Zigfried didn't know what Kira was planning, but he instinctively held his breath.
He's been seen through.
That thought suddenly popped up in his mind.
Kira's gaze gave him that sense—as if through those eyes, all his strategies, next moves, every thought were laid bare, with no secrets.
But he quickly told himself that was nonsense.
This is just a lackey of Kaiba. No—even Kaiba Seto himself doesn't have that kind of ability.
Besides, he himself is not the same as before. Now he's gained power, a power he never had before—transcendent power.
His intellect, unique talent, and this new power—he knew that even facing Kaiba Seto, or even Yugi Muto from the KC Grand Championship, he wouldn't lose now.
How could he lose to Kaiba's lackey?
"I activate the Spell Card 'Shield & Sword.' Until the end of this turn, swap the original ATK and DEF of all monsters on the field."
Zigfried: "!"
Swap ATK/DEF!
Right—Catapult Turtle's ATK is only 1000, but its DEF...
[Catapult Turtle, ATK 1000 → ATK 2000] x2
"Nice!" Mokuba praised. "The total ATK of both Catapult Turtles equals to 4000—a direct attack would mean Kira wins!"
"Tch."
Zigfried clicked his tongue.
What a joke—getting beaten to death by Catapult Turtle? Is there a more humiliating way to lose?
"Time to battle," Kira raised his hand. "Catapult Turtle, direct attack!"
Now there were two Catapult Turtles, both in attack mode. Their eyes flashed dangerously, and the electromagnetic cannons on their backs locked onto Zigfried, as if to avenge their fallen comrade from last turn.
"I activate my set card, Trap Card 'Wotan's Judgment!'" Zigfried shouted.
A robed mage stepped from the trap, staff held horizontally. An invisible force pushed both Catapult Turtles back.
"Wotan's Judgment activates when your opponent attacks."
He drew a card from his deck, then placed a spell card from his hand on top of his deck.
"Swap a spell from your hand with the top card of your deck, then shuffle. Negate the opponent's attack and forcefully end the battle phase!"
The mage chanted. Invisible ripples burst out, forcing both Catapult Turtles to lower their launchers.
"You used the Drowning Mirror Force for a field wipe and tried to push for a win, nicely played," Zigfried said. "But I'm not someone who can be defeated that easily."
"Seems so," Kira smiled. "But my Catapult Turtle isn't one to give up that easily either.
Catapult Turtle's effect: tribute a monster to deal half its ATK as damage to the opponent."
Zigfried was startled: "But you only have Catapult Turtles... are you going to launch Catapult Turtle itself?"
Zigfried frowned.
He didn't comment, but felt odd. Even if both Catapult Turtles self-launch, with the swapped ATK/DEF, that's only 2000 damage.
It's decent, but as a cost, Kira would lose both monsters and be open next turn.
Is it really worth it?
"I activate my set card—Continuous Trap 'DNA Surgery.' Change the Type of all monsters on the field to the declared Type."
Kira continued:
"I declare the Type: Machine."
Zigfried frowned. "They've become Machine-Type..."
Right—if they're Machines, they have explosive potential...
"Quick-Play Spell 'Limiter Removal'! All Machine-Type monsters' ATK doubles until end of turn!"
Zigfried: "!!!"
Damn, it really was that card.
Maybe for the first time in his life, he hated being right.
"Both Catapult Turtles became Machine-Type," Kira smiled. "So their ATK, after swapping, is doubled again."
[Catapult Turtle, ATK 2000 → ATK 4000] x2
Zigfried's face twitched, looking uglier than ever.
Seriously?
How obsessed are you with this stupid turtle!?
Just this one turtle, and you can pull all these crazy tricks to torture me?
The total ATK is 8000—can you believe it!?
This is the turtle's peak in life.
"Catapult Turtle No.1's effect: tribute Catapult Turtle No.2, deal half its 4000 ATK—so 2000 damage to the opponent."
Kira waved his hand.
"Load, fire!"
One turtle loaded onto the other's launcher, cloaked in electromagnetic currents, and shot at Zigfried!
Boom!
The massive turtle shell blasted out, exploding in Zigfried's face and sending him flying, leaving a crater.
"Uagh!"
[Zigfried, LP 4000 → LP 2000]
He was sent flying, unable to get up for a while, his expression twisted.
What a joke.
He'd accepted the power of darkness, the baptism of evil, crawled out of hell—not to be humiliated by two lousy turtles.
At this rate, he might as well have stayed a loser forever. At least back then, he was once a worthy opponent in Kaiba's history.
But now, after all this, if he loses, he's just a clown.
That's absolutely unacceptable!
"Catapult Turtle's remaining effect," Kira announced. "Catapult Turtle tributes itself, loading and firing.
Again, half of its 4000 ATK—2000 damage."
He snapped his fingers.
"Fire!"
Catapult Turtle sacrificed itself, burning all its strength to become a shot from the electromagnetic cannon!
Boom!
A second shot landed. Flames shot skyward, the Catapult Turtle vanished in the explosion, leaving a pillar of smoke.
"Nice!" Mokuba cheered. "Kira wins!"
Yep, Catapult Turtle is once again the MVP.
Just another straightforward day for Kira.
But Kira shook his head. "No."
"Eh?"
Mokuba blinked and looked at the opponent again.
Zigfried was disheveled, covered in dust, kneeling and gasping, all elegance gone.
Yes, he was still breathing.
[Zigfried, LP 1000]
"Huh?" Mokuba blinked.
"When the first Catapult Turtle hit, I activated the trap 'Numinous Healer.' When I take damage, I recover 1000 LP."
Zigfried wiped the blood from his mouth and stood up, growling:
"I'm not going down that easily."