A dark celestial body appeared, releasing endless gravity from a scar in space and pulling at everything on the field.
Yako Tenma narrowed his eyes. "By Destroy my defense, you would also free Sacred Phoenix of Nephthys from the chains of Demonic Binding Chain, letting it clear my Back Row again next turn. A good calculation, but…"
He flipped another set card.
"Counter Trap, Magic Jammer! When a Spell is activated, negate that Spell Card and Destroy it. You can discard a Spell Card to negate this card instead."
"I will not discard a Spell Card," Yugen replied.
"Then the activation of Dark Hole is negated!"
The black vortex vanished at once, and the field fell quiet again.
"Then I Normal Summon Mystic Tomato in Attack Position."
Mystic Tomato, ATK 1400.
"Mystic Tomato attacks the face down Beast King Barbaros!"
The small tomato bounced forward and slammed its head into the set monster. The crowd held their breath at the sight of the ridiculous charge.
Beast King Barbaros had 3000 ATK, but only 1200 DEF. Being struck down by a tomato would have been humiliating.
"I will not allow that," Yako Tenma said. "Counter Trap, Negate Attack! Negate the attack and end the Battle Phase!"
The counter vortex opened, and the little tomato crashed into the storm and stumbled back dizzy. It returned to its side of the field in frustration.
"I set one card and end my turn."
"My My Turn!, Card Draw."
Yako Tenma drew and immediately played a card. "I activate Pot of Greed and draw two cards."
After drawing, he placed another card on the field. "I activate the Spell Card Magic Planter. I send one Continuous Spell on my field to the Graveyard and draw two cards."
"I send the Continuous Spell Card of the Underworld to the Graveyard and draw two."
Yako Tenma drew again, then paused with a faint smile. "My intuition was right. There is a reason Seto Kaiba values you. You are a true Duelist worthy of my full strength.
So in this Duel, I will hold nothing back. I now Summon my evolved strongest monster."
The Card Professors exchanged glances, their expressions changing.
"Is he going to use that?" someone whispered.
Tiramuku crossed her arms. "This is getting interesting."
Yako Tenma revealed a card from his hand.
"I activate Spell Card Polymerization! I fuse the on field Beast King Barbaros with the 'Divine Machine King Ur' in my hand!"
Divine Machine King Ur appeared, and together with Beast King Barbaros it turned into golden light and entered the vortex of Polymerization. Brilliant light burst forth as a divine beast took shape, holding a spiral lance, clad in red armor that shone with cold metal.
Beast Machine King - Beast King Barbaros Ur descended in crimson armor.
Beast Machine King - Beast King Barbaros Ur, Polymerization!
Beast Machine King - Beast King Barbaros Ur, ATK 3800.
"So it finally appears, Maximillion Pegasus's strongest monster."
The Card Professors stirred in shock. Even they had not seen Yako Tenma duel at full power in many years.
"From my hand, I Normal Summon Seraph Trooper!" Anime-Original Card.
Seraph Trooper, ATK 1600.
"Continuous Trap Ultimate Offering Effect Activation!" Yako Tenma continued. "I pay 500 Life Points to gain an additional Normal Summon!"
Yako Tenma, LP 1500 to 1000.
"I pay another 500 Life Points and Tribute Seraph Trooper. Level 6 Twin Headed Beast, Summon!"
Twin Headed Beast, ATK 1700.
"This turn will be my final all out assault!" Yako Tenma shouted. "If you can withstand it, then show me!"
"Beast Machine King - Beast King Barbaros Ur, attack Sacred Phoenix of Nephthys!"
The giant machine let out a roar that shook the field. Red armor flashed with a cold light as its massive body charged forward like a bolt of thunder. The ground beneath it cracked as it drove straight at its target.
"I activate my face down card," Yugen said. "Continuous Trap - Spirit Barrier! As long as I control a monster, any battle damage I would take becomes 0."
Sacred Phoenix of Nephthys was pierced by the thunderous strike and exploded into a fireball. The flames spread outward like a burning wall, blocking the remaining shockwave from the charging machine. The impact was violent, but no damage reached its controller.
"You stopped the damage, but this is far from over," Yako Tenma said with a smile. "Beast Machine King - Beast King Barbaros Ur has a special ability. Once per turn, it can select a number of attack targets equal to its Level."
He raised a hand calmly. "Its Level is eight. That means it can choose up to eight attack targets in a single turn."
Even Mokuba Kaiba changed expression slightly. A monster that could attack eight times in one turn was no joke.
But Yugen remained calm. He had seen far more extreme battle phases before.
"Second attack," Yako Tenma ordered. "Attack Mystic Tomato!"
Mystic Tomato was crushed instantly beneath the overwhelming force. The machine did not slow down for even a second.
"With Spirit Barrier, I still take 0 damage," Yugen replied. "And when Mystic Tomato is destroyed by battle, I can Special Summon a DARK monster with 1500 or less ATK from my Deck. I Special Summon another Mystic Tomato."
A second tomato appeared in Attack Position.
"Third attack!"
The newly Summoned Mystic Tomato was immediately destroyed as well. Shards scattered across the field.
"Still no battle damage," Yugen said. "And I Special Summon a third Mystic Tomato."
The cycle continued without hesitation.
"Fourth attack!"
The third Mystic Tomato was eliminated just as quickly. Yugen did not panic.
"Again, I take no damage. And this time, I Special Summon Apprentice Magician in Attack Position."
The small Spellcaster appeared with only 400 ATK.
"Fifth attack. Break Strike Apprentice Magician!"
Apprentice Magician was destroyed on the spot. The damage was nullified once more by Spirit Barrier.
"When Apprentice Magician is destroyed by battle, I can Set a Level 2 or lower Spellcaster Type monster from my Deck. I Set another Apprentice Magician."
Murmurs spread through the onlookers. The chain of last effects seemed endless.
"Sixth attack!"
The Set Apprentice Magician was destroyed. As expected, another monster emerged.
"Seventh attack," Yako Tenma continued.
The newly Summoned Unit 03 was destroyed as well, and its effect activated in turn. Yugen calmly searched his Deck again and Set the Level 1 Magician of Faith to the field.
"Eighth attack!"
The final strike of the sequence wiped out Magician of Faith. At last, the eight consecutive attacks came to an end.
"When Magician of Faith is flipped, I can add a Spell Card from my Graveyard to my hand," Yugen said. "I retrieve Dark Hole."
Several Card Professors tensed. Retrieving Dark Hole meant the threat of a full field wipe on the next turn.
The pressure shifted back toward Yako Tenma.
"My attacks are not over," Yako Tenma said. "Your field is finally empty. Twin Headed Beast, attack directly!"
The two headed monster charged across the now open field toward Yugen.
Just before the strike landed, a golden light flashed from his hand. A small, furry creature leapt out with a soft cry and threw itself in front of the attack.
"By discarding Kuriboh, the battle damage becomes 0," Yako Tenma said quietly.
He narrowed his eyes. "But Twin Headed Beast can attack twice per turn. Second attack!"
The second strike finally broke through the defenses and hit Yugen directly. He staggered back two steps from the impact.
Yugen LP 4000 to 2300.
The surrounding Card Professors let out slow breaths. After ten consecutive attacks in a single turn, damage had finally gone through.
"I Set one card and end my turn," Yako Tenma declared.
"My Turn!, Card Draw."