"Activate the effect of Resurrection of the Dead, return 'Evil God: Root of Fear' to my hand."
The Evil God laughed gloomily.
"What's going to happen next, I believe I don't need to spell it out, President Seto Kaiba?"
Kaiba's expression was still as emotionless as ever. He only said flatly, "Cut the crap. If you're coming, then come."
"Heh, so confident... Fine, very good. Then I'll blow your Blue-Eyes and that so-called confidence of yours to dust together!"
The Evil God played another card from his hand.
"First, the Continuous Magic 'Netherworld's Treasure Scroll'.
As long as this card remains on the field, whenever you Tribute two or more Monsters for an Upper-level Summon, you can draw two cards from your Card Deck!"
All preparations completed, the Evil God's illusory arm was raised high, two fingers pinching that key card.
"Use the three 'Dimension Pot' on the field as Tribute, and once more gather the ultimate fear of this world, let this world tremble for me—
—Evil God: Root of Fear, Summon!"
The three Dimension Pots were once again ground into powder, a surging Darkness was called forth, a pitch-black waterfall descending from the sky. Then the dark radiance was blasted apart, and the immense shadow of the Evil God descended from the heavens for a second time, letting out a taunting roar at the Ultimate Dragon that had defeated him earlier.
[Evil God: Root of Fear, Attack Power 4000]
"At this moment, the effect of 'Netherworld's Treasure Scroll' activates. Because I used two or more Tributes for an Upper-level Summon, I draw two cards from my Card Deck!"
The Evil God drew two cards.
Kaiba said, "No matter how many times you do it, it'll end the same. The power of the Evil God doesn't work on my Ultimate Dragon.
As long as the True Ultimate Blue-Eyes Dragon exists in the Graveyard, Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon cannot be targeted by the opponent's card effects, nor is it affected by any of the opponent's card effects."
The Evil God snorted. "It's indeed quite the resistance. But if you think such resistance equals invincibility, that would be far too naive, President Seto Kaiba."
Kaiba frowned.
It can't be targeted by card effects, nor be affected by them. Calling that invincible might be a bit absolute, but it's already close. Even a god's effect wouldn't work on the current Ultimate Dragon.
Could it be that the opponent already has a way to break through this so soon?
"The power of gods has no limit. Now I'll make you understand that!"
The Evil God slowly drew out a card from his hand.
For some reason, even before that card was played, Kaiba seemed to sense something from it.
A throbbing of power, as if that card were resonating with the Evil God on the field, as if that Demon was itching to move.
"Activate Magic Card—
—Divine Evolution!!!"
The moment the card was slotted into the Duel Disc, heaven and earth changed color.
The dark space began to tremble, as if even the earth itself was about to collapse. A world-shaking force erupted from within the Evil God, inky Darkness being released toward the sky.
And compared to the visual shock, even more terrifying was the Evil God's aura.
Kaiba could feel it, his Ultimate Dragon could feel it too, even letting out an uneasy dragon's roar.
The aura of a god was swelling!
Even Kaiba couldn't maintain his composure, his expression changing slightly as he said, "You... Is that a card that can raise a god's rank?"
The Evil God laughed loudly.
"That's right! You did once command Phantom Gods yourself after all, that's exactly it, Seto Kaiba." The Evil God laughed. "Divine Evolution is an exclusive Magic that only gods are worthy of using!
The activation of this card cannot be negated, its effect cannot be negated, and it ignores the restriction of 'a god only accepting the effect of a Magic once per turn'. It is a godly Magic that can raise rank!"
Most Duelists in the outside world aren't aware; they only know that gods are the pinnacle of the Dueling Realm. But Kaiba, who once served as a Divine Master, knows very clearly that even among Phantom Gods there are differences in rank.
Obelisk's rank is higher than Osiris's, though overall the two are close. The Winged Divine Dragon's abilities surpass both, making it the apex among Phantom Gods.
And Divine Evolution is actually a card that changes rank.
In fact, this card appeared back then, designed by Pegasus Moonwalker and later handed to Atom. Moonwalker entrusted Atom with using the power of this card to defeat the Evil God and restore his controlled younger brother to normal.
Atom did exactly that. He used Divine Evolution to transform Obelisk into 'True Ancestor Oubelisk', granting him the same rank as the Winged Divine Dragon and Divine Incarnation, and with that power he defeated the strongest Evil God, the Divine Incarnation.
But now, the same card had actually appeared in the hands of the Evil God.
"I told you, this world is far beyond the sight of you mortals. My Divine Evolution now is even stronger than what the Pharaoh once possessed!"
The Evil God barked.
"The rank of the 'Evil God: Root of Fear' that has undergone evolution is raised, and its Attack Power and Defense Power each increase by 1000 points!"
[Evil God: Root of Fear, Attack Power 4000 → Attack Power 5000]
"Battle!" the Evil God shouted. "Root of Fear, attack 'Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon'!"
Endless Darkness gathered in the Evil God's hand, destructive power sweeping forth like a sky-covering tide.
At this moment, the opponent's Attack Power had already surpassed the Ultimate Dragon's, but the Ultimate Dragon showed no fear. It still gathered all its strength, a dazzling Light of Destruction condensing in its maw. Three spheres of light converged into one, forming a beam of destructive light, ready to be unleashed at any moment.
But before the two could clash head-on, a swamp of Darkness suddenly opened beneath the Ultimate Dragon, like an abyss formed from the world's ultimate Darkness, a tremendous suction dragging it down into the depths.
Kaiba was startled in his heart as well.
What's this? A destruction-type effect?
But whether it's from a Magic or a Monster's effect, the current Ultimate Dragon should have Absolute Resistance...
"Hahahahah—"
The Evil God laughed wildly.
"Did you think the power of an evolved Evil God was only at this level?
The further ability that Evil God: Root of Fear gains through Divine Evolution is 'Absolute Annihilation'!
When the evolved Evil God declares an attack, the opponent must choose one Monster on their own field and send it to the Graveyard!"
Kaiba: "!"
As the world's number one card-printing boss, President Kaiba himself has been steeped in K-language for many years, with quite the experience in all sorts of flashy rules text. He immediately understood how terrifying this effect was, and why the Ultimate Dragon's Absolute Resistance was useless against it.
The opponent must choose one Monster on their own field and send it to the Graveyard—such a clear description. The target of this effect is the "opponent."
This is an effect that applies to the opposing Duelist, not their Monster. Having to choose a Monster and send it to the Graveyard is an action taken by the opposing Duelist themselves, just like voluntarily Tributing a Monster on their field for an Upper-level Summon.
Even if the Ultimate Dragon ignores any card effects, it cannot go against the will of its own master.
So no matter how great the resistance, no matter how invincible the Monster, none can withstand this evolved Divine Strike.
"You only have Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon on your field right now. You have no choice."
The Evil God snarled ferociously.
"Disappear, Ultimate Dragon!"