At this point in the Duel, if he could not decide the match this turn, his chances would only grow slimmer. This was a last stand.
"Flip the set card, Continuous Trap Call of the Haunted," Daichi Misawa shouted. "I revive a monster from the Graveyard in Attack Position."
"I revive the card I discarded to the Graveyard on the very first turn. Ruler of the cosmos, sovereign of countless worlds."
"Level eight, Cosmic Queen!"
Cosmic Queen, ATK 2900.
"Then I activate the Ritual Spell 'Ritual of Lithmus Death' from my hand," Daichi Misawa continued. "By tributing monsters from my hand or field whose total levels are eight or higher, I Ritual Summon Lithmus Doom Swordsman from my hand."
"I tribute the level eight Cosmic Queen. Cut through all darkness and sin."
"Ritual Summon. Level eight, Lithmus Doom Swordsman!"
Cosmic Queen vanished in ritual flames, replaced by a swordsman wielding twin blades, a red cloak flowing gracefully.
Lithmus Doom Swordsman, ATK 0.
"Lithmus Doom Swordsman's base ATK is 0," Daichi Misawa said. "But when there is a face-up Trap Card on the field, its ATK increases by 3000. I have the Continuous Trap Call of the Haunted, so its ATK becomes 3000."
Lithmus Doom Swordsman, ATK 3000.
This was the final trump card Daichi Misawa used in the original duel against Judai Yuki.
"I see," Yugen said with a smile. "Lithmus Doom Swordsman is unaffected by any Trap Card effects and cannot be destroyed by battle. You chose it as another answer to me besides Royal Decree."
"That's right. This is the trump card I selected specifically to decide the winner with you."
"But even with traps on the field, its ATK still can't catch up to Meteor Black Dragon."
"I know," Daichi Misawa said. "But I haven't used my Normal Summon yet this turn."
"I will Summon this card, the monster I entrust everything to. Mimic Fantasist!"
A one-star Spellcaster Type holding a small mirror that covered its face.
Mimic Fantasist, ATK 0.
"Mimic Fantasist's effect lets it copy the original ATK and DEF of one monster on the opponent's field. I choose your Meteor Black Dragon!"
The mirror locked onto the massive black dragon, and in an instant the small magician transformed into the same towering dragon form.
Mimic Fantasist, ATK 3500.
The field suddenly became a standoff between two Meteor Black Dragons.
"It's not over yet. I activate the Spell Card Double Attack. I discard one monster from my hand and choose a monster on my field with a lower level than the discarded monster. That monster can attack twice this turn."
Daichi Misawa sent a card to the Graveyard.
"I discard the level eight Water Dragon from my hand and choose my level one Mimic Fantasist. This turn, Mimic Fantasist can attack twice."
The surrounding students stirred once again.
From such a desperate situation, under the absolute pressure of Chaos power, Daichi Misawa had carved out an opening yet again.
Outside the field, Judai Yuki grew more excited. "He turned it around again from that kind of field. Daichi Misawa is really strong."
Manjoume narrowed his eyes at Yugen and muttered, "You can't be done yet, can you?"
He would not allow this guy to lose to someone else before fighting him again.
"Mimic Fantasist, first attack. Attack Chaos Sorcerer!"
The black dragon it mimicked opened its jaws, unleashing a brutal blast. Chaos Sorcerer was engulfed in flames and reduced to ash.
Yugen's Life Points dropped from 1600 to 400.
Yugen staggered back two steps and smiled. "Impressive, second place."
"You're still this calm, first place," Daichi Misawa said with a grin. "Then I'll have to work even harder."
"Second attack. Mimic Fantasist, attack Meteor Black Dragon!"
Both mighty dragons opened their jaws, meteoric flames pouring out without restraint. The blasts collided at the center of the Duel field, molten fire spreading across the ground until both dragons melted away.
Daichi Misawa's momentum surged.
Meteor Black Dragon was destroyed.
"Then Lithmus Doom Swordsman attacks the face-down monster!"
He could feel it, clearly feel the scales tipping back in his favor.
Lithmus Doom Swordsman was one of his strongest trump cards. With Blue-Eyes White Dragon-class ATK, immunity to battle destruction, and resistance to traps, it was the perfect counter to his opponent.
He could already see the light of victory.
"The monster you're attacking is Different Dimension's Warrior," Yugen said calmly. "When this card battles a monster, both that monster and this card are banished from the Graveyard."
Different Dimension's Warrior, DEF 1000.
Daichi Misawa said nothing.
The surrounding students said nothing.
Once again, a dimensional Rift opened. Endless gravity surged as Lithmus Doom Swordsman and Different Dimension's Warrior were pulled into the vortex and vanished.
All that so-called immunity and resistance became meaningless.
Before the absolute power of Dimensional Slash, all beings were equal, all sent to Different Dimension.
No one exclaimed, no one commented, and for a moment no one made a sound. An eerie silence filled the field.
After a long pause, Ryo Marufuji said quietly, "Your judgment was right. He really isn't the kind of Duelist whose tactics can be easily locked down."
Asuka Tenjoin nodded, her expression complicated.
Sometimes, when someone is determined to mess with another person's mindset, there really is no stopping it.
"My Turn!, Card Draw."
In the midst of silence, Yugen continued his plays without a hint of agitation.
"I activate the Spell Card Burial from a Different Dimension. I banish three Spell Card from my Graveyard and draw two cards."
Images of three Spell Cards rose from the Graveyard and dispersed as golden light.
"I banish Prankish Delinquent Duo, Card Destruction, and Graceful Charity from my Graveyard and draw two cards."
"I activate Spell Card Warrior Returning Alive and return one Warrior-Type monster from my Graveyard to my hand. I return Black Luster Soldier Envoy of the Beginning to my hand."
"Next, I banish the Light attribute Shining Angel discarded earlier by Card Destruction and the Dark attribute Chaos Sorcerer from my Graveyard."
"I offer Light and Dark to the field of Chaos and call forth the strongest legendary warrior. Heaven and earth are sundered."
"Level eight, Black Luster Soldier Envoy of the Beginning returns!"
Brilliant golden light erupted from a Chaos vortex, slamming into the ground as blades of light and darkness cut through the air.
Black Luster Soldier Envoy of the Beginning, ATK 3000.
Daichi Misawa was speechless.
"Black Luster Soldier Envoy of the Beginning attacks Daichi Misawa directly."
"Envoy Twin Break Slash!"
Light and dark gathered along the blade, and the strike fell. Daichi Misawa stared as the sword light drew closer, then let out a long breath and closed his eyes.
So be it. He had done everything he could.
Daichi Misawa's Life Points dropped from 500 to 0.
Daichi Misawa, LP 0.
With his Life Points reduced to zero, Daichi Misawa lay flat on his back, staring at the arena ceiling as if thinking about life for a long time. He reviewed all the preparation he had done for this Duel over the past few days and wondered whether he had missed something or taken a wrong approach. The more he thought about it, the more he felt that none of that was the real issue.
If he had to name his biggest mistake, it was probably this: a person should not Duel with a dog.
Daichi Misawa was not someone who feared defeat. If he lost to Judai Yuki in a Duel, he would feel frustrated, but he would still enjoy the process and quickly prepare new strategies for a rematch.