Not only Youyu, even the players couldn't help but be surprised when they saw "Thunder Dragon," and for a moment, they were exclaiming one after another.
The Thunder Dragon is indeed a magical card deck. The earliest appearance of the "Thunder Dragon" was in President Haima's hands, and back in the ancient days of Yu-Gi-Oh! DM, it was also set as the key Monster of Ishizu.
However, at that time, no one could have predicted that the "Thunder Dragon" card deck would one day dominate the environment as a mainstream force!
Two "Thunder Dragon" tablets were added to the hand, then Set softly chanted an incantation, the Millennium Rod pointed forward, flipping the tablets in front of him as if issuing a command.
"The power I'm about to unleash here is the advanced spell - Heavy Storm!" he declared, "It can destroy all spells or traps set on the battlefield!"
"Then I'll activate the Set Card, Trap Card - Half Unbreak."
Though I didn't want to use it so early, since the opponent has activated "Heavy Storm," Youyu has no choice.
"This Trap allows you to select one Monster on your field; the chosen Monster won't be destroyed in battle, and the battle damage to our side is halved.
I choose 'Gladiator Beast Hoplomus,' making him immune to battle destruction this turn!"
The towering black tornado seemed to liberate gravity, blowing everything on the ground into the air. The Demon Shield in Hoplomus's hand shattered under the fierce wind, but his body was quickly enveloped by a semi-transparent spherical shield.
"Just defensive measures, huh? But mere defense is useless in front of me." Set chanted another incantation and then raised his hand to flip the tablet, "I use the spell 'Fusion'!
Fuse the two sealed 'Thunder Dragons' in the tablets! Summon the two-headed monster, destroy the opponent with a powerful thunder—
—Twin-Headed Thunder Dragon!"
The power sealed in the two tablets released, and two Thunder Dragons fused within the magical vortex. Lightning pierced the swirling magic power, and the Twin-Headed Thunder Dragon, breathing golden lightning, descended onto the field.
[Twin-Headed Thunder Dragon, Attack Power 2800]
"Next, it's the special ability of the 'Thunder Dragonhawk - Thunder Dragon' sealed in the tablet!" Set continued, "Discard the tablet for 'Thunder Dragonhawk,' releasing its hidden ability!
Its power can awaken the Thunder Dragon sleeping in the Graveyard!"
Thunder Dragonhawk - Thunder Dragon, when discarded from the hand, can Special Summon a Thunder Dragon Monster from the Graveyard or banished zone back to the field.
"Arise, Thunder Dragon!"
Electric currents crackled fiercely, and the dragon with the green body flew back to the field, twisting its form.
[Thunder Dragon, Attack Power 1600]
There came another incantation, Set chanted it, and then pointed forward with the Millennium Rod, proclaiming, "Next, use the spell 'Solidarity'!
This spell provides a continuous blessing to one's servants, enhancing their battle abilities!
Solidarity, when there's only one type of Monster in one's Graveyard, increases the Attack Power of all Monsters of that type on your field by 800.
Now all Monsters on Set's field and in the Graveyard are Thunder-Type, so the Attack Power increases by 800.
[Twin-Headed Thunder Dragon, Attack Power 2800 → Attack Power 3600]
[Thunder Dragon, Attack Power 1600 → Attack Power 2400]
The nearby Egyptian soldiers admired him greatly: "As expected of Priest! He summoned such a powerful monster in an instant!"
"Indeed, such opponents are no match for Priest, aren't they?"
"But according to the effect of 'Half Unbreak,' this turn 'Gladiator Beast Hoplomus' won't be destroyed in battle," Youyu said.
"I know." Set formed a Dharma Seal, declared, "Spell - Stop Defense! Forcefully changes the defensive stance of the servant to battle position!"
Magic Card - Stop Defense, changes the position of one Defense Position Monster on the field to Attack Position.
"Oh!" The Egyptian soldiers exclaimed again, "As expected of Set! He can deftly use so many spells!"
[Gladiator Beast Hoplomus, Defense Power 2100 → Attack Power 700]
"Go, Twin-Headed Thunder Dragon, tear your opponent to shreds with thunder!" Set commanded.
The Twin-Headed Thunder Dragon opened its mouth, two mouths simultaneously spewing out golden thunder! Lightning leaped and surged toward the Gladiator Beast, but this rhino warrior, although proficient in defense, had pitifully weak battle power and could hardly resist the electric currents.
"The effect of 'Half Unbreak' makes Hoplomus undestroyable in battle, and battle damage is halved," Youyu said.
[Youyu, LP 4000 → LP 2550]
"And there's also the attack by 'Thunder Dragon'!" Set declared.
The green-bodied dragon flapped its wings, stretching its long form in mid-air, with thunder from its mouth resembling a piercing long spear!
[Youyu, LP 2550 → LP 1700]
Witnessing Youyu merely swaying a bit, taking all the damage with slightly bent knees, and his trench coat fluttering, Set's eyes flashed.
Could he really block my full-strength combo so easily?
"Ha, he was lucky to take it, but it shows he's still no match for Set before Priest," the Egyptian soldiers commented.
"In the next round, Priest will definitely defeat him!"
But after receiving such attacks twice, Youyu seemed more composed.
Because Set initially fused to summon the oldest "Twin-Headed Thunder Dragon" from the Thunder Dragon series, instead of those later powerful fusion monsters from the Thunder Dragon series.
In this light, it seems that perhaps Set does have a Thunder Dragon card deck, but lacks the most powerful finishers. Although it remains a highly operable card deck, it's not unbeatable.
It actually makes sense. During Ancient Egypt, the priests generally managed ordinary spirits, big bosses like "Thunder Dragon Colossus" and "Thunder Dragon Titan" from the Thunder Dragon deck are obviously characters with backgrounds and stories by their artwork, unlikely to appear here.
"The moment the battle ends, the effect of 'Gladiator Beast Hoplomus' activates!" Youyu said, "After conducting a battle, Hoplomus can return to the card deck, and Special Summon another 'Gladiator Beast' Monster from the card deck.
Come forth, Gladiator Beast Spartacus!"
Hoplomus returned to the deck, with a golden beam descending onto the field, revealing a robust dinosaur-shaped Gladiator Beast, swinging a long tail behind it, clad in heavy armor, wielding a hefty giant War Axe.
[Gladiator Beast Spartacus, Attack Power 2200]
"The effect of Gladiator Beast Spartacus!" Youyu said, "Upon being successfully Special Summoned, add the Equip Magic 'Beast's Battle' from the card deck to the hand.
I add 'Gladiator Beast's Battle Lance' to my hand."
Set pondered silently for a moment without speaking, only setting a face-down tablet to end the turn.
"My turn, draw a card!" Youyu declared, "Magic Card - Gladiator Proving Ground! Add a level four or below Gladiator Beast from the card deck to the hand. I choose 'Gladiator Beast Bestiari'!
Then Normal Summon 'Gladiator Beast Bestiari'!"
The bird-beast Gladiator Beast soared in the air before landing and folded its arms while the whirlwind swirled around.
[Gladiator Beast Bestiari, Attack Power 1500]
"Then return 'Gladiator Beast Bestiari' and 'Gladiator Beast Spartacus' on the field to the deck, and fuse!
The fusion criteria are 'Gladiator Beast Bestiari' and any Gladiator Beast returned to the deck!
Gladiator Beast Gyzarus, Fusion Summon!!!"