"Valkyrie Zweite, destroy the 'Catapult Turtle'!"
The Zweite's blade slashed out, and with a flash of sword light, the sturdy shell of the Catapult Turtle cracked, shattering with a bang.
"It's not over yet," Zigfried shouted. "Next is the effect of 'Valkyrie Erste': once per turn, banish a monster from your opponent's graveyard!"
Actually, the real-life card has the same effect, but with the added restriction that you must have another Valkyrie other than Erste on the field to activate it. On the plus side, the real card also strengthens the effect by making it "Quick-Play"—meaning you can use it in your opponent's turn as well. So, despite the new activation condition, it's a significant buff for Valkyrie decks.
But the version Zigfried is using doesn't get that upgrade.
"Banish the 'Catapult Turtle' that was just destroyed from the graveyard!"
The Zweite's sword slashed out. The Catapult Turtle, which had just entered Kira's graveyard, shot out in card form, was sliced in two by sword energy, and vanished into a swirling dimensional vortex.
"You really hate my Catapult Turtle that much?" Kira said helplessly. "Even digging up its grave?"
Zigfried replied coldly, "But after using its effect, the Erste's attack must become equal to the banished monster's attack."
[Valkyrie Erste, ATK 1600 → ATK 1000]
"But it makes no difference, that's more than enough. Battle! Valkyrie Erste, attack 'Magical Scientist'!"
The Valkyrie's horse charged forward as her sword came down.
Though Magical Scientist is a banned card, he's still just a scientist, lacking their power. He got a life sentence in the banned prison thanks to his game-breaking research, but his combat ability is trash—he was easily cut down and sent off the field by the Erste.
"That means you have no monsters for defense," Zigfried said. "Next is 'Valkyrie Zweite' direct attack!"
The second Valkyrie also leaped forward, her pegasus opening its snowy white wings as holy light rained down from the clouds. White feathers floated everywhere, and the scene should have felt sacred.
But the darkness radiating from Zigfried now shrouded his monsters as well. The Valkyrie's eyes surged with black energy, and it was as if half the feathers had turned black—a fallen Valkyrie vibe.
"As expected of a legendary duelist. I guess I can't just settle things with a single Magical Cannon," Kira shrugged.
If he were using a traditional deck focused solely on Magical Cannon, then with his formation broken, this would be as good as game over—some people are alive, but already dead.
But he's improved fast, and even in this animated world, he's a top-tier duelist now. Of course, he's not going to rely on a one-trick deck.
Kira snapped his fingers.
"I flip my set card: Trap Card 'Drowning Mirror Force!'
When your opponent declares a direct attack, return all Attack Position monsters on their field to the deck!"
Zigfried: "!"
Nani? Return to the deck!?
A surge of water gushed from the card, forming a blue shield in front of Kira. When the Valkyrie's sword struck, it caused a tidal wave to rebound!
The trap card became a vortex, shining with a dazzling blue light. The tsunami swept back toward Zigfried's field. His Valkyries struggled desperately, their horses flapping wings, but it was useless. No matter how they struggled, they couldn't escape the vortex's pull, and in the end, they were all swept up and shot back into the owner's deck.
In a flash, Zigfried's field was as clean as his face.
"What a pity—if the attack had gone through, I could've dealt massive damage all at once," Kira smiled.
"Hmph."
Zigfried snorted and swung his hand.
"I set two cards and end my turn."
With no monsters left, those two set cards were clearly his only line of defense.
But it didn't matter.
Zigfried glanced at one of the set cards.
Trap Card – Wotan's Judgment. (Anime card)
Zigfried's signature trap in the anime. When an opponent attacks, you can swap a spell in your hand with the top card of your deck, shuffle, negate the attack, and forcefully end the battle phase.
A lifesaver that can forcibly stop the battle phase. When Zigfried dueled Joey, he'd coolly set this right away.
So he wasn't worried at all.
"My turn, draw," Kira said. "I activate the Spell Card 'Akashic Record.' Draw two cards. If either card has already been used in this duel, it must be banished." (Anime card)
Kira drew two cards.
"Next, I activate the Spell Card 'Cost Down.' Discard one card; all monsters in my hand have their Level reduced by 2 this turn."
He selected a card and sent it to the graveyard.
"I'm discarding the Spell Card 'Card of Compensation.' When this card is sent to the graveyard, draw two cards from the deck."
Kira drew two cards and continued.
"Thanks to 'Cost Down,' my Level 5 monsters are now Level 3, so I can summon them normally without tribute.
I summon—'Catapult Turtle'!"
[Catapult Turtle, ATK 1000]
Zigfried's expression twitched as he stared at the old turtle on his opponent's field.
Why is it always you!?
"Tch," Zigfried clicked his tongue.
Catapult Turtle can deal damage by tributing monsters, without declaring an attack. That means his supposedly unbeatable defense, 'Wotan's Judgment,' can't stop it.
But still, to defeat him with Catapult Turtle would require at least 8000 damage in total.
Gathering 8000 ATK in one turn is almost impossible.
What, are you going to whip out a second Magical Scientist to OTK me?
"I activate the Spell Card 'Ice Mirror,'" Kira said.
A huge mirror of ice appeared on the field, reflecting an image of Catapult Turtle.
Then, the reflection materialized into a second Catapult Turtle!
[Catapult Turtle, ATK 1000]
"Two Catapult Turtles!?" Zigfried's face changed.
"Ice Mirror lets me choose a Level 3 or lower WATER monster I control, and Special Summon a monster with the same name from my deck."
Kira paused to add:
"As a cost, as long as the monster Special Summoned by this effect is on the field, I can't Special Summon monsters from the Extra Deck."
"Also, 'Cost Down' made Catapult Turtle Level 3, so it meets Ice Mirror's condition."
Zigfried quickly understood.
So there's a combo like this.
But Ice Mirror's self-restriction also means the Magical Cannon combo is no longer possible. Even if Kira pulls out another Magical Scientist, he can't use its effect now.
With that, Zigfried felt a bit more at ease.
But then the opponent smiled and said, "Is that really the case?"
Zigfried: "???"
Wait, I haven't even said anything yet?