"Finis Wayne actually has a HERO monster like this?!"
The Soul Binder had already thoroughly researched Finis Wayne's deck using the intelligence network at his disposal. She had never once used this card, [Destiny HERO - Plasma], in any of her duels.
Finis Wayne was supposed to be the weakest HERO duelist, yet she had somehow managed to swallow an Earthbound Immortal whole in a Turbo Duel.
As the colossal blue-black giant was absorbed by Plasma, the walls of fire that had set the city ablaze slowly died down along with the deity's disappearance.
Seizing the gap left by the receding flames, Karl—who had been tailing the duel from outside the track the entire way—slammed on the gas pedal of his black sports car. The engine roared as it surged right onto the track.
"Are you okay, Finis?!"
"I'm fine, Karl!"
"Karl?"
His little sister, even during the time right after she was brought back home when her attitude toward him was at its worst, had always called him 'Second Brother.'
What was wrong with her today?
However, pushing the forms of address aside, Karl was far more astonished by the effect of this Destiny HERO as he looked up at Plasma soaring through the sky.
"Is this Finis's HERO? It actually absorbed a god, and its ATK has even surpassed the Blue-Eyes White Dragon."
Finis cheered: "Awesome! We've captured the power of a god!"
Compared to Finis's excitement, Amano Zero appeared significantly more composed. Rather than composed, it was more accurate to say he was somewhat worried.
The version of [Destiny HERO - Plasma] that Finis had obtained at the Fusion Academy possessed the standard anime effect. The difference between it and the real-life card game version was that it gained the effects of the absorbed monster. However, without the dedicated support card [D - Force], it could not negate the effects of all face-up monsters the opponent controlled like the real card did.
Furthermore, the anime version of Plasma carried the notorious reputation of the "Invincible Legend of Never Winning."
Even someone as powerful as Aster Phoenix—a duelist praised by the Father of Duel Monsters, Maximillion Pegasus, as one of the top five duelists globally within the anime worldview—had never won a single duel after acquiring Plasma.
He could only hope this bizarre curse wouldn't carry over into his current world.
Amano Zero emphasized: "Because Plasma has gained the effects of the Earthbound Immortal, it is unaffected by Spell and Trap Card effects and cannot be targeted for attacks as long as a Field Spell is active!"
Possessing Spell and Trap immunity, and unable to be targeted for attacks. If only the young lady's deck had a copy of D - Force right now to further negate the effects of the opponent's monsters, Amano Zero would feel completely secure with that absolute protection.
"Preparing to enter the Battle Phase!"
"Who allowed you to enter the Battle Phase?"
The Soul Binder interrupted Amano Zero's declaration to enter the Battle Phase, simultaneously flipping up the set card beside his Duel Runner.
"Trap Card activate! [Premature Resurrection]!"
[Premature Resurrection] [Trap Card: Target 1 "Earthbound Immortal" monster in your Graveyard; Special Summon it. The monster Special Summoned by this effect cannot declare an attack this turn. Also, if the monster Special Summoned by this effect battles, any battle damage your opponent takes becomes 0.]
It wasn't the familiar Premature Burial, but Premature Resurrection, an effect designed to revive an Earthbound Immortal monster from the Graveyard.
Finis asked in disbelief: "How is that possible? Didn't we absorb the Earthbound Immortal?"
The young lady was entirely correct; Earthbound Immortal Ccapac Apu had indeed been absorbed by Plasma. This 'absorption' meant the card did not enter the Graveyard. Instead, it was treated as an Equipment Card and placed in the Spell and Trap Zone of Amano Zero's Duel Runner disk.
"Did you honestly think I only had one god to summon, Finis Wayne?!"
The only opportunity the Soul Binder had to set up a second Earthbound Immortal in his Graveyard was when he activated Speed Spell - Accelerate and discarded a card from his hand to gain 2 Speed Counters.
So it turned out that increasing his Speed Counters was merely a secondary effect; his true purpose had been to dump a second Earthbound Immortal from his hand into the Graveyard.
At this exact moment, the flames that had vanished with the giant Earthbound Immortal flared up once more.
In the night sky of Eden, a whale-like Earthbound Immortal with a massive pitch-black body outlined in blue stripes materialized, floating above the burning city as it let out a piercing wail that echoed throughout the entire Middle Layer.
"O sorrowful souls bound by the earth, ignite the fires of vengeance from a thousand years ago once more!"
"I Special Summon [Earthbound Immortal Chacu Challhua] in Defense Position!!"
[Earthbound Immortal Chacu Challhua] [Level 10 / DARK]
[Fish / Effect] [ATK: 2900] [DEF: 2400]
Lin Xingyao was still clinging to her windowsill, gazing out. "Following Kiryu's Earthbound Immortal, now it's Bomber's? No way, I have to go see who is dueling!"
Meanwhile, Karl looked up at the massive whale floating in the sky, feeling the weight of the city as the Nazca Lines fire track ignited yet again.
"A second Earthbound Immortal! Why... why does a guy like you have to drag innocent people into this?!"
Even though Karl's creed in life was to only care about the people truly important to him, it didn't mean he was so cold and heartless that he could stand by and watch innocent civilians get swept into a dark catastrophe.
"Innocent? Don't make me laugh! Count every single person living in Eden, and not a single one has a damn thing to do with being innocent. You are all nothing but accomplices to Eva!"
The Soul Binder angrily slammed the whale Earthbound Immortal card onto his Duel Runner's disk, placing it horizontally in Defense Position.
Finis reminded him: "Amano, even if an Earthbound Immortal cannot be attacked, since Plasma has absorbed the effects of the Earthbound Immortal, it can attack the player directly!"
If this were a battle between two Earthbound Immortals, they could indeed bypass the monsters on the field and strike each other directly.
However, this whale Earthbound Immortal was unique.
After the Soul Binder special summoned it, Amano Zero had already attempted to enter the Battle Phase again, only to fail.
"This is the effect of [Earthbound Immortal Chacu Challhua]!" the Soul Binder declared.
While this card is in face-up Defense Position, your opponent cannot conduct their Battle Phase.
It was a pity the anime version of Plasma couldn't negate the opponent's monster effects without D - Force. Because of this massive whale floating under the cover of night, Amano Zero's Battle Phase had been completely sealed away.
"I end my turn! And at the moment of the End Phase, I activate the effect of Decider to recover 1 Destiny HERO monster from my Graveyard. I add [Destiny HERO - Diamond Dude] back to my hand!"
Right now, Amano Zero controlled Plasma on his front row—which had gained the effects of an Earthbound Immortal—and still held an unplayed set card in his back row from the first turn.
Although the Soul Binder similarly controlled an Earthbound Immortal, the one special summoned by the trap card Premature Resurrection came with a debuff: "if the monster Special Summoned by this effect battles, any battle damage your opponent takes becomes 0."
In other words, even if the whale Earthbound Immortal bypassed Plasma to attack Amano Zero directly, Amano Zero wouldn't take any battle damage.
"My turn, draw!"
Soul Binder / Speed Counters: 5 → 6
Amano Zero / Speed Counters: 3 → 4
The velocity of both Duel Runners speeding through the dark fire track increased further.
"Hahaha! Did you think you were safe just because Earthbound Immortal Chacu Challhua cannot inflict battle damage? Don't be so naive, O girl who fights with HEROs!"
The moment he drew his card at the start of the turn, the Soul Binder's triumphant laughter echoed from the front Duel Runner.
"I activate the effect of [Earthbound Immortal Chacu Challhua] to consume the last of your Life Points, Finis Wayne!"
Once per turn: You can inflict damage to your opponent equal to half this card's DEF. This card cannot attack the turn this effect is activated.
Inflicting direct damage to the opposing player at the cost of being unable to attack. It was the perfect fit for an Earthbound Immortal special summoned by Premature Resurrection."The DEF of Earthbound Immortal Chacu Challhua is 2400. According to its effect, it will now inflict 1200 points of damage to you!"
Finis (Amano Zero): LP 1000
"It's over! Accept these millennium-old wails of resentment and suffer defeat right here!"
In the dark sky, the killer whale's deafening cries grew even louder. Simultaneously, teal energy gathered near its dense rows of teeth, forming a laser beam that locked onto and blasted toward Amano Zero's Duel Runner.
"—Final Shockwave!!"
Facing the laser blasting down from the heavens, Amano Zero reached down and snatched a card from his Duel Runner's Graveyard slot.
"I activate the effect of [Destiny HERO - Decider] in my Graveyard!"
Once per duel, when an effect that would inflict damage to you is activated while this card is in your Graveyard: Return this card to your hand, and if you do, make that effect damage 0.
"I add Decider back to my hand from the Graveyard to change this effect damage to 0!"
The soul of the HERO charged out from the Graveyard, leaping right in front of Amano Zero with arms crossed to block the Earthbound Immortal's lethal laser.
"To think you even managed to block this damage... you really are persistent, O HERO girl."
Seeing his fatal strike from the blind spot of the Earthbound Immortal's darkness get blocked, the Soul Binder couldn't help but offer a word of praise.
It was almost as if the opponent had known the Earthbound Immortal's effect beforehand. This was the first time the Soul Binder had ever faced such a difficult opponent.
If someone with this much skill was called the weakest HERO duelist, were the rest of the HERO players absolute monsters?
"I Special Summon [Earthbound Prisoner Stone Sweeper] from my hand!"
[Earthbound Prisoner Stone Sweeper] [Level 5 / DARK]
[Fiend / Effect] [ATK: 1600] [DEF: 1600]
If there is a card in a Field Zone, you can Special Summon this card from your hand.
"Next, I tribute Earthbound Prisoner Stone Sweeper to Tribute Summon the Dark Tuner monster, [Dark Tuner Spider Cocoon]!"
[Dark Tuner Spider Cocoon] [Level 5 / DARK]
[Insect / Dark Tuner / Effect] [ATK: 0] [DEF: 0]
The Dark Tuner monster, sporting eight razor-sharp spider legs, scurried rapidly along the burning track.
Finis gasped: "A Dark Tuner monster?"
Amano Zero muttered: "As expected, these are the cards of the Dark Signers."
What appeared alongside the Earthbound Immortals was none other than the Dark Synchro Summon exclusive to the Dark Signers in the anime. It didn't involve adding Levels together; instead, it required subtracting them.
"I activate [Speed Spell - Low-Level Summon]! Since my Speed Counters are at 5 or more, I can Special Summon 1 Level 2 or lower monster from my Deck. I Special Summon [Dark Spider]!"
[Dark Spider] [Level 1 / DARK]
[Insect / Effect] [ATK: 0] [DEF: 0]
A second, smaller spider twisted its eight segmented legs as it scurried at high speed along the burning track.
"The effect of Dark Spider allows me to increase the Level of a monster on my field by 2! I change the Level of Dark Tuner Spider Cocoon from 5 to 7!"
[Dark Tuner Spider Cocoon] [Level 5 → 7]
"Now, I make my two monsters undergo Dark Synchro!"
The moment the Soul Binder declared the Synchro Summon, the Level 7 Dark Tuner monster dissolved into seven pitch-black stars that circled around Dark Spider.
"Subtracting the Level 7 Dark Tuner Spider Cocoon from the Level 1 Dark Spider, we arrive at a negative Level for a Dark Synchro Summon!"
$$1 - 7 = -6$$
"When darkness overlaps with darkness, the gates of the underworld shall open! Arrive in that lightless world!"
"Dark Synchro! Come forth! [Underground Arachne]!!"
[Underground Arachne] [Level -6 / EARTH]
[Insect / Dark Synchro / Effect] [ATK: 2400] [DEF: 1200]
The Dark Synchro monster—possessing a massive spider's lower body and a woman's upper torso—burst through the lightless Synchro Summoning effect, charging onto the burning track at high speed.
Finis cried out: "A monster with a negative Level of minus 6? This is the first time I've ever heard of such a Synchro Summon!"
The Soul Binder raised his hand to declare its effect: "I'll repay the grudge of having my god absorbed last turn with this turn's Dark Synchro! The effect of Underground Arachne activates!"
Once per turn: You can target 1 face-up monster your opponent controls; equip that target to this card (max. 1). If this card would be destroyed, you can destroy that equipped monster instead.
"Although Destiny HERO - Plasma gained the protections of the Earthbound Immortal, it can still be affected by monster effects!"
Countless threads erupted from the spider-woman's body, ensnaring Plasma's crimson form.
"I use Underground Arachne to absorb Destiny HERO - Plasma as an Equipment Card, which can substitute for this card's destruction!"
It was a dark style of combat involving mutual absorption. Plasma, which had absorbed the giant Earthbound Immortal last turn, was absorbed by the lightless Dark Synchro monster this turn.
Concurrently, as the sacrifice of the initial absorption, Earthbound Immortal Ccapac Apu naturally vanished from the field and entered the Graveyard.
With the loss of Plasma, Amano Zero's field was left completely empty.
"Prepare for battle! When Underground Arachne attacks, the opponent cannot activate Spell or Trap Cards until the end of the Damage Step!"
The Soul Binder accelerated his Duel Runner, preparing to enter the Battle Phase of this turn.
Amano Zero, however, raised his hand to flip up his only set card. "Then at the exact moment you enter your Battle Phase, I activate my face-down Trap Card, [Back to the Front]!"
[Back to the Front] [Trap Card: Target 1 monster in your Graveyard; Special Summon it in Defense Position.]
The Soul Binder was taken aback. "What?! You still have a monster in your Graveyard?"
At this moment in Amano Zero's Graveyard, Diamond Dude and Decider had been recovered to his hand, Drawhand was banished by its own effect, and Plasma had been absorbed as an Equipment Card. By all accounts, every monster Amano Zero had used in this duel should have already left the Graveyard.
"No, there's still one left! The monster I discarded last turn via the effect of Speed Spell - Angel Baton!"
Amano Zero pulled the monster card hidden in his Duel Runner's Graveyard slot and slapped it horizontally onto the duel disk.
"I revive [Destiny HERO - Dasher] from the Graveyard in Defense Position!"
[Destiny HERO - Dasher] [Level 6 / DARK]
[Warrior / Effect] [ATK: 2100] [DEF: 1000]
A HERO monster whose appearance perfectly matched the high-speed concept of a Turbo Duel. Dasher sped along on a single wheel, surging into the burning track at extreme speed to block the path ahead of Amano Zero's Duel Runner.
"Nothing but a wall in its death throes! Continuous attack, Underground Arachne!"
"—Dark Puncture!"
Countless spikes extended from beneath the ground, hooking into the track and shattering the defensive Dasher to pieces.
[Destiny HERO - Dasher] Destroyed
"Finally, I set one card and end my turn!"
With both lethal attempts ending in failure this turn, the Soul Binder set a card and ended his turn, not forgetting to toggle on his mocking mode.
"Finis Wayne! Continue to struggle before a god and a lightless Dark Synchro with your powerless HEROs in this Turbo Duel!"
The turns swapped. It was Amano Zero's turn to draw.
At that exact moment, the instant Amano Zero's fingertips brushed against the top card of his deck, the Trickster's highly distinct laughter seemed to echo in his ears.
"The highest tier of deception is to fool the entire world~"
The corners of Amano Zero's mouth curled upward. Even before drawing, he seemed to have anticipated the outcome of this turn's draw.
"An Earthbound Immortal is hardly a god!" Amano Zero instantly threw the Soul Binder's mockery right back at him.
"It is nothing more than a resentful, lingering ghost bound to the earth! How dare it arrogantly claim to be a god! Now, I shall let you witness the wrath of a genuine deity!"
"The wrath of a genuine deity?"
Last turn, Amano Zero had used three monsters as a tribute, nearly tricking the Soul Binder into believing Finis possessed a God Card. But just when you thought Finis didn't have a God Card, Amano Zero pulls one out from his back hand—meaning you've been fooled twice.
"My turn, draw!"
The card Amano Zero drew had already been waiting at the very top of the deck, its heinous divine soul eager to roar.
Scanning the card face, even Amano Zero couldn't help but flash a look of astonishment in his eyes.
This third deception had actually fooled even him.
The God Card he had deliberately pulled from his Side Deck as insurance for the Shadow Duel and slipped into Finis's deck was The Wicked Dreadroot. Yet, the card drawn into Amano Zero's hand right now was...
"I really can't trust a single bit of you until the very last moment, Trickster!"
Amano Zero activated the card effect of [Destiny HERO - Dasher] in his Graveyard.
Once only, if a monster is drawn during your Draw Phase while this card is in the Graveyard: You can reveal it; Special Summon it.
Speeding forward, Amano Zero held up the monster card drawn this turn, revealing it to both sides in accordance with the effect.
"Then take a good, long look at this card, Soul Binder!"
The card's Attribute—DIVINE!
"This is the true Kami!"
"The end of illusions, annihilating matter with its breath, incinerating history with its gaze!"
"Awaken within the darkness, O ultimate evil that collapses reality!"
"Divine Summon! [The Wicked Eraser]!!"
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