Youyu took a deep breath and stood upright.
The Pharaoh's Soul dwelling within Muto Yugi, combined with Obelisk the Tormentor... indeed, facing such a world protagonist, there isn't a moment of respite.
However, thanks to the four cards replenished in the last turn, and the extreme Life Lock, Youyu now has a reversal move in his hand.
That's right, thanks to this Life Lock, his skill "Destiny Draw" is now active!
"My turn, draw!" Youyu drew a card and immediately hit the button to flip the Set Card beside him, "Flip Cover Card, Continuous Trap - Call of the Haunted activates! A Monster in the graveyard, Special Summon in attack position!
I revive the 'Card Blocker' in the graveyard!"
The Card Blocker, which recently made an appearance in the duel against Marik, reappeared on the field, shouting clearly.
[Card Blocker, Attack Power 400]
"The effect of Card Blocker, when this card is successfully summoned or Special Summoned, it automatically switches to defense position."
[Card Blocker, Defense Power 400]
"Continuing to fortify defenses?" Yugi said, "But just this won't defeat Obelisk."
"Oh, I know." But Youyu's operations haven't ended, "So I will use the Magic Card - Tribute Burial from my hand! This card can use a Monster on our side of the field as a tribute, and from the card deck, Special Summon a Monster with the same type, attribute, but one star lower level!"
Yugi murmured, "The attribute of Card Blocker is Earth Attribute, type is Warrior-Type..."
"And the level is 3, so I Special Summon from the card deck a level 2, Earth Attribute Warrior-Type Monster!"
As he spoke, Card Blocker dissipated under the effect of magic, transforming into a golden light beam, calling forth a new power sleeping within this deck.
"I Special Summon from the card deck... 'Hero Kid'!"
With those words, a young hero dressed similarly to an astronaut, wearing a glass helmet, flew out of his deck, and landed half-crouching on the field, fearlessly blocking in front of the destructive Egyptian God.
[Hero Kid, Defense Power 600]
"Hero Kid?" Yugi wondered, "Another Monster I've never seen."
This was also a card Youyu drew from the card pool long ago, considered part of the Elemental Hero series, which had a notable presence in GX Animation.
At that time, Youyu felt this card was quite meaningless, even putting it in the store wouldn't likely interest any players.
But times have changed now.
With his deck changing, acquiring more cards, the formerly useless "Hero Kid" now has its purpose.
"Activate the special ability of 'Hero Kid'!" Youyu drew from the card deck once more, "When this card is successfully Special Summoned, any number of Hero Kids can be Special Summoned from the deck!
I Special Summon two additional Hero Kids!"
Yugi was shocked, "Such hidden capabilities!"
Youyu smiled, "Heroes tend to call upon their friends (meaning righteous group action). Come forth, Hero Kid Special Summon!"
Two more light beams shot out, landing on either side of the Hero Kid on the field. The three Hero Kids crouched defensively on the ground, exchanged glances, and nodded at each other, showing great teamwork.
[Hero Kid, Defense Power 600] x3
Yugi frowned, "Within a moment, three Monsters summoned..."
"And this turn's Normal Summon opportunity hasn't been used," President Kaiba said, "Finding a method faster than Yugi summoning his Three Musketeers to gather tributes?"
Everyone realized what was about to happen next—even heaven seemed to sense it vaguely.
Before Youyu even played the cards, clouds seemed to gather in the sky, with lightning flickering between the layers.
Youyu drew a card from his hand, "I use three 'Hero Kids' as tributes... traversing both the underworld and the real world, amidst the chaos of heavenly thunder, descend—
——Slifer the Sky Dragon!!!"
The azure lightning accompanied by thunder's explosion descended, piercing the clouds, as if splitting the sky itself.
The immense crimson body slowly descended from the sky, the majestic silhouette of the dragon appeared on the horizon, roaring as if dispelling scattered clouds, shaking the soul.
[Slifer the Sky Dragon, Attack Power 3000]
"Ama...zing," Kujaku Mai gasped, "Slifer and Obelisk, a confrontation between two Egyptian Gods..."
Shizuka whispered, "Such a terrifying feeling..."
"Don't worry!" Honda seized the chance, "Whatever happens, I'll protect you!"
Jonouchi was moved upon hearing this—Honda truly is a great buddy! Paying such detailed attention to a brother's sister!
"Hmph, summoning Slifer under these circumstances," President Kaiba muttered to himself, chuckling admiringly, "Now that's more like it."
"Summoning a God while under the oppression of Obelisk, you've made me admire you even more from the depths, Youyu." Yugi smiled, "But I must remind you, Slifer's attack power is determined by the player's card count.
You only have three cards now, so Slifer's attack power is only 3000; it won't defeat the Tormentor."
"Ah, I'm aware of that, so this now is my ultimate move." Youyu took out two cards from his hand, "First, I set a card on the field! Then, I activate from my hand the Magic Card... Pot of Greed!"
This card's appearance shocked everyone.
"The most powerful hand-replenishing card," Kaiba squinted his eyes, "After summoning Slifer, replenishing one's hand to the max, granting the God ultimate attack capability?"
Yugi gritted his teeth, along with Youyu, he drew his hand up to six cards.
Though giving Yugi cards is dangerous, without doing this, Youyu indeed has no other way to break the Tormentor; next turn might spell doom.
So now he can only hope this blow is enough to decide victory!
[Slifer the Sky Dragon, Attack Power 6000]
[Obelisk the Tormentor, Attack Power 4000]
[Yugi, LP 2000]
"Slifer the Sky Dragon, attack!" Youyu waved and shouted, "Thunderforce Attack!"
Sky Dragon opened its massive jaws, spewing forth golden lightning, ready to invoke thunder across the sky at any instant!
Obelisk unwillingly swung his fist to retaliate, but before the punch could gather strength, Slifer's tail had stealthily climbed onto him.
Realizing something amiss, the Tormentor hurriedly tried to break free, but it was too late. With an attack power of 6000, Sky Dragon had completely surpassed him in strength, the crimson dragon's body coiled tightly around the blue giant like strong ropes.
This move is known as "Dragon Bind."
The Sky Dragon bound the Tormentor firmly, opening its jaws, Thunderforce ready to unleash. Youyu held his breath at this moment—
——He's just one strike away from the title of Duel City's champion, Duel King!
The card on Yugi's field had been set four turns ago; if it were an attack-counter card, it should've been used already... moreover Youyu's Sky Dragon had already gained "immunity from Trap Card effects," meaning even if there were any traps, it could ignore them.
...He has a chance!
Yet just as his breathing nearly halted, Yugi made a move!
"Flip Cover Card!" Yugi's card, which had been set long ago, actually activated, "Trap Card... Life Shaver!" (Animation card)
Youyu was startled, "What?"
"After this card is set on the field, counted by one's turn count," Yugi said, "when this trap activates, the opponent must discard hand cards equal to the number of turns this card was set on the field!
This card has passed through two of my turns since being set, so you must discard two cards from your hand, Youyu! Slifer's attack power decreases accordingly!"
[Slifer the Sky Dragon, Attack Power 6000 → Attack Power 4000]
Youyu gritted his teeth, "Uh..."
"Hit back, Obelisk!" Yugi raised his hand, "Divine Fist Crush!"