"My turn, draw card!"
In the graveyard, two heroes were banished from the game, which indeed hindered Youyu's ability to further retrieve from the card deck using Shadow Mist Girl and Blazeman's effects.
But it doesn't matter, with this draw, the number of cards in his hand has reached nine, the components for the counterattack had long been gathered!
"Activate Magic Card - Polymerization from hand!" Youyu directly played the Polymerization he retrieved last turn, "Fusion together 'Elemental Hero Liquidman' and the Wind Attribute 'Elemental Hero Featherman' from my hand!
The fusion conditions are an Elemental Hero plus any Wind Attribute monster! Fusion summon!
Appear, Elemental Hero Great Tornado!"
The liquid hero transformed into a jet of water, the wind hero into a green beam, the two intertwined as they rushed upwards into the vortex in the sky, seemingly transforming into a swirling tornado descending from the heavens!
Inside the Orichalcos barrier, the winds kicked up, the hero controlling the storm slowly descended with arms crossed, cape flying wildly in the wind.
[Elemental Hero Great Tornado, Attack Power 2800]
"Liquidman's effect, sent to the graveyard as Fusion Material for the hero, I draw two cards from the deck, then discard one from my hand to the graveyard."
Youyu drew a card, then picked one to discard, and then waved his hand towards the prominently appearing hero on the field.
"Next is Great Tornado's effect! Fusion summon success, all monsters on the opponent's field have their attack power halved!"
Dartz sneered, "What a convenient ability."
"Air Fortress refuses Magic Traps' effects, but monster effects are its resistance's weakness," Youyu said, "Storm Annihilation!"
The violent wind spun and rushed out, the hurricane suppressing Dartz's entire field. Guardian Eatos, along with that gigantic fortress Air Fortress Ziggurat, couldn't escape from the hero's summoned storm.
[Guardian Eatos, Attack Power 3000 → Attack Power 1500]
[Air Fortress Ziggurat, Attack Power 3000 → Attack Power 1500]
[Orichalcos Gigas, Attack Power 900 → Attack Power 450]
Dartz only had these three monsters at the front. This also meant Youyu couldn't attack the monsters in the backfield before defeating these three monsters.
If that's the case, then just start breaking through from the front.
"It's not over yet! Magic Card - Fusion Recovery!" Youyu's operation continued, "Return the Fusion Material and the 'Polymerization' Magic Card in the graveyard to my hand.
I return 'Polymerization' and 'Elemental Hero Featherman' to my hand."
Two cards bounced out from the graveyard. Youyu added them to his hand, immediately drawing three cards from his hand, showing them at once.
"Magic Card Polymerization, activate again!
This time I'm fusing 'Elemental Hero Featherman' and 'Elemental Hero Burstinatrix' from my hand! Fusion summon!
Come forth, hero who watches over the top of Skyscraper, mastering the power of wind and fire!
Elemental Hero Flame Wingman!"
Featherman and Burstinatrix's classic combination, these long-time partners are already familiar, soaring up into the air, merging at the center of the vortex. Flames erupted in the center of the fusion, a shooting star-like figure encased in flames descended vertically, landing with a crash, sweeping the ground with heat waves.
[Elemental Hero Flame Wingman, Attack Power 2100]
Looking at the rapid appearance of these two powerful Elemental Heroes on Youyu's field, Dartz slightly narrowed his eyes and smiled, "Bringing out high-level heroes one after another... your enthusiasm is impressive."
Youyu paid no heed, "Battle! Use Elemental Hero Great Tornado to attack Guardian Eatos!"
Great Tornado's eyes flashed with brilliance, the wind that had just settled in the space surged again. The storm, guided by him, blasted forward, mercilessly sweeping the drastically weakened Guardian Angel into the air.
Eatos let out a low groan in mid-air, her figure quickly shattered under the irresistible storm.
But simultaneously, she was freed from the Orichalcos barrier's restraints, which, for the monster herself, wasn't entirely a bad thing.
After the gale demolished Guardian Eatos, the sweeping storm continued towards Dartz. However, Dartz just stood calmly, not even blinking an eye.
At the moment when the impact was about to hit Dartz, the eye summoned in his backfield suddenly opened wide. The storm seemed to collide with an invisible barrier, unable to advance further less than half a meter before Dartz.
All airflow and impact were absorbed by the eye named "Orichalcos Shidar", with no damage inflicted on Dartz himself.
Dartz calmly explained, "As long as 'Orichalcos Shidar' exists on the field, all damage from my monsters' battles becomes zero. It absorbs all damage for me..."
Pausing briefly, he smiled slightly, "...but I assume you already knew that."
Youyu did not deny it. Yet, he did not stop: "The battle continues! Use Elemental Hero Flame Wingman, attack Air Fortress Ziggurat!"
At this time, Air Fortress was also suppressed by Great Tornado, halving its attack power; it was no match for Flame Wingman.
The fiery hero charged skyward like a burning bullet, becoming a fleeting shadow, leaving a scorching trail in the air. Air Fortress's weapons activated, aiming straight at Flame Wingman's trajectory, but obviously, its current firepower was insufficient to stop the hero's offensive.
Dartz's "Orichalcos Shidar" is indeed a formidable defensive monster. As long as it's on the field, no matter the attacks, Dartz will not take damage. This way, he can peacefully prepare the backhand, readying a more powerful trump card.
However, what Orichalcos Shidar can absorb, is only "battle damage."
Elemental Hero Flame Wingman possesses a powerful ability to inflict damage equal to the original attack power of the destroyed monster to the opponent. This damage is effect damage, not battle damage, so using this, Shidar cannot defend.
Moreover, note that the damage Flame Wingman inflicts on the opponent is equal to the "original attack power" of the destroyed monster. That means if this attack goes through and Air Fortress Ziggurat is sunk, Dartz will have to endure the original attack power of the fortress — a substantial 2500 points of damage.
"Utilizing the hero ability known as Flame Wingman to break through my absolute defense... I see, you have indeed thought it through." Dartz remained composed, slowly raising his hand.
"However, it's not that easy! Activate the Set Card - Call of the Earthbound!"
The trap flipped, and a bizarre transparent ghost flew out from the card surface, whisking past Flame Wingman. The hero seemed suddenly bewildered, halting his charge, dazedly glancing around.
"Call of the Earthbound is a trap that allows me to choose a new attack target during the opponent's attack. And the attack target I choose for Flame Wingman, of course, is..."
Dartz pointed his finger at the monster positioned in the front row for taking hits.
"Orichalcos Chigar!"
The giant spirit let out a muffled roar, unclear what it was saying. Youyu guessed blindly, perhaps expressing grievances over endlessly receiving hits just because it couldn't defeat the boss...
The transparent ghost wagging its tail slithered past the hero, flying straight towards the giant spirit, flaunting a "catch me if you can for a reward" demeanor.
Who knows, Flame Wingman might have inherited Featherman's inherent indecisiveness and daily temptations, actually turning to chase the ghost. His body pierced through Orichalcos Chigar, shredding the giant spirit to pieces.
Of course, Chigar soon resurrected under its own ability, its momentum rising.
[Orichalcos Chigar, Attack Power 900 → Attack Power 1400]
Chigar's effect is that its attack power increases by 500 points for every revival. Although its attack power was reduced to 450 by Great Tornado, the debuff was naturally reset upon reviving from the graveyard.
"Due to 'Orichalcos Shidar's' effect, all my battle damage will still be absorbed."
Dartz gestured to the eye absorbing the high-temperature flames before him, then indicated the continuous magic card beside him.
"Then, due to the effect of the Gift of Salvation, I draw three cards from my deck."
Youyu stated, "Elemental Hero Flame Wingman's effect, inflicts damage equal to the original attack power of the destroyed monster on the opponent!"
However, since the destroyed monster is Orichalcos Chigar, whose original attack power is only 400 points, the damage is naturally 400.
Flame Wingman landed before Dartz, extending the dragon head armament in his hand. Dartz took the fiery impact with a calm expression, seemingly indifferent to the fire's baptism and damage.
[Dartz, LP 3500 → LP 3100]
"This level of flames won't defeat me, Duel King Youyu." He stated with a smile.
Youyu ignored him: "Set a card, and end the turn."