Primo only had one copy of his core card, 'Meklord Emperor Wisel'. Still, even with its components sent to the grave, if he drew "Wise Core" and blew it up, he could resurrect the whole Emperor from the grave in one turn.
But if he hadn't used that counter trap and let Macro Cosmos resolve earlier, the duel would already be over—he'd have no hope left.
Primo's entire deck was built around Wisel. All his cards either boosted the Emperor or supported it with spells and traps. Losing Wisel meant nearly his entire deck was deadweight.
Now, staring at the burning Lava Golem and the facedown Macro Cosmos he'd just countered, Primo felt a chill down his spine.
Damn, that was close.
Kira narrowed his eyes, grinning as he watched Primo's raging face, clearly savoring his handiwork.
For the prideful Primo, one of the Three Pure Nobles, being toyed with like a monkey was intolerable. But Kira wasn't just enjoying it for fun—he was now certain of his deduction.
Primo only had one 'Meklord Emperor Wisel'.
The anime hinted as much, but this world might not always echo the animation. Now he was sure: no "Wisel Mark 2".
Yet the next moment surprised him.
"Just now, when 'Meklord Emperor Wisel' was tributed for Lava Golem and left my field, the rest of my Meklord parts were destroyed by their own effects.
And this card in my hand—when my monsters are destroyed by a card effect and sent to the graveyard, I can Special Summon this card!
Appear—
—Meklord Emperor Wisel, Combined Version!"
Kira: "...?"
He had to admit, this genuinely surprised him.
It was called Meklord Emperor Wisel, just like the core he'd already destroyed, but this time, the one he summoned from his hand wasn't just a part. It was the complete, combined Meklord Emperor Wisel—fully assembled as a single monster card, occupying just one Monster Zone.
This was the "upgraded" TCG-legal version, never seen in the anime.
[Meklord Emperor Wisel, DEF 2500]
"Interesting," Kira chuckled.
See? What did he say earlier?
You can reference the anime, but never trust it entirely. The opponent might not be following the script.
"To think you even forced out my fully merged Wisel form." Primo said grimly. "Your skills are impressive. But the Meklord Emperor won't lose to a shameless scoundrel like you."
"How rude. Am I not dueling with absolute sincerity?" Kira feigned innocence.
He set another card face-down. "I set one more card. My turn ends."
Primo: "My turn, draw!"
"Standby Phase! During the Standby Phase, Lava Golem's effect activates." Kira grinned. "Lava Golem burns its controller for 1000 damage every turn.
Enjoy the hot magma bath."
Primo: "!"
He looked up in horror, just in time to see the golem overhead begin to rain molten lava onto his robot avatar's head.
[Ghost, LP 200]
With only 200 life points, how could he possibly survive a whole magma deluge? Primo, who had barely escaped disaster, was instantly on the edge again!
"Aaaargh! Don't underestimate me!"
Primo roared,
"I activate my Set card! Counter Trap 'Damage Polarizer'! Negate the effect that would inflict damage, and both players draw one card!"
A round shield materialized above his ghost, as lava from the golem streamed to either side, burning fresh red-hot holes into the prison.
"Another close call—you're really not easy to finish off, huh?" Kira drew a card, smiling. "Are you part cockroach or something?"
"How dare you get so full of yourself...!"
Primo was angrier than ever.
"I'll wipe that smirk off your face!"
Primo shouted, "Battle! Use 'Lava Golem' to attack 'Black Luster Soldier'!"
Black Luster Soldier, bound by the Fiendish Chains, had lost its aura, but even with its light dimmed, he heroically raised his sword to meet the incoming golem's fist.
"Monsters chained with Fiendish Chain can't attack, but their attack points remain unchanged," Kira said coolly.
Both monsters with equal attack meant mutual destruction.
"Hmph! Of course I know that!"
Primo had his ghost play another card.
"Quick-Play Spell 'Concentrating Current'! Target one monster I control—it gains ATK equal to its DEF, but the rest of my monsters cannot attack this turn!
I target 'Lava Golem'—its ATK increases by 2500, its own DEF!"
Electric gold arcs erupted from Lava Golem as it roared. The energy surged, doubling its size before everyone's eyes.
[Lava Golem, ATK 3000 → 5500]
Lava Golem's punch crashed down, shattering Black Luster Soldier's sword and breaking the chains, hurling BLS backward.
"At this moment, I activate my continuous trap—'Desperate Tag.'
When an Attack Position monster I control is destroyed by battle, the battle damage becomes zero. Then, I can Special Summon a Level 4 or lower Warrior-type monster from my hand."
The inferno from Lava Golem's fist vanished into the trap, absorbed as a vortex of energy.
Kira placed another card.
"Special Summon 'Gearfried the Iron Knight'!"
A jet-black, iron-armored warrior burst into existence as the card was slammed on the duel disk. The gleaming sword cut through the starlight, cascading sparkles in all directions.
[Gearfried the Iron Knight, ATK 1800]