The Great Tomb of Nazarick Underground.
Inside the luxurious presidential suite, Momonga and Herohero were happily playing cards.
They sat across from each other, each holding several cards, their eyes fixed on the battlefield spread across the table.
On the cluttered surface, two miniature holographic projections faced off. They rose from the cards beneath them, which bore the unmistakable likenesses of Momonga and Herohero.
[Ruler of Death] (Undead / 12 Stars / ATK 4000 / DEF 3000)
Effects:
1. Unaffected by card effects.
2. Cannot be destroyed by battle.
3. Once per turn, can revive one monster from the Graveyard; that monster becomes an Undead.
4. During battle, its ATK becomes equal to the total ATK of all Undead on the field.
[Elder Black Ooze] (Slime / 12 Stars / ATK 3500 / DEF 4000)
Effects:
1. Unaffected by card effects.
2. Cannot be destroyed by battle.
3. Each turn, corrodes all monsters on the opponent's field, reducing their ATK and DEF by 2000. Any monster reduced to 0 is automatically destroyed.
4. Each turn, splits into a Slime token with 0 ATK and 2000 DEF.
The match had fallen into a complete stalemate. Neither could destroy the other's monster. Momonga pressed forward with relentless attacks, while Herohero remained firmly on defense. No matter what they tried, neither could break through.
As god cards modeled after themselves, both carried the traits of being unaffected by effects and indestructible in battle.
All they could do now was wait for the one decisive card that would tip the scales.
"My turn. Draw!"
It was Momonga's turn. He extended his skeletal hand and drew a card from the deck.
As he did, he deliberately swept his arm in a dramatic arc before him, striking a pose.
This was Momonga's signature draw. According to him, it symbolized the bond between himself and his deck.
To Naohara and Herohero, though, the move was unbearably cringeworthy. Then again, considering he was the same person who designed the bizarre Pandora's Actor, it somehow felt perfectly in character.
"Hmph! Herohero-san, your life is nothing but a flickering candle in the wind."
The red lights in Momonga's eye sockets flashed as he looked at the card in his hand and boldly declared his victory.
"Behold my invincible magic card! Activate [The Goal of All Life Is Death]!"
Ignoring Herohero's sour expression, Momonga immediately played his exclusive magic card, [The Goal of All Life Is Death].
As the card activated, a small holographic image materialized in the air, forming a bell-shaped sigil that attached itself behind the [Ruler of Death] on the field.
Magic Card: [The Goal of All Life Is Death]
Effect:
1. When this Magic Card is activated, your opponent cannot activate card effects.
2. Only 10-star Undead can use this card.
3. Grants the user 100% Instant Death. This effect cannot be negated. At the end of this turn, all cards on the opponent's field are forcibly removed from play.
"My turn ends!"
Seeing that Herohero had only 500 HP left, Momonga let out a breath of relief.
As long as he forcibly removed the [Elder Black Ooze] on Herohero's field next turn, the win would practically be his.
"Don't celebrate too early, Momonga."
"My turn. Draw!"
At Momonga's confident declaration, the gloom on Herohero's face vanished. The slime on his features shifted and rippled, forming a meaningful smile as he drew a card.
He glanced at his hand. The equation for victory was already complete.
"I activate the Magic Card [Emergency Rescue] from my hand. Its effect lets me add one Magic Card from my deck to my hand."
With that, Herohero picked up his deck, selected a Magic Card, and added it to his hand.
"The card I choose is the Magic Card [Self-Time Acceleration]!"
Seeing the confidence written all over Herohero, Momonga's earlier certainty began to waver. This didn't look good.
Was he about to get reversed…
"Momonga, do you know what card I drew at the start of my turn?"
"Masaka~!" ("It can't be!")
"That's right. I activate the Magic Card [Soul Corrosion Touch]!"
As the card was played, a virtual statue materialized behind the [Elder Black Ooze] on the field.
Embedded within the statue was a massive eyeball. The dark red pupil rotated slowly, scanning everything around it.
Magic Card: [Soul Corrosion Touch]
Effect:
1. When this Magic Card is activated, your opponent cannot activate card effects.
2. This card can only be used by [Elder Black Ooze].
3. Grants the user 100% Instant Death. This effect cannot be negated. At the end of this turn, all cards on the opponent's field are forcibly removed from play.
This was Herohero's exclusive Magic Card. Just like Momonga's [The Goal of All Life Is Death], it could forcibly remove every card on the opponent's field.
If things continued this way, both of their fields would be wiped clean next turn as the two effects resolved at the same time.
But there was no "if." Herohero's victory equation was already complete. He intended to end the game this turn.
Momonga froze. He knew he had lost. If Herohero had simply activated [Soul Corrosion Touch] earlier, there might have been a slim chance to turn things around next turn.
But this turn, Herohero had also used a Magic Card to fetch another card.
Magic Card: [Self-Time Acceleration]
Effect: Your side immediately advances to its next turn.
A simple effect, yet it became the final blow that crushed Momonga's hopes.
"Activate Magic Card [Self-Time Acceleration]!"
Under Momonga's despairing gaze, Herohero played the card without hesitation.
A small virtual clock emerged from the Magic Card. Its hands began to spin rapidly. When they completed a full rotation, the clock dissolved into the [Elder Black Ooze].
The dark crimson eye floating above the [Elder Black Ooze] began spinning violently. Illusory tentacles burst forth, shooting straight toward Momonga's [Ruler of Death].
The 100% forced Instant Death effect activated. The once imposing [Ruler of Death] shattered instantly, and every card on the field was banished.
Momonga was left with an empty field.
"It's not over yet! [Elder Black Ooze], direct attack on Momonga!"
With [Ruler of Death] forcibly removed and having not yet declared an attack this turn, [Elder Black Ooze] could now strike directly.
Receiving the command, the [Elder Black Ooze] lunged at Momonga, its corrosive tentacles swinging with 3500 ATK.
Momonga HP: 500 → 0.
Game over.
...
Dozens of minutes later, when Naohara arrived, this was the scene that greeted him.
Momonga lay half-slumped in the corner like a skeleton that had lost its soul. The red glow in his eye sockets had dimmed completely, like a loser that had given up on its dreams.
Meanwhile, Herohero sat gracefully in his chair, calmly sipping hot tea, looking thoroughly pleased with himself.
The contrast between the two could not have been sharper.