The storm swept the field, forcing Silent Magician LV8 to leave again. But the triumphant Beast King Barbaros slipped as the trap took hold and fell face down as a set card.
"Even so, breaking through your defense is not easy," Yako Tenma said with a faint smile.
"I set three cards and end my turn."
"My Turn! Draw."
The moment Yugen drew, blazing fire erupted from the Graveyard on his Duel Disk. A burning phoenix shot into the sky as if tearing open a Rift in the calm heavens. Countless hot particles gathered into a solid form, spinning in the air as though the flames had gained life.
The rising fire released a powerful surge of energy and slowly revealed a solemn outline. A golden divine bird appeared, its feathers shining with bright light and its eyes like burning stars. It looked noble and imposing as it spread its wings.
"When Sacred Phoenix of Nephthys is sent to the Graveyard by a card effect, it can revive during my next Standby Phase. Therefore, Sacred Phoenix of Nephthys returns!" Yugen Do declared.
Sacred Phoenix of Nephthys, ATK 2400.
"And when it is Special Summoned by this effect, all Spell and Trap Cards on the field are Destroyed!" (ANIME EFFECT)
The spectators gasped. It could clear the entire Back Row just by reviving.
A woman with a black hairpin spoke calmly. She was one of the elite under Yako Tenma, Professor Tiramuku, who used a Vampire Deck. "The combination of Silent Magician and Nephthys reduces the payoff from Maximillion Pegasus's Beast King Barbaros board wipe to the minimum."
The other experts nodded in agreement. Although Yako Tenma had been attacking fiercely, he had already spent most of his Life Points, while his opponent's Life Points had not changed at all.
"Is he really a student of Duel Academy?" Tiramuku frowned. "To be honest, he is already stronger than many of us Card Professors."
Kirk Dixon remained silent.
"Clearing the field with the Phoenix God to prepare for your next assault?" Yako Tenma said in a low voice. "It will not be that simple.
I activate my set card, Continuous Trap 'Demonic Binding Chain'! I bind one monster on the field with chains of a Fiend. That monster cannot attack, and its effects are negated!" (ANIME EFFECT)
Green chains shot out from the Trap Card and wrapped around the body of the Phoenix God. The golden bird struggled, but its flames dimmed under the restraint.
"With the Phoenix God's effect negated, my Back Row remains intact," Yako Tenma said.
"Then I proceed to Main Phase." Yugen revealed another card. "I activate the Spell Card 'Dark Hole'! Destroy all monsters on the field!"
A dark celestial body appeared, releasing endless gravity from a scar in space and pulling at everything on the field.
Yako Tenma narrowed his eyes. "By Destroying my defense, you would also free Sacred Phoenix of Nephthys from the chains of Demonic Binding Chain, letting it clear my Back Row again next turn. A good calculation, but..."
He flipped another set card.
"Counter Trap, 'Magic Jammer'! When a Spell is activated, negate that Spell Card and Destroy it. You can discard a Spell Card to negate this card instead."
"I will not discard a Spell Card," Yugen replied.
"Then the activation of Dark Hole is negated!"
The black vortex vanished at once, and the field fell quiet again.
"Then I Normal Summon 'Mystic Tomato' in Attack Position."
'Mystic Tomato', ATK 1400.
"'Mystic Tomato' attacks the face down Beast King Barbaros!"
The small tomato bounced forward and slammed its head into the set monster. The crowd held their breath at the sight of the ridiculous charge.
Beast King Barbaros had 3000 ATK, but only 1200 DEF. Being struck down by a tomato would have been humiliating.
"I will not allow that," Yako Tenma said. "Counter Trap, 'Negate Attack'! Negate the attack and end the Battle Phase!"
The counter vortex opened, and the little tomato crashed into the storm and stumbled back dizzy. It returned to its side of the field in frustration.
"I set one card and end my turn."
"My Turn! Draw."
Yako Tenma drew and immediately played a card. "I activate 'Pot of Greed' and draw two cards."
After drawing, he placed another card on the field. "I activate the Spell Card 'Magic Planter'. I send one Continuous Spell on my field to the Graveyard and draw two cards."
"I send the Continuous Spell 'Card of the Underworld' to the Graveyard and draw two." (ANIME EFFECT)
Yako Tenma drew again, then paused with a faint smile. "My intuition was right. There is a reason Seto Kaiba values you. You are a true Duelist worthy of my full strength.
So in this Duel, I will hold nothing back. I now Summon my evolved strongest monster."
The Card Professors exchanged glances, their expressions changing.
"Is he going to use that?" someone whispered.
Tiramuku crossed her arms. "This is getting interesting."
Yako Tenma revealed a card from his hand.
"I activate Spell Card 'Polymerization'! I fuse the on field Beast King Barbaros with the 'Divine Machine King Ur' in my hand!" (ANIME EFFECT)
Divine Machine King Ur appeared, and together with Beast King Barbaros it turned into golden light and entered the vortex of Polymerization. Brilliant light burst forth as a divine beast took shape, holding a spiral lance, clad in red armor that shone with cold metal.
Beast Machine King - Barbaros Ur descended in crimson armor.
Beast Machine King - Barbaros Ur, Fusion Summon!
Beast Machine King - Barbaros Ur, ATK 3800.
"So it finally appears, Maximillion Pegasus's strongest monster."
The Card Professors stirred in shock. Even they had not seen Yako Tenma duel at full power in many years.
"From my hand, I Normal Summon 'Seraph Trooper'!" (ANIME EFFECT)
'Seraph Trooper', ATK 1600.
"Continuous Trap 'Ultimate Offering' Effect Activation!" Yako Tenma continued. "I pay 500 Life Points to gain an additional Normal Summon!"
Yako Tenma, LP 1500 to 1000.
"I pay another 500 Life Points and Tribute Seraph Trooper. Level 6 'Twin-Headed Behemoth', Summon!"
'Twin-Headed Behemoth', ATK 1700.
"This turn will be my final all out assault!" Yako Tenma shouted. "If you can withstand it, then show me!"
"Beast Machine King - Barbaros Ur, attack Sacred Phoenix of Nephthys!"
The giant machine let out a roar that shook the field. Red armor flashed with a cold light as its massive body charged forward like a bolt of thunder. The ground beneath it cracked as it drove straight at its target.
"I activate my face down card," Yugen Do said. "Continuous Trap 'Spirit Barrier'! As long as I control a monster, any battle damage I would take becomes 0."
Phoenix God was pierced by the thunderous strike and exploded into a fireball. The flames spread outward like a burning wall, blocking the remaining shockwave from the charging machine. The impact was violent, but no damage reached its controller.
"You stopped the damage, but this is far from over," Yako Tenma said with a smile. "Beast Machine King - Barbaros Ur has a special ability. Once per turn, it can select a number of attack targets equal to its Level." (ANIME EFFECT)
He raised a hand calmly. "Its Level is eight. That means it can choose up to eight attack targets in a single turn."
Even Mokuba Kaiba changed expression slightly. A monster that could attack eight times in one turn was no joke.
But Yugen remained calm. He had seen far more extreme battle phases before.
"Second attack," Yako Tenma ordered. "Attack Mystic Tomato!"
Mystic Tomato was crushed instantly beneath the overwhelming force. The machine did not slow down for even a second.
"With Spirit Barrier, I still take 0 damage," Yugen Do replied. "And when Mystic Tomato is destroyed by battle, I can Special Summon a DARK monster with 1500 or less ATK from my Deck. I Special Summon another Mystic Tomato."
A second tomato appeared in Attack Position.
"Third attack!"
The newly Summoned Mystic Tomato was immediately destroyed as well. Shards scattered across the field.
"Still no battle damage," Yugen said. "And I Special Summon a third Mystic Tomato."
The cycle continued without hesitation.
"Fourth attack!"