"Did you summon it? Did it succeed!?"
The man on the other side of the terminal screen was so excited that he almost pressed his entire face against the camera, and Yugen instinctively tilted his head to avoid his large face.
That was Franz, a top card designer at the International Fantasy Association, and the person specifically responsible for the research and development of the Winged Divine Dragon card among the Three Phantom Gods.
The "Winged Divine Dragon of Ra - Ball Type" used by Yugen was developed in cooperation with him.
Previously, there had been summoning attempts, but they were all conducted in a laboratory setting as summoning tests. There were special protective measures in place for testing—such measures were naturally required for high-risk topics like Phantom God development research.
It is well known that Phantom Gods are among the most dangerous cards in the world. In the early years, even the designers at the International Fantasy Association who first took over the development of Phantom Gods either died or went insane. It was only when Beckas, who possessed the Thousand-Year Eye Power at the time, personally intervened that the development was completed. Cards like these carry a risk of inciting Divine Punishment, whether in their development design or summoning usage.
A decade has passed, and the International Fantasy Association has long since perfected the safety measures for this type of high-risk scientific work. Even Divine Punishment from a Phantom God can be avoided in a lab with all protective measures in place.
In the past, protection relied solely on technology, and precautions had to be taken in specific locations for testers to attempt using Phantom God-related cards, albeit only within a very brief timeframe.
The first person to successfully develop a method to avoid Divine Punishment in actual combat and circumvent the usage restrictions of Phantom Gods was this genius designer, Franz. His Field Spell "God-Binding Tomb" has this capability, though because it employs a rough method of binding the Phantom Gods, it was ultimately deemed a path with great risk and was not officially adopted by the company.
"How do you feel now? Is there anywhere you feel uncomfortable?"
Franz was very excited.
When he first heard Yugen had summoned the Winged Divine Dragon, he was already thrilled. After Yugen proposed the bird egg idea, he was so excited he couldn't sleep at night.
Directly consuming the opponent's monster on the field and gifting them a divine-level bird egg was an approach even he, a ten-year expert, hadn't envisioned. He truly didn't expect that the strongest Phantom God, the Winged Divine Dragon, still held such an unlocking method.
Just imagining the opponent's reaction as their entire field is consumed by the bird egg excited him as a designer.
Yugen: "No, I feel great..."
"And what about the opponent? Any adverse reactions?"
Franz continued to ask excitedly.
"Did they rush up and give you a beating?"
"Did their brain hemorrhage directly?"
Yugen: "......"
He wasn't sure if it was an illusion, but he felt that Franz didn't seem to be like this before.
He didn't know when this genius designer's ideas on card design had subtly changed...
However, Yugen understood very well.
Take this Winged Divine Dragon's egg, for instance—designing an egg that devoured the opponent's field with one's own hands, seeing the opponent's reaction of hysteria and even murderous intent, was a joy others wouldn't understand.
It looked like Franz had also finally found the joy of card design...
"How about you come over, and I'll check up on you," Franz said, "By the way, I have a few new cards under development, also inspired by you, that I think will be very interesting! We can talk properly when you come over..."
"Maybe next time," Yugen quickly interrupted, "I have some urgent matters to deal with right now. I just wanted to give you some feedback after trying out the Winged Divine Dragon Ball Type.
I've already sent over the duel data I just obtained; you can take a look first. Once I'm done here, we can discuss it slowly later in person."
Before Franz could respond, he quickly hung up.
He organized his card deck, had a simple meal, and was soon prepared for battle.
Today was the day for Judai's showdown to be concluded.
...
...
Overlord City.
"Lord Overlord?"
The Overlord on the throne slowly opened his eyes.
Kneeling before him was one of the most trusted subordinates of the Overlord, the head of the "Five People," Guardian Bao.
Guardian Bao, 4 stars, Demon Race, Attack Power 800. Can only be summoned when there is "Great Sword of Evil-Breaking - Dusk" on your field. When it destroys an opponent's monster in battle, its Attack Power increases by 1000 points. Additionally, the effects of monsters destroyed in battle by this card become nullified.
This card belongs to the "Guardian" deck, used by Lafiru, one of the Doma Three Musketeers in "Yu-Gi-Oh! DM," who was a legendary Duelist rumored to have defeated Pharaoh Atom head-on.
Bao is precisely one of the guardians in this deck, though he later joined the reemployment army in "Yu-Gi-Oh! GX," serving under the Overlord in the Elf Realm, and was one of the most frequently appearing trusted aides of the Overlord in the animation.
"Lord Overlord is back."
Bao began flattering immediately.
"Surely those fools who dared to challenge the authority of Lord Overlord have now been smashed to pieces, descending into the abyss of darkness with endless regret. Hahaha..."
But halfway through his laugh, facing Lord Overlord's murderous gaze, he swallowed his laughter immediately and could no longer laugh.
Bao quickly knelt to the ground, lowered his head, and dared not speak, unsure which of his flattering words went awry. The aura of killing intent made him feel that Lord Overlord was ready to take his head at any moment for saying something wrong.
Of course, the Overlord could not tell his subordinate that he almost fell into the abyss of darkness himself just now...
He was careless. He never expected that the Otherworld would have so many duelists who knew no card etiquette, nor did he anticipate the existence of bird eggs, which broke card etiquette to such an extent in the Otherworld.
The slap from the Chestnut Ball still faintly stung on the Overlord's face...
An insult like this must be avenged. If he were to tolerate such a humiliation, how could he continue being an Overlord in the future?
"Inform the entire army," the Overlord stood from the throne, "be prepared for battle."
He did not know how many had come to invade his territory. But he knew for sure that among them was the duelist he had just faced; the strength of this individual needed no further words, and their deviousness was something he had to guard against.
This one individual alone was a rare great enemy in his life, and he must confront it with all his might.
Not to mention the one with whom he had an intricate connection, as if the opposing side of his own personality, who should be arriving soon as well.
The Overlord had fought numerous battles in his life, but the one coming would be the most perilous battle of his life.
"Battle?"
Guardian Bao looked confused, couldn't help but sneak a peek at the Overlord, and cautiously asked.
"What battle? Are we capturing some place?"
"Right here."
The Overlord stated coldly.
"They are coming."