"Battle." The Supreme King waved his hand and said, "'Evil Hero Inferno Wing,' direct attack!"
Inferno Wing leaped into the air, enveloped in black flames as it shot toward Youyu like a cannonball!
Youyu snapped his fingers: "Activate Set Card, Trap Card 'Magician Navigation'!"
The trap flipped, and a massive magic array emerged from the Trap Card. The astonishing power of Black Magic surged like a torrential flow, as if guiding the arrival of something.
"Magician Navigation, Special Summon 'Dark Magician' from my hand," Youyu declared, "and then, from the deck, Special Summon a Spellcaster-Type monster of Dark Attribute with level six or higher!"
Youyu showcased two cards in one go.
"Come forth, Dark Magician! And 'Magician of Dark Illusion'!"
Two shadows flew out from the array, landing on either side of the field. Their crossed staffs stood like faithful guardians before Youyu.
[Dark Magician, Attack Power 2500]
[Magician of Dark Illusion, Defense Power 2500]
"At this moment, the effect of Continuous Magic 'Dark Magic Circle' is activated!" Youyu continued, "When Dark Magician is summoned or special summoned successfully on my field, once per turn, banish one card from the opponent's field!
I banish 'Evil Hero Inferno Wing' from the game!"
"Excellent!" Ed exclaimed, "Summoning the Dark Magician also provides an effective counterattack! The Evil Hero summoned with 'Dark Fusion' can't be destroyed by effects, but if banished from the game..."
"The effect of 'Makyura the Destructor,' discarded to the graveyard at the start of this turn, allows me to activate Trap Cards from my hand."
The familiar figure of the Executioner floated as a shadow behind The Supreme King, coldly surveying the entire field.
"With this effect, I activate the Trap Card 'Shift' from my hand," The Supreme King said, "Activate when a monster on my field becomes the target of the opponent's magic, trap effect, or monster attack.
Switch positions with another monster on the field, changing the target of the effect."
He pointed to Sky Scout on one side of the field.
"I change the target of 'Dark Magic Circle' to 'Elemental Hero Bubbleman'."
The positions of Evil Hero and Bubbleman switched instantly, the staff of Dark Magician swung, and the magic unleashed from the array struck Sky Scout head-on. The latter groaned and disappeared amid dimensional distortion.
Bubbleman: "..."
Youyu saw the shadow floating behind The Supreme King and smiled slightly.
"Makyura the Destructor... When I suggested adding Makyura, you initially resisted. You said things like that are clearly evil villains and don't match a righteous Hero."
The Supreme King: "..."
After a brief silence, he didn't respond, but swiftly continued: "'Evil Hero Inferno Wing,' attack continues."
The two spectators were astonished.
"With the attack power of Inferno Wing, neither Dark Magician nor Magician of Dark Illusion can be surpassed... Are you attacking regardless?"
Indeed, Dark Magician deftly deflected Inferno Wing aside with a flick of the staff, followed by a magic burst counterattack, blasting Inferno Wing retreating back.
[The Supreme King, LP 4000 → LP 3900]
Having absorbed a mere 100 points of damage, The Supreme King immediately said: "At this moment, the effect of Equip Magic 'Vicious Claw' is activated.
If the equipped monster is destroyed, substitute by returning this card to the hand. Also, destroy another monster on the opponent's field outside of battle."
The Equip Card ejected from the Duel Disc, and he retrieved it into his hand, then pointed at Youyu's magician on the field.
"Destroy 'Magician of Dark Illusion'."
A loud burst echoed, and the dark-robed magician cried out, shattering into dust on the spot.
"The Battle Phase ends." The Supreme King said, "The returned 'Vicious Claw' can't be used again this turn.
Then I activate the Magic Card 'Tribute to The Doomed' from my hand, discarding a card, and destroy a monster on the field. I discard 'Vicious Claw' and destroy 'Dark Magician' as payment!"
White bands flew out from behind the magician, unexpectedly binding Dark Magician tightly. He groaned, unable to counterattack before being wrapped into a mummy and exploding into fragments.
The Supreme King displayed his last card: "Magic Card 'Pot of Greed.' Both players draw cards until their hand is filled to six."
"Another card I gave you..." Youyu shrugged, "Despite becoming this way, you still remember your mentor's teachings. Truly touching."
"Set one card face-down, and end the turn," The Supreme King announced.
"My turn, draw a card."
Youyu swiftly revealed two cards from his hand.
"Discard a card, and Special Summon 'Apprentice Illusion Magician' from the hand."
The silver-haired, cute, dark-skinned girl emerged onto the field, dancing gracefully with a small staff on a purple array.
[Apprentice Illusion Magician, Attack Power 2000]
"This card can be Special Summoned by discarding a card," Youyu explained, "Furthermore, when summoned or special summoned successfully, add a 'Dark Magician' from the deck to the hand."
Youyu followed up by playing another card: "Equip Magic 'Wonder Wand,' equipping 'Apprentice Illusion Magician,' increasing attack power by 500."
[Apprentice Illusion Magician, Attack Power 2000 → Attack Power 2500]
"The subsequent effect of Wonder Wand!" Youyu declared, "Send this card and the equipped monster to the graveyard, draw two cards! Then pay 1000 Life Points, and activate Magic Card 'Dark Magic Veil' from the hand!"
[Youyu, LP 4000 → LP 3000]
"This card's effect, from hand or grave, Special Summons a Spellcaster-Type, Dark Attribute monster," Youyu said, "Come forth! Magician of Dark Illusion!"
The magic array expanded, a storm of magical power surged forth, and the great magician was about to descend!
"Excellent!" Ed exclaimed, "The card name of Magician of Dark Illusion can be treated as 'Dark Magician,' triggering the effect of 'Dark Magic Circle' when summoned to banish a card from The Supreme King's field!"
Not only that, while 'Dark Magic Circle' banishes The Supreme King's card from the field, the effect of Magician of Dark Illusion itself will also trigger — As long as this card is on the field, when a magic or trap card is activated, Dark Magician can be revived from the grave.
Using 'Dark Magic Circle' to banish 'Evil Hero Inferno Wing,' followed by the combined attack power of the two magicians totaling 4600, enough for an instant knockout!
As for the face-down Set Card in The Supreme King's back row, it doesn't matter what it is.
Ed hasn't forgotten the Trap Card 'Magician Navigation' that lies in wait in Youyu's graveyard from the previous turn.
With Dark Magician present on the field, by banishing Magician Navigation from the game, no matter what that Set Card is, it will be negated.
With just one card consumed, the opponent's field can be cleared, and two mighty magicians can spring forth for a swift and decisive strike.
This is the true power of the seemingly humble 'Dark Magician,' a force that combines explosiveness, disruption, and suppression, possessing the ability to leave the opponent immobilized.
However...
"'Dark Magician' is the key to this entire system." The Supreme King said coldly, "Your aim to revive 'Dark Magician' as a trigger for your counterattack was anticipated from the start.
Activate Set Card! Counter Trap - Hero's Rule 2.
The activation of monster effects, magic, and trap cards targeting cards in the graveyard is negated and destroyed!"