Counter Trap - Solemn Judgment!
As soon as this card was played, the entire field was enveloped in a blinding Holy Light. The sky was filled with dark clouds, and blue lightning roared behind the leaden clouds.
Everyone present gasped—
—Hiss~ The power of an elder card like "Solemn Judgment" is terrifying!
In the original world setting, Solemn Judgment is definitely not considered a rare card— not only did the main character Yuki Judai use it, but many side characters with fleeting screen time in dragon decks also possessed this Divine Card.
Yet, this does not diminish its incredible single-card strength and disruption ability!
You only need to pay half your Life Points to negate any one of your opponent's actions, including summoning Monsters, activating Magic, or Trap Cards. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say it has the power to decide the outcome of a game with just one card.
[Darkness, LP 2600 → LP 1300]
Darkness gritted his teeth and endured the pain of losing half of his Life Points, activating the Counter Trap in return. The elder figure of Solemn Judgment appeared in the air full of authority, slowly extending his palm.
A streak of lightning descended from the sky and struck Asuka's Ritual Magic, causing the Magic Card to instantly turn to ashes.
"If I let you summon any more troublesome Ritual Monsters, it would be a headache." muttered Darkness.
The situation of indulgence with his sister had to be resolved when Fubuki managed to shake off Darkness's control, thinking about how to answer his sister...
With the Ritual Summon blocked, Asuka remained unflustered, only briefly contemplating before switching gears to continue her plans.
"Then I summon 'Sonic Bird' in attack position!"
[Sonic Bird, ATK 1400]
"When 'Sonic Bird' is successfully summoned, I add a Ritual Magic from the deck to my hand." Asuka's deck ejected another card, "I add the Ritual Magic 'Machine Angel Absolute Ritual' to my hand!"
Darkness: "!"
It's another new Ritual Magic!?
He bit his lip, starting to feel uneasy.
Can you keep going like this?
And Asuka quickly provided the answer—of course, she could!
"Activate Ritual Magic 'Machine Angel Absolute Ritual'!" she declared, "using monsters from my hand or field as tributes until their levels equal the level of the Ritual Monster to be Ritual Summoned, I can Ritual Summon a 'Cyber Angel' ritual monster!
Furthermore, when using this card for such a Ritual Summon, you can return Fairy-Type or Warrior-Type Monsters from the graveyard to the deck as substitutes for Ritual materials!"
As she spoke, a card automatically ejected from her graveyard.
"I return the level six 'Cyber Angel Benten' from the graveyard to the deck as Ritual material to Ritual Summon! Reappear once more—
—Cyber Angel Idaten!!!"
The Ritual array appeared, a beam of light shot into the sky. The graceful Cyber Angel soared out, with energy beneath her feet turning into rippling waves.
[Cyber Angel Idaten, ATK 1600]
Darkness scoffed: "It's that guy again..."
"When 'Cyber Angel Idaten' is successfully Ritual Summoned, I add a Ritual Magic Card from the deck or graveyard to my hand." Asuka drew a card from the graveyard, "I return the Ritual Magic 'Machine Angel Ritual' you just negated to my hand."
As the card negated by "Solemn Judgment" returned to Asuka's hand, Darkness could almost foresee what was going to happen next...
"Activate the Magic Card 'Preparation of Rites'!" Asuka declared, "Add a level seven or lower Ritual Monster from the deck to my hand, then I can return a Ritual Magic Card from the graveyard to my hand."
Another card automatically ejected from her deck.
"I add 'Cyber Angel Benten', which I just shuffled back into the deck via the effect of 'Machine Angel Absolute Ritual', to my hand.
Then I return 'Machine Angel Absolute Ritual' from the graveyard to my hand once more."
The face under Darkness's mask was darkened, and cold sweat began to seep from his forehead.
"Activate Ritual Magic 'Machine Angel Ritual'!" she continued, "I use level six 'Cyber Angel Benten' from my hand and level six 'Cyber Angel Idaten' on the field as tributes to Ritual Summon!
Once again, my trump card, the strongest Machine Angel—
—Cyber Angel Dakini!!!"
The mechanized deity descended again through the Ritual torrent. Her metallic face was cold and expressionless, her long blades pointing coldly downwards, and the end of her Magic Staff landed heavily on the ground.
[Cyber Angel Dakini, ATK 2700]
"Dakini's effect!" Asuka gestured, "When it is Ritual Summoned, the opponent must send one of their Monsters on the field to the graveyard. Send your 'Red-Eyes Darkness Dragon' to the graveyard!"
Darkness grit his teeth but was powerless. The power of judgment descended, and Cyber Angel Dakini, without moving a step, sent the mighty Red-Eyes Darkness Dragon to eternal rest in the Netherworld.
But Darkness hadn't given up yet.
He glanced sideways at the Set Card at his feet.
That was his last Set Card, the final line of defense he could rely on against Asuka's aggressive Cyber Angel army.
"The effect of 'Cyber Angel Benten,' sent to the graveyard as Ritual material! When Benten enters the graveyard, a Light-Attribute, Fairy-Type Monster is added from the deck to the hand.
The card I want to add to my hand is...this one!"
The deck automatically searched, and Asuka drew the popped card.
"Ritual Monster, Cyber Angel Izana!"
Darkness: "!"
Another new Ritual Monster!?
"And then the effect of 'Cyber Angel Idaten'; when used as a tribute, the ATK and DEF of Ritual Monsters on the field increase by 1000!"
[Cyber Angel Dakini, ATK 2700 → ATK 3700]
Asuka immediately played the second Ritual Card she searched: "Activate Ritual Magic 'Machine Angel Absolute Ritual'!
I use level four 'Sonic Bird' and level four 'Manju of the Ten Thousand Hands' on the field, with total levels adding up to exactly eight, as tributes for a Ritual Summon! Descend, level eight—
—Cyber Angel Izana!!!"
The Ritual proceeds on the Machine altar, the flickering flames in the burners extinguishing. The metal angel's shadow emerged, spinning gracefully like a dancer, holding an icy War Axe and a golden Trident.
Cyber Angel Izana, summoned!
[Cyber Angel Izana, ATK 2500]
"Izana's effect!" Asuka proclaimed, "Upon summoning, the opponent must send one of their Magic or Trap Cards to the graveyard!"
"What!?" Darkness was completely unsettled.
On the field, he had only one remaining Magic Trap Card!
With no choice, the card was flipped under the rays of the Cyber Angel's light, hurriedly leaving the field without ever realizing its potential.
Counter Trap - Negate Attack.
A Counter Trap that could negate the opponent's attack and end the Battle Phase.
This card might have been Darkness's chance to turn the tables... but that's now an impossibility.
"How... amazing, Asuka," Judai said blankly, "It feels like you've changed compared to the beginning of the school year..."
Asuka smiled confidently.
"Battle." She raised her hand, "Cyber Angel Dakini, direct attack Darkness!"
With no Monsters, no backfield, and not even any cards in hand, Darkness's formation was completely overwhelmed and crushed, leaving no chance to counterattack.
Dakini's strike passed effortlessly. Two flashing blades sliced mercilessly along Darkness's body. The heavy Magic Staff then crashed into him like a speeding vehicle, sending him grunting into the air, his black trench coat fluttering.
[Darkness, LP 1300 → LP 0]