Looking at the sinister black mask that appeared on the field of the Nameless Pharaoh, Youyu couldn't help but frown.
Indeed, to summon an Egyptian God requires three sacrifices for a normal summon. If using a magic effect for a special summon, it must be sent to the graveyard at the end of the turn.
If the sacrificial act is sealed, summoning a god does face significant interference.
However...
"Draw card!" Youyu drew the card from the top of his deck.
If this level renders him helpless, then he has wasted accumulating such a high level.
"Magic Card - Graceful Charity, draw three cards from the deck, then discard two cards from the hand."
He drew three cards, quickly glanced at them, and chose two cards to discard to the graveyard.
"Activate Magic Card - Fusion Deployment from the hand," Youyu said. "Show your opponent a Fusion Monster Card, and the fusion material monsters listed on that card can be special summoned from the hand or deck."
He revealed a Fusion Monster card.
"The card I'm showing is 'Elemental Hero Wildedge.' According to 'Fusion Deployment's effect, I special summon the fusion material 'Elemental Hero Edgeman' from the deck!"
The magic card took effect, a beam of golden light flew from the deck and transformed into a metallic hero shimmering entirely in golden light, landing lightly with fire flames propelling from behind.
[Elemental Hero Edgeman, Attack Points 2600]
"Next, banish the Light Attribute 'Elemental Hero Sparkman' and Dark Attribute 'Elemental Hero Shadow Mist' from play!"
Youyu raised his arm, hitting another card onto the Duel Disc.
"Open the heavens and the earth! Sacrifice the souls of light and darkness in the chaos field, the legendary strongest warrior—
—Black Luster Soldier - Envoy of the Beginning!!!"
The golden light scattered, sword qi soared, blue armor covered the swordsman from head to toe. The powerful warrior's eyes reflected a cold sharp blade, descending with authority unmatched by the divine.
[Black Luster Soldier - Envoy of the Beginning, Attack Points 3000]
"Oh, the legendary warrior is summoned here with a single breath!" Honda shouted. "Such momentum!"
"Black Luster Soldier has the powerful effect of banishing opponent monsters on the field, and can make an additional attack after destroying a monster in battle," Yugi stated solemnly. "But his level is only eight, this monster's effect is useless against gods. None of his effects can break through."
"Eh, really?" Honda was confused.
"Magic Card - Miracle Fusion!" Youyu held up the magic card. "Banish the monsters in the graveyard used as fusion materials, and Fusion Summon Elemental Hero monsters.
I banish 'Masked Hero Dark Claw' and 'Masked Hero: Mist Water' from the graveyard!
From light to darkness, and back from darkness to light, tear open the heavens with power awakened—
—Contrast Hero Chaos!"
The images of the two Masked Heroes appeared simultaneously, turning into black and white twisters that charged the sky and fused together. The fierce wind roared, shaping a new hero in the tempest.
Black and white armor, decorated like fangs, with two-tone bandanas flying behind the neck, blue lights flashing in his goggles.
Contrast Hero Chaos, summon!
[Contrast Hero Chaos, Attack Points 3000]
"Though Chaos is a Contrast Hero, he is treated as an 'Elemental Hero' in the rules, thus can be summoned with Miracle Fusion's effect."
Youyu explained while making a grand gesture.
"Next, activate Contrast Hero Chaos's effect!" he shouted. "Once per turn, negate the effects of face-up cards on the field.
I negate the effect of the Continuous Trap 'Mask of Restrict'!"
Chaos's eyes flashed blue, lightly tapping the equipment on his waist with his left hand. Electric currents sprang from his belt, visible as two-color energy transferred to his hand, exploding in a storm of colors, striking the sinister mask afar which then slumped under a crackling wave of electricity.
"With this, the restriction on sacrifices disappears." Youyu announced with a grand sweep of his hand. "I sacrifice Elemental Hero Edgeman, Black Luster Soldier - Envoy of the Beginning, and Contrast Hero Chaos!"
The finest sacrifices were warriors of such standing that they counted among the top in the entire Duel Monster Spirit Realm, each transforming into golden light ascending to the sky. Flames churned high, forming a colossal sphere of light resembling a blazing sun summoned to this field.
"In the blink of an eye, the flames of heaven transform into everlasting light that shines upon the land!"
Youyu held up his hand to greet the radiant light.
"Descend! The Winged Dragon of Ra!"
The golden sphere began to change shape, disintegrating as the power hidden within the sun erupted forth, the brilliant golden light illuminating the whole grand hall.
The shell of the sphere unfolded into golden wings, smooth and impeccable curves. The noble divine bird raised its head, its eyes shining with divine light, the golden brilliance covering the sky.
"The Winged Dragon of Ra's attack points are the combined value of the three sacrificed monsters."
[The Winged Dragon of Ra, Attack Points 8600]
"Attack Points eight thousand six hundred!"
Jonouchi and Honda, the good brothers, already embraced each other in joy, their expressions prepared for the revelation.
The Attack Points more than double those of the Tormentor, more than enough for a swift defeat!
But Youyu did not launch an attack immediately, instead raising another card in his hand: "Magic Card - Monster Reborn! Choose a monster from the graveyard to revive!"
The monster I want to resurrect is—
—Slifer the Sky Dragon!"
Thunder roared, lightning flickered, and the crimson dragon twisted its body, soaring out with a high-pitched dragon's roar that seemed to want to break through the temple's dome!
[Slifer the Sky Dragon, Attack Power 2000]
Although Youyu had considered using Monster Reborn to take an Egyptian God from the opponent's graveyard, he decided against it. He knew himself well; his ability to control his three Egyptian God Cards was part due to the bonds built over time and the system's help. Forcibly taking the opponent's God, the deity might not listen to him.
"Next, I activate the Magic Card - Spider Silk from my hand, adding a card sent to the opponent's graveyard last turn to my hand." (Anime Card)
Milky spider silk flew straight into the Pharaoh's golden Alchemy Dueling Disc, returning with... a heavy stone tablet.
Fortunately, Youyu showcased his skill of "Stone Tablet Transformation," and upon touching it, the stone tablet transformed into a card.
"The card I added to my hand is the Magic Card 'Gift from the Heavens'. Then, 'Gift from the Heavens' is activated from my hand, both players draw cards from their decks until they have six cards in their hand!"
With the hand replenished, the Sky Dragon's power soared!
[Slifer the Sky Dragon, Attack Power 1000 → Attack Power 6000]
"So strong..." Jonouchi was dumbfounded, "Has Youyu already become this strong? In such a situation, he can summon Egyptian Gods with 8400 and 6000 attack power in one go..."
Either Egyptian God's attack could instantly secure victory!
"Battle!" Not hesitating any longer, Youyu directly issued an attack command, "The Winged Dragon of Ra, attack Obelisk the Tormentor! Divine Power Flame Cannon!"
The golden divine bird opened its mouth, energy gathering behind it, forming a light ball... no, a burning sun!
The space twisted under the high temperatures, golden streams of light gathered in the Winged Dragon's mouth, ready to be unleashed at any moment!
But the Nameless Pharaoh... seemed to be waiting for this moment!
"Stone Tablet Flip!" His voice was cold and powerful, "Quick-play Magic - Dark Magic Resurrection!"
Dark Magic Resurrection, Quick-play Magic, at the moment the opponent declares an attack, choose a Magic Card in the opponent's graveyard; this effect can be activated as that card's effect. (Anime Effect)
And the card the Pharaoh chose from Youyu's graveyard was quickly confirmed.
That card was the recently sent Monster Reborn!
A huge Rebirth symbol appeared behind the Nameless Pharaoh, the symbol representing life quickly ignited, burning amidst the celestial fire.
The monster he wants to resurrect is—
—The Winged Dragon of Ra!
The Rune of Life disappeared, replaced by wings made of flames. The immortal firebird soared into the sky, bringing sharp cries, and the fiery storm's heat waves dominated the field!
[The Winged Dragon of Ra (Pharaoh), Attack Power 0]
"Summoning the Winged Dragon at this critical moment!?" Jonouchi was stunned, quickly realizing, "Could it be that he wants to use the Undying Phoenix's ability to pay 1000 Life Points and destroy Youyu's two Egyptian Gods here..."
But the Pharaoh did not do so; instead, he waved his hand vigorously: "Flip Stone Tablet - Super Team Buddy Force Unite! According to the existing types of servants on your field, summon servants of the same type!"
Super Team Buddy Force Unite!, Trap Card, choose one monster on your field, special summon monsters of the same type but with a different name from your hand, deck, or graveyard, matching the chosen monster's type.
"Monsters of the same type?" Honda questioned.
Yugi widened his eyes: "Now the monsters on the Pharaoh's field... are only Divine Beast-Type!"
In other words, the monster the Pharaoh wants to summon can only be Divine Beast-Type!
"Return from the Netherworld!" The Pharaoh's Millennium Pendant shone with golden light, the cape behind him billowed, "Slifer the Sky Dragon!"
Lightning descended from beyond the sky, piercing through reality and the Netherworld, the red divine dragon soared upward, letting out a dragon's cry from high in the sky!
[Slifer the Sky Dragon (Pharaoh), Attack Power 6000]
Five Egyptian Gods, the red, gold, and blue lights clashed and mingled on the field, the storm resulting from the collision prevented the people below from standing up straight.
"You've got to be joking!?" Honda couldn't open his eyes, but still yelled at the top of his lungs amidst the storm, "Gathered the Three Egyptian Gods in the opponent's turn?"
Youyu squinted his eyes, waving his hand: "But at this instant, my Sky Dragon's effect also activates. Thunder Ball!"
Two lightning balls formed of thunder shot from Youyu's Sky Dragon's mouth, splitting into two beams flying towards the Pharaoh's just summoned Sky Dragon and Winged Dragon.
The Pharaoh's Sky Dragon took the Thunder Ball head-on, letting out a stuffy groan and losing equivalent to 2000 points of attack power in divine force. But the Winged Dragon in the Immortal Phoenix state, though its attack power was 0, easily defended the thunder ball with just a flap of its wings.
In the Immortal Phoenix state, the Winged Dragon is unaffected by any card effects.
[Slifer the Sky Dragon (Pharaoh), Attack Power 6000 → Attack Power 4000]
Regarding attack power, Youyu's two Egyptian Gods still held the upper hand, but everyone knew the ancient king's goal wasn't just about this.
Even if he swept Youyu's field with the Immortal Phoenix's effect, he couldn't directly achieve victory. Youyu could still operate this turn, and by the end phase, the two gods Special Summoned by the Pharaoh would return to the grave.
So here he targeted a different objective!
"Obelisk the Tormentor, ultimate ability! Soul Energy MAX!" the Nameless Pharaoh commanded sharply, "Slifer the Sky Dragon, The Winged Dragon of Ra as tributes, limitlessly increase Obelisk's power and forcibly battle with the opponent!"
Sky Dragon and Winged Dragon landed one on each of the Tormentor's arms, red and gold lights twisted around the Tormentor's body, and swelling divine power surged and churned within the Destroyer!
[Obelisk the Tormentor (Pharaoh), Attack Power 4000 → Attack Power ∞]