Lemon Magician Girl's direct attack caused a massive 800 points of damage, almost leaving our little Judai disoriented.
But of course, the future star of Duel World, Yuki Judai, wouldn't retreat just because of this setback.
"I'll set one card, and end my turn."
Seeing yet another set card at his feet, Youyu's smile grew even brighter.
No wonder Yuki Judai is always so happy when he duels.
Sure enough, dueling... does bring smiles to people's faces!
Little Judai hasn't given up yet. This turn, after drawing a card, he first played a Pot of Greed to draw another card—since childhood, this habit of putting Pot of Greed in his deck made Youyu feel that this kid was indeed worth cultivating.
Then Judai demonstrated his innate ability to draw the perfect card with Pot of Greed, pulling another Pot of Greed from the deck, drawing five cards in one go, a sight so satisfying it made people feel like they were soaring.
This story also tells us that playing as a card-debt hero isn't something everyone can handle. If you want to learn Judai's style of casually trading three for one or five for one, first you have to learn how to produce cards from thin air at any time you want.
Quickly replenishing his hand, little Judai's eyes lit up, as if he saw hope for a counterattack in his hand. He directly played the Fusion #2 from his deck, preparing to fuse Sparkman and Clayman in his hand to summon another ace Hero card, "Elemental Hero Thunder Giant"...
But of course, Youyu wouldn't allow that. Judai was just excitedly playing Fusion, didn't even have time to shout his line, and Youyu waved his hand to flip a set card.
"Continuous Trap - Non-Fusion Area!" Youyu said, "As long as this trap exists, neither player can perform a Fusion Summon!"
"...Ah!?"
Little Judai was instantly stunned, his innocent excited smile frozen on his face.
Can't... fuse!?
How come?
So his cool heroes can't take the stage?
Youyu's smile grew even brighter.
Foolish child, do you think I didn't use a Hero Deck against you for no reason?
Because from the beginning, I didn't plan on playing Fusion!
I'm really a jerk.
Even Youyu couldn't help feeling that way.
"But this is also for your own good, it's all part of teacher's teaching design." Youyu looked at the befuddled jellyfish-head kid, silently saying in his heart.
After all, you made the first move.
At this time, he couldn't help but remember that night when he took heavy damage, Yuki Judai's radiant smile.
"Then... then I'll summon Elemental Hero Sparkman!"
No Fusion, Judai had to grit his teeth and summon the leader of the four useless heroes, the one with the highest attack power among them, this Normal Monster.
Due to the rumor that "Duel King Youyu's favorite monster," even though Sparkman is just a Normal Monster, it gained a price unmatched to its abilities once summoned.
[Elemental Hero Sparkman, Attack Power 1600]
"Sparkman attacks Lemon Magician Girl!"
"Then Lemon Magician Girl's effect." Youyu said, "When attacked, special summon a higher-level Spellcaster-Type monster from my hand with its effect negated. Come forth, Dark Magician Girl!"
With warm-toned background effects and a magnificent translucent magic array, the blond magic girl flew out amidst the cheers of the audience, appearing brilliantly.
[Dark Magician Girl, Attack Power 2000]
"Oooh! It's Dark Magician Girl!" Judai's big eyes started sparkling again.
Once excited, he seemed to completely forget his dire situation.
But Youyu quickly "kindly" reminded him: "Sparkman's attack target will be forcibly changed to Dark Magician Girl, and his attack power will be halved, too."
Judai snapped back to reality: "Eh? How come?"
[Elemental Hero Sparkman, Attack Power 1600 → Attack Power 800]
The magical girl launched a magic power blast to shred the electric hero to pieces, taking away quite a bit of Judai's LP.
[Judai, LP 3200 → LP 2000]
Judai's field was once again empty, while Youyu still had the Dark Magician Girl with 2000 attack power on his field. If he doesn't come up with something, Judai will undoubtedly lose next turn!
Still, Judai didn't seem to give up!
He glanced at one card in his hand, solemnly set it on the field, ending his turn.
It looks like that card is his trump card for turning the tables.
Now it's Youyu's turn. He first used the exclusive Equip Magic "Wonder Wand" for Spellcaster-Type to equip Dark Magician Girl, boosting her attack by 500 points, then normally summoned Apple Magician Girl in attack position.
[Dark Magician Girl, Attack Power 2500]
[Apple Magician Girl, Attack Power 1200]
Dark Magician Girl couldn't let go of the new toy from her master.
All set, he directly entered the Battle Phase. Youyu waved grandly, commanding Dark Magician Girl to attack directly!
Judai's eyes lit up, seemingly seeing a chance for a counterattack, and shouted directly: "Activate the set card, Trap Card - A Hero Emerges! When attacked, randomly select a card from my hand; if it's a Monster Card, special summon it, if not, send it to the graveyard!"
As expected, this is also one of Judai's favorite tactics in the TV show.
With Fusion Summon sealed, Judai's current Hero Deck now only had one top-level Hero Monster to play.
That's the Elemental Hero Edgeman with a staggering 2600 attack power.
Interestingly, Judai's Edgeman and "A Hero Emerges" in the anime seemed to be glued together with Kaiba brand 502, always appearing together.
If it were like this, it wouldn't be a big deal.
The key is, all Judai's opponents always picked Edgeman from his hand, as if by coincidence!
Thus, Youyu conjectured that Judai's luck must be very strong as well. Though unknown whose luck is stronger compared to Jack Atlas, Judai is undoubtedly a rare strong competitor, able to surpass all the deities in the anime.
When it comes to luck, Youyu, with his pitifully low luck of only 20, of course, knew better than to compete with Judai's extreme luck.
Thus, Youyu directly waved grandly without saying a word.
"Activate the set card, Trap Card - Mind Crush!" Youyu said, "Declare a card name; if the opponent has a card with that name in hand, they must discard it to the graveyard!"
Judai:"!"
Though he glanced at his only two cards — an "Elemental Hero Clayman" and an "Elemental Hero Edgeman" — he quickly calmed down.
In the previous turn before Youyu activated "Non-Fusion Area," Judai intended to use the Magic Card "Fusion" to fuse Sparkman and Clayman in his hand.
Meaning now, he openly had a "Clayman" in his hand.
So there's a high likelihood that Youyu would declare Clayman, forcing him to discard it.
But if that happens, he'd be left with only one "Elemental Hero Edgeman," which he could definitely special summon via "A Hero Emerges" effect.
If he manages to summon Edgeman with its impressive 2600 attack power, there's still hope!
However, Youyu's strange smile appeared as he slowly declared: "Through 'Mind Crush,' the card name I want to declare is...
...Elemental Hero Edgeman!"
Judai: "Eh!?!"
Why?
How did Youyu know I had this card in my hand!?
Judai reluctantly sent "Elemental Hero Edgeman" to the graveyard: "Then... then I have only one card left in my hand that's a Monster Card.
Through 'A Hero Emerges' effect, I special summon 'Elemental Hero Clayman' in defense position..."
[Elemental Hero Clayman, Defense Power 2000]
Of course, this didn't make much of a difference.
Youyu smiled warmly.
Cheer up, Judai, I'm here to bring you a smile, too!
The strengthened Dark Magician Girl easily broke Clayman's defenses. The remaining Apple Magician Girl and Lemon Magician Girl launched direct attacks against Judai, totaling 2000 damage, enough to finish the game.
Game over!
[Judai, LP 0]