Masuzu acted immediately, without a shred of hesitation.
"I set one card, then activate Polymerization from my hand. I combine the three Blue-Eyes in my hand to form Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon!"
Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon, ATK 4500, DEF 3800.
Ryunosuke cut in instantly.
"Have you forgotten Slifer's monster effect?"
"Every new monster that appears..."
"If its ATK is below 2000, it is instantly destroyed!"
"If it is above 2000, its ATK is reduced by 2000 points."
Ryunosuke issued the command to Slifer.
"LIGHTNING BLAST!!!"
Slifer opened the small mouth on its forehead. Sea-blue lightning gathered continuously before spewing a devastating orb of energy—Lightning Blast—directly hitting Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon. Instantly, its offensive power plummeted.
ATK 4500 – 2000 = 2500.
Ryunosuke added a warning in a calm tone.
"This effect is permanent. Don't expect that three-headed dragon of yours to return to 4500 ATK on the next turn."
Masuzu replied with dissatisfaction, "I know! You don't need to tell me."
"But this way, I can avoid the instant destruction of your effect. Besides being able to perform a high-level summon, I can also maintain three tributes on the field! Just you wait—on the next turn when my God descends, your victory isn't guaranteed!" Masuzu clenched her fist.
Ryunosuke smiled. "Come at me as you please!"
Despite her bravado, Masuzu was still somewhat hesitant to attack directly. She planned to use XY-Dragon Cannon (ATK 2200) to test the waters. She feared that if Ryunosuke's face-down card was Mirror Force, all her monsters could be destroyed and turned against her, considering Yugi's deck frequently utilized that card.
Therefore, she set the card Interdimensional Matter Transporter to remove Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon from play at a critical moment, solely to preserve the tributes for her God.
Masuzu steeled her heart and declared an attack.
"I'll use XY-Dragon Cannon to attack your Slifer!"
"HYPER DESTRUCTION CANNON!!!"
The two giant cannons on XY-Dragon Cannon's back extended, aiming at Slifer—whose ATK was currently still 0—and unleashed a volley. However, Ryunosuke already had an answer.
"Open face-down card! Swords of Revealing Light!"
Countless blades of light plunged down, surrounding Masuzu's monsters. Based on this card's effect, Masuzu could not attack for three turns, and all her monsters were forced into defense position.
Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon, DEF 3800.
XY-Dragon Cannon, DEF 1900.
"Tch!" Masuzu clicked her tongue in annoyance. It was a waste to have set Interdimensional Matter Transporter as a precaution, only for her opponent to use an attack-sealing card.
However, she did not give up. Her opponent only had one face-down card left, and Slifer still had 0 ATK. What was there to fear? On the next turn, the seal on her Obelisk would be lifted, and then she would only need to use De-Fusion.
"I set one card and end my turn."
Masuzu's turn ended. Now it was Ryunosuke's turn. "Draw!"
Masuzu's suspicion was correct; Ryunosuke's position was unfavorable. He only had one card left in his hand, and only one face-down card on the field. His Slifer still had 0 ATK because he had only just drawn one card (ATK/DEF became 1000).
Ryunosuke let out a breath. Even though Swords of Revealing Light could lock down the opponent, it might not work against a God. As he recalled, Obelisk possessed spell immunity in the anime, though he didn't know the original version's rules in this world.
"Activate Pot of Greed from my hand, draw two cards!"
Ryunosuke drew two cards, and Slifer's ATK surged to 2000. Ryunosuke set one more card and ended his turn. Slifer's ATK dropped back to 1000.
Three turns passed, and the seal on Obelisk the Tormentor was finally released. Masuzu let out a boisterous laugh toward the heavens, perfectly mimicking Kaiba's style.
"Hahaha! Now nothing can stop my path!"
Masuzu gripped the Obelisk card, now free from its seal.
"Akasaka Ryunosuke! Let the battle between Gods begin! Activate De-Fusion! Split Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon into three Blue-Eyes White Dragons!"
A flash of white light streaked across, and the giant dragon split into three. Each possessed ATK 3000.
Ryunosuke swung his hand.
"At this moment, Slifer's Lightning Blast effect activates! Reduce their ATK by 2000 points!"
Slifer once again spewed three orbs of lightning toward the three dragons.
ATK 3000 – 2000 = 1000 (for each dragon).
Even though their attack had dropped, Masuzu didn't care because they were about to become tributes. She held her Divine card high and cried out loudly:
"I offer my three Blue-Eyes White Dragons as tributes!"
"DESCEND!"
"OBELISK THE TORMENTOR!!!"
The three dragons transformed into pillars of white light that pierced the sky. A colossal pillar of light descended from the heavens, revealing an enormous blue titan. As soon as Obelisk appeared, Slifer instinctively sensed danger and roared loudly at the blue giant. Obelisk retaliated with a roar that was equally devastating.
The 588-meter-tall Obelisk and the nearly kilometer-long Slifer unleashed their Divine roars at each other. The air vibrated violently. Spectators in the stands were forced to cover their ears. "This effect is over the top! How can it be this real?!"
Masuzu clenched her fists, her face full of excitement, her body trembling with joy. She looked at Ryunosuke.
"I'm so fired up!"
"I'm absolutely, incredibly fired up! Hahaha!"
Masuzu raised her Duel Disk to her chest, wearing the wild smile characteristic of President Kaiba. Her dueling device was even slightly overloaded from projecting the massive figure of Obelisk, emitting sparks of electricity.
"Meeting a Duelist like you really gets my blood pumping!"
Masuzu stretched both arms upward as if embracing the figure of Obelisk behind her.
"Your existence makes the adrenaline explode throughout my entire body!"
"Akasaka Ryunosuke! The time for the duel between Gods has finally arrived!"
Masuzu placed her right hand, wearing the Duel Disk, in front of her chest, while her other hand holding a card was placed against her forehead. She twisted her hips, showing off her perfect body proportions in an iconic, classic Yu-Gi-Oh! Pose. She declared war on Ryunosuke.
"It is only you!"
"That I!"
"Myself!"
"Must defeat!!!"
Ryunosuke also raised his dueling device with a serious expression.
"Let's settle the winner, Natsukawa Masuzu!"
Both shouted in unison: "DUEL!!!"
The two Gods seemed to feel their owners' emotions; they stood facing each other behind their respective masters. TheD two powerful forces roared at the sky simultaneously, signaling the start of a holy war.