When Amelda shouted the name with great momentum, summoning a monster to the field, Youyu didn't even realize immediately where the monster he summoned was.
It wasn't until a shadow that blocked out the sky and sun cast itself from outside the window, like a dark cloud obscuring the sunlight. A massive hunk of steel descended, resembling a floating metal island, so gigantic... so gigantic it reminded one of the small monsters from Ultraman.
Air Fortress Ziggurat, Summon!
The enormous flying machine hovered outside the building, like a giant beast peering into the indoor situation through the window.
Such a gigantic figure was really hard to ignore, and by now it had likely caught the attention of many people in nearby buildings and neighborhoods.
This is Amelda's true ace monster. A monster born from the deepest darkness of his heart after he sought refuge with Doma and gained the power of Orichalcos.
The priests of Ancient Egypt believed that many spirits were born from the human heart, and those with enough hatred and scars in their hearts could nurture an extraordinary evil creature through that darkness.
Apparently, Doma also learned this craft. Each of the Doma Three Musketeers has a past they couldn't bear to look back on, coupled with their exceptional talents in this aspect, aided by Dartz's intentional guidance, the three have depths of darkness in their hearts beyond ordinary people.
Therefore, the monsters born under such conditions are naturally extraordinarily powerful.
[Air Fortress Ziggurat, Attack Power 2500]
"Then due to the effect of The Seal of Orichalcos, the attack power of Air Fortress Ziggurat will increase!"
The mark of the hexagram appeared at the front of the mechanical fortress, evil energy enveloped the entire fortress, and its aura completely changed.
[Air Fortress Ziggurat, Attack Power 2500 → Attack Power 3000]
"And because the three tokens on the field have become the sacrifices of Air Fortress, the number of monsters on my field is reduced to one..." Amelda sneered, "You know what this means, right?"
Youyu squinted his eyes slightly: "The attack power of Masked Hero Koga will follow and decrease."
[Masked Hero Koga, Attack Power 4000 → Attack Power 3000]
"Hahaha, let me tell you something special, Air Fortress Ziggurat is unaffected by the opponent's Magic Trap effects!" Amelda shouted, "Battle! Air Fortress Ziggurat, attack Masked Hero Koga!"
The giant fortress slowly descended, gun barrels protruded one after another from the sides of the fortress, locking onto the masked hero on the ground.
Energy projectiles were ready to launch, Pulse Energy was forming within the barrels, missiles were in place, ready to unleash a carpet bombing at any moment.
"Same attack power, are you ready to perish together?" Mokuba shouted from outside the barrier.
"I have no intention of perishing with you, this turn I will end you!" Amelda played a card from his hand, "Quick-Play Magic - Blind Spot Strike! Until the end of the turn, one monster on my field gains attack equal to the defense of one Defense Position Monster on the opponent's field!"
Air Fortress's ability of being unaffected is one-sided, only unaffected by opponent's effects, but effects activated by the controller are still valid.
Outside, Kaiba gritted his teeth: "Damn Amelda, the Defense Position Monsters on Youyu's field are Elemental Hero Blazeman and Elemental Hero Shadow Mist..."
"I will increase the attack of 'Air Fortress Ziggurat' by Blazeman's defense, 1800 points!"
[Air Fortress Ziggurat, Attack Power 3000 → Attack Power 4800]
Mokuba exclaimed: "The attack power has surpassed Koga!"
"And this isn't over!" Amelda yelled, revealing another card in his hand, "I have this card... Quick-Play Magic - Rockin'-Outlet!
This turn, only one monster on my field can attack, but during this turn, the attack power of that monster will increase by its own defense value!
The defense of Air Fortress Ziggurat is 2000, so its attack power increases by 2000 once more!"
[Air Fortress Ziggurat, Attack Power 4800 → Attack Power 6800]
"Attack Power 6800!?" Mokuba was shocked, "You... Youyu brother!"
Even Kaiba was moved, subconsciously approaching the edge of the barrier: "Youyu!"
All the gun barrels locked, beams howled as they descended! Air Fortress unleashed a full salvo, bombarding like a storm. The hero of light was engulfed in an instant, the platinum-colored armor torn apart by the cannon fire, and the hero's body was shattered under the ferocious bombardment.
"Hahahahaha! Now it's over!" Amelda laughed, "After saying all those pretty words, in the end, weren't you unable to accomplish anything?
Heroes and such don't exist in this world at all! No one will come to save you...
...!?"
The smoke and flames from the Air Fortress's bombardment dissipated, and he was shocked to see that behind the smoke, Youyu was still standing.
Though his whole body was emitting black smoke, his face covered in dirt, appearing somewhat battered, and breathing heavily due to the dual exhaustion of physical and mental in the Darkness Game...
... But he was still standing, like a piece of resilient bamboo.
[Youyu, LP 700]
"Why...why!?" Amelda was astonished, "Why haven't you been defeated?"
Could it be this man... is truly undying?
Youyu took a breath and said, "The effect of Masked Hero Koga, banishing a hero from the graveyard until the end of the turn, decreases the attack of one opponent's monster by the attack value of the banished hero.
This effect can also be activated during the opponent's turn.
Your Air Fortress Ziggurat, although unaffected by Magic Trap effects, is still subject to Monster Effects."
Youyu pulled out a card from the card box behind him, showing it to Amelda.
"At the moment the battle occurred, I banished 'Elemental Hero Heat' from the graveyard. So now the attack power of Air Fortress is..."
[Air Fortress Ziggurat, Attack Power 6800 → Attack Power 5200]
Mokuba sighed in relief: "Phew... that was close, just a bit more. Masked Hero Koga... such an incredible hero! To activate effects during the opponent's turn as well..."
"Hmph." Kaiba folded his arms, returning to his indifferent expression, as if he hadn't been the one almost wanting to rush into the barrier just now.
Mokuba suddenly realized something: "Big brother, you were worried about Youyu just now, weren't you?"
Kaiba's eyelids twitched, letting out a cold snort: "I won't allow him to lose to anyone else but me!"
Mokuba responded with an "Oh".
Since big brother said so, then let's just leave it at that.
"Tch, I'll set a card, and end the turn. At the end of the turn phase, Air Fortress's attack power returns to its original state."
[Air Fortress Ziggurat, Attack Power 5200 → Attack Power 3000]
"But at this moment, another effect of Air Fortress Ziggurat activates. During the end phase, Special Summon a 'Robot Token' on the field, in Defense Position!"
As soon as Amelda finished speaking, a hatch at the bottom of the gigantic fortress opened. A red-and-blue robot was thrown down from the bottom, landing in a half-crouch on the field in front of Amelda.
[Robot Token, Defense 0]
Upon closer inspection, this robot was the relic left by Amelda's deceased younger brother, which he showed them before.
This was proof that each of the Doma Three Musketeers' ace monsters was born from the darkness of their hearts. This Air Fortress precisely symbolizes Amelda's inner pain and sorrow.
"As long as 'Robot Token' exists on my field, the opponent's player cannot select other monsters as attack targets." Amelda said, "This is the strongest shield of Air Fortress. Even if you can summon a more powerful monster, without defeating the token first, you can't harm Air Fortress in the slightest."
Upon saying this, Amelda paused, snorted, and stared coldly at Youyu, "You just refuse to go down obediently, do you?"
Youyu rolled his eyes. Isn't that nonsense? Can I let you cut me down willingly?
However, now his life points have dropped below 1000, like a candle in the wind...
... Those who understand, understand.
At that moment, the skill option for Destiny Draw had lit up.
Youyu raised his hand, placing it on the card deck, ready to activate the skill and draw a divine draw, but suddenly, as if sensing something, paused his action.
He sensed a certain power, a mysterious power arising from an unknown source, rapidly coursing through his internal organs, bringing an impulse of even destructive power constantly surging up.
In an instant, he realized the source of that power.
This power comes from the Divine Card he seized from Doma, which stayed in his hands afterwards.
Obelisk the Tormentor!