Transform and combine!
The four mechas transformed like Transformers and were drawn towards each other, assembling with gear interlocking to form a massive entity. A sturdy shell, armed to the teeth, its towering stature cast a shadow that almost covered Yugen's entire side of the field.
Mecha Team - Might, summon!
[Mecha Team - Might, Attack Power 4600]
At first glance, it seems similar to the VXXWYZ series, a composite monster assembled from different machine parts, which is relatively common ability in the Mechanical Race.
But upon closer inspection, it's not quite the case.
Although it appears to be a composite monster, as Yugen looked at the Armorer's Duel Disc, he noticed that there were still four Monster Cards occupying the four squares on the disc.
So, these four monsters only appear to combine into one monster in the animation, but in essence, they are still four monsters.
In animation, a similar concept exists with the Machine Emperor in 5DS. The Machine Emperor in the animation is actually five cards: head, torso, arms, and legs assembled into a giant mecha, but essentially still five monsters occupying five monster slots on the Duel Disc.
However, with the physical card version for the game environment in Yu-Gi-Oh!, it was modified into a single card after combining.
The Mecha Team is the same. In the comic, the combination was achieved through Covington's effect, which was nullified using a Trap against this series during gameplay, causing the combination to automatically dissolve. Therefore, the original work did not have the "Mecha Team - Might" card.
After rendering into a physical card, the combined form was individually made into a single card, which needs the four component cards on the field to be sent to the Graveyard for the summon.
"Mecha Team - Might is used as a single monster after combining and is limited to one coordinated attack per turn. The four component monsters cannot attack individually.
But in return, it has an attack power stronger than a god!"
The Armorer laughed loudly.
"Such a mere Mecha Fortress is not even worth a sneer in the face of ultimate mecha power! Attack 'Mecha Team - Fortress'!"
The composite mecha locked on its target. Electromagnetic cannons, artillery, and missiles fired all at once. The scene on the field suddenly turned into a dazzling light show, with a mess of firepower bombarding the Fortress.
Even the sturdy Mecha Fortress couldn't withstand such potent firepower, crumbling and crashing down in flames.
[Yugen, LP 4000→LP 1900]
"Then activate the Cover Card." Yugen waved his hand, "Trap Card 'Damage Capacitor'. When taking battle damage, discard a card from the hand and Special Summon a monster with attack power below the damage value from the Card Deck in Attack Position."
The Armorer merely chuckled, "A mecha with an Attack Power below 2100? Heh, not a match for 'Mecha Team - Might' at all..."
"I took 2100 damage, thus Special Summoning a monster with attack power below 2100..."
Yugen raised his Duel Disc, releasing a golden beam.
"Special Summon 'Bouncing Turtle'!"
[Bouncing Turtle, Attack Power 1000]
Armorer: "???"
Bouncing Turtle?
Of course, he knew this monster. Or rather, as a regular when the First Generation Duel King started using it in Duel Kingdom, garnering various impressive records, there aren't many in the Dueling Realm unfamiliar with this turtle.
But aren't you supposed to be playing with mechas!? The Armorer was puzzled inside but didn't dwell on it. The debut of Mecha Team - Might had boosted his chances of winning by three points; he now felt as stable as an old, wise dog.
"Set two cards, end turn."
"My turn, draw a card."
Yugen drew and immediately revealed the drawn card.
"Send the Level 8 'Mecha Team - Giant Transformation' from my hand to the Graveyard, to revive the 'Mecha Team - Fortress' from the Graveyard."
With a metallic roar, the Fortress that had just left the field reappeared in the battle.
[Mecha Team - Fortress, Attack Power 2500]
"The Fortress, which can be revived repeatedly as long as the hand holds at least Eight-Star, is indeed quite powerful among Mechas. But it's useless against my military force," the Armorer snorted.
Though he spoke confidently, he knew the apparent massive power of his Mecha Force had a glaring weakness.
It appeared to be a single monster but was still four separate components. While it could attack with an Attack Power of 4600 points, each component could be targeted individually when attacked.
This weakness is akin to the more famous Machine Emperor in the 5DS animation with similar monsters.
As long as any one component is broken, the combination will automatically dissolve.
But that doesn't matter.
The Armorer glanced at his Cover Card at the back, smirking to himself.
Counterattack Trap - Attack Powerlessness could negate a monster's attack and forcefully end the battle phase. Even if the opponent attempted to attack, the trap would simply defend it.
With a total assault next turn, he could secure victory in one fell swoop.
Come on, attack with your Mecha Fortress...
"Next, activate the effect of 'Bouncing Turtle'." Yugen waved his hand nonchalantly, "'Bouncing Turtle' can deal the opponent's monster damage equal to half of its attack power by releasing a monster on my field as a tribute.
I launch the 'Mecha Team - Fortress' as a projectile."
The Armorer: "!"
Was he really launching the Fortress as a projectile instead of attacking with it?
The massive Fortress landed on the track of Bouncing Turtle and launched with a trailing arc of dazzling electricity.
"Ugh!"
The Armorer staggered back, his face pale after taking the direct Fortress shot.
[Armorer, LP 2300→LP 1050]
He immediately realized the seriousness of the situation.
The Fortress could be revived from the Graveyard without a once-per-turn restriction, and the Bouncing Turtle on the opponent's field also had no once-per-turn limitation (old effect)!
"Activate Cover Card, Trap Card 'White Angels'!" the Armorer shouted, "Upon taking battle or effect damage, recover 1000 Life Points."
[Armorer, LP 1050→LP 2050]
The health instantly rose back above the safety threshold. This meant Bouncing Turtle would have to use monsters with total Attack Power above 4100 to blast him to death in one shot.
"Then once more use the effect of 'Mecha Team - Fortress' in the Graveyard." Yugen said, "Discard the Level 8 'Mecha Team - Air Strike' from hand, and resurrect the Fortress once more."
[Mecha Team - Fortress, Attack Power 2500]
"The Fortress's effect has no once-per-turn limitation, as long as Eight-Star worth of COST is discarded from hand, it can be revived endless times..." The Armorer gritted his teeth.
"Second effect activation of 'Bouncing Turtle'," Yugen said, "Load 'Mecha Team - Fortress' as a projectile and fire it."
The Fortress landed once more on Bouncing Turtle's electromagnetic track, the massive iron fortress launching rippling arcs of electricity as it blasted forth!
"Ugh!"
[Armorer, LP 2050→LP 800]
The Armorer turned pale, devoid of any color of blood.
"Then, when the on-field Mecha Team - Fortress is sent to the Graveyard, 'Mecha Team - Giant Transformation' in the grave can Special Summon by banishing the 'Mecha Team - Fortress' from the Graveyard."
Yugen retrieved the Fortress expelled from the Graveyard and banished it.
"I banish the Fortress to Special Summon 'Mecha Team - Giant Transformation'."
[Mecha Team - Giant Transformation, Attack Power 2600]
The Armorer's lips twitched.
Desperately raising his gaze, he looked directly into the eyes of the Bouncing Turtle on the other side.
Those eyes were as if proclaiming—
—Turtle is, indeed, invincible now.
The Armorer was numb.
He thought he knew Mecha Card Decks like the back of his hand and had seen every kind of tactical playstyle... but he had never seen a scene like this.
Who taught you to play mecha this way!?
"Go, Mecha Team - Bouncing Turtle." Yugen lazily raised his hand, "Load 'Mecha Team - Giant Transformation' as a projectile and fire it!"
The Armorer watched the heavy mecha accelerating along the track gun, akin to a mud cruiser barreling straight towards him, at a loss as to what expression to use in meeting his demise...
"Waaah!!!"
[Armorer, LP 800→LP 0]