"Malefic Truth Dragon!!!"
At the moment Paradox shouted this, his own image almost twisted, making it seem as if the space where he stood folded inwards.
An indistinct groan followed, then an unimaginable force erupted within the Malefic World, as if some terrifying existence had been unsealed.
A massive, unbelievable golden dragon revealed its form, accompanied by a deafening roar. When the dragon roared, it sounded like rolling thunder exploding right beside your ears. The thunderous boom spread out, reverberating off the walls of the enclosed space, the echoes multiplying its heaviness manifold.
It was a dragon so radiant it shone like gold, its wings unfurling as if to blot out the sky. Each breath it exhaled seemed to shake the earth, hot air streaming from its nostrils, and its sheer size and presence seemed enough to leave destructive marks with just a twitch.
Malefic Truth Dragon, Summon!
[Malefic Truth Dragon, Attack Power 5000]
Everyone who saw that creature for the first time was awed by the golden dragon.
The earlier appearing rainbow dragon, like a deity, the legendary Blue-Eyes White Dragon, and the shimmering Stardust... in an instant, those imitation Malefic Monsters seemed to pale in comparison to the golden dragon.
The Truth Dragon, this was the supreme, dominating Dragon-Type King of the Malefic Deck!
What was more astonishing was that Paradox himself seemed to become a part of the Duel Monster—as the Duelist, Paradox disappeared from view. At that moment, half of his body was embedded into the giant head of the Truth Dragon, as if he had become a part of the monster.
The spectators outside were amazed by the scene.
Human and Duel Monster fusion? Could such a thing happen!?
However, though shocking, it wasn't entirely unacceptably outlandish.
After all, during the Duel City Tournament, there was a precedent with contestant Marik merging with The Winged Dragon of Ra.
Kaiba Company explained it at the time, stating it was the latest holographic technology creating visual effects. It was normal.
To put it in President Kaiba's words, don't panic, it's all scientific.
"Hahaha! This is the true strongest monster of the Malefics, summoned by sacrificing my body as the ultimate dragon!" Paradox laughed, "Before the Truth Dragon, you have no chance of winning!"
Youyu frowned but ignored it, saying: "Set two cards, and end my turn."
"Hmph, then it's my turn, and your last turn, Duel Kings." Paradox declared, "My turn.
This moment, activate again the effect of Field Magic - Sin World! Instead of the usual draw, add a random 'Sin' Monster from the deck to my hand."
Paradox's deck automatically shuffled, and then a card intelligently popped out.
He picked up the card, glanced at it, and revealed it: "I activate the effect of 'Malefic Cyber End Dragon'! From the Extra Deck, send 'Cyber End Dragon' to the Graveyard, and this card can be summoned directly.
Descend! Malefic Cyber End Dragon!!!"
Once again, a storm whipped through the field, this time accompanied by crackling electricity. Metal parts began assembling, countless pieces gathering and forming, transforming into a three-headed steel dragon.
[Malefic Cyber End Dragon, Attack Power 4000]
"Then I activate the Magic Card - Axe of Despair from my hand, equipping it to 'Malefic Truth Dragon'," Paradox announced, "Increasing Truth Dragon's attack power by 1000."
[Malefic Truth Dragon, Attack Power 5000 → Attack Power 6000]
The spectators below were utterly astonished.
In an instant, monsters with four thousand, even six thousand attack power were called forth!
Six thousand attack power! What does this mean!?
"Battle," Paradox commanded, "Malefic Cyber End Dragon, attack Stardust Dragon!"
[Stardust Dragon, Defense Power 2000]
"Even though it's in Defense Position, there's no need for me to explain Malefic Cyber End Dragon's effect, is there?" Paradox smirked coldly.
Indeed. The physical card of Malefic Cyber End Dragon was merely a blank slate with four thousand attack power, but in the animation, it had the same piercing damage effect as the original.
Even when attacking a Defense Position Monster, if the attack power surpasses the defense, Malefic Cyber End Dragon can inflict battle damage for the excess.
The three had only 700 Life Points left, with this attack piercing their defenses, it would decide their defeat!
Youyu waved a hand: "Open Set Card, Trap Card - Shift! Swap the positions of Stardust Dragon and Dark Magician Girl, changing Malefic Cyber End Dragon's attack target to Dark Magician Girl!"
The synched roars of electricity spewed from the mouths of the three heads, the triple evolutionary lights with electric fury roaring towards the magical maiden.
[Dark Magician Girl, Defense Power 1700]
Paradox frowned: "Oh? Changing to Dark Magician Girl? What's the meaning of this? The piercing damage is still enough to instantly defeat you..."
"Open Set Card, Trap Card - Defense Draw!" Youyu declared, "Turn one instance of battle damage into 0, afterward I draw a card from the deck."
The damage was entirely nullified by the protective shield, but Dark Magician Girl still vanished into a phantom under Cyber End Dragon's eternal impact.
Yusei was puzzled: "But since you could defend against the damage, why intentionally switch positions and let the Dark Magician Girl take the attack..."
Could it be that Mr. Youyu was so kind as to sacrifice his Dark Magician Girl to protect his Stardust Dragon?
However, he immediately understood why.
Paradox gritted his teeth: "Hmph, the effect of the Malefic Truth Dragon, when your Malefic Monster battles and destroys an opponent's monster, it must activate, destroying all monsters on the opponent's field. For each monster destroyed, inflict 800 damage to the opponent." (Anime effect)
"Such a powerful effect!?" Yusei was shocked.
Doesn't this mean that it can consistently destroy all the opponent's monsters on the field each turn, and inflict effect damage as well?
Only such a powerful effect could match the king of the Malefic series, the strongest Golden Dragon!
Because it is a mandatory effect, without waiting for Paradox's command, the Malefic Truth Dragon let out a low growl. The golden dragon's endless power transformed into a sky full of blood-red spikes. Accompanied by a dragon's roar, they densely rained down like a command towards the opposing field.
"I see!" Judai realized, "That's why the teacher deliberately protected Stardust..."
Youyu waved his hand: "Stardust Dragon's effect activates! By sacrificing itself, negate and destroy the 'destroy all cards on the field' effect!
I sacrifice Stardust Dragon to negate and destroy the Malefic Truth Dragon's effect!
Sacrificial Sanctuary!"
Stardust Dragon let out a high-pitched roar, its body swirling and dissolving into countless points of light in the holy starlight. These points converged into a silver-white stream, scattering the sky full of blood rain with unstoppable momentum, flying towards the Malefic Truth Dragon!
Paradox's face turned ashen. A card popped out from his Duel Disc's grave zone, and he shouted loudly: "The follow-up effect of the Malefic Truth Dragon!
By banishing a 'Malefic' monster from the graveyard, prevent this card from being destroyed.
I banish 'Malefic Blue-Eyes White Dragon' from the graveyard, negation of the Malefic Truth Dragon's destruction!"
Yusei gritted his teeth, a bit unwilling for his Stardust Dragon's inability to solve the opponent: "It actually has the ability to prevent destruction..."
With the ability to blow up the field unlimitedly coupled with destruction resistance, such a monster is extremely powerful even in the era from which he comes.
"But this way, you only have one monster left on the field." Paradox said coldly.
"But because you have three monsters on your field," Youyu said, "the attack power of Masked Hero Koga increases by 1500."
[Masked Hero Koga, ATK 4000]
"Hmph, it doesn't matter." Paradox shouted, "Malefic Truth Dragon! Attack Masked Hero Koga!"
The Truth Dragon opened its bloodthirsty mouth, seemingly brewing an immense black hole within! The blood-colored storm took shape, carrying destructive energy as if it was about to engulf everything!
"At this moment, Koga's effect activates!" Youyu said, "By banishing a Hero Monster from the graveyard, until the end of the turn, the attack of one opponent's monster decreases by the attack of the banished Hero.
This effect can also be activated during the opponent's turn."
"Whatever." Paradox sneered, "You can only banish 'Elemental Hero Sparkman' from your graveyard now."
Indeed, Youyu had no other choice.
"I banish 'Elemental Hero Sparkman' from the graveyard, lowering the Truth Dragon's attack by 1600 until the end of the turn."
[Malefic Truth Dragon, ATK 6000 → ATK 4400]
"No matter, Truth Dragon still has higher attack power." Paradox chuckled, "Continue to attack!"
The blood-colored wave surged out, dimming the entire Malefic World in an instant. The Masked Hero was hit head-on, its body torn to pieces in the violent torrent.
Youyu was blasted backward by the impact, staggering to one knee, the force piercing through his body as if it would tear his bones apart.
[Youyu, LP 700 → LP 300]
"Teacher!" Judai called out with concern.
Youyu took a deep breath and raised his head: "But since no monsters exist on my field, the Malefic Truth Dragon's 'destroy all monsters' effect won't activate, and I won't take its effect damage."
"Indeed." Paradox sneered, "But Duel King, you shouldn't have forgotten that there is still one monster on my field that hasn't attacked, right?"
Youyu squinted his eyes.
"Take this move and become dust in history!" Paradox raised his arm, "Malefic Rainbow Dragon!"
[Malefic Rainbow Dragon, ATK 4000]
"Direct attack!"
The Rainbow Dragon opened its mouth, spewing a rainbow-like ray! The seven-colored beam intertwined and fused into a white-hot impact, shooting straight at Youyu's face!
But Youyu, without saying a word, swiftly revealed another card in his hand.
KURIBOH!!!