Arcana Force XV - The Fiend, Summon!
The next Arcana Force to appear truly lives up to the name of "Fiend," and its appearance is admittedly a bit abstract. A ferocious black body, three bulging eyes covered in terrifying jet-black markings, and thrashing red tentacles tipped with obsidian hooks—a truly horrifying sight.
[Arcana Force XV - The Fiend, ATK 2500]
"Once again, the card spins to determine head or tail. But this time, of course," Sartorius declared confidently, "it lands head!"
The Fiend's card stopped in the head position.
"And your Emperor is tail. The tail effect: all 'Arcana Force' monsters on your field lose 500 attack."
[Arcana Force IV - The Emperor, ATK 1400 → ATK 900]
[Arcana Force XII - The Hangman, ATK 2200 → ATK 1700]
"All his effects are beneficial to himself, while the opponent suffers the drawbacks," Sarina understood.
"This is the decree of fate," Sartorius sneered. "Also, The Hangman's head effect: during your own End Phase, you must destroy 1 monster you control, and you take damage equal to that monster's ATK."
Kira nodded. "So this time the head effect is a drawback."
He vaguely recalled that in the anime, Chazz seemed to have been taken down by this card.
"Battle Phase," Sartorius shouted. "Use 'Arcana Force XV - The Fiend' to attack 'Zaborg the Thunder Monarch!'"
The Fiend's tentacles swung like scythes and cleaved down head-on.
"The Fiend's head effect: when this card attacks, choose 1 monster on the field and destroy it. If no monster is destroyed, destroy this card."
Sartorius pointed at The Emperor on Kira's field.
"Arcana Force - The Emperor will now vanish as a sacrifice to the Fiend."
A vortex of darkness pierced The Emperor, whose body was blown apart with a bang and vanished from the field.
"And when a monster is destroyed by the Fiend's effect," Sartorius continued, "the controller of that monster takes 500 damage!"
The Fiend's assault did not slow; the exploding storm of darkness swept through Kira like a thousand blades.
[Kira, LP 2900 → LP 2400]
"Battle continues—now attack Zaborg the Thunder Monarch. Fiend's Calamity!"
The scythe descended from above and cleaved the Thunder Monarch in two. He roared in fury, but was no match and exploded.
[Kira, LP 2400 → LP 2300]
"Heh, that leaves only The Hangman on your field," Sartorius said. "The Hangman's head effect requires you at the end of the turn to destroy a monster you control, and you take damage equal to its ATK.
If you control no other monsters, you must destroy The Hangman itself—and you'll take damage equal to its own ATK, which is 2200!"
"Then I activate my set card," Kira said. "Trap Card: The Deep Grave.
Choose 1 monster in either player's GY; during your next Standby Phase, Special Summon that monster to your field."
"Oh? Planning to revive even more monsters?" Sartorius squinted and mocked. "Why not pick a weaker one to feed The Hangman and avoid the damage?"
"Thanks for the tip, but I'll pass. The card I'm reviving is this one."
Kira smiled and pointed at Sartorius.
"I choose 'Arcana Force XXI - The World' from your Graveyard!"
Sartorius: "!"
Sarina: "!"
Both were stunned by Kira's decision.
Revive The World—from Sartorius's GY?
Sartorius froze for a moment, then threw his head back and laughed.
"Do you think you can control The World? A mere mortal? And you dare covet the power of The World?"
He laughed harder and harder.
Sarina couldn't help but warn him: "Mr. Kira, right now my brother's evil persona can control fate. If you try to summon Arcana Force, you won't be able to get head."
"Quite right!"
Sartorius was in high spirits, and thus more talkative.
"Then I'll be magnanimous and tell you this: great power brings great risk. The World, which can stop your opponent's time, carries a tremendous drawback as its price.
At your opponent's Draw Phase, the top card of their GY is added to their hand.
In other words, if The World is on your field, then at each of my Draw Phases I can return the top card of my GY to my hand."
Letting the opponent effectively draw an extra card every turn is a huge disadvantage. Even Sarina grew anxious, suspecting Kira had made a misplay.
"That so? How unfortunate," Kira said.
"Oh? Even knowing The World's drawback, you remain so calm."
Sartorius snorted.
"Then I activate the Spell Card 'Card of Heaven and Earth'—in a turn where a Tribute Summon occurred, I draw 2 cards. Those cards can't be used this turn, and if possible I must set at least one.
Although The Fiend's tribute was replaced by 'Necro Sacrifice,' the Fiend's summon still counted as a Tribute Summon. Therefore I draw 2."
Sartorius drew two.
"I set two cards and end my turn."
Kira: "My turn. Draw."
Kira drew.
"Now, at the moment of the Standby Phase, The World revives to your field!" Sartorius could hardly wait to mock him. "If you want it so badly, then I'll let you taste The World's power!"
"Not so fast."
Kira smiled.
"My Standby Phase hasn't started yet. I knew from the beginning you'd be using an Arcana Force deck. But Arcana Force isn't your exclusive property."
"What?" Sartorius frowned.
"I made a little preparation for this duel. To be frank, I've done a bit of research on Arcana Force myself and devised some interesting tactics.
Among all current users of Arcana Force, you, Sartorius, are probably the most authoritative. So I'll take this opportunity to ask your guidance."
Kira waved lightly.
"I activate my set card, the Trap 'Decisive Power of Absolute Destiny'!" (Anime card)
Sartorius: "!"
He truly didn't see that coming.
Of course he recognized the card—he just didn't expect to see it in his opponent's deck. It's his card, or rather, it's tied to the Arcana Force theme—as you can tell from its name.
He simply didn't expect to see it on the other side of the field.
"Decisive Power of Absolute Destiny: declare a monster name. If that card exists in your opponent's Deck, Special Summon that monster to your opponent's field in Attack Position."
Sartorius frowned. "Declare a monster in my Deck?"
"That's right. Your Arcana Force deck is modeled after the Tarot—the embodiment of fate.
And since it's Tarot, there's no way it doesn't include this card, right?"
Kira smiled and softly spoke the name.
"The Fool."