"My turn!"
Mai gave Yugi no chance to breathe.
She swiftly drew a card, her eyes flashing like lightning as they locked onto Yugi's newly set, ambiguous card in the back row.
Her face showed no hint of carelessness—only absolute control over victory and the cold determination to crush her opponent completely.
"Yugi, I'm not like you!"
Her voice was sharp and decisive, the proclamation of someone on the verge of triumph.
"I won't give you any chance to turn this around! Spell Card activate—[Harpie's Feather Duster]!"
"Kreeee!"
A piercing shriek tore through the air!
A massive feather glowing with holy golden light appeared out of nowhere, carrying the power to cleanse all. It became a devastating golden storm that swept across Yugi's back row in an instant!
"No—!"
Yugi's desperate cry was drowned out by the roar of energy.
The Trap Card he had set—his last hope, his final struggle—was shredded like paper before it could even activate, dissolving into countless motes of light!
His back row was wiped clean!
Mai's arm cut downward like a spear of judgment, pointing at Yugi's [Winged Dragon, Guardian of the Fortress #1] to deliver the final blow.
"[Harpie Lady]! Attack [Winged Dragon, Guardian of the Fortress #1]! Shredding Cyclone!"
"Gyaaaah—!"
With a pitiful cry, the feeble dragon was pulverized instantly beneath [Harpie Lady]'s raging claws!
"Now!"
Yugi's voice rang with resolve as he snapped up a card in his hand.
"I activate the effect of [Kuriboh]! By sending it to the Graveyard, I can take no battle damage from this attack!"
The golden furball flashed and vanished, forming a warm barrier that barely stopped the surge of claws that followed the destruction of [Winged Dragon, Guardian of the Fortress #1]!
"Hmph! Still struggling on the brink of defeat?"
Though a bit surprised, Mai's confidence didn't waver. With Yugi's empty field and only 500 Life Points left, the scales of victory were still hers. Her tone carried mocking disdain.
"Yugi, your life is like a candle in the wind!"
Oh?
From the stands, Yuto's lips curved knowingly.
That line… was always a sign of defeat.
There would always be someone who challenged those words…
"Your turn's over, Mai Valentine!"
Yugi's voice suddenly rose, sharper than steel drawn from its sheath.
"Now—it's my turn!"
For reasons she couldn't explain, Mai's heart skipped a beat.
The boy before her—his confusion and anxiety had vanished, replaced by calm as deep as a still pond and a burning fighting spirit.
His entire presence had transformed!
"Draw!"
Yugi's motion was swift and certain. The card he drew gleamed with the light of hope!
At once, he slapped it onto his Duel Disk.
"Spell Card activate—[Giant Trunade]!"
WHOOSH!!!
A violent, unseen whirlwind swept across the arena!
The sheer force of the gale made it nearly impossible to keep one's eyes open!
"What?!"
Mai stared in horror as her back row—her indomitable [Mirror Wall] and two set Traps—were lifted like leaves in a storm, all swept back into her hand!
Stripped of [Mirror Wall]'s protection, [Harpie Lady]'s glow dimmed instantly, her Attack dropping sharply: [Harpie Lady, ATK: 1800 → 1300]!
The impenetrable defense shattered in an instant!
"This turn decides everything!"
Yugi's voice was unyielding, his words the sound of judgment.
"The duel is settled! I Summon—[Dark Magician]!"
A glowing purple hexagram array blazed on the floor!
Waves of magic surged outward like a tsunami!
Clad in violet robes, wielding his arcane staff—the ultimate spellcaster, [Dark Magician], descended with unmatched majesty!
[Dark Magician] Level 7│DARK│Spellcaster│2500 ATK
His Attack power overwhelmed Mai's monster! But Yugi wasn't finished!
"Spell Card activate! Equip Spell—[Book of Secret Arts]! I equip it to [Dark Magician]!"
A spectral tome radiating ancient magic appeared at his side, its power flooding into his staff!
"[Dark Magician]'s Attack rises by 300!"
[Dark Magician, ATK: 2500 → 2800]
"And it's not over yet!"
Yugi's eyes blazed as he slammed another card down.
"Second Equip Spell—[Mage Power]! Its effect: the equipped monster gains 500 Attack for every Spell and Trap I control!"
On his field, the face-up cards were [Book of Secret Arts] and [Mage Power]!
That's 2 cards!
"So [Dark Magician] gains another 1000 Attack!"
The staff in [Dark Magician]'s hands erupted with unparalleled brilliance, magic roaring around him like a storm!
His Attack skyrocketed like a rocket!
[Dark Magician, ATK: 2800 → 3800]
The terrifying aura of his magic froze the air itself!
3800 Attack points—like a divine spear of judgment—locked onto Mai's lone [Harpie Lady]!
Her face drained of color. Staring at the purple-robed spellcaster exuding raw destruction, her mind could only reel in disbelief.
'3800… Impossible! How could he unleash such strength from the brink of defeat?!'
"Mai!"
Yugi's voice thundered like a great bell, the sound of final judgment.
"This duel ends now! [Dark Magician]! Attack [Harpie Lady]! Black Magic!!"
The tip of [Dark Magician]'s staff gathered a black orb, compressed to the utmost, devouring the very light around it!
At Yugi's command, the orb erupted into a destructive torrent of violet energy, engulfing the terrified [Harpie Lady] in an instant!
"Uwaaaahhh!!!"
With her monster obliterated, the crushing force of the virtual blast slammed into Mai herself!
Her [Harpie Lady] left not even ashes, and her Life Points shattered before the overwhelming 3800 Attack—
[Mai, LP: 0]
...
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