Sand Shield - Dust Power, activate!
The field was instantly filled with flying sand and stones, the yellow dust forming a shield like a hemispherical barrier blocking Yugen's side of the field. The strike of Radiant Angels triggered a counterattack of a thousandfold, as endless yellow sand swept over the entire field of this Pharaoh.
The angels and the Minister of Virtue in the Pharaoh's front field were instantly covered face-down, becoming two dark cover cards.
"Tch, no traps to activate, can't attack either... Damn, then I'll set a card and end my turn."
The Pharaoh took a deep breath, and his gaze towards the white-clothed man in front of him grew increasingly peculiar.
Why?
Throughout his life, the three-coffin strike strategy never faltered when connecting with the Pharaoh's soul. He never even considered that there might exist such an infuriating dueling strategy in the world—working tirelessly to break through numerous obstacles, only to barely open the first coffin at this point, a situation unheard of.
When did the Pharaoh ever suffer such humiliation?
But thankfully, no matter what, the coffin has now been successfully activated. Now, his duel is finally on track. Next up are the second and third coffins, then when the Pharaoh's soul, the embodiment of his spirit, descends, final victory shall be secured...
"Draw card." Yugen said, "I summon 'Artificial Human - Telekinesis Returner'."
[Artificial Human - Telekinesis Returner, Attack Power 600]
"Battle." Yugen said, "Use Telekinesis Returner to attack."
"You actually want to attack?" The Pharaoh was taken aback, "Are you crazy? Telekinesis Returner has only 600 attack power, while any monster I have on the field..."
"The effect of Telekinesis Returner allows it to attack directly."
"I see." The Pharaoh understood, "But a mere 600 points..."
"Speed Attack Magic 'Restriction Removal'," Yugen said, "During this turn, all Mechanical Race monsters on my field have their attack power doubled."
[Artificial Human - Telekinesis Returner, Attack Power 600→Attack Power 1200]
"Direct attack with doubled attack power!?"
The Pharaoh's expression finally changed slightly. Just then, the small artificial monster was enveloped in lightning, with its energy output doubled instantly, charging across the monster-covered front field and landing a punch directly on the gold-masked face of the Pharaoh.
[Pharaoh, LP 4000→LP 2800]
"Lord Pharaoh!" Soldiers below exclaimed.
"You scoundrel, how dare you..."
"Shut up, silence!"
The Pharaoh staggered back two steps but quickly straightened up, speaking coldly.
"You are indeed no ordinary duelist..."
"End of the turn phase, Mechanical Race monster that accepted the 'Restriction Removal' effect and had its attack power doubled must be destroyed." Yugen said, "Artificial Human - Telekinesis Returner, destroy."
The overflow of electric snakes grew, until the Telekinesis Returner seemed finally unable to bear the overload, abruptly exploding into fragments.
"But at this moment, the other effect of Telekinesis Returner also activates." Yugen said, "When this card is sent to the graveyard, 'Artificial Human - Telekinesis Intimidator' can be special summoned from the graveyard.
Return, Soga!"
Soga, who had been sulking in his spiritual form with Gaius in the back, now straightened up proudly, glaring at Gaius before transforming into a beam of golden light and landing on Yugen's field, reemerging from the vortex in the graveyard.
Gaius sneered: "What's there to be proud of? You'll soon retreat like a cannon fodder anyway..."
[Artificial Human - Telekinesis Intimidator, Attack Power 2400]
The Pharaoh: "!"
Damn, this monster...
He immediately realized the severity of the problem.
Artificial Human Soga, a card that seals traps across the field. With this thing back on the field, doesn't it mean the coffins in his backfield have become useless again!?
The Emperor just realized his previous mistake too. During the processing of Returner's effect and before Soga took the field, he had a moment to activate the first coffin's effect, to search for the second coffin from the deck, but he missed the opportunity due to being too enraged by the appearance of that damned artificial human...
However, in fact, looking at the result, it might not be a bad thing after all.
Although the second and third coffins are Continuous Magic that won't be suppressed by traps, only the first coffin has the effect of "activating new coffins from the deck." Moreover, the troublesome condition on the latter two coffins has "this card can only be brought to the field through the effect of the first coffin," so even if drawn to the hand, they cannot be activated voluntarily.
With Soga back on the field, the first coffin turns back to a blank card. Even if he activated the second coffin earlier, it would be futile, as it is impossible to collect the third one, instead clogging up his magic-trap zones.
"Damn, daring to mock me like this..."
The Pharaoh felt a sudden anger rise from within, yet seemed helpless.
"Set a card, turn end," Yugen said.
The onlookers, including Tania, found it hard to believe at this point.
This man they call Revolver, actually managed to suppress even the legendary Duel God...
No, it's not just suppression, it can almost be called playing at one's whim. This supposedly undefeated Pharaoh is completely being led by the nose, and looking at it now, there even seems to be a sign of losing control.
Can you believe that someone's breaking the spiritual confidence of the Duel God?
Tania looked at Yugen with a peculiar expression.
So if even the Duel God's spirit is being shattered, then what kind of god is this guy supposed to be?
The God of Chaos in Reporting?
"You will pay for such profanity," the Pharaoh declared, "My turn, draw!
Activate Magic Card 'Pot of Magic Book,' both sides draw three cards from their deck."
The Pharaoh drew three cards, and his eyes seemed to light up, as if he saw a new hope for a counterattack.
"I will offer the Minister of Virtue as tribute." The Pharaoh shouted fiercely, "Blasphemer, face the wrath of the Pharaoh! Appear now—
—Descent of the Pharaoh!!!"
In the sky, it seemed as if holy light descended, a king adorned in lavish golden regalia slowly descended, truly like a divinely chosen Pharaoh bringing endless majesty to pass judgment.
[Descent of the Pharaoh, Attack Power 2000]
"A single tribute to directly summon an Eight-Star Monster?" Tania exclaimed.
"Descent of the Pharaoh can be special summoned from the hand by offering a monster on the field as a tribute," the Pharaoh said, "Furthermore, this card's attack power increases by 300 points for each Continuous Trap on both sides of the field and graveyard."
Yugen nodded in understanding: "Currently, there are no Continuous Traps on both sides of the field and graveyard. However, there are two opened Continuous Traps that can be judged, Heart Calming Pot and the already activated 'First Coffin'."
"That's correct." The Pharaoh said, "Thus, the attack power of the Descent of the Pharaoh increases by 600!"
[Descent of the Pharaoh, Attack Power 2000→Attack Power 2600]
Tania was touched: "It surpassed Soga's attack power."
"Then activate Magic Card 'Detention'!" The Pharaoh said, "By paying 1000 Life Points, I can view the opponent's hand and select one card to discard."
[Pharaoh, LP 2800→LP 1800]
Yugen's hand was displayed before him. The Pharaoh squinted his eyes, and his gaze quickly fell on the card 'Revive the Dead.'
"You actually have Revive the Dead. This way, even if I defeat that artificial human, in the next turn, you can easily revive it with this card... How dangerous.
Now discard this card for me!"
With that, he pointed at the card, and the image of the Revive the Dead card exploded into golden light and shattered.
"Battle." The Pharaoh declared, "Descent of the Pharaoh, attack 'Artificial Human - Telekinesis Intimidator', crush the monster that dares to repeatedly desecrate the domain of the gods!"
The noble Pharaoh slowly rose, his right palm extended in an open gesture delivering a judgment from on high. Soga crossed his arms trying to withstand, but ultimately overpowered, getting crushed under the Pharaoh's might.
[Yugen, LP 4000→LP 3800]
A second later, Soga, once again in spirit form, returned with a dark expression to stand beside his close friend Gaius.
Gaius looked at him with a sidelong sneer.
"Shut up," Soga mumbled.
"I didn't say anything," Gaius smiled.
"Shut up anyway."