Divine Shield of Reflection – Mirror Force!
The superior trap unleashed a divine radiance like the end of the world, and the hemispherical shield that absorbed the attack reflected a brilliant light that blotted out the sky. The blue wave swept across the entire field like a surging tide, leveling everything in its path.
The powerful demon stood no chance against that brilliance, and in an instant, was blasted to fragments by the sweeping surge.
"It's Mirror Force, after all..." Mokuba was a bit worried for his brother, "This leaves him without any monsters on the field next turn."
He had no doubt that with Youyu's skills and his deck's explosive power, President Kaiba would undoubtedly be defeated in a single blow next turn!
But Kaiba immediately shouted: "The moment 'Archfiend Cavalry' is destroyed, its effect activates! When destroyed by effect and sent to the graveyard, it activates by targeting one 'demon' monster in the graveyard, except itself!
The selected 'demon' monster is Special Summoned to the field!"
"The 'demon' monster in the graveyard... Of course! It's the card discarded to the graveyard from 'Card Destruction' last turn!" Mokuba was excited again, "He truly is worthy of being my brother! He had a backup plan ready all along!"
Archfiend Cavalry disintegrated under the might of the Mirror Force, but its soul did not vanish. It transformed into a ghost, circling in Kaiba's field and opening a vortex to the Netherworld on the ground, summoning a formidable force from within it.
A massive silhouette emerged from the darkness, its shadow projected like a black cloud instantly covering the whole field!
A sturdy black body, claws sharp like obsidian, wings like those of a Darklord blocking the sky, and an ugly, ferocious head adorned with a golden crown.
Like a king from Hell!
Annihilator Archfiend, Special Summon!
[Annihilator Archfiend, Defense 3000]
"The monster Special Summoned by Archfiend Cavalry's effect cannot attack this turn, so I'm in defense position," Kaiba smirked, "And with that, my Battle Phase ends here...
...but! If you think that ends my attack for the turn, you're gravely mistaken, You↑Yu↓!"
He drew two cards from his hand.
"I Set two cards on the field!" He swiftly Set two cards facedown, "Next, I'm activating the effect of 'Annihilator Archfiend'! Once per turn, destroy one card on my side and one on yours simultaneously!"
He pointed to a card at his feet.
"I'll destroy this Set Card and your 'Elemental Hero Blazeman'!" Kaiba raised his voice, "Disappear, scum! Double Destruction!!"
The demon spread its arms and wings, letting out a low roar. A swirling chaos erupted from the ground, engulfing both Kaiba's Set Card and Youyu's Blazeman.
The hero fought back with fiery power, but that flame was nearly negligible against the overwhelming demonic force. His defenses were torn open, and with a pitiful cry, he was flung into the air and shredded to pieces in the darkness.
"It's not over yet!" Kaiba shouted, "The Set Card I destroyed with 'Annihilator Archfiend's effect was the Trap Card 'Statue of the Wicked'!
When this Set Card sent to the graveyard, Special Summon a 'Wicked Token' on my side of the field!"
The golden Statue of the Wicked emerged on Kaiba's field following the activation of its trap effect, standing in defense mode.
[Wicked Token, Defense 1000]
"Turn over!"
Youyu's eyes narrowed slightly.
Even if the activation cost of 'Malevolent Catastrophe' must destroy his own card, Kaiba can summon Tokens through its last will effect, minimizing his side's resource consumption?
It seems that President Kaiba has indeed become significantly stronger.
However, at the same time, Youyu just felt—
—My old friend, Kaiba, isn't as recklessly extravagant with his cards as before...
President, where is your four-for-one exchange limit? Didn't you usually use four cards on the first turn for a single Normal Monster with 4500 attack?
This isn't exciting anymore, this kind of duel can't bring me joy...
"My turn, draw!" Youyu placed down a monster, "Summon 'Elemental Hero Liquidman'!"
The teal water burst forth like a fountain, and the graceful hero clad in a blue skintight suit appeared on the field.
[Elemental Hero Liquidman, Attack 1400]
"Liquidman's effect!" Youyu exclaimed, "When successfully summoned, Special Summon a Level 4 or lower Elemental Hero from the grave. Come back, Blazeman!"
The surging flames rose again as the fiery hero, wearing a skintight suit and gold visor, returned to the field.
[Elemental Hero Blazeman, DEF 1800]
"Blazeman's effect, upon Special Summon, adds 'Fusion' from the Deck to the hand."
Since Youyu already took a 'Fusion' last turn, he opts for a different card this time.
"I add 'Fusion Substitute' to my hand," Youyu says. "This card can also be used as 'Fusion' according to the rules. Next, the Magic Card 'Fusion Substitute' activates!
Fusing 'Elemental Hero Shadow Mist' on the field with the water attribute 'Elemental Hero Liquidman'!"
Shadow Mist and Liquidman simultaneously rise, merging into two beams of light in the air, erupting into a brilliantly crystalline blue glow.
"The fusion condition is an Elemental Hero combined with a Water attribute monster; Fusion Summon!"
Youyu raises his arm.
"Born from the abyss of extreme coldness, the hero who reigns with the ultimate power of ice and snow!
Freeze! Elemental Hero Absolute Zero!"
A hero clad in silvery white armor emerges gradually from what seems to be frozen water, with a snow-white cape flowing behind. The hero embraces his arms and slowly descends, and before his toes touch the ground, transparent ice crystals begin to form.
[Elemental Hero Absolute Zero, ATK 2500]
"Absolute Zero." Kaiba looks up at the hero dominating the frost. "Is this your new trump card?"
"The effect of 'Elemental Hero Shadow Mist'! When sent to the Graveyard, add 'Elemental Hero' from the Deck to the hand. I add 'Elemental Hero Airman' to my hand."
The card ejects from the deck, and he shows Kaiba the Airman's card.
Kaiba smirks: "But with this attack power, you can't defeat the 'Annihilator Archfiend' with 3000 defense points."
"I know." Youyu reveals the card he searched last turn, "Quick-Play Magic - Mask Change! Send a Hero Monster to the Graveyard, transform into a Masked Hero of the same attribute.
I send 'Elemental Hero Absolute Zero' to the Graveyard, and Mask Change!
Summon! Masked Hero: Mist Water!"
The white hero's cape flutters behind him, surrounded by magical effects. Water transforms into blue and white armor enveloping him, adorned with red goggles, an X-shaped belt, with water swirling at his feet.
[Masked Hero: Mist Water, ATK 2400]
"At this moment, the effect of Elemental Hero Absolute Zero!" Youyu announces, "When he leaves the field, destroy all opponent's monsters on the field!"
"Ah!?" Mokuba exclaims, "Destroy all monsters... so powerful!"
Isn't this even more formidable than 'Mirror Force'?
Endless cold releases from Mist Water's feet, like a rolling white wave! Where the white airflow sweeps, everything instantly freezes, as if even the air would solidify!
"Youyu still has a Fusion card in his hand..." Mokuba nervously holds his breath, "If all my brother's monsters are wiped out, and Youyu summons another Fusion Monster for a total attack... it's over for my brother!"
He never imagined the rhythm of this duel would be so exaggerated.
The battle has only just begun, yet Kaiba has already faced danger multiple times, seemingly one wrong move or slight negligence, and Youyu's heroes would slice through him instantly!
But Kaiba certainly won't go down easily. Raising his volume and sweeping his arm, he says, "Activate Set Card! Quick-Play Magic - Card Shield! Discard a card from hand, and all monsters on my field this turn won't be destroyed by battle or effects!
Moreover, any battle damage I receive is 0 this turn!" (Anime card)
A card is discarded, and two green shields appear respectively in front of the Annihilator Archfiend and Wicked Token. The raging ice and snow crash into those shields like a torrential stream hitting a stubborn rock, the shields instantly freezing, but the monsters protected behind remain untouched.
In the original anime, this "Card Shield" could even take Obliterate's thunderbolts without a scratch; this level is nothing.
Unable to destroy monsters in any form or inflict battle damage, Youyu's attack this turn is essentially shut down.
So he simply gives up the attack for now: "Then I'll activate the Set Card from last turn. Continuous Trap - Mirror Force activate!
The other effect of this card, once per turn, discard a Monster Card from hand, you can add 'Sacred Shield - Mirror Force' from your Deck or Graveyard to the hand."
Youyu discards a card from hand, and last turn's used "Mirror Force" immediately ejects from the Graveyard back to his hand.
Kaiba watches him reclaim that "Mirror Force" card, and his face grows somewhat stern.
Mirror Force again?
"Then I'll set two more cards and end the turn!"