"Gladiator Beast Gyzarus's effect!" Heart Flying with the Wind said, "After Gyzarus battles, it returns to the Card Deck at the end of the Battle Phase! From the deck, Special Summon any two 'Gladiator Beasts' except 'Gladiator Beast Bestiari'!"
"Come back, Gyzarus!"
The Ancient Roman King briefly appeared, then dissipated into a faint golden glow from the field. Heart Flying with the Wind drew from his Card Deck, swiftly picking out the two Gladiator Beasts he desired.
"Come forth! I summon 'Gladiator Beast Vespasius'! And 'Gladiator Beast Andal'!"
Gladiator Beast Vespasius, a high-level Gladiator Beast with the appearance of a sea dragon, a long tail, and a body covered in hard blue scales, wielding a heavy sword adorned with gold. A stroke of the blade leaves a sapphire spray.
Gladiator Beast Andal, on the other hand, is a burly black bear, robust and strong, but blind in one eye.
[Gladiator Beast Vespasius, ATK 2300]
[Gladiator Beast Andal, ATK 1900]
"Gladiator Beast Vespasius, activate effect." Heart Flying with the Wind declared, "While this monster is Special Summoned by a 'Gladiator Beast' effect, all monsters on my field gain 500 Attack."
[Gladiator Beast Vespasius, ATK 2300 → ATK 2800]
[Gladiator Beast Andal, ATK 1900 → ATK 2400]
"Then set one card face-down, end my turn."
The players began discussing excitedly.
"Wow, Gladiator Beasts are strong!"
"Seems like Youyu might get wrecked, huh?"
"600 Life Points, two cards next turn... really looks dangerous!"
The spectators were eager to see the action unfold, hoping Youyu would lose so they'd have the chance to boast about being "there" when the highlights spread.
However, Youyu was indifferent to this foolish crowd.
What? You think I'm down to two cards?
Ha, you know nothing of an elite duelist.
Now, I'll show you what it means for a true Duelist's duels to be a certainty!
"It's my turn, draw!" Youyu triumphantly revealed the drawn card, "Magic Card - Card of Sanctity. Both players replenish their hands to six cards by drawing from the Card Deck!"
The players: "..."
No wonder he's the formidable Youyu.
The duel of a master truly transcends ordinary understanding...
With ammo replenished, the duel once again entered Youyu's rhythm: "Activate hand effect of 'Magicians' Souls'! This card can trigger its effect by sending a Spellcaster-Type Level 6 or higher from the deck to the graveyard."
The Duel Disc quickly ejected the card he needed. Youyu pulled out that card and flipped it over.
"I sent 'Dark Eradicator Warlock' from the deck to the graveyard, activating 'Magicians' Souls' effect! Discard 'Magicians' Souls', resurrect 'Dark Magician Girl' from the graveyard!"
Youyu sent both 'Magicians' Souls' and 'Dark Eradicator Warlock' to the graveyard, promptly receiving a card back from the grave.
The magic array unfolded, the radiant girl from last turn emerged from the transparent array, her small magic staff leaving crystalline trails.
[Dark Magician Girl, ATK 2000]
"Dark Magician Girl's attack power increases by 300 for each 'Dark Magician' in the graveyard." Youyu explained, "There are two 'Dark Magicians' in my grave, so attack power increases by 600."
As the saying goes, "Master sacrifices to the heavens, boundless mana," the sacrifice of two masters caused the magic power within the girl to expand and rapidly strengthen, surpassing her master's attack power.
[Dark Magician Girl, ATK 2000 → ATK 2600]
Heart Flying with the Wind understood.
So that's why you chose to revive Dark Magician Girl instead of Dark Magician...
But even so, her attack power can't surpass 'Gladiator Beast Vespasius'.
Planning to start with Andal?
Yet Youyu didn't attack, instead slowly drawing another card from his hand.
A card whose aura differed from all the others.
"Magic Card—Timaeus the Knight of Destiny!"
The roar as if from beyond the void, the dragon's cry echoed across the heavens! The dragon with a blue body descended onto the earth as a transparent illusion, spreading its vast wings, looking down with dignity.
"Timaeus the Knight of Destiny's effect allows 'Dark Magician Girl' as Fusion Material, summoning corresponding Fusion Monster.
The disciple of the great magician dons the knight's armor, evoking infinite possibilities with the fusion of the Legendary Dragon and the power of Black Magic!
Fusion Summon! Appearing in a completely new form—
—Dark Magician Girl the Dragon Knight!"
Dark Magician Girl soared skyward, receiving the divine power offered by the blue dragon. In that luminescent chia fusion transformation, she sliced through the light curtain with a keen blade. The knightly girl in silver armor astride the dragon's back carried a sword that gleamed brightly.
[Dark Magician Girl the Dragon Knight, ATK 2600]
Seeing Dark Magician Girl dressed in knight armor, the aura instantly transforming her from mascot to ace-level behemoth, a bunch of players started celebrating, seemingly happier than she was.
But Youyu wasn't finished: "Next is Equip Magic - The Sword in the Stone, equipping for Dark Magician Girl the Dragon Knight! At the cost of skipping my Draw Phase, the original attack power of the equipped monster doubles!" (Animation card)
The dazzling sword shot forth with splendid brilliance, precisely landing in Dark Magician Girl's hand. Astride the dragon, the girl wielded a sword in each hand, assuming a dual-blade buttomup pose, each blade sweeping along opposing paths, creating ripples of invisible eddy resilience in the air.
[Dark Magician Girl the Dragon Knight, ATK 2600 → ATK 5200]
"Battle!" Youyu pointed at the sea dragon Gladiator Beast, "Dark Magician Girl the Dragon Knight, attack Gladiator Beast Andal!"
When the dragon's wings flapped, violent gusts swirled up! Dust danced wildly before settling like a curtain of sands, immediately dispersed again by invisible Sword Qi torn to shreds.
The Dark Magician Girl raised both swords, as the dragon's mouth formed a blue storm! The Sword's aura and the dragon's grandeur harmonized, with an overwhelming momentum suppressing the two Gladiator Beasts almost immobile.
"Attack power... 5200?" Heart Flying with the Wind came back to his senses, gritting his teeth, "Flip Cover Card, Continuous Trap - Shadow Spell! Choose one monster on the field, decrease attack power by 700, and cannot attack!
I choose Dark Magician Girl the Dragon Knight!"
The Continuous Trap flipped, seemingly launching chains from the darkness, straight toward the girl on the dragon's back!
"At this moment, Dark Magician Girl the Dragon Knight's effect activates!" Youyu discarded a card from his hand to the graveyard, "By discarding a card, destroy one face-up card on the field.
I destroy 'Shadow Spell'!"
The sword in the hands of the girl sliced downwards! Swordlight seemed to tear through space, carrying spiral dust, executing an intent that cut and broke the dark chains swarming from all directions, breaking into pieces that scattered.
Nothing could impede her assault, twin swords cut forth two helix beams!
Black Dragon Burst!
Sword Qi combined with the Legendary Dragon's breath, engulfing the bear's body, evaporating armor and flesh into ashes.
[Heart Flying with the Wind, LP 4000 → LP 1200]