"The effect of 'Duza the Meteor Cubic Vessel,'" Youyu said, "When successfully summoned, send one 'Cubic' card from the deck to the graveyard.
I'll send the Continuous Magic Card 'Cubic Karma' from my deck to the graveyard."
A card popped out from the deck, and Youyu caught it in his hand, swiftly discarding it into the graveyard.
Titan squinted his eyes, his brain rapidly processing.
The Cubic Deck, although extremely rare, has never been released or circulated in the market to this day, but the existence of this deck is no longer a secret.
Five years ago, during the Kaiba Group's conference duel, the whole world witnessed Aigami use this Cubic Deck in an intense and thrilling match against the First Duel King, Muto Yugi (who was described as being thoroughly humiliated), then followed by an unknown mysterious figure taking over the Cubic Deck and dueling against Duel King Youyu.
Although Titan had never seen the Cubic Deck with his own eyes, he had watched the footage of that tournament back then and had a general understanding of the deck's characteristics.
It's just that this Cubic Deck was supposed to belong to Duel King's opponent back then, but now it's in his hands...
Thinking of this, Titan shivered all over.
Right, there are rumors in the Underworld saying that the First Duel King particularly liked to take Duel Discs and decks as trophies!
If I lose this duel, wouldn't that mean my deck...
Titan swallowed hard.
"I set one card face-down and end my turn," Youyu said.
"Then... it's my turn."
Titan's voice was a bit dry. He drew a card, his mind working at full capacity like never before.
When he saw this hand of cards, his eyes lit up. He took a deep breath, feeling a glimmer of hope.
"I summon 'Archfiend Cavalry'!"
A horse with blue mane seemed to step out of the void. It had ghostly blue eyes, clad in red armor, and its upright figure on horseback resembled a ghostly shadow, holding a spiral lance seemingly forged from white bones, its scarlet eyes deeply embedded in a skull-like face.
[Archfiend Cavalry, Attack Power 1900]
"Magic Card 'Graceful Charity,' draw three cards from the deck, then discard two cards from the hand."
Having refreshed his hand, Titan quickly pulled out another card.
"Next, I special summon this card from my hand... Appear! 'Archfiend Commander'!"
It seemed to be the demon that holds the ace position in the deck. Titan, with an exaggerated gesture, slapped the card onto the Duel Disc as an endless current overflowed from the device, a giant shadow towering upwards.
Dark mist spread like a water tank overflowing, a demon stepped out slowly. Its armor seemed to be forged from dull white bones, its body as strong as steel, countless golden electric serpents leapt over its twisted muscles.
Archfiend Commander, summoned!
[Archfiend Commander, Attack Power 2500]
"'Archfiend Commander' can be special summoned if there's a monster with 'Archfiend' in its name on your field," Titan explained, "but as a cost, you must destroy a Fiend-Type monster from your field.
So I'll destroy 'Archfiend Cavalry'!"
The giant demon exploded with electricity, like thunder guided by lightning rods, converging on the cavalry's body. The Archfiend Cavalry was blasted to pieces, horse and all.
"Cavalry's effect!" Titan continued, "When Archfiend Cavalry is destroyed by a card effect, special summon an 'Archfiend' monster from the graveyard, excluding itself!"
Titan's Duel Disk Grave Zone ejected a card, which he displayed.
"Return from the Netherworld—
—Summon of the Archfiend!!!"
A bolt of lightning split the darkly veiled field, scorching the grass black. The demon's feet stepped on lightning, its rib-like armor soaked in flashes, its fierce eyes flickered with dangerous light.
This was one of the once legendary monsters marvelously showcased years ago in Muto Yugi's deck, the Summon of the Archfiend!
[Summon of the Archfiend, Attack Power 2500]
"Effortlessly summoning such formidable Fiend-Type monsters truly deserves praise. Honestly, most students in this school are already top of the Duel World, but none possess your strength."
Youyu nodded in approval, pausing.
"However, 'Archfiend Commander' special summoned by its own effect cannot attack during this turn," he said, "'Archfiend Cavalry' effect monsters special summoned this way likewise cannot attack during this turn. So although the display is impressive, it's insufficient to launch an offensive."
Titan took a deep breath.
Just as the rumors said.
There are numerous tales circulating about Duel King Youyu in the Underground World, many of which are ambiguous. Titan had heard someone say that Duel King Youyu is like a walking card encyclopedia, seemingly knowing the effects and traits of every type of deck and style that exists.
This is something that even other people, including the First Duel King Muto Yugi, could not achieve.
At first, Titan thought this might be an exaggeration, but he was starting to believe it now.
"I activate the Magic Card 'The Puppet Magic of Dark Ruler' from my hand!" Titan played a card, "Choose a Fiend-Type monster in your graveyard, and by banishing monsters from your field whose combined levels equal the level of the chosen monster, you can resurrect that Fiend-Type monster!"
He pointed at the monster on his field in front of him.
"I banish the Level 6 'Summon of the Archfiend' from the game!" Titan said sternly, "Through the effect of 'The Puppet Magic of Dark Ruler' from the graveyard, resurrect!
Appear! Level 6, my strongest demon—
—Skull Archfiend of Lightning!!!"
Summon of the Archfiend vanished, replaced by a new demon strikingly similar in appearance, perhaps even just with a new guise. Azure currents coiled around its bone-forged armor, a helmet crafted from bones sat on its head with an electric sparkle.
[Skull Archfiend of Lightning, Attack Power 2500]
"Skull Archfiend...," Youyu murmured to himself, "Such a nostalgic monster."
This was the ace of President Tosawa Mukuro of the Nightwalker World?
Come to think of it, it's been quite a while since he last saw President Mukuro.
"Skull Archfiend of Lightning special summoned through the effect of 'The Puppet Magic of Dark Ruler' does not have an attack restriction," Titan stated.
"Upgraded the Normal Monster 'Summon of the Archfiend' into a modded version with built-in Resistance, gaining attack rights as well? That's something," Youyu remarked.
Youyu didn't forget, the 'Skull Archfiend of Lightning', is another dice-tossing monster.
Skull Archfiend, when targeted by Magic, Trap, or Monster Effects, can roll a dice. Only when rolling a 2, 4, or 5 does the effect take place; rolling a 1, 3, or 6 nullifies the effect.
A fifty percent chance, for someone like Youyu, seemed almost certain.
Thus, he automatically filtered Skull Archfiend's effect into "cannot become the target of any Magic Trap and Monster effect."
Of course, it's merely "cannot be targeted" and nothing more.
"Battle!" Titan shouted, "Skull Archfiend of Lightning, attack 'Duza the Meteor Cubic Vessel'!"
Youyu gently waved his hand.
"Flip Cover Card, Trap Card - Cubic Ascension!" he declared, "Upon an attack declaration by opponent's monster, special summon 'Cubic Vajra' from the deck, change the opponent's attack target forcibly to 'Cubic Vajra' and proceed to Damage Calculation!"