"Magic Card - Pot of Greed, draw two more cards from the deck."
Refilling his hand at once, Youyu immediately launched a counterattack: "Activate the Magic Card 'Fusion' again to fuse 'Elemental Hero Clayman' and 'Elemental Hero Sparkman' in my hand!"
Seeing the two familiar heroes transforming into a torrent and rushing into the vortex in mid-air, Judai couldn't help but get excited: "Oh! The fusion of Clayman and Sparkman... Thunder Giant is coming!"
However, it wasn't.
"Fusion Summon! Elemental Hero Grandman!!!"
A storm of elements erupted from the fusion vortex, as a hero clad in golden armor like Sparkman, and adorned with the same white wings as Avian, gracefully landed on the ground, surrounded by overflowing sparks.
[Elemental Hero Grandman, Attack Power 0]
"Grandman can be Fusion Summoned using any two 'Hero' Normal Monsters as materials," said Youyu, "Moreover, his attack power increases by 300 times the combined original levels of the fusion materials.
The combined levels of Clayman and Sparkman are eight, so the attack power rises by 2400!"
[Elemental Hero Grandman, Attack Power 2400]
"Battle!" declared Youyu, "First, use 'Elemental Hero Grandman' to attack the 'Blue-Eyes Chaos Dragon'!"
The attack power of Chaos Dragon had been halved due to the effect of a large cyclone and was still drooping its beautiful head without recovering. Grandman spread his wings, beating the green whirlwind to soar into the air. The shock gun on his arm fired a burst of electricity, piercing through the thick steel armor of Blue-Eyes, shattering it into pieces.
[Kaiba, LP 4000 → LP 3100]
President Haima stood upright, calmly enduring the impact of the virtual current without even blinking.
"Grandman's other effect," mentioned Youyu, "When 'Elemental Hero Grandman' destroys an opponent's monster in battle, he can be sacrificed to Special Summon any 'Elemental Hero' Fusion Monster, ignoring its summoning conditions. However, the summoned monster cannot attack monsters of a lower level than itself."
Youyu pulled out a Fusion Card and raised it high above his head.
"The radiant hero, appear now--
--Elemental Hero Shining Flare Wingman!"
An endless brilliance cascaded down, covering the hero's body with mechanical, shimmering silver armor. The glowing streams slowly flowed over the surface of the armor, creating a dreamlike image.
This was the elder brother among the Elemental Heroes, renowned for his powerful burst and knockout abilities—Elemental Hero Shining Flare Wingman!
[Elemental Hero Shining Flare Wingman, Attack Power 2500]
"Shining Flare Wingman's attack power increases by 300 points for each Elemental Hero in the graveyard," said Youyu. "Currently, I have five heroes in my graveyard!"
Five cards were listed in sequence: Absolute Zero, Clayman, Sparkman, Grandman, and the Sky Brother sent to the graveyard by the effect of a Magic Card.
"Therefore, Shining Flare Wingman's attack power rises by 1500!"
[Elemental Hero Shining Flare Wingman, Attack Power 2500 → Attack Power 4000]
"Attack Power four thousand!" exclaimed a spectator, unable to contain themselves.
These two keep summoning super monsters with attack power at Obelisk's level as if it's as simple as having a meal or drinking water!
Of course, right now, the Blue-Eyes Chaos MAX Dragon on Kaiba's side was in defense position, so attack power didn't really matter. Here, Youyu planned to finish the attack with the powerful effect of Shining Flare Wingman!
"Elemental Hero Shining Flare Wingman, attack 'Blue-Eyes Chaos MAX Dragon'!"
The metallic hero soared through the air, leaving a trail of light in his wake, before making a rapid dive. He pierced through the armor of the Chaos MAX Dragon with his body, an endless light gushing out from the holes in the dragon's body like the most glorious blood.
Since it was in defense position, it wouldn't cause battle damage, but after the battle settled, Shining Flare Wingman flashed, appearing ghost-like in front of Kaiba.
"Shining Flare Wingman's effect!" Youyu announced. "When he destroys a monster in battle, he inflicts damage equal to that monster's original attack power to the opponent!"
"The original attack power of the Chaos MAX Dragon is four thousand." The spirit Yubel, with crossed arms, explained behind Judai, "It seems the outcome is decided."
However, seeing Judai's eyes sparkling with admiration, she felt subtly annoyed.
"Youyu-sensei is truly amazing!" he exclaimed excitedly, "The hero is so cool!"
Next to him, Asuka heard Judai habitually call Youyu "sensei," but she thought about it and felt that since Youyu was an honorary principal, he indeed fit the role of a school teacher, so it didn't feel strange.
Four thousand points of effect damage, this attack would undoubtedly end it!
But Kaiba, having studied the Hero Deck for so many years, certainly knew the effect of "Shining Flare Wingman." He had already revealed a Set Card on his side.
"Trap - Damage Translation!" he declared, "Halve all effect damage I take this turn!"
[Kaiba, LP 3100 → LP 1100]
The damage was still quite substantial, yet President Haima swayed slightly before firmly stabilizing his posture, as if to say, "I can still keep fighting."
"This is truly a terrifying duel, Norne," Cronos continued to wipe his sweat. "I really thought it was about to end again..."
"Indeed, these two know each other well; at any moment, they might land a killing blow on the other... their fight exists in a realm completely different from that of typical duelists," Principal Samejima also said. "But this now brings the Duel King's attack to a temporary halt.
The attack power of the Grand Cyclone is zero due to Chaos Dragon's effect, so there should be no further means of attack for now..."
"Quick-Play Magic 'Mask Change'," Youyu revealed the remaining card in his hand, "Send the 'Hero' monster from the field to the graveyard to Special Summon a corresponding Attribute Masked Hero."
The whole audience gasped.
They actually played this legendary key card, Mask Change, representing the Duel King's identity at such a critical moment!
One transformation means another opportunity for an additional attack; it also means President Haima is once again being pushed to a brink named defeat!
"I send the Wind Attribute 'Elemental Hero Avian' to the graveyard," Youyu declared, "Masked Transformation!
Masked Hero Divine Wind!"
The storm briefly halted as the raging winds started to contract and gather, all centering around the tall, airborne hero. The cyclone's special effects transformed into green armor, and the violently fluttering white cape seemed to merge with the storm.
This was the highest-level Wind Attribute Masked Hero, making its first public appearance to date.
Masked Hero Divine Wind, Summon!
[Masked Hero Divine Wind, Attack Power 2700]
"Because it was Special Summoned during the Battle Phase, Divine Wind can still attack!" Youyu commanded, "Masked Hero Divine Wind, direct attack on President Haima!"
The hero leaped lightly, feet joined, descending from above with a flying kick. His cape was pulled taut by the wild winds, and the green storm swirling around him made him look like a piercing lance!
The audience's breath held once more, and many students couldn't help but stand from their seats, craning their necks to peer toward the center of the field, afraid even a blink might miss this critical moment.
President Haima's eyes sharpened.
"Hmph, 'Mask Change' transforms Heroes for an additional attack to complete the final blow... Do you think I wouldn't have any defense against this by now?"
Having lost countless times to this move, President Haima stated that this tactic no longer worked on him!
"Activate the Trap Card from the graveyard!" He raised his arm high, "Spiritual Swords of Revealing Light! Remove this card from play during the opponent's turn from the graveyard; the opponent cannot make direct attacks this turn!"
The golden Light Swords shot out from the ground, forming a defensive sword array in front of the president! Divine Wind's kick crashed into the golden sword array, causing the defensive barrier to tremble violently.
"Not bad, Mr. President, burying traps in the graveyard," Youyu chuckled nonchalantly, "Was it when you activated 'The Melody of Awakening Dragon' earlier and discarded that card?"
Kaiba snorted, "Dealing with an opponent like you requires multiple layers of insurance."
"Then, the Battle Phase ends, entering Main Phase 2," Youyu inserted another card into the Duel Disc, "Continuous Magic 'Mirage of Nightmare,' which allows me to replenish my hand to four cards during my opponent's Standby Phase.
However, I must randomly discard the same number of cards I drew at the start of my turn.
The turn ends."
"During the End Phase, the other effect of Trap Card 'Damage Translation' activates," Kaiba declared, "Special Summon 'Ghost Token' according to the number of effect damage you received this turn.
This turn I received effect damage once, so I Special Summon a 'Ghost Token' on my field!"
[Ghost Token, Defense Power 0]