The Evil God's strike shattered Chaos Neos effortlessly, and the aftermath caused Judai to stagger back involuntarily. He knelt on the ground, leaning on his knee and breathing heavily, as the rolling black smoke gradually dissipated from him.
After panting for a moment, Judai caught his breath and said, "Because... the Covering Card 'Damage Slimming' is activated during the attack declaration, so during damage calculation, the number of cards on my field decreases by one.
The number of cards on my field is five, and during the damage calculation step, the Attack Power of Evil God Eraser also decreases to 5000."
[Evil God Eraser, Attack Power 6000→Attack Power 5000]
"When Chaos Neos was destroyed, its Attack Power was 3500, and the battle damage was 1500 points. Plus, with the effect of 'Damage Slimming,' the battle damage is halved, so the damage I take also becomes 750 points."
[Judai, LP1500→LP750]
"Truly resilient."
Yubel snorted but showed a slight smile.
"Well, I don't dislike a resilient Judai."
She then placed another card face down in the back row.
"I'll set another Cover Card in the back row, turn ends."
Judai's breathing settled, yet he still knelt on the ground and did not stand up.
"So strong... just as Yugen said, Yubel has gained additional power in the cosmos. Coupled with the Evil God... indeed, an opponent not easily defeated."
Judai pondered briefly, but he had already made a decision in his heart.
Yes, there's nothing to hesitate about. It was decided long ago, the next time I meet Yubel, I'll bring her back at any cost.
He must go all out.
Even if it means... plunging into darkness.
Judai gently closed his eyes.
Judai: "Hey? Are you there?"
"..."
Judai: "I know you can hear me, stop sleeping."
"..."
In the consciousness space akin to darkness, a pair of eyes like burning gold slowly opened.
"What do you want?"
A cold voice asked.
Judai naturally said, "Of course, I need your help."
The voice said, "You're joking."
Judai said, "How could I joke? I'm currently in a critical duel; the opponent was once my most important friend. But now she is seized by an evil force. To help her break free from its control, I need your power."
The voice said, "Are you crazy? I'm only here because in a previous duel, I was careless and got tricked by you. You want my power, and I want your body. Once you let your guard down, I'll take your body, your life, and everything again."
But Judai laughed and said, "If you truly wanted that, then why have you been so quiet while inside me all this time?"
"..."
Judai contained his smile and said seriously, "I am you, and you are me, Overlord. Maybe I can't fully understand each other with you yet, but I trust you."
Overlord: "..."
Trust...?
A moment of silence.
Then Judai slowly stood up. He slowly opened his eyes, and under his eyelids were those burning golden eyes.
"Thank you, my other self." Judai smiled.
Overlord's cold voice echoed in his ear: "Don't misunderstand, I wasn't moved by your naive words. I just also want to see what this guy, who dares to call himself an Evil God, is capable of."
"Haha, if you say so, then it is." Judai smiled, then became serious.
"Then let's go, my other self."
Overlord said coldly, "Don't call me that, we're not that familiar."
On Yubel's side, she also sensed the change in aura on the opposite side, and her expression also changed slightly: "Those eyes, this power... Overlord?"
A part of her was both surprised and pleased; surprised at Judai's awakening and seemingly being able to freely control Overlord's Power, which might make it harder to deal with. Pleased because Judai's image increasingly merged with that of the Prince from his previous life, filling her heart with joy.
"My turn, draw."
With Overlord's Power backing him, Judai's aura instantly surged to a new level, even drawing cards felt like a gust of wind accompanied him.
"Activate the Magic Card 'Celestial Treasure Scroll.' Both sides draw cards until they have six cards in their hand from the Card Deck."
Judai drew cards anew, then immediately played the cards in his hand. The Magic Card reappeared in the back row, projecting a vast cyclone of darkness.
"Magic Card 'Dark Fusion'!" Judai said, "A Fusion Magic exclusively for Demon Race monsters. Send Fusion Material Monsters from the hand and field to the graveyard to perform a Fusion Summon for Demon Race Fusion Monsters.
I send 'Magnetic Warrior: Electromagnetic Martial God' and 'Evil Heart Hero: Evil Blade Demon' from my hand to the graveyard for a Dark Fusion Summon!"
The Magnetic Warrior of the Rock Race and the Evil Blade Demon of the Demon Race were projected onto the field briefly before being swept into a dark vortex, as if thrown into a massive blender. Within the swirling vortex, a surging dark power was born, transforming into a mighty bolt of lightning striking the ground, bringing forth a towering white demon.
Evil Heart Hero: Dark Gaia, Fusion Summon!
[Evil Heart Hero: Dark Gaia, Attack Power?]
"Evil Heart Hero: Dark Gaia's Attack Power becomes the combined total Attack Power of the Fusion Material Monsters." Judai said, "Magnetic Warrior: Electromagnetic Martial God's Attack Power is 3500, and Evil Heart Hero: Evil Blade Demon's Attack Power is 2600.
Therefore, Dark Gaia's Attack Power becomes..."
[Evil Heart Hero: Dark Gaia, Attack Power 6100]
Yubel's expression changed: "Attack Power 6100?"
At this time, Judai's field still had three Ojama Derivatives, one Gaia, and one Field Spell New Universe Space, totaling five cards. Hence, Evil God Eraser's Attack Power also remained at 5000.
"Evil Heart Hero: Dark Gaia!" Judai said, "Attack 'Evil God Eraser'!"
Gaia raised one hand, palm facing the sky. The ground beneath its feet began to shake, and countless fragments and debris were sucked upwards into the sky as if weightless.
Then suddenly, the land shattered. Endless magma seemed to be drawn by an invisible force, transforming into columns of molten lava like flying fire dragons, all pouring into Gaia's palm. The fire dragons accumulated, merging into a massive fireball, and the intense heat it radiated made Gaia's form appear distorted and flickering.
"Overlord's Power is truly formidable," Yubel said, "but to defeat the Evil God, relying merely on great Attack Power might not be enough.
Activate the Cover Card, Trap Card, Divine Protective Shield - Reflective Mirror Force!
When the opponent's monster declares an attack, destroy all attack position monsters on the opponent's field!"
A sacred blue protective hemispherical barrier stood in front of the Evil God, ready to reflect the attack and let Gaia recoil upon itself.
But it's useless!
Gaia's right palm burst forth, magma erupting, casting it far towards the Evil God. The shield, acclaimed as the strongest defense, was like thin paper before Gaia, pierced through by a fireball's single strike.
"It's ineffective." Overlord's cold voice sounded, "Monsters summoned using the power of 'Dark Fusion' will not be destroyed by card effects this turn." (original effect)