The slender and powerful body of the dragon emerged from the clouds, its mighty wings flapping, surrounded by countless lightning bolts, as thunder roared around it.
Slifer the Sky Dragon, summoned again!
The Netherworld God descended once more, seemingly bringing hope to the field. The players cheered joyously, while the priests were surprised and puzzled.
Isn't the Egyptian God only supposed to be controlled by the Pharaoh? Why can this outsider young man do it too?
... But wait, wasn't the Egyptian God supposed to be unique before this?
Just now, the Netherworld God had clearly fallen before their eyes, so why is there a second identical Egyptian God? Doesn't using a God's duplicate provoke wrath?
The priests were astonished, feeling their already shattered worldview facing another severe blow.
Bakura, already shocked from a previous encounter, wasn't as frightened this time, but his expression was still terrifying. His devil-like eyes glared at Youyu, filled with resentment, anger...
... and a little fear.
Though he kept telling himself, the Name of the King has been eradicated, even if he resurrected it...
... But what if?
Fear of a thousand possibilities, fear of one possibility, even the Great Evil God fears.
[Slifer the Sky Dragon, Attack Power 6000]
"Youyu now has six cards in hand, so the Sky Dragon's Attack Power is six thousand points!" Honda said excitedly.
Jonouchi commented, "But no matter how high the Attack Power, the problem isn't solved. No matter how strong the Attack Power, it can't defeat The Wicked Avatar..."
"Exactly!" Bakura laughed, "The Wicked Avatar copies the strongest monster on the field; it's invincible!"
The black sphere started transforming again. Its body spread like black flames, forming wings and a serpentine body covered in black scales, with a mouth full of sharp teeth that spewed out sound waves and lightning.
[The Wicked Avatar, Attack Power 6001]
"I told you," Bakura said, "The Wicked Avatar is an unbeatable monster; there's no strategy to defeat it!"
Youyu swung his arm: "Activate the effect of Destiny Hero Malicious in the graveyard! Banish Malicious from the game to special summon the third Destiny Hero Malicious from the card deck.
Come forth! Destiny Hero Malicious!"
Another stream of darkness fell, as the third Malicious descended onto the field with a murky roar.
[Destiny Hero Malicious, Defense Power 800]
"Quick-Play Magic - Mask Change!" Youyu played the transformation card added to his hand via Shadow Mist's effect, "Send the Dark Attribute Destiny Hero Malicious on the field to the graveyard for Mask Change!
Appear! Masked Hero Anki!"
Black armor covered the Hero entirely, transforming into a ghost-like figure. Purple-black flames burned on the smooth, sturdy armor, sparks flying.
[Masked Hero Anki, Attack Power 2800]
[Slifer the Sky Dragon, Attack Power 6000 → Attack Power 5000]
"What's the point of doing this?" Bakura chuckled, "A hero like this isn't even an appetizer in front of the Evil God, and it even cost Slifer's Attack Power..."
"Masked Hero Anki's effect," Youyu said, "He can bypass monsters serving as walls to directly attack the player,"
"That's it!" Yugi realized, giving Youyu a thumbs up, "Even if the Evil God can't be defeated, the duelist controlling the Evil God has limited life."
"Tsk, using clever tricks again." Bakura huffed unhappily.
"Battle Phase." Youyu swung his arm, "Masked Hero Anki, direct attack on the player!"
Anki leapt, phantom-like. In a flash, he disappeared from everyone's sight. He agilely circumvented the Evil God's obstruction, appearing above Bakura, the purple-black tail flame cutting a narrow arc behind him, a "Knight Kick" directly striking Bakura from above.
"Bypassing the Evil God to target me... Hey, did you think this tactic wouldn't occur to me?"
Upon hearing Youyu's attack declaration, Bakura's expression changed, and he smirked insidiously. With a swing of his arm, a stone slab turned over with dust flying.
"Activate Trap - Call of the Earthbound!" Bakura shouted, "During the opponent's attack declaration, I choose the target of the attack!"
In the midst of speaking, a transparent ghost flew out from the stone slab, shooting straight into Masked Hero Anki as he dove down. The hero's actions abruptly halted, the red gleam flashing from his helmet eyes, his form resembling a speeding train abruptly slammed on the brakes.
"Now the attack target is," Bakura grinned, "Masked Hero Anki, attack The Wicked Avatar!"
Anki's target abruptly shifted, turning like possessed eyes toward The Wicked Avatar.
The Avatar, transformed into the Sky Dragon, slowly opened its mouth, dark chaos thunder swirling within, a thunder cannon charged and ready!
"Trouble!" Jonouchi grew anxious, "The Wicked Avatar now has an Attack Power of 5001. If the battle proceeds, Youyu's side will end up self-destructing..."
But Youyu... instead smiled.
Giving a kind of "I knew it" smile.
Seeing this smile, Bakura's heart skipped a beat, suddenly panicking inside.
This guy... did he anticipate this move?
"Quick-Play Magic." Youyu swung his hand, "Reflected Energy!"
Bakura: "!"
"Sacrifice one monster on your field to activate the effect!"
The magic effect triggered, and Masked Hero Anki, in the midst of flying kick, disintegrated in a flash, dispersing into countless light points.
The Wicked Avatar opened its giant mouth, unleashing the dark thunder that broke through the sky, sweeping across the ground.
The scattered light points instantly converged behind Bakura, transforming into a transparent, clear reflection mirror, its surface shimmering with silvery white light.
Bakura's face changed drastically: "That card is..."
"By sacrificing one monster on your field, grant another monster the ability to directly attack the player for this turn alone." Youyu pointed to the crimson dragon above, "With the effect of 'Reflected Energy,' grant Slifer the ability to direct attack!"
[Slifer the Sky Dragon, Attack Power 5000 → Attack Power 4000]
"That's right!" Jonouchi realized, "He first used Anki to trick out Bakura's trap! If he had directly used 'Reflected Energy' for Slifer to attack, Slifer would have instead turned to attack 'The Wicked Avatar,' resulting in counter destruction!"
"Hmm." Yugi nodded, "And now the Sky Dragon's Attack Power still stands at four thousand! Bakura's life points are already down to only 3500!"
As for Bakura... at this moment, his face was just as unpleasant as having eaten something bad.
"You managed to fool me?"
"Well done, Youyu!" Dark Yugi also praised, "This is the final blow!"
Youyu swung his arm.
"Slifer the Sky Dragon, direct attack on Bakura!
Superconductive Wave - Thunder Cannon!!!"