Kagemaru: "Forbidden Holy Grail, negate the effect of 'Chaos Core'!"
"Then at this moment, the effect of 'Chaos Core' is activated." Yugen said.
Kagemaru: "!"
Is it an effect triggered even when negated by magic?
"That's right, Chaos Core can be activated when it becomes the target of a card effect, or is selected as the target of an opponent's monster attack."
Yugen said.
"When selected as the effect target, Chaos Core can send up to one 'Divine Flame Emperor Uriah,' 'Thunder Emperor Harmon,' and 'Phantom Demon Emperor Rabiel' from the hand or card deck to the graveyard."
Yugen drew and revealed the three automatic cards from his deck in one go.
"Therefore, I send the Divine Flame Emperor, Thunder Emperor, and Phantom Demon Emperor, these three cards from the deck to the graveyard."
Yugen drew out three cards from the deck and displayed them boldly, while Kagemaru's eyes widened nearly to the size of saucers when he saw them.
The Three Phantom Demons!
"You... you..."
Kagemaru's eyes reddened.
He assembled the Seven Stars, invested vast effort and resources, everyone was sweating bullets, fighting to the death for what?
Wasn't it precisely for that Sealed Card, the legendary three Phantom Demons?
And now, this guy casually summoned them like this?
He strained for a long time before managing a sentence: "You... I... you... how did my Phantom Demons end up in your hands?"
"I don't recall the Phantom Demons ever being yours."
Yugen smiled.
"It's quite simple. I gathered enough Duel Energy to unlock the seal, then borrowed these three cards from the Academy, for keeping them directly on me was safer than the seal itself faced with the Seven Stars' attack according to the principal and teachers."
Kagemaru opened his mouth, speechless.
Why did those guys refuse to give me the Phantom Demons? Be it Seto Kaiba or the council, or even the Academy, none nodded in agreement, yet you got them so easily?
"I'm not like you," Yugen said, "I wouldn't use the power of the Phantom Demons out of selfish desire to plunder others' lives or drain the energy of Elves for personal gain.
Moreover, I proved to them I could control the Phantom Demons, restrain that power, and harness those three cards."
Yugen paused, smiling slightly.
"Speaking of which, I must thank you and your Seven Stars," he added. "Without your threats, the Three Phantom Demons wouldn't have come to me so seamlessly."
"After all, for three cards that can only be fought for through Duel, is there any place safer than the hands of the Duel King?"
Kagemaru's forehead twitched.
His lifelong pursuit, his last hope for survival, appeared right before him, in the opponent's hand.
Moreover, mocked face-to-face, every investment and action turned into someone else's glory.
To make matters worse, he's likely correct...
Gas bubbles erupted from the Life Support Pod, making it seem like the old man was gasping for air.
"Tch, it's merely sending to the graveyard." Kagemaru said coldly, "Now that the seal on the Phantom Demons is undone and brought before me, things have become easier.
I just need to defeat you and take them from you!
Activate the Magic Card 'Burial Spell Treasure Scroll,' banish the Magic Cards 'Angel's Charity,' 'Forced Activation,' and 'Forbidden Holy Grail' from the game, and draw two cards."
Kagemaru drew two more cards.
"Then summon 'Genetic Werewolf'!"
[Genetic Werewolf, Attack Power 2000]
"Battle!" Kagemaru shouted, "Genetic Werewolf's attack!"
The werewolf roared, charging forth, claw aiming directly at Yugen.
"Activate Cover Card," Yugen said, "Continuous Trap 'Super Gravity Net'!
All monsters of four-star and above on both sides can't attack!"
"Another attack seal this time?"
Kagemaru exclaimed in rage.
"But it's useless!
Convection Air Hummingbird is unaffected by Trap effects! Convection Air Hummingbird attacks Chaos Core!"
The Air Hummingbird broke free from the Super Gravity Net's bind, spiraling straight toward Chaos Core.
After sending the Three Phantom Demons to the graveyard, Chaos Core could place three markers, which could be removed to replace battle destruction. But now its effect is negated, unable to activate.
Yet it doesn't matter, its mission is complete.
The bladed vortex of the whirlwind tore through the demon, shattering it into fragments off the field.
"Then activate Continuous Magic 'Nightmare Mirage Tube,' allowing drawing from the deck until cards in hand become four during the next opponent's turn preparation phase."
Kagemaru said.
"Set two cards, turn ends."
"Then at end phase, activate Cover Card, Speed Attack Magic 'Flame of the End'." Yugen said, "Special Summon two 'Black Flame Derivatives' on my field."
Two black flames ignited on his field, morphing into the form of two derivatives.
[Black Flame Derivative, Defense Power 0] x2
Kagemaru frowned.
Activating Flame of the End at turn end phase… is he thinking of using derivatives as tributes for Upper-level Summon?
Though if memory serves, Flame of the End can only be used as sacrifices for Dark Attribute monsters during Upper-level Summon.
Yugen: "Then my turn, draw."
"At this instant, Nightmare Mirage Tube activates!" Kagemaru said, "Draw cards from deck until cards in hand become four!"
GX classic draw combination. From the two sets in the backfield, at least one can probably be guessed.
Kagemaru squinted.
The opponent now has two derivatives, undoubtedly to be used as offerings. But Upper-level Summon only allows Dark Attribute monsters to appear...
Yugen: "Then I'll also use 'Pot of Greed,' draw two cards from the deck."
"Next, activate Cover Card, Trap Card 'Immortal Class'." Yugen said, "Sacrifice my two monsters on the field, revive and special summon monsters of seven-star or higher from the graveyard ignoring summon limits and conditions!" (Original Card)
Exactly the Trap Yubel used in the animation to summon Phantom Demons, even disregarding summoning conditions and resurrection limits.
Kagemaru's pupils contracted.
Not an Upper-level Summon, but using them as sacrificial tributes?
Monsters of seven-star or higher in the grave...
Oh no, couldn't that mean...?
"Indeed, I can revive the Phantom Demons from the grave."
When Yugen raised his hand, black clouds seemed to gather over the field.
As if everything was enveloped by ominous lead gray, like the wrath from the natural world. The very air grew heavy, each breath laden with charge.
Suddenly, the surging black clouds were torn apart, as if stirred by unseen hands into an expansive sea of storm clouds. Within the cloud tops, electric light flickered, akin to a dragon thrashing in the abyss, each thrusting roar echoing.
And within the dark clouds and flowing currents, descending with endless majesty, was the colossal figure clad in yellow, entwined by electric snakes.
"Descend the eternal judgment with celestial thunder, arriving now—
—Thunder Emperor Harmon!!!"