Darklords.
This deck first appeared in Yu-Gi-Oh! GX, but specifically as a manga deck, used by one of Duel Academy's teachers, Hibiki Midori.
Although Kira hadn't interacted much with Ms. Midori, he knew she was something of a reclusive expert. She didn't chase after fame and fortune in dueling; rather than proving herself in tournaments, she preferred a quiet life, content with just being a teacher at Duel Academy.
Her younger brother, Hibiki Koyo, was the ambitious one. He embarked on a professional career early, dazzling duelists worldwide and even claiming the world champion title. For a time, he was hailed as the "Number One Hero Deck Duelist."
However, the manga later revealed that despite Koyo's championship, it was actually his older sister Midori who was stronger. In their sibling duels, Koyo lost more often than he won—he wasn't the stronger of the two.
Midori's formidable strength as a duelist was undeniable, but her deck's power was equally a factor. Even after being printed as real cards, Darklord decks still held significant potential and shouldn't be underestimated.
Now, this very deck appeared in the hands of the Evil God. Kira speculated that the deck's completion might even surpass Midori's. Even without considering the Evil God cards themselves, just the power of the Darklords alone warranted caution.
At this moment, the Evil God had drawn two cards. His hand remained at six, but two Darklord cards had been sent to the graveyard.
Without hesitation, the Evil God immediately used those graveyard resources for offense.
"I activate the Spell Card 'Darklord Contact'!"
With a flourish, the Evil God played his spell. The golden waves shimmered as the face-up Spell Card emerged.
"Only one 'Darklord Contact' can be activated per turn. But this card allows me to Special Summon any 'Darklord' monster from my graveyard in Defense Position!"
Clearly, he already had two Darklords in his graveyard. He selected one and slapped it onto his Duel Disk.
"Special Summon 'Darklord Superbia'!"
Crimson feathers filled the sky, and beneath those wings appeared a cylindrical, shadowy form—the embodiment of the sin of pride, the gravest sin of all.
[Darklord Superbia | DEF 2400]
"Darklord Superbia's effect!" the Evil God declared. "When Superbia is Special Summoned from the graveyard, I can Special Summon any other Fairy-type monster from my graveyard—except another Superbia. Thus, I call forth another darklord from the grave!"
He retrieved the only other darklord he'd just sent to the grave.
"Come forth, Darklord Ixchel!"
Black feathers tainted by darkness fell like raindrops. With wings spread wide, a graceful, curvaceous female darklord descended softly—purple hair, crimson eyes, her expression cloaked in shadow.
[Darklord Ixchel | ATK 2500]
Marik commented, "Two powerful high-level monsters summoned right from the start."
Kira wasn't surprised. He knew this was the Darklord deck's specialty—almost entirely composed of high-level monsters, with hardly any low-rank ones.
Darklords could rapidly swarm the field with high-level monsters, suppressing opponents with overwhelming force, while also boasting powerful resource management and disruption—even during the opponent's turn. That was what made them truly troublesome.
"They say that even though you're human, you're something special," the Evil God spoke with a stiff tone. "I want to see just how special you really are."
With that, he commanded his monsters to attack.
"Darklord Ixchel, attack the face-down Defense Position monster!"
The female Darklord gently flapped her wings, rising amid a transparent whirlwind. With a sweep, countless black feathers shot out like darts, piercing through Kira's face-down monster.
A blonde magician in blue robes knelt on the card, her staff held crosswise in front of her, conjuring a barrier. The Darklord's barrage shattered the spell circle, blasting both the magician and her shield apart.
[Apprentice Magician | DEF 800]
"Apprentice Magician's effect," Kira said calmly. "When this card is destroyed by battle, I can Special Summon a Level 2 or lower Spellcaster from my Deck in face-down Defense Position."
Another magician emerged from Kira's Deck—a cool, composed woman, staff held horizontally before her. The image flickered briefly before transforming back into a facedown card.
[Magician of Faith | DEF 400]
The Evil God remarked, "Superbia was revived in Defense Position, so it can't attack this turn. My Battle Phase ends."
His expression remained rigid as he played another card.
"I set one card face-down and end my turn."
Kira: "My turn. Draw."
He drew, then immediately flipped up his set monster.
"Flip Summon—Magician of Faith!"
[Magician of Faith | ATK 300]
The purple-haired magician took the field, eyes closed in silent incantation. Black script swirled from her staff, tracing the outline of a green card in the air.
"When Magician of Faith is flipped, I can add a Spell Card from my Graveyard to my hand."
Kira revealed the recovered card.
"I retrieve Pot of Greed from my Graveyard."
He promptly activated it.
"Pot of Greed—draw two more cards!"
This was the true strength of Magician of Faith, and why this seemingly weak Level 1 magician was once a staple in early decks. In those days, powerful Spells could turn the tide of duels, and cards that could recover them were invaluable.
"Now, I Tribute Magician of Faith!
Wings of hope, magician of light—descend now!
—Silent Magician, Summon!"
Bathed in pure white light, the magician's body floated as a transparent magic circle rose from her feet to her head. Silver hair danced in the glow, her robe as white as snow, skin almost translucent, her staff sparkling with mysterious light.
[Silent Magician | ATK 1000]
"Silent Magician gains 500 ATK for each card in my hand," Kira explained. "I have seven cards, so her ATK increases by 3500!"
[Silent Magician | ATK 1000 → 4500]
"Impressive," Marik remarked. "Looks like Mr. Kira isn't holding back, either, sister."
Ishizu nodded. "Summoning high-level monsters on the first turn is impressive, but it's not enough to suppress the Duel King."
"Next, I banish my LIGHT Magician of Faith and DARK Apprentice Magician from the graveyard!"
Kira raised his arm, chanting as Marik and Ishizu both looked surprised.
"I offer the souls of Light and Darkness to the field of chaos, summoning the legendary warrior!
Heaven and earth open—
—Black Luster Soldier—Envoy of the Beginning, Summon!"
…