"The Legendary Exodia Incarnate, descend!"
Priest Simon's voice rang out like a grand bell, yet it was quickly drowned out by the even louder sound of the wind.
The entire treasury shook, golden air currents swirling through the space. Behind the priest, a colossal golden magic array appeared, and a golden figure, resembling stalks of wheat, emerged from it, accompanied by the clanking of chains.
The grand mage emerged from the array hunched over, with ethereal lines of his body. Golden chains draped over him, and as they rubbed against each other, they sparked with dazzling magical light.
[The Legendary Exodia Incarnate, attack power?]
In that moment, even Bakura was almost scared enough to run on the spot.
"Exodia!?" he exclaimed in shock, "How is this possible!?"
Wasn't this supposed to require all five parts to be gathered to lift the seal?
"No, it's not Exodia." Bakura quickly came to his senses.
Although it looked very similar in stance, and the aura it emitted was also suffocating, there was still a difference between this and the real Exodia.
"The Legendary Exodia Incarnate is a remnant of Exodia's power," Priest Simon said solemnly, "It possesses a portion of Exodia's power and draws magic power from the parts of the 'Sealed One' that slumber in the graveyard!"
The Legendary Exodia Incarnate, this card can be special summoned by sacrificing the "Sealed" monsters on the field. Its attack power is the number of "Sealed" monsters in the graveyard x1000 points.
Now all five "Sealed" parts are lying dormant in Simon's graveyard, so the Legendary Exodia Incarnate's attack power will instantly surge to 5000 points!
[The Legendary Exodia Incarnate, attack power?→attack power 5000]
"Attack power... 5000!?" Bakura's expression was like he'd bitten his tongue on garlic.
"Perish under the magic of the summoning god!" Simon exclaimed, "The Legendary Exodia Incarnate's attack!"
The golden Egyptian Envoy swung its arms, and the chains bedazzled with golden light danced before it. A magic array appeared between its clasped palms, spinning and unleashing a blast of golden light akin to a cannon blast!
Zombino was instantly obliterated under the magic cannon attack, reduced to ashes without any chance to resist.
"Argh!!"
The impact from Exodia's power, the pain of the magical impact penetrating the body, even the great Evil God found difficult to endure. Bakura, with an exaggerated expression (commonly known as "face art"), was blown away, tumbling across the ground like a rag for several circles.
[Bakura, LP 3700 → LP 700]
Bakura rolled several times, his spine hitting a gilded pillar with a "thud." He lay on the ground, and without getting up, he raised his hand.
"Activate the set card! Trap Card - Reviving Grave!" Bakura shouted, "It can be activated when a monster is destroyed in battle! Each side chooses a monster from the graveyard to special summon in defense position!"
Simon furrowed his brow and quickly chose the slab to revive from the graveyard.
"I revive the 'Witch of the Black Forest.'
Bakura said, "I choose 'Zombino'!"
The witch in a black robe and the zombie boy with an ax on his head each returned to their master's field, both in defensive stances.
[Witch of the Black Forest, Defense 1200]
[Zombino, Defense 0]
"Set another slab, and end the turn."
Simon paused, his tone suddenly rising, pointing to the massive golden mage in front of him.
"Activate the spell of The Legendary Exodia Incarnate! Seal Break - First Level!"
The image of the golden right hand shackled in chains briefly flashed as the slab shot out from the dark vortex underground, returning to Simon's presence.
"What?" Bakura's pupils contracted as he quickly understood the situation, "I see, so that's why it's called the 'summoning god'... Is this monster meant to prepare for the Exodia seal-breaking ceremony?"
The Legendary Exodia Incarnate, at the end phase, adds a "Sealed" monster from the graveyard to the hand.
Here, Simon retrieved the "Right Arm of the Forbidden One" from the graveyard.
[The Legendary Exodia Incarnate, Attack Power 5000 → Attack Power 4000]
"I see, as Exodia parts decrease in the graveyard, its power decreases accordingly," Bakura sneered, "As the seal of Exodia is lifted further, the summoning god's power will grow weaker... is that it?"
Having figured out the secret, there was nothing to fear.
Just win before all of Exodia's parts are gathered!
"It's my turn!"
With his Life Points suddenly reduced to only 700, Bakura remained utterly composed. He sneered, tapping on another slab.
"From my hand, I activate the Magic Card - Monster Reborn! Revive the monster from the graveyard!"
Simon furrowed his brow, "There shouldn't be any creature in the graveyard capable of defeating 'The Legendary Exodia Incarnate'..."
But as he spoke, the old priest's words trailed off.
With the Trap Card "Death Follower" and Simon's "Card Destruction," Bakura's graveyard had accumulated abundant resources by now, so there was no telling what it held.
Sure enough, Bakura's pupils widened, and he bellowed, "Revive from the Netherworld, devour the heavens and obliterate everything—
—The Wicked Eraser!!!"
A pitch-black torrent surged, and the entire palace turned as dark as ink. The claws of the Evil God, shining silver, tore through the darkness, and its menacing, massive figure emerged, its swinging tail like a steel whip, snapping the golden pillars apart.
The Wicked Eraser, summoned!
The Dark Domain, carrying an aura of evil, unfurled and clashed with The Legendary Exodia Incarnate's magic domain, appearing equally matched for a moment.
"This is... the Evil God." Even Priest Simon, experienced as he was, was momentarily stunned.
"The Eraser's attack power is the number of cards on the opponent's field x1000 points. And now, you have a total of four cards on your field!"
[The Wicked Eraser, Attack Power 4000]
"The same attack power as the summoning god." Simon's face was grim, "Is this a double-edged outcome you seek?"
"Who wants a double loss with you?" Bakura smirked, "Don't get too full of yourself, old man! I'm activating this Magic Card from my hand, the immortal secret, the Forbidden Book depicting forbidden spells—
—Book of Life!"
It was a thick ancient book with a hard green cover, adorned with intricate patterns, the cover engraved with various ancient patterns and symbols.
"The first effect of 'Book of Life: Forbidden Spell,' I revive an Undead-Type monster from the graveyard. I revive 'Skull Conductor'!"
The zombie conductor dressed in uniform was revived on the field under the power of the forbidden technique, his face hollowed, but he grinned a chilling smile, waving a dark baton in his hand.
[Skull Conductor, Attack Power 2000]
"Then there's the subsequent effect recorded within the 'Forbidden Spell,' whereby I can remove an opponent's monster from the graveyard from the game!" Bakura smirked, "And of course, the choice is... this guy...
... 'Exodia the Forbidden One'!"
Simon: "!"
The old priest's face trembled, beads of sweat beginning to trickle down his forehead.
He knew all too well what this meant.
This meant that the head of Exodia's five parts would be directly exiled by this Forbidden Spell, banished from this game with no further connection.
It also meant he might never be able to complete the Exodia seal-breaking ceremony in this game.
Bakura tilted his head back and laughed heartily.
"Farewell! Exodia!"