"My turn." Yubel glanced dismissively at Bubbleman, whose attack and defense points could be ignored, and sneered, "Trying to use a Defense Position Monster to survive this turn?
But such a simple tactic is completely useless!
I activate the Magic Card - Stop Defense from my hand! This card can switch one of your opponent's Defense Position Monsters to Attack Position!
I switch 'Elemental Hero Bubbleman' to Attack Position!"
Bubbleman let out a groan, reluctantly stood up, and was forcibly changed to Attack Position.
[Elemental Hero Bubbleman, Defense 1200 → Attack 800]
"Battle." Yubel said, "First, it's me, Yubel attacks Bubbleman!"
Yubel on the field, receiving orders, had its pupils glow red again, affecting Bubbleman's mind. Bubbleman gritted his teeth, resisted momentarily, but eventually succumbed to the dark influence, letting out a cry, raising his arm and shooting a torrent from the gun barrel on his wrist.
"Trap Card in the graveyard - Damage Diet is banished." Youyu said, "The effect damage this turn is halved!"
Yubel took the hit from Bubbleman's torrent, converting it into her own energy. She tilted her head slightly, and chaotic energy exploded around her, with the halved damage blowing up in Youyu's face due to the Trap Card's protection.
[Youyu, LP 3400 → LP 3000]
"Next, it's Gazett's attack," Yubel ordered, "Go, crush Bubbleman!"
"Activate Set Card, Trap Card - Half Unbreak." Youyu flipped the Set Card, "Using this card to protect Bubbleman from destruction, and battle damage is also halved!"
Though Bubbleman may have quite a powerful effect among the Heroes, he's not good in combat. The demon's onslaught instantly overwhelmed him, the impact wrapped in a transparent wave continued unabated, causing Youyu to stagger back half a step.
[Youyu, LP 3000 → LP 1000]
The impact was strong, and life points were reduced significantly, but the hit was still taken. What's more, Bubbleman remained on the field, struggling hard, but with the Trap Card's protection, managed to hold on.
Design-wise, Bubbleman's armor and character style bear a resemblance to DC's Batman from Western comics. In terms of positioning among Heroes, they share certain similarities.
Though possessing low attack and combat power, Bubbleman has the powerful ability to draw two cards when the field is empty, providing the Duelist with a greater chance to turn the tide.
Moreover, when Bubbleman is the only card in hand, he can be Special Summoned, making him the Hero you most want to draw in the desperate situation of an empty hand and field, also offering the best chance for a comeback.
Drawing Bubbleman when both hand and field are empty allows for a Special Summon without using the Normal Summon, and could even draw two cards, greatly improving comeback chances.
Just like when the entire Justice League is wiped out, you'd always hope the last one standing is Batman...
"Survived again, huh?" Yubel frowned, seemingly a little impatient.
But she scoffed, didn't pursue further, only said, "End Phase, 'Samsara Lotus' in the graveyard is revived. Then I use 'Samsara Lotus' as a sacrifice to maintain the existence of 'Yubel' on the field."
The lotus bloomed again, but immediately turned into golden nutrients and was absorbed into Yubel on the field.
According to the animated storyline, after Yubel is destroyed, there are two upgraded forms, 'Yubel - Terror Incarnate' and 'Yubel - The Ultimate Nightmare'.
However, those forms are supposed to appear after Yubel is launched into space and corrupted in the future, which they don't have now.
This means the current form should already be her trump card.
In that case, it's much easier to deal with than Yubel's later forms in the animation.
"My turn, draw." Youyu said, "Summon 'Elemental Hero Liquidman'!"
A stream of water enveloped the field, and the water-attributed Hero wearing a tight suit appeared with water swirling around him.
[Elemental Hero Liquidman, Attack 1400]
Yubel frowned, "The Hero added to the hand last turn..."
"Liquidman's effect!" Youyu said, "Upon a successful Summon, Special Summon a Level 4 or lower 'Hero' Monster from the graveyard.
Rise! Elemental Hero Shadow Mist!"
Liquidman stretched his fingers towards the ground, where the water swirled into a clear vortex. A dark mist surged, gathering into the shape of a female Hero in a tight suit.
[Elemental Hero Shadow Mist, Attack 1000]
"Shadow Mist's effect." Youyu waved his hand, "When Special Summoned, add 'Change' Quick-Play Magic Card from the Deck to the hand. I choose, Quick-Play Magic - Mask Change!"
Seeing Youyu's continuous operations, displaying that signature Quick-Play Magic Card, even Yubel began to sense something ominous.
Though she hadn't witnessed it before this duel, she'd heard of the Duel King's famed "Masked Hero" series.
"Changing forms in battle, transforming into different attributes and effects Masked Heroes to fight?" Yubel pondered.
But currently on the field, Youyu only has Dark Attribute and water attribute Heroes. She's seen the water attribute Masked Hero before, so could it be the next one to transform is the Dark Attribute...
Unexpectedly, Youyu didn't play that card, but instead revealed another card from his hand.
"Magic Card - Fusion Substitute!"
Yubel was shocked, "Fusion Substitute?"
Fusion Substitute, a Magic Card regarded as a "fusion" at the rule level. Any effect that searches "fusion" from the deck, or recovers "fusion" cards from the graveyard, applies to Fusion Substitute as well.
Moreover, during Deck construction, Fusion Substitute and "fusion" together cannot exceed three copies in the deck; they are truly regarded as the same card upon use.
"Fusion Substitute, can be used as 'fusion', however, it cannot fuse monsters from the hand, only those on the field for Fusion Summoning."
Youyu pointed at the two water attribute Heroes on the field.
"I fuse Elemental Hero Bubbleman and Elemental Hero Liquidman, the two water attribute Heroes!"
Bubbleman and Liquidman both soared up, transforming into two water columns, interweaving and ascending skyward, merging into the magical vortex, unleashing a dazzling brilliance and shining ice crystals.
In an instant, snow and ice filled the space, as if endless cold swept the field at ground level for the peerless hero about to appear in the icy storm.
"Fusion condition is Elemental Hero plus a water attribute monster, Fusion Summon!"
Youyu raised that card - it would be the first time since he obtained this trump card that he would use it in a formal duel.
And Yubel would become the first Duelist in history to be sanctioned by this top-level Elemental Hero!
"Born from the depths of cold, a Hero who rules all with absolute ice power -
——Elemental Hero Absolute Zero!!!"