Gekko Tenma lost his composure. Spell Canceller of all things.
"Correct. While Spell Canceller is on the field, neither of us can activate Spell Cards, and all Spell Card effects on the field are negated," Yugen said. "The effect of 'Premature Burial' Special Summons Equip Cards in the Graveyard as Monsters and treats their Equip effects as their own monster effects. But they are still Spell Cards, so their effects are negated by 'Spell Canceller.'" (ANIME EFFECT)
"As a result, all your Equip Monster lose their boosts," Yugen Fujiki added. "Their ATK and DEF return to the 500 they had when Premature Burial Summoned them." (ANIME EFFECT)
United We Stand, ATK 4500 to ATK 500. Mage Power, ATK 4500 to ATK 500. Axe of Despair, ATK 1500 to ATK 500.
Aside from the Defense Position Crystal Sword, the once towering threats were reduced to weak points with only 500 attack.
"I chain to the Summon of Spell Canceller and activate my face down card!" Gekko Tenma responded at once. "Trap Card 'Torrential Tribute'! When a Monster is Summoned, destroy all monsters on the field!"
Water surged across the field like a violent flood. Even though it cost him dearly, he knew leaving those 500 attack monster alive would mean defeat next turn.
The wave swept everything away. Explosions echoed one after another across Gekko Tenma's field as every monster was destroyed.
"Decisive," Yugen said calmly. "I have already used my Normal Summon this turn, so I cannot Normal Summon again. However…"
He drew another card from his hand. "I banish the LIGHT Monster 'Blade Knight' I just discarded and the DARK 'Apprentice Magician' in the Graveyard."
Gekko Tenma's eyelid twitched. The assault was not over.
"I offer the souls of light and darkness to the Field of Chaos and call forth the legendary Ultimate Warrior! Genesis of Heaven and Earth!"
Golden light burst from the Card in his hand. Black Luster Soldier - Envoy of the Beginning, descend.
Amid twisting light and shadow, a warrior in armor stepped forward with blade in hand, cutting through the chaos itself.
Black Luster Soldier - Envoy of the Beginning, ATK 3000.
"After clearing the field, you immediately Summoned Black Luster Soldier - Envoy of the Beginning…" Gekko Tenma's expression grew serious.
"Black Luster Soldier - Envoy of the Beginning attacks directly!" Yugen Fujiki declared. "Black Luster Soldier - Envoy of the Beginning Double Break Slash!"
The sword of mingled light and darkness fell. Waves of slashes struck Gekko Tenma head on, forcing him to stagger back and drop to one knee, clutching his chest.
Gekko Tenma, LP 4000 to LP 1000.
"I set one card and end my turn."
"My turn, Draw."
When it was Gekko Tenma's turn again, he took a moment to steady his breathing. Spell Canceller had been completely unexpected, and it had single handedly broken his Armed strategy. If his Deck had relied entirely on Premature Burial, he might have collapsed on the spot.
But a true Duelist never puts everything on one tactic. In Gekko Tenma's Deck, other possibilities were still waiting.
"No wonder Seto Kaiba and Yako Tenma both noticed how different you are. It has been a long time since I met an opponent worth this much effort."
Gekko Tenma spoke seriously, his eyes steady.
"But I am far from my limit. I activate my set card, the Trap Card Good Goblin Housekeeping!"
He activated one card in his Back Row.
"I draw cards from my Deck equal to the number of Good Goblin Housekeeping in my Graveyard plus one. Then I return one card from my hand to the bottom of my Deck." (ANIME EFFECT)
At this moment, there were zero copies of Good Goblin Housekeeping in his Graveyard. That meant he would draw one card, then return one card from his hand to the Deck.
"Then I chain my second card!" Gekko Tenma continued. "Another Trap Card Good Goblin Housekeeping!"
He moved quickly and revealed another card from his hand.
"And I chain Quick-Play Spell Emergency Provisions! I send any number of Spell and Trap Cards on my field to the Graveyard, and gain 1000 Life Points for each!"
He pointed at the two activated Traps.
"I send both copies of Good Goblin Housekeeping to the Graveyard and gain 2000 Life Points!"
Gekko Tenma, LP 1000 to LP 3000.
With sharp professional instinct, Daichi Misawa immediately grasped the combo. "Amazing! Even if a Trap Card leaves the field, its effect still resolves. By activating Emergency Provisions in chain and sending them to the Graveyard before resolution, both copies count each other!"
Gekko Tenma nodded. "So each Good Goblin Housekeeping sees two copies in the Graveyard. I draw cards equal to that number plus one, which is three per card!"
He swept his arm as six cards slid into his hand.
"I draw six cards total, then return two cards from my hand to the bottom of my Deck."
He had replenished his hand and recovered Life Points at the same time. Asuka Tenjoin could not help but admire it.
"To use the rules of a Duel so smoothly like that."
Daichi Misawa said nothing, but he glanced at Yugen. He remembered that Yugen had defeated Yako Tenma, the younger brother of this very Duelist.
The more he understood how strong Gekko Tenma was, the more unsettling that fact became.
"I activate the Spell Card Graceful Charity. I draw three cards, then discard two."
Gekko Tenma sent two cards to the Graveyard, but one of them flashed with golden light and bounced back.
"One of the discarded cards is another Card Trooper!" he declared. "When it is sent to the Graveyard, I draw one card!" (ANIME EFFECT)
He drew again, then smiled faintly.
"When Yako Tenma told me about you, I found it hard to believe. Now I understand completely. Yugen, you truly are a special Duelist."
His voice was calm, but firm.
"In this Duel, just like Yako Tenma before me, I feel the urge to give everything I have. I even want to go beyond myself just to defeat you."
He closed his eyes briefly.
"It is strange. We only just met, yet you feel like a mountain I must climb with all my strength."
Daichi Misawa and Asuka Tenjoin exchanged a silent look. They understood.
When they had faced Yugen in a Duel, they felt the same thing. After only a few turns, every move felt blocked, and when they looked up, it was like facing a towering peak.
They would push themselves, think desperately for a breakthrough. And in the end, they still lost.
They had thought that feeling was theirs alone. Now even a legendary Duelist felt it too.
"You flatter me, Senior. I am not special. I just try my best in every Duel." Yugen smiled politely. "I improve by dueling strong opponents like you."
"Do you really only try your best?" Gekko Tenma replied with a faint, mysterious smile.
He did not continue that thought.
"Let me confirm something further. From my hand, the effect of Angel O1."
He revealed a card.
"Angel O1 can be Special Summoned from my hand by showing my opponent a Level 7 or higher Monster."
He revealed another card.
"I reveal the Level 7 Angel O7 from my hand. I Special Summon Angel O1!"
Angel O1, ATK 200.
Yugen looked at the revealed Angel O7. It was Gekko Tenma's signature Monster from the original story. While not widely used in real world play, it had often appeared in various Lockdown Array strategies.
When Angel O7 was Tribute Summoned and remained on the field, no Monster could activate their effects. Even in modern play, that kind of field wide Silence was powerful. (ANIME EFFECT)
Yugen frowned slightly.