"Elemental Hero Nova Master, direct attack!"
The hero's armor was engulfed in flames, spiraling along his arms and torso, as an energy blast wrapped in burning heat shot straight toward Mizuchi's face!
But Mizuchi's remaining Set Card was not just for show: "Activate Set Card! Continuous Trap - Call of the Haunted! Revive my monster from the graveyard in attack position!
I revive 'Platinum Spirit Right Kyoto'!"
A black storm rose, calling souls back from the Netherworld. The masked ninja landed lightly on the field, his ribbons fluttering in the wind.
"Platinum Spirit Right Kyoto's effect: when Right Kyoto is successfully special summoned, I can special summon 'Platinum Spirit Left Kyoto' from the graveyard!"
Mizuchi raised her long, slender arm.
"Special summon 'Platinum Spirit Left Kyoto'!"
[Platinum Spirit Left Kyoto, Defense Power 800]
"In one move, Left Kyoto and Right Kyoto have been gathered again..." Kaiba Noah frowned, "But wasn't 'Mirror Restraint' already used up... or is there something else going on?"
Even if both Left Kyoto and Right Kyoto were resurrected, their stats are too low. Especially Right Kyoto in attack position, if attacked, would only absorb 800 points of battle damage for Mizuchi, expending a "Call of the Haunted" just to save such a small amount of life points doesn't seem worth it.
If prudence calls for it, maybe the attack should be stopped...
"Continue the attack." Youyu said expressionlessly.
Nova Master did not stop, flames coiled around his body, and a spiral fire column burst out from the palms of his hands!
"Trap Card 'Mirror Trap'!" Mizuchi waved her hand, "When 'Platinum Spirit Left Kyoto' and 'Platinum Spirit Right Kyoto' are present on the field, this can be activated!
It allows you to Set a normal Trap Card from your graveyard on the field. The Trap covered by this effect can be activated this turn!"
Noah understood: "I see! So that's why Left Kyoto and Right Kyoto were revived together..."
Then it's obvious which trap Mizuchi intends to return to the field. Data surged from her Duel Disc, transforming at her fingertips back into a card, clamped in her hand.
"I Set the Trap Card 'Divine Barrier - Mirror Restraint', on the field again." she said, "Then immediately activate it!"
The Set Card made of data appeared briefly, then flipped, forming a towering mirror surface in front of Mizuchi.
"Divine Barrier - Mirror Restraint can be activated when 'Platinum Spirit Left Kyoto' and 'Platinum Spirit Right Kyoto' are present on the field! During both monsters' battle steps, when an opponent's attacking monster is destroyed, you can then destroy an opponent's monster with attack power equal to or lower than that attacking monster's!"
The mirror clearly reflected Nova Master's image, the scorching energy beam hit the mirror surface, rapidly absorbed and then blasted back with even greater force, striking Nova Master himself.
In the blast, the Elemental Hero was shattered into pieces.
Mizuchi chuckled lightly: "Now your field is empty too, it seems I have the upper hand this turn."
"That may not be the case."
Youyu quickly revealed two more cards from his hand.
"Quick-Play Magic 'Instant Mask Change', send the 'Masked Hero' in hand to the graveyard to special summon a 'Masked Hero' of the same attribute and level eight!" (Manga Card)
Youyu spread the two cards in his hand to reveal the card hidden behind them.
"I send the Dark Attribute 'Masked Hero Dusk Crow' to the graveyard, Mask Change!
The ghost walking in the darkness, slaying monsters—
—Masked Hero Anki, summon!"
The dark attribute lower-level hero appeared briefly, soon enveloped and covered by dispersing armor. Black energy erupted, and the masked hero clad in black armor, a ghostly shape, landed nimbly.
[Masked Hero Anki, Attack Power 2800]
Mizuchi frowned slightly: "Taking 'Mirror Restraint' twice in one turn, can you still attack?"
"Battle." Youyu said, "Masked Hero Anki, attack 'Platinum Spirit Right Kyoto'!"
Anki stomped the ground fiercely, his figure vanished seemingly out of thin air. Like a phantom, he flickered in mid-air, transforming into a ghostly shadow, and dived like a cannonball!
"Truly worthy of a Duel King, you are relentless. But..."
Mizuchi's eyes flashed with cold light, her gaze as sharp as an icy dagger.
"Activate Set Card! Trap Card 'Soul-Burying Curse'!" she declared, "Can be activated in a turn when two or more monsters are sent to the graveyard!
Destroy one attacking monster and special summon a level five or higher monster from your hand or graveyard!"
Her wide kimono sleeves fluttered, her pure white fingers pointed unerringly at the diving Masked Hero.
"I destroy 'Masked Hero Anki' and special summon 'Magic Mirror Spirit Nayuta' from the graveyard!"
A new spirit appeared glamorously. This Spirit had long, silver hair, wore a white cat-eared mask, and a voluminous kimono, revealing harmonious white legs below the hem.
[Magic Mirror Spirit Nayuta, Attack Power 2600]
"Further special summoning a high-level monster based on a counterattack." Kaiba Noah nodded slightly, "This woman is also quite difficult."
"According to 'Soul-Burying Curse' effect, 'Masked Hero Anki' exits here." Mizuchi laughed lightly.
Like wind, curse symbols floated out, adhering one by one to Anki's armor, igniting in sparks as if to explode at any moment.
"Quick-Play Magic 'Mask Change'!" Youyu waved his arm, "Send the 'Hero' monster on the field to the graveyard to transform into a Masked Hero of the same attribute!
I send the Dark Attribute 'Masked Hero Anki' to the graveyard, Mask Change!
A dark hero, the ghost slaying monsters—
—Masked Hero Anki, resummon!"
Free from the curse's shackles under the transformation's special effect, Anki erupted in dark mist, quickly manifesting as armor again, transforming once more to the ghost's armor!
Masked Hero Anki, resummon!
"Transforming Anki into Anki again, rendering the 'Soul-Burying Curse' effect targetless?" Mizuchi appeared surprised.
By now, her back row of five Sets had been fully depleted, not a single one remained.
Yet even after all this, the Duel King's offensive still hadn't been stopped!?
Mizuchi's confidence wavered slightly.
She felt Youyu's offense, unyielding and continuous, wave after wave, one surpassing the last. Originally confident she could handle any number of waves, Mizuchi now had a foreboding sense she might not endure it all...
"Fight continues, Masked Hero Anki, attack 'Magic Mirror Spirit Nayuta'!"
The transformed Anki jumped high, spinning mid-air, delivering a flying kick to a towering part of the Magic Mirror Spirit.
The spirit lady groaned and was kicked flying, her body shattering into pieces.
[Mizuchi, LP 4000 → LP 3800]
"Masked Hero Anki's effect." Youyu continued, "Once per turn, when a monster on the opponent's side of the field is sent to the graveyard by battle, you can add a 'Change' Quick-Play Magic from your deck to your hand."
Mizuchi's eyelid twitched.
Adding a 'Change' Quick-Play Magic... could it be!?
"I add Quick-Play Magic 'Mask Change' to hand once again." Youyu said, "Then Quick-Play Magic 'Mask Change' activates again!
Send the Dark Attribute 'Masked Hero Anki' on the field to the graveyard, Mask Change!
Lone avenger hero, embodiment of dark law—
—Masked Hero Dark Claw, summon!!!"
Once more in transformation, the dark transformation effect turned into a wolf-like ferocious armor clad, silver-white blades like dazzling fangs.
[Masked Hero Dark Claw, Attack Power 2400]
Mizuchi's expression changed slightly.
Another transformation?
The attack count is still too high; she seemed finally struggling to bear it.
"Since it's a battle phase transformation, the attack continues!" Youyu shouted, "Masked Hero Dark Claw, another additional attack!"