"Continuous Trap: Remove Brainwashing!" Marik declared. "All monsters on the field return control to their original owners!"
Kira understood. "Lava Golem's original owner is you..."
Marik nodded. "So Lava Golem returns to my field!
Come back, Lava Golem!"
The iron cage before Kira vanished, and the Lava Golem overhead turned to embers, which then gathered on Marik's field and reformed the burning giant.
Lava Golem plus Remove Brainwashing—a combo Kira knew well himself.
"But is this really okay?" Kira smiled. "Calling Lava Golem back gives you a 3000 ATK beater, but next turn you'll take another 1000 damage. Isn't that risky?"
"No need to worry." Marik replied. "I activate Equip Spell: Axe of Fools, equipping it to Lava Golem.
The equipped monster gains 1000 ATK, and its effect is negated!"
[Lava Golem ATK 3000 → ATK 4000]
Ishizu couldn't help but cheer inwardly.
By reclaiming Lava Golem and powering it up, Marik also negated its burn effect—turning the Axe's original drawback into an advantage. Clearly, Marik's skills hadn't dulled.
"Impressive," Kira said. "But even so, under Swords of Revealing Light, Lava Golem still can't attack."
"I know!" Marik shouted.
"Quick-Play Spell: Mystical Space Typhoon, destroying Swords of Revealing Light!"
A black whirlwind tore through the field, shredding the light barrier.
"Now the attack lock is gone! Lava Golem, attack Submarineroid!"
Lava Golem roared, its Axe radiating heat. Swinging down, the Submarineroid was cleaved in two, exploding on Kira's field.
"At the moment of battle, I activate 'Megaroid City's' effect again: I send a Machina from my deck to the graveyard, and during battle calculation, swap Submarineroid's ATK and DEF."
[Submarineroid, ATK 800 → ATK 1800]
[Kira, LP 3500 → LP 1300]
Taking massive damage, Kira staggered back. Marik's confidence soared—victory seemed within reach.
But he knew his opponent was cunning, and with his own LP so low, he couldn't be careless. If the Submarineroid came back, even a single torpedo would end him.
But he had a plan.
"I activate Spell Card: Nightmare's Steelcage! For the next two turns, neither player can attack!"
The iron cage sealed the field—a card Marik had once used when controlling a puppet against Atem.
"Finally, I set two cards and end my turn."
Even Ishizu thought Marik played this turn perfectly. In just one turn, he turned the tables, neutralized multiple threats, and set up defenses for the next turn.
Kira: "My turn. Draw."
He glanced at the Lava Golem on Marik's field and grinned. "As expected from Mr. Marik, you've mastered the art of using Lava Golem.
But it may sound arrogant—I think I've gone even further down this path."
"What?" Marik frowned.
"I tribute the Lava Golem on your field, and summon this monster to you..."
Kira raised his hand.
"From the Volcanic couple: Volcanic Queen, summon!!"
Marik: "???"
There's another variation!?
The invincible Lava Golem, after a lifetime of devouring opposing monsters, surely never imagined it would be tributed itself one day.
Lava Golem roared in protest as it was dragged into the magma below. Flames erupted, and the blazing queen soared skyward!
[Volcanic Queen, ATK 2500]
Marik: "..."
"And thanks to your Trap 'Remove Brainwashing,' all monsters return control to their original owners. So Volcanic Queen comes back to me."
Kira beckoned, and the queen flew back to his field.
Marik: "..."
Now Marik recognized the wisdom of his previous move. Without Nightmare's Steelcage, Volcanic Queen would have ended him in one hit.
"Because of Nightmare's Steelcage, I can't attack this turn... But unlike Lava Golem, the Queen can do more than just eat monsters."
"I activate Volcanic Queen's second effect: once per turn, send another card I control to the graveyard to inflict 1000 damage!
I send 'Megaroid City' to the graveyard to burn you for 1000!"
Marik's pupils shrank.
It had a burn effect too!?
He realized that, indeed, Kira had surpassed him. As long as the opponent had a monster, Volcanic Queen could be tributed—and burn LP—a more sinister card than Lava Golem in some cases!
But Marik, patriarch of sinister tactics, wouldn't yield so easily.
"Then I activate my set card: Quick-Play Spell 'Spell of Pain'!
Reflect the card's effect damage back to the opponent!"
Sensing the duel had reached a critical point, even Ishizu held her breath.
1000 damage from Volcanic Queen would finish Marik, and even though Kira's LP wouldn't be zero, he'd be severely wounded.
But Kira had a countermeasure: "I activate my set card: Trap Card 'Nature's Reflection'!
All effect damage I would take this turn is reflected back at my opponent!"
I reflect your reflection!
Marik's face changed as his reflected effect was reflected back at him. He immediately activated his last set card.
"Continuous Trap: Fiendish Chain! Target one monster; it can't attack and its effects are negated!"
Chains shot out, binding Volcanic Queen and sparing Marik's life.
"With Fiendish Chain negating her effect, there's no 1000 burn damage."
With no effect damage, Spell of Pain and Nature's Reflection both fizzled out.
Marik breathed a sigh of relief.
He'd faced stronger opponents before, but this duel was the most dangerous he'd ever experienced.
Kira: "Then I activate Spell Card: Monster Reborn."
Marik: "!"
Another move?
No, calm down. With Nightmare's Steelcage, nothing can attack. I should be safe for now...
"I revive Lava Golem from the graveyard."
Marik: "???"
What's this? Revive Lava Golem?
But under Nightmare's Steelcage, Lava Golem can't attack, and next turn Kira would take 1000 burn himself—suicide.
Has he gone mad?
"But I'm not reviving my own Lava Golem," Kira said cheerfully. "Monster Reborn can revive any monster from either graveyard.
I'm reviving your Lava Golem, Mr. Marik."
Marik: "Huh?"
He was stunned for half a second before looking at his own continuous trap.
Continuous Trap – Remove Brainwashing. All monsters return control to their original owners.
Marik instantly froze.
NA... NANI!?
Oh no, this guy's plan is—
"That's right," Kira said. "Monster Reborn puts Lava Golem on my field, but Remove Brainwashing returns it to its original controller—you, Mr. Marik."
He pointed to Marik's field.
"Go, Lava Golem. Return to your master."
The revived Lava Golem waddled over to Marik's field, grinning goofily.
Marik's face was worse than crying.
No, stop!
I don't know you. You're not my monster.
Stay away!
But it was no use. Lava Golem returned, smiling dumbly.
Marik was speechless.
He was seriously considering cutting this doofus from his deck after today.
To actually be burned to death by his own Lava Golem—what a ridiculous way to go.
Oh, and by the way, even the trap that brought Lava Golem back was his own card.
In this situation, even Detective Conan would have to rule this as suicide, no question.
"Then I end my turn," Kira said, smiling. "At this Standby Phase, Mr. Marik, your Lava Golem's effect burns you for 1000 damage.
Please accept it."
Marik: "..."
[Marik, LP 200 → LP 0]