Emerging from the storm of ice and snow, the hero is clad in silver-white armor, with a cloak as pure as snow. Arms crossed, he descends, surrounded by dancing snowflakes, scattering ice crystals, and transparent ripples spreading beneath his feet.
[Elemental Hero Absolute Zero, Attack Power 2500]
Yubel's expression changed slightly. But she masked it well, only scoffing lightly, "Attack power 2500, a monster like this..."
Though she said that, the attack power of 2500 made her uneasy...
As a Duel Monster Spirit, she is particularly sensitive to the strength and abilities each monster possesses.
For instance, right now she can sense that this unheard-of white-clad hero before her has a hidden ability perhaps beyond all the heroes that have appeared before!
Since he couldn't draw Absolute Zero from the System Card Pool, Youyu had previously asked Tenma Yako's side for help, to see if the invincible International Fantasy Society could develop this hero themed around "ice."
The suggestion was reasonable. Because Youyu already had Elemental Heroes fused with the attributes of "Earth, Fire, Wind, Light, and Dark," only missing a Water attribute. Naturally, there should be a Water attribute Fusion Hero.
However, Yako's side encountered substantial resistance while developing the Water attribute Fusion Hero, consuming huge resources and repeatedly failing.
From this, one can observe that the Water attribute Fusion Elemental Hero is significantly stronger than heroes of other attributes.
Once completed, it will undoubtedly become a flagship hero of the Elemental Hero series, holding the ace position!
Thus, under Tenma Yako's relentless effort, the ace of Elemental Heroes, called "Absolute Zero," finally has a chance to debut in this world!
"Activating the Magic Card 'Fusion Substitute' from the graveyard!" Youyu's Duel Disc ejects a Magic Card, "Remove 'Fusion Substitute' in the graveyard from play, bounce a Fusion Monster from your graveyard back to the deck, and draw a card from the deck."
Youyu reveals the card ejected from the graveyard: "I send 'Masked Hero: Mist Water' from the graveyard back to the deck. Then, I draw a card from the deck."
After drawing, he doesn't even glance at his drawn card, immediately revealing the card searched into his hand by the effect of Shadow Mist.
"Quick-Play Magic – Mask Change." Youyu plays the card in his hand, "This card can send a Hero Monster on the field to the graveyard to transform into a Masked Hero of the same attribute.
I send 'Elemental Hero Absolute Zero' to the graveyard, Mask Change!
Reborn amidst ice and snow, appear once more—Masked Hero: Mist Water!"
"Using the monster just fused to transform!?" Yubel doesn't understand.
Masked Change only requires a Hero Monster of the same attribute. Liquid Soldier or Bubbleman should be able to transform. Why specially fuse this hero called "Absolute Zero"…
But she quickly understands.
As she watches in astonishment, Absolute Zero transforms under the snow-covered special effects, turning into the blue-and-white Masked Hero in a flash.
Immense ice and snow release with the hero's transformation effects, rolling like white gaseous dust toward Yubel.
All of Yubel's field is frozen, both Gazelle the King of Mythical Beasts and Yubel herself, two powerful monsters, stand no chance against this chilling domain as if the very molecules are frozen, instantly turned into ice sculptures, then shattered into icy debris in the relentless wind.
It seemed even the air itself congealed, as if in the dueling arena, exhaling would instantly create ice sculptures in the domain of absolute low temperature controlled by supreme coldness, where nothing escapes unscathed.
"Impossible..." Yubel's pupil shrinks, pale with fear, "How could such a thing happen!?"
"Absolute Zero's effect." Youyu said calmly, "When he leaves the field, all the opponent's monsters on the field are destroyed!"
If it were the future Yubel returning from the depths of the universe, she could special summon her second form, "Yubel - Terror Incarnate," after being destroyed on the field.
But, of course, she evidently isn't at that point now.
This signifies the duel's conclusion.
"Battle." Youyu said, "Masked Hero: Mist Water, direct attack!"
[Masked Hero: Mist Water, Attack Power 2400]
The water attribute Masked Hero leaps over the ice crystals, amidst surging waves. Its sharp blade traces a water-colored path, seemingly slicing through frozen air, striking through Yubel.
[Yubel, LP 1600 →LP 0]
The demon-like spirit is repelled backward, thrown over by the hero's imposing attack. Her wings instinctively wrap around her body for protection, rolling over several times, resembling a black ostrich egg.
Youyu retracts his Duel Disc, and the image of the blue-colored hero disappears from his side.
He wonders if it was an illusion, thinking that before "Masked Hero: Mist Water" faded, it seemed to nod at him?
Youyu is somewhat surprised.
Could it be that the spirit Paradox mentioned... refers to Mist Water?
He examines the card closely, but it doesn't seem much like a spirit.
Yubel, spreading her wings, sits on the ground, momentarily lost, as if having trouble accepting the truth.
Did I... lose?
Actually lost to a duelist of this world?
Yet she quickly recollects herself and raises her head in confusion, "You... held back, didn't you?"
"Hmm?"
"Why didn't you finish me off?" Yubel frowns.
Unlike Judai who reincarnates without past life memories, Yubel retains her past life memories.
Their previous world was far more chaotic than the peaceful modern world, where only power mattered. Thus, to Yubel, being weak and defeated means nothing unusual about being killed.
Just as it's said, "When a person is killed, they die" (Author: I never actually said that), in Yubel's view, losing in a card game naturally means death!
Because of this deeply rooted concept, she used to greet every duelist who won against Judai, thinking them potential threats to her beloved Judai.
Youyu rolls his eyes.
Kill you?
What about my precious apprentice then?
Even if Judai weren't the child of destiny, a card prodigy, after spending time together, Youyu actually quite likes this little jellyfish-head.
Yubel is undoubtedly Judai's destined partner, so sparing her serves as a favor to his apprentice.
...Of course, daring to launch a night assault on the master can't possibly just let slide.
Punishment is definitely due.
Youyu surveys Yubel sitting limply on the ground, considering what benefits might be extracted from this spirit.
This spirit's card can't be taken—it's the apprentice's spirit after all, Youyu insists as a principled master, never coveting the apprentice's spirit's form.
Besides, Yubel would never submit to anyone other than Judai, asking her to follow him wouldn't be possible.
Speaking of which, Yubel's Duel Disc during her duel was quite intriguing.
Her Duel Disc seemed to transform directly from her body, unlike Youyu's acquired future technology Duel Discs—apparently mystical in creation. Youyu was intrigued by this mystical side Duel Disc, interested to see...
Yet, it seemed Yubel misread Youyu's scanning look up and down, her face terrified, she guarded herself with her wings, cautiously asking, "You... what do you intend to do?"