Even if there is a trap, so what?
He is a god, and now he is an evolved god!
Traps are completely ineffective against him, and ordinary monster effects are useless. Non-destructive Magic Cards only have one-turn effectiveness.
Kaiba's field is currently empty. Even if there is something set up, it could only be a hidden effect from either the hand or the graveyard. These kinds of effects are mostly monsters or traps, but such things pose no threat to the Evil God.
"Since you want to play, I'll accompany you.
I've never been afraid of you, Seto Kaiba. Now let me make you realize your insignificance—"
The Evil God shouted.
"With myself, Evil God: Root of Fear—
—direct attack!"
But it's as if Kaiba was waiting specifically for the words "direct attack."
In an instant, a gleam flashed in his eyes.
The Evil God speculated correctly, his counter indeed lies in the graveyard.
And it's a card Yugen had seen in Kaiba's laboratory, a new card developed after thorough research on a card constantly used by an old enemy he longed to defeat, the lifelong adversary of a certain president.
That card is—
"Activate 'Clean Chestnut Ball' effect from the graveyard!" Kaiba shouted, "When a direct attack is declared by the opponent, banish this card from the game from the graveyard, and draw a card! If the drawn card is a Monster Card, that monster is Special Summoned, and the attack target is forcibly transferred to that monster!"
Evil God: "???"
Seto Kaiba... Chestnut Ball?
According to the collected information, isn't this thing a staple for the Pharaoh, one of Seto Kaiba's lifelong enemies?
Seto Kaiba, you thick-browed, big-eyed fellow are you also joining in when you can't win?
The Evil God snorted: "I thought it was some powerful counter, turns out it's just this trash...
But you still need to draw a Monster Card."
After a pause, the Evil God sneered.
"And even if you draw a monster, does your Card Deck even house monsters that can rival my Root of Fear?"
"It does."
Kaiba said coldly.
"And the next card I draw will be that card. Your nemesis, your nightmare, my... god!"
Evil God: "!"
Seto Kaiba's god?
Could it be...
No, impossible.
That card perished with the Pharaoh into the Netherworld, it doesn't exist anymore.
And even if it does exist, how could it be so coincidental that the next draw just happens to be it?
This is on the home ground of our Evil Gods, within their sealed domain, like the Evil God's barrier. No matter how strong Seto Kaiba is, Destiny Power should be immensely suppressed here...
Kaiba extended his hand, slowly placing it on top of the Card Deck.
He never spoke it to anyone, but there is an image that has lingered in his mind to this day.
His greatest rival in life, the guy who infuriated him, who would leave victoriously after defeating him. In the last battle of the Battle Ceremony, he demonstrated to everyone what finally defines a King.
That day, in the climax of the duel, Atom didn't even need to look at what card he drew. He declared loudly what the next card would be before drawing and using it. Everyone saw that he indeed drew the card he declared.
Kaiba knew clearly it wasn't that Atom foresaw what the next card would be, but that his "power" guided the desired card to him.
Being able to draw any card you want at will, this is the strongest Duelist's ultimate "power." Atom showed everyone this point, deliberately letting the remaining onlookers witness the truly highest realm of the Dueling Realm, a theoretical peak.
Before that, Kaiba always believed he was just a small step away from Atom, each time seemingly just shy of victory.
But after that, although he remained unwilling to concede, some part deep inside him began to feel just how far he truly was.
Over the years, Kaiba never gave up, endlessly challenging himself, attempting to reach his limits. Ten years have passed, and each passing day makes the memory of that night clearer. With each new progress he made, it only drove home how wide the gap was between him and that man.
But he is Seto Kaiba, and he never gives up.
He always believed if there exists a peak in this world, then it's destined for him to climb.
That is why, even when he could have stalled for another turn with a defensive monster, he didn't do so.
Placing oneself in a deathtrap only to be reborn.
A strong enough opponent, sufficient pressure, and the stimulation from being in dire straits are all essential for metamorphosis.
Kaiba questioned himself whether he could temporarily not achieve the level where that guy was using Destiny Power to completely control a duel at will.
But at least this draw...
If this draw succeeds, maybe at least he could be a little bit closer to him.
"Aaaaaaah——"
Kaiba let out a roar.
He drew a card from the deck.
He didn't even need to look at what he drew, he raised the card high and shouted that name—
"Obelisk's Giant Divine Soldiers!!!"
Blue light, carrying endless destructive power. The earth shattered, as if letting out a painful wail. Web-like fissures spread, a deafening roar rang out, dust and rubble shot into the air, blocking out half the sky, forming a veil of dust that obscured the sun.
"Impossible!"
The Evil God shouted in trembling voice.
What kind of joke is this?
How could a card which clearly no longer exists appear in such a place?
Moreover, this single opportunity from Clean Chestnut Ball, this fateful draw... why is it precisely this thing?
Seto Kaiba, clearly someone who was once their beaten underling... how could he possess such an outrageous "power"?
This can't be possible! It's illogical!
Unexplainable!
The blue giant, as if he walked out from a three-thousand-year-old myth, every inch of his muscle brimming with destructive power. Just by standing there, storm-like ripples spread from him as the center, even the drifting rubble around him was crushed by an invisible force field.
The Evil God's face twisted: "You... over the last ten years, have you reproduced the Obelisk card?!"
Many years ago, when Kaiba battled against the Blue God at Atom's tomb, his floor draw resulted in Obelisk responding to his summon. Back then, Kaiba realized that his connection with the god had not been severed.
The god still acknowledges him and is willing to fight for him at any moment.
Since then, the revival of the Phantom God had become the top priority on Kaiba's to-do list.
"Obelisk's Giant Divine Soldiers, effect activate!" Kaiba shouted, "Sacrifice two monsters on the field, destroy all opponent's monsters, and deal 4000 damage to the opponent!
This effect can be activated during the opponent's turn too!" (Original Manga Effect)
The Evil God's expression became more contorted: "Impossible, how could such an absurd thing happen—"
He may have been upgraded by the Divine Evolution, making his tier beyond the Giant Divine Soldiers, so the destruction effect should naturally be nullified.
But just because the Root of Fear exists invincible as a monster on the field doesn't mean he, as a duelist, is invincible too. Although monsters can't be destroyed, the 4000 damage is unavoidable.
This is the Destruction God, Obelisk's Giant Divine Soldiers, an unreasonable, world-destroying power.
The Giant Divine Soldiers, seeing daylight again after many years, locked its crimson eyes on the adversary across, slowly clasping Venus and the Divine Sphere on the field. The two monsters immediately disintegrated, transforming into energy absorbed into the Giant Divine Soldiers.
"Disappear." Kaiba said coolly, "Trash."
The Giant Divine Soldiers delivered a punch down.
Evil God: "Aaaaaah——"
[Evil God, LP3500 → LP0]