Lava Demon God.
There's probably no one more familiar with this Monster than Mr. Malikma. But even Malik is usually accustomed to being on the other side of the cage, not inside.
In fact, in the original work, it wasn't the surface Malik who used the Lava Demon God, but his inner persona, Dark Malik.
However, when Dark Malik took over the surface persona's body, the person had already boarded the airship for the Duel City's top eight tournament. Although Dark Malik also made some modifications to the original Card Deck, replacing some cards, by that time the person was already on the ship, so the number of cards that could be replaced was limited, and most of the foundation of the Card Deck was still the original Card Deck of surface Malik.
And after the inner persona was eliminated, the Card Deck used by the inner persona was also left behind, and the cards he used naturally all returned to the ownership of the surface persona.
So, Malik would certainly not be unfamiliar with tactics related to the Lava Demon God, and at a glance, he already had some understanding of what the opposite side intended to do.
The Submarine Robot is responsible for a direct attack, and the Lava Demon God can consume its own Upper-Level Monster and steadily burn life every turn, mainly focusing on torment.
But that's not all.
"The moment the Submarine is revived, I will activate this card," Yugen said. "Speed Attack Magic 'Hell's Runaway Summon'!
It can only be activated when a Monster with Attack Power less than 1500 on your field is Special Summoned successfully. All cards with the same name of that Monster are Special Summoned from your hand or Card Deck as much as possible."
Malik's face grew increasingly grave: "Attack Power less than 1500, that Submarine?"
Yugen: "Exactly, so I will once again Special Summon the other two Submarines back to the field!"
The other two Submarine Robots also surfaced and fell onto the field. The three Submarines stood side by side, with all torpedoes loaded and ready to strike at any moment.
Malik couldn't help but grit his teeth again.
He now dared not underestimate this Submarine in the slightest.
All three Submarines can fly over the front lines to directly attack. Additionally, one Submarine can gain the support of "Giant Machine City" during the attack, swapping attack and defense and having a powerful output of 1800.
Such a triple strike of Submarines can achieve a terrifying output of up to 3400 in one go. Ignoring defense, directly attacking, not even a god can stop it.
At this point, Malik's Life Points were down to 2200, which means he didn't even have the life to worry about the Lava Demon God's burn effect; these three Submarines could send him flying right then and there.
"But Hell's Runaway Summon doesn't stop at just that effect," Yugen continued. "Gathering three of your monsters at once is certainly powerful, but great power comes with great risk.
The price of Hell's Runaway Summon is that the opponent must also choose a Monster on their field and Special Summon cards with the same name from their Card Deck as much as possible."
Malik was taken aback.
Choose a monster on his field, Special Summon cards with the same name.....
He hesitantly looked up, somewhat disbelievingly, at the only Monster on his field.
And then he saw that certain burning giant also nodding at him, harmlessly pointing at its nose, and locking eyes with him.
Isn't it just the Lava Demon God...
Malik: "!"
So could it be that I'm supposed to summon this thing from my Card Deck?
What a joke!
One Lava Demon God burns 1000 Life Points in the preparation phase, two would burn 2000 each turn.
If Mr. Malik's Card Deck contained three Lava Demon Gods, then it would be over; he would have to summon three Lava Demon Gods onto the field, and next turn it would burn him for a total of 4000 Life Points, enough to take him out directly even if he was at full health.
Such a death would be too ridiculous.
Malik now understood that this was probably the opponent's intention from the start. Not only a killer move but also funny and entertaining.
What a devious tactic born from a corrupt mind!
Malik spat blood.
Just seconds ago, he had been moved by the thought that he had become a role model for young successors, inspiring a talented young man to walk the path of a Duelist. At least his life as a Duelist had achieved something good.
But now he realized deeply that this was no good thing at all.
Unintentionally, he had created such a dueling demon, a heavier sin indeed!
Malik gritted his teeth: "I don't want to summon."
"That's not possible; I took two Submarines for free, I must repay Mr. Malik in some way," Yugen shook his head repeatedly, then smiled and said, "'Hell's Runaway Summon' is a Forced Summon, the opponent must choose a Monster on their field to summon cards with the same name.
If there isn't any face-up monster on the opponent's field, then this card can't be activated at all."
Pausing a bit, Yugen added with a smile: "Of course, if Mr. Malik's Card Deck, hand, and graveyard all don't happen to have cards with the same name, then this effect is considered null and you need not summon.
So, does Mr. Malik's Card Deck happen to contain Lava Demon God?"
Malik: "......"
After several seconds of silence, Malik stiffly drew his Card Deck and searched out that card.
"From the Card Deck... I Special Summon 'Lava Demon God'."
And so, Malik's field saw another surge of magma, with a burning Molten Giant slowly appearing on his field.
This was probably the most reluctant summons of Lava Demon God by Malik.
Originally, in the animation, the initial appearance of Lava Demon God in Malik's hand burnt the controller for 700 life at the start of a turn, later receiving a boost on its physical card to upgrade the burn to 1000 life.
Over the past decade, the Lava Demon God has been developed and upgraded, with the market versions burning for 700 life long out of print. Mr. Malik had obtained an upgraded version, dismissing the old version from ten years ago.
But now he felt a bit of regret. If it were the old version, at least he would burn 300 less life next turn...
Assuming he has a next turn, anyway.
"Submarine Robot," Yugen ordered, "Direct Attack!"
Submarine No. 1 took the lead, launching torpedoes upon command. Two torpedoes dragged along swirling water currents, ignoring two burning giants, charging directly at Malik.
"Activate Cover Card!" Malik shouted fiercely, "Continuous Trap 'Element Absorber'! From the hand, banish a Monster from the game, all Monsters with the same Attribute as the banished Monster owned by the opponent cannot declare an attack!"
Malik revealed a Monster Card from his hand. A swirling water vortex opened above his head, sucking the card inside. The vortex then transformed into turbulent water that surged into the backfield's Element Absorber, forming a membrane of flowing water like an iris to block the frontfield.
"From my hand, I banish the Water Attribute 'Poison Root King' from the game to seal the attack of your Water Attribute Monster!"
The torpedoes exploded on the water iris, creating a series of splashes, with no effect whatsoever.
Yugen said: "Submarine Robot is Water Attribute..."
"Exactly," Malik replied, "thus your three Submarine Robots on the field cannot attack!"