He pointed forward as he spoke. "I halve the ATK of your 'The Masked Beast,' and add that value to 'Silent Magician.'"
The numbers shifted in the air as power moved. The Masked Beast dropped from 3300 to 1650, while Silent Magician LV8 surged from 3500 to 5150.
"ATK five thousand one hundred and fifty!?"
The goblin lackeys watching nearly collapsed where they stood. This was not a virtual projection, but a real battle between Spirit with physical bodies. Every increase in power was real, and the magic radiating from Silent Magician LV8 alone was enough to terrify the weaker goblins into trembling silence.
"I'm not done yet. I activate the Spell Card 'Diffusion Wave-Motion.'" Yugen swept his hand forward. "While your opponent controls monsters, pay 1000 Life Points and choose one Level seven or higher Spellcaster Type monster you control. This turn, that monster must attack all monsters your opponent controls, once each. (ANIME EFFECT)"
This was a card exclusive to Spellcaster Type, and one of Atem (Yami Yugi)'s favorite finishing moves. In Duel City, it had once wiped out a full lineup of Blue-Eyes White Dragon to decide a duel in a single turn.
Yugen's Life Points fell from 2700 to 1700.
Masked Sorcerer froze in disbelief. Five thousand plus ATK with area attacks was beyond reason. Some goblins even turned and tried to flee.
"Battle."
Yugen entered the Battle Phase without hesitation and pointed directly at the sorcerer's manifested avatar, his so-called ultimate evolved form.
"Silent Magician LV8, attack 'The Masked Beast.'"
Silent Magician rose into the air, spinning as white light surged and gathered at the tip of her staff. The beam struck like a crashing wave, piercing the demon's chest as it screamed and shattered into golden fragments.
"Gah!"
Linked to his avatar, Masked Sorcerer screamed as well. The backlash hurled him backward, and cracks spread across the surface of his mask.
His Life Points plunged from 4000 to 500.
Yet even in agony, he burst into wild laughter as he spun in the storm of magic.
"You fell for it, brat! This was my real backup plan!" he roared. "When 'The Masked Beast' is destroyed, its hidden effect activates. I equip the Spell Card 'Snatch Steal' from my Deck to one monster on your field! (ANIME EFFECT)"
A beam of light shot from the Deck, forming into a hideous mask that flew straight toward Silent Magician.
"'Snatch Steal' only shows its true power when equipped by 'The Masked Beast'!" the sorcerer shrieked. "As its final will, I gain control of the equipped monster. Come on, hand over your Silent Magician! (ANIME EFFECT)"
"Nope."
Yugen spoke calmly. The mask shattered against an invisible white magic circle before it could even reach its target.
"Nani?!!?" the sorcerer screamed.
"The other effect of 'Diffusion Wave-Motion'," Yugen replied evenly. "Any monster destroyed by the chosen Spellcaster in battle cannot activate its effects. (ANIME EFFECT) And even before that, LV8 Silent Magician is a supreme mage who resists all opposing Spell effects. (ANIME EFFECT)"
"How can this be…" The sorcerer's face twisted beneath the broken mask.
Was this human's Duel really superior to his in every way? As he stared at the imposing white-robed Spirit and felt the crushing magic pressure, fear swallowed his thoughts.
"'Snatch Steal' has no effect. The battle continues."
"Silent Magician LV8, second attack. Target 'Seiyaryu.' Silent magic blast!"
The holy mage rose on a glowing magic circle and brought her staff down once more. A flood of white light erased Seiyaryu and the storm-lifted Masked Sorcerer together, cutting off his scream in an instant.
Masked Sorcerer's Life Points dropped from 500 to 0.
With Life Points at zero, when the storm of magic faded, Yugen could no longer sense the Spirit of the Masked Sorcerer. It looked like the final strike from Silent Magician had blasted him apart completely, leaving nothing behind.
With the fight finished, Yugen clapped his hands and calmly turned toward the remaining Goblin lackeys. Silent Magician did not disappear when the Duel ended, instead standing beside him with her staff ready, guarding him while watching the ring of Goblin with cold eyes.
The surrounding Goblin were frozen in place. The final scene of that Duel was still burned into their minds, the crushing blow of over five thousand ATK, the terrifying force, and their boss being ground to dust with a desperate scream. To them, this Duelist was utterly terrifying.
A whole group of Goblin stood stiffly, not daring to move at all, watching Yugen put away his Duel Disk and walk toward them. It felt as if they were watching death itself approach step by step.
At last, a Goblin in the back gritted his teeth and shouted, "I just remembered my wife is about to give birth, brothers, I have to go first." As he spoke, he turned and bolted.
Once someone took the lead, the entire group scattered at once. Another Goblin slapped his forehead and yelled, "Right, mine too, my wife is also giving birth, I am leaving." More voices followed in panic, each finding an excuse as they fled.
A Magic Bolt exploded in front of the fastest group of Goblin, blasting a huge crater into the ground and throwing the small monsters everywhere. One at the front failed to stop in time and slammed straight into the sphere of magic, shattering instantly and leaving nothing to collect. The rest were so terrified that they froze in place, not daring to move at all.
"Relax, I am not some kind of demon." Yugen smiled as he spoke and walked over to where the Masked Sorcerer had been reduced to dust.
He bent down and picked up the Deck that had fallen among what looked like ashes, slipping it smoothly into his pocket. Seeing this, the Goblin lowered their heads even further, thinking that he was being far too modest, since even a demon would look gentle next to him.
"I did not come here on purpose, and I did not intend to get involved in your fight," Yugen said. "I was just passing through, and I only want to know how to leave this place."
Before he could finish, he felt someone tug gently at the corner of his clothes. He turned his head and saw the young mage pointing behind him as a quiet reminder.
Only then did Yugen notice that figures were beginning to appear on the empty streets of the town. More precisely, they were Spirit.
Small Spirit hid in the shadows of buildings and behind doors and windows, cautiously peeking out. Drawn by the noise of the earlier Duel, they were quietly watching.
A blue-skinned, blond female Spirit gathered her courage and stepped out of the shadows, walking toward them. He recognized her at once, since she had appeared in the anime summoned by Yugi Muto, a Normal monster known as Mystical Elf.
"Brave one, you have finally appeared," she said.
Yugen blinked. "Brave one?"
From the moment disaster struck, legends had spread here of a hero from another world who would come, defeat the evil god, and bring hope. Hearing there was even an evil god made it sound more troublesome than a demon king.
More Spirit stepped out one after another, gaining courage as they watched. Yugen could not recognize most of them, but from their appearance they seemed to be mostly one or two star Normal Spirit.
"Come with me," Mystical Elf said. "I will tell you how to leave this place."
The Spirit bound and imprisoned the remaining black Goblin. Under someone's overwhelming presence, the lackeys all kept their heads down and did not dare make a sound.
"Long ago, this world was invaded," Mystical Elf explained as they walked. "The evil god's minions rampaged through the towns, capturing Spirit and sealing them into stone slabs to drain their lives and power to revive their god."
"Does that evil god have a name?" Yugen asked, guessing it might be a card he once knew.