"The second effect of Masked Hero Blast! Once per turn, by paying 500 Life Points, I can return a Magic Trap Card from the field to the owner's hand!"
"The card I will return, of course... is Field Magic - Sin World!"
[Youyu, LP 1950 → LP 1450]
At this moment, the Masked Hero crossed his arms and leaped into the air, his figure spinning rapidly. The surging energy swirled around Blast, transforming into a gale as sharp as a steel blade with his rotation. Like a racing car, the currents zipped around the green track, as if trying to tear the dark world apart.
If this move succeeds, and Sin World is bounced back to the hand, then the Malefic Cyber End Dragon on Paradox's field will meet the same fate as the Rainbow Dragon from the last turn, being destroyed on the spot!
Doing so would almost certainly lead to his defeat.
But Paradox...
...still has a final defense!!
"Activate Trap Card from the graveyard - Skill Prisoner!!!"
Paradox gritted his teeth, practically shouting.
A dark vortex opened, and a deep crimson Trap Card flew out from the graveyard, spinning a few times in mid-air before dissipating into golden light.
"By banishing Skill Prisoner from the graveyard from play! I target one card on my field, and this turn, all Monster Effects targeting that card are negated!"
He raised his hand towards the brewing storm.
"The card I am targeting is Field Magic - Sin World! This turn, any Monster Effects targeting 'Sin World' are negated, rendering the effect of 'Masked Hero Blast' ineffective!"
The storm halted. An invisible force, like shackles, forcibly restrained the storm and stopped Blast's actions, forcing him to land on the ground.
Youyu's relentless pursuit of Sin World was thwarted again, showing that the villain daring to challenge the three great Duel Kings simultaneously was indeed more than just arrogant; he had some real skills.
However, this was truly Paradox's last resort.
"You managed to fend off even this? Then I'll proceed to battle," Youyu said calmly, "Attack Malefic Cyber End Dragon with Masked Hero Blast!"
"Uh... Hurricane Slash!"
Though Sin World couldn't be blown away, after Blast's effect halved its attack power, Malefic Cyber End Dragon was already surpassed.
Masked Hero Blast rode the green whirlwind, his form merging effortlessly with the hurricane, descending from above, and slashing with his hand like a blade, drawing a brilliant green arc.
The handblade, trailing a long streak of light, fell from mid-air, slicing through the three-headed mechanical dragon in one swift strike! The Cyber Dragon shrieked, as sparks and electricity burst from the metallic fissures.
With a resounding explosion, the massive mechanical dragon was reduced to ashes in an instant by the hero's strike, and countless metal fragments scattered in all directions.
"Gah!"
With only a small amount of Life Points remaining, Paradox staggered back several steps, barely keeping himself from falling through sheer willpower alone.
[Paradox, LP 300 → LP 100]
With only one hundred Life Points left, he wobbled unsteadily, but in the end, he managed to stand upright with difficulty.
"It's not... over." He gritted his teeth, "There's still some Life Points left... I haven't given up yet!"
Youyu: "..."
This feeling of being "the villain" is getting more intense, what's going on...?
"End of turn."
As the turn-end declaration came, the hero in the green armor crossed his arms again and landed gracefully beside Youyu, the red scarf fluttering like a flag in the wind.
"My turn..."
Paradox lowered his head, focusing intently on his Card Deck, as if he were gathering his life's strength for this one draw.
"I can't... fall here..."
He closed his eyes, fingers poised over the Card Deck, silently recalling the comrades from his distant future who awaited him.
Let me borrow your strength...
"Draw!!!"
Paradox drew the card, the airflow seemingly tracing a clear arc in the air.
Youyu: "..."
A feeling that the righteous protagonist is about to pull out a card and end me instantly...
"Magic Card, Sin- Choice Activate!" Paradox played the card he "Divine Drew," "Banish two cards with 'Sin' in their names from my graveyard from play, and add two 'Sin' cards to my hand from the deck."
Two "Malefic" cards were removed from the graveyard, and at the same time his Duel Disc quickly executed an automatic search, and two cards automatically popped out.
Paradox picked up those two cards: "Let me end you with the ace cards of the friends you are familiar with in this era! What I'm adding to my hand is, Malefic Blue-Eyes White Dragon! Malefic Red-Eyes Black Dragon!
Then the effects of these two monsters activate!
I send 'Blue-Eyes White Dragon' and 'Red-Eyes Black Dragon' from the deck to the graveyard and Special Summon from the hand!
Appear! Malefic Blue-Eyes White Dragon! Malefic Red-Eyes Black Dragon!"
A white and a black dragon flapped their wings and flew out from the deep darkness. Known by the duelists of this era as "the White Dragon that brings victory" and "the black dragon that symbolizes possibility," both descended onto the duel field, standing side by side to guard Paradox on the left and right!
[Malefic Blue-Eyes White Dragon, ATK 3000]
[Malefic Red-Eyes Black Dragon, ATK 2400]
Youyu: "..."
Red-Eyes can be ignored; the card is rare but not unique to Jonouchi. However, now he started to be curious about where Paradox got this Blue-Eyes card from?
Could it be that he traveled to a time before President Haima acquired Blue-Eyes White Dragon?
No matter what, Youyu thought for his own sake, he better not use this card in front of President Haima. Otherwise, the consequences might be unimaginable...
"And with this comes the end!" Paradox shouted.
The combined attack points of Blue-Eyes White Dragon and Red-Eyes Black Dragon is 5400; Youyu only has Masked Hero Blast with 2200 attack points on the field, no Set Cards in the backfield, and 0 cards in hand, not even a chance to summon Kuriboh to block.
This duel... he's won it!
"Battle!" Paradox shouted loudly, "Malefic Blue-Eyes White Dragon, tear that Masked Hero to shreds! Malefic Burst Stream of Destruction!!!"
The White Dragon opened its massive mouth, the boundless power of light brewing within! A mighty blast beam seemed on the verge of eruption, only waiting for a breath to pulverize into debris the only wall standing in front of Youyu!
But at this moment, Paradox keenly and fearfully noticed that Youyu seemed to be... smiling?
He felt his brain momentarily crash.
Is it possible under these circumstances... he has another move?
Youyu slowly raised his hand, and at this time, the hero before him also crossed his arms and looked at the menacing White Dragon ahead, seemingly unflustered.
"Masked Hero Blast's effect." Youyu said calmly, "Pay 500 Life Points, return a Magic Trap Card on the field to the owner's hand. And this effect...
...can be activated during the opponent's turn as well!"
Paradox: "!?"
During the opponent's turn... it can be activated!?
[Youyu, LP 1450 → LP 950]
"Masked Hero Blast!" Youyu declared, "Return Field Magic - Sin World... to the owner's hand for me!"
Blast fearlessly flew towards the destructive light bullet.
He spun in mid-air, generating air currents, and whipped up a raging storm. The whirlwind swept up almost everything on the field, and space shattered in tumult. The sky seemed to shatter, raining down debris like a storm until the entire dark world transformed into void, returning to the rooftop of the building in the real world.
Malefic World disappeared, and the domineering beam vanished instantly. Malefic Blue-Eyes White Dragon and Malefic Red-Eyes Black Dragon raised their heads in a low growl, both self-destructing in place, exploding into fragments.
Paradox looked at the Field Magic bounced back into his hand, stunned.
His last hope, his final struggle, ended here.
The two Malefic Monsters exploded simultaneously; his field was now completely empty, and the only card left in his hand was the "Malefic World" that had just been bounced back.
In other words, he had no cards he could play.
He lost.
"My turn." Youyu didn't even glance at the card he drew, "Battle. Masked Hero Blast, direct attack the player! Hurricane Slash!"
Masked Hero Blast leaped into the air, riding the hurricane beneath him, dragging green knife light with his hand, slashing down towards Paradox's head...
...And at this moment, space suddenly broke open!
The dark force field was breached from the outside, and something in space emitted a dragon-like high-pitched roar! A silhouette shot out from the space rift, trailing a flickering red halo, bursting into the midst of both parties' field, and landed heavily on the ground.
It was a...
...red motorcycle?