Scapeghost—if he remembered correctly, Kira recalled it should be a Tuner monster.
Not surprising. He'd already seen Tuner monsters in this pre-Synchro era, though nobody had yet discovered their true potential. To modern duelists, they were just regular Effect Monsters.
So, in the future, those tokens would signal a Synchro Summon next turn, but for now, they were likely just tribute fodder.
In that case—
"My turn. Draw."
The bishop drew a card. The Duel Disks displayed "Draw Phase," then switched to "Standby Phase."
At that instant, Kira snapped his fingers.
"I activate my set card—
Trap Card: 'Needle Ceiling!'"
A trap flipped up. Above both fields, a metallic ceiling bristling with spikes appeared, crashing down like a mountain!
"Needle Ceiling can only be activated if there are four or more monsters on the field," Kira explained. "It destroys all face-up monsters!"
The bishop's brow twitched. The congregation murmured.
There were indeed five monsters—four on the bishop's side, one on Kira's. But Kira's monster was Uria!
Was he really going to trade Uria for four 0-ATK tokens?
But the bishop quickly realized, frowning: "Uria... does the Sacred Beast have trap immunity?"
"Correct." Kira smiled. "Traps don't affect the Sacred Beasts."
(In the anime, all three Sacred Beasts are immune to Traps; only Spells activated this turn can affect them.)
"So only your monsters are destroyed," Kira said.
Uria lifted his head proudly, roaring with arrogance.
The spiked ceiling crashed down, skewering the four sheep tokens and shattering them instantly.
The bishop paused, eyes narrowing.
"So you destroyed my tributes, saw through my strategy and countered it in advance. As expected, you really are a worthy chosen one."
There it was again—like the Allure Queen's words last time.
"What, hoping I'll join you?" Kira smiled.
"You have the potential. More importantly, you possess astonishing inner darkness. Maybe you haven't noticed, or you're just deliberately ignoring it.
No matter. We'll help you accept your true self."
The bishop slowly played another card.
"I Normal Summon 'Beast Striker.'"
A beast warrior covered in black fur, wielding a massive iron hammer, appeared.
[Beast Striker, ATK 1850]
"Beast Striker's effect: once per turn, discard a card to Special Summon a 'Moja' from the Deck."
He discarded a card.
"Special Summon 'Moja' from the Deck."
[Moja, ATK 100]
"Next, I activate 'King of the Beasts' effect from the Graveyard!" the bishop said. "By tributing a face-up 'Moja,' I can Special Summon it from my hand or Graveyard.
I tribute 'Moja' to revive—
—King of the Beasts!"
A giant beast, its body covered in black fur, rose from the Graveyard, golden limbs emerging, its face hideous.
[King of the Beasts, ATK 2500]
Kira: "Was it discarded by 'Card Destruction'?"
"Indeed." The bishop sneered. "As I said, 'Card Destruction' gives both sides equal graveyard resources—risk and opportunity alike."
"But that's not enough to defeat Uria," Kira warned. "'Needle Ceiling' just increased my Graveyard's Trap count, so Uria's ATK rises again."
[Uria, ATK 3000]
"I know." The bishop nodded. "Then I activate the Equip Spell 'Axe of Despair,' equipping 'King of the Beasts' and boosting its ATK by 1,000!"
[King of the Beasts, ATK 2500→3500]
The bishop raised his hand. "Battle.
'King of the Beasts,' attack 'Uria, Lord of Searing Flames!'"
King of the Beasts roared, fur bristling like arrows, launching a barrage at Uria.
Uria roared back, but even the Sacred Beast couldn't withstand this onslaught. Its red body was pierced and exploded into a fireball.
[Kira, LP 4000→3500]
The congregation erupted in cheers. The Sacred Beast seemed nothing special, easily defeated by their Evil God.
"Next, 'Beast Striker' attacks directly!"
The beast warrior, hammer raised, charged at Kira.
"Then I activate my set card," Kira said. "Quick-Play Spell: 'Scapegoat.'
I Special Summon four Sheep Tokens to my field."
Four balls of light appeared, each forming a dozing sheep in a monster zone.
[Sheep Token, DEF 0]×4
"Sheeps aren't your exclusive privilege," Kira smirked.
The bishop didn't mind. "Then 'Beast Striker' will smash one of them first."
Beast Striker changed targets, smashing a sheep to pieces.
"I set a card and end my turn."
The bishop chuckled.
"Sacred Beast Uria, defeated. Seems these so-called Sacred Beasts aren't all that."
"Is that really so?" Kira replied, a dangerous smile on his lips.
"What?"
Kira didn't answer directly.
"My turn. Draw."
Moments later, to everyone's shock, a pillar of molten fire shot skyward! Flames spun like hell's own wrath, forming a dragon's silhouette. That red, lava-like body roared, flames in its jaws, tail lashing and raising clouds of dust.
Uria, Lord of Searing Flames, revived!