[Exchange of the Spirit]—a terrifying single card capable of triggering an FTK as long as the Deck is built properly.
After its errata, its effect became the toned‑down version: "You can only activate 1 of this card per Duel. If both players have 15 or more cards in their Graveyards, you can pay 1000 LP to activate this card. Each player swaps the cards in their Deck with the cards in their Graveyard, then shuffles their Deck."
But the copy in Youmi's hand was the one she had won from Ishizu Ishtar, so its effect was still the original terrifying one: "If you have 15 or more cards in your Graveyard, you can pay 1000 LP to activate this card. Exchange all the cards in each player's Deck with all the cards in that player's Graveyard. Then shuffle the cards now in the Deck Zone."
[Youmi, LP: 4000 → 3000]
Yami Yugi had 8 cards in his Graveyard, and after using [Card of Sanctity], Setting two cards, and retrieving [Joker's Straight] from the Graveyard, he had 5 cards in hand. After [Exchange of the Spirit] resolved, due to the effect of [Card Destruction], he would draw five cards. With only 3 cards left in his Deck, drawing next turn would reduce it to 2.
Youmi's Set monster was [Morphing Jar]. When this card is flipped, its effect activates: both players must discard their entire hands, then each draws five cards.
By ruling, even if one player has fewer than 5 cards left in their Deck, the effect still resolves—and that player loses the Duel during effect processing.
This was Youmi's plan B.
"[Exchange of the Spirit] and [Card Destruction]… So that was your goal…"
Yami Yugi looked at the two cards Youmi had played, shocked—and aware he needed to counterattack immediately. He activated a Trap Card from his hand: "Counter Trap—[Red Reboot]. You can activate this card from your hand by paying half your LP. When your opponent activates a Trap Card, negate that activation, and if you do, Set that card face‑down. Then your opponent can Set 1 Trap directly from their Deck. Until the end of this turn, your opponent cannot activate Trap Cards!"
"[Red Reboot]?! I didn't think this era would have that… Did Yugi tell you to run it?"
Her strategy with [Exchange of the Spirit] had failed, but seeing Yami Yugi survive the crisis filled her more with excitement than disappointment.
"Ah, Yugi and I pulled this card from packs before the finals. Although I was hesitant because of its cost and applications, Yugi told me this card would definitely be invaluable against you, Youmi. So I trusted his judgment and added [Red Reboot] to my Deck."
Youmi nodded with satisfaction, then Set a card and discarded her entire hand. "I Set [Last Turn] from my Deck. [Exchange of the Spirit], negated by [Red Reboot], is Set again. Next, both players discard their hands due to [Card Destruction] and draw from their Decks."
After both players replenished their hands, Youmi looked at her field. "Even though I've already used my Normal Summon this turn, I activate [Double Summon] to gain an additional Summon.
"But before we welcome a certain good friend… [Jester Confit] in my hand can be Special Summoned as long as I don't control another copy of itself. And then… since you've shown me [Slifer], it's only right I show you [Ra], isn't it, Game?"
"I Tribute [Lovely Labrynth of the Silver Castle], [Ohime the Manifested Mikanko], and [Jester Confit] to Tribute Summon—[The Winged Dragon of Ra].
"However, I won't put it into Battle Mode. I Set one card and end my turn. Oh right, since I no longer control a [Mikanko] monster, I return [Quintet Magician] to your control."
Turn 5
"What exactly are you plotting, Youmi? [Last Turn]… If I remember right, that card's effect should be…"
Yami Yugi drew a card for his turn, confirmed it, and immediately activated, "I activate [Share the Pain]. I Tribute my [Dark Magician of Chaos] as cost. Youmi, you have only a Set monster and [The Winged Dragon of Ra] on your field. So—which will you Tribute?"
Youmi stared at the [Share the Pain] in Yami Yugi's hand—first shocked, then suddenly bursting into laughter. "So you learned this one from me too! Naturally, I'll Tribute [The Winged Dragon of Ra].
"Though honestly, that's perfect. If you hadn't removed it, I would have Tributed it myself. After [Share the Pain] resolves, I activate [Call of the Haunted] to Special Summon [The Winged Dragon of Ra] from the Graveyard in Battle Mode."
The golden divine phoenix split into flowing flame and coiled around Youmi, venting its displeasure.
"So that was your goal, Youmi!"
"[The Winged Dragon of Ra]'s effect activates. While this card is in Battle Mode, during my Main Phase—or the turn it was Special Summoned from the Graveyard—I can pay LP until I have exactly 1 LP. This card gains Attack and Defense equal to the amount paid. My LP is 3000, so I pay down to 1, raising Ra's Attack to 2999. But that's not the important part."
Youmi gave a weary smile, then flipped the final card Set by [Red Reboot].
"[Last Turn]. This card can only be activated during the opponent's turn when your LP is 1000 or less. Choose 1 monster on your field. Send all other cards in both players' hands and fields to the Graveyard. Then your opponent Special Summons 1 monster in Attack Position from their Deck and conducts battle. The battle damage to both players becomes 0. At the end of the turn, the player with a monster remaining on the field wins the Duel. Any other outcome is a draw. I choose [The Winged Dragon of Ra]."
Plan C—originally just a sudden inspiration—had actually become usable.
Yami Yugi looked at Youmi's helpless smile. Though he didn't understand her feelings in that moment, he resolved to fight with everything he had. "Since [Last Turn] is a Normal Trap, [Slifer] isn't affected. I send all my other cards to the Graveyard and Special Summon [Obnoxious Celtic Guard] from my Deck. I attack [The Winged Dragon of Ra] with [Obnoxious Celtic Guard]!"
Yami Yugi had five cards in hand, but due to [Last Turn], [Slifer the Sky Dragon]'s Attack became 0. With 0 Attack, it couldn't defeat [The Winged Dragon of Ra], and [Obnoxious Celtic Guard] couldn't be destroyed by battle with monsters of 1900 or more Attack—so it was safe.
If Yami Yugi declared the end of the turn, the Duel would conclude in a draw with both players controlling monsters.
"After battle, the effect of [Welcome Labrynth] in my Graveyard activates. If a monster leaves the field due to my Normal Trap's effect, I can Set this card to my field. I chain [Labrynth Stovie Torbie]'s effect. While this card is in the Graveyard, if a monster leaves the field due to my Normal Trap's effect, I can Special Summon it from the Graveyard."
"[Labrynth Stovie Torbie]? So that's… the card you discarded with [Card Destruction]? I enter the Battle Phase. [Slifer the Sky Dragon]'s effect reduces the Defense of your [Labrynth Stovie Torbie]—Summoned in Defense Position—to 0, so it is destroyed by effect."
"Still, [The Winged Dragon of Ra]'s Attack is 2999. Your [Obnoxious Celtic Guard] can't defeat it."
Turning the situation back around with one last desperate move—and putting Yami Yugi in a position where his two monsters couldn't clear the field—Youmi's bitter smile finally softened into a real one.
"If you hadn't Special Summoned [Obnoxious Celtic Guard] just to be safe, I might have lost. But now… this is my final mechanism. Can you break through it, Game?"
Her silver eyes were filled not with the desire to win, but with the thrill of standing against Yami Yugi.
"I end my turn."
...
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