Archlord Zerato, Summon!
Tenma Gekko: "As long as Archlord Zerato exists on the field, the effects of all monsters on your opponent's field cannot be activated!" (Original effect)
So that's what the original effect was like, Yu-Gi-Oh thought, understanding. He only remembered Zerato's actual card game effect.
In comparison, the actual card game's Zerato had an even stronger lockdown, not just limiting monster effects on the field, but preventing any monster effect from being activated, whether from hand, graveyard, or even banished.
However, the actual card game's Zerato was a double-edged sword, sealing off the opponent while also sealing itself. Once summoned, neither player could activate effects, whereas the manga version was a unilateral lockdown on the opponent.
At the same time, the actual card game's Zerato was limited to being effective "only if Tribute Summoned." The manga version, it seemed, had no such restriction, and its lockdown ability still applied even if it was Special Summoned by other effects.
If the summoning conditions became simpler, this oppressive power would suddenly become quite terrifying.
"This is Tenma Gekko's ace monster..." Professor Aster couldn't help but swallow. "It's indeed very powerful. But with its ATK, it's currently no match for Chaos Soldier."
Professor Aster's flag-raising was interrupted by Gekko: "I activate the Spell Card 'Allure of Darkness,' I draw two cards from my Deck, then banish one DARK monster from play. So I draw two cards..."
Gekko drew two cards.
"Then I banish the DARK 'Darklord Marie' from my hand."
He held up a card, which seemed to be absorbed into a gaping, inky vortex in mid-air, disappearing.
"But then I activate the Equip Spell 'Return from the Different Dimension'!" Gekko said, "I discard one card from my hand, and I can Special Summon one banished monster in Attack Position!"
He drew another card from his hand and discarded it to the Graveyard.
"Therefore, I revive the banished 'Darklord Marie'!"
The vortex to the different dimension opened again, and the Darklord, with its dark, fallen-angel wings, descended from the shadowy vortex. It wielded a pitch-black greatsword, and dark feathers drifted down from mid-air.
[Darklord Marie, ATK 2800]
This was also one of the main large monsters used by the Tenma brothers in the manga.
"That's not all. Next, I banish these two cards from the Graveyard, which were discarded by 'Graceful Charity' and 'Return from the Different Dimension' respectively."
Two cards from the Graveyard departed, and Gekko revealed two cards in his hand in one swift motion.
"The Rock-Type 'Gale Lizard,' and the Rock-Type 'Golem Sentry,' I banish two Rock-Type monsters from play!"
As the two Rock-Type monsters vanished into the vortex, the ground in the duel arena began to crack. Huge rocks were shaken loose and scattered, followed by deafening roars, and then massive figures slowly burst forth from the earth.
Giants made of hard rock, every inch of their skin exuded a cold and tough aura. The giants stood up, their bodies towering into the clouds.
Earthbound Immortal — Giza the Great Sphinx, Summon!
[Earthbound Immortal — Giza the Great Sphinx, ATK 2800]
Yu-Gi-Oh first glanced sideways at this.
How do you even have Jim's card?
This card also appeared in GX, as the ace monster of Jim, a good teammate from another school in the Different Dimension arc.
Hmm, but considering that Tenma Gekko is one of the leaders of the world's number one card printing company, it's probably normal for him to have some rare cards.
"Now, this is my full power!" Gekko shouted.
"First, Giza the Great Sphinx, attack 'Chaos Solder - Envoy of the Beginning'!"
Asuka gasped in surprise: "He's proactively attacking with a monster with lower ATK..."
There was undoubtedly something fishy going on.
"The effect of Giza the Great Sphinx! When this card battles an opponent's monster, that monster's ATK becomes half only during damage calculation!"
[Chaos Soldier - Envoy of the Beginning, ATK 3000 → ATK 1500]
The rock giant's punch was like a world-shattering blow. Chaos Solder, suppressed by Giza's power, found it difficult to resist for a moment. Its shield was shattered by the punch, and its entire body transformed into golden specks of light, retreating from the field.
[Yu-Gi-Oh, LP 2000 → LP 700]
"'Archlord Zerato' directly attacks!" Gekko shouted.
He still had two large monsters that hadn't directly attacked. Victory seemed within reach.
However, it was precisely as his brother Yakko had felt when he was one step away from victory.
He seemed to have a premonition that this attack wouldn't pass.
"I activate my facedown card," Yu-Gi-Oh said. "Quick-Play Spell - 'Scapegoat'. I Special Summon four 'Sheep Tokens' to my field in Defense Position."
[Sheep Token, DEF 0] x4
As expected.
Gekko frowned slightly.
"Then 'Darklord Marie' and 'Archlord Zerato' will each destroy one 'Sheep Token'!"
His two subsequent ace monsters both attacked. Sword slashes cut through the air, and the blue and red little sheep were severed and removed from the field, exploding into dissipating specks of light.
Gekko let out a long, deep breath.
Still just a little short.
"End turn."
But this was also his limit.
"Whew~ that was really dangerous, wasn't it?" Yu-Gi-Oh smiled. "Mr. Tenma was truly relentless. Such a fierce offensive is quite hard to endure."
Dangerous?
Tenma Gekko was silent.
I don't feel it from him at all.
After pondering for a moment, Gekko chuckled faintly. "Can I... ask a question, Yu-Gi-Oh-kun?"
"Oh?"
"No other meaning, it's just out of sheer curiosity."
Gekko said softly.
"Yu-Gi-Oh-kun, may I ask when your last full-power duel was?"
Yu-Gi-Oh: "..."
Professor Aster and Asuka also cast inquiring glances at him. They too were quite curious about this question.
But Yu-Gi-Oh only smiled helplessly.
"I don't know why everyone always says that, but right now, facing Mr. Tenma, I'm being very serious."
"Is that so? Alright, I apologize for being impertinent."
Gekko nodded, not asking further.
"My turn, draw!"
Yu-Gi-Oh looked at the drawn card and immediately played it.
"Spell Card 'Pot of Greed.' Both players draw three cards from their Decks." (Original card)
After drawing more cards, he took a deep breath.
"Alright, since Mr. Tenma feels that way, then this turn, I will summon one of the strongest ace monsters in this deck to break through this situation. I believe that this way, Mr. Tenma should also be able to believe in my seriousness, right?"
Tenma Gekko's spirits instantly lifted upon hearing this, and his nerves instinctively tensed as he prepared for battle.
One of the strongest ace monsters?
He immediately thought of the duel record Yakko had shared with him last time.
The latest form of Chaos Solder, which had been epically enhanced and was unreasonably strong, completely defeating Yakko.
Was he going to reveal that here?
Yu-Gi-Oh had already played one of his hand cards.
"Spell Card 'Metamorphosis'! Tribute a monster on your field, Special Summon a Fusion Monster with the same Level!"
He pointed to an inexplicably small sheep on his field.
"I Tribute the Level 1 'Sheep Token' to transform! By the ritual of sacrifice, I call forth the alluring eye—
—Level 1, Thousand-Eyes Restrict, Summon!"
Tenma Gekko: "???"
What the heck did you summon?
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