"The Gravekeeper's deck..."
Marik was also taken by surprise, as this was the first time seeing his sister use this deck.
He had dueled his sister countless times from childhood to now, and although he hardly ever won, at least he was familiar with her strategies until now.
For the first time, he had this feeling—he knew nothing about his sister's dueling tactics.
"My turn, draw a card."
Back to Ishizu's turn, the first thing she did was, of course, to reveal the card she set on the field in the last turn.
"Field Magic - Necrovalley, activate!"
The terrain shifted, rocks tumbled, peaks towered, transforming the field instantaneously into a silent valley with just a sliver of sunlight shining from the ridges of the surrounding mountains.
"Necrovalley is the forbidden land of the Gravekeeper Race, where the deceased are supreme," Ishizu stated, "From now on, all effects targeting Graveyard cards become null and void, and neither of us can banish cards from our Graveyards."
Youyu squinted slightly.
This field is somewhat troublesome. This card conjures a realm ruling the underworld, designed to challenge popular strategies...
"Next, I summon, 'Gravekeeper's Spiritualist,' in attack position."
A female Gravekeeper, dressed in a black midriff-baring outfit, appeared, revealing her slender, flat stomach, with a black mask covering her face.
[Gravekeeper's Spiritualist, Attack 1500]
"Gravekeeper's Spiritualist, activate its effect," Ishizu said, "With 'Necrovalley' on the field, I can use Fusion Materials including this card from my hand and field to Fusion Summon a Spellcaster-Type Fusion Monster."
Ishizu picked up two Monster Cards from her Duel Disc with her slender fingers: "I fuse 'Gravekeeper's Guard' and 'Gravekeeper's Spiritualist'!
Combining the souls of two loyal Gravekeepers, summoning the guardian of this Valley of Eternal Rest—
—Gravekeeper's Supernaturalist, Fusion Summon!"
The Spiritualist chanted incantations, unleashing a massive swirling Magical Power. The two souls fused within the vortex, exploding in a blinding white light that struck the ground. A black-robed Gravekeeper set foot firmly in the valley, holding a golden Magic Staff, ancient yet dazzling, inherently melding with the solemn valley as though they were one entity.
[Gravekeeper's Supernaturalist, Attack 2000]
"Gravekeeper's Supernaturalist," Marik looked at the black-robed Gravekeeper on his sister's field, "Is this... sister's new ace card..."
"Gravekeeper's Supernaturalist, activate its effect," Ishizu said, "His attack increases by the combined level of the Fusion Materials x100 points.
The 'Gravekeeper's Guard' used as a Fusion Material is level 4, and 'Gravekeeper's Spiritualist' is also level 4, totaling level 8. So, the attack power increases by 800 points."
The black-robed Gravekeeper planted the Magic Staff before him, chanting a spell in a deep voice, enveloped in a faint, burning golden aura, his power soaring rapidly.
[Gravekeeper's Supernaturalist, Attack 2000 → Attack 2800]
"Then there's the effect of the Field Magic 'Necrovalley'," Ishizu continued, "The Gravekeepers become stronger within their guarded realm.
'Necrovalley' increases all 'Gravekeeper' Monsters' attack power by 500."
[Gravekeeper's Supernaturalist, Attack 2800 → Attack 3300]
Witnessing the Gravekeeper's power soaring past that of a Blue-Eyes White Dragon, Youyu nodded, "Impressive."
"Thank you," Ishizu smiled, "Then in the Main Phase, I will activate the third effect of 'Gravekeeper's Supernaturalist'. After activating this effect, during the end phase of this turn, I can add a monster with 'Gravekeeper' in its name from the deck to the hand."
The Gravekeeper grasped the Magic Staff horizontally, murmuring a complex incantation. Golden magical energy, like sound waves, diffused out, activating his latent abilities.
"Next, I'll begin." Ishizu raised her slender arm from beneath her long robe, "With the 'Gravekeeper's Supernaturalist', attack Mr. Youyu! Gravekeeper's Sorcery!"
The Supernaturalist closed his eyes, whispering a spell. The golden surge on the Magic Staff burned like flames. With a swing of the staff, a beam of golden fire seemed to slice through the suffocating air of the valley, rushing straight towards Youyu.
"Flip Cover Card," Youyu's set card flipped, "Counter Trap - Negate Attack. Opponent's monster attack is nullified, forcibly ending the Battle Phase."
A whirling Mystical Space Typhoon blocked the golden flame, temporarily repelling the Supernaturalist's assault.
Ishizu was not surprised, merely acknowledging it wasn't going to be so easy to reach her opponent.
"Then, I set a card on the field." She set another card, then drew from the deck, "During the end phase of the turn, based on 'Gravekeeper's Supernaturalist' effect, I add 'Gravekeeper's Commandant' from the deck to my hand."
Selecting a card, she shuffled the deck back into the Duel Disc and nodding courteously: "My turn ends."
Youyu paused for a moment, seemingly contemplating.
"My turn, draw a card." He revealed the same card from the previous turn, "Summon again, 'Breaker the Magical Warrior'!"
With a flash of the sword and a wave of emitted magic, the red-armored Breaker the Magical Warrior, who had hastily exited last turn, flew back onto the field.
[Breaker the Magical Warrior, Attack 1600]
"Breaker the Magical Warrior has the effect to destroy a Magic Trap Card." Marik speculated from the audience, "Will he destroy sister's Field Magic? Or perhaps that Set Card..."
However, Youyu seemingly didn't have the luxury of that conundrum. Ishizu immediately raised her arm: "Flip Cover Card, Trap Card - Compulsory Evacuation Device! Return a monster on the field to its owner's hand."
She pointed to the barely stabilized Breaker the Magical Warrior on Youyu's field: "Return 'Breaker the Magical Warrior' to the hand!"
Breaker's expression changed drastically.
What? Back again?
I'm crumbling, why always me...
But this time, he seemed to have a narrow escape. Youyu swiftly revealed another card: "Quick-Play Magic - Magical Dimension! While a Spellcaster-Type monster is on your field, tribute a monster on your field, and Special Summon a Spellcaster-Type monster from your hand!"
Inserting the card into the Duel Disc, Youyu flourished dramatically.
"Tribute 'Breaker the Magical Warrior'! Unleash the darkest magic, summoning the ultimate magician—
—Dark Magician!"