"Gladiator Beast Augustus, summon!"
A bird-beast Gladiator draped in darkness—bearing an ancient king's name—descended amidst a storm of black wind. Its pitch-black armor looked like it had been tempered a thousand times on forgotten battlefields. On its broad wings gleamed avian talons.
[Gladiator Beast Augustus, ATK 2600]
Yubel's expression sank.
Special Summon from the Deck after battle… so that had been the true purpose of the battle just now?
But even knowing that Yubel couldn't be destroyed by battle—and would reflect battle damage—he still insisted on bringing out a high-level monster like this.
Something was off.
"Effect of Gladiator Beast Augustus: when this card is Special Summoned by the effect of a 'Gladiator Beast' monster, I can Special Summon 1 'Gladiator Beast' monster from my hand in Defense Position."
Kira played another card from his hand.
"Special Summon 'Gladiator Beast Murmillo' from my hand!"
A Sea Serpent-style Gladiator warrior—one of the most common low-level Gladiator Beasts—appeared as a blue vortex of water erupted like a fountain. The blue, fish-bodied gladiator dove onto the field, twin turbines behind it spinning at full speed.
[Gladiator Beast Murmillo, ATK 800]
"Murmillo's effect: when this card is Special Summoned by the effect of a Gladiator Beast monster, destroy 1 face-up monster on the field." Kira snapped. "Destroy 'Yubel'!"
The turbines roared, and a high-pressure water blast fired straight at Yubel!
Yubel understood immediately—and smiled.
"I see. Right: I can't be destroyed by battle, and battle damage reflects. But if you destroy me by effect, you can deal with me cleanly. That's what you're thinking, right?"
She snorted, her smile widening.
"But will it really be that simple?"
Boom!
The water blast hit Yubel head-on. She exploded on the spot, shattered into fragments by the surging torrent.
But Yubel did not leave the field.
As the smoke and spray cleared, something larger took her place—a more massive silhouette.
Yubel had completely lost her humanoid shape, transforming into a demonic dragon: two dragon heads, long necks, a blood-red single eye opening in the center of her chest, and blade-like claws for hands and feet.
Yubel — Terror Incarnate, summon!
With the Terror Incarnate's descent, the pressure and aura erupting from Yubel's core surged dramatically!
"Yubel — Terror Incarnate can only appear when the 'Yubel' on my field is destroyed by a card effect!"
Even Yubel's narration had changed—no longer a feminine voice, but a heavy, unnatural blend, as if male and female overlapped.
[Yubel — Terror Incarnate, ATK 0]
"Ten years—ten full years—the torment I endured, the pain I suffered, is beyond anything you can imagine!" Yubel roared in that distorted voice. "But you think that's all? Compared to what came after, that pain was nothing!
The true torment is being unneeded—being abandoned—being hated! And what that darkness becomes… is this ultimate demonic form!"
Kira rested his chin on his hand. "Mm. Sounds like it really wasn't easy."
"I activate the Quick-Play Spell 'Burial from a Different Dimension'," Yubel said coldly. "Return up to three monsters that were removed from play by either player to the Graveyard.
I return 'Samsara Lotus'—the one you removed from play—to the Graveyard."
Kira nodded. "So your target is still the Lotus + Yubel package."
But Kira remembered: only Yubel's base form needed to tribute monsters to maintain itself. The second form shouldn't need that—both in the anime and the real card game.
So her goal was…
"I activate the Continuous Spell 'Mirage of Nightmare'," Yubel said. "During your opponent's Standby Phase, I can draw until I have four cards in hand."
"Next, I set three cards to my back row."
"End Phase: 'Samsara Lotus' in my Graveyard Special Summons itself to the field," Yubel said.
With the anime effect, Lotus could revive itself at the End Phase as long as it existed in the Graveyard—no cost required.
Of course, it had to be Special Summoned in Attack Position. So unless it had a special purpose, it was basically just leaving a 0 ATK target on the field.
[Samsara Lotus, ATK 0]
"And also in the End Phase, Yubel — Terror Incarnate's effect activates!" Yubel shouted. "In the End Phase, Yubel — Terror Incarnate must destroy all other monsters on my field!
Then, based on the number of monsters destroyed, I destroy the same number of monsters on your field!" (anime effect)
(This differs from the real card version; the real effect is much simpler—just "destroy all other monsters on the field," essentially.)
"Taste this pain with me!"
The first to be consumed was Samsara Lotus. It had barely revived before it was dragged into Yubel's erupting chaotic vortex and shredded into pieces by brutal energy.
"Accordingly, I can destroy one monster on your field."
Yubel narrowed her eyes and pointed a claw at Augustus.
"Gladiator Beast Augustus, disappear!"
The same vortex appeared under Augustus's feet. Violent energy erupted upward!
"I activate my set card," Kira said. "Continuous Trap 'Dimension Guardian.'
Target 1 Attack Position monster I control. This Trap protects that monster from being destroyed by battle, and also from being destroyed by card effects."
Yubel's furious strike slammed into Augustus, but it was completely blocked by the Dimensional barrier—without leaving even a crack.
"Damn it!" Yubel snapped. "Why!? Why won't you just die like you're supposed to!?"
"Sorry," Kira said, putting on an innocent look. "People do say I'm hard to get rid of."
"And in this End Phase, because Gladiator Beast Murmillo was Special Summoned by Gladiator Beast Augustus's effect, Murmillo must return to the Deck."
The twin water turbines activated again. Water wrapped around Murmillo, turning it into a stream that flew back into Kira's Deck.
Yubel's face was dark with rage. She stared at Augustus for a moment, then said heavily:
"My turn ends."
…