"Yuki Judai... is it?"
The Undead raised his Duel Disc, an eerie smile hanging on his face.
"You are...?"
Judai paused for a moment, initially seeming to want to ask about the opponent's origin, but that question vanished instantly upon seeing the Duel Disc the Undead raised.
Does it matter who the opponent is? Not at all.
What matters is, there's another duel to be had.
"I get it, you're a duelist from the tournament, right?" Judai rubbed his nose and chuckled, "Well then, let's do this! I've always given my all from start to finish!"
The Undead squinted, revealing a peculiar smile.
"Duel!" x2
Both sides simultaneously unfolded their Duel Discs and drew five cards.
[Judai, LP 4000]
[Undead, LP 4000]
"I'll go first, draw card."
The Undead drew a card, then let out a more sinister and chilling laugh.
"Hehehe... I drew this card right at the start. It seems even the gods are urging me to finish you off quickly... So let me end this battle swiftly."
He drew a card from his hand, a green light flickering in his eyes.
"Field Spell - Orichalcos Barrier!!!"
Judai's pupils contracted, his smile disappearing instantly.
It's this card!
Having faced Doma swordsmen alongside Yugen, Judai clearly understood the implications of this card's activation.
This means it's not just a simple tournament match, but a life-and-death struggle. The loser of this battle will lose their soul.
Judai: "You... you are..."
The barrier expanded, green light shooting up into the sky. The Undead squinted his eyes, the mark of a hexagram reflecting on his forehead, and his robes seemed to flutter with the surging green light.
"Oh, you actually recognize the Orichalcos Barrier. Then I suppose there's no need for further explanation... Well, it's too late to realize now, and you can't escape."
The Undead let out a sinister laugh.
"Soon you'll learn in this duel, the power of the Hell Deck I've developed by mastering the tactics of legendary duelists!"
Judai: "Why does that sound familiar..."
"Cover one monster in face-down defense position, then cover two more cards." the Undead sneered, "Turn end."
Judai took a deep breath.
"Then it's my turn, draw card!"
This isn't an ordinary duel.
With some unease, he glanced at the rippling green light in the enclosed barrier around them.
The person who loses in this barrier... will die.
Judai's expression became serious.
He had to give it his all, putting in every ounce of his effort.
"I summon 'Elemental Hero Lightning Hero'!"
[Elemental Hero Lightning Hero, Attack Power 1600]
"Lightning Hero, attack the covered monster!"
The blue-suited Elemental Hero warrior soared with lightning, swirling electricity gathered in his hands, transforming into a blue lightning javelin thrusting forward.
"Activate cover card, Continuous Trap 'Super Gravity Net'!"
The Undead's backfield flipped open, an invisible gravity wave was released from the Trap Card, enveloping the entire field.
"The effect of Super Gravity Net, all monsters with four-star or above cannot attack."
Judai frowned slightly.
An attack lockdown, similar to the trap from Yugen...
"Then activate Speed Attack Magic 'Speed Summon', you can normally summon a monster from your hand." (Original Card)
Judai revealed another Elemental Hero in his hand.
"Normal Summon 'Elemental Hero Wild Hero'!"
[Elemental Hero Wild Hero, Attack Power 1500]
"Wild Hero, attack the covered monster!"
The wild Elemental Hero drew his blade, charging forward despite the restraint of the gravity wave, unleashing a domineering gust towards the covered monster.
"I see, Wild Hero possesses the ability to disregard traps..."
"Indeed, 'Elemental Hero Wild Hero' is unaffected by any trap effects, so even under the restraint of 'Super Gravity Net' he can attack." Judai shouted.
"Heh, you've immediately brought out a way to break through the Super Gravity Net. But..."
The Undead squinted, humorously chuckling.
"Will it really be that easy?"
The cover card flipped over, revealing a small white monster on the field. Wild Hero struck with his blade, only to sink into it, then was bounced back with immense force. The blade rebounded off Wild Hero's own forehead, the impact forcing him to stagger back.
"The monster you attacked is 'Cotton Candy'." the Undead stated, "Cotton Candy cannot be destroyed by battle. And when attacked while in face-down position, the opponent takes 1000 points of rebound damage."
[Judai, LP 4000→LP 3000]
"Ugh..."
Judai winced from the shock wave, staggering back half a step.
"Ah, got tricked..."
He glanced at his hand, thought for a moment, then selected another card from it.
"Then I'll set a card, turn end."
"Heh, turn end, is it...?"
The Undead released a more sinister cackling laugh.
"What?"
Judai was stunned, beginning to sense something amiss.
In the green barrier, an eerie atmosphere had stealthily emerged.
Initially like the sound of the wind, gradually evolving into the murmurings of the dead. The cold wind seemed to carry countless apparitions swirling around him. Among them were whispers, cries, and sharp laughter.
Judai's eyes widened as if he really saw them.
Transparent, white ghosts with expressions of the deepest resentment and unwillingness etched on their faces, the hollows of their eyes like the abyss of hatred.
A letter appeared between his palms.
A ghostly flickering 'D'.
Judai immediately recognized what this was.
Though he wasn't great at academics and never paid attention in class, he was fascinated by the early legendary duelists. He had collected the classic DVDs of the first Duel City Tournament, and hadn't missed a match after the top eight.
So, naturally, he instantly recognized this strategy—
——Spirit Summoning Disc!
In the legendary duel of Duel City's past, when facing Muto Yuugi, if it weren't for the opponent drawing a Phantom God in the last turn, it was nearly a victory for Ryo Bakura's used strategy.
Of course, Judai didn't yet know that the Dark Mopang who dueled against Yuugi back then was actually DM's ultimate boss, the Great Evil God Zok. In the Egypt chapter, he single-handedly defeated the Three Phantom Gods, the True Ultimate Blue-Eyes Dragon, the Ultimate Dragon Knight, and even the Dark Mage Exodia, the ultimate boss, eventually defeated by the Light Creation God's singular "Toilet Cleaner" attack.
However, those were parts that had never been publicly exposed, known only to the main character group who participated in the Egypt chapter. Most in the outside world were unaware that this dimension had been threatened by a world-ending Demon King.
"Indeed, it's the strategy used by legendary duelists of the past." The Undead chuckled sinisterly, "With our New Doma's technology, we can fully replicate even such an out-of-print rare card deck.
And now, the countdown to your death has begun.
Spirit Summoning Disc activates at the end phase of the opponent's turn, placing a 'Death Information' card from the hand or deck in the correct order into one's Magic Trap Zone.
And the next death message leading to your demise is this card..."
A new evil spirit floated from his field, holding a new letter.
"...Death Information E!"