Sword Saint - Bare-chested Gearfried, summon!
The handsome black armor exploded from the Iron Knight, revealing a bare-chested man with bronze skin and muscles interlocking all over.
The armor fragments shot out in all directions from mid-air, and the bare-chested man landed in a half-crouch, his long hair flying freely. He slowly stood up, a dangerous beast-like glare shooting from his eyes, like a hungry wolf that had finally been released, choosing his prey.
[Sword Saint - Bare-chested Gearfried, ATK 2600]
This time the watching NPCs got excited: "Sword Saint! The legendary Sword Saint!"
"Oh my, to actually see such a level monster here!"
"I'm in awe!"
Youyu looked at the abrupt monster that appeared before him: "I see, knowing I have traps set in the back, you deliberately stepped into the pit with The Fiend Megacyber, used the Dramatic Rescue Trap to dodge traps, then unleashed 'Release Restraint,' and summoned your trump card for a counterattack in one go?"
Though using Release Restraint as a Normal Magic during the Battle Phase is a bit awkward... but Youyu has accepted this setting and has no complaints; after all, the current Duel City's rules are like this, and it can't be counted as nonsense.
Looking at it now, Jonouchi indeed seems much stronger than last time we faced each other.
It's actually reasonable based on the anime's representation. Youyu thought if every character in DM had panel attributes, Jonouchi should be Luck A Growth A, maxing out both attributes.
Recall when he participated in the Duelist Kingdom tournament; on the first day, Jonouchi was a super rookie who couldn't even defeat elementary school-level duelists, yet during the tournament, he learned while battling, relying on high growth and monster-level luck, becoming the runner-up.
Before the Duel City Arc started, Jonouchi even lost to that unnamed lackey from the Ghouls Group using a Dark Great Mage. Though he was hindered by a lack of information, not knowing the opponent used a Great Mage, Marik also said this lackey was the weakest in their whole Ghouls Group.
Yet in just one day during Duel City, Jonouchi learned while battling again, charged into the semifinals, and nearly defeated the God-holder Marik...
This terrifying growth ability, only President Haima dared to arrogantly call him a Normal Monster.
"Of course, after losing to you last time, I've grown quite a bit!" Jonouchi laughed, "This time, I won't lose again! From my hand card, I activate Equip Magic - Lightning Blade! Equip to 'Sword Saint - Bare-chested Gearfried,' increasing ATK by 800 points!"
[Sword Saint - Bare-chested Gearfried, ATK 2600 → ATK 3400]
Another bystander exclaimed: "ATK 3400! More surpasses the legendary Blue-Eyes White Dragon!"
(Blue-Eyes White Dragon: "...")
"This completely reverses the situation!" Jonouchi waved, "The Sword Saint's hidden special ability activates! When he receives an Equip Card, he can choose to destroy a monster on the field!
Destroy the Black Magician!"
Lightning descended from the sky, a shining sword fell with azure lightning. The bare-chested Sword Saint grabbed the sword, seemingly catching thunder with his bare hands.
Gearfried shouted loudly, slashing the blade through the air. The shining lightning sword's light turned into immense fierce lightning, rushing densely towards the Black Magician. The Black Magician stood ready, his emerald Magic Staff crossed in front of his chest, his figure gradually enveloped by the electric light...
Boom!!!
"Yoshi ah!" Jonouchi snapped his fingers, making a standard Jonouchi-style face, "Black Magician, destroyed!"
"That's not necessarily true."
"Nani?"
As the thunder vanished, the light dispersed, and when the field's scene returned to view, Jonouchi found the Black Magician still standing on Youyu's field, unharmed.
No, looking closely, the Black Magician carried a light black magic power, quietly burning like a candle.
"At that moment, I activated the Trap Card, Black Magic Illusion." Youyu pointed to the last set card he flipped over in his back, "For this turn, my Black Magician is unaffected by effects and won't be destroyed by battle."
"Darn, missed again." Jonouchi shouted, "Then I'll use the Sword Saint with strengthened ATK to attack!"
The Sword Saint leaped with a shout, slashing down at the Black Magician's head. The Black Magician raised his Magic Staff, and a transparent semi-circular magic shield appeared in front of him.
The lightning sword blade harshly struck the shield, electricity surged. Magic and electrical light erupted intertwined, shaking the space, forcing the Black Magician back half a step, yet he did not leave the field.
"Black Magic Illusion's effect, the Black Magician won't be destroyed by battle this turn." Youyu said.
"I know, but the damage will still be calculated!"
A small portion of electricity pierced the magic shield, splattering on Youyu.
[Youyu, LP 1750 → LP 850]
"Great, just a little more!" Jonouchi was full of energy, "I'll switch 'Time Wizard' to defense position, then set a card facedown, turn ends!"
Just a little bit more, just one bit away from winning!
He now has absolute advantage on the field. Not only Sword Saint Gearfried with 3400 ATK but also the back field covered by the "Kunai with Chain," able to block attacks; even if Youyu can summon stronger monsters next turn, they can be defended.
Kunai with Chain, Trap Card, can during opponent's attack declaration switch attacking monsters to defense position, or equip his monster increasing ATK by 500 points.
Moreover, Youyu's field now only has the Black Magician, with no set cards in the back, zero hand cards, LP as light as the wind... Overall not optimistic.
Could he next turn somehow register a card to instantly defeat me, Jonouchi-sama?
However, players hold different opinions: "It's over, the opponent's ahead with Life Lock. Seems like the lucky god will lose this time?"
"Life locked with bare hands, Youyu's definitely the main character, even in a duel with the lucky god managing the Life Lock..."
Using Black Magic Illusion ensures the Black Magician's invincibility this turn, even if not destroyed, still eating damage, which Youyu naturally knows.
But this was part of his calculation!
At the moment of this turn's draw phase, the condition for activating the skill "Destiny Draw" was fulfilled.
Now you'll see what true duelist's card drawing means.
"My turn, draw! Heaven's Treasure activate!"
Players immediately showed reverence.
"6666666."
"Godly draw Heaven's Treasure, are you Muto Yugi?"
"What does true protagonist mean?" a player's strategic lean back started.
Youyu began to replenish his hand from the deck madly: "Heaven's Treasure effect, both players can replenish their hand to six cards.
Then Magic Card - Monster Reborn activate! Revive from the graveyard, Dark Magician Girl!"
The dark vortex opened, the magical girl flew out riding her small Magic Staff, still lively and waving to everyone, as if not discouraged at all by her previous early exit.
[Dark Magician Girl, ATK 2000]
"Dark Magician Girl and Black Magician combo?" Jonouchi said, "But even the strongest magician duo can't defeat the current Gearfried!"
"That's indeed correct." Youyu smiled, "But as your friend, Jonouchi, you should know, the Black Magician's hidden power isn't just that."
"What?"
"The Black Magician is a top-notch magician, possessing more than one form and various abilities." Youyu said, drawing a card from his hand, "Now I'll summon one of them! I sacrifice the level 6 or above Black Magician and Dark Magician Girl on the field, calling forth Black Magician's stronger form—
—Descend now! The Black Magic Priest!"
A massive, dark magic circle appeared in the sky, azure lightning fell fiercely. Both Black Magician and Dark Magician Girl leapt up, transforming into light beams crisscrossed towards the dark array.
Unmatched in power, magic waves erupted from the array's center like a volcanic eruption, birthing an endlessly majestic figure from within.
The descending mage wore a wide robe and a vast black cloak, falling; the cloak moved on its own without wind, immense magic power surrounded and far more oppressing than the previous Black Magician.
[Black Magic Priest, ATK 3200]