Aigami is in a really bad situation now.
Growing up under Shadi's guidance, with the power of Prana as his backing, and now having the Millennium Item in hand, Aigami was originally quite confident in his own strength.
He placed himself on the same level as Yugi and Kaiba, so when facing the so-called Duel King, even if he couldn't claim certain victory, he should at least have a 60-40 chance, right?
Yes, he believed he had a 60% chance of winning, while the Duel King had at most 40%.
Duel King? That's because I wasn't in the tournament back then!
If I had participated, of course, I would have won!
But now he realizes this might not be the case.
The Duel King... is completely unlike what he imagined.
Against Kaiba, and even against that jellyfish-headed kid last time, Aigami only felt that the opponent was strong, possessing meticulous strategies and a powerful offense, making the entire duel seem flawless.
At least those battles were direct confrontations, a clash of strength between duelists and monsters.
But Duel King Youyu... is unlike any opponent he has encountered.
Now, Aigami feels that Youyu's duel is simply beyond his imagination. There is no heated clash between monsters, no direct confrontation of duelist auras.
From beginning to end, Aigami feels as if he's trapped in an invisible shackle. He can't attack, can't deploy strategies, and any thoughts or plans cannot be executed smoothly.
It now seems he might not even be able to play a card.
Aigami feels he suddenly kind of understands why the powerful evil thoughts within the Millennium Ring struck with fear upon seeing Youyu, why this man bears the title of "Duel King" and is revered like a deity by countless duelists.
His strength... is simply on another dimension from that of an ordinary duelist!
Of course, Youyu is unaware of his thoughts, or else he might burst out laughing.
What's all this nonsense? Your Cubic deck has only these few tricks, it's ridiculously easy to counter them...
Aigami's gaze sharpens.
It's not over yet, he can't give up just like this, he can't fall here!
He remembers his sister, his friends, numerous irreplaceable Prana companions he grew up with, and the late Shadi who entrusted everything to them.
As long as his Life Points haven't hit zero and there are still cards left in his deck, it's not over!
The golden light shines on Aigami's forehead, his eyes filled with a passionate spirit that should only belong to a protagonist. He lets out an "Aaaaah" roar, his momentum surging unprecedentedly.
"Draw!!!"
He draws a card, his gaze flickering, and then he fiercely throws it out.
"Magic Card... Roll of Fate!" he declares. "Roll a die and draw cards equal to the result from the top of the deck. Then, the same number of cards from the top of the deck are removed from the game." (Anime effect)
Youyu: "..."
Hey, hey, you're actually stealing cards from a gambling god?
Alright, strictly speaking, other than the rare cards won from others, Junkmaster's entire deck is filled with dirt-cheap cards, so it's not that surprising...
But putting your hopes for a new world on a die, Prana, is that really okay?
Aigami widened his eyes, held his breath. The air seemed to pause, the world appeared frozen, only the fate-deciding die spinning fast in mid-air.
Plop.
The die lands.
The result is "5".
Perhaps it was pure dumb luck, or maybe Aigami naturally has a high fortune, reminiscent of Junkmaster's style back then.
"According to the effect," Aigami says, "I draw five cards from the deck, then five cards from the top of the deck are removed from the game."
This at least solves the resource shortage problem; it's a good start for Aigami. But even so, the dire situation he faces remains unchanged.
If he can't deal with Destiny Hero Plasma and Prohibition, his invincible Cubic deck remains nothing but a stack of useless paper.
"I activate the effect of the Continuous Magic 'Cubic Dharma' on the field, discard a 'Cubic' card from my hand to draw a card."
Aigami draws a card, then makes a sweeping gesture: "Next, I activate the effect of 'Buster Gundil the Cubic Behemoth' just sent to the graveyard."
"By banishing 'Buster Gundil the Cubic Behemoth' from the graveyard, I can return a 'Vijam the Cubic Seed' from the graveyard to my hand." (Anime effect)
Aigami quickly retrieves the card of Vijam from his strangely cubic Duel Disc built graveyard.
"I return a 'Vijam the Cubic Seed' to my hand!"
"But as long as 'Prohibition' is on the field, Vijam cannot be summoned or activate effects." Youyu says.
"I know that," Aigami snorts, "so I'm first going to deal with that annoyance. I activate the Magic Card 'Double Cyclone' from my hand!
Target one Magic Trap card on my field and one on the opponent's field; both are destroyed!"
He points to the Continuous Magic that has been there from the start beside him.
"I destroy my own Continuous Magic 'Cubic Dharma', and your 'Prohibition'!"
Red and gold tornadoes rise together, hitting 'Cubic Dharma' and 'Prohibition'. The Magic Cards are swept into the air, with Prohibition being torn to pieces by the cyclone.
The ban is lifted, the restriction evaporates, giving Vijam the right to return to the field.
"Now, 'Vijam' can be used again," Aigami declares. "And, I activate the effect of the Continuous Magic 'Cubic Dharma' that I just sent to the graveyard!
By banishing 'Cubic Dharma' from the graveyard, I can return a 'Cubic' monster from the graveyard to my hand."
Aigami reveals another "Vijam the Cubic Seed".
"Using Double Cyclone to destroy Prohibition and taking advantage of 'Cubic Dharma's' effect to recover resources, huh." Youyu nods approvingly with an expression of 'promising talent'. "Not bad indeed."
A '井' mark appears on Aigami's forehead again, but he ignores it and continues: "Equip Magic 'Premature Burial', pay 800 Life Points to revive a monster from the graveyard!"
[Aigami, LP 4000 → LP 3200]
"Resurrect from the grave!" Aigami retrieves a card from the graveyard, slamming it down. "Revive! Dark Garnex the Cubic Beast!!!"
A dark golden light bursts from the shadows, forming deep black armor. The monster has the characteristic single eye of a Cubic monster, and its fingers resemble metal tendrils.
[Dark Garnex the Cubic Beast, Attack Power 0]
"But reviving a Cubic monster from the graveyard without a 'Cubic Seed' monster beneath, its attack power is 0." Youyu points out. "Besides, as long as Destiny Hero Plasma is on the field, all your Cubic monster effects are negated."
"I know!" Aigami forcefully inserts a card into the Duel Disc. "So I'm going to use this card, the Magic Card 'Herald of the Abyss'!
Pay 1500 Life Points and declare an Attribute and Type. If a monster with the declared Type and Attribute exists on the opponent's field, they must send one of those monsters to the graveyard!"
Youyu: "!?"
You can do that?
[Aigami, LP 3200 → LP 1700]
"I declare, of course, Dark Attribute, Warrior-Type!" Aigami smirks coldly. "And right now, you have a single Dark Attribute, Warrior-Type monster on your field.
So, send 'Destiny Hero Plasma' to the graveyard!"