Warm golden light cascaded from beyond the skies, igniting the pitch-black clouds like a flame. A sphere of golden metal slowly descended from the heavens, disintegrating and transforming, revealing a head and wings, exhaling a scorching breath.
The Winged Dragon of Ra, Summon!
This time Bakura seemed somewhat tense: "To summon the strongest Egyptian God, The Winged Dragon of Ra, at this moment?"
"The attack power of the Winged Dragon equals the sum of the attack powers of the three monsters used as tributes," Youyu said. "Absolute Zero Hero has an attack power of 2500, Shadow Mist Lady has 1000, and Disc Man has 300. So now the Winged Dragon's attack power is..."
[The Winged Dragon of Ra, Attack Power 3800]
"I told you, no matter how high the attack power is, it's meaningless!" Bakura shouted. "The Wicked Avatar's attack power always surpasses it, even the Winged Dragon is no exception!
The Wicked Avatar! Transform into the form of the Sun God!"
The pitch-black sphere started to transform. It also stretched itself out, revealing the head of a divine bird, its metallic wings as sharp as blades, the black surface reflecting a metallic sheen.
[The Wicked Avatar, Attack Power 3801]
"The moment Absolute Zero Hero is sent to the graveyard as a tribute," Youyu said, "its effect activates as well. When this card leaves the field, all monsters on the opponent's side are destroyed!
Absolute Zero!"
A white flow, transparent as ice, swept across, freezing the scene miles deep. The ground became as bright as a mirror, the cold wave invading the Wicked Avatar's domain, freezing half of Bakura's side of the field.
"Such a low-level effect is ineffective against the gods," Bakura said.
"But it's effective against the Red Ogre," Youyu replied.
In the brief exchange, the unfortunate Red Ogre was already frozen into an ice sculpture from head to toe, and with a "crack," it shattered, turning into a pile of ice shards.
Yet the Wicked Avatar remained unmoved in the raging cold stream as if utterly indifferent to any abnormalities, demonstrating that such attacks weren't even worth its attention.
"Humph, meaningless," Bakura said. "It's just clearing out a trivial small fry; as long as the Wicked Avatar stands, everything is futile."
"That's not necessarily true."
Even though it was Youyu's turn to operate, it was Yugi who spoke this time.
"You yourself said that the Wicked Avatar is a Supreme God, so the effects of lower gods like Obelisk or Slifer are ineffective against it," Yugi said. "But if it's an Egyptian God of supreme order among the Three Egyptian Gods, The Winged Dragon of Ra, its strength is effective against the Wicked Avatar!"
Bakura pouted: "You've figured it out?"
"The Winged Dragon of Ra, activate effect!" Youyu said. "Pay 1000 Life Points to destroy The Wicked Avatar!"
The Winged Dragon of Ra, held by Youyu, is enhanced based on the physical card effect text. Although the revised effect differs slightly from the authentic Winged Dragon's effect, it holds a high enough rank as the Sun God.
Unlike the animation effect, it doesn't need to enter the "God·Phoenix" state to use the destroy monster effect, but it can destroy one monster per 1000 Life Points paid.
Of course, Bakura only has one The Wicked Avatar on the field, so that's no issue.
[Yugi x Youyu, LP 2698 → LP 1698]
The Winged Dragon's eyes turned scarlet, emitting a sharp cry, its eyes flaring red, its golden light surged all over. It flapped its wings, soaring high into the air, radiating brilliance like the midday sun. The heat turned the air golden-red, even distorting the suspended form of the divine bird.
It hovered high, its golden light shooting out in all directions, as if releasing endless authority and power.
A storm of burning golden erupted for no reason! The dark domain of the Wicked God was dispersed, engulfed by the storm, the entire black form of the Wicked God being torn apart and incinerated by the scarlet flames.
The darkness was scattered by the sun, triggering cheer and exultation from the Egyptian troops and civilians.
"Oh oh! The Wicked God is defeated!" Yugi's friends were also excited.
"Even having copied the form of a God, it's ultimately a false god, utterly unable to withstand the Winged Dragon!" Jonouchi raised his fist. "This means Bakura's field is defenseless again! Go for it, Youyu!"
The Winged Dragon of Ra, direct attack!" Youyu commanded. "Divine Power Flame Cannon!!"
The Winged Dragon seemed already displeased with this evil-filled being. Flowing golden streams coursed along its magnificently elegant form, accumulating behind the divine bird, gradually transforming into a golden sphere. Electric sparks leaped, searing heat crackled, as though a golden, flaming sun perched behind it.
The golden glow surged forth from the sphere, converging in the Winged Dragon's maw, erupting into a divine power, endless flames exploding forth!
[The Winged Dragon of Ra, Attack Power 3800]
[Bakura, LP 3501]
Nothing could withstand the Divine Strike; the Supreme God's blast was enough to render the great Wicked God's three-thousand-year-wandering soul dust and ashes!
But just as that strike was about to land, a slab flew out before Bakura, releasing a pale green magic power that formed a transparent shield, steadily blocking the Divine Power Flame's impact.
"Nani?" Jonouchi exclaimed in surprise. "Why didn't the Sun God's attack work? Is Bakura cheating again?"
A slab in Bakura's backfield flipped up... a Trap Card slab.
"Trap Cards should be ineffective against gods," Yugi frowned.
"I obviously know that," Bakura sneered. "In that instant, I activated the trap 'Farewell'! By discarding a Magic Card from my hand, I can forcibly end the opponent's Battle Phase!
Additionally, all monster effects on the field are nullified until the end of the turn... though this effect is ineffective on gods."
"Now I'll set two cards and end the turn."
"Ahhh, always just a bit too short," Jonouchi shook his fist. "Damn it, Bakura just refuses to fall down, doesn't he?"
Yet in truth, Bakura's heart felt a similar frustration.
—I'd like to ask the same!
Are these two guys any less tenacious than I am?
But as a villain with ambition and pursuit, one who has adhered steadfastly for three thousand years, Bakura certainly wouldn't give up!
It's just a fragile-winged-chicken, isn't it?
Watch me bring it down!
"It's my turn!" Bakura declared. "Magic Card 'Magic Book in Jar'! I'll draw three more cards from the deck!"
A new slab descended, and Bakura's lips curled into a confident smile.
It's here!
Of course, his great Wicked God's destiny wouldn't end here; he could still keep fighting!
"The Forbidden Zone of the Living, Paradise of the Undead, once more descends—
—Field Magic·Zombie World!"
A surge of death swept in, black mist spreading, the Undead Domain once more dominated the Dueling Arena!
"Darn it, Zombie World again!" Yugi murmured. "Now the monsters in the graveyard become Undead-Type again..."
"Indeed! So now I can use this trap! Flip open the set card - Haunted Shrine! When there are no monsters on your field, revive an Undead-Type monster from your graveyard!
Awaken from the grave once more! The Wicked Avatar!!!"