"My turn, draw!"
It's Aaron's turn again, and he chuckled, a look of success on his face.
"Starting with such a fierce offensive... indeed impressive, but you've already fallen into my trap." He sneered, "First, during the preparation stage, the 'Treeborn Frog' that entered the graveyard last turn, activates its effect!
Each time during your preparation stage, if you have no cards in your Magic Trap Zone, Treeborn Frog can resurrect from the graveyard!"
The holy light descended from the sky, guiding the frog fallen into the Netherworld back to the field. Standing under a halo, the little frog crouched in front of Aaron.
[Treeborn Frog, Defense 100]
"Activate Magic Card - Pot of Greed, draw two more cards from the deck.
And then, this card of fate, Field Magic Card - The Seal of Orichalcos activates!"
The Field Magic was absorbed from the side into the Duel Disc, releasing sky-high energy from within. Green light swept across the ground like a majestic wave. The vast energy field drew a circular array on the ground, excluding anyone outside the dueling space.
"The Seal of Orichalcos, the greatest gift bestowed upon humanity by the gods... of course, I shouldn't need to explain its abilities again."
Aaron drew another card from his hand.
"Next, I'm going to offer 'Treeborn Frog' as a tribute for a Tribute Summon! A powerful emperor capable of freezing everything, enough to freeze the world—
—Mobius the Frost Monarch, summon!"
Treeborn Frog's form vanished in the swirling snowstorm, replaced by a giant shadow descending amid the snow! The bulky ice emperor's heavy footfall released ice that covered the earth, a thick layer seemingly freezing even the air.
[Mobius the Frost Monarch, Attack 2400 → Attack 2900] (enhanced by the effect of Orichalcos)
At that moment, Youyu's Set Cards in the backfield were also frozen by the cold aura of the monarch, shattering with a crisp crack.
It was the Counter Trap Card "Negate Attack."
"Magic and Traps are ineffective against the Frost Monarch." Aaron sneered, "When Mobius is successfully summoned, up to two Magic or Trap Cards on the field are destroyed."
This surprised Youyu somewhat, not expecting Aaron to use a frog-emperor combination strategy.
Though the "Monarch" series cards have appeared in the anime, the frog-emperor "Frog Monarch" strategy never made its debut. It was one of the mainstream decks a long time ago, wielding significant power in that meta.
No wonder players have struggled against this guy. Winning against this monarch deck using their current decks seems a bit challenging.
"Heh, and thanks to the Orichalcos enhancement, Mobius' attack surpasses Blade Edge... but my offensive is just beginning."
He revealed another card in hand: "Activate Magic Card - Double Summon! Now I can conduct a normal summon again this turn...
I'm offering 'Mobius the Frost Monarch' as a tribute!"
Youyu raised an eyebrow.
Actually offering Mobius as a tribute again...
"This time it's the emperor commanding thunder and punishing with heavenly lightning—
—Zaborg the Thunder Monarch, summon!"
The winds and snow vanished, Mobius' massive form dissolving in the white storm. Then the thunder fell, and a colossal figure appeared amidst the lightning, its heavy footsteps resounding like thunder.
[Zaborg the Thunder Monarch, Attack 2400 → Attack 2900]
"Zaborg the Thunder Monarch's effect activates!" Aaron declared, "Upon a successful summon, destroy one monster on the field! Begone, Blade Edge!"
The Thunder Monarch raised his hand, unleashing lightning. Thunder engulfed the metallic hero's body, and Blade Edge let out a soft grunt before disintegrating in the thunderous bombardment, dispersing into a virtual shadow.
With this, Youyu's front and back fields were both destroyed, the grounds left completely empty.
"If you think surviving Thunder Monarch's attack leaves you with some LP to struggle on, you'd be sorely mistaken." Aaron spoke casually, revealing the card in hand, "Activate Magic Card - Monster Reborn!
Resurrect from the graveyard, and bring ice back to this land! Mobius the Frost Monarch!"
The storm picked up again, the white emperor returning from Hell, bringing the icy realm back.
[Mobius the Frost Monarch, Attack 2400 → Attack 2900]
"Enter battle, first it's Zaborg the Thunder Monarch, direct attack!"
Spinous thunder appeared between the Thunder Monarch's palms, bursting forth into the open! A disc of lightning traversed the unguarded field, exploding directly in Youyu's face, blasting him back several steps, smoke billowing from his body.
[Youyu, LP 4000 → LP 1100]
Aaron's pupils shrunk, his expression contorted with ecstatic glee.
"Final hit! Mobius the Frost Monarch, finish him!"
The Frost Monarch bound by the Orichalcos' power roared, the hexagram array on his forehead seemingly spinning, a bizarre magic coursing through him.
A storm of ice erupted from his palm, snow morphing into countless whips and blades in the wind, striking consecutively toward Youyu.
In this critical moment, a miracle occurred!
The Kuriboh in Youyu's hand moved on its own again, bouncing out without hesitation, manifesting a small, soft, adorable creature image, yet staunchly endured all of the icy bombardment!
How touching, perhaps only a true duelist's bond with their cards can summon such a miracle.
Kuriboh: Kurikuri! (I knew it'd be me getting hit again ==)
"What?" Aaron looked in astonishment at Youyu, unharmed after the storm had dissipated, "Why haven't you become Orichalcos' sacrifice?"
"Discarding 'Kuriboh' from hand," Youyu explained, "can make one battle damage become 0."
"Actually blocked the combined assault of the two monarchs?" Aaron, seeing Youyu holding out thanks to Kuriboh's intervention, seemed displeased, "Tch, just a little bit more... I'll set a card, turn end."
For some reason, the moment he declared his end and passed control back to Youyu, an extremely ominous premonition swept over him.
Even with two powerful monarchs with attack reaching 2900 on the field, he couldn't shake this thought.
It felt like... it seemed like this duel could be over soon.
"My turn... draw." Youyu glanced at the drawn card, "Summon 'Elemental Hero Liquidman,' in attack mode."
A stream of water emerged from the ground, transforming into a hero figure clad in a tight suit with flowing water.
[Elemental Hero Liquidman, Attack 1400]
"Liquidman's effect." Youyu declared, "Upon successful summon, resurrect a level 4 or lower hero from the graveyard... Come forth, 'Elemental Hero Shadow Mist'!"
Flowing water opened a black vortex on the ground, from which emerged a billow of black mist, returning the graceful female hero wrapped in tight armor to the field.
[Elemental Hero Shadow Mist, Attack 1000]
"Then Shadow Mist's effect, upon successful special summon, add 'Mask Change' Quick-Play Magic Card to my hand from the deck."
Youyu drew the "Mask Change" card from the deck, showing it to the opponent along with a slight smile.
"Next, don't blink." He shuffled the deck, inserting it back into the Duel Disc, "... this will end quickly."