"David, I will borrow your will."
Yugen plays a card from his hand, one used by David Rapp, the original master of Great Saturn.
He completely ignores the fact that he is actually not familiar with David at all. Moreover, if David knew his will along with his card deck was inherited by this person, he might just come back to life out of anger.
"Activate the Magic Card 'Forced Activation' from my hand!
This card can forcibly activate any Covering Card on the field." (Original Card)
Yugen points to one of the cards in Akiza's field.
"Then, your Cover Card on the left side, let it be forcibly activated by me."
Akiza is greatly astonished: "Forcibly activate my Cover Card!?"
Akiza's Cover Card flips, revealing a Trap Card exclusively for the Plant Race, "Thorny Wall".
When a Plant Race monster is attacked, it can be activated, destroying all attack position monsters on the opponent's field, essentially a Plant Race-exclusive "Divine Protective Shield - Reflective Mirror Force".
"Oh, it even happens to be Thorny Wall? Such good luck." Yugen chuckles.
The set he is using is a combo punch designed by David Rapp specifically for Great Saturn. Forced Activation can forcibly activate the opponent's Cover Card, then by chaining the Speed Attack Magic "Detonate", it can change the effect of an opponent's activated Magic or Trap Card to "destroy one monster on the opponent's field".
With this chain combo, the Cover Card forcibly activated by the opponent can just destroy their own "Great Saturn" on the field. Then, when Great Saturn is destroyed, it simultaneously deals the damage equal to its Attack Power to both sides.
If operated correctly, this combo can easily annihilate the opponent in an instant.
But today luck is good; the Cover Card flipped on Akiza's field happens to be "Thorny Wall", a card that destroys the opponent's monsters on the field, originally capable of destroying Great Saturn. This way, Yugen can conveniently save a card from his hand.
"A card forcibly activated ignores the activation conditions and can directly use its effect." Yugen chuckles lightly, "Thus utilizing the effect of 'Thorny Wall', destroying all attack position monsters on my opponent's field—my field."
Akiza: "!?!"
Is this guy crazy?
He consumed so many resources just to blow up his own field?
"Great Saturn's effect," Yugen says, "When this card is destroyed by the effect of a card controlled by the opponent, both players receive damage equal to Great Saturn's Attack Power!"
Akiza: "!!!"
Great Saturn's Attack Power is now 3800...
That's an immediate 3800 damage!
And to both players?
Akiza looks at the opponent in shock.
At this moment Yugen's Life Points are 2700, and Akiza still has 4000. If they both take the damage, wouldn't the opponent just self-destruct...
"At this moment, discard 'Feathered Cotton Ball' from my hand." Yugen says, "In the turn Feathered Cotton Ball is discarded, all effect damage I take is 0. Also, this effect can activate in the opponent's turn."
Akiza: "!"
Now the damage is only suffered by her...
"Detonate, Great Saturn!"
Yugen raises his arm.
"DOUBLE IMPACT!!!"
Boom!
The core in Great Saturn's chest suddenly turns deep red, the star rings emit a piercing metallic wail. The core light orb seemingly collapses into a miniature black hole within one-millionth of a second, then expands outward with the momentum of a supernova. Scorching white fireballs sweep across the field with fragments of the star rings, transforming into myriad radiating light-wheels, even tearing ring-shaped cracks in space.
"Ahhh—"
Her body and mind struck simultaneously by unimaginable impact, Akiza screams as she's tossed into the air, her body momentarily light as a rose petal.
The intense pain, then even the pain feels like it's gradually dissipating, consciousness slowly sinking into darkness.
Falling, falling...
Not knowing where the end might lead in this descent.
Could it really be...ending like this?
It's not impossible either. Although after taking this move her Life Points would remain at 200, in a duel where impact is turned into real damage, the duelist's body not enduring before Life Points hit zero is quite normal.
As a Telekinesis Duelist unable to control her power, Akiza has faced such opponents more than once in the past. Many people would instinctively fear when facing her, the pain of the body destroying the duelist's will faster than losing Life Points. Many could not hold on to the end of the duel and just collapsed.
Will she be the same?
Akiza's scattered consciousness suddenly surges with a trace of mockery.
Yes, in the past it was always she unilaterally using power to make others suffer—although never willingly. But only this time, the situation is reversed, perhaps she might be unable to fight again due to pain before losing in the duel.
Perhaps this is also some kind of cause and effect, a punishment from fate in the dark against herself.
If that's really the case, then it wouldn't be bad to just sink into the darkness, accepting this punishment.
But Diwein...
Right, she can't give up just like this. No matter what happens to herself, she must avenge Diwein.
Akiza's heart trembles, the will of revenge begins to restore her scattered consciousness.
She remembers Diwein's tragic death, and memories of Diwein start flashing through her mind.
The first meeting, Diwein removing her witch's mask, gently telling her that the mask is no longer needed, from now on she has a home.
And when returning from the mission, Diwein warmly welcomes her home, earnestly telling her.
"Here, you are unique, Akiza. To us, especially to me, you are irreplaceable."
That smile is so warm, so reassuring.
Yes, to avenge Diwein. She must wake up, must continue...
Yet at that moment.
In the flashback of her mind, Diwein's gentle smile suddenly changes.
From warmth to sinister, even a bit sly, cackling maliciously: "Heh, Akiza just be my Akiza.
Exhaust all your efforts to work for me, drain your value until covered with wounds, lose all value, and quietly die."
Akiza: "!"
What is this?
No, Diwein never said such words...
Then the scene shifts, to the corridor of Arcadia Building. Akiza hurriedly catches up to Diwein, saying: "Please don't subject the new kids who joined us to cruel potential development anymore.
They might not be able to endure..."
"It's for their own good, Akiza. In order to develop their potential, it is necessary." Diwein reassures her, "Don't worry, they are like you, all our companions. I know my limits, won't let them get harmed."
So Akiza asks no more.
But then the style changes again. Diwein turns with a sinister chuckle, saying gruffly: "Well, if they die at this level, it means they are of no value to us, unworthy of being called our companions.
A true companion is one who qualifies as my weapon. If a waste dies, then they should just die, nobody cares."
Akiza: "!!!"
No, no, this isn't real. Diwein didn't...he wouldn't say such things, he wouldn't think this way.
"Ahhh—"
Akiza Izinski staggers backward, half-kneeling on the ground painfully clutching her head, glaring at Yugen.
"Is it...is it you, right?"
"You disturbed my memory, it's you who showed me these, right?"
Yugen tilts his head, innocently smiles: "Saa, about that...what are you saying, I seem to not understand very well."
"Stop pretending!" Akiza shouts angrily, "It's you...you're attempting to distort my memory, you think this will make me believe?"
Yet saying this, secretly Akiza is also struck with fear.
Being able to turn duel impact into real damage, this kind of thing she has seen many times, no longer finding it surprising. But being able to interfere with the opponent's mind, invading their brain...
Is this really possible?
"Distort? Really?" Yugen squints slightly, smiles, "Is it really I who distorted your memory, or is it actually that you have long had these suspicions in your heart, it's just you've chosen to ignore them all along?"
Akiza: "!"