Checkmate!
Heart Flying with the Wind held his breath, as if in countless matches since he first approached this game, he had never looked forward to victory as much as today.
Different opponents, different significance of victory.
But just as Caesar spread his wings, with countless red spikes scattering like a rain of flowers, Youyu also raised his arm.
"Quick-Play Magic - Emergency Provisions." The Set Card in front of him flipped open, "Send all your Magic and Trap Cards on the field except for this card to the graveyard, for each card sent, recover 1000 Life Points."
He drew two cards from the Duel Disc.
"I send the Equip Magic 'The Sword in the Stone' and the Continuous Magic 'Nightmare Mirage' to the graveyard, restoring 2000 Life Points."
The two cards faded from the field with a soft golden glow, becoming a warm and gentle aura surrounding Youyu. One of the twin swords in the Dark Magician Girl's hand vanished simultaneously, and the boosted power was weakened.
[Youyu, LP 600 → LP 2600]
[Dark Magician Girl the Dragon Knight, Attack 5200 → Attack 2600]
"Then, according to Caesar's effect, destroy Dark Magician Girl the Dragon Knight!"
Though a bit disappointed at losing the chance to finish off, Heart Flying with the Wind's objective remained unchanged. Gladiator Beast Gyzarus launched all its spikes concentrated in one direction, piercing the enormous body of the Legendary Dragon, with the scales scorched into numerous cracks.
The maiden on the back of the dragon tried her best to wield her sword in defense, but finally failed to completely stop such dense attacks, vanishing in the sweeping rain of flowers.
"Battle Phase." Heart Flying with the Wind waved his hand, "Gladiator Beast Gyzarus, direct attack!"
The flying king soared into the sky. He spread his wings, leaving the ground with scarlet pupils glowing with an eerie dark light. Behind those metal wings shot a trajectory like airplane engines, propelling his body into a piercing blur, with a thundering blast exploding in front of Youyu's face!
[Youyu, LP 2600 → LP 200]
Youyu crossed his arms in front of his face. After the virtual impact ended, he looked up at Heart Flying with the Wind and chuckled.
"Not bad."
"You too," Heart Flying with the Wind said earnestly.
Youyu even started to feel a certain déjà vu from previous lives playing cards with this guy.
He was quite enjoying this duel.
"I'll end this turn." Heart Flying with the Wind said, "However, at the instant the Battle Phase ends, Gladiator Beast Gyzarus's effect also activates.
After Caesar has fought, at the end of the Battle Phase, by returning Gyzarus to the deck, special summon two Gladiator Beasts, except 'Gladiator Beast Bestiari' from the deck."
As he spoke, the arms-crossed Caesar has become countless golden light spots dispersing, returning to the deck.
"Then according to Caesar's effect, special summon Gladiator Beasts from the deck!" He opened the deck and picked out two cards, "Come on, Gladiator Beast Hoplomus in Defense Position! Next is Gladiator Beast Vespasius!"
The sea dragon stance Gladiator Beast that just left the field returned, holding a golden longsword horizontally on the field.
The newly appeared Gladiator Beast Hoplomus was a rhino-like Gladiator Beast. He wore armor that was almost bulky, his footsteps sounded like a warhammer striking, his figure majestic as a towering mountain.
[Gladiator Beast Vespasius, Attack 2300]
[Gladiator Beast Hoplomus, Defense 2100]
"Vespasius's effect, as long as this monster special summoned by 'Gladiator Beast' effect is on the field, all of my monsters' attack increase by 500."
[Gladiator Beast Vespasius, Attack 2300 → Attack 2800]
"Next is Hoplomus's effect." He continued, "Through 'Gladiator Beast' effect special summon scenario, Hoplomus's original defense becomes 2400."
[Gladiator Beast Hoplomus, Defense 2100 → Defense 2400]
With monsters boasting 2800 attack and 2400 defense, indeed forming a relatively stable lineup.
If surviving this turn, next turn Heart Flying with the Wind will again attempt to Fusion Summon "Gladiator Beast Gyzarus", relying on Gyzarus's powerful ability to secure another chance to finish off!
...Of course, provided there is a next turn.
"My turn, draw." Youyu drew a card from his hand, "Summon 'Berry Magician Girl'!"
The magic array spun open, warm-toned magical effects surrounded, appearing on Youyu's field was a magician girl holding a pacifier and gripping a lollipop-like magic staff.
[Berry Magician Girl, Attack 400]
"Berry Magician Girl's effect, when summoned successfully, add another 'Magician Girl' from the deck to the hand." Youyu drew a card from the deck, "I add 'Chocolate Magician Girl' to my hand."
"Next is Quick-Play Magic - Illusion Magic." Youyu played the second card, "Sacrifice the Spellcaster-Type monsters on the field, from the deck or graveyard select up to two 'Dark Magician' and add them to the hand."
The magician girl sucking on a pacifier blinked her watery eyes as her figure gradually faded amidst the magical effects.
Two Dark Magician cards simultaneously ejected from the Duel Disk Grave Zone, taken back into Youyu's hand.
"Magic Card - Ancient Rules." An ancient, yellowed scroll appeared before Youyu, "This card allows me to Special Summon a Level 5 or higher Normal Monster from my hand.
Return to the field once again, Dark Magician!"
The array of the Dark Magician, a burst of crimson magic power, the mage wielded the magic staff as he spun out, his arms embracing the emerald staff suspended in midair, the robe gently drifting.
[Dark Magician, Attack Power 2500]
"It's the Dark Magician again..." Heart Flying with the Wind mused, casting his gaze at the three remaining cards in Youyu's hand.
Among those three cards, two were effectively revealed face-up. One was the Dark Magician fetched to hand via Illusion Magic, and one was the Chocolate Magician Girl fetched by the Berry Magician Girl's effect.
Youyu's Normal Summon opportunity for this turn has been used, so these two cards should be temporarily useless.
Which means the only card in Youyu's hand that might be useful is just that one.
...
...Can one card really finish me off?
The mystery of that card would soon be revealed.
"Magic Card - Magical Stone Excavation." The final card appeared in front of Youyu, "I discard two cards from my hand to return a Magic Card from the graveyard to my hand."
Heart Flying with the Wind's eyelids twitched.
Returning a Magic Card from the graveyard...
Both cards were sent to the grave, quickly exchanging for the decisive card that would determine victory!
"Timaeus the Knight of Destiny, activate!"
The surrounding players started chattering noisily, shouting some incomprehensible phrases like "Again and again."
It was as if a dragon's roar came from a distant void, and the massive blue dragon shadow reappeared, shimmering with a majestic flash in its singular eye!
"The effect of Timaeus the Knight of Destiny, sending the Dark Magician on the field to the grave to summon a Fusion Monster using him as Fusion Material.
Fusion Summon using the Dark Magician as material!
With the power of the Legendary Dragon as a medium, the Dark Magician will transform into an invincible knight—
—Appear! Dark Cavalry!"
The illusions of Black Magic and the dragon fused, with the magic power storm surging, came the neighing of a warhorse! A pitch-black steed galloped through the layers of magic arrays, with a knight in black magical armor on its back. He held a red spiral spear, with dark magic power oozing all around.
Dark Cavalry, summon!
Yes, it was precisely the ace monster printed back in the Duel City finals, during the duel between Yugi and Youyu.
Only after the main questline of Doma ended and Youyu obtained the Legendary Dragon "Timaeus the Knight of Destiny" did he finally draw this exclusive ace of the Dark Magician from the card pool!
[Dark Cavalry, Attack Power 2800]
"The effect of Dark Cavalry." Youyu said, "For each Magic or Trap Card present in both players' graveyards, his attack power increases by 100."
All the cards from both players' duel so far appeared simultaneously from the graveyards. These included every Magic Trap they had used in this duel, as well as the cards initially discarded to the graveyard by "Card Destruction."
A total of twenty-five Magic Trap Cards!
"Therefore, Dark Cavalry's attack power increases by 2500!"
[Dark Cavalry, Attack Power 2800 → Attack Power 5300]
A crowd of players around began to ecstatically cheer, and even Heart Flying with the Wind, standing on the field, slightly narrowed his eyes, looking up at the knight riding on a horse with a commanding aura.
...A spectacular sight!
The focus of players differs from that of NPCs. If it were local NPCs here, they might be amazed by the super high attack power that surpasses even the "Legendary Five-Headed Dragon." What players paid more attention to, was how cool and stylish this monster looked...
"Moreover!" Youyu continued, "When Dark Cavalry attacks a Defense Position Monster, if the attack power exceeds the defense, it can inflict piercing damage!"
Of course, as far as the current situation goes, no matter which monster on the opponent's field is attacked, the outcome would be the same.
"Battle!" Youyu declared, "Dark Cavalry, attack Gladiator Beast Hoplomus!"
The horse galloped through the air! It stepped on the array of Black Magic, its hooves clearly echoing in the sky! The cavalry charged with fierce momentum, and the spiral spear carried the might of contempt for everything, piercing through all!
Black Magic Spear!
The Rhino's heavy armor was pierced, and the spear's aura of Black Magic thrust forth. Hoplomus's body exploded, and the aftershock of Black Magic swept forward with unstoppable force!
[Heart Flying with the Wind, LP 1200 → LP 0]