"Brother, Youyu's attacks were all blocked by that guy!" Mokuba looked towards his brother.
Kaiba crossed his arms and snorted, saying, "Just lucky, that's all."
Although he said that, Kaiba indeed had a newfound respect for the two people from the D Department. The deck's strength and the duelist's individual qualities seemed impeccable.
These two were indeed strong in the truest sense.
...But even so, he didn't believe Youyu would lose here!
"My turn, draw." Ueno said, "At this moment, the side effect of the Continuous Trap - Firewall, I must pay 500 Life Points during each standby phase to maintain its existence."
Continuous defense doesn't come without a price. Flames faintly wrapped around Ueno's body, deducting 500 points from his life once again. The enhanced sensation undoubtedly brought him burning pain, but he endured it with closed eyes, without even flinching.
[Ueno, LP 3000 → LP 2500]
"Next, the effect of Continuous Magic - Volcano Wall, activate again!" Ueno said, "Reveal the top three cards from the deck and send them to the graveyard. For every Pyro-Type monster among them, inflict 500 points of damage to the opponent!"
Ueno swiftly drew three cards, glanced at them, and immediately revealed them.
"Among the cards I drew, there's one 'Volcanic Blaster' and one 'Volcanic Rocket.'" He said, "That totals 1000 points of damage!"
The Magic Card erupted with flames, the illusions of two volcanic monsters appeared, one after another, transforming into two shells bombarding towards Youyu.
With only 1500 Life Points, if Youyu took this hit, his Life Points would instantly drop to just 500, and any stray damage effect would lead to immediate defeat!
However, Youyu had a countermeasure: "Flip Cover Card! Trap Card - Energy-Absorbing Monolith! Negate the effect damage given by the opponent and then restore that amount of Life Points to myself!"
Essentially, it's an effect damage version of "Draining Shield."
A black stone slab rose up, blocking in front of Youyu. The flames roared as they struck the stone slab, a violent impact, transformed into a rainbow-colored brilliance on the other side, illuminating Youyu and transforming into nutrients absorbed into him.
[Youyu, LP 1500 → LP 2500]
"Beautiful!" Mokuba shouted from the side, "Not only did he evade the damage, but he also restored his Life Points!"
When against an effect damage deck, Life Points are still very precious. The fact that Youyu restored his Life Points was also quite uncomfortable for the other side.
Even Ueno frowned slightly. However, he didn't say much and merely continued, "Magic Card - Card of Sanctity, both players draw until they have six cards in hand."
Youyu remained silent, drawing cards along with him.
"Continuous Magic - Blaze Accelerator, activate!"
Flames swept across the ground, a pillar of fire burst forth, revealing a technologically advanced cannon fixed on the ground with a black metal tripod.
"Next, send 'Blaze Accelerator' to the graveyard!" Ueno continued, "Continuous Magic, Blaze Accelerator - Trident, activate!"
Another burst of flames swept forth, the black cannon disappeared from the field, replaced by a domineering tri-barrel heavy cannon, its barrels shining brilliantly under the ceiling lights.
Youyu frowned slightly.
Another troublesome thing...
"Blaze Accelerator - Trident's effect, activate!" Ueno said, "Discard a Pyro-Type monster from the hand to destroy one of the opponent's monsters on the field and deal 500 damage to the opponent!
I send the Pyro-Type 'Volcanic Shell' to the graveyard, ammo loading! Targeting 'Elemental Hero Gaia', fire!"
A petite monster engulfed in flames appeared, voluntarily crawling into the cannon's magazine. The Blaze Cannon's barrels erupted with fire, a triple burst with a howling shot, striking 'Elemental Hero Gaia' head-on.
The scorching heat melted its armor, piercing through the massive body. The hero let out a miserable groan, its body shattered into pieces, consumed by exploding fireballs.
[Youyu, LP 2500 → LP 2000]
"Volcanic Shell sent to the graveyard, its effect activates!" Ueno continued, "While this card is in the graveyard, once per turn, pay 500 Life Points to add another 'Volcanic Shell' from the deck to the hand!"
[Ueno, LP 2500 → LP 2000]
Flames wrapped around his body once more, burning intensely. Simultaneously, he drew from the deck, retrieving a second Volcanic Shell.
The effect of Blaze Accelerator - Trident doesn't have a once-per-turn restriction, so with ammo in his hand again, naturally, he continued to fire.
"Blaze Accelerator - Trident's effect!" Ueno said, "Send the second 'Volcanic Shell' from the hand to the graveyard, ammo fill! Targeting 'Elemental Hero Airman', fire!"
The second shell left a bright burning trail in the air, propelled forward with unstoppable momentum.
Despite its powerful effect, Airman, after all, isn't a combat-type hero. With only 300 defense, defending isn't his strong suit.
With just one shot, Airman was blown apart, dissipating in flames as an afterimage.
[Youyu, LP 2000 → LP 1500]
Thankfully, he restored some Life Points with the "Energy-Absorbing Monolith" this turn. Otherwise, Ueno would've dealt 2000 effect damage this turn, and without the Life gain, he'd be gone by now.
...Speaking of which, the impact from this enhanced tactile imaging sure hurts a bit. Being bombarded continuously with Fire Attribute effect damage, Youyu felt the burning sensation all over, as if the skin was persistently scorched.
But with that, Ueno's offense for this turn seemed to have temporarily ended.
As the smoke cleared, seeing Youyu still standing on the other side, Ueno couldn't help but frown slightly, pondering over something as he continued to take out two cards.
"Set two cards, end my turn."
With one Volcano Wall, one Firewall, one Blaze Accelerator - Trident, plus two Set Cards, Ueno's back field was completely filled.
On the contrary, his front field was empty, not a single monster.
During the turn in which Volcano Wall's effect is activated, you can't declare an attack. Similarly, the turn when Blaze Accelerator - Trident's effect is utilized also has the drawback of no attack declarations.
So he simply didn't summon a monster, focusing all resources on using effect damage to chip away Life Points.
Youyu's Life Points returned to 1500 again; this amount is usually sufficient, far from a Life Lock, even somewhat excessive. However, against the Volcanic Deck, it wasn't so ample.
Youyu had no doubts, just one more turn, at most one more turn, the opponent could undoubtedly deplete his remaining 1500 Life Points.
This meant he had to find a way in this turn.
"My turn... draw!"