The Divine Air Hummingbird is one of the only three Air Hummingbirds that have been turned into physical cards, and it is also the one that received the most significant enhancement during the physical card phase.
In the original manga, the Divine Air Hummingbird required three sacrifices to be summoned, and unlike the special summon of the Phantom Demon Emperor Rabil, it required three sacrifices for a normal summon. Its summoning conditions were as troublesome as those of the Phantom God.
However, after being made into a physical card, the summoning conditions were greatly simplified. This card does not require three sacrifices for a normal summon and cannot be normal summoned, but can only be brought out by banishing two monsters from the field and one from the graveyard.
This makes it much easier to meet the summoning conditions, though it's more resource-consuming since the summoning condition involves banishing instead of sacrifices.
The original manga's effect was also that the Divine Air Hummingbird could absorb an opponent's monster upon summoning and gain its attack power and defense power.
In its physical card form, it not only can absorb once when summoned but has been changed to "once per turn." In other words, its effect can be reused every turn instead of just once.
From both the summoning condition and practical effect perspectives, it is a considerable enhancement, providing a much better user experience compared to the original version.
At this moment, Hyoumaru of the Light Association was fortunate to become the first lucky duelist to personally experience this enhanced Divine Air Hummingbird.
However, after taking hits from two Air Hummingbird's double Minotaurs, Hyoumaru, having questioned his life, began to somewhat envy Raimaru, who fell before him.
Envying him for falling fast, so he wouldn't have to endure such humiliation like this...
"Why did the Light Association target me?"
Yugen had already arrived in front of Hyoumaru. Hyoumaru lifted his head with some difficulty, only to see the daunting and sinister figure standing tall above him in that dim pipeline, silhouetted under the tunnel's ceiling lights.
"Cough, cough..."
He coughed twice, looking gloomily at Yugen.
"Revolver, your good days... cough, cough... are coming to an end."
"Huh?" Yugen raised an eyebrow.
This sounded completely unconvincing coming from someone barely clinging to life. Rather than a threat, it seemed more like hollow bravado... like a mouth refusing to admit defeat even when facing cremation.
But he didn't continue, only forcing out two dry laughs.
"Get ready, Revolver," Hyoumaru said, "your fate's path has entwined with the Association."
"And for those who obstruct the Association's destiny, there's only one outcome: destruction..."
"The Light Association?" Yugen said.
"Haha, exactly... The destiny of Light is like... cough, cough... like an unstoppable chariot, crushing all that stands in its way."
He said with difficulty.
"You may have defeated me, but don't get too cocky just yet. We've been baptized by the Association; our so-called demise is nothing but becoming light.
And you... cough, cough..."
He squinted his eyes, looking at Yugen.
"You all are... the Darkness that must be defeated. Ultimately, Light will... triumph..."
Saying this, he rolled his eyes and collapsed to the ground.
In that moment, Yugen seemed to see a wave of light releasing from his body, turning into light particles and vanishing down the long underground corridor.
Yugen could discern that he fell not because of the Dark Game, but because of just now, that light. That piece of fragmented light bestowed extraordinary abilities to these Light Association generals while also serving as a form of surveillance and control.
Once defeated, the fragment of light would evaporate and dissipate. Members would revert to ordinary humans, no longer blessed by the baptism of light, and also losing crucial memories.
"An interesting insurance measure... but talk of light and darkness is a bit exaggerated."
Yugen displayed a displeased expression.
"Why do they make it sound as if they're warriors of light, and I'm the Demon King of darkness?"
Today, the Silent Magician, dressed in JK attire, stood silently beside him, wordlessly watching him.
Yugen squinted: "Are you saying that's my true nature?"
The Silent Magician shrugged, feigning innocence, indicating he hadn't said anything.
But immediately, a sly smile appeared on that icy face of his.
Yugen: "..."
Fine, if it's the Great Demon King, then it's the Great Demon King. After all, that's the persona he's had for a long time.
Moreover, in Yu-Gi-Oh!'s worldview, darkness doesn't inherently signify evil.
Here, some settings are exactly opposite compared to tradition.
The setting describes a long-standing war between the power of light and dark forces in the cosmos, though most works traditionally perceive light to symbolize justice and darkness as evil, whereas here, it's quite the opposite.
Supposedly, 'light' refers to the Light of Destruction, aiming to devour everything in the cosmos, turning the originally dark universe into a pure white void of nothingness.
While 'dark' represents everything in the existing universe, the wave of darkness has birthed the power to resist the Light of Destruction. That darkness represents the side of justice and order, symbolizing everything's resistance against the nefarious Light of Destruction.
And just like Pharaoh Atom, although referred to as the "King of Darkness," in the story, he is also on the side of justice.
Of course, the Great Evil God Zok, being darkness incarnate, stands on the opposing faction. Good and evil cannot merely be distinguished by light and darkness, often it comes down to individuals.
Having dealt with Hyoumaru and Raimaru, Yugen smoothly picked up the new card deck—naturally, including the two cards of Thunder Emperor and Frost Monarch.
Just by holding them, Yugen could sense an energy bound with elves gradually dissipating amongst them.
It seems that light's fluctuation did not just affect the duelists; the two emperor cards, as elves, were likewise corroded by the light's fluctuations. This power made them stronger, yet also influenced their wisdom, binding their freedom.
But now, with the light dissipating, both emperors have been liberated.
Engaging newcomers naturally fell under Gaius's responsibility. The Evil Emperor swiftly took the lead to welcome the duo into the organization, educating them on the organization's benefits.
Essentially, ever since following Mr. Yugen, he's been invincible, crushing all obstacles, never tasting defeat. Indicating that the greatest fortune for an elf comes in encountering a wise master.
Though initially, he was captured by mistake, now in retrospect, being captured back then turned out to be life's greatest opportunity...
Amidst his grandiose speech, noticing the two newcomers being moved, an artificial human unexpectedly chimed in, saying.
"Indeed, you've never tasted defeat, but truthfully, you haven't participated in many battles, generally cheering from the sidelines most times."
The words had Gaius bristling immediately: "You artificial bald eagle want to fight!?"
Soga retorted without backing down: "Bring it on."
At 2400 panel strength each, who fears whom here?
The newly joined two emperors merely looked at each other.
Certainly a harmonious and friendly team atmosphere indeed.
But really, though...
Are they truly aboard the right ship this time?