"My turn, draw card." Rafael said, "Magic Card - Graceful Charity. Draw three cards from the deck, then discard two cards from the hand to the graveyard."
After Rafael changed his hand cards, he glanced at Youyu's Shining Flare Wingman on the field as well as the Intrigue Shield protecting the Wingman, and couldn't help but frown slightly.
As long as that shield is there, not only can battle damage not be dealt, but the shield can also substitute one destruction. This line of defense is quite troublesome for him.
However, he has a countermeasure!
"Equip Magic - Axe of Despair!" Rafael played another Equip Card, "Equip it to Guardian Grarl!"
Though the Gravity Axe was destroyed and sent to the graveyard, Rafael's deck focuses mainly on Equip Magic so naturally lacks no substitutes.
Guardian Grarl wielded the demonic-looking heavy axe, weighing it in his hand, seemingly finding it a good enough replacement even if it wasn't his usual weapon of choice.
[Guardian Grarl, ATK 2500 → ATK 3500]
"The attack power exceeds Shining Flare Wingman." Youyu said calmly, "But you haven't forgotten that the Intrigue Shield can negate one battle destruction, right?"
"Of course, so my target from the start wasn't him, but you as the Duelist!" Rafael shouted, playing the second card, "Equip Magic, Shooting Star Bow - Ceal activates! Also equip it to 'Guardian Grarl'!"
The equipped monster's attack power decreases by 1000, but in exchange, it can directly attack the opposing player!"
Another bow appeared in the hands of this sturdy lizard warrior, its side effects counteracting the positive gains from the Axe of Despair, yet granting this powerful Guardian the ability to attack directly, bypassing monsters!
[Guardian Grarl, ATK 3500 → ATK 2500]
[Youyu, LP 2200]
"Impressive!" Yugi couldn't help but praise, "Ignoring the defense effect of the Intrigue Shield, directly dealing damage to the player!"
"Indeed." Dark Yugi also said, "After our battle, Rafael has truly grown. Even without The Seal of Orichalcos' dark power, he's surely stronger than he was then!"
"Go, Guardian Grarl!" Rafael ordered, "Direct attack on Youyu!"
The lizard guardian drew back the bowstring, releasing it as if launching a burning meteor, tracing a perfect arc from the sky, straight towards Youyu's head!
At this instant, Youyu's trap also activated, "Open the set card, Trap Card - Half Unbreak! Choose a monster on the field, that monster won't be destroyed by battle this turn; the battle damage done to our side is halved!"
Rafael frowned, "But what I'm doing is a direct attack, even if you use this trap..."
"Not necessarily." Youyu wiggled his finger, smiling, "The target I want to protect with 'Half Unbreak' is—
—Guardian Grarl!"
"What!?!"
Not only Rafael, but all the onlookers were stunned.
Using one's own trap to protect the opponent's monster!?
It was Yugi, the expert on traps, who reacted first: "That's it! 'Half Unbreak' prevents the monster from being destroyed in battle, but also halves the battle damage it inflicts. Here if Youyu applies it to the opponent's monster..."
"The battle damage Guardian Grarl deals to Youyu will also be halved." Dark Yugi nodded repeatedly, approving, "That move is truly brilliant!"
The spherical protective barrier released by Half Unbreak quickly enveloped 'Guardian Grarl', providing Grarl invincible resistance for a turn, while also reducing his attacking capability, lessening the power of the arrow striking before Youyu.
Boom!
The arrow like a meteor erupted in front of Youyu, turning into a dazzling blaze and smoke.
[Youyu, LP 2200 →LP 950]
"To have such a means... definitely impressive."
Rafael had an enlightened expression, nodding in admiration.
"Set three cards, end the turn."
"So strong... they're both so strong." Yugi said, "The strength these two possess is completely different from ordinary Duelists."
Moreover, one thing is truly commendable: until now, Rafael's graveyard doesn't have a single monster.
...But perhaps that's soon about to change.
"My turn, draw card!" Youyu said, "Magic Card - Card of Demise! Draw cards from the deck until the hand becomes five cards. During the fifth turn's preparation phase, discard all cards in hand."
As Youyu swiftly refilled five cards in his hand, Rafael's expression tensed, holding his breath.
Is it coming?
"Summon Elemental Hero Airman!"
The sound of turbines activating echoed, and fierce winds whipped up in the field! The hero clad in a high-tech suit descended leisurely, arms crossed, feet hovering in the air, his gaze behind the blue visors sharp as a knife.
The instant this high-tech hero appeared, it sparked cheers among the players.
A bunch of excited fools celebrated as if it were a festival, shouting phrases like "If there are three Skyman" and "Become a Hero", their spirits soaring.
"Airman's effect." Youyu said, "When successfully summoned, depending on the number of 'Hero' monsters present on the field besides 'Airman', you can select that many magic trap cards to destroy."
Rafael's gaze flickered, glancing at the three set cards by his feet.
"Trying to tear open my backfield defense first? Not so easy!" Rafael shouted, "Open the set card, Continuous Trap - Crystal Seal!
This card can bind an opposing monster on the field, making it unable to attack, change its form, or activate its effects!
I choose 'Elemental Hero Airman'!" (Animation Card)
The crystal barrier rose from the ground, instantly surrounding Airman. The whirlwind stirred by the turbines behind Airman hit the wall immediately, seeming unable to break through the crystal bind.
Rafael chuckled: "In this way, the effect of 'Elemental Hero Airman' can no longer be activated."
"Not necessarily." Youyu chuckled, simultaneously quickly drawing another card from his hand, "Quick-play Magic - Mask Change! Send the hero monster on the field to the graveyard and Special Summon a Masked Hero of the same attribute.
I send 'Elemental Hero Airman' to the graveyard, Mask Change!
Cut through evil with the sharp gale——
——Masked Hero Blast!"
A green whirlwind arose, instantly exploding with Airman at its center. The impact of the transformation effect instantly shattered the crystal barrier's bind, transforming into a green exoskeleton armor covering the hero's body, a red scarf fluttering in the wind.
[Masked Hero Blast, ATK 2200]
"Since Airman dodged the effect of 'Crystal Bind' through transformation, the effect is considered successfully activated." Youyu stated.
Rafael frowned: "According to Airman's effect, you can destroy one of my Magic Trap Cards..."
Nevertheless, he wasn't particularly nervous.
His backfield had two covered cards, one being "Negate Attack," which can nullify the attack while forcibly ending the Battle Phase, and the other being the Continuous Trap Card "Gravity Bind"——as long as this card exists on the field, all monsters with levels four or higher cannot attack.
No matter which one the opponent destroys, the remaining one is enough to help him pass the turn...
"Not really." Youyu smiled and waved his finger, "The effect of 'Elemental Hero Airman' is that for every hero on the field besides Airman, you can destroy that many Magic Trap Cards.
Check out how many heroes I have on the field aside from Airman?"
Rafael: "Right now, your monsters on the field are 'Elemental Hero Shining Flare Wingman' and 'Masked Hero Blast'..."
Rafael paused suddenly, his expression changing drastically.
"Could it be..."
"Indeed." Youyu replied, "Airman's effect is 'activatable when successfully summoned,' so at the moment of his summoning, the effect had already been triggered, even if his original form goes to the graveyard won't affect its activation.
But during the process of Airman's effect, he had already transformed into 'Masked Hero Blast.' So now on the field, 'beside Airman', there are a total of two heroes.
So, I can select and destroy up to two Magic Trap Cards on the field."
Surprised, Rafael, this is the power of paid heroes!
Youyu pointed towards Rafael's backfield.
"Therefore, destroy both set cards!"
The supposedly grave-bound Airman appeared as a phantom, with the massive metal glider turbines behind him roaring! The white whirlwind roared and indiscriminately shredded Rafael's remaining two set cards into pieces.
"Next is the effect of the transformed Masked Hero Blast!" Youyu continued, "Upon successful summoning, halve the attack of one monster on the field! Halve the attack of 'Guardian Eatos'!"
The green whirlwind rushed up, howling and devouring the Guardian's form. The angel staggered, and her power was weakened.
[Guardian Eatos, ATK 2500 → ATK 1250]
"You actually broke through all my defenses..." Rafael closed his eyes with a faint smile, "Truly beautiful."
In fact, Youyu has not yet used another effect of "Masked Hero Blast." Blast can return a Magic Trap Card on the field to the owner's hand by paying 500 LP.
However, Rafael had already run out of moves.
"Battle." Youyu declared, "'Elemental Hero Shining Flare Wingman', attack 'Guardian Eatos'!"
[Elemental Hero Shining Flare Wingman, ATK 2800]
Like a glowing shooting star, the fire-winged hero's metallic body burst out, with the engine behind him spewing out invisible tail flames.
Eatos, weakened by the storm, was no match for this hero. In a mere moment, her body was pierced through, and her wings were torn apart, dissipating into ashes in midair.
Rafael calmly closed his eyes, accepting the impact of the holographic display.
[Rafael, LP 3000 → LP 1450]
"Next is the effect of Shining Flare Wingman." Youyu stated, "Deal damage to the opponent's player based on the attack value of the destroyed monster."
While speaking, Shining Flare Wingman had embraced his arms and landed gently in front of Rafael, the engine underfoot causing transparent ripples on the ground.
"Eatos's original attack was 2500." Rafael said calmly, "I lost."
Outmatched, conceding willingly.
[Rafael, LP 1450 → LP 0]