"From now on, you won't be able to draw new Monster Cards." Jie Ke smiled confidently, his tone changing, "However, considering my opponent is the esteemed Duel King, I'll be a bit more cautious."
"First, I'll use the Magic Card - Pot of Greed to draw two more cards from my deck." After drawing, Jie Ke smiled slightly, "And then comes this – the three cards that will control time and decide your fate!"
He quickly drew three cards from his hand and inserted them into the Duel Disc.
"I activate these three Continuous Magic Cards! Descend upon my field, the Norns who know the past and rule the future, manipulating time!"
The three Continuous Magic Cards appeared simultaneously on his field, with a sanctified light cascading down like a curtain. Three beautiful and vivacious goddesses, holding Magic Staffs adorned with gemstones, descended with an unassailable divine presence, like fairies.
"First is the Continuous Magic - Goddess Skuld's Oracle, activating its effect!"
As Jie Ke spoke, a goddess with long blue twin tails came forward, playfully winking and acting cute.
"Once per turn, I can view the top three cards of the opponent's deck." Jie Ke smiled, "Then, I can place those three cards back in any order I like. But the opponent cannot see these three cards." (Animated effect)
He extended his hand in a 'please' gesture.
"Come, show me the top of your deck."
Youyu calmly revealed the top three cards, showing them to the opponent with their backs turned to himself.
"Oh, this is dangerous indeed." Jie Ke feigned surprise, "Close call, close call. If you were to draw this card next turn..."
He smiled slightly.
"Let me eliminate that threat right here first."
Jie Ke adjusted the order of the three cards. Youyu placed them back on top of his deck as instructed.
"Next is the Continuous Magic - Goddess Verdande's Guidance, activating its effect!" Jie Ke smiled, "Skuld is the goddess of the future, while Verdande governs the 'present'.
'Goddess Verdande's Guidance' allows me, once per turn, to declare one card type among Magic, Monster, and Trap Cards, then reveal the top card of the opponent's deck. If that card is of the declared type, it's Set on the opponent's field."
Jie Ke pointed to the deck on Youyu's Duel Disc.
"I declare, the top card of your deck is— a Trap Card! And moreover, it's 'Mirror Force'!"
The surrounding crowd erupted in astonishment.
Even the bystander NPCs noticed the brilliance of this combo: "The top card of the Duel King's deck was placed according to his will! Of course, it would be the declared card!"
Youyu silently drew the top card from his deck, revealing it to be 'Mirror Force', just as expected.
"Now, place it on the field for me." Jie Ke smiled.
Youyu inserted the Trap Card into the Duel Disc, where a Set Card appeared at his feet.
"Next is the Continuous Magic - Goddess Urd's Verdict!" Jie Ke declared, "Once per turn, I declare a card name and reveal a Set card on the opponent's field.
If the Set Card matches the declared card, it is banished from the game!"
At this, he flashed a sly smile.
"The card I declare, of course... is that card!" He pointed to the card Youyu had just Set at his feet, "That is 'Mirror Force'!"
The Set Card flipped over, revealing it was indeed Mirror Force.
Alas, the noble power of Hanno was arranged flawlessly by the opponent, dismissed without a chance to emerge, vanishing in a golden flash under the verdict of the three Time Goddesses.
"Truly dangerous indeed." Jie Ke said, "If I hadn't activated the 'Norns' effect this turn, drawing 'Mirror Force' next turn would have meant the complete annihilation of my monsters."
He paused and then revealed a card from his hand.
"Now the effect of 'Valkyrie Sigrun' from my hand activates!" Jie Ke declared, "This card can be Special Summoned by sending a Face-Up Magic or Trap Card from my field to the Graveyard!
I send 'Goddess Verdande's Guidance' to the Graveyard to Special Summon 'Valkyrie Sigrun'!"
A Continuous Magic in Jie Ke's backfield disappeared, and the pink-haired goddess overseeing the present dissolved into golden dust as well.
The dust gathered as if attracted, forming a vortex in the arena before Jie Ke. A rainbow-like pillar of light rose from it, seemingly bridging into the heavens.
A Valkyrie Warrior, clad in Purple Armor and wielding a divine spear, landed atop a steed, majestic and awe-inspiring. Her flowing hair blended seamlessly with her dark cloak.
[Valkyrie Sigrun, ATK 2200]
"Sigrun's effect!" Jie Ke waved a hand, "When this card is Summoned or Special Summoned, I can Special Summon a Level 8 or below Valkyrie monster from my hand or Graveyard.
The one I'll choose... of course, is this one again."
Jie Ke chuckled slightly, a card ejecting from the Graveyard.
"Resurrect from the depths of the Netherworld and once again deliver the fruits of victory to my hands! Valkyrie Erda!"
The red-armored Valkyrie, who had left the field just last turn, returned to the battlefield once more upon her steed. Her prior loss to the magical girl hadn't dulled her spirit; the Valkyrie Warrior's eyes were resolute, vibrant with an unyielding gallant, poised like an arrow ready to launch.
[Valkyrie Erda, Attack Power 2000]
"And of course, because of Erda's effect," Jie Ke smiled, "All your adorable magic girls must have their attack power decreased."
[Chocolate Magician Girl, Attack Power 1600 → Attack Power 600]
[Dark Magician Girl, Attack Power 2000 → Attack Power 1000]
[Berry Magician Girl, Attack Power 400 → Attack Power 0]
"Next comes the battle." Jie Ke waved his hand to order, "Valkyrie Sigrun, attack Dark Magician Girl!"
It must be said, Jie Ke was indeed very cautious.
Among Youyu's three magic girls on the field, he particularly chose to attack the highest attack power Dark Magician Girl, clearly already wary of the effects of the other magic girls he hadn't encountered before.
Now Jie Ke's LP was only 200, he couldn't afford to fall into traps anymore.
His caution was indeed justified.
If he attacked Berry Magician Girl, Berry Magician Girl would automatically switch to defense position and special summon a new magician girl from the deck.
If he attacked Chocolate Magician Girl, Chocolate Magician Girl could special summon another Spellcaster-Type from the graveyard, halve the opponent's attack power, and force them to attack that monster.
If Jie Ke recklessly attacked Chocolate Magician Girl now, he would lose instantly.
Sigrun charged!
The white horse dragged the howling wind straight to the girl. The Valkyrie Warrior raised the sword in her hand, the blade cutting through the air in a white flash, directly stabbing forward!
Dark Magician Girl instinctively stepped back two steps, placing her small staff horizontally in front of her chest, knowing full well she couldn't defend against this strike in her weakened state...
"Activate Set Card!" Youyu said, "Trap Card - Half Unbreak! One monster on the field cannot be destroyed by battle this turn, and battle damage is halved!
I'm protecting... Dark Magician Girl!"
A layer of milky white transparent bubble protected Dark Magician Girl in the center. Sigrun's fierce sword slashed violently against the shield, the shockwave causing damage but unable to penetrate the defensive line constructed by the Trap Card.
[Youyu, LP 1400 → LP 800]
"Then I'll use Erda for a follow-up attack!" Jie Ke said, "The target remains Dark Magician Girl!"
The second Valkyrie Warrior charged. The white horse galloped to the front of the magic girl, the sharp sword chopping down on the shield with a "clang", though still unable to harm the girl protected within, it still caused some battle damage.
[Youyu, LP 800 → LP 300]
"That concludes my Battle Phase."
Jie Ke drew the remaining three cards from his hand, glanced at them, took a deep breath, feeling as if he could already see the ending leading to victory.
Next turn will decide the winner!
Jie Ke swung his arm, placing three cards at his feet: "Set three cards, turn ends."
"Now it's my turn..."
"At this moment! The effect of 'Ring of Nibelung' equipped on 'Dark Magician Girl' activates!" Jie Ke sneered, "During the Draw Phase, you can draw two cards, but if there are any Monster Cards among them, you must discard them."
Jie Ke closed his eyes lightly, his expression flamboyant and irritating, acting as if everything was under control.
"Of course, the next two cards you're going to draw were also put back by me. So I can tell you in advance, there is indeed a Monster Card among them."
Youyu drew two cards, picked them up to take a look, and sure enough, there was an "Apple Magician Girl" among them.
"Alright." Jie Ke folded his arms, "Discard that card."
Youyu, without saying a word, silently discarded the "Apple Magician Girl" to the Duel Disc's Graveyard Zone.
The NPCs among the spectators began to stir.
"That's way too shameless!"
"So I won't be able to draw Monster Cards forever?"
"Not only that, the cards drawn are all pre-arranged, how can you fight against that?"
"This guy is not just ordinarily strong! It looks a little bad for the Duel King..."
It seemed that being praised by the onlookers made Jie Ke a bit overconfident, he couldn't help but laugh loudly, as if victory was in his grasp.
However...
Youyu sent "Apple Magician Girl" to the graveyard, added the remaining card to his hand, and said lightly, "It's about time to end this. I'll deal with you this turn."
Jie Ke: "!?"