"Archfiend of Gilfer, direct attack Marik!" Yugi pointed directly at the six-year-old.
The pitch-black demon spewed forth a chaotic impact, crossing Marik's empty front line, howling towards him personally.
However, it was obvious to anyone with a brain that the three Set Cards in the six-year-old's back row couldn't possibly all be for show. The six-year-old laughed heartily and waved his hand, "Do you really think it'll be that simple, Yugi? Trap Card Activate! 'Call of the Earthbound'!"
The red trap flipped over, and from its eerie black card face flew out a dark ghostly figure, like a wandering spirit from the field... floating over to Youyu and disappearing.
Then somehow, the attack of the Archfiend of Gilfer suddenly changed direction halfway, making a 180-degree turn, and charged towards Youyu.
"Heh, 'Call of the Earthbound' is a trap that allows me to decide the opponent's attack target when they initiate an attack," Marik chuckled darkly, casting a malicious glance at Youyu.
"... 'Lava Golem' can't defend while equipped with 'Mask of the Accursed', so your field is now empty. Go for it! Yugi's Archfiend of Gilfer, direct attack Youyu!"
Youyu squinted his eyes.
MD this punk Marik, why the heck is he targeting me the moment he starts?
Didn't I just snatch away a few... five or six decks, and maybe three or four Duel Discs... and a Sky Dragon card?
Is it really necessary?
So petty, getting all worked up over such a P-sized thing, no wonder the Ghouls are going the way of extinction...
Archfiend of Gilfer has an attack power of 2200 points; if I take this direct attack here, and then in my turn lose 700 LP due to Lava Golem's effect (anime effect), plus another 500 LP due to 'Mask of the Accursed' effect, I'll be left on the brink, becoming the person closest to the tower top, life like a candle flickering in the wind...
... Hmm, maybe that's not too bad?
But Youyu wasn't planning on going into Life Lock mode so quickly. He raised his hand to press the button on his Duel Disc: "Then I activate my set..."
But someone was faster than him: "Activating Set Card!"
Everyone looked in the direction of the voice and found that it was Kaiba, who had been standing there with his arms crossed the whole time.
In this world of card games, it seems whoever shouts fastest and loudest gets to activate their effect first. When it comes to vocal power, Youyu obviously isn't Kaiba's match, so President got to flip his card first...
"Quick-Play Magic - Command Silencer!"
The magic card bearing a Quick-Play icon flipped open, projecting a sonic device in the center of the four people, releasing waves of transparent sound in the enclosed space as three-dimensional holograms.
"Command Silencer is a Quick-Play Magic that can cancel a player's attack declaration. Once activated successfully, I can draw a card from my deck." President smirked with arms crossed, "I'm using 'Command Silencer' to cancel Yugi's attack command on 'Archfiend of Gilfer'!"
Archfiend of Gilfer is Yugi's monster; if its master's attack command is canceled, the attack itself becomes invalid! 'Call of the Earthbound' naturally becomes ineffective as well!" (anime card)
This indeed surprised Youyu.
Isn't President always eager to duel Yugi? Why would he activate a Set Card to cover me?
President finished speaking and gave Youyu a sidelong glance.
Yet before President could speak, Youyu quickly caught on and pointed at himself: "No need to explain, President, you're just drawing a card and not intentionally covering for me; don't worry, I didn't misunderstand."
Kaiba snorted, ignoring him.
Marik, on the other hand, felt a bit flustered. He squinted: "Doing useless things... Hmph, if you're so eager to draw, then draw!"
"Counter Trap Activate! Magic Drain!"
The central Set Card in front of Marik also flipped over.
"Heh, this card can negate the activation of a Magic Trap Card and destroy it; however, the opponent can draw a card." Marik sneered, "Your 'Command Silencer' has been negated, President, hahaha!
Go ahead, draw as you wish, but the attack continues!"
Kaiba pouted displeasedly: "Tch..."
Marik's face twisted, pulling a peculiar facial expression: "Go on Archfiend of Gilfer! Continue your direct attack on Youyu for me!"
"Not necessarily." Youyu chuckled lightly.
"What?" Marik frowned.
This was really thanks to the President. Had it not been for him activating 'Command Silencer' to trip up Marik's 'Magic Drain', the situation could have been completely different now.
"Flip Set Card!" Youyu continued to flip the card he hadn't had time to use earlier, interrupted by the President, "Counter Trap - Seven Tools of the Bandit!"
"What!?" Marik was astonished.
"Seven Tools of the Bandit, is a Counter Trap that can be activated by paying 1000 LP when a trap card is activated," Youyu said, "Invalidating the effect of the trap card and destroys it!
Negate the activation of 'Magic Drain', allowing Kaiba's 'Command Silencer' to remain effective! The attack command of 'Archfiend of Gilfer' is canceled!"
The card of Marik's 'Magic Drain' shattered due to the effect of another Counter Trap, and its effect vanished. Kaiba's 'Command Silencer' continued to be effective, and Yugi's attack command dissipated, the chaos impact from Archfiend of Gilfer dissipating into thin air.
At this point, Archfiend of Gilfer, having experienced such a convoluted chain of actions in a single attack, was probably completely bewildered, possibly already stunned by the continuous chain reactions among the four of them.
Archfiend of Gilfer: Who am I? Where am I? Who am I supposed to attack?
What? I didn't hear what the master just said. Why aren't we suddenly attacking? (＠_＠;)
"Hmph." Marik glared at Youyu, seemingly angry that the attack didn't go through.
"But that trap requires a payment of 1000 LP." Marik stared intently at Youyu, as if afraid that he would try to take advantage of everyone not noticing, skimping on the 1000 LP cost...
"I know." Youyu said calmly.
[Youyu, LP 4000 → LP 3000]
The platform Youyu was on climbed upward a notch. After it stopped, he turned his head and reminded Kaiba: "'Command Eraser' was effective, President, you can draw a card now."
Kaiba smirked and drew a card.
"My turn ends." Yugi said.
Looking at the three Set Cards in Marik's backfield, it was clear they were all traps.
Yugi never expected this simple attack to succeed; his original intent was to dismantle Marik's backfield defenses.
Now his backfield was down to the last Set Card.
Marik let out a sneering laugh, glancing at Youyu: "But you still have a Lava Golem on the field, unable to attack or defend. Plus, with the 'Mask of the Accursed' effect, at the start of your turn, you'll still lose 1200 LP."
With that, he let out a few sleazy laughs.
"Looks like you'll be the first one to be sent up."
"My turn, draw!" This time it was Kaiba's turn.
"If we drag this on, it's hard to decide who goes when, so let me eliminate one within this turn!" Kaiba shouted loudly, "From the hand, activate Magic Card... Soul Exchange!"
The other three were all startled simultaneously.
The President actually pulls out Soul Exchange in this situation?
"Heh, Soul Exchange is a card that allows a Tribute Summon using any number of opponent's monsters." Kaiba coldly laughed, "According to the free-for-all rules, everyone except me is considered an opponent, so I can choose from any monsters on the field of others as tributes." (anime effect)
Kaiba waved his hand: "The monsters I choose as tributes are, first, Yugi, your 'Archfiend of Gilfer'! Then... Youyu! Your 'Lava Golem'!"
Marik: "What!?"
"Using 'Archfiend of Gilfer' and 'Lava Golem' as tributes! Let your claws slice through the sky, let endless light dispel the darkness!
My strongest servant, descend—Blue-Eyes White Dragon!!!"
A hurricane erupted in the space, followed by a dragon's roar that seemed to challenge the gods. The white dragon spread its wings, descending before Kaiba with a fierce roar.
Kaiba began to laugh heartily.
If Lava Golem is tributed away, naturally the 'Mask of the Accursed' equipped to it will also be destroyed.
So, during the next turn of Youyu, he naturally wouldn't lose 1200 LP anymore.
Of course, President Kaiba wouldn't intentionally do good deeds. The reason for tributing Lava Golem was merely to summon his wife, not to intentionally help Youyu clear the field; people in the know would understand...