Chapter 152: The Terrifying Yata-Garasu Lock? The Tide of Battle Turns
Hearing Hayato explain the effect of Yata-Garasu, Joey Wheeler didn't take it seriously: "Skip one Draw? That effect sounds so ordinary, it doesn't match its weak stats and the troublesome return to hand effect at all."
Saying this, he turned his head to look at Samejima and Kujaku Mai, hoping to get some agreement from them. However, he watched as both of their expressions turned quite grim.
"Isn't a monster like that a bit too imba?" Kujaku Mai frowned tightly, biting her pearly teeth on her alluring red lips. "With no summoning restrictions, couldn't it just go on infinitely?"
"Permanently locking the opponent's Duelist, what a terrifying effect, truly worthy of the name 'Yata-Garasu'." Samejima's face was also serious. In Japanese mythology, Yata-Garasu, or "Yatagarasu," is an existence with three claws, possessing the ability to guide souls and enact revenge.
It can manage the boundary between life and death and coexist with death. Furthermore, it possesses a paradoxical immortality—as long as death exists, Yatagarasu will not die.
The Yata-Garasu that Hayato was using was created based on this legendary Divine Bird as a Prototype Card, a super, super, super rare Monster Card.
How rare was it? On the high platform by the Duel Platform, Pegasus had appeared at some point. A velvet cushion was placed on the high-backed chair, and on the small table next to the chair where music was playing, red wine and a fairy tale book were readily available. However, Pegasus was no longer in the mood to enjoy these.
"Soul Monster? If me is not mistaken, Industrial Illusions should not have released this kind of special Monster Card that me just completed recently, right?" On the surface, he appeared calm, but from the hand gripping the armrest tightly, it was clear that Pegasus was in a very bad mood right now. "That is to say, the only Spirit Monsters existing in the world should be the Prototype Cards in me's hands."
"Yes, that is correct, Mr. Pegasus." Behind Pegasus, a staff member said tremblingly. "But news just came from the Card Warehouse over there, all of your Prototype Cards are still there. Our security should not have had any problems."
"No, no, no, me is naturally aware of how complete the security for the Spirit Monster Prototype Cards is, after all, me trusts you very much." Glancing at the subordinate behind him, the thoughts fed back by the Millennium Eye were instantly absorbed by Pegasus, confirming that the staff member was not lying.
Pegasus's gaze returned to the Duel taking place below him. "Because me remembers quite clearly, the current Spirit Monsters are just demos, and among them, there is no Yata-Garasu existence at all."
On the Duel Field, Yugi's face also changed after hearing Hayato state the effect of Yata-Garasu.
"So that's it, in that case, your actions, Hayato, make sense. You went to such lengths to clear my hand and the cards on the field, all to ensure that when Yata-Garasu attacks, it wouldn't face any obstacles, right?"
Hayato nodded. "While Yata-Garasu's effect is powerful, it's based on the attack going through and inflicting damage. If I hadn't destroyed your Dark Magician Girl and cleared Sakuretsu Armor, I wouldn't have dared to activate the attack rashly."
"But now, the puzzle of victory is complete!" Hayato raised his hand and pointed at Yugi. "Yata-Garasu, direct attack Yugi!"
"With your hand also empty, you can't possibly pull out a Kuriboh, can you!"
The pale purple crow wings flapped, lifting it from the ground. Its figure, like a swinging scythe, swept towards Yugi. With no monster as a barrier, no set card to activate, and no hand to use, once the attack went through, Yugi would never be able to break free from Yata-Garasu's endless attack loop!
Watching the incoming spirit bird, Yugi, under pressure, surprisingly smiled. He placed one hand on his Graveyard. "You really are something, Hayato. It seems, in order to become the final winner, you've gone all out."
"However, with a reason I cannot lose, I won't be defeated by you so easily!" From the Graveyard, Yugi drew a card and slapped it onto the Duel Platform.
A black shadow suddenly appeared on Yugi's field, intercepting between Yata-Garasu and Yugi, and the moment it appeared, it released a powerful electromagnetic field visible to the naked eye, pushing the rapidly attacking Yata-Garasu back to Hayato's field.
Looking at the turtle that appeared on Yugi's field, Hayato was reminded of his past experiences Dueling where his older brother's strongly recommended monsters were repeatedly turned into turtles. Although he knew it wasn't the same monster, his mood still became somewhat bad.
After releasing that electromagnetic field, the turtle-shaped monster seemed to have reached its mechanical usage limit and collapsed into mechanical parts. Yugi picked up the card. "The effect of Electromagnetic Turtle is, during the turn this card is sent to the Graveyard, I can end the Battle Phase at any point."
"That card, when did you—so that's it, was it the cost when Magic Jammer was activated?" Hayato smiled bitterly, feeling helpless. "As expected of you, Yugi. You can even handle this combination I used. It really isn't that easy to defeat you."
"My turn ends. At the same time, Yata-Garasu returns to my hand." Hayato retrieved the failed attacking Yata-Garasu, ending this turn helplessly.
[Hayato: 2200 LP, Hand 4]
Allure of Darkness Abyss-scale of Mizuchi
"As expected of Yugi, he can even overcome that kind of desperate situation." Seeing Yugi evade Yata-Garasu's attack, Joey Wheeler couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief, then turned to look at Hayato. "But, Hayato also consumed too many resources earlier, and his Life Points are only 2200 points left."
"Not only that, all the Monster Cards in Hayato's hand are revealed. There are the completely ineffective Ojama monsters and Yata-Garasu. With just this hand, Yugi can defeat Hayato without any pressure as long as he draws a monster with slightly higher ATK," Samejima analyzed calmly.
Now, it was Yugi's turn.
"My turn, draw!" Drawing a card, a smile appeared on Yugi's face as he revealed the card in his hand. "Hayato, the monster I drew is this one."
"Come forth, Queen's Knight!"
The only female among the three JQK knights, and Yugi's most frequently used monster, appeared on the field. Elegantly drawing her long sword, she charged towards Hayato.
"Queen's Knight, direct attack Hayato!"
Hayato wasn't willing to show weakness and immediately discarded a card from his hand. "I won't be defeated that easily, Yugi! Activate the effect of Abyss-scale of Mizuchi, send Ojama Black to the Graveyard to negate this damage!"
The phantom of Ojama Black appeared before Hayato's Duel Platform, actively meeting Queen's Knight's sharp sword, blocking the 1500 points of damage Hayato would have otherwise taken.
"However, you still have to take 300 points of damage from Allure of Darkness." As Yugi spoke, a black light flew from Allure of Darkness on Hayato's field, further reducing Hayato's Life Points.
[Hayato: 2200 → 1900 LP]
(End of Chapter)