Regarding Tenma Yako's inner thoughts, Youyu could somewhat guess them.
Actually, this isn't really a new setting. Two twin brothers with identical looks, receiving the exact same education, yet the younger brother always lives in his older brother's shadow.
To be fair, Tenma Yako's ability as a helmsman or a duelist isn't inferior to his brother's, but the title of the "Perfect Duelist" went only to his brother Gekko.
The desire to be the one recognized by his adoptive father, the obsession to surpass his brother drove him to lose his normal mindset.
In the manga, it was for this reason that he was tempted by the power of the Evil God, sprouting evil thoughts he normally wouldn't have, becoming the antagonist in the side story.
Though there was the factor of being tempted by the Evil God Card, the fundamental reason for his descent into darkness was ultimately Yako's own inner demons.
And now, defeating Youyu has become Tenma Yako's way to prove himself. He must defeat Youyu to show everyone that he's already surpassed his brother, and that he is the strongest duelist under Pegasus!
...Yet this has nothing to do with Youyu.
"My turn, draw."
Having endured the last round of attack, Youyu immediately entered a counter-attack state.
"Activate the Magic Card from my hand, E-Emergency Call. Add an 'Elemental Hero' monster from the deck to my hand."
Youyu opened the deck to find the hero he summoned, flipped it over, and showed it to the opponent.
"I'm adding 'Elemental Hero Shadow Mist' to my hand." Youyu shuffled the deck, then immediately played the card, "Then Normal Summon Elemental Hero Shadow Mist!"
The female hero in black form-fitting armor made a dashing entrance, her dark skirt fluttering without wind.
[Elemental Hero Shadow Mist, Attack 1000]
"Then activate the Quick-Play Magic - Mask Change!" A transformation Magic Card appeared in front of Youyu, "Send the Hero monster on the field to the graveyard, Special Summon a Masked Hero with the same attribute!
I send the Dark Attribute 'Elemental Hero Shadow Mist' to the graveyard, Mask Change!
Come forth! Masked Hero Anki!"
Black fog enveloped Shadow Mist, a red belt and black armor swiftly dressed her, transforming and reappearing in the form of a Masked Hero.
[Masked Hero Anki, Attack 2800]
"Masked Hero? A series I haven't seen before!"
Masks are a man's romance, and as a warrior enthusiast, Jonouchi was immediately attracted to this hero warrior in exoskeleton armor.
"So cool!" Jonouchi thought to himself.
No wonder it's Youyu's monster. Whether it's an Elemental Hero or a Masked Hero, they're getting cooler each time!
"Elemental Hero Shadow Mist's effect!" Youyu said, "When Shadow Mist is sent to the graveyard, add a 'Hero' monster from the deck to your hand."
He flipped over the card he fetched from the deck and revealed the hero card retrieved.
"The card I'm adding to my hand is 'Elemental Hero Liquidman'.
"Has it appeared, the ace that signifies Youyu's status as Duel King, the Masked Hero," Tenma Yako said, "Yet in terms of attack power, it's still not enough to defeat my Beast King Barbaros."
"I know. Battle!" Youyu waved his hand, "Use Masked Hero Anki to attack, first attacking 'Gaap the Divine Soldier'!"
Anki bent his knees, leapt into the air, curled his body, and delivered a dive kick directly to the chest of the demon.
Gaap the Divine Soldier's body froze, letting out a pained groan as it was kicked back, exploding mid-air with a loud crash.
[Tenma Yako, LP 3500 → LP 2900]
"I see, you chose to reduce the number of monsters on my field first..."
"Not really." Youyu smiled, "My attack isn't over yet."
He waved his arm: "Activate the effect of Masked Hero Anki! When battling and destroying an opponent's monster, add a 'Change' Quick-Play Magic from your deck to your hand.
I'm adding to my hand... Quick-Play Magic - Form Change."
Tenma Yako sensed something: "Form Change Quick-Play Magic... Could it be?"
"That's right, my Battle Phase isn't over. Activate Quick-Play Magic - Form Change from my hand!"
A card appeared in front of Youyu, revealing the transformation magic exclusive to Masked Heroes.
"Return the 'Hero' Fusion Monster on the field to the deck, Special Summon a 'Masked Hero' with the same level but a different name."
Youyu took Anki's card from the Duel Disc and swiftly placed the replacement hero card.
"I return level 8 Masked Hero Anki to the deck, Form Change!
Come forth, level 8, Masked Hero Koga!"
The dark hero disappeared from the field. A holy light was released, armor disassembled and reassembled, a dazzling and splendid transformation effect, and in the blink of an eye, a brand new Masked Hero appeared with a radiant golden glow!
[Masked Hero Koga, Attack 2500]
"Masked Hero... A hero that can transform and switch forms during battle," said Yugi, "Such a strong card deck! After the last battle at the Dueling Tower, Youyu has become even stronger."
In a spiritual state, Dark Yugi also spoke: "Indeed. But after that, we've also gotten stronger, and I absolutely won't lose next time we duel."
"Effect of Masked Hero Koga!" Youyu continued, "Koga's attack power increases by 500 points for each monster on the opponent's field!"
[Masked Hero Koga, Attack 2500 → 3000]
Tenma Yako frowned: "Same attack power..."
"Masked Hero Koga!" Youyu said, thinking, "Emmm... Royal Straight Slash!"
After all, no one has seen Masked Heroes, so he could make up the move names as he pleased.
Koga charged in a straight line, his figure flickering as a series of afterimages, flashing to stand before the massive Beast King Barbaros in the blink of an eye.
"Barbaros!" With identical attack powers, Yako couldn't afford to lose his momentum, "Counterattack!"
Barbaros lifted his spear and fiercely thrust at the afterimage of Koga. However, Koga deftly dodged, using Barbaros's shield as leverage to fly to the side.
"At this moment, activate the effect of Masked Hero Koga! Remove a Hero from the graveyard from play, resulting in the opponent's monster losing attack power equal to the removed monster's attack power until the end of the turn!"
"What?" Yako was startled.
Such a powerful effect?
A golden light flashed from Youyu's Graveyard, and the card just sent there bounced back out.
"I remove 'Elemental Hero Edgeman' which I sent to the graveyard last turn from play, until the end of the turn, Beast King Barbaros loses attack power equal to Edgeman's, which is 2600 points!"
[Beast King Barbaros, Attack 3000 → Attack 400]
Yako gritted his teeth: "Barbaros's attack power is only 400 now..."
I told you, righteous heroes will always call upon their companions.
Masked Hero Koga initiated a charge from the side, while the phantom of Edgeman appeared in mid-air, diving down dragged by golden lights.
The two heroes attacked simultaneously from different angles. How could the poor Beast King withstand such a situation? His body was pierced and split apart by Koga's blade, exploding with a mournful cry, dissipating from the field in smoke.
Yako: "Ugh..."
[Tenma Yako, LP 2900 → LP 300]
"Because Beast King Barbaros was destroyed, Koga's attack power returns to normal."
[Masked Hero Koga, Attack 3000 → Attack 2500]
"Finally, I set two Set Cards, and end my turn."