Transforming Sphere, absorb them all!
A storm raged as the Sphere's vortex unceremoniously sucked both Thunder Monarch and Illusory Snatcher into its massive air bubble, as if kidnapping them.
"Also, Transforming Sphere gains the absorbed monsters' total ATK—4800!" Kira announced.
[Transforming Sphere, ATK 0 → ATK 4900]
Thunder's face turned ugly.
His Thunder Monarch, embodiment of Light's blessing and his destiny—
No, there's definitely something wrong with this damn Sphere! It doesn't even have a once-per-turn limit…
Oh, and it's Level 3—just skirting under Level Limit – Area B, so the DEF lock doesn't affect it.
What kind of bird is this? It should be called Sphere Dog! This is a whole new level of trolling.
He suddenly recalled his words from last turn: "The monsters are all set up for you, just attack mindlessly."
He wasn't wrong—except the monsters were for his opponent, who could now KO him with mindless attacks.
"Transforming Sphere, direct attack."
Kira waved.
It was called a bird's attack, but it was really his own Thunder Monarch and Illusory Snatcher flying at him.
With a mix of anger and despair, Thunder was KO'd first.
[Thunder, LP 4000 → LP 0]
"Thunder!"
Frost shouted, eyes wide. But his teammate was already blasted away, tumbling into the corner, motionless.
"Set two cards. Turn end."
Kira said calmly.
"After attacking, Transforming Sphere switches to Defense Position."
[Transforming Sphere, DEF 100]
"But the absorbed monsters only stay for one turn; at the end of the turn, they return to your field.
Your friend's monsters are back—though with Level Limit Area B, they're stuck in Defense."
[Zaborg the Thunder Monarch, DEF 1000]
[Illusory Snatcher, DEF 1000]
"Tch, attack lock again…"
Frost spat.
"But don't underestimate me! I'm not like Thunder. Your lock can't stop me.
My turn, draw!"
Frost raised a card high.
"I tribute Thunder's Zaborg the Thunder Monarch for a Tribute Summon! Monarch of Frost, freeze all with your power—
—Mobius the Frost Monarch, summon!"
The field froze, snow swirling as the Frost Monarch descended, ice shattering beneath his feet.
[Mobius the Frost Monarch, ATK 2400]
"On summon, destroy up to two Spell/Trap cards on the field.
I destroy your 'Level Limit – Area B' and a set card!"
Mobius sent a blizzard at Kira's backrow.
"Then I activate Trap Card of Pandora,'" Kira said. "When one of my backrow is targeted, I can transfer that target to this card, then draw two cards." (Anime effect)
He pointed to a set card.
"I'll have Card of Pandora' take the hit instead."
Mobius's storm shattered Level Limit and Pandora's Box.
Frost frowned. "You didn't protect Level Limit—maybe that set card was more important?"
He glanced at the Air Sphere.
"No, maybe not. As long as another Sphere is on the field, I still can't attack. So the continuous spell isn't as critical?"
Hmm.
Frost narrowed his eyes.
"So I'm being underestimated, huh?"
He raised his voice.
"Activate 'Monster Reincarnation'! Discard a card to return 'Zaborg the Thunder Monarch' from the graveyard to hand!"
He discarded a card and recovered Zaborg.
"Thunder, I'll borrow your power! Activate Quick-Play Spell 'Quick Summon'! I can Normal Summon again!"
He raised Zaborg.
"This time I tribute Mobius the Frost Monarch for a Tribute Summon! Thunder's spirit descends on my field—
—Zaborg the Thunder Monarch, summon!"
[Zaborg the Thunder Monarch, ATK 2400]
"On summon, destroy a monster on the field. Disappear, Air Sphere!"
Lightning struck, and Air Sphere let out a shriek as it was destroyed.
"Hahaha, now your double attack lock is broken! I now command both the Frost and Thunder Monarchs—our combined power—"
"Activate Trap 'Atmospheric Regeneration,'" Kira said calmly. "When an 'Sphere' is destroyed, Special Summon a Level 4 or lower Sphere from the grave."
He revealed the destroyed monster.
"Special Summon 'Synthesize Sphere'."
[Synthesize Sphere, DEF 1000]
"When summoned, revive a Level 4 or lower Sphere from the grave. Revive 'Air Sphere'."
[Air Sphere, DEF 300]
"As long as another Sphere is on the field," Kira smiled, "your monsters can't attack."
Frost: "…"
His hearty laughter abruptly stopped.
Damn it…
Broke two attack locks, and there's a third one.
Who knew if there was a fourth? Fortunately, Frost was out of moves and couldn't find out.
After all that trouble, he hadn't taken out a single monster. In fact, Kira had more monsters on the field than before.
Frost's face darkened.
"Then I'll switch 'Illusory Snatcher' to Attack Position. Turn end."
He couldn't attack anyway, but he remembered that annoying Sphere could absorb Defense Position monsters—so he couldn't leave any in Defense.
Try to attack, and you run into wave after wave of attack locks; on the opponent's turn, your monsters get stolen.
Who designed these troll birds?!
"My turn. Draw."
Kira felt more and more that this Sphere deck fit him perfectly, as if tailor-made. It ran smoothly and was great at stalling and trolling.
Since beating Kagemaru, he'd been developing it, and it was working out well.
Today was the perfect test.
"Spell Card 'Block Attack'—switch an opponent's Attack Position monster to Defense." Kira smiled. "Switch 'Illusory Snatcher' to Defense."
Frost's mouth twitched.
See? See? See?
That damn bird was going to start again.
"Discard a card—'Transforming Sphere' effect. Absorb the Defense Position 'Illusory Snatcher'."
[Transforming Sphere, ATK 100 → ATK 2500]
"Let's try out this new power."
Kira pulled out a card, muttering to himself.
Frost: "!"
A new power?
He tensed, sensing things were about to go badly...
"Hand effect of 'The Atmosphere,'" Kira said. "This card can't be Normal Summoned; it can only be Special Summoned by banishing two monsters from your field and one from your graveyard—a total of three."
He revealed the card. Even before summoning, a storm swept the field.
"The ultimate Sphere—
—The Atmosphere, summon!"
[The Atmosphere, ATK 1000]
This was his first real-life Sphere card—the pinnacle of the series.
"Effect: once per turn, equip one of your opponent's monsters, gaining its ATK and DEF."
Kira raised his hand.
"Absorb 'Zaborg the Thunder Monarch' as well."
[The Atmosphere, ATK 1000 → ATK 3400]
Frost: "…"
Suddenly, he felt exhausted.
Fate, dueling, the guidance of Light—it all felt meaningless.
"Battle," Kira said. "The Atmosphere and Transforming Sphere, direct attack."
The birds flapped forward, controlling Zaborg and Illusory Snatcher as they struck.
Frost exhaled, closing his eyes.
Forget it. Let it end here.
That's fine by me.
[Frost, LP 4000 → LP 0]