The magician in black attire appeared on Youyu's field with an imposing presence, almost a mirror image of the "Magician of Black Chaos" on Pandora's field.
[Dark Magician of Chaos, Attack Power 2800]
Youyu's side features the "Dark Magician of Chaos," specially summoned by the Quick-Play Magic "Baptism of Light and Dark," as an Effect Monster.
Pandora's side presents the "Magician of Black Chaos," ritual summoned by the Ritual Magic "Black Magic Ritual" as a Ritual Monster.
However, despite the two different cards, from the perspective of Duel Monsters, both players are essentially summoning the same monster, just swapping different disguises.
Pandora's "Magician of Black Chaos" is the DM version, lacking any special abilities, only a plain card with 2800 attack power.
The "Dark Magician of Chaos" summoned by Youyu is the new form this mage adopts when appearing again in Yu-Gi-Oh! GX. Monsters destroyed in battle by it are banished from the game instead of going to the graveyard, and at the end phase of the turn it is specially summoned, the player can retrieve a Magic Card from the graveyard.
In fact, this effect was adjusted and revised by the K Consortium. Originally, the effect of the Dark Magician of Chaos was "retrieve a Magic Card from the graveyard upon successful summoning," which truly lived up to its reputation as the most powerful mage.
Of course, such a powerful effect directly led this magician to frequently visit the banned list, remaining a Forbidden Card under the real card rules for many years.
But that's all in the past now. The effect of the Dark Magician of Chaos has been moderated through adjustments and has long been released from the banned list.
Because Youyu drew this card from the System Card Pool, the Dark Magician of Chaos in his hand naturally has the revised effect.
But it doesn't matter; even in the current era, it's already considered a strong major monster.
The live broadcast audience in Yue Hua's channel once again exploded with excitement.
"Astonished by the Dark Magician of Chaos!"
"6666, isn't this just too awesome?"
"The forever Forbidden Card! Respect to the boss..."
"To the person above, the Dark Magician of Chaos has already been unbanned..."
Pandora's expression became vivid again: "How is it possible!? This is the top-tier magician, the ultimate form of the Dark Magician, rarer than even the Dark Magician... How can this brat have such a card!?"
Moreover, in his understanding, the Chaos Magician should be a Ritual Monster!
Baptism of Light and Dark... what is this card I've never even heard of it!
Pandora began to suspect that all these years he might have been playing a fake Dark Magician!
"...Damn, but even so, the Dark Magician Girl can still be destroyed." Pandora said, "Then I'll continue attacking the Dark Magician Girl with the Magician of Black Chaos!"
The powerful dark magician launched toward the magic girl, staff swirling, the dark chaotic wave cascading over the small, helpless girl...
The girl pouted, counterattacking without retreating. The impact of the two magical waves clashed in mid-air, unleashing a powerful shockwave of magic spreading in all directions.
...The scene looked a bit like a beam struggle from the Sun Family.
Then Pandora widened his eyes, watching helplessly as the dark magic of the Magician of Black Chaos was obliterated. The impact from the girl's small magic wand repelled the wave back, slamming into the magician.
The high-end magician was pierced through by the powerful impact, dissipating into black smoke and vanishing from the field.
[Pandora, LP 2250 → LP 2150]
"Nani?" Pandora continued to question reality, "Why can't the ultimate magician defeat that little magician girl?"
Could it be karma for using fake cards? Because the other is a legit card while mine is bootleg, so I can't win??
"The effect of the Dark Magician Girl increases her attack by 300 points for each 'Dark Magician' in both players' graveyards," Youyu smiled and explained.
"But even so, there's only...!?"
Pandora looked at the sternly gazing Dark Magician of Chaos on Youyu's field, suddenly understanding.
"During the attack moment, you activated..."
"That's right, Baptism of Light and Dark, sacrificing one Dark Magician on my field to specially summon the 'Dark Magician of Chaos.' At that moment, the Dark Magician on my field also entered the graveyard."
Youyu gestured with his Duel Disc, while a phantom of the master appeared behind the Dark Magician Girl.
"The disciple will carry on the master's will and become stronger." He said, "In your graveyard, there are the two Dark Magicians destroyed by a thousand knives and used as ritual sacrifices. There are a total of three in both graveyards.
So now the Dark Magician Girl's attack is..."
[Dark Magician Girl, Attack Power 2900]
As he explained, the proud Dark Magician Girl puffed out her chest, bearing a triumphant "life's pinnacle.JPG" expression.
Attack Power 2900!
Even with a different form, master can't defeat me! Shouldn't the master commend me for this?
But thinking from another angle, this passive effect is quite tragic for the master. Simply put, the more the master dies, the stronger the disciple becomes...
"But my turn is not over yet." Pandora narrowed his eyes.
"I activate from my hand... 'Monster Reborn'! Revive the 'Magician of Black Chaos' from the graveyard!"
[Magician of Black Chaos, Attack Power 2800]
Once again, this unfortunate ultimate magician was called back to the field, but at this moment his attack power was only equal to the Dark Magician of Chaos on Youyu's field, and even lower than the Dark Magician Girl's.
"Set one card face-down, and my turn ends."
"At this moment, the effect of 'Dark Magician of Chaos' activates. I retrieve the Magic Card 'Dark Magic Twin Burst' from the Graveyard back to my hand."
The grave zone of Youyu's Duel Disc glowed with a pale golden light, and the chosen Magic Card automatically popped out and returned to his hand.
"That card again," Pandora said in a deep voice.
Do you want to try it again?
"And now it's my turn, draw!" Youyu added the drawn card to his hand and drew out another card from his hand, "It's the final turn, Pandora!"
Pandora: "!"
"Activate Magic Card - Dark Magic Veil! Pay 1000 LP to resurrect the Dark Magician from my Graveyard!"
[Youyu, LP 2000 → LP 1000]
[Dark Magician, ATK 2500]
[Dark Magician Girl, ATK 2900 → ATK 2600]
Dark Magic Veil, a Magic Card, pays 1000 LP to Special Summon a Spellcaster-Type, Dark Attribute monster from the hand or Graveyard.
Somewhat similar to the 'Dark Magic Curtain' Pandora activated earlier, but it's a different card.
Pandora gritted his teeth: "Even at the cost of lowering Dark Magician Girl's attack power... are you going to use that move again?"
The following developments were just as he expected. This time, Youyu immediately played the Magic Card he had just retrieved last turn without hesitation: "Magic Card - 'Dark Magic Twin Burst'! Dark Magician's attack power increases by the value of Dark Magician Girl's attack power!"
[Dark Magician, ATK 2500 → ATK 5100]
"Battle!" Youyu directly declared, "Attack with Dark Magician! Feel the combined power of master and apprentice—Dark Magic Twin Burst!"
The magic staffs of the Spellcaster duo crossed once more, and their magic power converged in one place. Red and black currents overflowed everywhere, transforming into swirling spheres of magic that shot forth continuously!
With an attack power of 5100, even the so-called strongest Magician of Black Chaos cannot withstand it!
"Hahaha! That's not certain!" Pandora laughed heartily, swinging his arm, "Watch and see what top-tier magician tactics truly are! And this is the true finale of this duel!
Trap Card - Unyielding Spirit!
Activate when there's only one monster on your field, increase that monster's attack power... by the attack power value of the monster with the lowest attack on the opponent's field!"
Youyu realized: "The monster with the lowest attack power on my field is the Dark Magician Girl..."
"Exactly! So my Magician of Black Chaos, until the end of this turn, also gains a 2600 point attack boost!"
[Magician of Black Chaos, ATK 2800 → 5400]
"Hahaha, with 5400 attack power! Now, even the legendary Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon can be defeated by Magician of Black Chaos!" Pandora boasted again, "The final showdown of the magicians is my victory!"
Youyu smirked, smiling: "Is that really the case?"
"I told you, this is the final turn." Youyu drew another card from his hand, "This is the final card that will put an end to this duel!
Activate Magic Card - Courageous Strike!"
Pandora's face turned pale instantly: "This... this card is...!?"
Finally, a card he recognized.
After dueling for so long, Youyu finally pulled out a card from the original DM anime. Players accustomed to physical cards might not recognize it, but as a local duelist, Pandora was familiar with it.
And because of this, he felt extreme fear... a deep-seated fear of defeat, of the outcome awaiting those who fail in the Darkness Game.
"Courageous Strike can add together the attack power of all my monsters on the field and then transfer it to one monster to attack, but as a cost, all monsters will be destroyed after the Battle Phase ends."
Youyu paused for a moment: "But you won't see that moment."
He pointed towards the Dark Magician on the field.
"Due to Courageous Strike's effect, Dark Magician's attack power increases by the attack power values of Dark Magician Girl and Dark Magician of Chaos on my field! So Dark Magician's attack power is..."
[Dark Magician, ATK 5100 → 7700 → 10500]
Pandora began to tremble, his teeth chattering loudly, even his tongue became twisted: "At... attack power 10500!?"
It was simply a nightmare.
"The battle continues!" Youyu shouted, "Dark Magic's Three Musketeers, joint attack!"
The Dark Magician of Chaos joined in, and the three magic staffs overlapped together. Three streams of magical power released at once, exploding into what seemed like a boundless ocean of darkness.
Pandora's side of the field was instantly shattered, submerged in the ocean of magic, obliterating both monsters and the duelist in a tidal wave, even drowning out the sharpest screams with the sound of explosions...
[Pandora, LP 2150 → LP 0]