The Divine Messenger frowned.
What's up with this guy? Isn't he even a little scared of the Seal of Orichalcos?
Normally, just feeling its energy would make someone's soul tremble. The Divine Messenger scrutinized Kira but quickly calmed himself.
No matter what, with the seal activated, his power was at maximum. No matter where this guy came from, he'd just have to defeat him and offer him up as a sacrifice to the Orichalcos god.
"I activate the Spell 'Graceful Charity.' Draw three, discard two."
He drew three cards, then discarded two to the graveyard, as if his blood-red Duel Disk devoured them.
"Then I set a monster and a card, and end my turn."
Kira: "Then it's my turn. Draw."
He drew a monster card.
"Normal Summon: 'Asura Priest.'"
[Asura Priest, 1700 ATK]
Asura Priest, a Level 4 Spirit Monster, able to attack all opponent's monsters once each. In the early days of the TCG, it was a top-notch beatstick.
" Asura Priest attacks the set monster."
Asura Priest's six arms hurled daggers, shredding the set monster.
"You attacked 'Nimble Momonga,'" the Divine Messenger said. "When this card is destroyed by battle, I gain 1000 LP, then Special Summon up to two more 'Nimble Momonga' in face-down Defense from my deck."
"I Special Summon two more."
[Divine Messenger, LP 4000 → LP 5000]
Two new set monsters appeared.
Nimble Momonga was a great floaty monster back then, giving LP when destroyed but piling up tribute fodder for bigger summons if left alone.
" Asura Priest's effect lets it attack all your monsters," Kira said, waving his hand. "I attack the other two 'Nimble Momonga.'"
Asura Priest hurled daggers again, shredding the remaining set monsters.
"Each time a 'Nimble Momonga' is destroyed, I gain 1000 LP."
[Divine Messenger, LP 5000 → LP 7000]
"And that's not all…"
The Divine Messenger's lips curled into a fierce smile.
"When you destroy the last Momonga, the effect of a card in my graveyard activates!" the Divine Messenger shouted, raising his hand. "'Green Baboon, Defender of the Forest!'
When a Beast monster I control is destroyed and sent to the grave, I can pay 1000 LP to Special Summon this from my hand or graveyard!"
Kira instinctively raised an eyebrow, thinking, "Isn't that only when a Beast is destroyed by an effect?"
But then he remembered—this was the GX era, and that was the original, pre-errata effect.
Anyone who played during GX remembers Green Baboon's potential—it was the core of Beast-type Baboon BEAT decks until Konami nerfed it with rulings and rewrites. In the early days, the ruling allowed it to trigger even when Beasts were destroyed by battle.
So, as long as there was a Baboon in hand or grave, all Beast monsters had a layer of destruction protection. Any destruction could trigger a chain reaction.
This changed in 2009 (the 5DS era), when it was changed to only trigger for Beasts destroyed by effects, not battle. This gutted the deck's resilience.
But now, Kira was facing the pre-errata version.
And if the Divine Messenger was using a Baboon BEAT deck, he could be facing the full GX-era meta variant.
"No wonder they say the organization's Divine Messenger are extraordinary," Kira thought.
Using a top GX-era deck here was like mowing the lawn.
But…
Kira narrowed his eyes, a smile forming—he was looking forward to this duel.
This trip to the spirit world was worth it.
Divine Messenger: "I pay 1000 LP to revive 'Green Baboon, Defender of the Forest!'"
[Divine Messenger, LP 7000 → LP 6000]
A huge green baboon leaped onto the field, thumping its chest and glaring at Asura Priest.
[Green Baboon, Defender of the Forest, 2600 ATK]
"Then I activate my set card, ' Super Rush Recklessly!' I destroy one of my own face-up Beast monsters, then return one of your monsters to the deck."
He paused, a cruel smile on his face.
"I destroy my own Baboon, and send your 'Asura Priest' back to the deck!"
The Baboon roared, charging like a cannonball; Asura Priest turned into a golden light and returned to Kira's deck, while Baboon exploded into dust.
"But at this moment, the effect of another Baboon I discarded to the graveyard triggers," the Divine Messenger smirked. "When a Beast on my field is destroyed, I pay 1000 LP to Special Summon Baboon from the grave."
[Divine Messenger, LP 6000 → LP 5000]
A new Baboon emerged, thumping its chest.
[Green Baboon, Defender of the Forest, 2600 ATK]
"And with the Seal of Orichalcos, Baboon's ATK increases!"
Baboon's forehead glowed with a six-pointed star, its body wreathed in green flames.
[Green Baboon, Defender of the Forest, ATK 2600 → 3100]
Divine Messenger: "Hahaha, see? This is the strongest power granted to me by the gods!"
Kira pondered.
Green Baboon was strong for this era. But he realized Asura Priest was a Spirit Monster, which would've returned to hand at the end of the turn anyway. The Divine Messenger had wasted his trap.
But then again, the archbishop hadn't even recognized Jinzo.
It seemed the spirit world's knowledge of cards was limited, so not knowing Spirit Monster quirks wasn't surprising.
In the anime world, Kira's card pool knowledge was already a big advantage, and in the spirit world, even more so.
The Divine Messenger stood with hands on hips, smug.
"I don't know who you are, but you'll regret your foolish challenge. Before the immortal Baboon, you don't stand a chance!"
PS; Bonus chapter @ 100 PS,