"Farewell, Exodia!"
Bakura laughed wildly as the head of Exodia the Forbidden One appeared in a translucent form on the field. The Dimensional Fissure opened, and the incantation recorded in the forbidden Undying Divine Book took effect, banishing the stone tablet sealed with infinite Magic Power to the depths of the Other Dimension, its whereabouts unknown.
Priest Simon clenched his teeth; things were spiraling out of control.
The five pieces of Exodia are unique, each sealed within a distinct tablet, with no replacements or duplicates.
In other words, as long as one piece is banished, he can never complete the sealing in this battle.
But the old man did not give up.
After all, he promised the former King that he would do his utmost to assist the Prince—now the Pharaoh, and if he could contribute to the prosperity of the kingdom, he would not hesitate to become a stepping stone.
He must win; there is no other choice.
"Since 'Exodia the Forbidden One' in the graveyard has been banished from the game, the attack power of 'The Legendary Exodia Incarnate' has decreased," Bakura reminded. "That creature's attack power is determined by the number of 'Forbidden' Monsters in the graveyard, isn't it?"
[The Legendary Exodia Incarnate, ATK 4000 → ATK 3000]
Priest Simon said grimly, "Has the attack power been suppressed by the Evil God?"
"Although that's the case, the old man's backfield still has trap cards... Even if the god is unaffected by Trap Card effects, it's still somewhat concerning."
Bakura raised his arm high.
"Then let me be more cautious! I'll use 'Zombino', 'Skull Conductor', 'The Wicked Eraser'... all as sacrifices!"
Simon: "!"
Using the Evil God as a sacrifice?
"At this moment, 'The Wicked Eraser's' effect!" Bakura shouted, "At the moment it leaves the field, all cards are sent to the graveyard!"
A pitch-black tide swept over everything!
The darkness seemed to ooze from the Hellish mire, indiscriminately devouring everything in existence, leaving not a trace behind.
"The ultimate embodiment of fear, the trembling god—
—The Wicked Dreadroot!!!"
Simon heard a sound like thunder clapping, three streams of pitch-black darkness surged up. From the dark swamp emerged a colossal body covered in white skeletal bones, its massive hand pressing on the ground, sharp bone claws tearing through the darkness.
[The Wicked Dreadroot, ATK 4000]
The Eraser's ability sweeps away everything; the Dreadroot will follow with a finishing blow.
This is the Evil God's invincible one-turn kill combo!
Bakura grinned sinisterly, ready to issue the command to harvest his opponent, only to be startled as he discovered...
...that the entirely golden Exodia, after receiving the eraser's deep dark cleansing, still remained on the field!
"What a shame," Simon said, "your Evil God's cheap tricks are meaningless against the Summon God possessing 'Exodia' Magic Power!"
Bakura furrowed his brow: "Then 'Dreadroot's' effect, halves the attack power of all Monsters except itself! Devils Howling!"
Dreadroot's massive hand swung down with a roar, a burst of pitch-black sound waves carried by the majesty of the Evil God, striking towards The Legendary Exodia Incarnate!
However, the golden giant stood tall, its huge hand reaching out into the air, Magic Power emitting from its palm, a beam of golden light shot from the Magic array, dispersing the pitch-black sound waves with a single blow.
[The Legendary Exodia Incarnate, ATK 3000]
"I said," Simon shouted, "the Power of the Evil God is ineffective against Exodia!"
The Legendary Exodia Incarnate, this card is unaffected by any Magic, Trap, or Monster effects.
"And because 'Witch of the Black Forest' was destroyed, her final wish Magic also activates!" Simon said.
Witch of the Black Forest, when sent to the graveyard from the field, adds one Monster with DEF 1500 or less from the deck to the hand.
Clearly, Simon's deck had no Exodia components left. So this time he chose the DEF 600 "Sangan" to add to his hand.
"It's the remnants of Exodia's power, it has some skill," Bakura snorted, "but this guy's attack power ultimately is only at this level, it'll be defeated in battle easily.
Battle! The Wicked Dreadroot, defeat The Legendary Exodia Incarnate!"
The Evil God threw out its fist, the gust of its punch like a tsunami! Exodia tried to defend, but its defensive array shattered instantly, the golden giant's body pulled by a pale white smoke toppled over, gradually dissipating into a phantom.
[Simon, LP 2500 → LP 1500]
The old man grimaced, his small frame was blasted back several steps by the Evil God's dark surge, his old bones nearly coming apart.
"If you can't withstand this level, you're still far from defeating me, Priest sir."
With a taunting remark, Bakura gently waved his hand again.
"Set two more cards on the field, turn's over."
"It's not over yet, far from over." Simon stood resiliently, "For Pharaoh, for this country, it's far from time for me to fall!"
Another stone tablet fell. The old man's resilient gaze swept over, raising his hand to cover two stone tablets.
"I'll set two stone tablets facedown."
He spoke, his expression solemn, eyes devout like a pilgrim.
"Next, I'll summon the Pharaoh-protected field, the solemn and sacred resting place—
—Temple of the Kings!"
Time and space shifted, the scene transitioned, the entire treasury along with its scattered treasures vanished. The golden temple fell from above, tiered steps seemed to grow from the ground.tiles. The gilded sarcophagus slowly rose, black smoke wafting from the crevice.
"A field exclusive to Pharaoh?" Bakura looked around.
"I won't let you act with impunity any longer."
Simon quickly chanted, the stone tablet before him flipped.
"Magic Spell 'Heavenly Treasure'!"
Both sides draw cards from their decks until their hands are replenished to six cards.
Bakura was indifferent: "Hey, draw as many as you like. Anyway, since Exodia's head has already been banished from this duel, the ritual has failed.
Even if you draw the entire deck into your hand, the seal will never be lifted."
Simon didn't bother with him, continuing to chant, cast spells. A stone tablet flipped, summoning a purple jar with a greedy expression and a sticking tongue.
Magic Card, Pot of Avarice. Shuffle five Monsters in the graveyard back into the deck, draw two cards.
Here, Simon shuffled back five cards from the graveyard, revealing them sequentially as Featherizer, Witch of the Black Forest, and the Left Arm, Left Leg, and Right Leg of the Forbidden One.
He recovered the remaining three pieces of Exodia from the graveyard.
The five stone tablets returned one after another, quickly forming two new stone tablets. Bakura watched as Simon had seven stone tablets in front of him, only coldly laughing.
Keep drawing, keep cycling.
You're definitely not the Pharaoh, surely you won't just pull out another Exodia head from thin air.
"Summon 'Sangan'!"
A stone tablet fell before Priest Simon, the spherical three-eyed creature bouncing out from within.
[Sangan, ATK 1000]
"That guy's attack power will also be halved under the effect of 'Dreadroot'," Bakura reminded, "Devils Howling!"
The Evil God's majesty unleashed, the cold power of fear seeped into its body, and Sangan instantly wilted.
[Sangan, ATK 1000 → ATK 500]
"Hey, calling such a weakling that doesn't even count as a wall, what's the point?" Bakura mocked.
Simon remained unmoved, he simply raised his hand gently, signaling for another stone tablet to be set facedown on the field.
Then...
"Battle!" The old man spoke calmly, waving his hand, "Use Sangan... to attack The Wicked Dreadroot!"
Bakura: "!?"
Bakura thought he misheard.
What did he just say?
Using what to attack what?
This old fool's brain must be fried?