A violent explosion, the noise akin to landslides and ground fissures. Even the invincible Orichalcos barrier was teetering before the Hero's boundless firepower, seemingly ready to be shredded by the rampant light at any moment.
However, when the light dissipated and the smoke cleared, Youyu found that Dartz was still standing firm and hadn't been blown to pieces by The Shining's boundless attack power...
"Oh? Truly worthy of being the Evil God's proxy. You withstood the physical impact of infinite attack power..." Youyu said.
Dartz remained aloof: "Hmph, naturally. The suffering I've endured, the darkness I've experienced over ten thousand years, cannot be fathomed by mediocre beings like you.
Compared to the sacrifices made for the ultimate goal, this pain is nothing."
Youyu: "So why are your legs shaking?"
Dartz: "..."
Regardless, the all-out strike by The Shining with infinite attack power was finally withstood by Dartz. Since Dartz's Life Points were originally at 0, an infinite strike couldn't possibly turn them negative; Life Points had no meaning to him anymore.
Youyu took out his last two cards: "Set two cards on the field, end my turn."
"Hmph, helplessly setting your entire remaining hand. Looks like it's your last gamble too."
During your end phase, the effect of 'Fusion Summon' ends, and Elemental Hero The Shining's attack power returns to normal."
[Elemental Hero The Shining, Attack Power ∞ → Attack Power 3200]
Dartz sneered: "Even if it briefly elevated to God-like levels, in the end, it's just an illusory image. This world isn't one to be saved by heroes.
My turn, draw! This time, it's truly the final strike!"
Dartz drew ten cards from the top of his deck and shoved them into the graveyard.
"Battle!" he shouted, "Divine Serpent Geh, crush that hero and put an end to this battle!"
The massive serpent's mouth opened again. A black vortex brewed, transforming into a chaotic blast! The flashing hero was at the forefront and couldn't avoid the overwhelming torrent.
Dartz smirked: "This time, it's truly the finale."
"Not yet." Youyu raised his hand, "Quick-Play Magic - Book of Moon!"
The Set Magic Card on the field flipped, transforming into a thick azure book with a clear golden moon on its cover.
"Book of Moon can turn a monster on the field into face-down defense mode!"
"Within the triple barrier 'Orichalcos Tritos', Magic Traps are ineffective against Divine Serpent Geh!" Dartz shouted.
"I know! So the target I choose is... Elemental Hero The Shining!" Youyu waved, "Turn The Shining into face-down defense mode!"
The hero withdrew its shining radiance, crouched down, and transformed back into a face-down set card, covered on the field in a face-down position.
"Since it's in defense mode, I won't receive battle damage!"
"Tch, the unkillable guy!" Dartz frowned, seemingly growing impatient, "Then crush that eyesore of a hero for me!"
The chaotic storm spewed from Divine Serpent Geh's mouth indiscriminately uncovered the set card on Youyu's field, The Shining's image reappeared, its white body instantly riddled with holes, torn to shreds in the storm.
"See? This is Divine Serpent Geh's absolute power, nothing can stop it!" Dartz declared, "The resurrection of the Evil God is inevitable, and all of human civilization will be reset!"
Youyu ignored him: "Elemental Hero The Shining's effect! When he is sent to the graveyard, two heroes in the banished zone, 'Elemental Hero Shadow Mist' and 'Elemental Hero Blazeman', return to my hand!"
The hero unleashed his last glow at the moment of being shattered, the last hope transforming into these two heroes, who returned to Youyu's hand from the banished zone.
"Go ahead as you please. But at this point, what use do such minor heroes have?" Dartz sneered, "My turn is over. Do your utmost and attempt to defeat Divine Serpent Geh.
No matter what efforts you make or attempts, you'll find it futile... Just as humanity can never eradicate the darkness within their hearts!"
At the same time, Divine Serpent Geh let out a sky-piercing roar, like a triumphant demon relishing its success.
The oppressive aura of the Dark God weighed down immensely, the air heavy enough to instill fear. The entire Spirit Realm was enveloped in a gloomy atmosphere, the spirits' morale hitting rock bottom.
It's no wonder.
The God of Destruction was destroyed head-on, and the radiance of the Sun God extinguished. The heroic soul-burnt, full-force strike was cunningly neutralized by the Evil God, only for everything to be obliterated in its final attack.
All hope shattered, now on the duel field... no, power capable of opposing the invincible Evil God no longer existed within the vast Spirit Realm.
The pressure exerted by the Evil God allowed despair and fear to spread in the endless space, and the more such emotions there were, the stronger the Evil God became in return.
Boom!
The sound of a Black Magic blast erupted again, blowing away another Orichalcos monster that had crept into the Spirit Realm through a rift.
"Everyone, don't give up!" Dark Magician Girl hovered in midair, calling out to her companions, "Because... Master is still fighting, he hasn't given up!"
The spirits felt terror under the Evil God's pressure, but they regained their senses.
Indeed, we haven't lost yet.
As long as there's some Life Points left, and cards in the deck, any draw can create a miracle.
Dueling... that's what it's all about!
All eyes, all attention refocused on Youyu.
This Duelist who arrived at this moment in the Spirit Realm, standing up against the Evil God...
...can he truly create a miracle here?
Silent Magician stood beside Youyu, holding her breath to avoid disturbing him.
But she could feel, even in such a dire situation, even while directly under the Evil God's pressure, this person felt no despair.
It seemed as if, even at this point, he still had a backup plan.
It was the final card draw!
Though Youyu didn't expect the duel to reach this point, or evolve into this current state, he did indeed have a means to retaliate.
As long as he draws that card!
All the spirits' prayers gathered in one body, the power of the three Egyptian Gods invisibly blessed at this moment, Youyu felt an unprecedented surge in his 'power' as a duelist!
A true duelist's actions are bound by destiny; even a draw can create reality!
"My turn," he drew the top card from his deck, "Draw!"
At the instant of drawing, the card traced a magnificent trajectory of red, gold, and blue through the air.
It arrived!
Dartz's expression shifted: "That power is..."
"Quick-Play Magic - Soul Release!" The Magic Card that Youyu had drawn floated before him, "Remove up to five cards from the game from both players' graveyards combined!"
"Remove five cards from the game?" Dartz frowned, "Do you think that by removing 'Orichalcos Shunoros' from my graveyard, Divine Serpent Geh will vanish? In that case, you'll be disappointed. Shunoros is merely a ritual condition for Divine Serpent Geh, removing it serves no purpose..."
"Who said I was going to remove that?" Youyu chuckled.
"What?"
Though Dartz's mind might have concocted such a nonsensical scenario, Youyu wasn't planning on doing so. He picked up the three cards that popped out of his own graveyard.
"The cards I'm removing are these three!"
Dartz was visibly shocked upon seeing the three cards Youyu held up.
Slifer the Sky Dragon!
Obelisk the Tormentor!
The Winged Dragon of Ra!