"Descend, O God! Slifer the Sky Dragon!"
The puppet controlled by Marik forcefully slapped a card with a distinct color and style onto the Duel Disc.
The Monster Zone on the Duel Disc seemed to sense the terrifying power contained in that card, and released a dazzling stream of electricity! The leaping blue lightning rapidly centered on that card, releasing an invisible and astounding force from the position of the Duel Disc into the heavens, vanishing into the sky.
The pitch-black clouds quickly covered the field, and the sky that was clear just moments ago was now obscured by thick, leaden clouds. The sun was thoroughly blocked outside, as if making way for some supreme presence soon to arrive.
Here it comes again, just like last time facing the Obelisk the Tormentor.
Youyu felt as though his body had become several times heavier, and his legs unknowingly became a bit numb. Every breath that escaped his nose was heavier and hotter, and even the operation of his brain seemed to slow down.
Without a doubt, those rolling clouds, the azure lightning, the thunderous roar like a wailing scream — these couldn't possibly be just a hologram.
... Could playing a card game really cause such celestial phenomena similar to crossing a tribulation?
Even if it's Kaiba Company's overpowered black technology, there's no way such a current feat could be achieved.
The spirit of the Dark Magician Girl appeared again, using her limited magic power to barely help her master resist that overwhelming pressure.
Thick, dazzling lightning crashed down onto the field behind the puppet, bringing with it a massive, majestic figure.
The sundering red dragon emerged from the lightning, curling its body round and round in mid-air. It had golden majestic eyes, with two mouths, although the one above usually remained closed.
That was Osiris, the God of the Netherworld.
It opened the lower mouth and roared defiantly, and the sound echoed continuously like rolling thunder. The air was drawn along, forming a powerful transparent airflow, and invisible waves shook the earth.
"Tremble, for this is a God!" Marik said loudly, "Slifer's attack power is the number of cards in the player's hand multiplied by 1000! I have four cards in my hand now, so Slifer's attack power is..."
[Slifer the Sky Dragon, ATK 4000]
Such divine might, such a grand aura, made Youyu's mind involuntarily conjure legends of this powerful ancient deity, and he couldn't help but recall the array of titles respectfully bestowed upon this supreme deity by generations of duelists...
... Sky Pit Dragon, Traitor Dragon, Rebellious Dragon, Egyptian God Douche.
... Emmm, why are the names left behind by this great deity all so meaningless?
There's no helping it, besides being cool, charismatic, and awesome, the most lasting impression Slifer the Sky Dragon left on Yu-Gi-Oh players is its tendency to betray its owner.
Back when Marik wielded it, it was Slifer's effect that led to his defeat. During the final battle, when Dark Yugi had all three Egyptian Gods on the field, it was Slifer that caused total destruction.
Even in the end, before Dark Yugi lost the duel, his final move was using Monster Reborn to revive the Traitor Dragon in the Graveyard... (Slifer: Boss, let me explain, that really wasn't my fault!)
Alright, that was just joking around from netizens, but in terms of practicality, even twenty years later in the real card game environment, Slifer's abilities in the anime would still make it a super powerful monster, incredibly strong.
Aside from the resistance common to Egyptian Gods, Slifer's unique special ability is to trigger when the opponent summons, flip summons, or special summons monsters, reducing those monsters' (ATK/DEF) by 2000 points based on their battle position, destroying any monster whose (ATK/DEF) is reduced to 0 by this effect.
It's a nightmarishly powerful effect even for many mainstream decks twenty years later.
"Slifer! Smash those subpar monsters, attack the Thunder Giant!" Marik shouted, "Thunderforce Attack!"
Slifer opened its mouth.
Youyu had to admit, in that instant he indeed felt that his heart skipped a beat.
A golden energy beam shot from Slifer's open mouth, and at that moment, he seemed to feel the tremor of space with his body. The divine might rushed forth, seemingly piercing through space, charging forward with an unstoppable momentum.
Thunder Giant had no chance to retaliate under this surging impact, and was instantly blasted to pieces, not even fragments were left.
[Youyu, LP 3000 → LP 1400]
"In the face of a god, any resistance is futile!" Marik laughed, "All you can do is kneel before the god, falling into endless darkness under Slifer's attack! My turn ends, struggle as much as you can!"
Yet to his surprise, in this situation, when Youyu raised his head, he seemed... to be smiling?
"I knew it, I expected you would prioritize destroying the Thunder Giant with destruction effects." Youyu chuckled, "Your actions aligned entirely with what I anticipated, Marik."
"What?" Marik frowned, "But how does that matter? There is no way to defeat a god!"
No way?
That isn't necessarily true. No matter how powerful the monster, there is no unbeatable creature in this game.
Think about how in the original story, when Yugi faced Marik's Slifer, what did he do?
...
Yugi: "I use 'Dragonslayer Swordsman' to attack 'Revival Jam,' Jam is destroyed! Immediately, at the moment of Jam's destruction, I activate the Normal Magic Card 'Brain Control,' seizing its control before it revives..."
Marik: "Wait a moment! The destroyed Jam is now in the Graveyard, Brain Control can only seize monsters on the field..."
Yugi: "Shut up! I use Brain Control to seize your Jam in the graveyard, and Jam revives on my field! At this moment, Slifer's effect triggers, and it will destroy the Jam that was special summoned on my field!
At this moment, due to the effect of 'Card of Safe Return,' you must draw three cards from your deck!
Then the destroyed Jam will revive on my field again..."
Marik: "Wait a moment, Jam is my monster, after being destroyed it returns to my Graveyard, if it's to be revived it should be on my field..."
Yugi: "Shut up already! Then Jam revives on my field, Slifer's effect triggers again, Jam is destroyed, revives again, and at that moment you must draw three more cards!
This infinite loop results in you eventually drawing your entire deck, leaving you without any cards to draw Marik! I've won!"
Marik: "@#%&*%" (expelled from the Duel City Tournament for excessive language)
...
So in this altered timeline, Youyu indicates he's ready to recreate this iconic scene for you!
"My turn, draw!" Youyu directly ordered, "Have Serrated Wilderness Strider attack! Target... Revival Jam!"
Serrated Wilderness Strider lunged forward, swiftly drawing its blade. The blade sliced through with ease, cutting the Jam whose DEF was only 500 into two pieces.
And of course, the Jam immediately resurrected on the spot.
"Hahaha, are you out of your mind?" Marik laughed loudly, "The Jam cannot be defeated! And when the Jam revives, due to 'Card of Safe Return,' I draw three more cards! Slifer's attack power increases again!"
[Slifer the Sky Dragon, ATK 4000 → ATK 7000]
"You'll be finished next turn!" Marik declared.
"That's not necessarily true." Youyu smiled slightly, "The special ability of Serrated Wilderness Strider allows it to keep attacking all monsters on the opponent's field as long as there's any monster on their field!
Continue the battle! Serrated Wilderness Strider, attack Revival Jam again!"
Elemental Hero surged forward once more, and Jam, just restored from being cut in half, once again faced the sharp blade coming from above, cutting it into pieces once more.
"But doing so is meaningless!" Participant Marik's brain apparently wasn't turning fast enough, "No matter how many times you try, the Jam cannot be defeated! And upon its revival the 'Card of Safe Return' effect triggers, allowing me to draw three more cards...
...!!??"
At this moment, even Marik realized something was wrong.
He was shocked: "You sneaky kid... could it be!?"
"Exactly." Youyu smiled, "As long as the Jam keeps reviving, Serrated Wilderness Strider can keep attacking. And each time the Jam revives, you have to draw three more cards, leaving only one outcome for this battle's end..."
Marik, with a sullen face: "Until my deck... has no cards left to draw?"