"Master!"
Mana exclaimed as she saw the setback her master faced, nearly revealing her position.
She stared in surprise at the imposing "Envoy of the Beginning," then at Youyu.
What's going on with this person? How is he so amazing?
Not only does he look good, but he's even more amazing than my master!
Yet Mahad did not give up just yet. He took a deep breath, stood up straight, and summoned another tablet with a wave of his hand.
He felt that what Youyu said was indeed true. If he couldn't overcome this hurdle, how could he face Bakura?
But he was determined, even at the cost of his life, he must triumph over Bakura this time.
For the Pharaoh, this duel must not be lost!
"It's my turn!" Mahad waved his hand dramatically, his cloak billowing, "Here, I use the magic - Book of Secret Arts in the Pot! Thanks to its magical efficacy, both sides can obtain three new tablets!"
Yu Yu drew three cards, while Mahad had three tablets crash down with a resounding "boom, boom, boom," creating quite an exaggerated scene...
"Then there's the magic 'Trade-In,' discarding a tablet sealed with an eight-star monster and gaining two new tablets."
Again, two tablets fell, stirring the dust to form a thin veil. Behind the curtain, Mahad's face was resolute, surrounded by faint purple whirlwinds, his wide priest robe gently rising and falling at his feet.
"Seems like the Master's a bit different now?" Xue Lang, observing from the shadows, shared his insight.
Master is the nickname players gave to the Black Magician.
"Master...is getting serious?" Mana muttered softly.
In her memory, she seemed to have never seen her master this serious.
Even Youyu, in the arena, felt the pressure slightly increasing, as if the very figure of this priest seemed to stand taller, like an unyielding bamboo.
It feels as if the Duelist's level has increased.
"Friend of the Pharaoh, from now on I will face you with all my strength," Mahad said resolutely, "Your strength is very formidable. If it were an ordinary spar, I might have just lost to you, but today that's not possible.
Today, I must finish my business with the Thief King!"
He chanted incantations, his entire magical power burning like flames, waving his arm to reveal another tablet.
"Use the magic 'Premature Burial'!" Mahad declared, "At the cost of my blood and soul, awaken the dormant spirits!"
Premature Burial, Equip Magic, pay 800 Life Points to revive a monster from the graveyard.
[Mahad, LP 1650 → LP 850]
"Awaken from the sleep of the graveyard!" Mahad raised his arms and shouted, "Appear! Level eight, Mahaviru of the Celestial Light!"
"What?" Youyu was a bit surprised.
Is it the card discarded to the graveyard when "Trade-In" was activated?
A black vortex spread across the ground, like a magical storm blowing from the depths of the Netherworld! A mage in black robes slowly rose from the dark void, adorned with luxurious gold decorations and attachments, evoking an aura of mysterious dignity despite lacking any dominating murderous air or overwhelming presence.
[Mahaviru of the Celestial Light, Attack 1550]
It was evidently the same monster as the previous turn's departing magician "Maha Vailo," but in a version with significantly enhanced magical power.
"Mahaviru of the Celestial Light's effect, his power will increase with each layer of magical protection," Mahad said, "Moreover, his own abilities' seals will gradually be lifted!"
Mahaviru of the Celestial Light, this card's attack increases by 1000 points for each Equip Card on it. Now he has one Equip Magic "Premature Burial," thus it increases by 1000.
[Mahaviru of the Celestial Light, Attack 1550 → Attack 2550]
"Then I use the spells inscribed in the 'Book of Secret Arts' to further amplify Mahaviru of the Celestial Light's magic power!" Mahad declared.
Book of Secret Arts, Equip Magic, enhances Spellcaster-Type monster's attack by 300 points.
And with the increase in Equip Magic, Mahaviru of the Celestial Light's attack will further increase according to its own effect.
[Mahaviru of the Celestial Light, Attack 2550 → Attack 2850 → Attack 3850]
"Having acquired two magical weapons, Mahaviru of the Celestial Light's ability seal will further lift. In battle, all special abilities of the enemy's minions will be suppressed by his magical restrictions!"
Mahaviru of the Celestial Light, when equipped with two or more Equip Cards, prevents the opponent from activating monster effects during the Battle Phase.
"Magic 'Hidden Armory'!" Once again, with the chanting of incantations, the magic recorded in another tablet was released, "At the cost of sacrificing this round's summoning opportunity, I can call a spell tablet with sealed magical weapons to my hand!"
Hidden Armory, Magic Card, send the top card of the deck to the graveyard, and add an Equip Magic from the deck to the hand; normal summon cannot be performed during the turn this card is activated.
"The tablet I want to call is the tablet of 'Bound Wand'!" As the tablet fell, Mahad followed with a grand wave of his hand, "Summon 'Bound Wand' to the field with spell incantations, further enhancing Mahaviru of the Celestial Light's magic power!"
Bound Wand, the equipped monster's attack power increases by its level x100 points.
Radiant Sky Maha Vailo's level is eight, so its attack power increases by 800. According to its own effect, it increases by another 1000.
[Radiant Sky Maha Vailo, Attack 3850 → Attack 4650 → Attack 5650]
"The third Magic weapon will further unlock the magic seal of Radiant Sky Maha Vailo!" Mahad shouted, "Any spells, traps, or special abilities of monsters targeting Radiant Sky Maha Vailo can all be blocked by his magic weapons!"
Radiant Sky Maha Vailo, when this card is equipped with three or more Equip Cards, can send the Equip Cards on it to the graveyard, negating any card effects targeting it.
"Activate trap! 'Armory Call'!" Mahad flipped a trap tablet, "You can call the tablet of a magic weapon to your hand and equip it to your follower!"
Armory Call, Trap Card, adds an Equip Magic from the Deck to the hand.
"I equip 'Magic Formula' to Radiant Sky Maha Vailo!"
Magic Formula, can be equipped by a Spellcaster-Type, increases the equipped monster's attack power by 500. (Anime effect)
[Radiant Sky Maha Vailo, Attack 5650 → Attack 6150 → Attack 7150]
"At the same time, Radiant Sky Maha Vailo's further abilities are unsealed!" Mahad clenched a fist, "During battle, the opponent cannot use any spell, trap, or monster special abilities!"
Radiant Sky Maha Vailo, when this card has four or more Equip Magic, the opponent cannot activate any magic, trap, or monster effects during the Battle Phase.
Simply put, even a "Mirror Force," "Magic Cylinder," or "Negate Attack," not to mention the invincible Kuriboh, can't block the opponent's offensive this time.
Seeing this black-robed mage, shrouded in a halo and instantly soaring to a god-like level, even Youyu couldn't help feeling a hint of pressure.
"It's indeed befitting of the supposedly strongest magician priest, this is quite an overwhelming display."
With an attack power over seven thousand, this attack power is something he can temporarily withstand...
"Magic, 'Arms Regeneration'!" Mahad activated a tablet again, "Re-summon a magic weapon present in either player's graveyard to the field and equip it to my follower!" (Manga card)
A vortex opened before him, and another tablet rumbled up.
"Equip Radiant Sky Maha Vailo with Mage Power!"
Youyu's eyes flickered.
When did this card...?
He quickly recalled that when Mahad activated "Hidden Armory," the card discarded from the top of the Deck.
That card was Mage Power...
Well, it truly shows the prowess of the strongest magician, discarding cards with such precision by chance.
Mage Power, Equip Magic, increases the attack power of the equipped monster by the number of magic and trap cards on your field x500.
Now Mahad's backfield is crammed with five Equip Magic Cards, and combined with Radiant Sky Maha Vailo's own effect, the attack power increases by a total of 3500!
[Radiant Sky Maha Vailo, Attack 7150 → Attack 10650]
Attack power over ten thousand!
And that's not all.
"Upon gaining the fifth magic weapon, Radiant Sky Maha Vailo's final seal is also lifted!" Mahad exclaimed, "Radiant Sky Maha Vailo doubles the damage dealt to the opponent!"
Radiant Sky Maha Vailo, when equipped with five or more Equip Magic Cards, this card doubles the battle damage dealt to the opponent.
Black Luster Soldier - Envoy of the Beginning, despite its powerful effect, has an attack power only equivalent to a mere Blue-Eyes White Dragon. If this battle goes through, it would deal over fifteen thousand battle damage in one blow!
Enough to take down Youyu's three lives in one go and still have overflow!
This time, Youyu is in a pinch.
"That's not going to happen." Youyu waved a large hand and revealed the trap in front of him that hadn't been activated, "Counter Trap - Super Soldier Shield!
With 'Black Luster Soldier' on the field, when a magic, trap, or monster effect is activated targeting a monster on the field, negate that activation and destroy it.
Negate the activation of Mage Power!"
A chaotic cyclone shot from the Trap Card, directly hitting the tablet of "Mage Power," blasting it into pieces with a ground explosion!
[Radiant Sky Maha Vailo, Attack 10650 → Attack 7150]
Not only that, the moment Mage Power was destroyed also meant that Radiant Sky Maha Vailo lost the ability to "deal double battle damage," drastically reducing the damage in one go.
But if the battle succeeds, it would still deal 4150 battle damage, enough for a decisive hit!
Mahad frowned slightly but remained unfazed: "Even so, his power is already strong enough! Go, Radiant Sky Maha Vailo, destroy 'Black Luster Soldier - Envoy of the Beginning'!"