An eye opened from within the chaos, and golden light points converged into countless bubbles, coalescing into a jet-black entity. That was the prototype of the Cubic monsters, the starting point for countless forms.
Vijam the Cubic Seed!
[Vijam the Cubic Seed, Defense 0]
"A monster with a value of 0," Titan quickly searched his mind for information on the Cubic monster, "Its effect is..."
"Vijam the Cubic Seed cannot be destroyed by battle. After battling an opponent's monster, it can move itself to the Magic Trap Zone, making the monster it battled 'Non-Dimensionalized.'
"'Non-Dimensionalized'?"
"A 'Non-Dimensionalized' monster cannot attack, and its effect is negated," Youyu explained, "Moreover, this effect does not target, so Skull Archfiend of Lightning's ability cannot negate this effect."
Titan gritted his teeth, "Caught off guard, huh?"
Vijam had just arrived on the field and vanished in an instant. Skull Archfiend's thunderous momentum charged into nothing, exploding violently on the ground. Flames and waves of fire swept across the ground like a tsunami of fire and thunder.
But this attack also triggered the Cubic monster's trap. Vijam's body turned transparent until it completely disappeared, and Skull Archfiend's form also dimmed, with electric sparks extinguished and its body severely damaged.
Titan glanced at his recently summoned Skull Archfiend, now reduced to an ornament, and reluctantly drew another card.
"Set a card on the field, turn end."
His most powerful demon had yet to find its footing before being turned into a Chihuahua; truth be told, it was quite demoralizing. But Titan hadn't given up yet.
At least he had two High-Level Monsters on the field, and with trap protection, he should have enough to survive the next turn.
Titan took a deep breath as he assessed his remaining hand.
The strategy for a counterattack in the next round had already formed in his mind. Even if his opponent was the Duel King, without relying on his usual deck and being overconfident, victory wasn't entirely out of reach...
"My turn." Youyu drew a card and said, "Activate the effect of 'Vijam the Cubic Seed' in the Magic Trap Zone. During my main phase, Vijam can be Special Summoned from the Magic Trap Zone to the Monster Zone.
Return, Vijam,
The Cubic monster in the backfield transformed into countless golden bubbles that disappeared, gradually reappearing in the front field zone.
[Vijam the Cubic Seed, Attack 0]
"Next is the Quick-Play Magic 'Multiply'! Use a monster on the field with attack power below 500 as a tribute to Special Summon any number of tokens.
I will use 'Vijam the Cubic Seed,' with 0 attack, as a tribute to Special Summon four 'Vijam the Cubic Seed Tokens'!"
Under the magic power of Multiply, Vijam once again turned into a golden sphere, splitting into four like a river of light in sunlight, standing separately on the field.
[Vijam the Cubic Seed Token, Attack 0] x4
"Four Vijams?" Titan pondered, "Is this formation..."
"When you have three monsters with 'Cubic Seed' in their names on your field, this card in your hand can be Special Summoned!" Youyu drew a card.
"Descend! Buster Gundil the Cubic Behemoth!!!"
One of the most powerful monsters in the Cubic series, complete with a dazzling summoning effect. It was as if a floating island accompanied by rolling thunder and roaring lightning was gazing down with its eerie single eye.
[Buster Gundil the Cubic Behemoth, Attack 0]
"Upon successfully summoning Buster Gundil, select three monsters with 'Cubic Seed' in their names on your field to overlay beneath it. Then its attack increases by the number of overlaid monsters x1000 points!"
The three Vijams on the field began to shrink and transform into tiny black components. They were like intricate gears, perfectly fitting into the body of the Cubic Behemoth, with each embedding accompanied by a surge of its energy.
[Buster Gundil the Cubic Behemoth, Attack 0 → Attack 3000]
"Attack power...3000!?" Titan's pupils contracted.
It wasn't just the 3000 attack power; he had a premonition that this Cubic Behemoth had even more terrifying abilities waiting for him!
His premonition was indeed correct. Buster Gundil could attack three times in one turn; with a total output of 9000, if allowed to attack like this, Titan would be finished in this turn.
But of course, he wouldn't let it be that easy: "Activate Set Card! Trap Card - Fiendish Trap Hole!" (Manga card)
"Hmm?" Youyu's eyes shifted slightly.
A Trap Hole card?
"When a monster is Special Summoned by an effect, that monster is destroyed!" Titan shouted, "Therefore, let the Cubic Behemoth exit the stage here!"
Despite its immense destructive power and ability to instantly take down opponents, the Cubic Behemoth lacked resistance to traps. A gaping Trap Hole appeared, and the endless gravitational pull dragged its massive body into it, shredding it to pieces instantly.
"Succeeded."
Titan smirked, revealing a slight smile.
That Cubic Behemoth seemed like a near-ace for the deck; losing any ace would certainly deplete significant resources, and few could mount an effective offensive within the same turn.
Generally, in such situations, the opponent can only abandon the thought of attacking for now and choose to build a defense; there shouldn't be any problems this turn...
"I activate the effect of 'Buster Gundil the Cubic Behemoth' from the graveyard," Youyu announced, "By banishing 'Buster Gundil' from my graveyard, I can return a 'Vijam the Cubic Seed' from the graveyard to my hand." (Animated effect)
Two cards popped out of the graveyard one after another; Youyu took one and displayed the other before returning it to his hand.
"I return 'Vijam the Cubic Seed' to my hand."
Titan continued to ponder.
The Duel King hasn't performed a normal summon this turn... Is he planning to summon Vijam to strengthen his defense?
That thing can't be destroyed in battle and can "Non-Dimensionalize" monsters it battles with, which makes it quite troublesome for defense...
"I activate the effect of the Continuous Magic 'Cubic Karma' sent to the graveyard last turn," Youyu said, "By banishing 'Cubic Karma' from the graveyard, I can add a 'Cubic' monster from my deck to my hand."
The card I'm adding to my hand is..."
A card was automatically ejected from the deck, and Youyu extracted it into his hand.
"The card I'm adding to my hand is 'Crimson Nova the Dark Cubic Lord!'"
Indeed, it is the card that Z-ONE had printed and added to Aigami's deck for his duel with Youyu.
Although Z-ONE took away his three 'Crimson Nova' cards before he left, it's not a problem. Though Youyu may not have the talent for card creation, he has the System Card Pool!
Having received a complete set of Cubic Deck sponsored by his classmate Aigami, who abandoned card games for good, drawing this 'Crimson Nova' was just a matter of time.
"'Crimson Nova the Dark Cubic Lord' cannot be normally summoned, but can be Special Summoned by revealing three different kinds of 'Cubic' cards from your hand to your opponent."
Youyu revealed three cards in one breath.
"I reveal 'Vijam the Cubic Seed,' the Magic Card 'Cubic Wave,' and the Trap Card 'Cubic Rebirth' from my hand for a Special Summon —
— Crimson Nova the Dark Cubic Lord!!!"
Deep purple light formed a transparent cube, covering the head of the Cubic monster. Sharp axes shimmered with silvery white light, and each joint of its bizarre body opened a single eye. The blade drove into the ground with a sound of splitting, slowly supporting the body of the Cubic Lord.
Crimson Nova the Dark Cubic Lord, summon!
[Crimson Nova the Dark Cubic Lord, Attack Power 3000]
Titan's face changed: "You summoned such a powerful monster again so quickly..."
"Next, I perform a normal summon of 'Vijam the Cubic Seed' from my hand!"
[Vijam the Cubic Seed, Defense Power 0]
"Equip with the Magic Card 'United We Stand'!" Youyu declared, "Equipping it to 'Crimson Nova the Dark Cubic Lord,' and the equipped monster's attack power rises by the number of monsters on my field x800 points."
Titan's complexion changed suddenly: "The monsters on the field now..."
"Vijam the Cubic Seed, one Vijam the Cubic Seed Token, Duza the Meteor Cubic Vessel, plus Crimson Nova himself, which totals to four," Youyu said, "Crimson Nova the Dark Cubic Lord's attack power increases by 3200 points!"
[Crimson Nova the Dark Cubic Lord, Attack Power 3000 → Attack Power 6200]
"Attack power...6200!?" Titan was dumbfounded.
"I activate the Magic Card 'Cubic Wave' from my hand!" Youyu wasn't finished yet, "Choose your own 'Cubic' monster and a monster on the opponent's field; the attack power of that Cubic monster is doubled, while the opponent's monster's attack power is halved!
I double the attack power of 'Crimson Nova the Dark Cubic Lord,' and halve the attack power of 'Skull Archfiend of Lightning!'"
Sweat appeared on Titan's forehead: "Wait, when Skull Archfiend becomes an effect target, I can roll a die...!"
He suddenly looked at his Skull Archfiend on the field, seeing the demon in its tattered, dim state, and suddenly remembered something.
"Damn it!"
"That's right, your Skull Archfiend has been 'Non-Dimensionalized' by Vijam the Cubic Seed's effect, its effect is negated, so there's no need to roll the die," Youyu smiled.
Being a lucky 20, the best way to beat the die is not to roll at all.
[Skull Archfiend of Lightning, Attack Power 2500 → Attack Power 1250]
[Crimson Nova the Dark Cubic Lord, Attack Power 6200 → Attack Power 12400]
Titan's facial muscles twisted: "Attack power...12,000!?"
What kind of Cubic monster is this... it's terrifying!
"Crimson Nova the Dark Cubic Lord, attack 'Skull Archfiend of Lightning'!"
Golden light wrapped around the blade, darkness was suddenly torn apart. The demon's bones shattered loudly, and Skull Archfiend took the axe's heavy blow head-on, exploding into fragments amid searing light and sharp blades.
"Aaarghhhhh!!!"
[Titan, LP 4000 → LP 0]
Titan's screams echoed in the vast, desolate forest, countless crows flapping their wings and flying away.