Secret Ceremony Power 15 - Demon, summoning!
The next entry, indeed, lived up to the name of 'Demon.' Its appearance was somewhat abstract. A sinister black body, three bulging eyes covered with black eerie patterns, and red tentacles with black hooks that waved menacingly.
[Secret Ceremony Power 15 - Demon, Attack Power 2500]
"Once again, spinning the card to obtain the effect of upright or reversed position. But this time, of course," Saio confidently stated, "obtaining the effect of the upright position!"
The Demon Card stopped in the upright position.
"And your Emperor is in the reversed position. The effect of the reversed position is that all of your 'Secret Ceremony Power' monsters on the field, which means your field, have their attack power decreased by 500 points."
[Secret Ceremony Power 4 - Emperor, Attack Power 1400→Attack Power 900]
[Secret Ceremony Power 12 - Hanged Man, Attack Power 2200→Attack Power 1700]
"All my effects are advantageous, and the opponent's are all side effects..." Mizuchi realized.
"This is the decision of fate," Saio sneered, "and with the effect of the Hanged Man in the upright position, at the end of your own turn, you must destroy one monster on your field, and you will take damage equal to the destroyed monster's attack power."
Yugen nodded, "This time, the upright position is a negative effect."
He vaguely remembered that Chazz seemed to have been taken down by this in the animation.
"Battle Phase," Saio called out, "With 'Secret Ceremony Power 15 - Demon,' attack 'Thunder Emperor Zaborug!'"
The demon's tentacles danced, cleaving forward like a scythe.
"The effect of the Demon in the upright position, when this card attacks, choose one monster on the field to destroy. If no monster is destroyed, then the Demon itself must be destroyed."
Saio pointed to the Emperor on Yugen's field.
"Then let the Secret Ceremony Power Emperor disappear as a sacrifice for the Demon."
A swirl of darkness hit the Emperor, his body pierced through, then exploded with a 'bang,' vanishing from the field.
"Furthermore, when a monster is destroyed by the effect of the Demon," Saio continued, "the controller of that monster must take 500 points of damage!"
Despite the reduction in force, the demon's attack continued, a dark storm of explosions swept over Yugen like countless blades.
[Yugen, LP 2900→LP 2400]
"Battle continues, continue attacking Thunder Emperor Zaborug.
Demonic Calamity!"
The scythe cut down from above, splitting the Thunder Emperor in two. The Thunder Emperor roared mightily, but was ultimately overcome, and immediately exploded.
[Yugen, LP 2400→LP 2300]
"Heh, now all you have left on the field is the Hanged Man," Saio stated, "The effect of the Hanged Man in the upright position, at the end of the turn, you must destroy a monster on your field, and you will take damage equal to the destroyed monster's attack power.
If there are no other monsters on your field, then you must destroy the Hanged Man itself. And you must suffer 2200 points of damage, the attack power of the Hanged Man itself!"
"Then activate the cover card," Yugen declared, "Trap Card 'Too Deep Tomb.'
Select one monster in either your or your opponent's graveyard. During your next turn's standby phase, Special Summon that monster to your field."
"Oh? Resurrecting more monsters?" Saio narrowed his eyes mockingly, "Why don't you just choose a monster with lower attack power to destroy for the Hanged Man to avoid damage?"
"Thanks for the advice, but no thanks. The card I want to resurrect is this one."
Yugen smiled, pointing to Saio.
"Choosing 'Secret Ceremony Power 21 - World' from your graveyard!"
Saio: "!"
Mizuchi: "!"
Both were shocked by Yugen's decision.
Resurrecting the World from Saio's graveyard...?
Saio stared dumbfounded for a moment, then threw his head back in laughter.
"Are you, by any chance... also trying to control the World? You, a mortal? Yet you audaciously attempt to use the power of the World?"
His laughter grew louder and more joyous.
Mizuchi couldn't help but remind, "Mr. Yugen, brother's evil persona now has the power to manipulate fate. You cannot achieve the upright position with Secret Ceremony Power cards..."
"Indeed!"
Saio was very pleased, which made him more talkative.
"Then I'll kindly tell you first. A powerful card comes with substantial risk, and the World, which stops an opponent's turn, comes with a massive side effect as its price.
During each of the opponent's draw phases, the top card of their graveyard is added to their hand.
In other words, if the World is on your field, then during each of my draw phases, I can recycle the top card of my graveyard into my hand."
Gaining an extra card per turn for the opponent presents a significant disadvantage. Even Mizuchi felt a little anxious, believing Yugen might have truly made a mistake.
"Is that so? That's quite terrible," Yugen said.
"Hmph, despite knowing the side effects of the World, you remain so calm."
Saio snorted.
"Then activate the Magic Card 'Heaven and Earth's Treasure Scroll.' During the turn you've performed an upper-level summon, draw two cards; however, the two cards cannot be used in this turn. If coverable, at least one must be covered.
Although the Demon's tribute was substituted via the 'Necromancy Sacrifice' effect, the Demon's summoning is also an upper-level summon. So, I'll draw two cards."
Saio drew two cards.
"I will cover two cards and end the turn now."
Yugen: "My turn, draw."
Yugen drew a card.
"Then at the moment of the standby phase, the World resurrects on your field!" Saio couldn't resist sneering, "Since you desire it so much, experience the power of the World!"
"Don't be hasty."
Yugen smiled.
"My standby phase hasn't arrived yet... I knew you'd be using a Secret Ceremony Power deck long ago. But, Secret Ceremony Power isn't exclusively yours."
"What?" Saio frowned.
"For this duel, I made a little preparation as well. Honestly, I've done some research into Secret Ceremony Power and have thought up some intriguing strategies.
I believe among the current Secret Ceremony deck users, Saio, you are probably the most authoritative. I would like to take this opportunity to seek your guidance."
Yugen gently waved his hand.
"Activate the cover card, the Trap Card 'Absolute Destiny Deciding Power!'" (Original Card)
Saio: "!"
He truly didn't expect this.
He recognized the card, but didn't anticipate seeing it in the opponent's deck. After all, this was also his card, or, related to Secret Ceremony Power cards. This was evident just from the card's name.
He just didn't foresee encountering it in the opponent's deck.
"Absolute Destiny Deciding Power allows you to declare a Monster Card name. If the opponent's deck contains that card, the respective monster is Special Summoned in attack position on the opponent's field."
Saio frowned, "Declaring a monster from my deck?"
"Yes. Saio, your Secret Ceremony Power deck is modeled after Tarot Cards within Duel Monsters, representing the embodiment of fate.
Since it's Tarot, it's impossible not to have this card, right?"
Yugen smiled, softly uttering the name.
The Fool."