"It's my turn, draw card!" Rafael declared. "The effect of Continuous Magic - Guarded Treasure! During the draw phase, I can draw two cards from my deck."
After drawing, he glanced at the cards and immediately continued, "First, I set a card on the field, and then special summon 'Guardian Grarl'!"
The 'Gravity Axe - Roar' on the field emitted invisible waves, as if guiding something to arrive.
A guardian warrior dressed in a yellow vest descended from the sky, following the sound wave's guidance. He was massive, resembling a mutated lizardman, with a small yellow vest that dragged a metal chain in the middle.
[Guardian Grarl, ATK 2500]
The NPCs started to stir.
"A High-Level Monster doesn't need sacrifice for its summon!?"
Rafael quickly explained, "Guardian Grarl is a creature called forth by 'Gravity Axe'. When you have only this card in your hand, and 'Gravity Axe' is present on the field, it can be special summoned from your hand without cost."
With a wave of his hand, he pointed at the black guardian warrior nearby, "Next is the effect of 'Support Guardian'! Support Guardian can transfer the Equip Magic on itself to the correct target.
I transfer 'Gravity Axe - Roar' from Support Guardian to 'Guardian Grarl'!"
The Gravity Axe seemed to let out a pleasant cheer, swirling into the air before landing in Grarl's hand. Grarl roared, his power instantly amplified.
[Guardian Grarl, ATK 2500 → ATK 3000]
"Then I activate the set card!" Rafael continued his operation, flipping the card he had just set, "Magic Card - Card of Sanctity! Both players draw cards from their deck until their hand reaches six cards!"
As expected of the world's top Duelist, he skillfully drew 'Card of Sanctity'.
This meant he offset the high cost of discarding five cards for 'Guarded Treasure'. Now Rafael can draw two cards every turn and earn a huge advantage.
"Enter the battle!" Rafael shouted. "First deal with the troublesome hero that can replace any Fusion Material. Guardian Grarl! Attack Elemental Hero Prisma!"
Grarl roared, dragging the axe as he charged forward. The moment the giant axe swung down, it seemed to unleash a tremendous pressure, like a mountain, leaving Prisma with no room to retreat.
As the axe fell, Prism Hero's diamond-like body was split open, shattering like glass on the ground.
[Youyu, LP 4000 → LP 2700]
"Next, I activate Equip Magic - Guardian Shield, equipping it to 'Support Guardian'." (Animation card)
Rafael played a card, and the dark-haired guardian warrior's hand instantly held a sturdy shield.
"Equip Monster's DEF increases by 300! When a 'Guardian' monster on the field is destroyed, 'Guardian Shield' can substitute the destruction."
[Support Guardian, DEF 2200 → DEF 2500]
"Set a card. My turn ends."
As the turn ends, everyone began discussing.
"So strong! No wonder he is said to have the potential to be a Duel King!" someone commented.
"Yes, both offense and defense are impeccable, like an impenetrable fortress!"
Though Youyu didn't entirely agree with these comments, he could definitely feel Rafael's strength.
Moreover, the obsession to 'never send monsters to the graveyard' directly reflected in the duel, creating a solid defense layer upon layer to protect his monsters.
But no matter how perfect the defense, it will have flaws. It's impossible to keep monsters on the field forever.
"It's my turn, draw card!"
Youyu started with a deadly card this turn.
"Magic Card - Giant Trunade! Return all Magic Trap Cards on the field to their owner's hand!"
The howling wind rose, seemingly forming a ferocious face in the air. The immense pressure almost covered the entire land, with stones rolling and dust flying, exposing any trap under this domineering force.
Rafael's 'Guarded Treasure', 'Gravity Axe', 'Guardian Shield', and last turn's Set Card transformed into a golden light and flew back to his hand in an instant.
In a blink, the hefty man's backfield was empty.
[Support Guardian, DEF 2500 → DEF 2200]
[Guardian Grarl, ATK 3000 → ATK 2500]
This made Rafael's monsters lose all enhancements and left him without any means of defense.
"Quick-Play Magic - De-Fusion!" Youyu swept his hand to play the next card, "Release the Fusion Monster's fusion, and Special Summon the monsters used as Fusion Materials from the graveyard!
I will release the fusion of 'Elemental Hero Nova Master,' and Special Summon 'Elemental Hero Featherman' and 'Elemental Hero Burstinatrix!'"
"What!?" Rafael was shocked, "Releasing the fusion of your own High-Level Monster?"
Before he could react, the Nova Master had already transformed into flames and separated, returning to the forms of Featherman and Burstinatrix on either side.
"Next, the Magic Card - Double Fusion is activated!" Youyu carried on energetically, with another Magic Card appearing, "Pay 500 LP, and you can perform two Fusion Summons during this turn using this card's effect." (Anime card)
This card was used by Yuki Judai in Yu-Gi-Oh! GX to replace the need for two cards by paying 500 LP...
...of course, Judai usually used it this way too.
[Youyu, LP 2700 → LP 2200]
"First Fusion! Fusion the 'Elemental Hero Featherman' and 'Elemental Hero Burstinatrix' whose fusion has been undone on the field!
Fusion Summon! Elemental Hero Flame Wingman!"
The Magic Card released a double spiral, with green and red light drawn into the vortex, quickly erupting into dazzling flames, birthing a hero figure with the power of wind and fire.
[Elemental Hero Flame Wingman, Attack Power 2100]
"Continue with Double Fusion effect, second Fusion!" Youyu revealed a card from his hand, "Fusion the 'Elemental Hero Flame Wingman' with 'Elemental Hero Sparkman' in my hand!
The hero of justice appears amidst sacred light, cutting through darkness to bring light—
—Elemental Hero Shining Flare Wingman, Summon!"
A hero surrounded by electricity appeared, flying with Flame Wingman into the second vortex released by the Magic Card. The two merged into the vortex, erupting into endless sacred light.
With white metallic armor and high-tech vibes, the armored hero shot high into the air from the radiant fusion, spreading his holy silver wings, suspended mid-air by invisible forces.
[Elemental Hero Shining Flare Wingman, Attack Power 2500]
This hero's appearance immediately caused another wave of excitement, with his stylish high-tech flight armor quickly catching the eyes of many male spectators.
Players were even more lively, shouting things like "nostalgia is back"...
"Elemental Hero Shining Flare Wingman's effect!" Youyu waved, "For each Elemental Hero Monster in the graveyard, this card's Attack Power increases by 300!
Right now there are five Elemental Heroes in my graveyard, so the Attack Power increases by 1500 points!"
Images of Elemental Hero Prisma, Featherman, Burstinatrix, Flame Wingman, and Sparkman appeared one after another, turning into beams of light, filling the armor of Shining Flare Wingman like energy ammunition.
[Elemental Hero Shining Flare Wingman, Attack Power 2500 → Attack Power 4000]
The crowd was even more stirred up.
"Attack Power four thousand!?"
"Same Attack Power as Obelisk the Tormentor!"
"Is this the Duel King? So strong!?"
"..."
"Not only that." Youyu smiled, "Shining Flare Wingman inflicts damage equal to the Attack Power of the monster it destroys to the opponent."
Rafael realized suddenly, horrified: "If Grarl is destroyed, I'll take 1500 battle damage, and Grarl's Attack Power is precisely 2500..."
"Correct, that totals 4000 points of damage."
[Rafael, LP 4000]
By now, the crowd was getting even more frenzied, with people crowding around the cameras capturing the duel.
They could boast later, claiming they witnessed this moment firsthand!
The Duel King is about to perform an OTK!
With all potential defenses blown back to Rafael's hand by "Giant Trunade," he was left exposed, without any means to counter this OTK!
"Battle!" Youyu pointed at Guardian Grarl, "Shining Flare Wingman attacks Guardian Grarl! Shining... Shoot!!!