As Thunder slammed his card onto the duel disk, the air seemed to grow oppressively heavy. Thunder roared in the sealed underground space, as if the whole tunnel trembled.
A blinding bolt of lightning tore through the darkness, striking the center of the field. The radiance gathered, forming a towering, divine figure woven of electric light.
The Monarch who commands thunder appeared.
Kira was certainly no stranger to "Zaborg the Thunder Monarch." As a user of the Monarch series, he knew them all. But he had to admit, an Monarch with a spirit was on a different level—the mere aura at its appearance was completely different.
[Zaborg the Thunder Monarch, ATK 2400]
"The great Light grants me absolute power, embodied in this Zaborg the Thunder Monarch!" Thunder declared. "Thunder Monarch's effect activates! When this card is Tribute Summoned, I can destroy one monster on the field!"
He punched the air, pointing at Kira's set monster.
"No matter what wall you put up, it'll disappear now!"
Lightning gathered in the Thunder Monarch's hand like a javelin. Kira's set monster flipped up—a small, adorable bird curled in a ring of airflow, which let out a sad cry as it was destroyed.
[Air Sphere, DEF 300]
Of course, this was a card he took from Kagemaru. Kira found this manga-exclusive deck interesting and had recently finished tuning it. Today was a good chance to test it.
"Heh, just a fodder monster," Thunder sneered. "Also, when Thunder Monarch is successfully summoned, this guy's effect in my hand activates—
—Illusory Snatcher!"
A shadow separated from Zaborg, forming a new body in the mist, taking on a form similar to the Thunder Monarch but darker, with red glowing eyes.
[Illusory Snatcher, ATK 2400]
"When you Tribute Summon a monster, you can Special Summon this card from your hand. Its Type, Attribute, and Level become the same as the Tribute Summoned monster," Thunder explained.
With 2400 ATK/1000 DEF, it was clearly Monarch-support.
"Now I activate my trap too," Kira said. "Trap Card 'Soul Rope'! When a monster is destroyed, I pay 1000 LP to Special Summon a Level 4 monster from my deck." (Anime effect)
Printed card version only triggers if destroyed by a card effect, but in the anime, this was a go-to card for summoning the three knights for God card tributes.
[Kira, LP 4000→LP 3000]
"Pay 1000 LP, Special Summon 'Synthesize Sphere' from the deck!"
A Level 4 Sphere emerged from his deck in a flash of light, wings spread to defend the field.
[Synthesize Sphere, DEF 1000]
"Heh? Summoning more fodder?" Thunder sneered. "But these will also be crushed by the Monarchs."
"Synthesize Sphere's effect," Kira interrupted, "When summoned, Special Summon a Level 4 or lower 'Sphere' from the graveyard.
Revive 'Air Sphere'."
[Air Sphere, DEF 300]
"Tch, your wall fodder sure recovers fast," Thunder grunted, then shot a glance at his teammate. "Alright, I've cleared the fodder, you handle the finishing blow."
Frost pouted. "Easy for you to say, just dumping the tough job on me?"
Thunder ignored him, waving forward. "Go! Zaborg the Thunder Monarch, crush the fodder!"
Thunder Monarch launched another lightning javelin. But the Air Sphere screeched, and the lightning was dispersed by its air barrier, vanishing.
"What?" Thunder was shocked. "How can such fodder block the Thunder Monarch..."
"Air Sphere's effect: as long as there's another 'Sphere' on my field, your monsters can't declare an attack," Kira said.
"Ugh, fodder with annoying effects," Thunder spat.
Frost looked at him, unimpressed. "So you didn't even manage to clear the field."
"Shut up! I at least summoned Thunder Monarch and Illusory Snatcher, so all you need to do is attack mindlessly with the power I left you. Isn't that enough?"
Seeing them about to bicker, Kira ignored them and drew his card. "My turn. Draw."
"Activate Spell 'Graceful Charity'—draw three, then discard two."
"I discard 'Learning Elf.' When sent to the grave, I draw a card."
He drew again.
"Next, I activate 'Downbeat.' Tribute a face-up monster to Special Summon from the deck a monster with the same Type and Attribute, but one Level lower.
I tribute 'Synthesize Sphere.'"
Synthesize Sphere turned into golden light and vanished.
"That's a Level 4 WIND Winged Beast," Frost noted.
Kira nodded. "Exactly. So I can Special Summon a Level 3 WIND Winged Beast from the deck:
—Transforming Sphere!"
A new Air Sphere appeared, spreading its wings on the field.
[Transforming Sphere, ATK 100]
Both opponents were stunned.
All that effort, just to summon a 100 ATK fodder?
"Now, Continuous Spell 'Level Limit – Area B'! All Level 4 or higher monsters on the field are forced into Defense Position."
[Zaborg the Thunder Monarch, ATK 2400 → DEF 1000]
[Illusory Snatcher, ATK 2400 → DEF 1000]
Both opponents' faces changed.
Another attack lock!
Especially Level Limit – Area B, a staple in stall decks, notorious for locking out attacks.
Compared to Gravity Bind, it was even worse for Monarchs, since while their ATK is high, their DEF is only 1000—a major weakness.
"Trying to exploit Monarchs' low DEF?" Thunder growled.
But soon they realized how naive that thought was.
Kira just smiled and kept playing.
"Transforming Sphere's effect: by discarding a card, I can absorb one of your Defense Position monsters until the end of the turn." (Anime effect)
He calmly discarded two cards to the grave.
"I discard two cards, and absorb both your Zaborg the Thunder Monarch and Illusory Snatcher."
Thunder: "…"
Frost: "…"