(Goblin Zombie) [Level 4/DARK]
[Zombie-Type/Effect]
[ATK 1100/DEF 1050]
"Although the Attack has decreased, the combined Attack of (Newt) and (Goblin Zombie) is still a full 2500 points! Become my fertilizer, Hayato!" Bakura twisted his face into a contorted expression that even Marik would have to grudgingly admire. "And then, the (Millennium Eye) you possess will be mine!"
"You think it's that simple?" Hayato snorted coldly. "In response to (Newt)'s Attack, I open my Set Card!"
"It's the invincible (Sakuretsu Armor)!"
Enduring the incessant chatter of "another self" in its ear, (Newt) charged towards Hayato. It had just raised the great axe in its hands, but before it could swing down, its yellow armor suddenly detonated, blasting it into nothingness in an instant.
As its designated target vanished, Hayato's (Newt) returned to his side, its blue body reappearing. It didn't immediately return to the Graveyard, but instead stood behind Hayato, adopting a remarkably 'calm' pose alongside him, as if to convey, '(Newt) has already dealt with that monster.'
Having successfully activated (Sakuretsu Armor), a thoroughly pleased Hayato laughed smugly: "The distance between us is like a mountain. Come closer, if you dare, because you'll find that what seems within reach is actually worlds apart!"
"Don't get cocky!" Bakura retorted, annoyed. "Even though (Newt) was destroyed, I still have (Goblin Zombie)'s Direct Attack!"
"Then I'll use this!" A rainbow-like light shone from the Graveyard zone of Hayato's Duel Disk. "When your monster declares a Direct Attack, I Activate the Effect of (Rainbow Kuriboh) in my Graveyard, Special Summoning it to my Field!"
"Protect me, Aibo!"
"Kuri~"
A band of rainbow light extended from the Graveyard to the space before Hayato, forming a large, multicolored wall in front of him. Behind the wall, the form of (Rainbow Kuriboh) materialized, throwing itself forward the very instant (Goblin Zombie)'s long knife struck the rainbow barrier.
"Boom!"
Due to its own low DEF, (Rainbow Kuriboh) was ultimately unable to survive the Attack and was destroyed in a single strike, vanishing into a puff of smoke. However, it had ensured that Hayato took no Damage whatsoever.
"When the (Rainbow Kuriboh) Summoned by this Effect is destroyed, it is Banished from the Game."
"Thank you so much, Aibo, for sacrificing yourself for me. Rest for a while now." Watching the (Rainbow Kuriboh) card dissolve into nothingness, temporarily vanishing from the Game, Hayato offered his thanks. He then turned to glare angrily at Bakura. "To snatch my Aibo away from my side... Unforgivable, Bakura!"
"What's that got to do with me? You're the one who chose to Activate that Fodder Monster's Effect!" Bakura didn't humor Hayato. He might be the Great Evil God, but he never took the blame for things that weren't his fault. "My turn ends!"
[Bakura: 4000 LP, Hand 0]
(Goblin Zombie) [ATK 1100]
"Then it's My Turn! Draw!" Hayato drew a card, pretending not to hear Bakura's protest. "I Activate my Set Card on the Field, (Joint Struggle)!"
"By discarding one monster from my Hand, I can make the Attack and Defense Points of one monster on the Field become the same as the discarded monster's." Drawing a monster card from his Hand, Hayato Sent it to the Graveyard. "The monster I'm discarding is this one, (Earth Star Swordsman)!"
From Hayato's Graveyard, the soul of a round-headed, round-bellied fairy swordsman flew out, crashing into Bakura's (Goblin Zombie) on the Field. After merging with the soul of (Earth Star Swordsman), (Goblin Zombie) instantly became more animated, moving its body as if it were a living creature and even brandishing its battle knife a few times.
However, its stats proved that merging with the soul of (Earth Star Swordsman) didn't make it stronger. An unsuitable soul only leads to a decrease in combat power, much like a certain giant who swallowed the soul of a straw hat.
(Goblin Zombie) [ATK 1100 → 500] [DEF 1050 → 1200]
Bakura looked at the monster on his Field, which had once again been possessed by one of Hayato's monsters, and couldn't help but feel perplexed: *That's not right. I'm the one using a Dark Deck, aren't I? How come that guy's deck feels more like it belongs in the Shadow Realm? All this talk of souls and possession...*
"Because (Earth Star Swordsman) was Sent to the Graveyard, Bakura, I have already formulated the equation for victory!" Hayato drew a card from his Hand. "I now have exactly five EARTH Attribute monsters in my Graveyard, so I can Special Summon this card directly!"
"A Special Summon by an effect!? No, when did you gather five EARTH Attribute monsters!"
Hayato smiled. "You're not the only one who made use of (Card Destruction). At that time, every single monster in my Hand, without exception, was an EARTH Attribute."
"(Man-Eater Doll), (Guardian of the Underworld), (Judgment Hand), (Gaia The Fierce Knight), and the (Earth Star Swordsman) just Sent to the Graveyard... Gather your powers!"
From Hayato's Graveyard, five clumps of soul drifted out, each corresponding to the five monsters Hayato had just named. Before Bakura could even comment on how (Earth Star Swordsman)'s soul was supposedly still possessing (Goblin Zombie) yet another had appeared, the five souls collided, merging into a massive sphere of light.
"The gathered power shall become thunder, shattering all that stands in your way and carving a path of light! Special Summon, (Grandsoil the Elemental Lord)!"
The sphere of light was dazzling, but mere brilliance could not conceal the colossal form of the being that descended after gathering five souls. Its two feet stomped heavily on the ground, sending tremors powerful enough to shake the Earth's crust. A rock giant that seemed to touch the sky appeared behind Hayato.
(Grandsoil the Elemental Lord) [Level 8/EARTH]
[Beast-Warrior Type/Special Summon/Effect]
[ATK 2800/DEF 2200]
Standing tall like a primordial Titan, Bakura could swear that among all the Duel Monsters he had seen since his awakening, none possessed an aura comparable to the creature before him—not even the (Blue-Eyes White Dragon) he had seen Kaiba summon during his secret observations. "How can a monster like this exist! This isn't a Duel Monster!"
"It's not a monster, it's a god!" The appearance of (Grandsoil the Elemental Lord) caused an updraft that made Hayato's hair stand on end. "Wealth belongs to the earth, as do the souls of the dead. As the god who rules over the land, (Grandsoil the Elemental Lord) can Revive any one monster from either of our Graveyards!"
"Descend now, my most loyal servant, the dark knight—"
"Ga-i-a!!!"
(end of chapter)