Chapter 278: The Mind's Eye Kill
As the "sun" rose from underground, a rousing symphony began to play from Chumley's Duel Disk, activated by his preset functions.
"Ding-dong, ding-dong-dong, ding-dong-dong-dong-dong~"
"Ding-dong, ding-dong-dong, ding-dong-dong-dong-dong~"
Hearing the BGM, "God's Wrath," carved into his very DNA, Chumley couldn't help but feel his blood boil. "In a three-year-old's words, The Winged Dragon of Ra achieves its greatest power when it's in the Graveyard!"
The golden sphere ascended into the sky, and with a series of transformations, the most majestic of the Egyptian God Cards—The Winged Dragon of Ra—appeared on the Field!
"When it is Special Summoned successfully, I Activate The Winged Dragon of Ra's Effect by paying 1000 of my Life Points, Destroying all Monsters on your Field!"
[Chumley: 6500 → 5500 LP]
He boldly paid 1000 Life Points, and at the same time, The Winged Dragon of Ra, revived from the Graveyard, began to burn with scorching solar flames. The golden fire completely engulfed it, transforming it into a colossal firebird that directly crashed into Raviel, Lord of Phantasms, just like the battle they couldn't finish before the Duel!
"Boom!"
The strongest Sacred Beast collided head-on with the strongest Egyptian God. The moment they touched, a massive explosion erupted, and the resulting air current pushed Odion back several steps before he could steady himself. Shielding his eyes with his arm, he looked towards the spot where Raviel, Lord of Phantasms had been, which was now completely shrouded in smoke and dust.
Having followed Marik for so long, Odion had naturally seen Marik use The Winged Dragon of Ra and understood just how powerful The Winged Dragon of Ra became when it entered that form—the God Phoenix Mode.
As expected, once the smoke and dust gradually dissipated, the previously arrogant Raviel, Lord of Phantasms had been Destroyed by The Winged Dragon of Ra and Sent to the Graveyard. The only thing left on the Field was Ra, the incarnation of the sun.
"After this Effect is applied, The Winged Dragon of Ra enters God Phoenix Mode, making it unaffected by any Effects, and any Damage I take from it becomes 0," Chumley said, looking at The Winged Dragon of Ra soaring above his Field. "Without Raviel, Lord of Phantasms as an obstacle, your Field is as good as naked before me, Odion."
Odion, however, remained calm. "But Ra, revived from the Graveyard, has 0 ATK because it had no Tributes. Even if you Direct Attack me, my Life Points won't take any Damage."
"Furthermore, before Raviel, Lord of Phantasms was Destroyed, because you Summoned a Monster, he left a Sacred Beast Token in Defense Position on my Field!"
[Sacred Beast Token] [Level 1/DARK Attribute]
[Fiend-Type/Token]
[ATK 1000/DEF 1000]
Chumley merely smiled, flipping another Card in his Hand. "The Winged Dragon of Ra has completed its mission. The task of clearing the last remnants of resistance on your Field will naturally be completed by other Monsters."
"Thanks to Raviel, Lord of Phantasms's Attack just now, there's quite a terrifying power slumbering in my Graveyard."
Odion saw the Card in Chumley's Hand; it was a green-bordered Spell Card.
"That Card is?"
"Spell Card, Dragon's Mirror, Activate!" Chumley said, taking two Cards from his Graveyard and Banishing them from the Game—tucking them into his pocket. "By choosing Fusion Material Monsters from my Graveyard and Banishing them, I Fusion Summon a Dragon-Type Fusion Monster!"
"I Banish Swift Gaia the Fierce Knight and Curse of Dragonfire from my Graveyard! Let Gaia's speed break through the limits of the gale! Your speed surpasses even light!"
"Come forth! Sky Galloping Gaia the Dragon Champion!!!"
Gales and flames descended onto the Field. Odion only saw a stream of light burst forth from Chumley's Graveyard. Immediately, Swift Gaia the Fierce Knight and Curse of Dragonfire transformed into a phantom image.
"Vanished!?"
Odion couldn't help but look up into the sky. He saw that at some point, Gaia, riding on Curse of Dragonfire, had already circled above his head, traversing the Field faster than the wind, leaving countless afterimages due to its exaggerated high speed.
[Sky Galloping Gaia the Dragon Champion] [Level 7/Wind]
[Dragon-Type/Fusion/Effect]
[ATK 2600/DEF 2100]
"When Sky Galloping Gaia the Dragon Champion is Special Summoned successfully, I can add one Spiral Spear Strike from my Deck or Graveyard to my Hand."
Chumley said, raising his empty hand. As Gaia's afterimage swept past, a Card suddenly appeared in his hand, as if it had been printed out of nowhere.
"Then, I Activate the Continuous Spell Card, Spiral Spear Strike! When Gaia The Fierce Knight, Swift Gaia the Fierce Knight, and Gaia the Dragon Champion on my Field Attack a Monster in Defense Position, the Opponent takes Damage equal to the difference between its ATK and the attacked Monster's DEF!"
"And, while Sky Galloping Gaia the Dragon Champion exists on the Field, its name is treated as Gaia the Dragon Champion!"
"What?!"
Odion couldn't help but look at the Sacred Beast Token on his Field. Coincidentally, it was currently in Defense Position, perfectly meeting the conditions of Spiral Spear Strike.
"Let's go, Gaia! Run one more lap with me!" Chumley commanded with a wave of his hand. "Drive! Type Dragon!"
"Cavalry Charge: Spiral Spear Strike!"
Spinning rapidly with Curse of Dragonfire beneath it, Sky Galloping Gaia the Dragon Champion had barely revealed its true form before transforming into a spiraling flame drill, charging towards the Defense Position "mini-Raviel"—the Sacred Beast Token. Without giving Odion any chance to react, the Sacred Beast Token was instantly shattered, and the overflowing Battle Damage was inflicted upon Odion.
"Ugh!"
[Odion: 3800 → 2200 LP]
Recovering from the sudden, unexpected Impact for which he was completely unprepared, Odion forced himself to calm down and looked at Chumley. "But your Attack ends here. At the End Phase, Ra will be forced to return to the Graveyard."
And I still have one Monster Reborn in my Hand. Next Turn, I can Revive Raviel, Lord of Phantasms, which was Sent to the Graveyard. The scales of victory still favor me! Odion added in his mind.
"That's true, but I never said my Battle Phase was over." Chumley smiled, catching two Cards that popped out of his Deck. "Because of Spiral Spear Strike's Effect, when Gaia the Dragon Champion inflicts Damage to you using its Effect, I can draw two Cards, then Discard one Card from my Hand."
"Then, I Release Sky Galloping Gaia the Dragon Champion, the Dragon-Type Fusion Monster on my Field, to Special Summon the Monster I just added to my Hand!"
"Special Summon during the Battle Phase?!" Odion was startled.
This chapter concludes, and then we'll move into the Top 8. I'll announce the participants early: Chumley, Yugi, Kaiba, Joey, Marik, A, B, and C.
You can guess who A, B, and C are.
(end of chapter)