Gekko Tenma declared, "All the Equip Cards in my Graveyard are Special Summoned as monsters!"
United We Stand, ATK 500. Axe of Despair, ATK 500. Sword of Deep-Seated, ATK 500. Mage Power, ATK 500.
Daichi Misawa and Asuka Tenjoin were both stunned. Even for them, this kind of strange effect was a first.
On Gekko Tenma's field, four humanoid figures appeared, each formed from shifting energy. One carried a sword, another an axe, another a staff, and the last radiated magical power. In an instant, they filled his entire field.
"After Premature Burial resolves, the Equip Cards Special Summoned by this effect are treated as equipped to monsters and gain their original effects," Gekko Tenma continued. (ANIME EFFECT)
"United We Stand increases the ATK of the Equip Monster by 800 times the number of monsters on my field. I control five monsters, so it gains 4000!"
United We Stand, ATK 500 to ATK 4500.
"Axe of Despair increases the ATK of the Equip Monster by 1000!"
Axe of Despair, ATK 500 to ATK 1500.
"Sword of Deep-Seated increases the ATK of the Equip Monster by 300!" (ANIME EFFECT)
Sword of Deep-Seated, ATK 500 to ATK 800.
"As for Mage Power, it increases the ATK of the Equip Monster by 500 times the number of Spell and Trap Cards on my field," Gekko Tenma explained. "Since the Equip Cards are treated as both monsters and Spell Cards while on the field, I have four Spell and Trap Cards. So Mage Power gains another 2000!"
Mage Power, ATK 500 to ATK 2500.
"I'm not done yet. I activate a Spell Card! 'Solidarity'!" Gekko Tenma declared. "Until the end of the turn, all Equip Monsters on my field increase the ATK of other monsters of the same kind by 500!" (ANIME EFFECT)
This was a card he had used in the manga. The combination of Premature Burial and Solidarity was his standard one turn kill setup.
"I have four Equip Monsters. Each one gives the other three 500 ATK. That means each Equip gains 1500 from the others!"
United We Stand, ATK 4500 to ATK 6000. Mage Power, ATK 2500 to ATK 4000. Axe of Despair, ATK 1500 to ATK 3000. Sword of Deep-Seated, ATK 800 to ATK 2300.
Daichi Misawa and Asuka Tenjoin both changed expression. "So many powerful monsters at once."
"Six thousand and four thousand monster," Daichi Misawa said quietly. "And it's only his second turn. So this is the strength of a Legendary Duelist."
"Battle!" Gekko Tenma ordered. "'United We Stand', attack 'Blade Knight'!"
With 6000 ATK, a direct hit would end it in one blow.
"Then I activate my set Spell Card, 'Creature Swap'," Yugen responded. "Return one monster I control to the hand, then Special Summon a Level 4 or lower monster from my hand. I return 'Blade Knight' to my hand." (ANIME EFFECT)
Blade Knight turned into a flash of gold and withdrew under the crushing pressure.
"Then I Special Summon 'Apprentice Magician' in Defense Position!"
Apprentice Magician, DEF 800.
"Switching monsters to defend? Then continue the attack on 'Apprentice Magician'!"
United We Stand smashed down, and Apprentice Magician shattered. As expected, a golden light flew from Yugen's Deck.
"Apprentice Magician's effect. When it is destroyed by battle, I can Set a Level 2 or lower Spellcaster-Type monster from my Deck in face down Defense Position. I Set another 'Apprentice Magician'."
Gekko Tenma frowned. "Then I use 'Chiron the Mage' and activate Break Strike on the second Apprentice Magician."
A red beam from the staff destroyed the face down monster, but another golden light followed.
"Then I Set a third 'Apprentice Magician'."
"But that uses up all the 'Apprentice Magician' in your Deck." Gekko Tenma smiled. "I still have three monsters that haven't attacked. As long as one attack goes through, it's over."
Yugen nodded. "That does seem true."
"You're still calm, which means you have something else," Gekko Tenma said with interest. He waved his hand. "Then 'Sword of Deep-Seated', attack the third 'Apprentice Magician'."
The sword light fell, and the face down monster was destroyed. Another beam of gold rose immediately.
"This time I Set the DARK Level 2 'Old Vindictive Magician' in face down Defense Position."
"Then 'Axe of Despair', attack!"
The axe wielder struck down, splitting the set monster apart. Before leaving the field, the old magician swung his staff and released a ray of cursed light.
"'Old Vindictive Magician', Flip Effect Activation. When flipped, I can Destroy one monster on your field. I destroy the 'Mage Power' that's being treated as a monster!"
The curse pierced the energy figure, and Mage Power shattered and vanished.
"You even defended against that. Impressive. In that case, I have no monsters left that can attack."
Gekko Tenma drew two cards. "I Set two more cards and end my turn. No wonder Yako Tenma thinks highly of you."
"At the moment you enter the End Phase, I activate my set Trap Card, 'Balance of Judgment'," Yugen said. "If the number of cards on your field is greater than the total cards in my hand and field, I draw cards equal to the difference." (ANIME EFFECT)
"I have four monsters and two set cards," Gekko Tenma said.
"I have two cards in hand and only 'Balance of Judgment' on the field," Yugen replied. "So I draw three."
Yugen drew three cards at once as the image of the Trap in the Back Row faded.
"Then it's My Turn!. Card Draw."
He drew again.
"I Summon 'Devotee of Nephthys' in Defense Position."
Devotee of Nephthys, DEF 2000.
"Devotee of Nephthys's effect. Once Per Turn, I can Destroy one card from my hand to add a 'Nephthys' monster other than Devotee of Nephthys from my Deck to my hand. I discard one card and add 'Chronicler of Nephthys'." (ANIME EFFECT)
After searching, Yugen Set two more cards and ended his turn.
Gekko Tenma studied the face down cards in the Back Row and the praying girl defending the field. He noticed the card discarded to activate the search effect and fell into thought.
"My Turn!. Card Draw." Gekko Tenma drew. "I activate a Spell Card! 'Pot of Greed' and draw two more cards."
He frowned slightly. There had to be defensive measures among those set cards, but he had nothing to clear the Back Row for now. As a Duelist, the only option was to press forward.
"Battle! 'United We Stand', attack 'Devotee of Nephthys'!"
The effect of the Spell Card 'Solidarity' had ended last turn. With four monsters on the field, United We Stand gained 3200 from its own effect plus its base 500, reaching 3700 ATK.
United We Stand, ATK 3700.
"I activate the Trap 'Waboku'," Yugen said. "This turn, I take no battle damage, and my monsters cannot be destroyed by battle."
The heavy punch struck a transparent barrier and stopped.
"I see. An absolute defense Trap. Then battle is meaningless. I end my Battle Phase, but My Turn! continues."
Gekko Tenma looked at a card in his hand.
"I tribute the 'Sword of Deep-Seated' that's being treated as a monster to Tribute Summon."
"Level 5, Catapult Turtle!"
Yugen raised an eyebrow.
Another troublesome monster had appeared.