Yugen composed himself, ready to continue, when he suddenly sensed something. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed that President Kaiba and his brother Keihei, who had been busy with computers in the room, had come down without him noticing and were quietly watching the battle from the sidelines.
They seemed unexpectedly calm about him encountering an enemy.
Yugen had a faint inkling of what was going on.
"My turn, draw card," Yugen said, "Activate the Magic Card 'Stupid Burial,' send a Monster Card from the Deck to the Graveyard."
"A card for precise graveyard stacking, searching any monster from the deck, if something troublesome is sent down, it would be bad."
The masked man said in a deep voice.
"Then activate the Cover Card, Trap Card - Battlefront Return! Revive a monster from the Graveyard in Defense Position!"
Yugen: "The monster from those two cards discarded last turn with 'Angel's Charity,' huh?"
"That's right, I'm reviving this one..."
The masked man drew a card from the Graveyard and placed it horizontally on the Duel Disc.
"Magic Canceller!"
A metallic mechanical device appeared on the field, taking a defensive stance in the masked man's front field.
[Magic Canceller, Defense Power 1600]
"This thing, huh..."
Yugen was used to using this thing to mess with others, and now that it turned back on him, it felt a bit unfamiliar.
"While Magic Canceller is on the field, no Magic Cards can be activated, and all Magic Effects are negated," the masked man said coldly, "therefore, 'Stupid Burial' is negated, and you cannot send a monster from the Deck to the Graveyard."
The Magic Canceller exhibited its absolute magic sealing ability; all magic power became invalid under its canceling device. The dim Magic Card quickly shattered and disappeared from the field.
With the magic negated, Yugen paused in his operations, glancing at the composed Kaiba brothers nearby, then back at the person in front.
"Let me guess..."
Yugen said.
"Ameluda... isn't it?"
The masked man's eyelid twitched, obviously surprised.
But just a second later, he chuckled and removed the disguise he was wearing.
Indeed, it was one of the former Three Musketeers of Doma, Ameluda, the archenemy of Seto Kaiba.
In the original series, this person first defeated Beckas, then disguised as Beckas to duel Kaiba, even convincingly using Beckas's cartoon deck, and after being discovered, switched to a flame deck.
Mixing someone else's cartoon series with his own deck, even ending in a tie with Kaiba when both Life Points hit zero, showing this person's strength.
Of course, in the rematch, he still lost to Kaiba.
None of Doma's Three Musketeers were easy opponents.
But afterward, Ameluda learned that his childhood misfortunes were actually orchestrated by his boss Dazi, and his hatred for Seto Kaiba was largely instilled by Dazi, leading to reconciliation in the end.
Even when he harbored hatred for Kaiba, he held no hostility toward Keihei, even once viewing Keihei as his most cherished younger brother, handing him a toy robot left by his brother.
For someone like President Kaiba, who has few friends, and considering the card used earlier—animation-exclusive magic—and then the Magic Canceller used just now (a card Yugen loves to use, but originally Ameluda's card),
that's why Yugen guessed the person's origin.
"I was curious about what talented young man could earn the approval of that arrogant Seto Kaiba."
Ameluda's voice softened, sounding amiable after discarding the disguise and voice changer, smiling warmly.
"Interesting to see in person, you could even guess it was me? Quick-thinking, huh."
Beside him, Kaiba said coldly, "I never said any such thing as acknowledgment."
Ameluda laughed it off, suggesting that some things needn't be explicitly stated.
"So, you're the leader of those Duelists?" Yugen asked.
"Certainly," Ameluda said with a smile, "Who else but me?"
So the White Dragon Maid Corps was your idea too...
Indeed, a fondness for playful mischief.
"So, this isn't a Dark Duel, is it?"
"Of course not. I was interested in your activities from the beginning, and after learning more about your duel records, became even more intrigued."
Ameluda glanced at the Magic Canceller on the field and said,
"You seem to have quite a connection with it, don't you?
So before you came, I was contemplating finding a chance to test with you. The guise earlier was just to create tension for better performance."
Yugen: "..."
So, after all that, it's an ally.
Gee, that's boring.
He was even thinking that the card this person used last turn was pretty good.
If it's an ally, I can't take it, darn it...
At this moment, Keihei spoke: "Many of the cards Ameluda uses were made with Doma's technology back then, even we didn't see them then.
But now their organization has a research team, and they've successfully replicated most Doma-produced cards, right? You wouldn't mind if the Kaiba Group acquired a batch, would you?"
"Haha, of course, there's no problem with that," Ameluda responded cheerfully.
Yugen found the point of interest.
Not only does Keihei understand him, but he's also adept at capturing key points.
Immediately, he felt invigorated.
"The duel continues, it's still my turn."
"Hmm? Oh... of course," Ameluda said.
Was it an illusion, he wondered, how did this kid suddenly seem a bit deflated, yet now suddenly brimming with fighting spirit...
"Battle! Messenger of the Netherworld - Gess, attack 'Disaster Demon'!"
Gess leaped forward, the blade cutting through, slicing the demon's massive body, which exploded and shattered.
[Ameluda, LP 4000→LP 3300]
"Then 'Messenger of the Netherworld - Kaiin Derivative' attack 'Magic Canceller'!"
[Magic Canceller, Defense Power 1600]
Kaiin Derivative struck as well, the long blade cut, the mechanical device leaving a long gash, exploding with a boom into a fireball.
"With that, the magic restriction is lifted," Yugen stated, "Entering Main Phase 2.
Activate Magic Card 'Angel's Charity.' Draw three cards from the deck, then discard two cards from the hand."
Yugen drew three cards, quickly scanning them, then swiftly selected two to discard to the Graveyard.
"The effect of 'Artificial Human - Telekinesis Returner' discarded into the graveyard.
When this card is sent to the graveyard, Special Summon 'Artificial Human - Telekinesis Intimidator' from the graveyard!
Revive from the grave, the bane of traps, the king of telekinesis—
——Artificial Human - Telekinesis Intimidator, summon!"
[Artificial Human - Telekinesis Intimidator, Attack Power 2400]
The Soga Elf appeared on the field, arms crossed, exuding an aura of dominance. He sensed he had met an extraordinary opponent this time, determined to showcase himself well.
The effect of the physical card Telekinesis Returner summons Soga, which self-destructs at the end of the turn, but the original version doesn't have this limitation.
"Next, I haven't Normal Summoned this turn," Yugen declared, "So I will sacrifice 'Messenger of the Netherworld - Gess' and Kaiin Derivative for an Upper-level Summon!
The radiant Artificial Angel, descend—
——Angel O7, summon!"
From the International Fantasy Association, Pegasus Moonwalker's ace once encountered by Yugen, Angel O7!
[Angel O7, Attack Power 2500]
"Finally, the Magic Card 'Revive the Dead,' revive a monster from your or your opponent's graveyard."
Yugen raised his arm, a giant symbol of revival appearing above him.
"I will revive the card from your graveyard—
——Magic Canceller!"
[Magic Canceller, Attack Power 1800]
Ameluda's pupils contracted, quickly realizing something, his expression changed: "These three monsters, this formation..."
"You seem to have figured it out," Yugen smiled lightly.
In the original effect of Angel O7, while this card is on the field, all opponent's monster effects cannot be activated.
While Magic Canceller is on the field, neither player can activate Magic Cards, and all Magic Effects are nullified.
When Artificial Human - Telekinesis Intimidator is on the field, neither player can activate Trap Cards, and all Trap Effects are nullified.
Complete Lockdown Formation!