Speed Attack Magic - Tornado, activate!
"Disappear, Dimensional Rift!"
The Demon King widened his eyes, until he personally confirmed the staggering rift had dissipated amidst the storm and lightning, he finally relaxed.
"Hahaha, not a bad tactic. It appears you've done your homework on my Monster Card Deck. Indeed, using Dimensional Rift to banish the graveyard can limit most of the monster's power, and if you utilize cards effectively leveraging the banished category, my situation becomes very perilous."
The Demon King paused, then shifted the direction of his words.
"However, my Duel is still a cut above!
I shall now activate the Magic Card 'Doomsday Apostle' from my hand!"
The warrior holding a Great Sword emerged from the image of the Magic Card, his gaze drifting among the three Cover Cards in Yugen's backfield.
"Doomsday Apostle can destroy and banish a covered Magic or Trap Card. Should that card be a Trap Card, it further banishes all cards of the same name from both decks."
The Demon King pointed to the center Cover Card in Yugen's backfield.
"That card!"
The Apostle raised the Great Sword and slashed it toward that Cover Card. However, just as the blade was about to fall, its trajectory suddenly veered, slashing at the leftmost Cover Card instead.
"What?" The Demon King was shocked, "Why didn't it attack the one I specified..."
Then he noticed the image of the targeted Cover Card, a Trap Card.
"Trap Card 'Pandora's Treasure Scroll.'" Yugen smiled, "It can be activated when the opponent targets a card in their own Magic Trap Zone; that target is transferred to this card. Then, I draw two cards from my Deck." (Original Card)
The Pandora's Treasure Scroll shattered under the Apostle's sword, and Yugen drew two cards.
"Tch, using a trap for defense..."
The Demon King frowned and snorted.
But suddenly paused.
Wait a minute. Since Pandora's Treasure Scroll could substitute for destruction when a card in the opponent's Magic Trap Zone is targeted, it should have been activated when Tornado blew away the Dimensional Rift, yet it wasn't.
Why?
Does it mean he feels this Cover Card is more significant than the Dimensional Rift?
The Demon King chuckled coldly.
Nevertheless, once the Dimensional Rift, which is an Exorcism Card, is removed, his monster system could operate again. Whatever's left in the opponent's backfield, whether it's Holy Defense or Magic Tube, is far less oppressive than an Exorcism Card against him.
No matter what that Cover Card was, there is nothing to fear now.
"I activate 'Minotaur's' effect once more. Once per turn, send a monster from the Deck to the graveyard."
The Demon King regained his confidence, took a Monster Card from the Deck, and presented it.
"I'll send 'Horse-headed Ghost' to the graveyard!"
"Horse-headed Ghost, eh?" Yugen nodded, "At the start of the next turn, you can Special Summon a monster from the graveyard through banishing this card in the graveyard." (Original Effect)
It's the original manga version, and not the Undead Race version modified by Yugen's research.
"Hmph, you certainly prepared. But knowing doesn't help." The Demon King smugly said, "The combination of Minotaur and Horse-headed Ghost can summon the most powerful monster instantly.
No one can withstand such an assault!"
"Indeed, it's quite formidable." Yugen nodded, "So sending Horse-headed Ghost to the graveyard is troublesome.
Therefore, I activate the Continuous Trap 'Great Cosmos'.
So long as Great Cosmos exists on the field, any cards sent to the graveyard from either side are directly banished from the game instead!"
The Demon King's smile froze for a second.
Then once again, as if history repeated itself, his smile slowly vanished, his facial muscles contorting into a twisted and pained expression.
Aren't you kidding, Bro? How do you even have something like this??
Great Cosmos...What on earth is this unheard of thing?
Of course, it's normal not to have heard of it. After all, it was exclusively developed by Teacher Dade Temple, and is not circulated externally.
As a hallmark of Exorcism Series from the Underworld, which are still active in modern Yu-Gi-Oh! environment, the opponent's shock at encountering such a thing for the first time is imaginable.
Especially, if the opponent's Deck itself relies on graveyard resources, even more so.
"When your 'Minotaur' effect resolved, Great Cosmos was already in effect." Yugen smiled, "Thus, your chosen 'Horse-headed Ghost' doesn't go to the graveyard but is directly banished from the game."
The starry sky background engulfed the field, with a dark cosmos and endless stars. The miserable Horse-headed Ghost was like caught in a gravity storm, tumbling towards the far end of the starry sky. The Demon King instinctively reached in that direction, as if trying to retain it, but quickly realized it was irrevocable, and his Horse-headed Ghost was sucked to the other dimension, disappear without a trace.
"Damn it..."
His fists gradually clenched tighter.
The Demon King turned away and said in a stern voice.
"Remember this, kid. When I win this Duel, I'll make you know the consequences of angering me like this."
Yugen smiled silently.
Judai watched silently, growing more and more impressed.
He now felt that Yugen was really formidable, always coming up with endless new approaches, pushing the opponent to gradually become enraged, even shifting tactics...
"Use the 'Demon-Breaking Crow Tengu' and 'Yin Demon Luo Ghost' on the field as a tribute!"
The Demon King raised his hand and shouted angrily.
"Nine-tailed Immortal Demon Fox, show the world your earth-shattering power! Resurrect from the graveyard—
—Nine-tailed Fox, Summon!!!"
Roaring flames surged, converging into an energy-like form. Nine flaming tails danced and twisted in midair, the fiery energy gradually taking the shape of the demon fox.
[Nine-tailed Fox, Attack Power 2200]
"Nine-tailed Fox can be Special Summoned by tributing two monsters on the field from the grave." (Original Effect)
This effect was faithfully restored in its physical form but modified. The manga limited it to using only monsters as tribute but allowed unlimited revival in one turn.
In its physical form, any monster can be used as tribute, and this effect can be used to Special Summon from hand or graveyard. But this card's effect can only be used once per turn.
And when Nine-tailed Fox is destroyed, it can Special Summon two "Fox Derivatives" onto your side of the field.
Clearly, this monster's biggest trait is its immortality. Whenever it's defeated, it leaves behind two Derivatives, and whenever Derivatives are tributed, it can infinitely resurrect.
But with the invincible Great Cosmos present, this primary feature has already been stripped away.
Once it's vanquished, Great Cosmos banishes it to the other dimension, exiling it on the spot, with no chance for resurrection.
"Then activate Equipment Magic 'Power of the Guardian' and equip 'Minotaur'!" continued the Demon King, "During an equipped monster's battle, this card places a Mana Indicator, raising the monster's attack power by 500.
Additionally, by removing a Mana Indicator, it can substitute any form of destruction for the equipped monster!"
The Demon King waved his hand broadly.
"Battle! First, 'Minotaur' attacks 'Interdimensional Returner'!"
Minotaur marched forward, hammer striking. The backfield Equipment Magic simultaneously bloomed golden light, enveloping Minotaur in golden brilliance, as if equipped with a transparent shield.
"At this moment, Minotaur's Attack Power increases by 500, and its Mana Indicator can substitute any form of destruction!"
[Minotaur, Attack Power 1700 → Attack Power 2200]
"The Power of the Guardian providing absolute destruction resistance, that's indeed troublesome."
Yugen said as he waved his hand.
"Then activate Trap 'Cause and Effect Severance'. Discard a card from hand to banish one face-up monster on the opponent's field from the game.
Banish 'Minotaur' from the game!"