cards into the opponent's deck, he knew as the master of complete Secret Ceremony Power that Saio's deck must have had this 0 number ceremony. Because for Saio, the whole ceremony embodies his destiny and power, missing any card makes it incomplete.
And indeed, in the animation environment, The Fool itself has strong performance, totally worth investing in.
Saio's face darkened: "But when The Fool is summoned, it rotates the card like other ceremonies, obtaining effects according to its upright or reversed position!"
Of course, the authority to interpret the rotation results rests solely with Saio.
"The Fool's rotation is reversed!" Saio stated, "The reversed position of The Fool cannot be targeted by the opponent's card effects and is unaffected by them!" (Original effect)
This shows the card's powerful aspect.
Monsters in the animation can be normally summoned in face-up defense position. So, once summoned in defense position and rotated to reversed, you gain a monster "that cannot be destroyed by battle, cannot be effect-targeted, and is unaffected by any effects", an absolute shield.
Aside from direct attacks bypassing monsters or penetrating defenses, there's practically no way to break this invincible defense...
...Oh right, there's also the invincible Lava Demon God.
But Saio might never dream why someone would not play Secret Ceremony Power but sneak his "Absolute Destiny Deciding Power" into their deck.
What does that mean?
Clearly aiming at The Fool, right?
"Moreover, 'Secret Ceremony Power 0 - The Fool' has another side effect, right, Saio?" Yugen smiled.
Saio had a cold face and snorted heavily: "When The Fool is on the field, every time the opponent needs to activate a coin-toss effect, they can directly choose from the heads or tails outcomes without actually tossing the coin..." (Original effect)
As he spoke, he suddenly paused, looked up in shock at Yugen.
Then he suddenly realized something, and his spine began to tingle with sweat.
"You... could it be..."
"Oh, have you figured it out?"
Yugen smiled happily.
"Exactly." He said calmly, "With that, The Fool's summon effect is also settled, the draw phase ends, now entering my preparation phase.
You remember the trap I activated last turn, 'Too Deep Tomb', right? This preparation phase, the monster I've chosen will be special summoned from the graveyard to my field. Appear now—
—Secret Ceremony Power 21 - World!!!"
[Secret Ceremony Power 21 - World, Attack Power 3100]
"Secret Ceremony Power 21 - World, summon successful when rotated, determines to receive upright or reversed effects." Yugen paused, chuckled, "Of course, as we all know, during rotation, the upright or reversed outcomes are completely decided by you.
However, with 'Secret Ceremony Power 0 - The Fool' existing on your field, I can choose not to rotate the card, directly freely choose to obtain upright or reversed effects. Now guess, do I choose to get World's upright or reversed effect?"
Saio's facial muscles twitched: "You damn punk..."
"Haha, so clever." Yugen said, "Yes, I want to acquire 'Secret Ceremony Power 21 - World' upright position effect!"
The world's card didn't even rotate, directly appearing above the monster, showcasing the upright position.
"Let me experience a taste of your time and destiny manipulation powers, Saio." Yugen raised his hand, "Secret Ceremony Power 21 - World, attack 'Secret Ceremony Power 0 - Fool'!"
Saio suddenly hallucinated, as if his ace aggressively came towards him, all the grievances and anger over these days materialized onto the world's form, mercilessly attacking under the opponent's command.
That's it, this feeling.
Clearly should be his own destiny, his controlled chessboard, suddenly thrown into chaos.
It felt like suddenly, destiny stood on the opposite side, betraying him, colluding with the despicable enemy.
This entire grievance suddenly materialized, becoming the massive World before him, attacking him ruthlessly under the current person's command.
Saio's pupils contracted.
"Could it be all along... it's been you!?"
The unseen chess master, the one behind stirring the destiny chessboard into chaos, causing every piece to jump out from their supposed place.
Is it this Duel King?
Yet just intuition, he had no decisive answer or time to ponder further.
"Activate Cover Card!" Saio shouted, "Counterattack Trap - Attack Powerlessness! Render the monster's attack invalid, forcibly end the battle phase!"
The counterattack vortex blew out, the world's strike blasted into that transparent vortex, blown back.
At least it temporarily defended the blow.
But the danger alarms in Saio's mind didn't disappear. Quickly facts proved his concerns correct.
"Defended, huh." Yugen said casually, "So, I'll normally summon this card, 'Sacrificial Lotus'.
[Sacrificial Lotus, Attack Power 0]
"With that, the preparations are complete."
Yugen uttered calmly.
"Now I'll show you particularly, the true power of 'World'."
Saio: "???"
Seems something off.
Aren't you manipulating my monster?
Why use such a practiced tone?