Kiku didn't know what Yugen was up to, but he instinctively held his breath.
He was seen through.
This thought arose unbidden in his mind.
Yugen's gaze gave him an inexplicable feeling, as if through those eyes, all his tactics, his next moves, and every thought had been completely seen through, leaving no secrets.
But he quickly told himself that was absurd.
This was just a small fry under Kaiba... no, even Seto Kaiba himself didn't have such an exaggerated ability.
Not to mention that he himself had long changed. Now, he had gained power, an extraordinary power he had never before touched.
His wisdom, unique talent, and this newfound power, with them, he knew he wouldn't lose again to Seto Kaiba, or even Muto Yuugi, who disrupted matters during the KC Cup back then.
How could he possibly lose to Kaiba's henchmen?
"Activate the Magic Card 'Shield in the Right Hand, Sword in the Left Hand,'" Yugen said, "Until the end of this turn, all Monsters on the field will swap their original Attack Power and Defense Power."
Kiku: "!"
Swap attack and defense...
Right, though Bouncing Turtle's attack power is only a thousand, its defense power is...
[Bouncing Turtle, Attack Power 1000→Attack Power 2000] x2
"Great!" Keihei praised, "Bouncing Turtle's combined attack power exceeds four thousand, direct attack means Yugen wins!"
"Tch..."
Kiku frowned.
What a joke, being blasted to death by Bouncing Turtles? Is there a more humiliating way to die?
"Battle," Yugen raised his hand, "Direct attack by Bouncing Turtle."
At this moment, he had two Bouncing Turtles on the field, both entering the majestic battle mode. The old tortoise's eyes shone with a dangerous light, as the electromagnetic cannon on its back slowly descended, targeting Kiku as if to avenge their comrades from the previous round.
"Activate Cover Card, Trap Card 'Woden's Judgment'!" Kiku shouted.
A mage in a green robe stepped out of the trap, holding the magic staff horizontally. The invisible impact immediately forced those two old turtles back.
"Woden's Judgment activates when the opponent's Monster attacks."
He said this as he drew a card from the deck and placed an original card from his hand back to the top of the deck.
"Exchange one Magic Card from hand with the top card of the deck, then shuffle. The attack from the opponent's Monster is negated, and the battle phase is forcibly ended!"
The mage chanted a spell. Invisible ripples burst from him, and the two Bouncing Turtles had no choice but to lower their launchers.
"Using the power of the Ripple Shield to clear the field, seizing the opportunity for a counterattack, a good plan," Kiku said, "But I am not someone to be defeated at this level."
"It seems so," Yugen smiled, "However, my Bouncing Turtle is not a Monster that will give up at this level.
Bouncing Turtle's effect can deal damage to the opponent equivalent to half the attack power of a Monster on the field by making it a sacrifice."
Kiku was stunned: "But you only have Bouncing Turtles on the field... Are you planning to launch the Bouncing Turtle?"
Kiku frowned.
He did not comment but found it strange in his heart. Even if both Bouncing Turtles were launched, with the effect of attack and defense swap, it would only deal 2000 damage in total.
Though it does amount to considerable damage, the cost is sacrificing the hard-summoned Monsters, and the field must be empty for the next turn.
Is it really necessary?
"Activate Cover Card, Continuous Trap 'DNA Surgery.' Change the race of all Monsters on the field to the race I declare."
Yugen said.
"The race I declare is, Mechanical Race."
Kiku frowned: "Changed to Mechanical Race..."
Right, if it's Mechanical Race, there's the capability for instant outburst...
"Speed Attack Magic 'Restriction Removal,'" Yugen said, "The attack power of all Mechanical Race Monsters on the field is doubled until the end of the turn!"
Kiku: "!!!"
Damn it, it really is this tactic.
For perhaps the first time in his life, he hated himself for being right again.
"Both Bouncing Turtles have been changed into Mechanical Race," Yugen smiled, "Therefore receiving the effect of 'Restriction Removal,' their attack power naturally doubles on top of the attack-defense swap."
[Bouncing Turtle, Attack Power 2000→Attack Power 4000] x2
Kiku's face twisted again and became more unsightly.
No way...
How attached are you to this stupid turtle?
Just this one broken turtle, and it can torment the opponent in so many bizarre ways?
Bouncing Turtle's combined attack power of eight thousand? Can you believe that!?
This is the pinnacle of a turtle's life.
"The effect of Bouncing Turtle No. 1, by using Bouncing Turtle No. 2 as a sacrifice, deals half of the attack power of four thousand, which is two thousand points of damage to the opponent."
Yugen waved his hand grandly.
"Chambering, fire!"
One Bouncing Turtle fell onto the other's launch track, enveloped in electromagnetic currents, turning into a missile aimed at Kiku's location!
Boom!
The huge turtle shell accelerated and crashed, exploding in Kiku's face. Kiku was blown backward, tumbling twice, leaving a big pit at his original spot.
"Ugh!"
[Kiku, LP 4000→LP 2000]
He was blasted to the ground and couldn't get up for a long time, his expression twisted.
What a joke.
He accepted the power of darkness, the baptism of demons, crawled out of Hell, not to be humiliated by two broken turtles.
This is not worth giving up and acting like a grandson forever. Although he lost back then, at least in Seto Kaiba's track record, he could count as a once formidable opponent.
Now, after all this fuss, getting taken down turns him into a clown.
This is absolutely unacceptable!
"The effect of the remaining Bouncing Turtle," Yugen said, "The Bouncing Turtle sacrifices itself, chambering for launch.
Once again dealing two thousand points of damage from half its attack power."
He snapped his fingers.
"Fire!"
Bouncing Turtle self-sacrificed, as if burning all its being, it transformed into an electromagnetic cannon shot!
Boom!!!
The second shot descended. With the sky-piercing flames, the Bouncing Turtle's form disappeared in the explosion, blasting out billowing black smoke.
"Great!" Keihei pumped his fist, "Yugen wins!"
Once again, the MVP was the invincible Bouncing Turtle.
Just another simple day for Yugen.
But Yugen shook his head: "No."
"Huh?"
Keihei was stunned, turning back to look at the opponent.
At this moment, Kiku was already disheveled, ash-covered, kneeling exaggeratedly with one knee down gasping for air, no longer a bit of elegance of a noble scion.
Yes, he was still breathing.
[Kiku, LP 1000]
"Huh?" Keihei was stunned.
"When the first shot of Bouncing Turtle hit, the trap... White Angels was activated. Recover 1000 Life Points when receiving damage."
Kiku wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, stood up and said fiercely.
"I'm not that easy to take down."