Super Magic Knight - Dark Cavalry, Summon!
The imposing and mighty Dark Cavalry descended onto Yugi's field, riding on a stallion, dressed in black armor reminiscent of a magician, yet wielding not a staff but a spiraling lance.
Since he's called "Dark Cavalry," one should already guess at first glance that he specializes in melee combat.
Some appear to be Spellcaster-Type, but in truth, their special move is the Spiral Spear Strike.
"The effect of the Super Magic Knight - Dark Cavalry!" Yugi raised his hand and shouted, "The attack power of this card increases by the number of Magic Trap Cards in both graveyards x100 points."
Youyu couldn't help but grit his teeth.
Having fought to this point, the stack of Magic and Trap cards in both graveyards might as well make up an entire deck, who knows how much attack power will be added...
However, the system quickly calculated the exact amount. Magic Trap Cards projected one by one into the air, hovering above the dueling arena, each transforming into a golden glow and shooting towards the spiraling lance of the Dark Cavalry.
With each card absorbed, the golden glow around the weapon in Dark Cavalry's hand grew brighter, until the entire lance was ablaze with a dazzling golden spiral, seemingly piercing through everything in existence.
"The number of Magic and Trap cards absorbed by Dark Cavalry totals 22!" Yugi pointed with his raised hand, "So Dark Cavalry's attack power rises by 2200 points!"
[Dark Cavalry, Attack Power 2800 → Attack Power 5000]
The audience below gasped in shock.
"The Egyptian God was just dealt with, and now such a powerful monster has been summoned again?" Kujaku Mai stared at Yugi's back on stage, somewhat lost, "What kind of terrifying duel is this!"
Yue Hua looked a bit anxious: "Youyu-san... won't lose, right?"
"How...how is that possible!" Xue Lang tried to sound confident but was not as sure of Youyu as before, "He certainly won't lose! Probably..."
President Haima looked at the pitch-black knight warrior on stage, momentarily lost in thought.
Is this your full strength, Yugi?
How much further am I really from you?
"This is my full-strength attack, if you can take it, try, Youyu! Battle!" Yugi commanded loudly, "Use Magic Card - Quick Attack to grant Dark Cavalry the ability to attack immediately! Dark Cavalry attack Flame Wingman!"
The black stallion charged forward, the dark knight raised his lance, the gun barrel coated with swirling chaos. He moved like a gust of wind, trailing behind a line of dark lightning transformed by magic power. The lance pierced through the air, even before it reached the magic vortex, had already been launched.
The difference in attack power was more than twice, with such an overwhelming disparity, Flame Wingman stood no chance to resist. The dark magic pierced and shredded the body of the fiery hero, and the momentum continued, rushing towards Youyu...
Everyone in the audience held their breath, eyes wide open, fearing to miss any moment in the following frames.
"Has the outcome been decided?" Haima murmured.
...
...but——it's alright!
At this moment, Youyu burst out with exceptional hand speed cultivated over two lifetimes of being single, swiftly placing a card from his hand into the graveyard at lightning speed——
——Kuriboh, save me!!!
Kuriboh! Once again, the omnipotent Kuriboh!
The invincible Kuriboh appeared out of nowhere, proudly holding its head high, using its small body to withstand the surging magic impact of Dark Cavalry!
Its soft calls of "Kuri Kuri," as if telling everyone present—tell me loudly, who is the eternal god?
[Youyu, LP 500]
The magic power bounced and scattered, the smoke cleared, leaving Youyu's field empty, but his LP remained unscathed.
"Resisting the damage by relying on Kuriboh, huh?" Yugi said approvingly, "I've heard that excellent duelists have similar choices in their cards; indeed we are quite alike."
President Haima listened below, snorted disdainfully, "Hmph, survived another round using the power of a weak monster?"
Though he said that, Haima secretly hesitated in his heart.
Maybe...
...when he returns today, should he collect a Kuriboh too?
After all, Kuriboh's not particularly rare, and given President Haima's wealth and resources, he could procure a warehouse full of Kuribohs in minutes.
However, having cursed Kuriboh as "weak monster" so many times, now going to collect one, he certainly wouldn't give up his old pride...
The more he thought, the angrier he got. President Haima glanced at Youyu's field, where Kuriboh gradually became transparent and disappeared, and snorted in annoyance, "Weak monster!"
"Then, I set a card, ending my turn!"
Dark Yugi placed the card into the Duel Disc, and another set card appeared at his feet.
Youyu took a deep breath, looking down at his deck.
LP remaining at 500, no monster on the field, only one set card, and one card left in hand. On Yugi's field stands the invincible Dark Cavalry, with an attack power of 5000 and strong resistance.
Dark Cavalry's effect allows the discarding of a card from the hand, rendering "effects targeting cards on the field" invalid and destroying them.
Note, this does not state "effects targeting Dark Cavalry," but "effects targeting cards on the field," meaning even attempting to use Mystical Space Typhoon to destroy a Magic Trap or equip a monster with Equip Magic will be invalid.
Youyu has even used the once-per-duel "Destiny Draw" skill, now it's a situation close to hopeless.
If it were in the past, he would have already conceded.
But not now.
From Duel City through battles to now, he hasn't just grown stronger, gaining more powerful cards, he possesses the Divine Power, his own spirit, Duelist level nearing Seven Stars, creating a miracle reversal from dire straits isn't impossible.
Youyu held his breath, his fingers lightly touching the top card of his deck, feeling its weight as never before.
He seemed to finally understand the mystical feeling original duelists referred to when saying "the moment of drawing a card is the creation of the world."
A slender, translucent little hand gently rested on Youyu's hand.
Youyu turned his head, surprised to find that the spirit of Dark Magician Girl had somehow appeared beside him, her small hand resting on his, seriousness marked on her little face.
It's her entire "strength," the maximum she can assist her master.
Youyu smiled slightly.
"My turn... Draw!"
Breaths halted, time seemed to freeze, the card drawn appeared to slowly pass before Youyu, like in slow motion.
...This is the first time ever, Youyu experienced the mystical feeling of "being responded to by the deck."
At that same instant, his Duelist level officially broke through, reaching "Level 7" on the panel.
Level Breakthrough!
...YaDaZe (success)!
President Haima, your strength, lend it to me!
"I cover a card from my hand onto the field, then activate... Card of Demise!!"
This is the card gifted by the Haima brothers out of friendship before the finals, capable of creating miracles and reversals in any situation!
Moreover, unlike the previous turn's Destiny Draw designated Pot of Greed, this time relied on his own and the spirit's power, genuinely a godly draw!
Youyu said, "Card of Demise allows players to fill their hand to five cards, then discard all cards in hand during the preparation stage five turns later!"
"Drawing 'Card of Demise' in such a desperate situation," Yugi praised with a smile, "Indeed, you are a true Duelist!"
After all, true Duelists even create their own draws, there is never a case of being unable to draw a reversal card with empty hand and field.
Hand cards replenished again, Youyu made a five-card draw, once again opening up the opportunity for reversal!
This duel... still has a chance to win!