"Activate the Field Magic 'Necrovalley' again!"
The roar of terrain modification, dust arose instantaneously in the field. The valley rose, as if an invisible deity descended alongside this majestic field.
"Within Necrovalley, any effects involving the graveyard are negated." Marik laughed, "Magic, traps, and monster effects targeting cards in the graveyard are all negated, and cards in the graveyard cannot be banished from the game!"
He paused and smiled, "What a pity, Mr. Youyu. Have you thought up multiple ways to deal with 'Necrovalley,' but I was prepared for those too!"
"You've indeed grown more skilled." Youyu replied calmly, "But in doing so, 'Hidden Temples of Necrovalley' can no longer exist."
This was indeed a small loophole in Marik's setup. The Continuous Magic 'Hidden Temples of Necrovalley' only activates when both a Gravekeeper's Monster and Field Magic are on the field. If either leaves the field, it self-destructs immediately.
Just now, Youyu used 'Temple of the Kings' to squeeze out Necrovalley, albeit for an instant, causing the Continuous Magic to self-destruct due to its effect.
Perhaps it was precisely because of this potential scenario that Marik decided to add the second 'Hidden Temples of Necrovalley' to his hand at the end of the last turn.
"Indeed, now the restriction on special summons for monsters is lifted." Marik nodded, "But only for this turn."
"Mr. Youyu, you know that I have already retrieved the second 'Hidden Temples of Necrovalley' to my hand. Just wait until the next turn..."
"One turn is enough." Youyu decisively interrupted him.
Marik: "!"
Impressive Mr. Youyu, so confident and handsome!
But to dismantle my setup in one turn, especially within the field of 'Necrovalley'... What does he plan to do?
Unexpectedly, Marik felt a slight anticipation.
"Activate the Magic Card 'A Hero Lives' from the hand!" Youyu said, "This card can only be activated when there are no face-up monster cards on your field.
Pay half of your Life Points and special summon one level four or below 'Hero' monster from the deck!"
[Youyu, LP 500 → LP 250]
A card popped out from the deck, drawn by Youyu into his hand.
"Level four, 'Elemental Hero Shadow Mist,' special summon!"
Floating mist condensed into the shape of a slender female hero figure, lightly landing on Youyu's field.
[Elemental Hero Shadow Mist, ATK 1000]
"Shadow Mist's effect: When successfully special summoned, add one 'Change' Quick-Play Magic from the deck to the hand."
Youyu drew the card that popped out of the deck and revealed it.
"I'll add the Quick-Play Magic 'Mask Change II' to my hand."
"Planning to counterattack with Masked Hero?" Marik asked.
But that was not the plan. Youyu raised his hand and placed another card: "I use 'Elemental Hero Shadow Mist' as a tribute! Tribute Summon!
From the depths of the netherworld, the dark emperor—
—Caius the Shadow Monarch!"
Shadow Mist vanished, seemingly swallowed by endless netherworld! The robust emperor landed on the rocky ground, darkness spreading like a tide!
[Caius the Shadow Monarch, ATK 2400]
"It's an emperor!?" Marik was shocked.
"When Caius the Shadow Monarch is successfully tribute summoned, one card on the field can be banished from the game!" Youyu pointed to the solemn mysterious valley, "I'll banish the Field Magic 'Necrovalley' from the game!"
The Shadow Monarch spread his arms, hands crossed, the cloak behind him fluttering and rising. A black whirlwind seemed to uproot the entire valley, transforming into a phantom and blowing it into smoke.
"The effect of the 'Gravekeeper's Supernaturalist' prevents 'Necrovalley' from being destroyed by effects," Youyu smiled, "but banishing is no problem."
"To think he could come up with three ways to neutralize Necrovalley under so many constraints..."
Marik admired him deeply.
"And now, because Necrovalley has disappeared, the attack power of Gravekeeper's monsters naturally returns to its original state."
[Gravekeeper's Supernaturalist, ATK 2500 → ATK 2000]
[Gravekeeper's Oracle, ATK 2500 → ATK 2000]
"Battle!" Youyu exclaimed, "Caius the Shadow Monarch, attack Gravekeeper's Supernaturalist!"
The emperor of shadows raised his arms, particles seemingly wandering around were all gathered between his arms, transforming into a black lightning sphere that shot forth!
"Then, I discard 'Charm of Shabti' from my hand!" Marik said, "This turn, all monsters with 'Gravekeeper' in their name on my side cannot be destroyed in battle!"
The transparent talisman appeared again, protecting the Gravekeepers from destruction once more. Only a slight whirlwind overflowed, rushing past Marik.
[Marik, LP 2500 → LP 2100]
"Cannot be destroyed in battle?" Youyu revealed the card he searched for this turn, "Then I activate the Quick-Play Magic 'Mask Change II.'
Discard a card from your hand, target one monster on your field, send it to the graveyard, and special summon one Masked Hero with higher level!
I send 'Caius the Shadow Monarch' to the graveyard, mask transformation!"
Marik was even more shocked, his mouth agape: "Transform the emperor with a mask?"
The figure of the Shadow Monarch was swallowed by the dark storm, solid armor emerged within the whirlwind. The black hero was wrapped in exoskeletal battle gear, resembling a mythical ghost.
Masked Hero Anki, summon!
[Masked Hero Anki, ATK 2800]
"2800 attack power, if the battle connects it's 800 damage..."
Marik weighed it in his mind, his remaining Life Points were 2100, he could still hold on.
Youyu swept his arm.
"Masked Hero Anki can directly attack the opponent player, but in that case, battle damage is halved," Youyu said.
Marik: "!"
Nani? It can attack directly?
This hit would hurt a bit. Mr. Marik couldn't suppress it any longer and waved his hand: "Then I'll activate a Set Card! Continuous Trap - Nightmare Wheel!"
A gigantic wheel adorned with spikes emerged, and before Anki could make a move, this hero was tightly bound to the wheel.
"The monster bound by the 'Nightmare Wheel' cannot attack," Marik smiled, "and in the next turn's standby phase, it will deal 500 points of damage to that monster's controller!"
[Youyu, LP 250]
Aigami beside him widened his eyes.
"No way? This person... seems like he's about to defeat Mr. Youyu?"
"Possibly as soon as the end of the declaration turn, it's equivalent to Youyu losing first," Sella said.
Marik held his breath, closely watching Youyu, as if anticipating his next move.
"Indeed, skill has grown. But..."
Youyu snapped his fingers crisply.
"Activate Set card, Continuous Trap... Rebirth Judgment!!!"
The Trap Card flipped. In the card image was a grotesque face, half human, half bone-chilling mechanical parts.
"Rebirth... Judgment?" Marik was stunned, "What card is this?"
Another thing I haven't heard of!
"Rebirth Judgment, once per turn, declare a Monster Type, for this turn only, all monsters in both players' graveyards... all change to the declared type!" Youyu said, "I declare, Dragon-Type! This turn, all monsters in both graveyards become Dragon-Type!"
"Changing type?" Marik was a bit bewildered.
Does it have any significance?
And soon he realized what it meant.
"Activate trap card 'Destruction Sword Memories' from the graveyard!"
The Trap Card spun out from the graveyard, opening a gigantic fusion vortex in mid-air!
"Banish this card and the corresponding Fusion Material Monsters from the graveyard to Fusion summon 'Buster Blader, the Dragon Destroyer Swordsman' using the Material Monsters in the graveyard!"
"Dragon Destroyer... Swordsman!?" Marik was greatly surprised.
Nani? Isn't that Muto Yugi's ace card?
And it's a fusion trap from the graveyard... fusion from the graveyard!?
What is this latest tactic?
"I banish 'Buster Blader' from the graveyard and Illusionist changed to Dragon-Type by Rebirth Judgment!
Surpassing time and space, an ancient legend, the doomed Dragon Slayer Knight—
—Buster Blader, the Dragon Destroyer Swordsman, summon!!!"
A powerful energy burst, a heavy sword cleaved open the light curtain. The silver-white armored swordsman strode forward, with elusive gleams seemingly flowing over the heavy armor and sword.
[Buster Blader, the Dragon Destroyer Swordsman, ATK 2800]
"It's actually the Dragon Destroyer Swordsman?" Marik squinted his eyes, "But this attack power..."
"Buster Blader, the Dragon Destroyer Swordsman's effect, for each Dragon-Type monster on the opponent's field and in the graveyard, its attack power increases by 1000 points," Youyu said.
"Dragon-Type? But I don't have...!?" Marik suddenly looked at Youyu's backfield, the Continuous Trap there.
Oh... oh no!
"That's right, under the effect of 'Rebirth Judgment', for this turn, all monsters in both graveyards are Dragon-Type!"
If I say you're a dragon, then you're a dragon!
Currently, in Marik's graveyard were Gravekeeper's Spiritualist, Commander, Heretic, and Charm of Shabti, a total of four Monster Cards.
Four Dragon-Type monsters!
"So Buster Blader's attack power increases by 4000!"
[Buster Blader, the Dragon Destroyer Swordsman, ATK 2800 → ATK 6800]
"Dragon Destroyer Sword!" Youyu ordered, "Attack 'Gravekeeper's Supernaturalist'!"
A despairing slash, the Destruction Sword obliterates! The sword light of the Dragon Slayer Knight poured down like galaxies, as if to cleave the heavens and destroy the earth!
[Marik, LP 2100 →LP 0]