That was a giant with a white body, muscles formed as if cast from steel, and a crimson jewel on its chest.
It landed heavily, shaking the ground fiercely with its steps. Crisscross cracks spread across the ground like a spider web, and the reinforced concrete skyscrapers began to sink slowly.
The giant stood tall among the towering buildings, its form reaching to the sky. The spotlight in the urban streets swept over its snow-white steel body, and the jewel on its chest flickered like a solitary eye.
Elemental Hero Earth, Summon!!!
[Elemental Hero Earth, Attack Power 2500]
"Whoa," Youyu looked at the towering, majestic figure and slowly spoke, "The 'Earth' from the Planet Series, Elemental Hero Earth...haven't seen this card for years. So it's in your hands?"
Youyu hadn't relaxed his pursuit of collecting various Hero series cards over the years, especially the fusion brothers of the Elemental Hero series. Through the System Card Pool, Kaiba Group, and multiple channels from the International Fantasy Society, he had collected most of them.
But this Earth had always been elusive.
But this was indeed reasonable.
Each of the Planet Series cards is unique in the world, and in the original storyline, these nine cards are closely linked to Tragoedia, serving as the key for him to break the seal and regain power.
This naturally piqued Youyu's interest.
He had already collected 99% of the card pool of the Elemental Hero series, and it had been a long time since a card intrigued him so much.
Earth is known as the top boss among Elemental Heroes in the GX comics, acclaimed as the strongest Hero. Perhaps from the perspective of real card competition, its panel and effect might not be outstanding, but from a Duel Monster Spirit standpoint, Earth is a formidable force among all Duel Monster Spirits, with considerable strength as part of the Planet Series.
In short, Youyu is determined to get this card!
But at this moment, a massive dark power was radiating from within Earth, with faint chains of dark miasma binding his body.
Clearly, that's Tragoedia's power.
While the darkness from Tragoedia amplified Earth's power, it also shackled the spirit's will.
The darkness Youyu sensed earlier may also originate from Earth's card. Tragoedia embedded fragments of his power in Earth's card, thus concealing his aura to avoid the scrutiny of other strong beings, and could remotely manipulate his puppet conveniently.
"Activate Magic Card 'Soul Exchange' from the hand!" Tragoedia sneered, "In the turn this card is activated, any number of monsters on the opponent's field can be used as tributes for my side!"
The animation effect of "Soul Exchange" differs in textual description from the real card and lacks the restriction of "cannot conduct the Battle Phase the turn it's activated."
Youyu nodded knowingly, "Earth's effect is..."
"Indeed, 'Elemental Hero Earth' can use 'Elemental Hero' on one's field as tributes only during this turn to gain the tribute monster's attack power!"
"Earth's attack power can't surpass Edgeman, so using its effect, huh?"
"Turn 'Elemental Hero Edgeman' into Earth's tribute!"
Tragoedia motioned grandly, activating the effect of Soul Exchange. A milky white whirlwind enveloped Edgeman's body, and the metal Hero transformed into a flash beam into Earth's body.
The form of the white Elemental Hero changed instantly, his body burned red-hot from the inside out, as if permeated by lava. A dazzling flame sprayed from his back towards the sky, and the magma splattered onto the cracked floor, producing a "hiss" sound as it melted the floor.
[Elemental Hero Earth, Attack Power 2500 → Attack Power 5100]
"Of course, high attack power isn't enough; as long as your 'Minimum Ray' is in defense mode, it can't inflict damage..." Tragoedia snorted, then drew another card, "So, I equip your 'Vision Hero Minimum Ray' with this card—
——Magic Card 'Nitro Unit'!"
An apparatus resembling an oxygen tank forcibly attached to Minimum Ray's back, with myriad tubes connected externally.
"When the equipped monster is destroyed in battle, the opponent receives damage equal to that monster's attack power." Tragoedia motioned, "Go Earth, destroy 'Vision Hero Minimum Ray'!
Earth Impact!!!
Earth wielded two short rods, blazing intense and dazzling flames at their tips! The scorching flame, like an invisible sword, vaporized Minimum Ray into dust and ashes the moment they touched.
"The effect of 'Nitro Unit', inflict damage equal to the attack power!"
[Youyu, LP 4000 → LP 2800]
"However, at this moment 'Vision Hero Minimum Ray's effect activates." Youyu stated, "While Minimum Ray exists in the graveyard, upon taking damage, it can be placed into the Magic Trap Zone from the graveyard!"
A flash of phantom, and the just retired Minimum Ray returned to Youyu's backfield in phantom form.
"Humph, even defeated heroes revive in phantom form?" Tragoedia grumbled, drawing another hand card.
"Continuous Magic 'Mirage of Nightmare'," he said, "During the next opponent's preparation phase, draw cards from the deck until filling the hand to four."
A Set Card is placed next, and the turn ends."
"...then it's my turn again."
As Youyu drew a card, the Magic Card lit up before Tragoedia.
"At this moment, the effect of 'Mirage of Nightmare,' I draw four cards from my deck." Tragoedia stated.
Youyu spoke, "Then enter the Main Phase, I activate Magic Card 'Legacy of a Hero,' draw three cards from the deck when two or more Level 4 or higher Elemental Heroes exist in my graveyard.
Next, I summon 'Vision Hero Vyon'!"
[Vision Hero Vyon, Attack Power 1000]
"Vyon's effect allows me to send a 'Hero' monster from my deck to the graveyard upon summon." Drawing the card ejected from his deck, Youyu announced, "I send 'Elemental Hero Shadow Mist' to the graveyard.
And at this moment, 'Elemental Hero Shadow Mist's effect activates. When entering the graveyard, she adds a 'Hero' card from the deck to my hand.
I add 'Elemental Hero Liquidman' to my hand."
Observing Youyu's repeated searching, shuffling, searching, and shuffling again, Tragoedia grumbled gruffly, "As expected of someone with the Duel King title, the deck operates swiftly."
"Continuing with Vision Hero Vyon's secondary effect." Youyu continued, "Once per turn, Banishing a 'Hero' monster in my graveyard, I add a 'Fusion' card from the deck to my hand.
I banish 'Vision Hero Faris' from the graveyard, adding the Magic Card 'Fusion' to my hand."
"Are you planning to use Heroes' specialty 'Fusion' to launch an assault?" Tragoedia remarked lightly.
"It's slightly different." Youyu smiled, revealing a hand card, "I plan to activate this—
——Magic Card 'Vision Fusion'!"
Tragoedia exclaimed in surprise, "You're actually using Vision Hero's exclusive Fusion?"
"Vision Fusion allows me to use monsters from my hand and field as Fusion Material for a Fusion Summon." Youyu declared, "Additionally, Vision Heroes in my Trap Zone can be used as Fusion Material!
Utilizing this effect, I fuse 'Vision Hero Vyon' on the field and 'Vision Hero Minimum Ray' in the Trap Zone!
The fusion condition is two 'Hero' monsters, Fusion Summon—
——Vision Hero Adoration!!!