"It's my turn!" Youyu said seriously, "I can already feel your full strength, Jonouchi. So as a sign of respect, let me go all out in response."
"That's how it should be." Jonouchi wiped his nose, "Don't hold back, bring it on, Youyu!"
"First, I use the Magic Card 'Pot of Greed', to draw two cards from the Deck.
Then, since there are two or more Set Cards on your field, I Special Summon this card from my hand!" Youyu placed the Monster Card on the Duel Disc, "Special Summon 'Escher the Frost Vassal'!"
[Escher the Frost Vassal, Defense 1000]
"Next, I use 'Escher the Frost Vassal' as a tribute for a Tribute Summon!" Youyu swiftly replaced the stepping stone Monster Card, "The shadowy emperor of the underworld—
—Caius the Shadow Monarch, summon!!!"
Escher the Frost Vassal vanished in a storm of ice and snow, and the milky white whirlwind gradually turned deep black. The pitch-black monarch stepped out from what seemed like an abyss, devil-like horns atop his head, eyes glowing red, his steps seemed to stain the surrounding ground in ink-like darkness.
[Caius the Shadow Monarch, Attack 2400]
"Caius's effect!" Youyu declared, "When successfully Tribute Summoned, I can banish one card on the field from the game! I banish the 'Red-Eyes Black Dragon' from the game!"
Caius waved a large hand. The pitch-black, profound energy formed a vortex in his palm, a powerful fluctuation warped the space, locking onto the Black Dragon from afar.
The enhanced Red-Eyes Black Dragon, even with power superior to the 'Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon', had no resistance against Caius's strange dimensional ability, letting out a mournful cry before being trapped in the torn space and vanished.
"Ahhh!" Jonouchi was frustrated, "My Red-Eyes was just..."
"And," Youyu added, "When a banished card is a Dark Attribute monster, the opponent takes an additional 1000 points of damage!"
The dimensional impact from Caius obliterated the Red-Eyes, then continued to pierce through Jonouchi.
[Jonouchi, LP 1200 → LP 200]
"Magic Card 'Frost Blast of the Monarchs'!" Youyu continued, "Activate only when there is a monster on my field with 2400 or more attack and 1000 defense, destroy a Set Card on the opponent's field!
I will destroy the leftmost Set Card!"
The Magic Card appeared, the breath of ice locked onto Jonouchi's leftmost Set Card, rapidly encasing it in ice and crushing it into dust.
The Set Card was shattered, yet Jonouchi excitedly snapped his fingers: "Ha! The Set Card you destroyed was this... Continuous Trap 'Return of the Red-Eyes'!
When this card is destroyed by the opponent's effect and sent to the Graveyard, I can revive a 'Red-Eyes' from my Graveyard!
The one I will revive is the most powerful Red-Eyes in my Graveyard—
—Red-Eyes Darkness Metal Dragon!!!"
The black dragon cloaked in magical metal soared, with intangible vibrations bursting amidst the hurricane with the spread of its wings!
[Red-Eyes Darkness Metal Dragon, Attack 2800]
"Then, I activate the effect of the 'Frost Blast of the Monarchs' that went to the Graveyard.
Youyu's Magic Card that was just sent to the Graveyard emerged again.
"I banish 'Frost Blast of the Monarchs' and other 'Monarch' Magic Trap Cards from the Graveyard, and destroy a Set Card on the field.
Destroy your second Set Card!"
Youyu retrieved the Magic Trap Card sent to the Graveyard by 'Card Destruction' earlier, along with 'Frost Blast of the Monarchs', the frosty chill instantly locked onto the second Set Card.
No choice, Jonouchi immediately activated the Set Card about to be destroyed: "Then I activate the Trap 'Red-Eyes Spirit'! I can Special Summon a 'Red-Eyes' from the Graveyard!
I revive 'Red-Eyes Alternative Black Dragon'!"
The Black Dragon variant that had just exited the stage last round flew out again from the Graveyard, its scorching breath turning into a blazing storm visible to the naked eye!
[Red-Eyes Alternative Black Dragon, Defense 2000]
"Hey, nicely done, Jonouchi," Yugi praised, "Summoning so many powerful Red-Eyes during the opponent's turn."
"Heh, not bad, right?" Jonouchi chuckled, "And you surely haven't forgotten the effect of this guy, have you, Youyu?"
"Yes, I remember." Youyu nodded, "'Red-Eyes Alternative Black Dragon' allows you to Special Summon other Red-Eyes monsters from the Graveyard, regardless of being destroyed by battle or effect."
"Exactly." Jonouchi was proud, "Even though it might not compare to you, Youyu, my 'Red-Eyes' lineup isn't so easy to break!"
"I know." Youyu proceeded with his move, "Then I activate the effect of the Quick-Play Magic 'Strike of the Monarchs' sent to the Graveyard by 'Ehther the Heavenly Monarch' in the previous round, excluding it from the game, for the rest of this turn, all monsters on the field turn into the attribute I declare."
Jonouchi: "?"
Turn into a declared attribute? What's the point of that?
Youyu had already drawn the card that popped out of the Graveyard, saying, "For this effect, all monsters on the field this turn become 'Wind' Attribute!
Then, I activate the Quick-Play Magic 'Thunderspeed Summon'! I can summon once more in addition to the Normal Summon!" (Anime card)
Youyu waved his hand.
"I banish 'Caius the Shadow Monarch' who became a Wind Attribute from the field, for an Advanced Summon!
From the howling gale descends the advanced monarch—
—Raiza the Mega Monarch, summon!!!"
It was like an overwhelmingly turbulent storm! The green whirlwind was like an inverted funnel suspended between heaven and earth, the deep green monarch tore through the veil of the wind, its massive dark green armor running with a low hum, sounding like someone was murmuring.
[Raiza the Mega Monarch, Attack 2800]
Jonouchi almost couldn't lift his head under the storm: "Raiza the Storm Monarch... such power!"
"Although Raiza the Mega Monarch is an Lv 8 monster, it can be summoned with just one Tribute Summoned monster as a tribute.
And when he successfully Tribute Summons, he can choose one card from each player's field and graveyard to return to the top of the owner's card deck in the order I prefer.
Moreover, when using a Wind Attribute monster as a tribute... he can additionally choose one card on the field to return to the owner's hand!"
Jonouchi's pupils shrank: "What? So that's why you specifically used 'Strike of the Monarchs' to turn all monsters into Wind Attributes..."
"And 'Red-Eyes Alternative Black Dragon', whether destroyed by battle or effect, can Special Summon another Red-Eyes from the graveyard to the field." Yugi explained further, "But if it's returned to the card deck or hand..."
"Ah!" Jonouchi exclaimed, "So Youyu, you... had already considered such a far-reaching countermeasure at that time?"
Yugi continued: "Not only that. Returning two cards on the field to the top of the owner's card deck also means that the next two cards Jonouchi draws are already fixed.
This ability is tantamount to depriving the Duelist of subsequent possibilities, minimizing the chance of the opponent drawing a reversal card..."
He paused for a moment, involuntarily glancing at the Emperor in the center of the storm.
"'Raiza the Mega Monarch', truly a terrifying monarch..."
"I'll return your 'Red-Eyes Darkness Metal Dragon' on the field and 'Gearfried the Red-Eyes Iron Knight' in the graveyard to the card deck." Youyu announced, "And on top of that, I'll additionally return your 'Red-Eyes Alternative Black Dragon' on the field to your hand!"
The power of the Mega Monarch was pushed to the limit, green gales almost engulfing Jonouchi's field! The cries of the dragons were powerless; their mighty forces seemed so insignificant in the face of such natural grandeur.
The powerful Red-Eyes Darkness Metal Dragon and Alternative Black Dragon retreated in an instant, returning respectively to Jonouchi's card deck and hand.
As a result, there was only a solitary "Red-Eyes Archfiend of Lightning" left on his field.
Raiza the Mega Monarch's attack power was 2800, while Red-Eyes Archfiend's attack power was 2500. Jonouchi's Life Points were down to 200; a direct attack would mean Jonouchi's defeat.
... if the battle goes through.
But Jonouchi, had one last Set Card at his feet.
He glanced at his Set Card, then looked at Youyu, rubbing his nose with a smile.
"What do you say, Youyu, you want to attack?"
"Of course." Youyu shrugged, paused, "But before that..."
He drew yet another card.
"...Magic Card 'Advance Carnival'! In a turn when a Tribute Summon has been made, an additional Tribute Summon can be conducted!" (Anime card)
Jonouchi's eyelid twitched.
Going for another Tribute Summon in this situation!?
"I'll sacrifice 'Raiza the Mega Monarch' for yet another Tribute Summon!
The Emperor of Thunderous Destruction—
—Zaborg the Thunder Monarch, Summon again!!!"
A white thunderous giant descends again in the domain of current, bringing the judgement of thunder and lightning!
[Zaborg the Thunder Monarch, attack power 2400]
"A second Thunder Monarch?" Jonouchi exclaimed.
"The effect of 'Zaborg the Thunder Monarch'!" Youyu declared, "When Tribute Summoned, destroy one monster on the opponent's field! Destroy Jonouchi's final wall—'Red-Eyes Archfiend of Lightning'!"
The spear of thunder pierced through space, seeming to carry the verdict of this duel's outcome, relentlessly penetrating the body of Red-Eyes Archfiend!
The demon's bones were pierced, its body began to explode from the inside, being crushed bit by bit amid its screams.
That was Jonouchi's final barrier, the last Red-Eyes monster he could rely on.
Yet at this moment, he showed... a smile?
"Ha, I was betting you'd definitely not attack directly." Jonouchi said slyly.
Youyu: "?"
"My final Set Card is..."
Jonouchi waved his hand, flipping the trap.
"Trap Card 'Red-Eyes Burn'!" Jonouchi shouted, "'Red-Eyes' monster, when destroyed by battle or effect, both players take damage equal to the monster's original attack power!"
[Red-Eyes Archfiend of Lightning, attack power 2500]
[Youyu, LP 2000]
[Jonouchi, LP 200]
"A mutual destruction?" Youyu's eyes shifted slightly.
Jonouchi held his breath.
The body of Red-Eyes Archfiend exploded, releasing all its inherent power. Fiery explosions swept across the field, carrying a suffocating fiery gust.
[Jonouchi, LP 200 → LP 0]
He staggered back a couple of steps, stabilizing himself and looking at Youyu with a chuckle... then his smile gradually froze.
[Youyu, LP 2000 → LP 750]
"You... why..."
Jonouchi stared in a daze, finally noticing the trap disappearing in front of Youyu.
It was the trap discarded to the graveyard in the very first turn, the final layer of insurance.
Damage Diet, remove this card in the graveyard from the game, this turn, all effect damage taken is halved.