"Masked Hero Dark Claw, attack again!"
Like a wolf's pounce, the black claw ripped through the shikigami's body. With an attack power of only 800, Sakyo was certainly no match for the Masked Hero, and with just one encounter, the shikigami was slain on the spot.
[Mizuchi, LP 3800 → LP 2200]
But that's not all. Once the Platinum Shikigami - Sakyo's body was destroyed, a pitch-black void appeared in mid-air. A powerful gravitational force was released, and without a word, the shikigami's spirit was pulled into it.
"What?" Mizuchi was surprised, "This is..."
"The effect of Masked Hero Dark Claw," said Youyu. "As long as Masked Hero Dark Claw exists in the Monster Zone, cards sent to the opponent's graveyard can be banished directly from the game instead!"
Mizuchi: "!"
No wonder the Duel King chose to summon Masked Hero Dark Claw for his final transformation instead of transforming again into a higher attack power Dark Neos, as this Dark Claw has such a powerful effect.
It not only annihilates monsters on the field but also banishes the spirits of eliminated monsters to another dimension!
Truly a terrifying ability.
"I see," said Kaiba Noah. "Platinum Shikigami - Sakyo and Platinum Shikigami - Ukyo, whichever one is specially summoned to the field, can revive the other from the graveyard back to the field.
When these two shikigami coexist, they can trigger various magic trap effects for auxiliary attacks.
But if one of them gets directly banished from the game..."
"Have you found a way to counter me?" Saiou Mizuchi raised her beautiful eyebrows. "The First Duel King, achieving this level in just one turn... I understand why my brother sees you as a great threat now."
"Then I activate the Magic Card 'Card of Burial Magic,'" said Youyu. "Banishing three Magic Cards from the graveyard, then draw two cards." (Anime card)
He revealed three cards ejected from the graveyard.
"I banish the Magic Cards 'Polymerization,' 'Miracle Fusion,' and 'Masked Change' from the game to draw two cards."
"I set two cards on the field, ending my turn," said Youyu.
"Then it's my turn, draw," said Mizuchi. "The Magic Card 'Gift of The Martyr,' both players draw from their deck until they hold six cards in hand."
A true Duelist doesn't die empty-handed, so with Mizuchi's empty hand, it's foreseeable that the next draw will ensure replenishment.
Youyu drew a card and reminded, "But at this moment, the other effect of 'Masked Hero Dark Claw' is also triggered.
Once per turn, when the opponent adds a card to their hand from the deck outside the draw phase, randomly select one card from the opponent's hand, and banish that card from the game!"
Dark Claw misstepped, its silhouette flashing like a specter before Mizuchi. Its claw swiped, and under the dimensional distortion, a card vanished into thin air.
"It has this kind of effect too..."
Mizuchi bit her rosy lip and showed another card: "Then I activate the Equip Magic 'Gift of The Martyr'! Equip to the 'Platinum Shikigami - Sakyo' on the field!
When the equipped monster is used as a tribute, this Equip Magic can also be used as a tribute!"
She drew a card from her hand.
"I use 'Platinum Shikigami - Sakyo,' along with the 'Gift of The Martyr' equipped to Sakyo as a tribute for a Tribute Summon!
The dark god residing in the abyss of endless darkness—
—Dark God, summon!!!"
A level ten monster, the strongest trump card held by Saiou Mizuchi. Two tributes disappeared from the field, and a mass of pitch-black twisted matter rose from the depths of the earth.
It was an indescribably bizarre creature, unlike any animal seen on Earth. Its appearance was grotesque, with eyes exuding a cold depth like an abyss, ugly yet chilling.
[Dark God, Attack Power 3000]
"Dark God," Youyu looked up at the ominous creature, saying calmly, "Nowadays, anything can call itself a 'god,' huh."
"Field Magic 'Infinite Demon-Slaying Mirror,' activate its effect," Mizuchi swiftly shifted into her rhythm. "When 'Dark God' exists on your field, as many 'Dark God Tokens' as possible can be Special Summoned to your Monster Zone!"
With the field activated, the columns of light around projected mirrors. The light paths crisscrossed, mirror projections cast, and beams of light fell on the ground. Black, twisted slime rose continuously from Mizuchi's field, all transformed into images of 'Dark God.'
"According to this effect, I Special Summon four 'Dark God Tokens!' These tokens gain the same attack, defense, and effects as the original!"
[Dark God Token, Attack Power 3000] x4
Even AI Kaiba Noah was astonished: "A monster with 3000 attack... summoning five in an instant?"
"However, the Dark God itself has a flaw," Mizuchi said. "They cannot directly attack the player."
In other words, even if five Dark Gods are present, they can only attack once. If Youyu's 'Masked Hero Dark Claw' is destroyed, the remaining four monsters would just stare blankly, unable to attack.
She paused, then said, "But of course, I've prepared tactics to address this flaw!
I activate the Quick-Play Magic 'Half Shut' from my hand!
Select a face-up monster on the field; it cannot be destroyed by battle this turn, but its attack is halved!"
"Oh?" Youyu squinted, "That's quite... an interesting tactic."
"I choose your 'Masked Hero Dark Claw' on the field. Its attack is halved, and it cannot be destroyed by battle!"
[Masked Hero Dark Claw, Attack Power 2400 → Attack Power 1200]
This is rather nasty.
Not only was the attack of 'Masked Hero Dark Claw' halved, doubling the battle damage, but by adding destroy resistance to Dark Claw, it turns the single attack into a five-hit combo.
A five-hit combo with 3000 attack power each, totaling 9000 points of battle damage; if you take it all, you'd be done for.
"Battle!" Mizuchi gave the attack command. "Dark God No.1, attack 'Masked Hero Dark Claw'!"
"Flip Cover Card, Trap 'Damage Diet,'" said Youyu. "All damage I take this turn is halved!"
The chaotic impact hit the Masked Hero, the shockwave washing over the black armor, sweeping across Youyu.
[Youyu, LP 4000 → LP 3100]
Then came the second, followed by the third, fourth... the Dark God's consecutive attacks hit Dark Claw. Though protected by magic, Dark Claw did not collapse, but its sturdy armor cracked in several places, half-kneeling and gasping heavily.
[Youyu, LP 400]
"The final blow," Saiou Mizuchi wore a smug and dangerous smile.
The Duel King Youyu, feared by her brother like a great flood, wasn't much after all.
So easy.
"Dark God, fifth attack!"
The final attack, the dark torrent once again struck the body of the Masked Hero! Dark Claw, already riddled with wounds, was shaken back, armor fragments flying in all directions!
Mizuchi smiled gently.
"It's over."
Her smugness lasted for about three seconds until she looked across again and saw Youyu still standing tall... as well as the bug-like Life Points that seemed like a program error.
[Youyu, LP 6700]
Mizuchi: "!?"
Life Points... Six thousand seven hundred!?