"Draw five cards!"
Zigfried drew cards in one go, and Kira couldn't help but click his tongue.
Impressive, truly impressive.
Nibelung's Treasure: by equipping the "Nibelung's Ring" from the deck to an opponent's monster, you get to draw five cards yourself. A card-drawing engine worthy of the DM era.
So, as the cost for using this obviously broken fake card that lets you draw five at once, there must be some corresponding side effect for this "Nibelung's Ring," right?
Wouldn't it be reasonable if it doubled the opponent monster's attack and gave it immunity to everything?
But then Zigfried continued explaining.
"The effect of 'Nibelung's Ring' equipped to a monster on your field is: the monster equipped with this card cannot attack, cannot change its battle position, and its effects are negated!"
Kira contemplated.
Hmm, that's quite a side effect.
"But," Zigfried added, "the controller of the equipped monster can draw two cards during each of their Draw Phases. However, if any of the drawn cards are monsters, they must discard one monster card from among them."
That's the only part that sounds like a real side effect.
Letting the opponent draw an extra card each turn seems like a big concession. But having to discard a monster card actually helps them load their graveyard, which nowadays is more of a resource anyway.
But back in the DM anime days, things were different. Monster cards in the graveyard were only useful if revived, otherwise, holding them in hand was more reliable.
So, in the DM era, this overpowered Nibelung combo's benefits all went to the user, and the side effects were all eaten by the opponent. Even looking at all of DM, it's hard to find a faker card than this.
"Next, I tribute 'Valkyrie Dritte' on the field for a Tribute Summon!"
Zigfried raised a card in his hand.
"Level five, Valkyrie Zweite!"
It was the Zweite that had been shuffled back earlier.
[Valkyrie Zweite, ATK 1600]
"You haven't forgotten Zweite's effect, have you?" Zigfried said. "When this card is successfully summoned, destroy one monster on your opponent's field.
Destroy 'Catapult Turtle' for me!"
Zweite's sword energy slashed, the sword light cutting across the electromagnetic cannon on the turtle's shell, and the old turtle instantly exploded in a fireball.
"Now your field is clear again."
Mokuba murmured, "But Kira still has Drowning Mirror Force in his back row."
Of course, their opponent couldn't possibly not know that.
But even knowing, Zigfried didn't hesitate and shouted, "Battle! Valkyrie Zweite, direct attack!"
"Eh?" Mokuba was surprised. "You're attacking even though you know there's a trap?"
"Oh? Even knowing, you don't retreat and still charge into my Drowning Mirror Force?" Kira smiled. "Alright, I accept your challenge."
He pressed a button on his duel disk and waved his hand casually.
"Then I activate the trap 'Drowning Mirror Force'!
When a direct attack is declared, all opponent monsters on the field are shuffled back into their owner's deck!"
The Water Shield activated again. The Valkyrie's sword slashed into endless waves, swallowed up just like before, and was returned to Zigfried's deck.
"As expected."
Zigfried shouted.
"Then, Battle Phase ends, entering Main Phase 2.
I activate the Spell Card 'Swan Maiden.' Special Summon a Valkyrie monster from my hand.
Appear, level 7!
Valkyrie Brunhilde!"
Level 7, currently the highest-level Valkyrie to appear. Brunhilde had blue hair and armor, a silver longsword reflecting cold light, and rode a snow-white steed.
[Valkyrie Brunhilde, ATK 1800]
"Then I use the Spell Card 'Card of Heaven and Earth.' In a turn you performed an Advance Summon, draw two cards from your deck. But cards drawn can't be used this turn, and you must set at least one card before the end of the turn." (Manga card.)
"I see, you purposely triggered the trap to summon your ace." Mokuba said, "But that means the Battle Phase is over."
"Is that really so?" Zigfried sneered, showing off some style points.
Mokuba: "NANI?"
"I'll show you now, the Valkyries are warriors blessed by the gods and not bound by such mundane rules!" Zigfried shouted. "I activate the Spell Card 'Mischief of the Time Goddess!'
Skip an entire turn and go straight to my next Battle Phase!" (Anime effect.)
There it was, the Valkyrie deck's "never-to-be-printed" broken card twin to Nibelung. Except this thing betrayed its peers and made it into the TCG in an extremely nerfed form, while Nibelung remains forgotten.
The playful twin-tailed Time Goddess appeared on the field, winked, and with a wave of her staff, an entire turn was skipped, bringing Zigfried straight to his Battle Phase again.
"Go! Brunhilde, direct attack!"
The Valkyrie's steed charged, the sword light pierced straight through Kira. He staggered back half a step but stayed standing.
[Kira, LP 4000 → LP 2200]
Zigfried was invigorated.
Good, finally dealt some damage.
Hold steady and I can win!
"Set two cards, end turn."
"Used both Nibelung and Mischief in a single turn, you're really going all out."
Kira patted the dust off himself.
"Then I'll get a little serious on my side, too.
My turn, draw."
But before he could make any move, Zigfried shouted,
"Activate Set card, Trap Card 'Thunder of Ruler'!
This card can only be activated during your opponent's Standby Phase. Your opponent cannot attack this turn!"
"Ah, so you sealed my attacks too." Kira nodded. "So cautious."
He casually revealed a card from his hand.
"Activate Spell Card 'Card of Adversity.' If your opponent controls a Special Summoned monster and you control no monsters, draw two cards from your deck." (Anime card.)
Kira drew two cards.
Then he sent one to the graveyard.
"'Machina Fortress' in the graveyard activates. By sending Machine monsters in my hand whose total levels equal 8 or more to the grave, I can Special Summon this card from the grave.
I send the level 8 'Machina Megaform' from my hand to the grave to revive 'Machina Fortress.'"
[Machina Fortress, ATK 2500]
Zigfried frowned.
Why did the whole vibe just shift to machines?
But it didn't matter. Even if a high-level monster was summoned, the effect of Thunder of Ruler prevented attacks.
At least he was safe this turn.
"Activate Set card, Continuous Trap 'Limit Reverse.'" Kira said, "Revive a monster with 1000 or less ATK from the grave.
I Special Summon this card from the grave—
—Catapult Turtle!"
[Catapult Turtle, ATK 1000]
Zigfried couldn't take it anymore.
Why
Why is it still you!?
How obsessed are you with this dumb turtle?
Just a moment ago, he was still wondering why his opponent's deck had such a sudden art style change, and now he understood.
It wasn't about machines. The point was the turtle's cannon. Machina Fortress was included simply because it could revive itself, was a Machine-type, and could use Limiter Removal for massive ATK boosts—a high-quality, self-regenerating shell for the turtle.
The opponent was clearly playing a Catapult Turtle specialist deck. Everything revolved around the turtle.
Zigfried only had 1000 LP left. The opponent could just launch Machina Fortress with Catapult Turtle and blow him away in one shot.
That can't happen!
"Continuous Trap 'Fiendish Chain,' bind a monster on the field with demonic chains, its effects are negated.
Bind 'Catapult Turtle'!"
Fiendish chains shot out from the trap, binding the turtle tightly with dark energy.
Zigfried breathed a long sigh of relief.
Serves you right, dumb turtle. Try firing again now, I dare you!
But Kira wasn't fazed at all.
"Is that so? Then I activate Spell Card 'Gift of the Martyr.' Send a monster on your field to the grave; that monster's ATK is added to another monster on your field until the end of the turn."
Zigfried was taken aback.
What's that for?
Are you giving Catapult Turtle's ATK to Machina Fortress?
"But you can't attack this turn." Zigfried frowned. "Thunder of Ruler is in effect, so you can't even enter the Battle Phase."
So what if you stack ATK?
"I know." Kira smiled and nodded. "I'll add Machina Fortress's ATK to Catapult Turtle."
Machina Fortress turned into golden light and merged into Catapult Turtle.
[Catapult Turtle, ATK 1000 → ATK 3500]
Zigfried: "?"
Okay, your turtle is now stronger than Blue-Eyes White Dragon, so what? What difference does it make?
"Catapult Turtle activates its effect." Kira said calmly. "Tribute a monster on your field; inflict damage to your opponent equal to half that monster's ATK."
Zigfried panicked, thinking his opponent was trying to make stuff up, and quickly interrupted: "Wait! Your Catapult Turtle's effect has already been negated by Fiendish Chain!"
"Yes, its effect is negated, but that doesn't mean it can't be activated." Kira replied serenely. "Catapult Turtle's activation cost is 'tribute a monster on your field,' and I still have to pay that cost.
So, I tribute Catapult Turtle itself as the cost to activate its effect."
Catapult Turtle entered a ghostly state, as if burning its own soul for one final shot.
"Huh?"
Zigfried was stunned.
"Fine, activate it if you want. But even if you activate it, your Catapult Turtle's effect has been negated by Fiendish Chain, so it can't resolve."
"It will." Kira reminded him, smiling. "Fiendish Chain can only bind a face-up monster on the field and negate its effect.
But look, is my Catapult Turtle still on the field?"
Zigfried froze for two seconds, then his eyes slowly widened.
Crap. Crap!
He just realized.
Catapult Turtle activated its effect and was tributed as a cost, so during effect resolution, it was no longer on the field. Fiendish Chain couldn't bind it anymore.
Using its own effect cost to sacrifice-escape!
Such skill, such strength...
"You... you..."
Zigfried stared, speechless.
"Catapult Turtle's ATK at the time of self-sacrifice was 3500, so it inflicts 1750 damage."
Kira lazily raised his hand.
"Load."
"Fire."
Catapult Turtle's ghostly image became an electromagnetic cannon, as if piercing through space!
[Zigfried, LP 1000 → LP 0]