"Breaker—destroy the set backrow!"
At some point Breaker had already regained his sword. Magic gathered along the blade and became a crescent slash.
"In response, my Trap activates," the Supreme King said. "Trap Card 'Card of Pandora.' When a Spell/Trap I control becomes the target of a card effect, transfer the target to this card, then draw two cards." (Anime card)
The slash curved mid-flight and struck that set card. The Supreme King drew two.
"So you stopped it," Kira said. "Then Silent Magician attacks 'Evil HERO Malicious Edge.'"
Though Vicious Claws had returned to the Supreme King's hand last turn, its self-restriction prevents it from being activated from hand the turn it returns, so he couldn't re-equip Malicious Edge to substitute destruction or blast Kira's card.
But he had other measures: "I activate my set Trap, 'Power Frame.'
When a monster you control becomes the attack target of a monster with higher ATK, negate that attack!"
A cubic frame appeared in front of Malicious Edge. Silent Magician's full-power blast poured into the frame, filling it with pure energy like a blazing sun.
"Then equip this card to that attacked monster. Increase the equipped monster's ATK by the difference between the two monsters' ATK at the time of battle!"
The frame merged into Malicious Edge, along with the condensed magic within. Malicious Edge roared as power flooded his body.
[Evil HERO Malicious Edge, ATK 2600 → 3500]
"He's caught up to Silent," Kira narrowed his eyes. "So next turn, equipping 'Vicious Claws' would push him over Silent.
I'll set one and end."
"My turn. Draw." As expected, the Supreme King revealed an Equip. "Equip Spell 'Vicious Claws.' Equip to 'Evil HERO Malicious Edge'—gain 300 ATK."
[Evil HERO Malicious Edge, ATK 3500 → 3800]
"Then I Normal Summon 'Evil HERO Infernal Gainer.'"
[Evil HERO Infernal Gainer, ATK 1600]
"Battle," the Supreme King barked. "'Evil HERO Malicious Edge' attacks 'Silent Magician LV8!'"
Empowered by the Equip, Malicious Edge let out a battle cry. Finally overtaking the Silent Magician that had suppressed him, he slashed with relish.
"Then I activate my set Trap," Kira said. "'Magic Cylinder'! When an opponent's monster declares an attack: negate the attack and inflict damage to your opponent equal to that monster's ATK."
The Supreme King's golden eyes flickered, then he continued coldly: "I activate my set card.
Trap Card 'Nature's Reflection'! This turn, any effect damage you would inflict is reflected back to you."
I reflect your reflection!
At 3800 ATK, the reflected-reflection would be lethal to either player!
At the last moment, Kira revealed a card from hand: "Then I discard 'Hanewata.' If this card is discarded from the hand, all effect damage I would take this turn becomes 0. This can be activated during the opponent's turn."
A white cotton puff bounced onto the field and released a holy, milky barrier. Malicious Edge's ricocheting damage was all dissolved, ending the reflect war.
Although the effect damage was nullified, Magic Cylinder had still negated Malicious Edge's attack.
The Supreme King remained composed.
"Then I activate 'Evil HERO Infernal Gainer's' effect," he said. "This effect can only be activated during my Battle Phase.
Banish this card; choose 1 Fiend monster I control. As long as that monster remains face-up, during this Battle Phase it can attack twice!" (Anime effect)
It permanently grants an ally a "Cyber Twin Dragon"-style extra attack. The OCG effect is similar, but timing differs: anime Infernal Gainer activates in the Battle Phase; the card version in Main Phase.
The difference is: the anime version can attack once itself, then banish to grant an ally another attack in the Battle Phase; the printed card cannot—it must banish in Main Phase.
"I banish Infernal Gainer—Malicious Edge can attack twice this turn," the Supreme King declared. "Second attack! Strike 'Silent Magician LV8'!"
Empowered by his ally's sacrifice, Malicious Edge slashed again, finally breaking Silent's defense and cutting her down.
[Kira, LP 3300 → 3000]
Supreme King: "Then I activate the Continuous Spell 'Mirage of Nightmare.' During your next Draw Phase, draw until you have four cards in your hand.
I set one and end my turn."
Classic Mirage + one set.
Kira smiled. "Looks like even as the Supreme King, you haven't forgotten the classic combo."
"I don't know what you've misunderstood, but I'm not whoever you think I am," the Supreme King said coldly.
Kira shrugged. "If you say so.
My turn. Draw."
Supreme King: "In your Draw Phase, I draw until I have four cards."
Kira: "Main Phase. I activate 'Graceful Charity'—draw three, discard two."
"The 'Learning Elf' I just discarded—when sent to the Graveyard, draw one."
Kira then revealed a card he'd searched last turn: "I activate 'Spell Power Grasp' again. Place a Spell Counter on a card that can hold one.
Once again, I place a counter on 'Breaker the Magical Warrior.'"
[Breaker, ATK 1600 → 1900]
"Then remove Breaker's counter to destroy your set backrow."
Based on experience, that set was probably Emergency Provisions, but not guaranteed. Best to remove it first.
The Supreme King frowned slightly. "So Spell Power Grasp plus Breaker can form a stable, per-turn backrow removal engine… Then I activate my set Quick-Play Spell 'Emergency Provisions.'
Send any number of Spell/Trap Cards to the Graveyard; gain 1000 LP for each."
...
PS: 2 Bonus chapter at 1000 PS