"With Mr. Youyu... your students?" Marik was a bit stunned.
Marik was somewhat confused. Inviting him to this competition, wasn't it basically handing over the championship to him?
He may not be worth much in front of Yugi, but he's a proper Legendary Duelist!
A legitimate one, vastly different from those who falsely claim to be great just because they've been obliterated by Muto Yugi!
Surely Mr. Youyu wouldn't think he couldn't even beat a bunch of students who haven't graduated yet?
As if sensing Marik's thoughts, Youyu smiled, "Don't be so confident. My students aren't easy to handle. If you're careless, you might end up losing unexpectedly."
Marik clearly disagreed.
"Mr. Youyu, we haven't seen each other in a while, so perhaps you're not familiar with my current strength." Marik raised his Duel Disc, "How about this?
I'd be happy to help you in this competition, but under one condition. I want to have a duel with you first."
Before Youyu could respond, he continued with a smile, "Honestly, I've come here with the intention to spar with you. My card deck is completely different from what it used to be, and I guarantee there's something that will surprise you.
If you win, I've prepared a full copy of my deck as the prize, how's that?"
The nearby Aigami was utterly shocked.
Seriously, have you evolved from being plucked of your deck to just giving it away? Your posture is quite practiced!
Youyu raised his eyebrow.
Wow, so confident?
"Alright then." Youyu stood up, "It'll be a good chance to see just how much you've improved since back then."
"Duel!" x2
[Youyu, LP 4000]
[Marik, LP 4000]
"I'll go first, Mr. Youyu!" Marik said, "Draw Card!"
Marik claimed he switched to a new deck and had drastically changed compared to his past self... though that doesn't seem to mean much.
After all, Mr. Marik's record back in the day was worse than his alter-ego's, a six-year-old couldn't be more pitiful. Throughout DM, he hadn't won a single proper game.
But since Mr. Marik confidently claimed that Youyu would surely be interested in his new cards, Youyu was indeed quite intrigued.
"Summon 'Gravekeeper's Spiritualist'!"
First to appear was a dark-robed spiritualist lady, wearing a bare-midriff robe that revealed her smooth and flat belly. Half of her face was obscured by a mask with a jackal design.
[Gravekeeper's Spiritualist, Attack Power 1500]
"Activate Field Magic 'Necrovalley'!"
The landscape shifted as towering valleys rose, blocking the sun suspended in the sky. Sunlight poured in through a narrow crevice, the entire valley felt cold and bleak, filled with the aura of death.
The Valley of the Underworld appeared.
The effect of this field is quite straightforward, basically "graveyard locking." It can sever the connection between the Mortal World and the Underworld, rendering most effects associated with the graveyard ineffective, effectively making it a mainstream killer.
"'Gravekeeper's Spiritualist' effect!" Marik continued, "While 'Necrovalley' exists on my field, I can send Monsters on my side and from my hand as Fusion Material to the graveyard to Fusion Summon Spellcaster-Type Fusion Monsters!
I Fusion 'Gravekeeper's Spiritualist' and 'Gravekeeper's Commandant' from my hand!"
The two Gravekeeper Warriors transformed into beams of light and vanished amidst the valley as a whirlwind of magical power erupted within.
"Fusion requirements: two 'Gravekeeper' Monsters! Fusion Summon!
The Defender of Eternal Rest, messenger of supernatural power—
—'Gravekeeper's Supernaturalist', summon!!!"
A figure appeared in the center of the magical maelstrom. The golden staff tore through the light curtain, and a dark-skinned Guardian emerged from the whirlwind with light yet steady steps. He held the staff in his hand, with striking white hair and clear, piercing eyes.
[Gravekeeper's Supernaturalist, Attack Power 2000]
The same monster used by Ishizu back in the day, exclusive to the Gravekeeper Race, nothing too surprising here.
Though, it's worth noting that this Supernaturalist bears some resemblance to Mr. Marik himself, making the summoning seem a bit theatrical...
"Supernaturalist's effect, his attack increases by 100 points times the original level of the Fusion Material Monster," Marik stated. "The Fusion Materials 'Gravekeeper's Spiritualist' and 'Gravekeeper's Commandant' are both level four, giving a total level of eight.
So, the Supernaturalist's attack rises by 800!"
[Gravekeeper's Supernaturalist, Attack Power 2000 → Attack Power 2800]
"'Gravekeeper's Supernaturalist', Activate Effect! Gravekeeper's Divination!"
The Supernaturalist raised his golden staff, and with a gentle tap on the ground, golden-transparent waves of energy rippled outwards.
"This effect of the Supernaturalist can only be activated during the Main Phase," Marik explained. "After activation, at the end of this turn, you can add one 'Gravekeeper' Monster or 'Necrovalley' card from your Deck to your hand."
He swept his hand and three Set Cards appeared at his feet.
"I set three cards face-down on the field, ending this turn.
Then, at this moment, the Supernaturalist's effect activates! From the Deck, I draw this card..."
He drew the card that popped out of his Deck and briefly displayed it.
"Continuous Magic 'Hidden Temples of Necrovalley' added to hand!"
Youyu slightly furrowed his brow.
Now he understood why Marik was so confident that he'd be interested in his new cards.
This is the ultimate shut-in card!
Continuous Magic - Hidden Temples of Necrovalley. This card can only be activated if there is a Monster on the field with "Gravekeeper" in its name and "Necrovalley" present.
The activation condition, with dual restrictions, naturally comes with a very powerful effect. As long as this card is on the field, neither player can Special Summon any Monster except "Gravekeeper".
A Special Summoning restriction effect, famous within the Yugioh "social revenge" series, led by the Continuous Trap "Vanity's Emptiness", rivaling the shut-in pioneer "Macro Cosmos", always an infamous archetype that strikes fear into countless duelists—more focused on "driving opponents crazy" rather than winning the match.
Vanity's Emptiness, Continuous Trap, neither player can Special Summon Monsters.
Necrovalley's built-in graveyard lock already makes most mainstream decks go crazy. Add a "no special summon" restriction...
At this point, even Youyu turned more serious.
No wonder Mr. Marik, the ancestor of the Underworld, is so advanced in the art of self-isolation.
Compared to this comprehensive lockdown self-isolation, like the six-year-old deck stuffed with bottomless pits, it's merely child's play.
Looks like Mr. Marik was determined to fully embrace the Underworld strategy, aiming to reach the peak in the realm of social revenge?