Mokuba Kaiba stared. "Three Tributes? That is like summoning a god."
"Correct. I call forth my ace, ruler of the earth, the ancient divine beast. Beast King Barbaros - Beast King Barbaros, Summon!"
Wind roared across the arena as dark clouds gathered. A beam of light split the sky and struck the field, and a thunderous roar shook the stands. Beast King Barbaros emerged from the radiance, half beast and half warrior, lightning running along its body.
Beast King Barbaros - Beast King Barbaros, ATK 3000.
"Card of the Underworld's effect. When I Tribute two or more monsters for a high level Summon, I draw two cards."
Yako Tenma drew from his Deck and continued, "And Beast King Barbaros's effect activates. If it is Summoned using three Tributes, it will Destroy all cards on your field!"
Mokuba Kaiba gasped. "That is an incredible effect!"
Yugen raised an eyebrow. Using Ultimate Offering to Summon during the opponent's turn and combining it with Beast King Barbaros's field wipe was a strong play. It was essentially a fast field clear during the opponent's turn.
Thunder burst from Beast King Barbaros's mouth and spread across the field. Lightning shattered the white robed mage's circle, and the blazing Phoenix was swallowed by the storm. Both vanished under the rolling flashes.
The watching experts held their breath. Such a powerful field had been erased before it could even attack.
"However, Silent Magician has a follow up effect," Yugen said. "If Silent Magician is Destroyed by battle or by an opponent's effect, you can Special Summon another Silent Magician from your hand or Deck, ignoring its conditions."
"From the point where chaos and order meet, let silent light shine. Magician of Light, descend. Silent Magician LV8!"
White light formed a new magic circle. Silence returned in a new form and stepped onto the field again.
Silent Magician LV8, ATK 3500.
"Counterattack," Yugen ordered. "Attack Beast King Barbaros - Beast King Barbaros. Silence Magic Burst!"
Her staff fired a blazing sphere wrapped in lightning. It pierced straight through Beast King Barbaros's chest, leaving a clear hole as the beast let out a low roar and collapsed.
Yako Tenma, LP 3500 → LP 3000.
Yako Tenma lifted his arm to shield his face. "You took that thunder strike and still countered."
Yugen smiled slightly. In truth, not only Silence but even Phoenix God could return, and its effect required being Destroyed by an effect. On the next Standby Phase, it could clear all Spell and Trap cards.
In a way, Beast King Barbaros's destruction had gained little.
The experts swallowed nervously. A powerful monster had been brought out instantly, wiped the field during the opponent's turn, and still fell right after landing.
What kind of Duel was this?
Yugen placed another card into his Duel Disk. "I set one card and end my turn."
Yako Tenma took a deep breath and smiled. "I think I understand why Seto Kaiba is interested in you."
"What?"
"Nothing. My Turn!, Card Draw. I activate Spell Card Spellbook of Pot of Greed. Both players draw three cards." (Anime-Original Card)
He glanced at his new hand and immediately played another card. "I Summon Red Gadget!"
Red Gadget, ATK 1300.
"On Summon, I add Yellow Gadget from my Deck to my hand."
He revealed it at once. "Then I use Continuous Trap Ultimate Offering again. I pay 500 Life Points for an additional Normal Summon."
Yako Tenma, LP 3000 → LP 2500.
"I Normal Summon Yellow Gadget!"
Yellow Gadget, ATK 1200.
"Yellow Gadget's effect lets me add Green Gadget from my Deck to my hand."
He searched and revealed the card. "Again I use Continuous Trap Ultimate Offering, pay 500 Life Points, and Normal Summon Green Gadget!"
Yako Tenma, LP 2500 → LP 2000.
Green Gadget, ATK 1400.
"Once more I activate Continuous Trap Ultimate Offering, pay 500 Life Points, and gain another Normal Summon."
Yako Tenma, LP 2000 → LP 1500.
"I tribute Red, Yellow, and Green. Beast King Barbaros - Beast King Barbaros, Summon again!"
The three Gadgets turned into golden light and vanished. In a surge of power, the blond warrior with spear and shield returned to the field.
Yugen watched quietly. So his ace had another copy.
"Continuous Spell Card of the Underworld activates again," Yako Tenma said. "When I Tribute two or more monsters for a high level Summon, I draw two cards."
He drew and added them to his hand. "And Beast King Barbaros's effect activates again. If it is Summoned with three Tributes, it Destroys all cards on your field!"
Thunder burst forth once more and rushed toward Yugen's side like divine punishment.
At that moment, Yugen activated his Back Row. "I chain my set card, Trap Hole. When you Summon a monster, it is turned face down in Defense Position and cannot change its battle position."
He pointed at Beast King Barbaros. "Set Beast King Barbaros - Beast King Barbaros face down."
The storm swept the field, forcing Silent Magician LV8 to leave again. But the triumphant Beast King Barbaros slipped as the trap took hold and fell face down as a set card.
"Even so, breaking through your defense is not easy," Yako Tenma said with a faint smile.
"I set three cards and end my turn."
"My My Turn!, Card Draw."
The moment Yugen drew, blazing fire erupted from the Graveyard on his Duel Disk. A burning phoenix shot into the sky as if tearing open a Rift in the calm heavens. Countless hot particles gathered into a solid form, spinning in the air as though the flames had gained life.
The rising fire released a powerful surge of energy and slowly revealed a solemn outline. A golden divine bird appeared, its feathers shining with bright light and its eyes like burning stars. It looked noble and imposing as it spread its wings.
"When Sacred Phoenix of Nephthys is sent to the Graveyard by a card effect, it can revive during my next Standby Phase. Therefore, Sacred Phoenix of Nephthys returns!" Yugen declared.
Sacred Phoenix of Nephthys, ATK 2400.
"And when it is Special Summon by this effect, all Spell and Trap Card cards on the field are Destroy!"
The spectators gasped. It could clear the entire Back Row just by reviving.
A woman with a black hairpin spoke calmly. She was one of the elite under Yako Tenma, Professor Tiramuku, who used a Vampire Deck. "The combination of Silence and Nephthys reduces the payoff from Maximillion Pegasus's Beast King Barbaros board wipe to the minimum."
The other experts nodded in agreement. Although Yako Tenma had been attacking fiercely, he had already spent most of his Life Points, while his opponent's Life Points had not changed at all.
"Is he really a student of Duel Academy?" Tiramuku frowned. "To be honest, he is already stronger than many of us Card Professors."
Kirk Dixon remained silent.
"Clearing the field with the Phoenix God to prepare for your next assault?" Yako Tenma said in a low voice. "It will not be that simple.
I activate my set card, Continuous Trap - Demonic Binding Chain! I bind one monster on the field with chains of a Fiend. That monster cannot attack, and its effects are negated!"
Green chains shot out from the Trap Card and wrapped around the body of the Phoenix God. The golden bird struggled, but its flames dimmed under the restraint.
"With the Phoenix God's effect negated, my Back Row remains intact," Yako Tenma said.
"Then I proceed to Main Phase." Yugen revealed another card. "I activate the Spell Card Dark Hole! Destroy all monsters on the field!"