Regenerating Stone Man, summon!
"To be able to use my attack for monster summoning, not bad." Tania said, "This is what a strong man should be like, at least a little.
Then I'll proceed to cover."
"Don't rush, madam. Your battle phase hasn't ended yet."
Yugen snapped his fingers.
"At the moment your battle phase ends, activate cover card, Continuous Trap - Blood Compensation."
"What?" Tania said, "Activate at the end of my battle phase?"
"Indeed. Blood Compensation's effect can only be used during the opponent's battle phase or your own main phase." Yugen said, "By paying 500 life points, you can normal summon a monster from your hand."
[Yugen, LP 4000→LP 3500]
"Therefore, I pay 500 life points, and use 'Skeleton Angel' and 'Regenerating Stone Man' on the field as sacrifices, to perform Upper-level Summon."
Skeleton Angel and Stone Man disappeared from the field, and a white tornado arose in the arena.
"Upper-level summon the card from my hand... in face-down defense position."
A face-down cover monster appeared on Yugen's field.
Tania was even more surprised: "Using two sacrifices... but in face-down defense?"
Ninety percent of Duelists would choose upper-level monsters mostly as offensive powerhouses, and excellent shields like Thousand-Year Shield with three thousand defense from one sacrifice are rarely used. Even monsters with rare special abilities, like Yubel, don't justify such face-down summoning.
Using two sacrifices for face-down secret defense, this was unprecedented at least in Talia's dueling career.
"Interesting, you're making me more and more intrigued." Talia said, "Then I'll cover a card and end my turn."
"My turn, draw."
Yugen drew a card, smiling lightly.
"I can truly feel your passion for dueling. Honestly speaking, I also have a very good friend who shares your enthusiasm and always holds a fiery anticipation for the unfolding and direction of duels."
"Really? I want to meet them." Tania laughed, "Indeed, dueling is my everything, my reason for existence! Without fierce battles, I am forever hungry, hence the need for a strong man to satisfy me!"
While she spoke, the white tiger that seemed to be her pet outside the arena let out a muffled roar, seemingly venting displeasure.
Tania and that tiger were inseparable. Initially, everyone thought it should be her pet until Judai defeated Tania, and she also turned into a tiger, making people start realizing things might not be so simple.
Although the animation didn't provide concrete evidence, viewers naturally began to wonder if it's because Talia considered this tiger too weak, lacking the masculinity to satisfy her, so she constantly sought men among men and boasted about catching a capable husband.
And this despised tiger not only had to watch from the side but sometimes had to help her...
No wonder the tiger looks so fierce in the animation, Tiger bro surely has it tough.
"Right? Then I shall slightly respond to your passion."
"Feel free, don't hold back! Use your utmost strength to defeat me, let me feel the heat of the duel!" Tania raised her voice.
"Alright." Yugen waved his hand, "Then flip summon the covered monster on the field—
—Royal Guardian - Sphinx!"
"Royal Guardian!?"
Tania was utterly amazed.
A giant, majestic human-faced sculpture emerged, similar to the previous Sphinx but several times larger and more dazzlingly golden, exuding an awe-inspiring divine power that didn't tolerate intrusion.
[Royal Guardian - Sphinx, Attack Power 2300]
From the name and form alone, it's obvious that it's an advanced form of the "Guardian - Sphinx" used by Yugen earlier. It's also a recent achievement from his lab yet to be publicly announced.
Though Yugen's laboratory produced quite a bit, not all productions were disclosed for resources. Like this evolved form of the Sphinx, never seen outside and now made for its first practical combat.
"Royal Guardian is the enhanced form of the Sphinx, possessing stronger power while inheriting the original Sphinx's strength." Yugen said, "When this card's flip summon succeeds, all monsters on the opponent's field... return to the owner's deck!"
Tania: "!"
A field-wide effect that returns to the deck!? Not selecting targets, not a destruction effect, and differing from original Sphinx's effect, returning to the deck means no opportunity for recovery or use as resources compared to the graveyard, nearly equating to a temporary exit in this game.
"Amazonian Swordsman, I personally quite like this monster, but I prefer her on my side." Yugen smiled, "So she'll have to exit for now."
The swordsman turned into a golden light and flew back into Tania's deck. Tania gritted her teeth.
"Then battle phase." Yugen said, "Royal Guardian - Sphinx, direct attack on Tania."
The majestic golden guardian slowly approached, seemingly ready to slam down a palm like Mount Tai Pressing Down.
Tania dared not slack and immediately responded: "Then activate Trap 'Precise Defense'!
At the opponent's monster attack declaration, special summon a monster of level 4 or below from the grave; this effect prevent the summoned monster from being destroyed by battle or card effects this turn!"
"The swordsman returned to the deck and isn't in the grave..." Yugen said, "You only have two discarded cards from the last turn's Angel's Charity."
"Correct, among them is another Amazon Swordsman!"
Tania clenched her fist and shouted.
"Second card Amazon Swordsman, special summon in defense position onto the field!"
[Amazon Swordsman, Defense Power 1600]
The red-haired swordsman appeared from the grave in a half-crouch, holding her sword defensively in front.
"Swordsman No.2." Yugen nodded, "With Precise Defense effect, unable to break through; attack terminated, I won't attack.
But 'Royal Guardian - Sphinx' has another effect too."
He snapped his fingers again.
"Sphinx once per turn, during your main phase, can activate and return to face-down defense position covered."
He waved his hand gently.
"Sphinx, turn back into face-down defense position."
The massive golden sculpture concealed its aura again, transforming back into an ordinary card covered on his field.
Tania: "!"
Being able to self-cover means next turn, flip summon again, and all monsters return to the deck...
No.
She glared at Yugen.
Is this what you meant by "respond to the opponent's passion"?