At this moment the Wicked God's effect had already been negated, and even if it hadn't been negated it would still have to accept one turn's worth of Spell effects.
But the Eraser merely shrugged indifferently.
"Even if it's turned face-down it makes no difference. Once I'm sent to the Graveyard, End of All Things will still activate."
Anyway, its DEF was 0 right now—face-down or face-up, it was the same.
"True. But there is still a difference," Kira reminded him with a smile. "If it's face-up, then at the end of this turn, a god Special Summoned by a card effect has to be sent to the Graveyard.
But a face-down card can't be identified, so before it's flipped face-up, that effect won't trigger."
The Eraser froze.
"That's true."
But he still didn't see what difference it made.
"Next, I activate this card."
Kira raised his hand.
"Spell Card—Final Countdown!"
Eraser: "!?"
What the—?
"To activate Final Countdown, you must pay 2000 Life Points."
[Kira, LP 2700 → LP 700]
At the moment of activation, flames of a countdown already appeared on the field. They were only tiny flickers—so inconspicuous in this arena—yet they carried an eerie, icy aura.
"After Final Countdown is activated, it begins counting," Kira said. "After twenty turns pass, the player who activated it wins the Duel immediately."
The Eraser stared for a moment—then burst into laughter.
"Hahahaha!"
Twenty turns?
That's enough time for a Duel to end several times over.
"You don't seriously think you can survive for twenty turns in front of a Wicked God, do you?" he sneered.
Kira smiled and pointed at The World on his field.
"Normally, when an Arcana Force monster is Summoned, you have to toss a coin to determine whether it gains the Upright or Reversed effect," Kira said. "But while Light Barrier is on the field, Arcana Force monsters don't need a coin toss—I can freely choose whether the Upright or Reversed effect applies.
And of course, I choose The World's Upright effect."
He paused, then clapped his hands lightly.
"Alright. Preparations are complete. I end my turn."
"That's it?" the Eraser continued to mock him. "You're not honestly imagining you can last twenty turns with just that, are you?"
"It seems the great Wicked God has misunderstood something."
Kira smiled.
Eraser: "Hm?"
"You don't honestly think that after Final Countdown begins…" Kira said calmly, "…you'll still get to see your next turn, do you?"
Eraser: "?"
What?
He felt like he didn't even understand what that sentence meant.
But it didn't matter if he didn't understand—Kira immediately explained with actions.
"During the End Phase, the effect of the Samsara Lotus that was sent to the Graveyard earlier by Card Destruction—Special Summons itself to my field."
[Samsara Lotus, ATK 0]
"Next, during the End Phase—Arcana Force XXI—The World, Upright effect," Kira said. "Tribute two monsters on your field to skip your opponent's next turn!"
Eraser: "!!!"
NANI!?
At last he widened his eyes and stared straight at the Arcana monster he hadn't thought much of.
Could this monster of the Light actually manipulate time?
"I Tribute Uria, Lord of Searing Flames and Samsara Lotus. Arcana Force's effect activates—
—Za Warudo (The World)!"
Time—stop!
The arena froze. Even an Wicked God was suppressed on the field, as if pinned under an immeasurable weight, unable to move.
It became the Eraser's turn, but his time was frozen: he couldn't draw, couldn't act—he could only watch helplessly as the Duel Disk's display advanced from Draw to Standby, then Main Phase, Battle Phase, and finally End Phase.
His time was stopped, but Kira's wasn't.
Another flame lit up on the Final Countdown—its second tiny fireball.
Because the turn count advanced by one, the countdown gained another flame. When twenty flames were gathered, it would be the moment of execution.
"Then it's my turn again. I draw," Kira said. "At this moment, Final Countdown reaches the third turn."
He paused and pointed to the field.
"Each time it becomes my turn, Field Spell Light Barrier must rotate its card slot to determine Upright or Reversed.
If it's Upright, all current Barrier effects are retained.
If it lands Reversed, this card's effects become negated until the next Standby Phase."
Light Barrier rotated—and stopped in the Reversed position.
"So it's Reversed," Kira shrugged. "Looks like my luck isn't great—but it doesn't matter.
This turn, Light Barrier's effects are negated. If I Summon a new Arcana Force, I'd need to flip for Upright/Reversed.
But The World was already Summoned last turn, and already gained the Upright effect, so it isn't affected."
The Eraser clicked his tongue.
Light Barrier rotates once each of your Standby Phases, randomly granting Upright or Reversed. But on the turn it is activated, you don't need to rotate at all—the effect applies immediately.
Kira had exploited that—freely choosing The World's Upright effect.
"Next, I Normal Summon this card."
Kira leisurely played the monster from his hand.
The instant it hit the field, the Eraser realized what he was facing.
"I Summon Sinister Serpent."
[Sinister Serpent, ATK 300]
Sinister Serpent?
The Eraser blinked.
He remembered that its effect was something like—if it's in the Graveyard during the Standby Phase, it can return itself to its owner's hand. A monster that can recycle itself infinitely.
Wait.
And in his Graveyard there was also Samsara Lotus, which could resurrect itself endlessly during the End Phase.
Then wouldn't that mean—
"End Phase: Samsara Lotus revives from the Graveyard to the field."
[Samsara Lotus, ATK 0]
"Arcana Force XXI—The World's effect activates! During my End Phase, I send Samsara Lotus and Sinister Serpent from the field to the Graveyard, and skip my opponent's next turn!
Za Warudo!"
Time stop again. The Eraser's turn was frozen once more. He could only watch the turn counter advance—like his consciousness was preserved inside stopped time: unable to act, but forced to witness death inch closer.
"It's my turn again. I draw," Kira said.
"Standby Phase: Sinister Serpent's effect in the Graveyard—return this card to my hand."
"Next, I Normal Summon Sinister Serpent."
"End Phase: Special Summon Samsara Lotus from the Graveyard."
"Arcana Force XXI—The World's effect. Za Warudo!"
"Skip your turn again, and Final Countdown advances by 2 more turns."
"…"
The Eraser's face twitched, his expression ugly.
He never imagined the other side wasn't joking.
From the moment Final Countdown started ticking…
He really… would never get another turn again.
PS: That's a badass move!
…