Slifer the Sky Dragon, destroy!
The Sky Dragon was obliterated under a single strike from The Wicked Avatar, and simultaneously, the Life Points for Youyu and Yugi became an eerie 3499 points, an unusually fragmented number never seen before...
"Set two cards on the field, turn end!" Bakura finally announced the end of his turn.
The audience was once again in an uproar.
The Egyptian people were now deeply frightened and confused—most of them didn't understand the rules of dueling nor exactly what had happened. They only knew they had just witnessed the great Netherworld God being shattered to pieces by its own replica, leaving no remains.
Many had already knelt on the ground in shock, their eyes glazed over as if their worldview had collapsed.
Even the priests wore faces of existential doubt, looking as if they couldn't believe a god could be defeated.
"If the attack power is always one point higher, wouldn't that be invincible?" Honda turned to Jonouchi, "Hey, what do we do in this situation?"
Jonouchi scratched his head, wearing a confused expression: "If the attack power is always higher, usually it can only be dealt with by effects. But the problem is..."
"Trap and Monster Effects don't work on gods." Yugi said seriously, "Some Magic Cards might be effective for one turn, but effects that forcibly remove like direct destruction, returning to the deck, or returning to the hand don't work on gods either.
An opponent like this... it might indeed be very difficult to win."
"What? How is that possible?" Anzu, who was already anxious, felt even more unsettled after hearing the explanation.
"But," Yugi quickly shifted gears, his voice firm, "I believe in my other self and Youyu. They are the strongest! If it's them, they will definitely find a breakthrough!"
Well, I really do appreciate your faith, Youyu thought to himself.
But luckily, while the comic's "The Wicked Avatar" has a superior resistance compared to the physical card's Evil God, it doesn't have the additional effect of the physical card's Avatar—
—which prevents the opponent from activating any Magic Trap Cards for two turns upon successful summon.
The two-turn Magic Trap restriction is an original effect for the physical card, and is neither mentioned nor depicted in the original work.
If the original "The Wicked Avatar" and the physical card's effects were combined, it might truly be close to invincible.
But for now, there's still a way.
"My turn, draw!" It was Youyu's turn, "Activate the Magic Card 'Monster Reincarnation'! Return all cards in the field and hand to the deck, shuffle, and then draw five cards!"
Thanks to the DM anime's monster-level card draw engine, Youyu's hand was replenished back to five cards at once. He then immediately drew another card from it.
"Magic Card - Card Destruction! Both players discard their entire hands, then draw cards equal to the number of discarded cards from the deck."
The slate in front of Bakura turned to dust and vanished, and a new slate immediately descended. He sneered, "Changing your hand repeatedly is meaningless. The Avatar is an invincible Evil God! There's simply no way to defeat it!"
Yet it seemed like Youyu didn't hear him: "Continuous Magic - Card of Safe Return!"
Although rare in the original work, the Card of Safe Return wasn't exclusive to Bakura. Just now, Bakura's Card of Safe Return was obliterated by his own The Wicked Eraser, so now it's Youyu's turn.
"Activating the effect of 'Destiny Hero Malicious' in the graveyard!" Youyu stated, "Banish the Malicious in the graveyard to Special Summon a second 'Destiny Hero Malicious' from the deck!
Come forth, Malicious!"
[Destiny Hero Malicious, Defense 800]
"Magic Card - Transmodify!" Youyu revealed a Magic Card in front of him, "Send the Monster on the field to the graveyard to Special Summon a Monster from the deck with one level higher, and the same Type and Attribute!
I offer the level 6, Dark Attribute, Warrior-Type 'Destiny Hero Malicious' as a sacrifice for Transmodify!
Level 7, Arisen Gaia the Fierce Knight, Summon!"
The tempestuous wind, the galloping steed treading on invisible currents seemed to come as if stepping on emptiness. The dark, imposing knight charged on a black horse, wielding a deep black spiral lance.
[Arisen Gaia the Fierce Knight, Attack 2300]
"You've immediately summoned a High-Level Monster again?" Bakura chuckled softly, "But it's useless. I told you, the Evil God is invincible! At the moment you summoned the new Monster, The Wicked Avatar had also obtained a new form!"
After the Sky Dragon was defeated, The Wicked Avatar reverted to its black spherical form. As Gaia appeared, the sphere again began to morph into a new shape. Sharp lances protruded from the sides, darkness manifested into the shape of a horse and the figure of a rider on its back, with even the lines on the knight's armor vividly visible.
It had transformed into the likeness of Arisen Gaia the Fierce Knight.
[The Wicked Avatar, Attack 2301]
Youyu paid no mind: "Magic Card - Monster Gate! Use the Monster on my field as a sacrifice and start flipping cards from the top of the deck until you reveal a Monster that can be Normal Summoned.
The revealed Monster is Special Summoned to my field, and the rest of the cards are sent to the graveyard."
He pointed at his own field.
"I offer 'Arisen Gaia the Fierce Knight' as a sacrifice to activate the effect of 'Monster Gate'!"
The knight, along with the gallant horse beneath him, disappeared, transforming into a circular, white Teleportation Gate, with blue flames flickering around it.
At the same time, The Wicked Avatar lost its form to replicate, reverting back to that dark spherical form once more.
Youyu flipped three cards in succession, and the third was a Monster Card. So, he immediately turned over that card: "The effect of Monster Gate, I Special Summon 'Elemental Hero Solidman'!"
[Elemental Hero Solidman, Defense 1100]
"At this moment, the effect of 'Arisen Gaia the Fierce Knight' activates!" Youyu declared, "When this card is used as a sacrifice, Special Summon a Black Luster Soldier from your hand or graveyard!
Return to the field! The emissary that transforms chaos into light—
—Black Luster Soldier - Super Soldier!"
Blade light cleaved through the void, armor of silver and black intertwined as they stood out with distinct red lines in the darkness, with a red plume fluttering in the wind from his helmet.
[Black Luster Soldier - Super Soldier, Attack 3000]
"The effect of 'Card of Safe Return'!" Youyu announced, "Due to the Super Soldier's resurrection from the graveyard, I draw three cards!"
"A futile struggle! Now The Wicked Avatar's special ability, transform into Black Luster Soldier!"
The black sphere began to morph again, forming a torso and limbs, with pitch-black armor covering its entire body, wielding a sword that could open up the heavens and earth.
[The Wicked Avatar, Attack 3001]
"I said, there's nothing that can defeat The Wicked Avatar." Bakura laughed, "Even the legendary warrior is useless!"
"Quick-Play Magic - Mask Change!" Youyu declared, "Send the Earth Attribute 'Elemental Hero Solidman' to the graveyard for a mask transformation!
Appear now! Masked Hero Dian!"
A brilliant light effect unfolded, with firm steel armor enveloping the hero's body, the flowing light sword waved, and a transparent blue jewel sat in the center of the hero's belt.
[Masked Hero Dian, Attack 2800]
"The effect of Solidman!" Youyu stated, "When Solidman is sent from the field to the graveyard by a Magic Effect, revive a 'Hero' Monster from the graveyard in defense position!
Return, Elemental Hero Shadow Mist!"
Miss Shadow Mist let out a clear shout as she leapt back onto the field, crossing her arms and kneeling defensively before her.
"The effect of Shadow Mist!" Youyu continued, "On successful Special Summon, add a 'Change' Quick-Play Magic from your deck to your hand.
I add a second Quick-Play Magic 'Mask Change' to my hand.
At this moment, 'Card of Safe Return' effect! I draw three cards from the deck!"
Youyu's deck continued to churn rapidly, with large Monsters continually appearing on the field, all while the number of cards in his hand increased rapidly.
Bakura only felt an increasing sense of foreboding as he watched, his brow furrowing, "What exactly is the point of doing this? What are you planning?"
Youyu's expression remained unchanged as he slowly drew a card from his hand.
He hadn't even played that card, yet everyone in the duel could already feel the power emanating from it... the stirring of Divine Power.
Bakura's eyes shifted slightly: "That is..."
"I offer up 'Masked Hero Dian', 'Black Luster Soldier - Super Soldier', 'Elemental Hero Shadow Mist', as sacrifices!"
The card was slammed onto the Duel Disc, golden electric currents crisscrossing the gold Duel Disc, lightning sparking and cracking, golden lightning struck from beyond the heavens.
"Pierce through the Netherworld and the present world, reappear from the storm of chaos—
—Netherworld God! Slifer the Sky Dragon!!!"