The storm enveloped in electric light swept across the land, and the silver three-headed dragon descended once again with the storm!
[Thunder King, the Lightningstrike Kaiju, ATK 3300]
Golden lightning spread like a gigantic spider web across the sky, with electric light crackling through the street-side buildings. Structures collapsed in succession, houses shattered, and debris in the sky was pulverized by the radiated electric light.
"Thunder King, the Lightningstrike Kaiju, activate effect!" Fujino shouted, "Once per turn, by removing three Kaiju Counters, until the end of the turn, the opponent cannot activate any Magic, Trap, or Monster Effects!
I remove two Kaiju Counters from 'The Kaiju Files' and one Kaiju Counter from 'Kyoutou Waterfront'! Gravitational Shockwave!"
The Thunder King let out a fierce roar, and the electric current-laden gravitational field instantaneously exploded centered on it! Youyu's entire half of the field was covered, the immense pressure like an invisible lead hammer, locking all resources in hand, on the field, and in the graveyard within the gravitational domain.
"This is the end!" Fujino shouted arrogantly, "Go! Thunder King, the Lightningstrike Kaiju, direct attack!!!"
The lightning slashed everything in its path like blades, the electric light exploding along the street, joining columns of flame into a wall of fire.
Kuriboh, Kiteroid, Swift Scarecrow... all the ever-effective Hand Pit cards were clearly unable to assist Youyu in this situation. The blockade of the Thunder King was absolute, and once activated, no method could hinder its assault.
Of course, that only applies after the Thunder King's effect is activated.
The gravitational lightning surged forward like a tsunami toward Youyu, only to crash into an invisible wall. It was a transparent shadow, like a barrier constructed of golden bones; the electric light struck it heavily, with clouds of black smoke billowing.
That is... Hamon, Lord of Striking Thunder!
"Hamon?" Fujino's expression shifted, "But no matter what covert abilities it might have, it should be ineffective in front of the Thunder King!
This round, you cannot activate any effects; neither Egyptian Gods nor Phantasms are exceptions!"
What he meant was likely, "Don't bluff me with scarce cards; with Thunder King's effect lock, how could you block?"
"Effects cannot be activated after the Thunder King's effect takes effect, but Hamon's effect was activated before that." Youyu calmly said, "The Continuous Magic 'Thunder of Fallen' enhances and amplifies Hamon's ability.
As long as 'Thunder of Fallen' is on the field, any time a face-up Three Phantasm leaves the field, I take no damage this turn."
"Tch." Fujino grunted in discontent, "Did it activate when 'Dogoran, the Mad Flame Kaiju's' effect cleared the field? Lucky guy...
Then I'll Set two more cards, and end my turn."
"Then it's my turn, draw." Youyu briefly closed his eyes.
"It's about time to end this."
His reaction made Fujino feel uneasy, yet it also increased his frustration.
"Don't get too cocky, human!" He bellowed, while behind him, the image of the Light of Destruction seemed to claw and rage.
Youyu remained unfazed: "Continuous Magic 'Opening of the Spirit Gates', activate effect! Once per turn, discard a card from the hand, Special Summon a Fiend-Type monster with 0 ATK and DEF from the graveyard.
I discard one card, Special Summon the 'Chaos Summoning Beast' discarded as a cost for 'Opening of the Spirit Gates' last turn!"
[Chaos Summoning Beast, ATK 0]
"The effect of 'Pot of Avarice'; draw three cards!" Youyu declared, "Next, 'Chaos Summoning Beast', activate effect! Tribute itself to Special Summon any Three Phantasm from the hand, ignoring Summoning conditions!"
Fujino's face twitched: "Another new Phantasm!?"
Youyu drew a card from his hand and dramatically slapped it onto the Duel Disc. Every line of the Duel Disc lit up with a deep blue glow, electric currents bursting and spreading.
"Raviel, Lord of Phantasms, Summon!!!"
Lightning descended, splitting the skyscrapers along the coast in half!
The azure giant descended with overwhelming might, eyes blood-red and fierce, as lightning blasted nearby objects into shattered pieces, and the roads cracked open.
[Raviel, Lord of Phantasms, ATK 4000]
"The Lord of Phantasms..." Fujino's expression was quite unsightly, "Is this what's called the strongest Phantasm?"
"Battle." Youyu commanded, "Raviel, Lord of Phantasms, attack 'Thunder King, the Lightningstrike Kaiju'!"
The strongest Phantasm raised its fist, claws tightened into a punch, the massive iron fist like a meteor trailing a blue storm!
Fujino's eyes flickered.
The Thunder King's ATK is 3300, taking a hit would inflict 700 damage. And his remaining Life Points are just 800, enough to leave 100...
But of course, it wasn't going to be that simple.
"Discard 'Raviel, Lord of Phantasms - Shimmering Scraper' from hand!" Youyu said, "Until the end of the turn, 'Raviel, Lord of Phantasms' doubles its ATK!"
Fujino: "!?"
Nani? Double ATK? That means...
[Raviel, Lord of Phantasms, ATK 4000 → ATK 8000]
Dammit!
If I take this hit, I'll go down here without a doubt!
But it doesn't matter!
"Open the Set card! Trap Card 'Intrigue Shield'!" Fujino declared, "Equip this card to 'Thunder King, the Lightningstrike Kaiju' as an Equip Card!
Once per turn, the equipped monster is not destroyed by battle, and battle damage to its controller becomes 0!"
Sure enough, as a shield engraved with intricate patterns emerged, the world-shattering punch of the Phantasm Lord was halted midway, the shockwave spreading without causing any damage.
Fujino curled his lips: "Ha, what a pity, an 8000 ATK Phantasm... If this hit had gone through, you'd have won the match, unfortunately, it's just a little bit short..."
Youyu remained expressionless, seemingly unsurprised.
"Then the Battle Phase ends." Youyu said, "I will banish 'Destiny Hero Malicious' from the graveyard to Special Summon another copy from the Card Deck!"
[Destiny Hero Malicious, ATK 800]
"'Chaos Summoning Beast' effect activates in the grave! While this card is in the grave, banish it to add the Field Magic 'Fallen Paradise' from the Card Deck to the hand."
Youyu drew the card automatically ejected from the deck.
"Field Magic 'Fallen Paradise', activate!"
The field descended, space trembled, and a thick smog swept across, as pitch-black giant trees rose from the ground!
"Field Magic 'Fallen Paradise' effect, once per turn, when there are Phantasms on the field, draw two cards." Youyu stated, "Next, from the hand, Normal Summon 'Elemental Hero Sparkman'."
[Elemental Hero Sparkman, ATK 1600]
Fujino quickly became wary.
An ordinary Elemental Hero, and in attack position?
"Activate Magic Card 'Ancient Chant' from the hand." Youyu stated, "Select one 'The Winged Dragon of Ra' from either hand or graveyard to add it to my hand."
Fujino: "!?"
That's... an Egyptian God!?