Yubel, summon!
As her true form descended, Yubel's aura—and her confidence—seemed to swell even further. Of course, that didn't mean she'd forgotten there were still troublesome problems left unresolved on the field.
"Effect of the Continuous Spell 'Precious Cards from Beyond'. Because I performed a Tribute Summon using two tributes, I draw two cards from my Deck."
Yubel drew two cards. After only a glance, she immediately revealed one of them.
"I activate the Spell Card 'Magic Planter'. Send a Continuous Spell on the field to the Graveyard, then draw two cards from the Deck." (anime effect)
Yubel pulled a Continuous Spell from her back row slot, flashed it briefly, then slid it into the Graveyard.
"I send the Continuous Spell 'Kishido Spirit' to the Graveyard and draw two cards."
Yubel drew two more.
Kira: "Terrifying sustain. You're refilling ammo until it overflows in one go?"
Silent Magician made a gesture beside him. Kira met her eyes and smiled.
"Don't be careless? Don't worry—she can't threaten me. At least, not in her current state."
He wasn't speaking quietly, nor did he bother to hide it. Yubel heard every word—and her anger flared.
"You still have time to flirt during my duel!"
Feeling slighted yet again, Yubel raised her voice and revealed another card in her hand.
"I activate the Spell Card 'Soul Taker'!
Destroy one monster on your opponent's field, then your opponent gains 1000 Life Points."
A projection of the Spell appeared behind her. From its artwork, a demonic claw seemed to thrust out. Its fingers spread wide, as if unleashing boundless gravity.
Zaborg the Thunder Monarch—was instantly seized by that pull. He dug in his heels, gritting his teeth, his body trembling from the strain. But soon, a mass of golden energy was torn from within him—like a soul being ripped free—and dragged into the card.
Zaborg's body became an empty shell. It froze for a few seconds, then cracks spiderwebbed across it—crack, crack—and it shattered, scattering debris across the ground.
[Kira, LP 4000 → 5000]
The fallen spirit of Zaborg the Thunder Monarch reverted to a ghostly state. With an apologetic look, it dropped to one knee as if begging forgiveness.
Kira waved it off. "It's fine. You did great. Let the others have a chance to shine next."
"That means your damned Rainbow Veil is destroyed too," Yubel snorted.
"That's true."
Kira nodded, smiling.
"Looks like you're really afraid of this card."
Yubel froze, then snapped, "I-I'm not!"
But being told that made a strange feeling rise in her. This duel felt like running a gauntlet—like her opponent had prepared layer after layer of obstacles, each more perilous than the last.
Every time she struggled through a barrier and thought daylight was finally breaking through, she'd realize it had only been an appetizer. The real threat was still waiting ahead.
Yubel shook her head, forcing away the uneasy thought.
"Battle!"
She shouted it—partly to bolster her momentum, partly to steady herself.
"Yubel, attack 'Grinder Golem'!"
[Yubel, ATK 0]
[Grinder Golem, ATK 3000]
Kira: "What!? Attacking with a monster that has 0 ATK!?"
Yubel felt she'd regained a bit of face, and smirked. "Heh. Yubel's effect is: no matter what, it cannot be destroyed by battle.
All battle damage from battles involving this card becomes 0, and after each battle, it inflicts damage to the opponent equal to the amount of damage that was reduced to 0." (anime effect)
Kira was shocked. "So this is why you gave me Grinder Golem. Once this combo is online, you can deal a massive 3000 damage in one shot."
Yubel grinned proudly. "Exactly!"
Eye was practically speechless. "With acting this over-the-top, she actually bought it…"
"Really? I think it's soul acting."
Kira put away his surprised look and smiled.
"But since you put it that way…"
He slowly raised his right arm.
"I activate a face-down card—Trap Card 'Intruder Alarm - Yellow Alert'!
When the opponent declares an attack: Special Summon 1 monster from your hand, and your opponent must attack that monster." (anime effect)
As he spoke, he revealed a monster in his hand.
"With you as my opponent, these guys are perfect," he said with a mysterious grin. "Come—Gladiator Beast Darius!"
"Gladiator Beast?"
Yubel frowned. It was something new that had appeared while she was away from Earth—another blind spot in her knowledge.
A bipedal, horse-shaped Gladiator Beast warrior landed on Kira's field in a defensive crouch. It wore a gladiator's armor, and the long whip in its hand crackled with electricity.
[Gladiator Beast Darius, DEF 300]
"Only 300 DEF—so that's it."
Yubel chuckled, feeling like she'd seen through him.
"Right. You're forcing the attack target onto some trash with only 300 DEF. That way, the damage reflected back to you is only 300. Avoiding most of the damage with a trick like that—nice response."
She spoke casually.
"Then I'll attack 'Gladiator Beast Darius'."
She called it an attack, but Yubel's ATK was 0. Her specialty wasn't physical force—it was mental domination, seducing and controlling hearts.
Her heterochromatic eyes shimmered. The same eerie gleam appeared in the Gladiator Beast's eyes.
The warrior instantly roared, unable to resist. The electrified whip lashed down, striking Yubel's body.
At the same time, thorny vines shot up beneath Yubel, coiling into a circular barrier around her. The electric impact was absorbed completely by the vines—then surged back toward Kira in a roaring countercurrent!
[Kira, LP 5000 → 4700]
"You dodged it this time," Yubel sneered. "But next turn won't be so easy. If you don't want to die too fast, you'd better not leave monsters that are too powerful on your field."
As she spoke, she licked her lips.
"I loooove strong men~!"
Yubel still hadn't realized how serious the situation was.
Kira calmly brushed dust from himself. Then, with a shadowy smile, he said:
"You just attacked a Gladiator Beast, right?"
"Huh?"
Yubel blinked.
What kind of question was that?
"It's nothing," Kira said. "Just that you may have made the single most serious mistake in this entire duel."
He snapped his fingers.
"Effect of Gladiator Beast Darius," Kira said. "At the end of the Battle Phase, if this card battled: return it to its owner's Deck, then Special Summon 1 'Gladiator Beast' monster from the Deck, except 'Gladiator Beast Darius.'"
A beam of light shot out from his Deck.
"Come forth—Gladiator Beast Augustus!"
…