Youyu straightened up again and carefully observed the Anubis opposite him.
In the animation, he only intervened when the duel between the King and the president was about to end, acting for just a few minutes, making it almost impossible to discern his card deck's setup.
However, it is certain that this guy is very strong... extremely strong.
This can be seen from several details.
For example, he can secretly influence the minds of Pegasus and Kaiba, misleading everyone to act according to the script he has planned.
For example, his signature card, the Continuous Trap - Pyramid of Light, which contains extraordinary power so strong that even Yugi's Millennium Pendant cannot shake it, and it can even erase the Three Egyptian God.
In the movie version, as soon as the "Pyramid of Light" activates, the Three Egyptian God on the game field were instantly wiped out and excluded from the game.
Logically, the Three Egyptian God are unaffected by Trap Card effects. So from the perspective of real card rules, there are only two possible explanations as to why the "Pyramid of Light" can erase the Three Egyptian God.
The first possibility is that "excluding the Three Egyptian God from the game" is not the effect of this card, but the cost required to activate this card. It's of the same nature as Kaiba "sacrificing the Obelisk to summon Blue-Eyes White Dragon," where the Gods are the cost paid for this card's activation.
The second possibility is that "excluding the Three Egyptian God from the game" is a "text outside the effect" recorded on this card, which is not the card's effect.
In layman's terms, "when the Pyramid of Light exists, the Egyptian God must be removed from the game." This phrase itself is a rule recorded on the "Pyramid of Light" card surface, not a card effect.
But regardless of which explanation, from an animation standpoint, it is enough to prove that the "Pyramid of Light" has at least power equal to or even possibly higher than the Three Egyptian God.
As its holder, it can be foreseen that Anubis should at least have the strength equivalent to a level ten Duelist, and should not be underestimated on various levels.
"My turn, draw card."
It's fortunate here that the opponent returned Airman to Youyu's hand, so he can utilize it a second time.
"Summon again, 'Elemental Hero Airman'!"
An invisible whirlwind ensued, and the high-tech hero in exoskeletal armor appeared on the field again, with turbines roaring behind him.
[Elemental Hero Airman, Attack Power 1800]
"Airman's effect!" Youyu said, "When successfully summoned, add a 'Hero' Monster from the deck to the hand. I'll add 'Elemental Hero Liquidman' to my hand!"
A card popped out from the deck, which he took and quickly shuffled the deck automatically.
"Next, I will use the effect of 'Field Magic - Fusion Gate'!"
Youyu raised his hand, and the dark vortex above released lightning, roaring as if in a deep voice.
"On the field, 'Elemental Hero Airman', in hand the water attribute 'Elemental Hero Liquidman', Fusion!
The fusion condition is an Elemental Hero plus any water attribute Monster! Fusion Summon!
From the abyss of severe cold, a Hero who dominates all with the power of absolute ice and snow—
——Elemental Hero Absolute Zero!"
Airman and Liquidman transformed into two beams of light flying into the sky, disappearing into the chaotic vortex. Blue and white brilliance burst out, falling from above, bringing a world of ice and snow.
The pitch-black grave seemed to be instantly dyed pure white, an icy chill rising from nowhere, the Hero clad in silver-white armor and a fluttering cape, descended lightly with arms crossed. The instant his toe touched the ground, transparent ice adhered beneath him.
[Elemental Hero Absolute Zero, Attack Power 2500]
"The effect of 'Elemental Hero Liquidman'," Youyu said, "when used as Fusion Material for a 'Hero' Monster and sent to the graveyard or removed from play, I can draw two cards from the deck, then choose one card to discard from my hand."
Youyu drew two cards, glanced at his hand, then discarded one to the graveyard.
"Indeed a powerful servant," Anubis calmly said, "enough to break the Guardian's defense."
But even if the Guardian Sphinx in defense position is destroyed, it wouldn't necessarily harm Anubis himself.
But Youyu wasn't done yet: "Quick-Play Magic - Mask Change! Send a Hero Monster on the field to the graveyard to Special Summon a Masked Hero of the same attribute!
I send 'Elemental Hero Absolute Zero' to the graveyard for a Masked Change!
Masked Hero: Mist Water, Summon!"
Surrounded by snow and ice, the dazzling silver-white transformation effect covered the hero of extreme cold with a brand-new armor. The blue and white armor enveloped his body and form, the helmet donned, and the hero's eyes glowed with a crimson flash.
[Masked Hero: Mist Water, Attack Power 2400]
Anubis frowned: "Gave up on a more powerful servant?"
"Absolute Zero's effect," Youyu quickly explained, "when he leaves the field, all opponent's Monsters on the field are destroyed!"
Boundless chill releases, the icy power erupts from beneath Mist Water, sweeping forward at visibly high speed. Anubis's covered "Guardian Sphinx," didn't even have the chance to flip over before being frozen into ice blocks, shattered into fragments.
"I see, indeed quite a strong ability," Anubis said, "but as long my trap 'Trial of the Traveler' remains, your attack is still limited."
Naturally, Youyu knew this too: "Quick-Play Magic - Mystical Space Typhoon! Destroy 'Trial of the Traveler'!"
A pitch-black storm arose, lifting the opponent's Continuous Trap Card into the air, tearing it into fragments.
"With this, the restriction on attacks is gone," Youyu said.
"Ha, a bit of skill," Anubis said.
"Battle!" Youyu proclaimed, "Masked Hero: Mist Water, direct attack on the player!"
Mist Water stepped atop the blue water flow, flying out as if riding the wind and breaking the waves. He stepped on the surging wave, a silver-white dagger in hand slicing out a clear water line, aiming straight for Anubis's throat.
Anubis squinted slightly, a corner of his mouth curved, emitting a dull, cold laugh.
"Let me show you something special, the power that surpasses gods and ends the world!"
He raised his arm high.
"Now activate it here, reappear in this world—
——Pyramid of Light!"
The final Set Card before him flipped, a vividly red Trap Card, releasing an incomparably dazzling divine light upon standing up.
The space trembled, rubble and dust falling from the top. The entire tomb began to wail, as if an invisible balloon was rapidly inflating, about to burst the container.
A laser carved out a cross on the ground, encircling a massive arena. The white light began to construct a gigantic structure within the delineated area, enveloping the entire battlefield between the two sides, isolating the collapsing tomb, and the rolling stones outside, even blocking out sound.
It's as if the card's power supported an enclosed dueling space. Before the decision is made, no one can leave here.
This place is the Pyramid of Light.
It's a domain of judgment that even the gods cannot reach.