"It's my turn, draw a card!" It's Youyu's turn now.
The destructive god, Obelisk the Tormentor, boasts a base attack power of 4000 and possesses strong resistance against trap effects and monster effects below level 10.
Even using Magic Cards won't directly deal with it, as only continuous effect cards may have an effect for one turn.
Such a powerful Monster's field presence is still quite terrifying, and even Youyu doesn't have many means to clear it. Although Yugi's last turn, "Card Destruction" combined with "Disgraceful Charity," helped Youyu replenish his hand, he still doesn't have the means to directly deal with the Tormentor.
"First, I'll use Disgraceful Charity as well," Youyu said, "Draw three cards, then send two cards from my hand to the graveyard."
"I summon 'Elemental Hero Solidman,' in Defense Position!" Youyu revealed two Monster Cards from his hand, "When Solidman is summoned successfully, I can Special Summon another Elemental Hero Monster below level 4 from my hand! Special Summon Blazeman, in Defense Position!"
With a burst of light and fire effects, the armored hero and the fire hero wearing goggles both descended to the field, crouching in a defensive stance in front of Youyu.
[Elemental Hero Solidman, Defense Power 1100]
[Elemental Hero Blazeman, Defense Power 1800]
"Next, the effect of 'Elemental Hero Blazeman' activates!" Youyu drew from his Card Deck, "When Blazeman is successfully summoned, I can add one 'Polymerization' from the Card Deck to my hand."
Speaking of which, this situation feels somewhat familiar. These two brothers seemed to have been cannon fodder for Youyu before...
But here, Youyu indeed has no better choice. If Solidman and Blazeman are fused, it'll either create the Earth Attribute Terra Firma, or summon the Fire Attribute Nova Master.
But Nova Master's attack power isn't sufficient, and although Terra Firma has an effect to steal the opponent's Monster's attack power to strengthen itself, its level is only 6. Monster effects below level 10 are ineffective against the god.
Therefore, rather than wasting resources to summon a big Monster only for Yugi to deal with, it's better to conserve resources to strengthen defenses and wait for a chance to counterattack.
Besides, he happens to have cards that can create opportunities.
"I cover three cards on the field!" Three Set Cards appeared in Youyu's backfield, "Then I activate Continuous Magic - Mirage of Nightmare!"
This time, Youyu's field saw the appearance of yet another Forbidden Card, one of the most commonly used draw methods by the protagonist Yuki Judai in Yu-Gi-Oh! GX.
"The effect of Mirage of Nightmare allows me to draw cards until I have four in hand at the start of the opponent's turn." Youyu explained, "But when it comes back to my turn, I must randomly discard the number of cards I drew from my hand."
Yugi slightly frowned.
Drawing cards during the opponent's turn only to discard them all during your own... what's the special meaning of that?
"My turn ends." Youyu declared.
Yugi lowered his arm: "My turn, draw a card!"
"At this instant, the effect of Mirage of Nightmare activates!" Youyu pointed to the Continuous Magic beside him, "At this instant, my hand is filled up to four cards!"
Yugi glanced at the cards he drew, smiling slightly: "Although I don't know what you're planning, Youyu, if you can't handle this move, our battle might come to an end here?"
Youyu furrowed his brow.
"From my hand, I activate the Magic Card... Scapegoat!" Yugi inserted the Magic Card into the Duel Disc, "Special summon two 'Scapegoat Tokens' on my field!"
[Scapegoat Token, Defense Power 0] x2
"During the turn this effect activates, I can't summon Monsters in any form." Yugi smiled, "Of course, right now I don't have any Monsters to summon."
Two Scapegoat Tokens...
Youyu bit his lip.
As expected from the daily divine draw Pharaoh, he really speaks execution into existence.
Now it's easy to guess what Yugi's going to do even thinking in shoes.
"But now, I will activate the special ability of the destructive god, Obelisk the Tormentor's instant kill!" Dark Yugi shouted loudly, "Sacrifice two Monsters on my field and give up Obelisk's attack rights for this turn, destroy all Monsters on the opponent's field, dealing 4000 points of damage to the opponent player!"
As soon as Yugi finished speaking, the audience watching on were all astounded.
Because in the previous duel, Kaiba hadn't had a chance to use this ability before the Tormentor was dealt with by Yugi, so everyone in attendance was witnessing Obelisk's special ability for the first time.
Even Jonouchi, who's been cheering for Yugi, felt incredulous: "This... this kind of effect... isn't it invincible?"
"Destroy all Monsters... and deal 4000 damage!?" Kujaku Mai felt horrified, "Does this Monster have an ultimate ability that ignores any restrictions and ends the battle instantly?"
"It's not a Monster, it's a god!" Kaiba corrected, arms crossed by the side, "Indeed, Obelisk is the destructive god with instant kill ability and absolute suppressive power!"
Jonouchi squinted: "Then Kaiba, why did you lose against Yugi even though you had Obelisk in your hand before?"
Kaiba: "..."
Perhaps this is why the President hates Normal Monsters so much...
At this moment, Obelisk the Tormentor has already grabbed a Scapegoat Token in its hand. The two poor little lambs instantly transformed into sustenance for the god, turning into blue light points and merging into Obelisk's massive fists. Boundless blue energy surged along his thick arms, accompanied by a roar that shook the earth.
"Go ahead, Obelisk's special ability!" Dark Yugi waved his hand, "Fist of Fate Shock Wave!"
Obelisk roared and swung its heavy fist.
The sacred blue light shot out, like endless tidal waves. Youyu faced that boundless divine light and felt himself as insignificant as a drop in the ocean under the endless divine might, on the brink of being swallowed by the tide of light in just a single breath.
Elemental Hero Solidman and Elemental Hero Blazeman touched that divine light and instantly turned to ash, the blue waves surged forward unceasingly, crashing down towards Youyu.
Dark Magician Girl screamed, "Master!"
Youyu gritted his teeth, "Flip Cover Card..."
BOOM!!!
The force felt like it could flatten the Dueling Arena. Though theoretically just a holographic image, it seemed a true hurricane had swept down from the stage, leaving the crowd below unable to open their eyes or breathe.
Only Mr. Isono, the indomitable referee, stood on the dueling stage, arms crossed, keeping a calm expression like nothing was extraordinary.
Obelisk withdrew its fist. Yugi stood firm as the dust settled.
... Did it succeed?
The entire audience held their breath — even President Kaiba, pretending not to care. Countless eyes were fixed on Youyu's side of the arena, waiting tensely for the outcome.
Everyone had the same thought —
— with such terrifying effect, surely it was over, right?
However...
[Youyu, LP 500]
The dust dissipated, Youyu stood teetering, breathing heavily but had endured... and even managed to lock some Life Points.
Thanks, Brother Yugi, for unlocking.
"Oh, you actually withstand the power of 'Fist of Fate Shock Wave', that's impressive." Yugi smiled, not particularly surprised, "How did you do it?"
Youyu smiled and withdrew a Trap Card from the cemetery.
He picked up the Trap Card and flipped it over to show Yugi.
"Damage Diet?" Yugi raised his eyebrow, "But that card was activated last round and should be in the cemetery."
"Its effect is only meaningful in the cemetery," Youyu explained, "The first effect of Damage Diet cuts all damage received in half during the turn it's activated.
But it has another effect. By banishing this card from the cemetery, all effect damage received during that turn is halved!"
"But even halved, the damage from 'Fist of Fate' is still 2000 points," Yugi said, "And you had 1500 LP at the time, insufficient to withstand the damage."
"I know, so at that exact moment, I activated this as well," Youyu smiled and withdrew another card from the cemetery, "Quick-Play Magic Card - Emergency Provisions. Send any number of Magic Trap Cards on your field to the cemetery, restoring 1000 LP for each.
At that moment, I sent the Continuous Magic 'Mirage of Nightmare' to the cemetery, recovering 1000 LP. So before taking the damage from Fist of Fate, my LP was restored to 2500."
"I see, very nicely done."
President Kaiba spoke without excessive words, "With 'Mirage of Nightmare', you draw four cards during the opponent's turn and must discard them all during your own turn.
So by sending 'Mirage of Nightmare' to the cemetery with Emergency Provisions, not only did he restore his LP, but also avoided the drawback of discarding his hand."
"I see!" Jonouchi realized, "That way, not only did he draw cards, but he also restored his LP!"
"Additionally, after recovering LP, the Damage Diet set in the cemetery last turn ensured survival against Fist of Fate," Kaiba continued, "Missing any part of this strategy, and he would have likely become the victim of Fist of Fate."
Kaiba praised while simultaneously giving Jonouchi a disdainful glance.
"...Of course, such intricate strategy, a normal monster like you probably wouldn't get it."
Jonouchi, who had just expressed admiration for Youyu's defensive strategy, immediately got ready to roll up his sleeves, "What did you say, bastard!?"
His good friend Honda quickly intervened, his expression suggesting, Jonouchi, let it go...
"Calculating so thoroughly, even prepared for 'Fist of Fate', and using traps in the cemetery?" Yugi smiled, "I knew I wasn't wrong about you; you are indeed suited to be the Duelist in the final battle at Duel City!"
Down below, President Kaiba heard this and snorted, seemingly a bit envious...
"My turn is over," Yugi said, "Your turn, Youyu, don't hold back and attack with all your might!"