"Cannot proceed to the battle phase, I see." Yugen nodded.
The monster that the doctor had on the field in the previous turn had already been sent to the next turn via a wormhole for burn damage, leaving no monster defense on the field currently, so it's natural for defensive measures to be present in the backfield.
"Then I will activate this Field Spell..."
Yugen played another card from his hand.
"Field Spell 'Stone-Throwing Area'."
In the rules of this era, there could only be one Field Spell on the duel field, unlike later generations where both sides could use one Field Spell each. When a new field is activated, the old field has to be replaced.
Cosmic Space vanished, and the ancient and primitive stone-throwing area immediately replaced the star-filled night sky.
"Next, I'll activate the Magic Card 'Monster Gate'." Yugen said, "Sacrifice a monster on your field, then reveal cards from the top of your deck until a monster that can be normally summoned appears.
That monster gets Special Summoned, and all other revealed cards are sent to the graveyard.
I sacrifice the 'Mecha Team - Fortress', whose Attack Power has decreased to 1000, from the field as a tribute, and start revealing cards from my deck."
Yugen continued to draw cards. This time, it was a nine-card reveal in one go, followed by revealing the card that was drawn.
"Special Summon 'Rock Soldiers' in Defense Position."
The old legendary card "Rock Giant" from past times that could attack the moon has now acquired a new form in the new era.
[Rock Soldiers, Defense Power 2000]
"Next, I'll set two cards face-down, and end my turn."
Through his glasses, Bainstein's small eyes furrowed even tighter.
Indeed, it's strange. He could see Yugen's Card Deck decreasing at a visible speed, having already depleted nearly half of the deck in just two turns, yet he didn't display a strong desire to attack.
What is he trying to do?
"It's my turn now." Bainstein said.
Yugen: "But due to the effect of 'Card Drawing Paradox', you don't draw a card this turn, instead, I draw one."
"Not bad." Bainstein nodded, "But during this turn's standby phase, 'Demon Realm Mathematician Laplace' returns to my field."
[Demon Realm Mathematician Laplace, Attack Power 1000]
Unable to understand what the opponent is trying to do, but it gives him a very ominous feeling.
He must accelerate the pace and bring out his true skill to decide the victory.
"Once again, I activate the Magic Card 'Pot of Greed', to draw two cards from the deck." Bainstein drew cards, glanced at them, and continued, "But due to the effect of 'Schrodinger's Prank Cat', I can shuffle the drawn cards back into the deck and redraw two cards."
The doctor redraws two cards.
"Next, I activate the Magic Card 'Duel Constant'!"
As the magic is inserted, a storm suddenly arises in the field, and amidst the swirling gale, a semi-transparent shadow of a Divine Dragon seems to appear!
"Duel Constant is the ultimate card of my theory of duel unification! Watch closely, this doesn't happen every day!" Bainstein exclaimed, "Banish one Continuous Magic, one Continuous Trap, and one Monster Card from your field out of the game!
Special Summon 'Great Unification Dragon - Brain Dragon' from your hand or deck!"
The three cards on the field, Schrodinger's Cat, Card Drawing Paradox, and Demon Realm Mathematician, all disappeared together, fusing into the towering storm, and the shadow of the Divine Dragon immediately materialized and descended!
[Great Unification Dragon - Brain Dragon, Attack Power 2800]
"This is the doctor's ace card!" Mitsuzawa revealed a look of longing, "The dragon representing the pinnacle of duel physics!"
"While Great Unification Dragon is on the field, during each draw phase, I can draw two additional cards besides the standard draw, then return two cards from my hand to the top of the deck in any order I prefer."
Bainstein exclaimed.
"But my offense is not limited to just the summoning of Brain Dragon.
At the moment of banishment, the effect of Demon Realm Mathematician is also activated once again!"
Mitsuzawa abruptly remembered: "When Demon Realm Mathematician leaves the field, it can inflict damage based on the number of cards present on the field!"
"The number of cards x300 points," Asuka said, "Given the number of cards on the field, this would be major damage!"
"Then, Counterattack Trap 'Damage Polarizing Shield'." Yugen said, "Negate the effect of inflicting damage, both sides draw one card from their decks."
"Oh, narrowly escaped from the attack of Demon Realm Mathematician, I suppose."
Bainstein exclaimed.
"But I still have Brain Dragon's attack!
And I'll activate the Magic Card 'Exotic Trifolium', discarding a 4-Star Plant Race monster from my hand, allowing one monster on my field to attack twice this turn.
I discard Killer Tomato from my hand, allowing Brain Dragon to attack twice this turn!"
Mitsuzawa said, "With a double attack, after defeating Rock Soldiers, a direct attack can secure the win for the doctor."
Asuka hesitated for a moment and said, "Well, provided the attack goes through."
But considering the opponent is that Yugen...
"Brain Dragon, attack 'Rock Soldiers'!"
Bainstein held his breath.
Two consecutive strikes should certainly be enough to secure it...
"Field Spell 'Stone-Throwing Area's effect." Yugen calmly explained, "When a monster on the field is destroyed by battle, send a Rock Race monster from my deck to the graveyard as a replacement."
Yugen drew the card that automatically popped out of the deck.
"Send 'Intercepting Crusaders' from the deck to the graveyard to substitute for the destruction of 'Rock Soldiers'."
"Field effect?" Bainstein sneered, "It seems the one-turn kill has failed... Then at least the second attack will destroy Rock Soldiers..."
"Sorry, that won't happen either." Yugen smiled, "When Intercepting Crusaders are sent to the graveyard, turn one opponent's monster on the field into Face-down Defense Position."
As he finished speaking, Brain Dragon had already lowered its flags, becoming a face-down cover card.
"See." Asuka said.
In a tone that suggested she expected it all along.
Mitsuzawa sighed gently.
"Well, although I'm personally very impressed with the doctor and do consider him a rare genius. But no matter what, facing Yugen..."
He didn't finish the sentence, just shook his head, showing a look of "what a pity."
It's like saying, Doctor, couldn't you have pursued anything else instead of insisting on playing cards with this guy?
As long as you don't challenge this guy, you could still be the respected doctor everyone admires, with a bright future ahead...
"Alright, the preparation is almost complete."
Yugen dusted off his clothes and said.
"Dr. Bainstein indeed traveled far to arrive here, and you've shown us a rather intriguing duel. As an exchange, let me especially show you our recent research content."
Pausing for a moment, he squinted his eyes with a smile.
"You know, our laboratory, together with the International Fantasy Association and Kaiba Group, has recently established a special research project regarding Muto Yuugi. Taking this opportunity... let's just say, I've slightly uncovered a powerful aspect of the game master's iceberg from back then."
And although most people in this world don't understand the difference, Yugen refers to the tabletop game that later became the world's strongest Duelist, not the Pharaoh from the DM animation period.
Bainstein was shocked in his heart.
"The legendary Muto Yuugi's...!?"
"That's right, one of Mr. Muto Yuugi's most powerful monsters."
Bainstein was even more shocked.
Wouldn't that be the Three Phantom Gods?
No wonder. When most people talk about the strongest monster of the First Generation Duel King, there's no doubt it's the Three Phantom Gods.
However, since it's said to be one of the strongest...
Perhaps it's the Chaos Warrior?
"Activate the cover card, Continuous Trap 'Restricted Revival', revive a monster with Attack Power of 1000 or less from the graveyard," Yugen said, "Revive one of the five cards discarded to the graveyard by 'Take over5'—
—Bouncing Turtle!"
[Bouncing Turtle, Attack Power 1000]
Mitsuzawa: "..."
If someone had told him this before, he would have laughed it off, but now if someone tells him that Bouncing Turtle is one of Muto Yuugi's strongest monsters, he strangely feels there's nothing wrong with that...
However, though the turtle is important, Yugen wasn't referring to Bouncing Turtle today.
"Then it's time to summon it onto the field. This card in the graveyard cannot be Normal Summoned, so when it was revealed by 'Name Deduction', it was directly sent to the graveyard.
But when it exists in the hand or graveyard, it can be Special Summoned by banishing three Earth Attribute monsters from the game.
Therefore, I banish the Earth Attribute monsters 'Magnetic Warrior - Electromagnetic Martial God', 'Giant Rock Dragon', 'Jigangtis' from the game to Special Summon this guy—
—Brick Dragon!"
[Brick Dragon, Attack Power 2500]
Similarly, Electromagnetic Martial God, Giant Rock Dragon, and Jigangtis have a common summoning restriction, which is that they cannot be Normal Summoned. So whether revealed by Name Deduction or Monster Gate, they can be directly sent to the graveyard.
Everyone: "?"
Looking at this thing that seems built from children's toys, although the name has dragon in it, it lacks any shred of dignity, several people were bewildered.
This thing is... Muto Yuugi's strongest monster?
Are you serious?
Yugen was definitely serious.
How strong is Brick Dragon?
Just by looking at this ancient card, still banned in the high-speed environment of modern Yu-Gi-Oh!—prohibited in the online game "Master Duel," banned by TCG, restricted by OCG, such a multi-ban list VIP treatment, its status can be imagined.
Moreover, yes, this card belongs to Muto Yuugi, and it is exclusive to the tabletop game, not the Pharaoh's. From the toy-like appearance of this monster, you can see the owner's style.
As for its strength...
"The effect of Bouncing Turtle, make a monster on the field a tribute, inflict damage equal to half of that monster's attack power to the opponent," Yugen said, "I offer 'Brick Dragon' as a tribute, inflicting damage equal to half of Brick Dragon's attack power to you."
The Brick Dragon, which had just hit the field, instantly turned into a projectile, fired along the trajectory of Bouncing Turtle.
[Bainstein, LP4000→LP2750]
This development caused Mitsuzawa's expression to change: "Masaka (could it be)…!?"
"Brick Dragon's other effect, once per turn, if this card is sent to the graveyard, add up to three Rock Race monsters to your hand, until their combined levels become eight."
Yugen drew three Rock Race cards from the deck.
"Add the 4-Star Rock Race 'Rock Spirit Titan' and another 4-Star Rock Race 'Jigangtis' to the hand."
"Then activate the effect of 'Brick Dragon' in the graveyard, banish three Earth Attribute monsters from the hand or graveyard, and this card can be Special Summoned from the graveyard.
I banish Titan, Jigangtis from my hand, and Rock Soldiers from the graveyard to Special Summon 'Brick Dragon'."
[Brick Dragon, Attack Power 2500]
Dr. Bainstein's face turned pale instantly.
As a Duelist professor, he seemed to have realized the serious problem.
This card's resurrection has no once-per-turn limit!
As long as three Earth Attributes are banished from the hand or graveyard, this card can rise from the graveyard infinitely.
In other words, every Earth Attribute monster in the entire graveyard is Bouncing Turtle's ammo!
Now he began to understand what half of the card deck Yugen threw into the grave used for, and started sweating profusely.
"The effect of Bouncing Turtle, fire Brick Dragon," Yugen said.
[Bainstein, LP2750→LP1500]
"How can you…"
Dr. Bainstein seemed to want to say something, but Yugen didn't give him a chance to speak.
"Banish the Earth Attribute monsters 'Giant Stone Ultimate Dragon', 'Demon Shovel Worm', 'Mecha Team - Giant Transformation' from the graveyard, Special Summon 'Brick Dragon'."
[Brick Dragon, Attack Power 2500]
"Bouncing Turtle's effect, fire."
[Bainstein, LP1500→LP250]
Professor: "..."
He already completely understood.
Except for the Giant Transformation, which was sent through the effect of Fortress previously, the Giant Stone Ultimate Dragon and Demon Shovel Worm share common traits with the Electromagnetic Warrior and others just now, which is that they're Earth Attributes and cannot be Normal Summoned.
All meet the conditions for Name Deduction and Monster Gate to bury into the grave.
The Duel professor's logic suddenly seemed to align.
The alignment is there, however...
What kind of dark mind uses this method to duel!?
"Banish the Earth Attribute monsters 'Mecha Team - Fortress', 'Intercepting Crusaders', 'Mecha Team - Cannon' from the game."
Yugen repeated like a robot without emotion.
"Brick Dragon, revive."
[Brick Dragon, Attack Power 2500]
"Bouncing Turtle, fire."
Professor: "......"
[Bainstein, LP250→LP0]