Submarineroids, attack sealed!
With a single Elemental Absorber, Marik completely neutralized the Submarineroid threat. As long as they stay WATER, there's no breaking through this wall.
Marik could finally breathe, at least not worrying about an instant loss to the Submarines—though his crisis was far from resolved.
He still had two Lava Golems on his field—one his own, one his opponent's. Now his iron cage was double-locked, and two burning golems loomed overhead.
As if to add fuel to the fire, Kira snapped his fingers.
"I activate the set card on my field:
Spell Card: Swords of Revealing Light!"
White beams of light descended, transforming into blinding swords that surrounded Marik's field. They formed a sealing barrier, trapping Marik's entire field in place.
The two massive Lava Golems were caught dead center, each locked in place by glowing swords.
"Swords of Revealing Light prevents your monsters from declaring attacks for three turns," Kira said. "But at the end of your third turn after this card is activated, it destroys itself."
Marik's face grew even gloomier.
Great, Swords of Revealing Light.
This thing was a staple back in Duel Monsters days—a must-have in early decks, and a powerful lockdown tool. Unlike Gravity Bind, Messenger of Peace, or Level Limit – Area B, Swords of Revealing Light is a one-way lockdown: only the opponent can't attack for three turns, not you.
Three turns might not sound long, but for Marik, it was endless. Two Lava Golems burning him for 2000 each turn—his corpse would be cooked well done after three turns.
Kira: "End of turn."
Marik, stone-faced: "Then it's my turn. Draw."
Both duel disks displayed "Standby Phase." Kira chuckled, "Now, both Lava Golems' effects activate.
Each Lava Golem inflicts 1000 damage to its controller."
Both Lava Golems dripped magma, pouring burning lava over Marik's head.
Double the golems, double the fun. Marik was left scorched, smoke rising from his body as he let out a muffled groan.
[Marik LP 2200 → LP 200]
Even Ishizu was struck speechless by the scene.
As his sister, she always believed she knew Marik best. They'd grown up learning the art of dueling together, and since their environment was so isolated, they only ever practiced against each other. She knew all his tactics and strategies.
Which is why this scene seemed all the stranger.
Luckily, Marik had only packed one Lava Golem. If he'd had two, he'd be gone.
Even now, with only 200 LP left, he'd barely survived, but the problem wasn't solved. With Swords of Revealing Light on the field, he still couldn't attack, and even if Kira did nothing, by next turn the Lava Golem would burn Marik to death.
But Marik is Marik, a legendary duelist. The more desperate the situation, the more he can draw the card he needs.
Just like now.
"Spell Card—
—Monster Recovery!"
Ishizu's eyes immediately lit up. Monster Recovery returns all your hand and field cards to the deck and lets you draw five. (Anime effect)
"Monster Recovery returns all cards in my hand and on the field to the deck, then I draw five cards!" Marik declared.
A vortex opened, sucking all Marik's cards—including both Lava Golems—back into the deck.
Marik reshuffled and drew five new cards.
Ishizu thought: the Lava Golem crisis is gone, but so is his Elemental Absorber, which was keeping the Submarines at bay. Now, with only 200 LP, any Submarineroid attack spells instant death.
It's one danger after another. Marik walked a tightrope over a pit of knives—one misstep would mean disaster.
"Then I activate Spell Card: Spellbook from the Pot: Both players draw three cards."
With a replenished hand, Marik's lips curled into a sinister smile. For a moment, he looked like the return of his long-lost dark self.
"Since you learned this move from me, I can't fall behind. So, as a gesture of courtesy, I'll give you this card!
I tribute your two Submarines to Special Summon a powerful monster for you! Appear—
—Lava Golem!"
Sure enough, as a gift for a gift, lava erupted under Kira's Submarines, burning them to ashes. The burning giant rose from the magma.
The blazing cage now trapped Kira inside. He looked up at the golem and smiled.
"Impressive as always, Mr. Marik. Only one Lava Golem in your deck, and you drew it right after shuffling it back in?"
But Kira's LP was still plentiful. Even if he took 1000 burn, he'd survive. Marik, with only 200 LP left, would still lose if even a single Submarineroid got through next turn.
"I activate Graceful Charity: Draw three, then discard two."
Marik discarded two cards. A sinister demon appeared behind him.
"I just discarded 'Makyura the Destructor'!" Marik said. "When Makyura is sent to the graveyard, I can activate a Trap from my hand."
Kira wasn't surprised. Makyura had been a banned card for good reason, and Kira used it sometimes too. It was originally Marik's card, after all.
"So I activate this Trap from my hand:
Continuous Trap: Remove Brainwashing!"
…