"Go, Mahaviru of the Celestial Light! Attack 'Black Luster Soldier - Envoy of the Beginning'!"
The dark-cloaked mage's gaze was sharp. He raised his arm, palm facing the sky. Black clouds gathered in the heavens, and faint golden lightning streaked like luminous streams flying through the clouds.
Even if the activation of "Mage Power" failed, Mahaviru of the Celestial Light's attack power was still as high as 7150, enough to kill with a single hit.
The four additional Equip Cards on Maha Vailo could simultaneously enhance its attack power, negate any effects targeting it, and silence all countermeasures including magic traps and monster effects during battle.
Under such circumstances, it would already be considered the elite among all magicians, wielding a power that would strike fear into anyone!
Golden streams of light converged behind the black clouds, parting the dark mist, and descended like a dragon twisting its form. Lightning pierced the air, spreading a scorched scent, and sparks danced across the open ground, blinding anyone who dared to look.
Mana, watching from the rear, was so startled by the spectacle that she fell to the ground in shock, staring blankly, "Master... so strong!"
With such overwhelming power, is there any opponent that could possibly rise again?
But she quickly noticed that as the smoke cleared, Youyu still stood calmly in the center of the field surrounded by thunderous blasts and black smoke.
[Youyu, LP 4000 → LP 1925]
"What?"
Mahad was taken aback by Youyu's serene response to the attack, but he soon realized that an invisible energy buffer had formed in front of Youyu, partially absorbing the damage.
"Is it a defensive spell?" Mahad thought to himself, "But any spell during the battle involving Mahaviru of the Celestial Light should be bound by its magic power..."
"Trap Card - Damage Diet, this card is not activated during the battle phase but at the instant of entering the battle phase before you ordered 'attack'," Youyu said, "All damage I take this turn is halved."
"Being able to defend to this extent... but my dominant position still hasn't changed." Mahad said solemnly, "Then I will set one more slab on the field, ending my turn here."
Youyu glanced at Mahad's "Mahaviru of the Celestial Light," exhaling lightly.
Though it was of the Spellcaster-Type, he hadn't expected Mahad to summon Mahaviru of the Celestial Light. Three thousand years later, many cards used by Muto Yugi and people around him seem to have connections to figures from Ancient Egypt. He wondered if Yugi's favorite monster, "Maha Vailo," had any relationship with Mahad.
But looking at the radiant halo enveloping Mahaviru of the Celestial Light, even Youyu found it somewhat challenging.
...Maybe he might need to put in a little extra effort.
"My turn, draw!" Without hesitation, Youyu slammed down a card, "Summon 'Awakened Dark Knight - Gaia'!"
A warhorse neighed, and a warrior in black armor rode forth, steed beneath him galloping, the spiral lance carving a fiery arc, its dark red wave slicing through the floor from afar.
[Awakened Dark Knight - Gaia, Attack Power 2300]
"Eh? Summoning such a high-level warrior directly?"
Mana's puzzled expression seemed as though questioning if "this person is cheating."
The surrounding players eagerly jumped in to explain, saying Gaia can be Normal Summoned without tribute when the opponent's field has more monsters than one's own.
"Quick-Play Magic - Enemy Controller!"
The magic activated, and a massive white game controller floated before Youyu.
If President Kaiba were present, he might perform the "up, down, left, right, A, B, A, B" routine, but Youyu skipped that part: "The effect of Enemy Controller! By sacrificing a monster on my field, I gain control of an opponent's monster!
I sacrifice 'Awakened Dark Knight - Gaia' to gain control of 'Mahaviru of the Celestial Light'!"
The Dark Knight vanished along with his steed, and mechanical tendrils shot toward the dark-cloaked mage.
But the mage's expression remained unchanged as he raised his palm and let loose a shout. Transparent waves burst from his palm, breaking all the tendrils into pieces.
"It's useless," Mahad said, "By discarding the armaments acquired, Mahaviru of the Celestial Light can nullify any negative spells inflicted upon him!"
Mahaviru of the Celestial Light, with three or more Equip Cards, can nullify any effect targeting it by discarding one Equip Magic on it.
Earlier, it discarded "Premature Burial" as a cost to negate Enemy Controller's effect.
When "Premature Burial" is "destroyed," the equipped monster is destroyed with it. However, here it was sent to the graveyard as a cost rather than being destroyed, so Mahaviru of the Celestial Light remains intact.
[Mahaviru of the Celestial Light, Attack Power 7150 → Attack Power 6150]
Anticipating this outcome, Youyu seemed completely unfazed, "Then the effect of 'Awakened Dark Knight - Gaia' used as the condition for activating 'Enemy Controller.'
When it is used as a tribute, I can Special Summon a 'Black Luster Soldier' monster from my hand or graveyard.