"It's my turn."
The turn was back to Tenma Gekko. He drew a card, exhaled softly, and looked at the Masked Hero: Mist Water on Youyu's field with some lingering fear.
It was terrifying; he even had a strategy to counter "Holy Protective Shield - Mirror Force." If he hadn't activated the trap at the moment Bubbleman attacked, he would've lost more than half of his LP.
Thinking of this, his expression became more solemn and cautious.
"I summon... 'Wonderbeat Elf', in defense position." (manga card)
Appearing on Gekko's field was a female elf, with long hair, a cape, wearing round glasses, and holding a large book - definitely a stereotypical studious image.
[Wonderbeat Elf, Defense 1500]
"Next, I'll add two Set Cards and end my turn." Two more Set Cards appeared at Tenma Gekko's feet.
Is he still fully adopting a defensive strategy?
Youyu pondered, while his hands didn't stop moving: "My turn, draw."
Tenma Gekko was the number one seed under Pegasus, his strength as a duelist should be top-tier. Youyu doubted he was merely defending because he couldn't draw a way to defeat Masked Hero: Mist Water.
Perhaps this was also a part of Tenma Gekko's strategy, maybe he's waiting for something.
Given that, Youyu's strategy must be to decide the outcome before the opponent's tactics are fully formed.
"Summon Elemental Hero Blazeman!"
Flames burst from the ground, enveloping a hero in a fiery red costume with flames, who wore golden goggles and appeared before the crowd.
[Elemental Hero Blazeman, Attack 1200]
"Blazeman's effect! On a successful summon, add Magic Card - Polymerization from the deck to the hand."
Youyu pulled out the deck, picked Polymerization, shuffled, and inserted it back into the Duel Disc.
"Now, the Magic Card - Polymerization is activated!" A card with powerful magical effects appeared before Youyu, "Fusion 'Elemental Hero Blazeman' and 'Elemental Hero Sparkman' from the hand!
The fusion condition is, an Elemental Hero Monster plus any Fire Attribute Monster!
Fusion Summon! Elemental Hero Nova Master!"
Sparkman emerged amidst electrical currents, joining Blazeman in the fusion whirlpool. The green magic power ignited with the spin, erupting like a volcanic explosion, and a commanding Elemental Hero clad in red and gold armor with a cape debuted.
[Elemental Hero Nova Master, Attack 2600]
Tenma Gekko murmured, "As expected, it's his best Fusion Summon..."
"Battle!" Youyu waved his hand, "Attack Wonderbeat Elf with Nova Master!"
Nova Master had an effect to draw a card when he destroys an opponent's monster in battle, so Youyu chose to attack first with Nova Master.
The Elemental Hero in golden armor charged ferociously, surrounded by flames, towards the elf girl on the opposite field. The girl quickly buried her head into her book, scared to open her eyes.
"Open a Set Card!" Tenma Gekko waved his hand, "Quick-Play Magic - Shrink! Halve the original attack of a monster on the field! Halve Nova Master's attack!"
The towering hero charged aggressively, yet was mysteriously bound by magic forces, his size visibly reducing to only half its original stature.
Wonderbeat Elf cautiously peeked from behind her book, blinked in confusion, seemingly feeling like she could counterattack...
[Elemental Hero Nova Master, Attack 2600 → Attack 1300]
But Youyu also had a countermeasure: "Quick-Play Magic - Form Change! Return a 'Hero' Fusion Monster on the field to the deck, switch its form, transforming it into a Masked Hero of the same level!
I'll return the level 8 Nova Master to the deck, form change!
Here comes, Masked Hero Anki!"
Nova Master, whose attack was shrunk, suddenly emitted a dark fog, which quickly enveloped his entire body, materializing into a pitch-black armor covering him from head to toe.
Masked Hero Anki, summon!
[Masked Hero Anki, Attack 2800]
Tenma Yako murmured, "Skillfully using form change during the Battle Phase to evade the effect of 'Shrink' and gain another attack opportunity..."
"Masked Hero Anki!" Youyu raised his hand, "Attack Wonderbeat Elf!"
Even if the master did not specify an attack name this time, it seemed the pitch-black hero had grown fond of this move. He leapt into the air, curled into a ball, accelerated, then extended his right leg in a standard "Knight's Kick," diving towards the elf below.
Wonderbeat Elf yelped as the pitch-black hero fiercely kicked her, accompanied by a boom and a violent impact, she perished beautifully.
Of course, because it was in defense position, Tenma Gekko did not lose LP. But he immediately drew a card: "Wonderbeat Elf's special effect, when she's sent to the graveyard, allows me to draw a card."
"Then my side shall also activate Masked Hero Anki's special ability." Youyu said, "Once per turn, when Anki destroys an opponent's monster in battle, a 'Change' Quick-Play Magic is added from the deck to the hand."
Tenma Gekko instantly realized what this meant and was startled: "So that means..."
"Yes, it means this turn's attack is far from over. Masked Hero: Mist Water!" Youyu declared, "Direct Attack!"
The water-form Masked Hero rushed forward, his steps akin to treading on water. The blade in his hand dragged a blue water stream's trajectory, aimed straight at Tenma Gekko's neck.
The blade with water stream brushed across his neck—of course, due to being a 3D image, there wouldn't be any actual harm, but the virtual impact was felt. Meanwhile, this strike also knocked a significant amount of LP off Gekko.
[Tenma Gekko, LP 4000 → LP 1600]
Youyu glanced at the last Set Card at Tenma Gekko's feet.
No activation, could it not be a trap for defense or counterattack?
If that's the case, Youyu will be able to take this duel directly.
"Then there's the card just searched, another Quick-Play Magic - Mask Change! Send a 'Hero' Monster to the graveyard, letting that Monster transform into a Masked Hero with the same attribute!"
Youyu pointed at his monster on the field.
"I'll send 'Masked Hero Anki' to the graveyard, allowing Anki to transform into a second 'Masked Hero Anki'!"
In the audience, Mokuba asked in confusion, "Transforming Anki into another Anki? What's the purpose of that..."
"Because using Quick-Play Magic to transform during the Battle Phase allows the newly transformed 'Masked Hero Anki' to have another attack addition." Kaiba explained calmly, while squinting his eyes slightly, "Has the duel's outcome been decided?"
Actually, by now, President Haima has already been somewhat awed by Youyu's new "Masked Hero" series.
Being able to transform timely during battle, and capable of shape-shifting. Not only can transformation be used to dodge the opponent's effect counterattack, but also bring forth various powerful Masked Heroes for different special effects, adding attack turns...
...what a terrifying card deck!
President Haima's gaze at Youyu turned somewhat complex.
Youyu, since our last duel...how much have you improved?
For the first time in history, President Haima felt uncertain about his speed of progress (improvement) and even had a feeling of being unable to catch up with Youyu's pace.
Meanwhile, it also sounded the alarm for President. The path of a duelist is endless, he can't be content with the current situation and relax.
(President Haima's favorability continues to rise...)
At this moment, black fog has already enveloped the Masked Hero Anki on Youyu's field. With a transformation effect of ascending black fog, the new armor completed its reassembly, and a brand-new Masked Hero Anki descended onto the field.
[Masked Hero Anki, Attack 2800]
[Tenma Gekko, LP 1600]
"The final blow, Masked Hero Anki!" Youyu commanded, "Direct Attack!"
The dark hero leaped up, flipped mid-air, executed a standard flying kick as if shot like an arrow released from the bow!