The Mask of Light and Dark argued for a while before the duel could continue.
The Mask of Dark seemed to believe that his unreliable teammate had just wanted to stand by and watch him die. At that moment, he elongated his face and ignored his partner.
Inside, the Mask of Light felt troubled. If they managed to win this round after the disruption caused by Youyu, he knew the Mask of Dark wouldn't let him off easily. When they returned, he would surely get rubbed into the ground as a lesson.
At this thought, the Mask of Light felt a chill beneath him, cold sweat running down his back, and he couldn't help but look at Youyu with even more resentment.
It's all because of this guy!
Hard to tell, on the surface, he looks harmless, but inside he's rotten to the core!
But Youyu was completely unconscious of this, calmly saying, "At the end of my turn, the effect of the Dark Magician of Chaos activates. I can retrieve a Magic Card from the graveyard to my hand. I choose – Card of Demise."
As he spoke, the graveyard on the Duel Disc glowed with gold light, and a green card automatically ejected from the graveyard, which he then retrieved.
"It's my turn!" The Mask of Dark drew a card forcefully.
Right now, he completely distrusted his partner, his mind full of thoughts on how to protect himself while figuring out a way to win the match.
If necessary, he wouldn't hesitate to abandon his partner.
But this couldn't entirely be blamed on Youyu; mainly, this pair of brothers was indeed a bit fragile. If only they had a bit more trust in each other, they wouldn't fall apart so easily.
The Mask of Dark glanced at his hand, sneering, "In the end, it still comes down to relying on myself; partners aren't reliable at all.
Let me show you another one of my trump cards! Ritual Magic activates, Curse of the Masked Beast!
I sacrifice two Level 4 monsters from my hand to ritual summon—
—The Masked Beast!"
Two four-star Normal Monsters disappeared into the circular array of the ritual ceremony, with azure flames igniting around the circle. A blood-red skull emerged from the rising steam. He held a blood-colored staff, resembling a human torso and limbs but with the lower half like some unknown creature, and a long tail swaying behind him.
[The Masked Beast, ATK 3200]
"Impressive, partner!" The Mask of Light was overjoyed, instantly transforming into a cheerleader.
"Hmph, this is our strongest monster besides the Death Guide Mage." The summoning of a powerful monster restored the Mask of Dark's confidence, "Even you won't easily defeat it!"
Though it was a three-for-one trade, during the DM Era, there weren't many quick methods to summon high-level monsters, so jumping to a monster of this level was indeed something to boast about.
Reflecting on it, the joy of summoning the big monster seemed to quickly make the duo forget how fiercely they were arguing moments ago. Typical: winning brings smiles, losing brings grievances...
The Mask of Dark squinted, glancing at Youyu, "You seemed quite arrogant just now, huh? And were you trying to sow discord between us partners? Well now, even if you summon the ultimate magician, I can easily defeat him..."
"Don't be deceived by him, partner!" The Mask of Light shouted, "This guy is insidious! He just wants us to lose our heads and attack him!"
"That's right!" The Mask of Dark suddenly realized, turning his gaze to Kaiba's Paladin of White Dragon, "If I attack him, Kaiba's Paladin of White Dragon will remain this turn.
The 'Mask of Restrict' that my partner used last turn was destroyed by 'Heavy Storm', so by the next turn..."
"Indeed, Kaiba will be able to use the Paladin as a tribute to summon a Blue-Eyes White Dragon!" The Mask of Light gritted his teeth, "This guy intends to use himself as a shield to cover Kaiba!"
Kaiba squinted, glancing sideways at Youyu, who was silent.
This guy... intentionally provoking the opponent to cover me?
"What a terrifyingly scheming brat," the Mask of Dark said in a low voice, "But your tactic has been seen through — Masked Beast, attack! Destroy the Paladin of White Dragon for me!"
"At this moment!" In the nick of time, Youyu spoke again, "Trap Card - Attack Invincibility activates!
This card can initiate one of two effects during the Battle Phase. This card can select one monster on the field, and the selected monster will not be destroyed until the end of the Battle Phase; or the battle damage this turn can be reduced to 0 for me."
Youyu pointed to Kaiba's Paladin of White Dragon on the field.
"I choose to activate the first effect: Paladin of White Dragon will not be destroyed by battle or card effects until the end of the turn!"
Once the effect was decided, the Trap Card faded and disappeared from the field. A semi-transparent shield materialized in front of the Paladin of White Dragon, resembling a water-membrane iris, protecting both the knight and dragon.
"Damn it, always meddling," the Mask of Dark growled, waving his hand, "But battle damage still applies!"
The dark impact struck the transparent shield; although the monster was protected unscathed, residual impact waves scattered from the shield washed over the Kaiba standing behind.
Kaiba gritted his teeth, stepping back slightly under the impact.
[Kaiba, LP 2500→LP 1200]
He gave an angry glance at Youyu, "Didn't I tell you not to meddle!?"
Youyu silently glanced at the "+5 Favorability" floating above the president's forehead, momentarily unsure of what expression to make...
Youyu improvised on the spot: "Don't get me wrong, president, I'm not doing this to save you. I'm just acting on a whim..."
Seeing the president's unpleasant expression as if he was about to erupt, Youyu quickly cleared his throat to change the topic: "I told you, didn't I? The formula for victory is already complete.
I've done everything I could. If you're a true Duelist, president, then win this for me in the next turn."
Teaming up in card games definitely requires cooperation, and supporting teammates is part of it.
Just like in certain large online team games, clearly a team game but the team's bound to have those one or two who think they're exceptionally skilled, show off by feeding, and even deities can't save them...
Kaiba squinted, glanced at the Paladin of White Dragon on his field, and then at the set card on Youyu's field, seeming to understand something.
"Hmph, nothing I can do, my turn ends." Mask of Dark said.
"My turn!" It was Kaiba's turn again.
After that series of moves from Youyu, he had some idea of Youyu's intentions and understood what Youyu wanted him to do.
But right now, Kaiba still lacked the crucial final card in his hand.
The key is whether this turn's draw will pull that card!
Honestly, Youyu also had no idea what cards his teammate Kaiba had in his hand.
But... since it's the president, drawing the key card when you intend to should be natural, right?
"...Draw!"
Kaiba drew the card from the top of the deck forcefully, pausing slightly with the motion.
And as expected...
"Hahahahahaha!" Kaiba laughed loudly, "Ghouls! You lost this duel!"
"Nani!?"
"First, I activate the effect of 'Paladin of White Dragon'! Use him as a tribute to Special Summon from the deck—
—Come forth! Blue-Eyes White Dragon!"
The Paladin of White Dragon, who previously couldn't be tributed, finally left the field successfully this time, transforming into white light and ascending to the heavens. A pillar of incandescent light fell like a sky-reaching cascade, as if a waterfall had crashed down from beyond the sky onto the ground.
The Light Dragon roared into existence, spreading its wings with a presence akin to divine might.
[Blue-Eyes White Dragon, Attack 3000]
"As expected, it's Blue-Eyes White Dragon again..." Mask of Light gritted his teeth, "But even so, its attack power alone can't defeat our Masked Beast!"
"Youyu!" Kaiba turned his head, "If my guess about your intention is correct, your set card should be used now, right?"
It seemed Kaiba had indeed guessed correctly. Youyu swung his arm: "Flip the set card, activate Trap Card! Continuous Trap - Call of the Haunted! Revive the monster from the graveyard in Attack Position!"
"That's right, return from the depths of the Netherworld, my most powerful servant!" Kaiba shouted, "Blue-Eyes White Dragon!"
The incandescent pillar pierced through the Netherworld and reality, and the Light Dragon roared as it flew out of the graveyard, spreading its wings with a furious roar!
[Blue-Eyes White Dragon, Attack 3000]
"What!? A second Blue-Eyes?" Mask of Dark exclaimed, "But no matter how many come..."
At that moment, he suddenly thought of something: "Masaka!?"
"It seems your luck is pretty good," Kaiba slowly drew a card from his hand, the cloak behind him billowing without wind, "Congratulations, you'll be the first in history to witness this ultimate monster."
This time, even Youyu was a bit surprised.
Wait, the first in history to witness...!?
Isn't the president planning to summon the Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon?
"Magic Card - Polymerization activate! Fuse the two Blue-Eyes White Dragons on the field with the Blue-Eyes White Dragon in my hand!" Kaiba raised the Fusion Magic Card high overhead, shouting loudly, "Dispel the deepest darkness, bring forth the ultimate light dragon! My most powerful servant, the pinnacle evolution—
—Neo Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon!!!"
Youyu: "!!??"
WTF! President, when did you print that card!?