"The strongest demon in history... quite a bold claim."
But Youyu wasn't complacent in the slightest.
Thunder of Fallen, it's quite apparent that this is one of the exclusive support cards for the Three Phantasm, originating from ancient tablets sealed with the Power of Phantasms.
The powers of these accompanying cards are formidable, genuinely capable of significantly enhancing the strength of the Three Phantasm, and warrant no negligence.
"My turn, draw card!" Youyu declared, "Normal Magic Card 'Graceful Charity', draw three cards from the deck, then discard two cards from your hand.
Next, I summon 'Keeper of Dragon Magic', defense position!"
The knight clad in armor appeared valiantly, sweeping his spear, his cape billowing.
[Keeper of Dragon Magic, Defense 1300]
"Keeper of Dragon Magic, effect activate." Youyu said, "Upon successful summon, discard one card from your hand, and add 'Fusion' Normal Magic Card from the deck to your hand."
A card automatically ejected from the bottom portion of the deck and was drawn into his hand.
"I add the Magic Card 'Spiral Fusion' to my hand." Youyu said, immediately playing this card, "Magic Card 'Spiral Fusion' activate!"
Kagemaru squinted: "Spiral Fusion? An exclusive fusion for the Dark Knight Gaia?"
Spiral Fusion, the exclusive Fusion Card for "Gaia the Dragon Champion", the fusion summoned Gaia the Dragon Champion's attack can increase by 2600—to a staggering 5200 high attack, and it can terrifyingly attack monsters twice a turn!
"Truly the First Duel King, immediately finding a strategy against Hamon." Kagemaru remarked, "But it won't work! Now let me show you a part of the true power of Phantasm!"
He waved his hand.
"Continuous Magic 'Thunder of Fallen' effect activate!" Kagemaru exclaimed, "Once per turn, when 'Hamon, Lord of Striking Thunder' in Attack Position is present on your field, the opponent's Magic and Trap Card effects are negated!"
Hamon roared deeply, accompanied by thunderous reverberations, it truly was akin to judgment. The azure lightning shone beyond the shattered dome of the building, cleaving the sky in half, striking straight down, reducing the 'Spiral Fusion' to dust!
Kagemaru was right, this was the true power of Phantasm.
The ability to negate card effects is the top-tier powerful effect in the entire game system, even beyond as strong as the Three Egyptian God (animation effect), possessing the ability to nullify effects!
Though the animation didn't feature support cards like 'Thunder of Fallen', Youyu roughly understood that these cards were originally part of the Phantasm's own power and could be seen as extensions of their own effects.
Even though facing Hamon in such a state, Youyu couldn't help but feel real pressure.
"Hamon is the Phantasm adept at Magic among the Three Phantasm." Kagemaru sneered, "Magic doesn't work before it."
After pausing, he added, "However, after using the effect of 'Thunder of Fallen', 'Hamon, Lord of Striking Thunder' will change to defense position."
[Hamon, Lord of Striking Thunder, Attack 4000 → Defense 4000]
According to the animation's instructions by Kagemaru, the Three Phantasm have resistances similar to Egyptian God. They too are unaffected by Trap Card effects, and only "Magic Cards activated this turn" are effective against Phantasm.
They also, like the Three Egyptian God, possess resistances that aren't written on the cards, akin to default divine-level monsters traits.
But Youyu speculated, this Phantasm resistance of "unaffected by trap effects, only accepting magic card effects activated this turn", probably doesn't conflict with their own series of support Magic and Traps.
After all, these support cards are essentially extensions of the Phantasm's effects, part of their own power, not accepting these effects would equate to nullifying themselves, wouldn't it?
For example, this 'Thunder of Fallen', the card effect is "change Hamon, Lord of Striking Thunder to Defense Position", if Hamon doesn't accept this effect it would be quite ridiculous...
Therefore, the Magic and Trap resistance of the Three Phantasm likely doesn't include their own series cards.
The first axe didn't work, but no problem, Youyu's turn continued.
"So 'Keeper of Dragon Magic' second effect activate." Youyu said, "Show the opponent a Fusion Monster Card, then special summon from the graveyard the fusion material for that monster in face-down defense position."
He revealed a Fusion Monster.
"I show 'Dark Cavalry', and special summon 'Dark Magician' in face-down defense position from the graveyard, used as fusion material!"
The intricate magic array briefly shimmered, the robed mage leapt forth, and with a nimble spin gracefully landed on the field, transforming into a covered card.
Kagemaru remained unfazed: "This time it's Dark Magician, the renowned top-tier Magician, indeed a quite powerful monster. But before the power of Phantasm..."
He hadn't finished speaking as Youyu continued: "Quick-Play Magic 'Baptism of Light and Dark'! Tribute 'Dark Magician' on the field to special summon 'Dark Magician of Chaos' from hand, deck, or graveyard!
I use 'Dark Magician' as a tribute, evolving through chaos into the ultimate mage transcending time and space—
Summon—Dark Magician of Chaos!"
The vortex of black magic enveloped and devoured the robed mage, the torrent of magic spun into a vortex, the mage in dark attire seemingly arriving from the other side of time and space!
[Dark Magician of Chaos, Attack 2800]
"Dark Magician of Chaos's effect, recover a Magic Card from the graveyard upon summon." (Older version effect)
A card popped out of the grave zone of the Duel Disc, drawn by Youyu and returned to his hand.
"I recover the Magic Card 'Spiral Fusion' to hand!"
Kagemaru's expression subtly shifted.
Just so easily recovering a Magic negated by Hamon?
"Magic Card 'Spiral Fusion'!" Youyu reinserted the retrieved card into the Duel Disc, "Fusion the 'Prison Flame Cursed Dragon' and 'Gaia the Fierce Knight' in hand!
Fusion Summon! Celestial Dragon Champion—
—Gaia!!!"
The fusion of knight and dragon, a matchless presence emerged from the fusion vortex. An energy storm erupted, the dark knight rode the distinctly skeletal golden dragon, like a bomber swooping down from high altitude!
[Celestial Dragon Champion - Gaia, Attack 2600]
"'Celestial Dragon Champion - Gaia' can use 'Gaia the Dragon Champion' as its name." Youyu stated, "So according to the effect of 'Spiral Fusion', its attack increases by 2600!"
[Celestial Dragon Champion - Gaia, Attack 2600 → Attack 5200]
"Next is 'Celestial Dragon Champion - Gaia's effect." Youyu announced, "Upon successful special summon, add a Continuous Magic 'Spiral Spear Strike' from the deck to hand."
Youyu pinched out the ejected Magic Card from the deck, quickly shuffled it. He briefly displayed the card, then swiftly inserted it into the Duel Disc.
"Continuous Magic 'Spiral Spear Strike' activate!"
Youyu waved a big hand, another green Magic Card appeared before him.
The Magic Effect activated, the knight's power surged into the dark knight. Gaia's spear swept horizontally, its tip pointed diagonally toward the ground, the invisible wave became a surge of transparent energy.
"'Spiral Spear Strike', when present on the field, allows the 'Gaia the Dragon Champion', 'Gaia the Fierce Knight', or 'Gaia the Dragon Champion' you control to inflict piercing damage when attacking a defense position monster, if its attack exceeds the defense!"
In simple terms, it's a piercing-type support Magic exclusive to "Gaia", enchanting the knight's long spear to grant it penetration ability.
Within just one turn, Youyu had summoned Keeper of Dragon Magic, Dark Magician of Chaos, and Gaia the Dragon Champion with an attack of 5200 and piercing capability, an extravagant lineup that could demoralize most duelists!
Even Kagemaru's expression, ancient as he was, couldn't help but subtly change.
"Duel King Youyu... did I still underestimate you somewhat?"