The instant the Monster was placed onto the Duel Disc, a ring of faintly visible lightning seemed to explode outwards with Yugen at the center. Massive arcs of electricity burst outward, and the overflowing lightning formed something like a red force-field domain. Dark red energy condensed within that field—first into a pair of ominous dark red round glasses, then into a body forged of steel, arms folded as it released an overbearing pressure across the entire arena.
Artificial Human - Telekinesis Intimidator, Summon!
[Artificial Human - Telekinesis Intimidator, Attack Power 2400]
Soga spread his arms, arcs of lightning blasting out from him as the center. With his head thrown back, it was like he was finally breathing freely again.
Finally! Some fresh air on this Duel field after so long!
Another chance to show off.
Soga rolled his shoulders and cracked his knuckles, ready to make a big performance. But the Evil Emperor's phantom voice gloomily poured cold water from behind: "This is just a special handout from Master because he pitied you… well, whatever. You're cannon fodder that's gonna be off the field in a minute anyway."
"Cut the crap!" Soga's momentum soared. "Watch closely, today I'm gonna carry this whole game!"
"Haha, everyone's in pretty high spirits, nice." Yugen chuckled. "Then let's ride that momentum and go all in.
Artificial Human - Telekinesis Intimidator, attack 'Cloud Monster - Sheep Cloud.'"
A red gleam flashed in Soga's eyes. Under the invisible force field's shroud, the Cover Cards in Ammon's back row seemed to flicker with faint dark-red Electric Snakes, like transparent chains of current.
That was the power that bound Traps—Soga's absolute Trap-forbidding domain. In this domain, all Traps are prohibited; they cannot be activated.
But Ammon didn't seem like he had any intention of activating a Trap anyway. Soga's attack passed through without any hindrance, blasting the white cloud on Ammon's field apart.
Ammon raised an arm to block the impact, then spoke.
"Then the effect of 'Cloud Monster - Sheep Cloud' activates.
When Sheep Cloud is destroyed by battle and sent to the Graveyard, I Special Summon two 'Sheep Cloud Tokens' in Defense Position on my field." The exploded cloud mass didn't disappear; instead, it split in two, becoming two smaller clouds that stayed floating firmly on Ammon's field.
[Sheep Cloud Token, Defense Power 0] x2
Yugen: "Turn end."
"My turn, draw!"
Ammon glanced at the card he drew, but didn't immediately play anything. Instead, he lifted his head to look at Yugen again.
"I don't know through what channels you dug up information on me, Duel King Yugen. I also don't know how you see me, but what I do know is that you actually don't understand me at all."
"Oh?" Yugen smiled. "Yeah? You're that sure about it?"
"Of course." Ammon slowly closed his eyes. "As a King, you probably can't understand, can you?
Being abandoned by your parents from birth, ignored by society, given the fate of 'death' from the very moment you came into this world. All you can do is stare at the clouds in the sky and wait for death to arrive…"
Yugen nodded. "Yeah, I can't understand it."
The crisp, clean-cut answer actually choked Ammon up for a moment.
His emotions got cut off mid-flow, and he even forgot what he'd wanted to say in the second half.
"I never experienced that, so of course I can't understand it." Yugen shrugged as if it were obvious, then grinned. "But so what? Duels aren't decided by who's had the more miserable life."
Ammon: "..."
Ammon recalled hearing before that this Duel King's mouth was just as punchable as his Dueling was strong. Seeing him now, the reputation was clearly well-earned.
"It was rude of me. A King has no need to listen to such boring backstory." Ammon took a deep breath. "I only wanted to say, the toughness and strength possessed by those who claw their way up from the depths of Hell, from the despair at the very bottom…"
He pushed up his glasses and spoke in a low voice.
"I and my Cloud Monsters will never lose to anyone."
Ammon raised his head, gaze firm.
"The effect of Summoning Cloud." Ammon said, "During my Standby Phase, I send 1 card from my hand to the Graveyard. If I don't, this card must be destroyed.
This turn I won't send a card from my hand to the Graveyard, so 'Summoning Cloud' is destroyed." (Original anime effect)
This cost only exists in the original anime version. The Physical Card version has Summoning Cloud's effect weakened a lot, so they removed this cost. Ammon didn't pay it, so Summoning Cloud immediately turned into smoke and faded away.
"Then I Tribute the two 'Sheep Cloud Tokens' on my field and the remaining 'Cloud Monster - Sheep Cloud,' three cards in total, to perform an Upper-level Summon!
Appear, Cloud Monster - Cloud Rain Man!"
A pillar of water shot up to the sky, engulfing the three white clouds on Ammon's field. The white clouds disintegrated within the torrent, then quickly reformed into an entirely new shape.
It was still cloud-like in form, but swiftly molded into something resembling a humanoid entity. Short, even a bit stubby, with a bald head, its facial features were all squeezed together, and it glared at the opponent with a hostile expression.
[Cloud Monster - Cloud Rain Man, Attack Power 1000]
"Huh?" Yan beside Yugen said in confusion, "It's only a Level 5 Monster, but he used three Tributes…"
"That's a Monster with a special ability." Yugen said.
"As expected of the Duel King, you spotted it at a glance." Ammon chuckled. "That's right! When Cloud Monster - Cloud Rain Man is Tribute Summoned, I can use any number of Water Attribute Monsters on my field as Tributes.
And this card's Attack Power increases by 500 times the number of Water Attribute Monsters Tributed!"
"I see." Yugen said. "You just used three Tributes, all Water Attribute."
"Correct." Ammon said. "Cloud Rain Man's Attack Power increases by 1500!"
[Cloud Monster - Cloud Rain Man, Attack Power 1000 → Attack Power 2500]
Yan cried out in shock: "Ah, its Attack Power surpassed our Soga!"
"I'm not done." Ammon sneered. "When Cloud Monster - Cloud Rain Man is Tribute Summoned, all Monsters on your field lose Attack Power equal to 500 times the number of Water Attribute Monsters Tributed!" (Original anime effect)
After becoming a Physical Card it only retained the self-boosting effect, without this Attack reduction for the opponent. Looks like the Physical Card version of the Cloud Monster Deck is actually pretty nerfed compared to the anime.
Soga, who'd had his arms folded the whole time, couldn't help lowering them when he heard that. Uneasily, he pointed at himself.
Huh? Attack Power decrease… me?
Ammon shouted, "Artificial Human - Telekinesis Intimidator, receive Cloud Rain Man's effect—your Attack Power decreases by 1500!"
A transparent blue mist like water vapor enveloped Soga. The Artificial Human's body crackled with a string of sizzling pops, as if his frame were being corroded by liquid.
[Artificial Human - Telekinesis Intimidator, Attack Power 2400 → Attack Power 900]
"Battle!" Ammon said. "Cloud Monster - Cloud Rain Man, attack 'Artificial Human - Telekinesis Intimidator'!"
Air currents formed a vortex before Cloud Rain Man, condensing into a piercing javelin that shot straight through Soga's chest!
Soga was depressed.
Seriously, I'm cannon fodder again…