"Direct attack from the chariot!"
The Secret Ceremony Power Chariot once again swung its tentacles, both arm cannons aiming at the target. The hand cannons fired, flames spitting out, and charged towards Yugen.
At this point, the field of Yugen was empty, the backfield blown away by the Great Storm, the front emptied, seemingly unavoidable. But he calmly took out a card from his hand.
"Then discard 'Kite Robot' from the hand." Yugen said nonchalantly, "Kite Robot's effect, when discarded from the hand, can make the battle damage from one direct attack become 0."
The Monster Card was discarded into the graveyard, and the invincible translucent figure of the kite appeared on his field, carrying a confident, personified gaze. The two heavy-handed shots slammed into the kite barrier, only stirring flames and smoke, without inflicting a single bit of damage.
"Dodged it, did you?" Saio frowned, "But my attack isn't over yet. Finally, use the monster you gave me, Sun God's Apostle, for a direct attack!"
The Sun God's Apostle soared forth, fists punching towards Yugen's face directly. Yugen did not dodge, merely closing his eyes lightly, coolly taking the hit.
[Yugen, LP 4000→LP 2900]
"You might think as long as this apostle is on the field, my actions will forever be stalled, unable to do anything... but my destiny will not be halted by such trivial means!"
Saio played another card from his hand.
"Activate Speed Attack Magic 'Moon Book,' which can change any monster on the field to face-down defense position. Use this card's effect to change 'Sun God's Apostle' to face-down defense position!"
The apostle ceased its advance, crouched down into a face-down cover card.
"Oh? Not bad." Yugen nodded, "Indeed, for most face-down monsters, unable to determine what card it is, the effect naturally becomes null.
Face-down state 'Sun God's Apostle' can be used as a sacrifice, with no special summon restrictions."
Mizuchi looked complexly at this guy, who at the moment, bore the face of her brother.
She knew that this person's dueling skills now surpassed her brother's original talents by far, even she hadn't expected the current Saio had such prowess, causing her to feel slightly nervous, uncertain if Duel King could smoothly regain her brother from this evil persona.
But if even Duel King cannot do it...
She dared not continue down that line of thought.
"Now the summoning limitation has been lifted, thus I'll activate the Magic Card 'Demon Sanctuary' from my hand!"
Saio revealed the card in his hand.
"Demon Sanctuary can special summon a Metal Demon Derivative on the field!"
A magic barrier unfolded on his field, and within the golden glow of that barrier, a small metal figure was silently summoned into existence.
[Metal Demon Derivative, Attack Power 0]
"And I haven't conducted a normal summon this turn yet..."
Saio threw his head back with a hearty laugh.
"Now let me show you why fate is absolutely unstoppable, what truly is absolute destiny power!
I sacrifice the face-down 'Sun God's Apostle' and 'Metal Demon Derivative,' two monsters!
Appear now, holding the power to manipulate time, controlling the force of destiny with absolute ceremony, the Secret Ceremony Power 21 -
——Zawaludo (World)!"
Yugen's eyelid twitched.
For some reason, hearing that voice made his DNA stir...
Indeed, in the Yu-Gi-Oh! GX animation, Takuma Saiou's voice actor is Takehito Koyasu, who also famously voiced Dio from 'JoJo's Bizarre Adventure,' known for his distinctive "Zawaludo" during the activation of his time-stop ability.
But outsiders might not realize that he also yelled Zawaludo in Yu-Gi-Oh! GX, representing the card embodied by Tarot card "World," even bearing similar characteristics to the time-stop monster effect.
[Secret Ceremony Power 21 - World, Attack Power 3100]
"World is the strongest monster, in both attack and defense, highest level, stronger than the legendary Blue-Eyes White Dragon statistics."
Saio laughed.
"And now let me show you the absolutely strongest ability of the World!
When Secret Ceremony Power is successfully summoned, a random rotation occurs, acquiring different effects based on the upright or reverse position.
Naturally, it is upright position!"
The card of World rotated and stopped, atop that massive metallic figure. As he said, it was indeed upright.
"Then directly enter the end phase of this turn."
Saio laughed coldly twice, then suddenly spread his arms wide.
"During the end phase of this turn, the effect of upright World activates! By sending two monsters from the field to the graveyard... directly bypass the opponent's next turn!"
Mizuchi's pupils couldn't help contract, shock filling her heart.
Directly bypass an entire turn... what a terrifying ability?
It's almost as if...
...indeed, as if the opponent's time is halted, only he can freely act.
She was certain, in older brother's Secret Ceremony Power, there previously was no 21st card, lacking such exaggerated strength.
"Send the Secret Ceremony Power Emperor and Chariot, two monsters to the graveyard, ultimate ability activated—
——Zawaludo!"
World radiated with light, a powerful ripple erupting from its body, as if an invisible large hand dominated the entire field.
The air seemed to display a clock, background music as if gears were turning, pointers spinning, matching time. The display of Duel Disc quickly moved into Yugen's drawing phase, followed by preparing, main phase, but, without pause for his operation, time advanced frantically.
Until reaching Saio's turn preparing phase, only then halting.
"Although it's your turn, this turn's time has been frozen, you can't draw cards, nor operate, directly to my next turn!
My turn, draw card!"
Saio drew a card, then laughed gleefully.
"Do you see? This is the absolute power to control fate at will, even playing with time! How can mere human king contend with me?!
The final strike! Destroy in the stagnant time—
——Secret Ceremony Power 21 - World, direct attack!"
World's destructive strike, with overwhelming force, roared fiercely towards Yugen.
Being skipped through an entire turn, naturally Yugen had no chance to prepare anything, leaving his field still empty. Life Points remaining at 2900, should World's attack pass through, his fate would draw its curtain close here.
However...
The invincible personified kite phantom reappears, shield-like standing before Yugen. World's powerful strike inflicted all its might on the kite, yet the invincible kite remained utterly unharmed.
Saio was at a loss: "!"
The facial art expression briefly got even more prominent.
"Kite Robot... Do you have a second card?"
"It's not a second card." Yugen smiled, "But Kite Robot's effect. When this card exists in the graveyard, there is only one chance, it can also make the battle damage from one direct attack become 0."
Pausing slightly, he squinted, smiling lightly.
"What's happening, Lord Saio? My time seems to still be spinning, huh?"