"Activate! Second Barrier of Orichalcos!" Dartz selected a Magic Card from his deck and it was absorbed into the Duel Disc, "Orichalcos Air!"
Zipping raw magical power surged, and the previously stationary Orichalcos barrier began to rotate. The hexagram array burst with unprecedented dazzling brilliance, the edge of the barrier slowly moved like a giant time dial.
The aura of the entire space changed, and the air within the barrier seemed to condense, making the atmosphere more oppressive. A second circular array emerged on the ground, layered outside the first barrier.
At the same time, the aura sensed from Dartz became even more unsettling, as if another chain binding a beast in the abyss had been unlocked. Some kind of dark, massive beast was hiding within, roaring with bared fangs and claws.
Second Barrier of Orichalcos, Orichalcos Air. As long as this barrier is in place, Dartz can sacrifice his own monsters to nullify the opponent's direct attack and destroy the attacking monster.
This would seal Youyu's ability to directly attack with Dark Ghost.
Youyu frowned slightly and abandoned the battle: "Set a card, ending the turn."
"Oh? You actually know the hidden effect of 'Orichalcos Air', afraid to continue attacking?" Dartz scoffed, "It doesn't matter. Even though I don't know how you acquired information about my deck, knowing changes nothing."
His gaze sharpened, eyes instantly radiating an immense killing intent.
"Due to 'Orichalcos Malevolence's side effect, I can't draw during my turn. However, at the end of your turn, I activate this set card.
Trap Card - Reckless Greed. This trap allows me to draw two cards from the deck, but I must skip the next two draw phases as the price."
Though the price is to skip two draw phases, since Malevolence is present, Dartz couldn't draw anyway, effectively neutralizing the side effects.
However, Youyu wasn't willing to back down.
"At this moment, the effect of Continuous Trap - Appropriate is also activated!" Youyu waved his hand, and the trap card beside him shone brightly, "When the opponent draws cards outside the draw phase, I can draw two cards from the deck!"
Seeing the two drawn cards, Dartz smiled mysteriously, an expression that felt somewhat enigmatic.
"Humans say, 'The greatest enemy is oneself'... From this perspective, humans, despite being foolish, occasionally show self-awareness."
Youyu: "?"
Did this thinker get inspired during the duel and suddenly have an epiphany?
"The sad thing is, even with this awareness, people can't make any change. That's human limitation; being mere humans, they can't overcome themselves nor transcend the inner darkness."
Dartz spoke, then changed his tone, revealing a card just drawn from his hand: "It's my turn!
Look! This is the enemy you'll face in this duel. Activate Ritual Magic - Orichalcos Mirror from my hand!
Use monsters from my hand and field totaling level 6 as sacrifice to special summon 'Mirror Knight Summon'!"
He pointed to the last Shield Wall Token left on the field at the start, simultaneously showing a card from his hand.
"I'll use level 2 'Shield Wall Token', and level 4 'Orichalcos Malevolence' from my hand as sacrifices to Ritual Summon!
Come forth, Mirror Knight Summon!"
The token and Dartz's hand monster transformed into ritual sacrifices, vanishing into the small altar that appeared on the ground.
A beam of light shot forth from that altar, and the monster summoned from the Sacred Ceremony was.....
...a mirror?
Indeed, it seemed to be an upright mirror standing in Dartz's backfield zone, clearly reflecting the battlefield.
[Mirror Knight Summon, ATK 0]
ATK 0 monster!
Awe-inspiring terror!
"When Mirror Knight Summon ritual summoned successfully, 'Mirror Knight Tokens' can be special summoned to my monster zone as much as possible." Dartz said, "Appear, my mirror knights!"
The mirror released dazzling light, projecting images of monsters in silver armor resembling medieval knights of Europe into Dartz's remaining three monster zones.
Each covered head to toe in armor stood straight like chess pieces, holding sharp swords and shield-like mirrors.
[Mirror Knight Token, ATK 0] x3
In the animation, Dartz sealed souls of Yugi and Jonouchi in these mirror knights during battles, trying to pressure the opponent not to attack.
Here, Dartz probably felt Youyu wasn't very familiar with those sealed, making such tactics ineffective, so didn't use them.
"Furthermore, the Field Magic 'Orichalcos Air' maintains the effects of the first barrier." Dartz stated, "Mirror knights' attack power rises!"
[Mirror Knight Token, ATK 0 → ATK 500]
"Next, entering the Battle Phase." Dartz shouted, "First, the mirror knight attacks Elemental Hero Great Tornado!"