King of the End - Demis, destroy!
The massive World-Ending Demon God turned into ashes and exited the field, and the oppressive atmosphere of the entire field seemed to decrease slightly. The strange blue flames on Sher dispersed slightly, but he was still panting.
"You actually defeated the King of the End..." Sher exhaled, "I underestimated you; you're not just ordinary kids."
"It's not over yet."
Judai revealed two more cards from his hand.
"Magic Card 'Double Attack'! Discard one Monster Card from your hand to the graveyard and choose one monster on your field with a lower level than the discarded monster, allowing that monster to attack twice in a turn.
I discard Level 5 'Elemental Hero Dark Necrofear' from my hand to select the Level 4 'Elemental Hero Bubbleman' on the field. This turn, Bubbleman can attack twice!
Then enter the Battle Phase!
Judai swung his arm, signaling the heroes to charge.
"First, 'Elemental Hero Ion Clamp', attack the covered monster!" Judai said, "When Ion Clamp attacks a monster in Defense Position, if its Attack Power exceeds that Defense Power, it inflicts piercing damage to the opponent with that difference!"
"Then activate the Cover Card!" Sher's backfield also activated, "Trap Card 'Absorption Shield'!
When an opponent's monster declares an attack, that attack is negated, and I gain Life Points equal to that monster's Attack Power!"
A transparent absorption barrier unfolded, shimmering with rainbow-like light. The electric bombardment from Ion Clamp struck the transparent barrier, transforming into surging energy absorbed into Sher's body.
[Sher, LP 4800→LP 7600]
"Ah, his LP keeps increasing... then 'Elemental Hero Bubbleman', attack the covered monster! Bubble Shot!"
Bubbleman crouched on the ground, carrying his bubble cannon, and a series of bubbles fired, wrapped in flowing water, clearing away the covered monster on the field.
A pot-shaped, one-eyed monster with a sneaky, sinister grin.
Transformation Pot!
Yugen slightly frowned.
Goodness, quietly laying down another formidable thing.
[Transformation Pot, Defense Power 600]
"The effect of Transformation Pot, when this card is flipped, both players discard all cards in their hands." Sher said, "Then all players draw five cards each from their decks."
With hands changed again, Transformation Pot was immediately shattered by the impact of the bubbles.
Judai: "Due to 'Double Attack's effect, this turn Bubbleman can attack twice!
Go, Bubbleman's direct attack! Bubble Shot!"
The bubble cannon on Bubbleman's shoulder fired again, a series of bubbles bursting forward, exploding on Sher's face. Sher staggered backward, retreating a few steps.
[Sher, LP 7600→LP 6000]
"This level isn't nearly enough." Sher stubbornly stood up.
Judai: "I set two cards on the field, ending my turn."
Then he looked at Yugen with a slight apology: "Sorry, his Life Points increased..."
"It's okay, you've broken his formation." Yugen said.
Judai gave him a thumbs up: "I knew our cooperation would be invincible!"
Sher silently watched, his face twitching, seeming even more discontent.
"Companions, companions... it's because of this that you'll be weak."
Judai: "What did you say?"
"Heroes are lonely, and they must be. It's the destiny of a swordsman."
Judai pondered for a moment, then said, "You keep saying to abandon companions and elves... but I think you haven't fully let go, have you?"
"What?"
"Nephthys' Phoenix God, you say it betrayed you, but you still carry it, you still have this deck, don't you?" Judai said, "If as you say, your family has preserved this card for generations, you considered it a friend since childhood, maybe it's not so easy to let go?"
"Don't be ridiculous." Sher said coldly, "I just said, a duel is merely for victory. Whether it's the Phoenix God or King of the End, they are merely swords in a duelist's hand, nothing more than to play the role of a sword.
Any weapon that can be used should be used to the fullest, and that's all."
"Is that so? Then why did you purposely come to this place, this dimension, to seek out this hidden site?" Judai said, "I guess it's not your first search, right?
You've been traveling around, searching for the Phoenix God's traces because you want to meet its elf, don't you?"
"Nonsense. I'm doing this just to capture the elf's power for my own use." Sher was unmoved, "Or perhaps I'm seeking revenge for its cold indifference to us back then?"
"That's what I thought at first, but through a duel, you can understand that's not the case." Judai shook his head, "A duel is a clash of hearts, through dueling, one can understand each other.
You're strong, possibly the strongest duelist I've ever faced. Though you say monsters are just to be used, from the duel just now, I can feel you have a heart that believes in your cards and monsters, you are a true duelist."
"Utter nonsense, utter nonsense..."
"You can certainly deny it." Judai continued, "It doesn't matter how you deny, but can you truly convince yourself with such words?"
Sher: "......"
Yugen was silent, but inside he started to admire Judai's ability to use the protagonist's mouth escape, a skill passed down in Yu-Gi-Oh!
Honestly, after this mouth escape, Yugen could faintly feel the opponent's aura seemed weaker.
In the terms of the Academy's drawing course, it's like Judai as a duelist suppressed the opponent with his 'momentum'.
"Shut up."
Sher shook his head, saying coldly.
"Full of nonsense. It's just a duel, what do you know? How can you understand my thoughts?
My turn, draw!"
He drew a card forcefully, pulling out a card from his deck that made a massive arc.
"At the moment of entering the Standby Phase, 'Nephthys' Phoenix God' in the graveyard is reactivated!" Sher raised his voice, "Because 'Nephthys' Phoenix God' was destroyed by the effect of 'King of the End - Demis' last turn, its effect activates!
This turn's Standby Phase, Nephthys' Phoenix God will be reborn in Nirvana!"
A pillar of Phoenix Flame shot into the sky, a golden phoenix spreading its wings within the green light barrier, the Phoenix Flame gathering, gradually recreating the form of the golden divine bird.
"Then Phoenix God, subsequent effect activation! When revived by its own effect, destroy all Magic and Trap Cards on the field!" Sher laughed heartily, "The combination of King of the End and Phoenix God means every turn the King of the End clears the field, and the next turn the Phoenix God will be reborn in Nirvana, sweeping all back row!
No Cover Card's defense is meaningful in front of this combination; you have no choice but destruction..."
"Activate Cover Card!" Judai interrupted his incantation, "Trap Card 'Lost'!
Remove a card from your opponent's graveyard from the game!"
Sher: "!"
What? You're actually digging up my grave!? Was this card printed on the spot?
"So, I remove your 'Nephthys Phoenix God' from the game!" Judai said, "'Nephthys' Phoenix God' is no longer in the graveyard during the effect process and thus cannot be Special Summoned, but will be removed from this game!"
The flame in midair morphed into the shape of Phoenix God but quickly became a transparent phantom.
However, in this way, it instead broke free from the Orichalcos' bind.
The sealed mark on the Phoenix God's forehead shattered; its semi-transparent body burned silently in midair, looking down and locking eyes with Sher.
Sher unconsciously looked up at it.
"Phoenix God..."
In a daze, he seemed to hear a voice coming from the far distant side, a weak voice breaking through layers of barriers, coming from another time and space.
"Sorry..."
Then the image of the phoenix completely burned out and disappeared from the field.
Sher: "..."
He was silent for a few seconds without speaking.
"Indeed, the bond between you and the elves had never been broken." Judai continued, "It was merely blinded by the forces of evil, wasn't it?
There must be other hidden truths about what happened back then..."
"My turn continues, entering the Main Phase." Sher coldly interrupted.
"Sher?" Judai frowned.
"Anyway, it's meaningless to talk about this. I'm no longer the heir of the Phoenix God; I am one of the Three Musketeers of New Doma, and that is all I ever will be."
Sher lifted his head, saying grimly.
"I will defeat you here... then continue to move forward."