"So this is the ultimate complete form."
Kira lifted his head and looked at Yubel, who had already transformed into a colossal monster before him.
Indeed, in this form Yubel's aura was far stronger than before—probably reaching the peak of what her current state could achieve. The third-stage "The Ultimate Nightmare" was her final form, the one she had transformed into during her time in space after being affected by the waves of the Light of Destruction.
But facing this enormous fiend, the corners of Kira's mouth curled upward slightly.
Yubel snapped, "What's so funny?"
"Nothing. It's just that the so-called 'ultimate' means the final strongest… but it also means your path of evolution has reached its endpoint."
Kira shrugged.
"It only proves there's no road beyond this. Or put another way…"
He narrowed his eyes.
"It's a dead end."
"What?"
Yubel felt she was being looked down on again.
It wasn't the first or second time during this duel. Before, fine—but now, after he'd seen her final form, this terrifying posture overflowing with demonic power, he still reacted like this. How could she not feel anger surging up?
"You disagree? Fine. Then I'll prove it with facts."
Kira slapped down another Monster Card.
"I Normal Summon 'Gladiator Beast Laquari'."
Flames rolled across the field. In the fire, the outline of a fierce tiger rapidly took shape. The savage tiger warrior, wreathed in fire, landed in the arena.
[Gladiator Beast Laquari, ATK 1800]
Then Kira swept his hand and issued commands to his Gladiator Beasts once again.
"'Gladiator Beast Augustus,' 'Gladiator Beast Laquari,' and 'Gladiator Beast Murmillo'—return these three Gladiator Beasts on the field to the Deck. Triple Contact Fusion!"
Yubel: "A triple Contact Fusion!?"
"The Fusion requirements are 'Gladiator Beast Augustus' plus any two Gladiator Beast monsters."
Under Kira's direction, the Gladiator Beasts on the field turned into three pillars of light with Augustus at the core. The three pillars merged into one, tearing open a vortex in the air that looked like a passageway to ancient Rome. A storm of time and space erupted from within, and the soul of an ancient king seemed to stride across a thousand years and descend onto the field.
[Gladiator Beast Andabata, ATK 1000]
Yubel forced down her unease. "You went to all this trouble just to Fusion Summon something with only 1000 ATK…"
"Is that really so?" Kira said, striking a stylish pose.
"Nani?"
"Gladiator Beast Andabata's effect!" Kira declared. "When Andabata is Special Summoned, I can Special Summon 1 Gladiator Beast Fusion Monster from my Extra Deck, except 'Gladiator Beast Andabata,' ignoring its Summoning conditions!"
The Extra Deck compartment of Kira's Duel Disk sprang open automatically, and a card popped into his hand. A green storm erupted from the card, and the king of gladiators descended with a fearsome reputation that echoed across ancient battlefields—
Gladiator Beast Gyzarus, Summon!
[Gladiator Beast Gyzarus, ATK 2400]
"When Gladiator Beast Gyzarus is Special Summoned, I activate its monster effect," Kira said. "I can destroy up to two cards on the field!"
Yubel: "!"
He can blow things up again!?
In that instant, Yubel understood what he meant by "ultimate is also the end."
He was right.
Yubel — The Ultimate Nightmare: this posture was not only her final form, but also her last. Like a boss entering its final berserk phase at low HP. This phase was the strongest and most ferocious—but it also meant it was its last life.
No more HP gates, no more "cheat death" pass. If she was taken down this time, it would mean true annihilation.
"Gladiator Beast Gyzarus."
When Kira gave the command, he sounded almost like a reaper delivering judgment.
"Destroy 'Yubel — The Ultimate Nightmare,' and one of the set cards in the back row."
Of course, he knew one of the back row cards was probably "Emergency Provisions." Even if it got destroyed, it could still be chained. Which one got hit would come down to luck.
Yubel said coldly, "I chain my set card—Trap Card 'Waboku'!
For the rest of this turn after this card resolves, monsters cannot be destroyed by battle, and any battle damage you would take becomes 0."
At the hair's-breadth moment before Gyzarus's steel wings pierced through, the Trap activated. A nun holding a talisman appeared on the field, closed her eyes, and chanted, placing a final protective barrier over Yubel's field.
"I chain another set card—Trap Card 'Gift of The Mystical Elf.' I gain Life Points equal to the number of monsters on the field × 300.
Right now there are Gyzarus, Andabata, and The Ultimate Nightmare, so I recover 900!"
"And I also activate my other set card," Yubel shouted, "Quick-Play Spell 'Emergency Provisions'!
By sending Spell/Trap cards I control to the GY, I gain 1000 Life Points for each."
She pulled out several back row Spell/Traps in one go.
"I send Continuous Spell 'Mirage of Nightmare,' 'Precious Cards from Beyond,' the 'Waboku' currently resolving, and 'Gift of The Mystical Elf'—four cards total—to the GY, for a total recovery of 4900 Life Points!"
The back row vanished all at once and merged into Yubel's body, restoring a huge chunk of LP.
[Yubel, LP 4800 → 9700]
"9700 Life Points," Kira said, resting his chin on his hand. "Scary."
The onlooker, Vampire Fraulein, said lazily, "I think it's scarier that Master can say that with zero emotion."
Silent Magician, who stood to the side holding her staff as a guardian, didn't speak either—but she nodded in agreement.
They'd seen plenty of big villains while following Kira, but somehow they hadn't really seen anyone more frightening than their master…
And now yet another villain who'd returned from training beyond the world looked like she wasn't far from breaking down.
Even though the Trap cards themselves had disappeared from the field, their effects had already gone through. The barrier of Waboku protected Yubel's field; even if it looked like she had nothing on the field now, it was still rock-solid.
But Kira didn't care.
"Then first—'Gladiator Beast Gyzarus,'" he said. "Direct attack on Yubel."
Yubel was startled. "You know it's pointless and you still attack?"
But she immediately understood.
No—it wasn't pointless.
His Gladiator Beasts… this Deck was built around triggering abilities through battle. Waboku could negate battle damage, but it couldn't negate the fact that a battle occurred.
Gyzarus spread its wings and took off, a transparent storm scattering steel feathers across the sky. Of course, the dense steel feathers all detonated on the barrier in front of Yubel, rippling without effect.
Kira remained indifferent and continued, "Then next—'Gladiator Beast Andabata,' direct attack on Yubel."
Andabata did the same, charging at Yubel. Naturally, the attack was blocked by the barrier, dealing no damage.
But Kira's goal had been achieved.
"During the End of the Battle Phase, the effects of 'Gladiator Beast Gyzarus' and 'Gladiator Beast Andabata'—both of which battled this turn—activate."
Kira said.
"Gyzarus returns to the Deck. Then I Special Summon two Gladiator Beasts from my Deck, except 'Gladiator Beast Bestiari.'
Andabata also returns to the Deck, and I can also Special Summon two 'Gladiator Beast' monsters from my Deck."
The two Gladiator Beasts turned into two beams of golden light and returned from the field, becoming cards that flew back into Kira's hand. He slotted them into the Duel Disk, which automatically stored them back into the Extra Deck compartment.
"Therefore, I Special Summon four Gladiator Beasts from my Deck!"
…