"First, I activate the remaining Trap - Needlebug Nest, sending the top five cards from the deck to the graveyard."
He drew out five cards in one go, discarding them to the graveyard one by one, and immediately Bakura waved his hands.
"Quick-Play Magic - Burial from Another Dimension! Return up to three banished cards to the graveyard!
I return three 'Mezuki' to the graveyard!"
"Oh no." Yugi said, "If three 'Mezuki' return to the graveyard, then Bakura can…"
"That's right!" Bakura laughed, "Are you ready? Descend once more, the god that devours the heavens and obliterates all—
——The Wicked Eraser!"
The space was torn apart again, just like a scythe slicing through dark clouds. That hideous giant figure emerged once more, its scythe-like arms leaving deep scars on the ground.
"The Eraser's attack power is the number of cards on the opponent's field x1000." Bakura said, "And you only have two cards on your field."
[The Wicked Eraser, Attack Power 2000]
Its attack power matches Slifer the Sky Dragon, and these two gods correspondingly stand in the position of Egyptian Gods and Evil Gods!
The enemies, upon meeting, glared with hatred, seeing this creature emerge, the Sky Dragon couldn't hold back, raised its head and let out a roar, immediately opening its usually closed mouth.
Azure thunder rolled, high-density energy condensed into a sphere of lightning——
——Thunder Force Attack!
"Indeed, the Sky Dragon will take away 2000 attack points from the summoned monsters, and monsters below 2000 attack points will be directly destroyed." Bakura smiled, "You know what's going to happen, right?"
The Thunder Force Attack surged forward aggressively, exploding on the Evil God's dark shell with a "boom," and the black smoke spread out. The Evil God staggered backward, emitting a sound between a whimper and a roar.
In the blink of an eye, the Evil God's body exploded, simultaneously releasing endless darkness! The Sky Dragon roared fiercely, and its massive body struggled intensely, but could not break free from the pull of the abyss, dragged into the deep darkness, swallowed whole with no trace remaining.
The first round between Egyptian Gods and Evil Gods resulted in mutual destruction.
The entire field was once again wiped clean by the Eraser.
"So now your field is barren once more." Bakura's eyes were bloodshot, "This time, don't think you can survive this turn!"
"Not necessarily." Yugi's lips curled into a smile.
"Nani?" Bakura's eyelids twitched.
Like many who are familiar with Yugi, everyone fears when the Duel King says this phrase, as it often spells trouble…
"You will revive the Eraser, clear the field for an attack, I anticipated this." Yugi raised his voice, "The Set Card you just sent to the graveyard was the Trap Card 'Cross Counter Trap'!
This card, when sent to the graveyard by the opponent's effect, allows me one chance to activate a Trap Card from my hand this turn!"
Yugi drew a card from his hand.
"The card I will activate from my hand is… Continuous Trap - Call of the Haunted!" he said, "Revive from the graveyard! The God of the Netherworld——
——Slifer the Sky Dragon!"
The heavens thundered, spanning the earth and sky. The judge of hell, Slifer the Sky Dragon, dragging its flaming brilliantly red body, returned from the depths of the Netherworld!
[Slifer the Sky Dragon, Attack Power 1000]
As previously mentioned, gods are not affected by Trap Card effects, but this is only effective when they exist face-up on the field. While sleeping in the hand, graveyard, and deck, they are merely ordinary cards.
Conversely, being summoned to the field by "Call of the Haunted," Slifer is no longer affected by this trap's effect. Even if the Continuous Trap is destroyed now, Slifer will not be destroyed due to a trap card effect.
Yugi crossed his arms, the massive body of Slifer slowly coiling around him.
He smiled: "Alright Bakura, continue your turn but summoning those useless minions is not permitted before the god.
Monsters with attack power below 2000 will be instantly destroyed upon summoning."
"That's right!" Jonouchi exclaimed, "Earlier, when 'The Wicked Eraser' activated its effect and destroyed all cards on the field, even Bakura's 'Zombie World' was destroyed again!
Now, the Evil God sleeping in the graveyard is no longer an Undead-Type and can't be revived at will!"
"Oh oh, well done, Yugi!"
Honda waved his fist, then seemingly remembered something, turned to the side towards Yugi: "Ah, I mean the other Yugi..."
Bakura let out a displeased "tch": "You're quite skilled, Pharaoh. But don't underestimate me!"
He waved his hand again, pointing at a stone slab before him.
"Magic Card 'Soul Charge'!"
Youyu: "!"
What? That thick-browed Dark God actually uses Soul Charge too?
Soul Charge is the card Rafael used before. This card was originally an absurdly strong animation card in DM, and for years it has been considered one of the "impossible to become physical card" fake cards by players. Unexpectedly, after many years, the unscrupulous card merchants at K Company actually made this fake card into reality, though soon after it was locked away, likely never to see the light of day again...
"Soul Charge revives any number of monsters from your graveyard," Bakura hummed, "however, for each monster revived, I must take 500 points of damage." (Animation effect)
Bakura raised his arm high: "Rise from the grave, my servants! I Special Summon 'Red Ogre', 'Ryu Kokki', and 'The Wicked Dreadroot'!"
The ground cracked as if someone had ripped open a passage from the Netherworld into the real world. The massive, pitch-black Dark God emerged first, with a sinister and twisted visage, accompanied by two small cronies on either side like trinkets.
[The Wicked Dreadroot, ATK 4000]
[Red Ogre, ATK 2600]
[Ryu Kokki, ATK 2400]
It seems these are also the only three monsters in Bakura's graveyard with an attack power above two thousand, that wouldn't be instantly killed by Thunderbolt Strike.
"According to 'Soul Charge' effect, I bear 1500 points of damage."
As if a thunderbolt descended from the heavens, a golden bolt struck Bakura directly. His body shook, stumbling back a half step, but only laughed coldly twice, wiping his mouth as if unconcerned.
Indeed, the Darkness Game is a masochistic game, regular people simply can't win against it. When a masochist hits you, it truly hurts, when you hit them, they genuinely enjoy it.
[Bakura, LP 5000 → LP 3500]
"Slifer's special ability activates!" Yugi said, "Thunderbolt Strike!"
Triple Thunderbolt Strike!
Three consecutive bursts of electric orbs spewed from Slifer's mouth, exploding in succession on Bakura's three monsters on the field. Blue spheres of light burst open, shrouded in black smoke. The Dark God was alright, just a tad wilted, while the other two ordinary monsters could barely stand under the thunderbolt bombardment.
[The Wicked Dreadroot, ATK 4000 → ATK 2000]
[Red Ogre, ATK 2600 → ATK 600]
[Ryu Kokki, ATK 2400 → ATK 400]
"Then 'The Wicked Dreadroot's effect is activated!" Bakura countered, "Devil's Howling!"
A boundless aura of darkness erupted, covering the field with a domain of dread.
Additionally, Dreadroot's effect of "all monsters except itself have their attack halved" means this ability is indiscriminate between friend and foe.
So the unfortunate two small lackeys on Bakura's field received the blast from the Egyptian God and then had to endure torment from their own Dark God leader, epitomizing the divine battle where mortals suffer...
[Red Ogre, ATK 600 → ATK 300]
[Ryu Kokki, ATK 400 → ATK 200]
A direct attack from Dreadroot to defeat Slifer would deal 1000 damage, and the remaining two monsters together would only deliver 500 battle damage. The 1500 damage, Youyu's side can still withstand this turn.
Conversely, the Special Summoned Dreadroot will return to the graveyard at the end of this turn. The remaining two monsters with less than a thousand attack power on Bakura's field may become the breakthrough point in Youyu's upcoming turn.
Seems logical, yet...
"Hmm." Bakura chuckled lightly, "Whatever you're thinking, I'm fully aware! Perfect, both Duel Kings are gathered here, I'll let you witness this exclusive show!
Until now, no one has seen it used, the most powerful Dark God beyond your imagination!"
Yugi: "!"
The strongest Dark God!?
Youyu squinted his eyes.
That thing... is it coming?
"Watch closely," Bakura said coldly, tapping on a stone tablet in front.
Before it even flipped, the stone tablet suddenly erupted with an unbelievable aura of terror, evil as if devouring the world!
"I offer 'The Wicked Dreadroot', 'Red Ogre', and 'Ryu Kokki', as tributes! Tribute Summon!
Shadow Unfold! The culmination of all evil in the world, the ultimate Dark God—
—The Wicked Avatar!!!"