Submarine Robot, Attack Seal!
Malik relies on an Element Absorber to permanently seal the Submarine's attack, as long as the Submarine remains a Water Attribute, it won't be able to break through this defense.
This way Malik temporarily alleviates the immediate crisis, at least temporarily not worrying about being instantly killed by the Submarine on the spot. Of course, the crisis he faces is not immediately resolved.
There are still two Lava Demon Gods on his field, one his own and one the opponent's. At this moment, he is trapped outside an iron cage, wrapped in another layer of an iron cage. The two gigantic beings, with bodies ablaze in magma-like flames, are oppressively hovering above him.
Then, as if to fan the flames further, Yugen snaps his fingers again.
"Activate the card covered on the field.
Magic Card 'Light Sealing Sword'!"
The magic is activated and several beams of white light descend from the sky, transforming into dazzling Light Sabers piercing around Malik's field. These Light Sabers form a sealing barrier, trapping the entire field of Malik within.
The two colossal Lava Demon Gods, especially, are surrounded by these Light Sabers, seemingly unable even to move an arm.
"The effect of Light Sealing Sword prevents the opponent from declaring an attack for the next three turns," Yugen states, "However, this card will self-destruct at the end of the opponent's third turn after activation."
Malik's face grows darker.
Great, there's also the Light Sealing Sword.
This card was highly used during the DM era, also a staple in early physical card environments, a lock-down tool of choice. Unlike cards like Overweight Net, Peace Envoy, or Level Limit - Area B, Light Sealing Sword provides a one-sided lock, preventing only the opponent from attacking for three turns, with no restrictions on oneself.
It may sound like it's only three turns, but for the current Malik, that's already painfully long. The two iron-blockheads on the field will burn him for 2000 points each turn, turning him into a cooked corpse within three turns.
Yugen: "Turn end."
Malik, with a grim face: "Then it's my turn, draw a card."
The electronic display on both duel discs shows "Draw Phase," Yugen lightly laughs and reminds, "Then, at this time, the effects of both our Lava Demon Gods activate together.
Each Lava Demon God inflicts 1000 damage to its controller."
Magma starts to pour from the bodies of the two Lava Demon Gods, scalding Malik as it falls, sizzle down over him.
Double the iron-blockheads, double the joy. Mr. Malikma, drenched in lava, is charred, with white smoke hissing from his body, moaning low and indistinct.
[Malik, LP 2200→ LP 200]
Even Isis is rendered silent by this bizarre scene.
As his sister, she considers herself the one who knows Malik best in the world. They have studied Duels together since childhood, coupled with their isolated upbringing, they were the only ones who could practice card skills with each other from a young age. Thus, she is quite familiar with Malik's various strategies and tactics.
Precisely because of this, she feels the eerie nature of the scene before her.
Luckily, Mr. Malikma's deck only contains one Lava Demon God; if he had two, he would be doomed by now.
Even at this moment, with only 200 life points left, giving the illusion that he clung on, the problem remains unsolved. With Light Sealing Sword still on the field, he can't attack, and even if Yugen does nothing, Malik will naturally be burned to death by the Lava Demon God by the next turn.
However, Mr. Malikma, a legendary Duelist, shines when in dire straits, drawing the most needed card under desperate circumstances.
Like this one, for example.
"Magic Card—
—Monster Recycling!"
Upon seeing this card revealed, Isis's eyes light up, and she can't help but praise inwardly.
"Monster Recycling returns all cards from your hand and on your field to their owner's deck," Malik explains, "And then draw five cards from the deck!"
A card that replenished the hand and sustained him, more importantly, it alleviated the pressure of the two Lava Demon Gods!
Warmoon's whirlpool opens, absorbing all Malik's cards on the field in a gust reminiscent of a Hurricane. The two massive Lava Demon Gods are swept away, sucked into the whirlpool, returning to Yugen's and Malik's decks, respectively.
Malik draws his deck, shuffles, re-inserts it into the duel disc's slot, and draws five new cards.
Isis ponders, thus the burning crisis of the Lava Demon God is resolved, yet Malik's "Element Absorber" on the field is shuffled back into the deck.
This means the terrifying Submarine Robot, originally sealed from attacking, is now unleashed. With only 200 life points, Malik can be easily knocked out by the slightest touch from the Submarine Robot.
Just as one wave subsides, another arises; this Duel puts Malik on a razor's edge, with seas of blades and flames below, and any misstep would lead to irreversible consequences.
Malik says: "Then activate the Magic Card 'Pot of Magic Book,' both players draw three cards from their deck."
With continuous drawing, Malik's lips curl as he reaches a full hand, a smile with a hint of sinister satisfaction. For a moment his expression seems reminiscent of the once-feared, extinguished module-child Dark Malik.
"Since you've learned this trick from me, as your senior I can't lag behind. As a gesture of reciprocation, I'll give you this card!
I'll use your two 'Submarine Robots' as sacrifices, and offer you this powerful monster! Descend—
—Lava Demon God!"
Indeed, a gesture of reciprocation, as magma surges beneath Yugen's Submarine. The erupting flames consume the Submarine quickly, burning it to ashes. The burning giant rises slowly in the magma.
The scorching iron cage locks Yugen within it. He stands in the cage, looking up at the massive giant above, chuckling.
"Impressive, Mr. Malikma, you managed to draw the only Lava Demon God in your deck immediately after it was shuffled back?"
But Yugen's LP remains completely adequate, even enduring 1000 burn damage is no threat. On the other hand, Malik will still lose if Yugen's last Submarine on the field attacks in the next turn.
"Activate the Magic Card 'Angel's Charity,' draw three cards from the deck, then discard two cards from your hand."
Malik discards two cards, and immediately the spectral figure of a grinning Demon appears behind him.
"One of the cards I just discarded is 'Executioner Demon Asura!'" Malik declares, "Once Demon Asura is sent to the graveyard, I can activate a Trap from my hand."
Yugen was not surprised. As a former Forbidden Card, Demon Asura was indeed useful, and Yugen occasionally used it. However, this card was originally Malik's, so it was not surprising for him to use it.
"Therefore, I shall activate this Trap from my hand."
Malik declares.
"Continuous Trap 'Mind Control Removal'!"