The crimson geo pattern spread across the sky, and those nobles, who finally realized they were nothing more than fodder for the Earthbound God, finally decided to flee. But how could these old, out-of-shape men possibly outrun a towering deity?!
Thus, Tenjo Hikari witnessed a massive red serpent devouring nobles as if at a buffet, occasionally even grabbing Fusion Army soldiers. The nobles scrambled to escape, while the Fusion Army's soldiers and elites screamed in accusation, blaming Akaba Leo for betraying their trust.
But.
Akaba Leo had never claimed he trusted them.
Why would they think someone like Akaba Leo, who is more skilled in betrayal than they are, would spare them after all their treacherous actions during duels?
"The effect of Hunger-Birdens Arachnid, you take 600 damage upon Special Summon!"
A spider silk shot towards Tenjo Hikari, piercing through his body, forcing him to clutch his chest.
Tch...
This "despair" feeling...
As the damage pierced through him, he felt as if he was doomed to lose, as if he could never win.
The power of the Despondent?
It seems Akaba Leo, amidst despair, was noticed by the Goddess of Despair.
The Goddess of Despair appears before those in extreme despair, granting them power.
He couldn't help but mutter a few complaints, patting his body.
Is this all there is to despair about?!
Tenjo Hikari LP: 5800→5200.
With the loss of Life Points, the effect of Birdens Arachnid drops, decreasing his monsters' ATK on the field, but the attacks are already enough.
"Extreme Hunger Birdens Arachnid's monster effect, remove an Xyz Material, destroy all opponent's monsters with ATK less than its own on the field!"
The spider shot its silk, binding all the monsters, then opened its massive maw, ready for a feast.
But before that, blue flames ignited, incinerating several monsters.
"Then, I activate Shaddoll Beast's effect to draw a card, Gli Crystron effect to retrieve Shaddoll Fusion from the Graveyard to my hand."
Tenjo Hikari watched as several monsters were sent to the Graveyard and pondered a moment, then picked up Starving Venemy Dragon.
When Starving Venemy Dragon is destroyed and sent to the Graveyard, it can be activated. It can be placed in the Pendulum Zone.
But...
The Deck currently doesn't have a Pendulum Zone.
Can it be placed next to the field?
He tried.
No, it can't.
Maybe in the back row, at the far left——
No, it can't.
This...
"Unknown card detected, calculating." The Duel Disk suddenly announced.
Wow.
"Discovered a brand new unknown summoning technique, evaluating, temporary zone establishment——Duelists please report to Kaiba Company afterwards, please..." The Duel Disk began to repeat the message.
Tenjo Hikari was astonished, finally placing it beside the Monster Zone.
The Duel Disk had actually opened a new slot!
"Hmph... That Fusion Monster has a Pendulum Effect as well? Likely you wouldn't understand, attack with Extreme Hunger Birdens Arachnid!"
"When a monster declares an attack, activate, Special Summon Vampire Fraulein!"
"Then take the damage!"
Tenjo Hikari LP: 5200→4600.
Once again, a spider silk pierced through Tenjo Hikari's body.
"This way, it's all over, Tenjo Hikari! Attack directly with Red Nova!"
Red Nova was excited at the prospect of seizing Tenjo Hikari's power—no, no, Tenjo Hikari is far stronger than Akaba Leo; controlling his mind to use him.
With restored power, newfound strength, and after devouring countless souls, he should choose a better Agent to help him become The One!
This time he'll definitely defeat that accursed red serpent!
But just as they thought success was at hand, a black dragon appeared before them, blocking the Earthbound God's attack.
"Starving Venemy Dragon in the Pendulum Zone can make battle damage become 0 once per turn."
"Damn it!" Akaba Leo roared.
"Oh oh, indeed excellent!" Red Nova praised.
"Set a card... End phase, activate Red Screen's effect, pay 1000 LP to maintain its presence."
Akaba Leo, LP: 1500→500.
Tenjo Hikari rubbed his forehead.
"Truly powerful—these cards." Tenjo Hikari mused.
The cards are indeed strong.
The people, though——
"My turn, draw. Normal Summon, Earthbound Prisoner Ground Keeper. Activate its effect, Special Summon Earthbound Servant Geo Gremlin from the Deck."
"Then you'll lose 600 LP!"
Tenjo Hikari LP: 4600→4000.
"No problem, activate Spell Card, Harmonic Synchro Fusion." Tenjo Hikari picked up a card, "This card can fuse, synchro simultaneously using a Tuner Monster with a non-Tuner Monster on the field.
I'll Synchro and Fusion those two monsters on the field!"
Tenjo Hikari raised his left hand: "I warned you, Akaba Leo!"
"I'm going to swing all your arrogance and all your power to my side!"
"I Synchro Summon, LV 6, Earthbound Servant Geo Gremlin; Fusion Summon, LV 6, Earthbound Servant Geo Gremlina!"
Earthbound Servant Geo Gremlin, LV 6, Dark Attribute, Fiend-Type, ATK 2000.
Earthbound Servant Geo Gremlina, LV 6, Dark Attribute, Fiend-Type, ATK 2000.
Tenjo Hikari LP: 4000→3400.
"The effect of Geo Gremlin, select your Earthbound God Red Nova on the field, you have to choose to either recover its ATK points as my Life Points or destroy this monster!"
"... Recover Life Points." Akaba Leo sneered, "Don't forget, the higher your life, the higher my ATK over here."