Since the opponent said so, Youyu wasn't going to hold back either.
Of course, this time he didn't play with his signature Hero Deck.
"My turn, draw a card!"
A card was drawn from the deck, and at the same time, Mr. Phoenix raised his arm high: "At the moment of entering the standby phase, the effect of 'Destiny Hero Dogma' also activates!
When Dogma is successfully special summoned, on the opponent's next standby phase, the opponent's Life Points are halved!"
The hero, bound in heavy armor and chains, spread his arms and let out a powerful low roar. Dark beams simultaneously shot up from under the hero's and Youyu's feet, a virtual shock like an electric current surged through the body, causing Youyu's clothing to flutter slightly.
[Youyu, LP 4000 → LP 2000]
"Ah! Not only is this Hero so cool, but also so powerful!" Young Judai exclaimed with shining eyes, "To halve the Life Points in one go... such a strong ability!"
"Right?" Young Ed continued to be proud, "The Destiny Heroes designed by my dad are the strongest!"
However, Youyu was not the least bit concerned, expressionlessly enduring the whole set of virtual shocks, as if he didn't feel it at all. He casually drew a card from his hand: "The Magic Card 'Ancient Rules' special summons a Normal Monster of level five or higher from the hand.
Come forth! Black Magician!"
The magic array spun and unfolded, and the Black Magician in a jet-black robe and light-blue skin flew out, his black boots landing lightly on the ground, waving his Magic Staff, leaving pale blue ripples like a drop of water on the lake's surface.
[Black Magician, Attack 2500]
Over the past year, although the system card pool "Linked World" game was no longer updated, and players couldn't harvest Crystal Stones temporarily, Youyu wasn't idle during this time.
The International Fantasy Society recently invested quite a bit of cost to develop only a few new "Black Magician" cards, each priceless and of legendary rarity.
One of which was taken out by the Fantasy Society as a promotional gimmick and was given for free to the Duel King Muto Yugi, known for his ace "Black Magician".
Another one was personally given by Tenma Yako to Youyu, although not his usual deck, he also held the "Black Magic" series.
So the "Black Magician" here is the same new skin summoned by Muto Yugi in the "Dark Side of the Dimension" movie.
And with this, Youyu's early "Black Magic" deck finally collected three "Black Magicians".
"Summoning the ace card of the Duel King Muto Yugi right from the start?" Mr. Phoenix said, "But even the strongest magician is not a match for my 'Destiny Hero Dogma'."
"Not so fast, the Black Magician's strength is not in itself, but in the possibilities developed from high-level magic," Youyu smiled, waving his hand, "I use 'Black Magician' as the tribute! Special summon from my hand, the dark mage that judges evil—
——Black Magician Executor!!!"
The Black Magician, legs together, levitated in mid-air, holding the Magic Staff horizontally, the flowing Magic Power seen with the naked eye gently lifted his clothes, his robe like black waves undulating.
The intricately patterned magic circle spread out under his feet, spinning like a wheel. Flowing Magic Power enveloped his entire body, the broad robe covered his body, the gemstone on the Magic Staff emitted a purple-black halo.
[Black Magician Executor, Attack 2500]
Mr. Phoenix understood: "Is this the new form of the Black Magician?"
As an industry insider, he had also heard about it, the Black Magician is a powerful mage with countless evolved forms and endless possibilities. Even though it seems like just a Normal Monster with 2500 attack, its hidden potential is not to be underestimated.
"Activating the Magic Card 'Curtain of Black Magic' from my hand!" Youyu said, "Pay 1000 Life Points and special summon a 'Black Magician' from my hand or graveyard.
I resurrect the 'Black Magician' just sent to the graveyard as a tribute!"
[Youyu, LP 2000 → LP 1000]
Like pale blue transparent flames burning out of thin air, lines interweave in the air to form the shape of a magic circle. The black-robed magician majestically flew out of the magic array, spinning and hovering in mid-air, the Magic Staff flickering with ghostly light.
[Black Magician, Attack 2500]
"At this moment, the effect of 'Black Magician Executor' activates!" Youyu said, "When either player activates a Normal Magic Card, 'Black Magician Executor' deals 1000 damage to the opponent!"
The face of the Judging Mage was like green steel, slowly raising the Magic Staff in his hand, purple light condensed into a huge light bullet blasting out. The explosive light ball, like a tank shell, shot straight at Mr. Phoenix, despite being a virtual impact, it still staggered the designer.
[Mr. Phoenix, LP 4000 → LP 3000]
Mr. Phoenix steadied himself, adjusted his glasses, and slightly raised the corner of his mouth.
Youyu quickly noticed. On the ground in front of Mr. Phoenix, there seemed to be...
...a phantom?
It barely resembled a humanoid figure, blurry and indistinct, barely recognizable as a warrior in exoskeleton armor.
A phantom.
"At the moment I received damage, the effect of the 'Vision Hero' slumbering in the graveyard triggered," Mr. Phoenix said, "When taking damage, the 'Vision Hero Poisoner' and 'Vision Hero Increase' in the graveyard can both be placed as Continuous Trap Cards in your Magic Trap Zone."
The Vision Heroes, indeed.
Youyu wasn't surprised at all.
Just like Yuki Judai's "Masked Heroes", Vision Heroes are Ed Phoenix's representative deck series in the "Yu-Gi-Oh! GX" manga, an extremely powerful Hero series with great operational capabilities.
When you combine the elements, vision, destiny, masks, and even the evil powers used by the supreme being sealed deep within Judai's heart, only then is the Hero Deck truly complete.
The Vision Hero's characteristics are somewhat similar to the "Crystal Beast" series well known in the GX Animation, where the Vision Hero series monsters can be placed as Continuous Traps in the Magic Trap Zone.
Even more importantly, the Vision Hero series pairs extremely well with other Hero decks, including "Elemental Heroes" and "Masked Heroes".
Getting a few key Vision Hero cards would be a breakthrough improvement for Youyu's existing hero system!
Thinking of this, Youyu became even more interested in the duel.
"Vision Heroes, is this the new series you mentioned?" he chuckled softly, "Perfect. Let me see the potential the new Heroes possess!"