Turn 2
"My turn. Draw." Youmi drew until she had six cards in hand, then activated a powerful single card she had added to her Deck earlier that day. "I activate the Normal Spell [Graceful Charity] from my hand. Any response?"
Pandora gave no reaction, not flipping any of his Set cards. Youmi assumed that even if he had a counter Spell or Trap, he was saving it for something bigger later.
"I draw three cards from my Deck." Youmi deftly drew three from the top of her Deck, glanced at them, then casually discarded two. "Then, I send two cards from my hand to the Graveyard~"
"[Malice Doll of Demise]. For your strategy that relies on [Ectoplasmer], it's indeed a good Zombie Monster—but if we're talking about reviving the dead, a proper ritual feels far more fitting. I activate the Normal Spell [Monster Reborn], and revive [Lovely Labrynth of the Silver Castle] from my Graveyard!"
Youmi pointed her left hand toward Pandora as [Lovely Labrynth of the Silver Castle] emerged from the Graveyard, one of the cards she had discarded with [Graceful Charity]. "I activate [Lovely Labrynth of the Silver Castle]'s effect to Set a Normal Trap Card from my Graveyard. I Set [Crush Card Virus]~"
Youmi's friendly smile began to fade, her eyes glinting sharply as she Normal Summoned a Monster. "That Set card can only be activated if I control a Fiend Monster, but that's no problem~ I Normal Summon [Arianna the Labrynth Servant]! When this card is Normal or Special Summoned, I can add one other 'Labrynth' card from my Deck to my hand. I add [Labrynth Labyrinth]. Battle Phase! [Arianna the Labrynth Servant], attack—Demon Assault!"
After a moment of reflection, Youmi figured she might as well give her Monsters proper attack calls, like anime characters did. The overly dramatic name felt strangely satisfying.
"I won't let your attack through! I activate my face-down [Draining Shield]! I negate [Arianna the Labrynth Servant]'s attack and gain Life Points equal to its Attack!" As [Arianna] lunged forward, a turquoise barrier unfolded around Pandora, nullifying the strike. The energy rebounded harmlessly, even leaving Pandora looking oddly refreshed—as though he'd just received a massage.
[Pandora, LP: 4000 → 5600]
"You used [Draining Shield] to block an attack weaker than [Arianna]... I see, that back row card of yours must be important.
"Fine, then I'll break through by force! [Lovely Labrynth of the Silver Castle], direct attack—Silver Radiance Strike!" At Youmi's command, [Lovely Labrynth of the Silver Castle], exhausted from last night's overtime but still dutiful, brought her twin axes down upon Pandora. Though this wasn't a Shadow Game and no pain was inflicted, the sheer sight of those massive blades descending was chilling.
[Pandora, LP: 5600 → 2700]
"Since I took 2900 damage, I activate my Set card, [Damage Condenser]! By discarding one card, I can Special Summon a Monster with 2900 or less Attack! Come forth—the strongest magician, [Dark Magician]!" Pandora pressed a button on his Duel Disk and raised his arm dramatically. A red-clad [Dark Magician] burst through the shattered [Damage Condenser], taking a stance beside Pandora as if a spotlight shone upon him.
Youmi at once analyzed Pandora's setup, soon understanding what he had planned. "Ah, that's right—this era doesn't have [Dark Magical Circle] yet. So that's why you used [Draining Shield] to protect your weaker [Arianna] target. I see... Well, what was I expecting? I guess my current Deck could stand to be even weaker, huh…"
"I activate [Labrynth Labyrinth]. Then..."
Youmi swept her left hand across her Duel Disk, revealing three newly Set cards alongside the previously Set [Crush Card Virus].
"I Set three cards and end my turn." Glancing between [Lovely Labrynth] and [Arianna], Youmi then pointed toward [Arianna]. "Due to [Ectoplasmer]'s effect, I Tribute [Arianna] and inflict half of her Attack—800 damage to you."
Pandora remained unfazed, allowing [Arianna]'s spirit to whack him on the head with her key ring. "A mere 800 damage? I can take it."
For someone who had only dealt 800 damage himself, he was remarkably smug.
[Pandora, LP: 2700 → 1900]
Turn 3
"Then it's my turn! Since my magician stands ready, it's time for the grand performance to begin!" Pandora bowed theatrically to each surrounding Rare Hunter, as though everything was unfolding according to his script. "My turn, draw. During my Standby Phase, [Malice Doll of Demise] Special Summons itself due to its effect. Then, from my hand—"
As Pandora prepared to activate a card, Youmi cut him off.
"After your Draw Phase, I activate my face-down [Eradicator Epidemic Virus]! I Tribute one DARK Monster with 2500 or more Attack and declare either Spell or Trap. Then, I check your hand, your Spell/Traps on the field, and all cards you draw for the next three turns—and destroy all cards of the declared type.
"I Tribute [Lovely Labrynth of the Silver Castle] and declare Spell Cards! You must have something in your hand meant to wipe my field… let me guess, [Dark Magic Attack], right?"
Pandora's eyes widened in shock—Youmi had guessed right.
Even so, he quickly twisted his face back into a sneer. "Just a Trap Card. I knew you'd try that! I activate my face-down Counter Trap, [Dark Bribe]! It negates and destroys your [Eradicator Epidemic Virus], and as compensation, you draw one card—"
Pandora was interrupted by the sight of Youmi flipping an identical card.
"Thanks for explaining the effect so nicely. Saves me the trouble." Youmi activated her own [Dark Bribe], negating Pandora's [Dark Bribe]. "Draw your card, then let me confirm your hand—mm-hmm, [Dark Magic Attack], [Thousand Knives]... how lovely. Say goodbye to them."
[Ectoplasmer], [Dark Magic Attack], and [Thousand Knives] were all destroyed—and that wasn't the end.
"I activate [Labrynth Labyrinth]'s effect! When I activate a Normal Trap that isn't a 'Labrynth' card, I can Special Summon one Fiend Monster from my hand or Graveyard. I Special Summon [Labrynth Stovie Torbie] from my hand!"
Pandora's mask obscured his expression, but Youmi could tell he was grimacing beneath it.
"Don't think it ends here. Viruses spread faster than you expect. I Tribute [Labrynth Stovie Torbie] and activate my face-down [Crush Card Virus]! I check the Monsters in your hand and on your field—all with 1500 or more Attack are destroyed!"
Youmi revealed her second Trap, mercilessly wiping out Pandora's last defenses. "As compensation, you can destroy up to three Monsters with 1500 or more Attack from your Deck, and until the end of your next turn, all damage you take becomes 0. Also, [Labrynth Stovie Torbie] Special Summons itself from the Graveyard via its effect."
With his field and hand wiped, and even his future draws doomed to destruction, Pandora was cornered beyond recovery. Just moments ago, he'd boasted about teaching Youmi a lesson… yet now, his entire act and strategy had been obliterated by two [Virus] cards.
Turn 4
Time waited for no one, and neither did Youmi.
Without caring how long Pandora would last, she simply drew a card and flipped her final Set. "I Tribute [Labrynth Stovie Torbie] once more to activate [Full Force Virus]! I check your field, hand, and the next three cards you draw—all Monsters with 1500 or less Defense are destroyed. Then, [Labrynth Labyrinth]'s effect activates again—return from the Graveyard, [Lovely Labrynth of the Silver Castle]!"
"[Lovely Labrynth of the Silver Castle]'s effect activates! I Set [Eradicator Epidemic Virus] from my Graveyard. I declare my turn over. Well? Do you still want to continue?"
Originally, Youmi had built her "Virus Pyramid" strategy to counter Marik. She hadn't expected to test it on Pandora first, though it turned out surprisingly effective.
"Before my Pyramid of Destruction, you have no power left to resist. Be a dear and step aside~ Disappear from my sight. Someone who deliberately harms their cards for the sake of winning has no right to call themselves a Duelist, nor to enjoy a true Duel."
Leaving those words behind, Youmi took Pandora's Locator Card and [Dark Magician] from his limp hands. Casting a cold glance around, she sent the surrounding Rare Hunters fleeing, then sat on a nearby bench at the dock—waiting for Marik to arrive, as promised.
...
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