Although (Arcana Knight Joker)'s Attack had ended, Yugi's Battle Phase was not yet over.
"If (Dark Knight - Gaia) is Destroyed, Hayato, you won't be able to Summon (Dragon Knight Gaia) anymore, right?" Yugi glanced at (Swift Gaia the Fierce Knight) and (Curse of Dragon), making a decision in his Mind. "But, better safe than sorry, I remember you having a (Dragon's Mirror), Hayato."
"In that case, (Dark Magician), Attack (Swift Gaia the Fierce Knight)!"
Dark Magic transformed into an Energy Orb, slamming into (Gaia). Although they were two Archetype/Variants with different Attributes and Effects, they were both (Gaia), leading to the same outcome. Hayato's second (Gaia) was also Destroyed and Sent to the Graveyard, leaving only a (Curse of Dragon) with 2000 ATK on the Field.
[Hayato: 1200→1000 LP]
"Exactly 1000 points just now. After you, is it my Turn to be at the Life Point 'lock'?" Hayato glanced at the System; the lit-up function made him hesitate, unsure whether to Activate it. However, recalling how (Gaia) had just broken through Pegasus's seal and responded to him, Hayato resolutely gave up on using the System's new function.
Although using that function would likely bring him victory, allowing him to defeat even Yugi, who had brought out (Arcana Knight Joker), he still truly wanted to defeat Yugi together with (Gaia) and his other Monsters.
Yugi didn't have the ability of Mind Reading, so he naturally didn't know Hayato's inner turmoil at this moment. "End Turn. It's your Turn, Hayato."
[Yugi: 2300 LP, Hand 0]
[(Dark Magician) ATK 2500]
[(Arcana Knight Joker) ATK 3800]
"My Turn, Draw!"
Hayato lowered his head to confirm the Card he had Drawn, then helplessly looked at (Arcana Knight Joker) on the Field. With Resistance that could Negate an Effect by Discarding a Hand card when chosen as an Effect Target, and powerful ATK and DEF with no blind spots, Hayato pondered his Deck. There was no single Card that could defeat (Arcana Knight Joker) on its own.
"I'll change (Curse of Dragon) to Defense Position, End Turn." Although the Card he had drawn was useful, that single Card alone still couldn't formulate an equation to defeat Yugi.
[Hayato: 1000 LP, Hand 1]
[(Curse of Dragon) DEF 1500]
[Set Card]
Yugi: "My Turn, Draw!"
Looking at the Card he had drawn, Yugi smiled. "It's a little late, but not too late."
"Spell Card (Mystical Space Typhoon), Destroy your Backrow Set Card, Hayato!"
A storm arrived, swirling around Hayato's Backrow Set Card. As it shattered, a dark shadow suddenly burst forth from Hayato's Field.
"You fell for it, Yugi!" Hayato revealed a knowing smile. "The Card I had Set was (Dark Coffin), a Trap that only Activates its Effect after being Destroyed. The fact that you would prioritize removing my Trap was already part of my calculations!"
Its body was Destroyed by (Mystical Space Typhoon) and Sent to the Graveyard, but the ominous power within (Dark Coffin) entwined itself around Yugi's Field, stirring restlessly. With (Dark Coffin) Destroyed, Yugi had to make a choice — Discard one Hand card, or Destroy one Monster on his Field.
Though it was called a choice, there was no real choice at all. Yugi currently had no Hand cards, and (Arcana Knight Joker)'s combat power was higher than (Dark Magician)'s. After some internal struggle, Yugi made his choice: "I'm sorry, (Dark Magician), please sleep for a little while in the Graveyard."
"Now, avenge (Dark Magician)'s sacrifice, (Arcana Knight Joker)!" Yugi swung his hand forward. "Attack (Curse of Dragon)!"
A breathtaking slash reappeared on the Field. (Arcana Knight Joker) struck effortlessly, like plucking a leaf from a tree, easily slaying the Wyvern entrenched on Hayato's Field. However, because it had been switched to Defense Position beforehand, Hayato's Life Points did not decrease again.
"End Turn."
[Yugi: 2300 LP, Hand 0]
[(Arcana Knight Joker) ATK 3800]
Hayato: "My Turn, Draw!"
"Phew, that really came at the right time." Although the smiling face on the Card Art was disgusting, Hayato believed that no duelist could refuse this Card's powerful Effect. "Spell Card, (Pot of Avarice)! I will return 5 Monster Cards from my Graveyard to my Deck, then Draw two Cards."
From Hayato's Graveyard, Artorigus, (Ojama Black), (Curse of Dragon), and two (Gaia) monsters were returned to the Deck. Hayato quickly Shuffled and Drew two Cards.
"Then I Normal Summon (Card Blaster), and Activate its Effect. I will Send 3 Cards from the top of my Deck to the Graveyard, and this Card's ATK increases by the number of Cards Sent to the Graveyard x 500 points, which is 1500 points."
[(Card Blaster) ATK 400→1900]
"1900 ATK, that's half of (Arcana Knight Joker)'s! Could it be, Hayato, that you had drawn that (Megamorph)?"
Yugi was deeply impressed by that Card. Hayato's current Life Points were lower than Yugi's, placing him exactly within (Megamorph)'s effective range. If Equipped to (Card Blaster), it would just allow for a Mutual Destruction with (Arcana Knight Joker).
"No, I didn't Draw (Megamorph). Instead, I Drew another Monster that can defeat (Arcana Knight Joker)." Hayato said, revealing his Hand. Yugi immediately noticed the unusually high Level on that Monster Card.
"Last Turn, I used (Magical Stone Excavation) to Send two EARTH Attribute Monsters to the Graveyard. Then just now, (Card Blaster) Sent three more EARTH Attribute Monster Cards to the Graveyard. Now, in my Graveyard, I have exactly 5 EARTH Attribute Monsters!"
As Hayato spoke, phantoms began to appear on his Field—
[(Spirit Tiger)]
[(Bunilla)]
[(Shield Warrior)]
[(Earth Star Warrior)]
[(Underworld Watcher)]
The forms of the five Monsters transformed into five burning flames, Linking together on Hayato's Field, constructing a massive formation, as if performing a sacrifice to some entity.
Hayato slammed the Card in his Hand onto the Field. "For the Earth that nurtures all things, nothing is impossible; all things are contained within it! When there are exactly five EARTH Attribute Monsters in my Graveyard, I Special Summon from my Hand!"
"Don't close your eyes, Yugi! Witness the radiance from God! Summon! (Earth Spirit God - Grandsoil)!"
The Earth rumbled, thunder roared, hearts trembled. Under everyone's gaze, a majestic figure burst forth from beneath the ground, so tall it seemed to pierce the heavens. Just looking at its towering form standing on the Field, an idea suddenly sprang into Yugi's Mind—
The being before him had transcended Duel Monsters. It wasn't a Monster; it was a God.
[(Earth Spirit God - Grandsoil) ATK 2800]
(end of chapter)