The Mask of Light and Dark are indeed slightly higher-tier Ghouls-level mini-bosses in the original series. These two partners, working together, can at least hold their own against the combined forces of Yugi and Kaiba; they've got some strength.
If Youyu hadn't activated "Negate Attack" in time this turn, President Kaiba might have really bowed out right here...
But Youyu also understands the president's character. President Kaiba may act all high and mighty, saying no, no, but in reality, his actions tell the truth.
Whoever helps him, whoever makes him owe a favor, even if he doesn't admit it verbally, he'll remember it clearly in his heart.
If you're lucky, maybe on the way back, the president will quietly add a drumstick to your plate...
The turn of the Mask of Dark ends, and now it's finally President Kaiba's turn once again.
"How dare you toy with my monster like this," the president glanced at the exhausted Blue-Eyes White Dragon lying weakly to the side, overwhelmed by the Magic Effect, and said angrily, "Now that it's back to me, it's the end for you! My turn!"
The skies cleared, the rain stopped, and the president felt he was capable once again...
"Don't forget, president, at the start of your turn, the effect of 'Mask of the Accursed' attached to Blue-Eyes White Dragon is activated, causing you to take 500 points of damage each turn," the Mask of Light reminded.
[Kaiba, LP 3000 → LP 2500]
However, the president was entirely unconcerned: "Ritual Magic - Advanced Ritual Art, activate!"
Kaiba forcefully inserted the card into the Duel Disc, and the Magic Effect spun open an Array on the ground, with a cerulean light rippling at the center of the circular Array.
"Advanced Ritual Art allows you to send Normal Monsters from your Card Deck to the Graveyard for a Ritual Summon of Ritual Monsters from your hand whose levels equal the total levels of the sent monsters!
I send the level 4 Battle Steer from my Card Deck to the Graveyard to Ritual Summon—Paladin of White Dragon!"
As President Kaiba spoke, he selected the card of Battle Steer from his Card Deck and sent it to the Graveyard. The Monster's image appeared on the field, then transformed into a beam of cerulean light that shimmered into the cerulean Array.
A bright light burst forth, and a pillar of light shot up into the sky. A knight clad in white armor, with a flowing cape, made a dashing entrance, mounted on a white dragon.
[Paladin of White Dragon, Attack Power 1900]
"The effect of Paladin of White Dragon!" Kaiba gestured widely, executing a fluid string of operations, "By offering the Paladin of White Dragon as a Tribute, you can Special Summon from the Card Deck!
Descend once again, my most powerful servant—Blue-Eyes White Dragon, Second Body!"
The holy knight shone with brilliance, as if bathing in Holy Light. The bodies of the knight and the dragon began to blur and dissolve, turning into countless points of light. An apparition of the second Blue-Eyes White Dragon emerged, roaring as if from the void...
"Don't even think about it! This is the moment I've been waiting for!" The Mask of Light laughed aloud, flipping open the Set Card with a flourish, "Trap activate, Continuous Trap - Mask of Restrict!"
The red trap card flipped open, revealing a black mask studded with steel spikes and bared fangs, with a large "Seal" character etched on its forehead.
The apparition of the White Dragon vanished instantly, and the dissipating Paladin of White Dragon returned to the field, its form consolidating back into solid form.
"What!?" Kaiba looked in shock at the eerie mask on the opponent's field, unsure whether to be amazed at the failed Blue-Eyes summon or the sight of an unfamiliar card.
"Hahaha! This is our strategy to seal your Divine Cards, as well as all your High-Level Monsters!" The Mask of Light laughed, "As long as this 'Mask of Restrict' is on the field, no cards can use Tributes in any situation!"
Kaiba gritted his teeth: "Tch, nothing but small tricks..."
Youyu glanced at the president, staying silent and not speaking.
Hmm, not sure if it's an illusion, but it seems like when the president is on my team...he doesn't perform as well as when he's the opponent?
...Well, it's not hard to understand. After all, the opponents aren't weak to begin with, and they did come targeting Kaiba, so it's not surprising they adjusted their Card Decks accordingly.
Besides, in this era, everyone still relies pretty heavily on Tribute Summons. In the anime, Yugi and Kaiba were also troubled for a while by this Mask duo.
Even the silly players realized the problem at this moment.
"Why do I feel like the president is a bit of a drag...?"
"Seems like he's always getting beaten up..."
"Maybe because in the Linked World, Youyu is the protagonist. Typical Yu-Gi-Oh! operation, usually, when highlighting the protagonist, other characters are taking hits."
"Doesn't that make Youyu-san even more of a protagonist?"
...Youyu suddenly felt that, in conclusion, it wasn't so bad.
At least after this match, it might generate some buzz among the players and give him a wave of popularity?
"My turn, draw." The Mask of Light's turn again, "Hey, partner, let me borrow your Monster for a bit."
Mask of Dark waved his hand, "No problem, take it, partner!"
Mask of Light let out a sinister laugh, and his mischievous gaze roamed back and forth between the two players' fields.
"Now Kaiba has a Paladin of White Dragon on the field acting as a wall, so even if we attack, it's impossible to take it down in one go..."
He muttered to himself, his eyes shifting to the Black Magician and the Royal Magical Library in defense position on Youyu's field.
"On the other hand, it's about to be this guy's turn. The Black Magician has plenty of support cards, and if we don't defeat it here, the next turn could be troublesome."
Mask of Dark nodded in agreement, "That's right, so let's go directly, partner!"
"I got it," Mask of Light snorted, "Okay, the target is decided! Death Priest! Attack the Black Magician!"
The eerie black monster leapt out, its silver claws drawing a sharp trajectory in the air. The Black Magician immediately cast a spell counterattack, but the difference in attack power was insurmountable even for him.
The magic power wave was easily torn to pieces by Death Priest, whose claws then viciously raked across the magician, sending the latter off the field.
[Youyu, LP 3000 →LP 2200]
"Ha! Now your only ace monster has disappeared! This should have been your last chance to turn the tables, right?" Mask of Light laughed heartily.
Some bystanders quipped, "Is this really secured? All that was done was blocking the tribute, nothing extraordinary."
"Not just the tribute summon, but even the tributes for ritual summons and card effects are blocked, so in the DM environment, this should still be a bit annoying."
"One wind clears it all..."
"..."
Mask of Light said, "Then I'll summon 'Masked Deceptionist' in defense position, ending my turn."
[Masked Deceptionist, defense power 700]
"Well done, partner!" Mask of Dark encouraged his teammate from the side.
Mask of Light: "It's all thanks to the monster you gave me, partner!"
"My turn, draw!"
Finally, it's Youyu's turn again. Without hesitation after drawing, he immediately played a card: "I'm activating the Magic Card - Heavy Storm!"
"Nani!?" Mask of Light and Mask of Dark exclaimed in unison.
"Wow, that came out of nowhere!" said the player who previously mentioned drawing a wind card.
"It's no wonder Youyu's family is known for their unreasonable draws!"
"Why is your right hand so powerful!?"
The image of a green card appeared, and a reverse funnel-shaped storm surged up from the ground. The suffocating wind kicked up the simulated sandstorm, and the powerful wind pressure caused all cards on the field to fly uncontrollably, making just watching the scene suffocating.
All Magic Trap Cards on the field, friend or foe, were shattered by the storm, including "Mask of the Accursed" and "Mask of Restrict."
The moment the bindings were released, the Blue-Eyes White Dragon on Kaiba's field, which had been subdued the whole duel, regained its spirit. It lifted its head and roared, the furious dragon's cry piercing the sky, as if eager to blast the annoying opponents in front of it into smithereens.
Mask of Light and Dark gritted their teeth, "He actually drew the strongest storm that can instantly destroy all Magic Traps..."
"Next, I activate the effect of the 'Royal Magical Library'!" Youyu waved his hand, "In the previous turns, its magic counters have reached three. Now I remove all three counters to draw a card from my deck."
He glanced at the card he drew and unhesitatingly activated it: "Magic Card - Card of Sanctity activated, all players draw cards from their decks until they have six cards in their hands."
At this moment, the number of cards in Mask of Light and Dark's hands was greater than that of Youyu and Kaiba, making the activation of Card of Sanctity a net gain in card advantage.
President Kaiba seemed to have drawn some good cards, giving a slight smirk. With both the Blue-Eyes and the tribute restriction now lifted, the President was in a literally better position.
"For getting to this point, I guess I should commend you," The President seemed genuinely pleased, uncharacteristically giving Youyu some praise, "Looks like even as an accessory to my victory, you've indeed proven your worth."
Youyu glanced at the President, who looked smug and puffed up, and continued his actions expressionlessly, "Then I'll use the 'Royal Magical Library' on the field... along with the 'Blue-Eyes White Dragon' on Kaiba's field as a tribute."
"Reappear, the magician mastering the ultimate magical arts - Black Magician!"
The President's face changed dramatically: "You bastard!"