His Life Points dropped from 6000 to 4000. The drain left Shell pale and unsteady, as if the life had been pulled straight out of him. That life force flowed into the giant axe of Demise, King of Armageddon, and the destructive wave crashed down again.
Judai Yuki's Elemental HERO Bubbleman and Elemental HERO Sparkman were both swallowed by the blue flames and shattered. But before Elemental HERO Bubbleman was Destroyed, Judai Yuki called out to chain his move. "I activate the Quick-Play Spell Bubble Illusion! This card can only be used while Elemental HERO Bubbleman is on the field. This turn, I can activate one Trap Card from my hand!"
The flames swept everything away, and both of Judai Yuki's Elemental HERO monsters left the field. Shell frowned as he realized another hand trap had been prepared.
"Lately I watched a lot of Yugen's Duel, and I thought his use of traps was pretty interesting," Judai Yuki said with a grin, scratching his head as he looked at Yugen. "So I figured I would try it too."
Yugen raised an eyebrow but said nothing. Shell let out a low snort.
"So you learned from that sly brat as well. The set card on your field was just bait, and the real trap was in your hand. Do you think I cannot deal with that?"
He drew two cards and set them on the field. Then he revealed another card from his hand. "I activate the Spell Card Card Destruction! Both players discard their hands and draw the same number!"
Judai Yuki blinked. "The same Spell as Yugen!"
Hands were discarded to the Graveyard, and Shell used Card Draw from his Deck. He smirked at Judai Yuki.
"Discard your hand. Any trap you were hiding goes with it."
Judai Yuki glanced at the Divine Shield - Mirror Force Unit-02 in his hand and reluctantly placed it onto his Duel Disk, watching it slide into the Graveyard. But when he drew again, his eyes shifted slightly at the sight of his new card.
From across the field, Shell narrowed his eyes and caught a glimpse of the trap sent to the Graveyard. Even at this distance, he recognized the outline. It was another Divine Shield - Mirror Force.
"So it was your second Divine Shield - Mirror Force. That was close," Shell sneered. "If I had attacked blindly, I would have walked straight into it. But my Duel is stronger. One of the cards I discarded was the Spell Card Card of Compensation. When it is discarded from the hand to the Graveyard, I draw two more cards."
He used Card Draw again and swept his arm forward. "Battle Phase. Demise, King of Armageddon, attack directly!"
The massive axe rose again, locking onto Judai Yuki. Calmly, Judai Yuki revealed another card from his hand.
"Thanks to Bubble Illusion, I can activate one Trap Card from my hand this turn. I activate Trap Card Divine Shield - Mirror Force!"
Even Yugen glanced sideways in surprise. Shell nearly choked at the sight.
"Mirror Force destroys all Attack Position monsters when an opponent declares an attack!"
The axe slammed into a transparent reflective barrier. Light burst outward and the reflected force surged back across the field toward Shell. The six pointed sigil on his forehead spun as blue fire burned in his eyes.
"I activate the Quick-Play Spell My Body as a Shield! I pay 1500 Life Points to negate an Effect Activation that would Destroy a monster on the field, and then Destroy that card!"
His Life Points fell from 4000 to 2500. The energy shield formed around Demise, King of Armageddon, shattering the barrier of Mirror Force like glass. The axe continued forward, and the flames swept across Judai Yuki's side of the field.
Judai Yuki's Life Points dropped from 4000 to 1100. He staggered as black smoke rose from his body, clutching his chest and falling to one knee.
"This is the pain of Shadow Duel," Shell said. "This is what a true Duel is. A ritual where both sides stake their lives and souls. If you cannot endure it, you can surrender now."
"Come on, this is my first time in such an intense Duel," Judai Yuki replied.
He stood back up despite the smoke still rising from him, brushing off the dust with a grin. "How could I quit halfway? A Duel is about going until the last card and the last breath. It is only fun if you never give up until the very end."
Shell frowned at that answer. The idea that someone could find a life and death duel fun clearly unsettled him.
"Fine. Then enjoy the end of your life," he said coldly as he set two more cards. "I end my turn."
"My Turn!, Card Draw," Yugen said calmly.
"Demise, King of Armageddon is the absolute power granted by the god!" Shell shouted. "It proves my transformation. If you think I am wrong, then defeat it!"
Without changing his expression, Yugen revealed a card from his hand. "I activate the Spell Card Abyssal Designator. I pay 1500 Life Points and declare a Type and Attribute. You must send one monster on your field that matches to the Graveyard. I declare DARK Fiend."
He looked directly at Shell. "Send your Demise, King of Armageddon to the Graveyard."
Yugen: Name Taken
Yugen LP 4000 to 2500.
Shell stared at the Abyssal Designator that Yugen suddenly revealed, his facial muscles twitching. He opened his mouth as if to speak, but no words came out for a moment. From its text alone, it was clear that Abyssal Designator targeted the player directly, forcing the opponent to choose and send one of their own monsters to the Graveyard, much like a Duelist tributing their own monster.
In other words, it could remove even a boss monster that was unaffected by card effects. They had just said that a Duel was a clash of hearts, a way to read and understand each other. Yet if this Duel revealed anything, it was that Yugen's entire soul was saying he only cared about winning, and if he could have some fun along the way, that was just a bonus.
"But you think that's enough to deal with Demise, King of Armageddon? Not that easy!" Shell shouted. "I activate my set Trap Card, Mirror Marshman! I declare Attribute and Type. It becomes a Normal Monster with the declared Type and is Special Summoned. I declare DARK and Fiend. Special Summon Mirror Marshman as a DARK Fiend Trap Monster!"
Mirror Marshman, ATK 1800.
"Now resolve Abyssal Designator. That gives me two DARK Fiend monsters on the field." He calmly sent the Trap Monster to the Graveyard through his Duel Disk. "I choose the DARK Fiend Mirror Marshman and send it to the Graveyard."
The newly appeared monster was swallowed by darkness, dragged into the abyss. With a substitute gone, Demise, King of Armageddon remained.
"So even that didn't work," Judai Yuki muttered. "He's really strong."
"Then I Normal Summon D.D. Warrior Lady," Yugen said.
Shell stiffened. He remembered its effect. If it battled, both monsters would be banished, and a single strike would take down Demise, King of Armageddon.
"Tch. Another troublesome monster." Shell sneered. "I activate Trap Card Trap Hole. When you Summon a monster with 1000 or more ATK, Destroy it!"
D.D. Warrior Lady fell into a pit and shattered before it could act. Yugen simply raised another card.
"I banish the LIGHT D.D. Warrior Lady in my Graveyard and the DARK Old Vindictive Magician discarded there earlier by your Morphing Jar. Light and darkness offered within the Field of Chaos. Descend, legendary warrior. Black Luster Soldier - Envoy of the Beginning, Summon!"
Light and darkness fused, and chaotic power surged upward. A warrior in heavy golden armor stepped forth, blade cutting through space.
Black Luster Soldier - Envoy of the Beginning, ATK 3000.
"So the legendary warrior's Spirit appears," Shell said quietly. "Then I'll claim that Spirit as well."
"If you can win," Yugen replied. "Battle. Black Luster Soldier - Envoy of the Beginning attacks Demise, King of Armageddon."