The Supreme King launched another attack, using the Magic Card version of "Karma Cut." Through an extreme two-for-one method, he forcefully cleared the field, easily and forcefully erasing any Monster on the field.
Of course, the powerful "A-to-Z-Dragon Buster Cannon" originally had a chance to negate this card as well, but this turn Manjome had already used A-to-Z's ability to silence "Dark Gaia's" appearance, nullifying and destroying "Caius the Shadow Monarch."
But even in such a scenario where resources were exhausted, he somehow beautifully maneuvered through a fusion substitute to evade the Supreme King's offensive once more!
And so, the Supreme King's hand also became 0 cards, not a single card remaining.
Both Ed and Manjome breathed a slight sigh of relief.
The Supreme King's hand is 0, the front field has no Monsters, and the back field has no Set Cards. In the graveyard, possibly used for defense against a pitfall, there might just be the card discarded earlier as the cost for "Dark Core."
Then in the upcoming turn, simply by merging "XYZ-Dragon Cannon" and "ABC-Dragon Buster" again, using A-to-Z for a direct attack, victory was unquestionably certain!
Even if that card just now was a pitfall, it wouldn't matter. No matter if that card is a Magic Card, Trap Card, or Monster with a defensive capability, A-to-Z's universal negation effect could counter them all.
Nothing can prevent the final blow from A-to-Z.
Victory!
Although they dared not completely relax yet, Ed and Manjome felt an inevitable sense of relief deep within.
Something akin to the gratitude of surviving a catastrophe and pride from defeating an "unbeatable opponent."
In this situation, could you still conjure a new card out of thin air to defeat us?
Yet the Supreme King remained expressionless.
He slowly pulled out two cards from the graveyard.
"The effect of 'Fusion Substitute' in the graveyard," he said coldly, "banish 'Fusion Substitute' from the game, returning a Fusion Monster in the graveyard to the Deck.
Then, I draw one card from the Deck."
Ed x Manjome: "!"
Right, when the Supreme King summoned "Dark Gaia" last turn because Supreme King Castle was on the field, he used "Fusion Substitute" to replace "Dark Fusion"...
The nerves that had just relaxed in the two were instantly tightened again.
"I banish 'Fusion Substitute' from the graveyard, returning 'Evil Hero Dark Gaia' to the Deck," the Supreme King said flatly, "draw one card."
Both held their breath.
The Supreme King drew a card and calmly revealed it after taking a glance.
No buildup, nor like a protagonist using a "destined draw" cheat moment to prepare a power move, just a plain, ordinary draw, yet seemingly fated.
"Magic Card 'A Hero Lives'," the Supreme King presented the drawn card, "when you don't have any face-up Monsters on your field, pay half your Life Points to Special Summon a Level 4 or below 'Elemental Hero' from your Deck."
[Supreme King, LP 1800 → LP 900]
"Come forth, Elemental Hero Airman."
At the critical juncture of victory or defeat, possibly the final turn, the Hero he entrusted with everything turned out to be Airman, who had performed brilliantly by Youyu's side over the years!
[Elemental Hero Airman, ATK 1800]
"Airman's effect," the Supreme King said, "when successfully Summoned or Special Summoned, add a Monster with 'Hero' in its name from the Deck to the hand."
Manjome considers himself Judai's rival, and Ed himself is a user of the Hero Deck, so they naturally aren't unfamiliar with the capabilities of Airman.
"A 'Hero' Monster," Manjome frowned, "In such a situation, what can a Hero do?"
Even Hero series expert Ed seemed equally puzzled.
A Hero capable of turning the tide with just one card... Is there such a Hero?
"From the Deck," The Supreme King drew out a card from the Deck, "add 'Evil Hero Corrupted Star Gold Demon' to my hand."
Another Evil Hero?
This involves Ed's knowledge blind spot.
Even though he prides himself on knowing every Hero in the world, this Evil Hero, whatever it is, evidently seems made up by the Supreme King himself; he truly hadn't seen it before...
However, from the card image, Ed could vaguely recognize that it might indeed be the corrupted version of the "Elemental Hero Captain Gold" he's familiar with.
"Then with 'Evil Hero Corrupted Star Gold Demon' in hand, activate the effect. Discard this card from your hand, and from the Deck, add the Magic Card 'Dark Calling,' or a card with 'Dark Fusion' listed in the card name to the hand."
Another card popped out from the Deck, slowly drawn out into the Supreme King's hand.
"I add this card from the Deck... Magic Card 'Dark Calling' to my hand!"
In an instant, a torrent of darkness exploded from the center of the Supreme King. Rich darkness enveloped him completely, making his silhouette unclear, save for the golden eyes that still shone vividly even within the shrouding darkness.
"Magic Card 'Dark Calling' activate," the Supreme King said in a deep voice, "banish Fusion Material Monsters from your hand or graveyard for a Dark Fusion Summon involving Evil Hero!"
"A Wicked version of 'Miracle Fusion'!" The two instantly understood.
Supreme King Castle roared, the wild turbulent flow echoing between the rugged Dark Castle! Purple lightning struck down from beyond the skies, demon souls were drawn from the prison flames beneath the bridge and merged in mid-air, intertwined with the hellish fire!
This is a power of darkness surpassing the limits of human Duelists!
The fall of a righteous Hero often breeds darkness deeper than most, and from it emerges the ultimate evil!
"Fusion conditions: 'Evil Hero' plus a Level 5 or higher Monster." The Supreme King's icy voice emerged amidst the storm, "banish 'Evil Hero Infernal Sniper' and 'Evil Hero Thunder Giant' from the graveyard, Dark Fusion!
Awaken from the abyss of Hell, bring ruin with hatred and despair——
——Evil Hero Malicious Bane, Summon!"
The ultimate Evil Hero emerged from the depths of Hell!
He was clad in armor like that of a dragon, his body bristling with steel spikes. The wings seemed shaped like dragon wings, yet also resembled those of a menacing demon. A mask covered most of his face, and his eyes were a fervent crimson.
[Evil Hero Malicious Bane, Attack Power 3000]
Ed and Manjome both held their breath.
Although it was an unfamiliar Evil Hero, just by looking at it they knew this was no ordinary super spirit!
"Evil Hero Malicious Bane cannot be destroyed by any means," declared The Supreme King.
"An indestructible Monster?" Manjome frowned.
"But even so, its attack power is only 3000," Ed said. "Even though it can't be destroyed, its attack power is only on par with ABC..."
"Evil Hero Malicious Bane's effect activates." The Supreme King's golden eyes burned intensely, "Once per turn, destroy all Monsters on the opponent's field with attack power less than this card!"
Ed x Manjome: "What!?"
As everyone knows, whether described as "above a certain attack power" or "below a certain attack power" in Yu-Gi-Oh effect text, it is assumed to include that threshold.
Malicious Bane's attack power is 3000, meaning the "ABC-Dragon Buster" with attack power equal to his is also within his destruction range!
Manjome gritted his teeth.
He still had contingency plans here. Like A-to-Z, ABC-Dragon Buster has a powerful defensive effect that can detach during the opponent's turn, evading attacks and abilities.
But facing such indiscriminate destruction, that ability holds little value.
Still, he chose to activate that effect: "ABC-Dragon Buster, effect activation! During the opponent's turn, sacrifice this card to detach itself!
Special Summon the three types of Machine-Type Light Attribute that were removed from play back to your field!
Return now! 'A-Assault Core'! 'B-Buster Drake'! 'C-Crush Wyvern'!"
[A-Assault Core, Attack Power 1900]
[B-Buster Drake, Attack Power 1500]
[C-Crush Wyvern, Attack Power 1200]
Of course, the three small mechanical Monsters didn't have time to find their footing before being consumed by the power of the Evil Hero.
Incontestable absolute power, practically the dark embodiment of The Supreme King's own self. Everything was submerged and shattered before that terrifying darkness, even hope was stripped away.
Manjome's actions were not entirely in vain.
If it detaches itself, even if destroyed, the A, B, and C three excluded little Monsters return to Manjome's graveyard.
Unlike XYZ, ABC-Dragon Buster can transform and regroup even if the three Fusion Materials are in the graveyard. Next turn, by removing A, B, and C from the graveyard, it can once again form the powerful Dragon Buster!
The only catch is if there is a next turn.
"Evil Hero Malicious Bane, with consecutive effects!" The Supreme King said, "When destroying this way, its attack power increases by the number of destroyed Monsters x200."
"What!?" The two were shocked.
By the ABC detaching and adding two more Monsters to the field, it actually increased the opponent's attack power?
Though whether it detached or not, the outcome wouldn't change.
At this point, a mere increase in attack power is inconsequential.
"Malicious Bane destroyed four Monsters," The Supreme King said, "So its attack power increases by 800."
[Evil Hero Malicious Bane, Attack Power 3000 → Attack Power 3800]
"Battle," The Supreme King said, "Malicious Bane, direct attack!
At this moment, the effect of the Field Magic 'Supreme King Castle' sends 'Evil Hero' Monsters from the deck or extra deck to the graveyard boosting our Fiend-Type Monster's attack power by the level x200 until the end of the turn!"
The Supreme King revealed a card.
"I send the 'Evil Hero Dark Gaia' that just returned to the deck to the graveyard, increasing attack power by 1600!"
[Evil Hero Malicious Bane, Attack Power 3800 → Attack Power 5400]
Attack power fifty-four hundred!
Immeasurable darkness descended, a space even light couldn't escape! Despair enveloped the two brave young warriors, the fear of death filled the entire space.
"Judai!!!" Ed shouted out with all his remaining strength, not knowing if his voice could penetrate the endless darkness.
[Ed x Manjome, LP 4600 → LP 0]
They lost.
Despite their all-out effort, they lost.
The result of a duel, the cost of failure. It is the rule of the Darkness Game, the fate of the defeated: death.
Unless the rule itself is forcefully shattered by overwhelming power.
For example...
"Obelisk!" A bright morning voice rang out from outskirts of the darkness, "Fist of Fate Shock Wave!!!"
The darkness was torn open, brilliant blue radiance breaking through layers of barriers—though greatly weakened by the powerful darkness, it still robustly burst into the core of the dark barrier.
The destruction deity Obelisk, the Egyptian God's full-strength strike, collided head-on with The Supreme King's controlled Malicious Bane right in front of Ed and Manjome, almost at arm's length!
The gloom was dispelled.
The chill of death was swept away.