BOOM!!!
The massive fist came down like a landslide. Under the empowerment of the Orichalcos, the Divine Punch shattered the earth, and the blue shockwaves exploded like ocean waves, making even the ground feel as if it had sunken a bit.
A pillar of smoke rose sky-high between the streets, the thick smoke swirling and drifting irregularly. Obelisk's punch seemed like it would shatter space itself; if not for the constraints of the "Duel Monsters" game rules, no one could imagine the true power of the Divine Strike.
Such a strike would be enough to turn any living being to ash.
"You... Youyu!" Kusunoki Manager was the first to shout.
The Nightwalker's strong men also held their breath, staring unblinkingly at the swirling smoke.
Even the Vampire Queen bit her lip, worrying about her new master—for logically, she should have regained her freedom once Youyu, who defeated her in the Darkness Game, was gone.
But of course, there's a universal law throughout all worlds: no harm without smoke.
When the smoke cleared, Youyu was unsurprisingly still standing safely in place, though his breath was a bit ragged.
His Masked Hero Koga was also standing in his half-field, albeit looking a bit battered, no longer wielding that effortless grace from before.
[Youyu, LP 450]
"What!?" Gasper was shocked, "Why are there still Life Points left? Why is your monster not destroyed? You should have been a sacrifice under the crushing Divine Punch..."
"Because I activated this card," Youyu pointed to his side, "Trap Card - Half Unbreak. For this turn, one monster on the field won't be destroyed by battle, and battle damage is halved."
At first glance, this trap's defensive performance doesn't seem strong, yet if it were any other card like Negate Attack, Mirror Force, or Magic Cylinder, Youyu would already be a corpse.
Because traps are ineffective against gods, none of those traps could block Obelisk's attack.
However, the effect of Half Unbreak, "one monster on the field won't be destroyed by battle," affects a player's own monster, and "battle damage is halved" targets battle damage.
Unlike the aforementioned traps, it doesn't specify activating only during an opponent's attack, so it won't be blown away by Mystical Space Typhoon preemptively. Furthermore, the "damage halved" effect aids in triggering Life Lock skills, making it exceptionally useful.
Sometimes, it can even bait the opponent into some bizarre traps...
"Hmph, my turn ends," Gasper scoffed, "Even though you've survived this turn's attack, your Life Points are like a flickering candle! No matter what, you'll be crushed next turn by my Divine Punch!"
...See, isn't the strategy working?
Using extreme Life Lock to bait the opponent into saying forbidden phrases and secure the duel victory. This time Youyu feels like he should be in the stratosphere.
At 450 Life Points, with an Egyptian God on the field, the "Destiny Draw" button naturally lit up at that moment.
So, of course, Youyu unreservedly activated Destiny Draw: "My turn, draw! I activate from my hand the Magic Card - Card of Demise! Draw from the deck until I have five cards in my hand, during the fifth turn's End Phase, discard my entire hand.
Then, Magic Card - Graceful Charity, draw three cards, discard any two cards from my hand to the graveyard."
With an extreme draw burst, seeing the cards he drew, Youyu couldn't help but smile.
Seeing his expression, Gasper felt a slight nervousness.
Could it be, in such a disadvantageous situation, he can actually make a comeback?
I have a god with the power of the Orichalcos on the field! Can he really overturn this?
...Well, so they say, but after all, he's a Duel King who's surpassed others' imaginations more than once.
At this point, the rewards gained from continuously raiding... oh no, confiscating contraband from the Ghouls' warehouses start to show results.
Youyu declared that not only would he use Forbidden Cards, but he would also use the epic, animated version of the Forbidden Cards!
"Activate Continuous Magic - Card of Safe Return!"
The Magic Card floated before him, identical to the card that Marik, the courier chief, used when he brought the Sky Dragon over to duel with him.
But back then, Marik used a fake card, and now, after making rounds through the Ghouls' warehouses, Youyu finally got the real one.
"Card of Safe Return allows, whenever a monster is revived from the graveyard to the field, for three cards to be drawn from the deck as a Continuous Magic."
The NPCs were fine, but the players were startled.
"What the hell is this?"
"Isn't Card of Safe Return supposed to draw one card whenever a monster from your graveyard is revived? Even that was a timeless Forbidden Card..."
"Drawing three cards is overkill, isn't it?"
The players' reactions were anticipated, and Youyu merely smiled faintly.
...Brothers, no need to rush.
Soon, soon, it's almost in the bag... if you can afford to draw.
Youyu revealed his next card: "Magic Card, O - Oversoul! Revive one Elemental Hero normal monster from the Graveyard. I revive 'Elemental Hero Sparkman'!"
Sparkman, who had entered the Graveyard as Fusion Material, returned to the field with a shout and even struck a pose to show off his muscles, releasing dazzling and eye-catching sparks.
Although compared to the Egyptian God on the opponent's field, he is nothing more than a small fry, it doesn't matter.
After all, a hero is someone who steps up even knowing they are about to lose.
"Due to reviving a monster from the Graveyard, I draw three cards from the deck." Youyu drew three cards and continued his operation, "Magic Card - Monster Reborn! Revive the monster from the Graveyard!"
"Hmph, futile struggle," Gasper sneered, "Even if you use Monster Reborn, there's no monster in the Graveyard capable of defeating Obelisk the Tormentor..."
Youyu calmly said: "The monster I will revive is... 'Destiny Hero Disk Commander' from the Graveyard!"
"What!?"
The crowd was shocked, especially the players.
...When did Youyu get his hands on Destiny Heroes?
Is he aiming to achieve the full Hero unlock in Duel Monsters?
Officially the only designated Hero specialist Duelist?
Plus, Disk Commander... is a Forbidden Card!
Disk Commander's effect was too overpowering and was eventually nerfed by the K Consortium, but Youyu's card is the unnerfed version.
"Disk Commander's effect, when successfully revived from the Graveyard, allows the player to draw two cards from the deck. Then, the effect of Continuous Magic - Card of Safe Return grants me three more cards."
Gasper continued stubbornly, "Hmph, even if you draw more cards..."
He ultimately fell silent.
Perhaps because he realized that the sight of Youyu now holding ten cards might not bode well, or perhaps he felt that his persistence despite foreboding signs would lead to a miserable fate...
With the tenth card added to his hand, Youyu looked at Gasper and smiled slightly.
"The Seal of Orichalcos is indeed a powerful force, and it can grant one the divine power to control the gods temporarily... but do you really think there's no price for that?"
Gasper frowned, "What are you trying to say?"
"I'm saying that the price for angering the gods is steep, so you should be prepared for that." Youyu said, slowly drawing out a card from his hand, "I offer 'Masked Hero Koga', 'Elemental Hero Sparkman', 'Destiny Hero Disk Commander' on the field as sacrifices!
He who transcends the Netherworld and reality, appear amidst the chaos of celestial thunder!
God of the Netherworld! Slifer the Sky Dragon!"
A white whirlwind carried the three heroes' bodies, disintegrating them into golden light and merging them into the ascending pillar of light.
Thunder rumbled amid the dark clouds, and the fiery light column crashed down with powerful impact.
Burning red wings spread from it, the red divine dragon twisted its body and opened its gigantic mouth, letting out a roar as deep as a thunderclap.
[Slifer the Sky Dragon, ATK9000]
Gasper's face turned white with fear.
"Sl...ifer the Sky Dragon... ATK 9000!?"
This is seriously overpowered!
[Obelisk the Tormentor, ATK4500]
The Sky Dragon slowly descended, hovering in front of the Tormentor, emitting a dragon's cry that seemed to contain a bit of mockery.
Yo, buddy, what's up with you? Why do you look so down?
The Tormentor let out an angry shout. Though Youyu couldn't understand, he guessed it likely meant, "Stop laughing, and help me!"
So he naturally didn't waste time: "Slifer! Free Obelisk from the curse of Orichalcos! Superconducting Wave - Thunder Cannon!!!"
The Sky Dragon opened its massive mouth, and a white beam of light rushed forth, accompanied by a sweeping bolt of lightning, striking the Tormentor's body.
The Tormentor's solid form was shattered by the flash of light, with the divine power of Slifer gradually spreading into its large body.
Its body gradually filled up, and the corrosion of Orichalcos was repelled by the Sky Dragon's divine power. The Tormentor closed its eyes, taking the blow quietly, and exited the scene with a satisfied expression.
Although satisfied, someone was not pleased.
"Ahhhh!!!"
[Gasper, LP 2900 → LP 0]