"Come on, Youyu!" Kaiba said loudly, "I know your power is more than that! Let me see your full strength now!"
Youyu: "..."
Although he was quite touched by the passion of the president, the tone and these lines always made him feel a bit awkward.
But since the president made such a sincere request...
"Alright." Youyu thought for a moment, then gently closed his eyes, "Then I won't be polite, president."
Kaiba crossed his arms and chuckled: "This should have been the case from the start."
"My turn, draw!" After drawing a card, Youyu waved his hand directly, "Activate the effect of 'Fusion Substitute' in the graveyard! Remove this card from the game and return a Fusion Monster from the graveyard to the deck, then draw a card from the deck."
Two cards gently popped out from the grave zone, the first "Elemental Hero Absolute Zero" and "Fusion Substitute."
"I return 'Elemental Hero Absolute Zero' to the deck and draw a card from the deck!"
After drawing a card, Youyu chose to use it directly: "Magic Card - Spellbook Inside the Pot! Both players draw three cards from their decks."
Kaiba drew cards along with him: "Oh? Drawing so many cards, I'm curious to see what kind of setup you can produce."
"As you wish." Youyu played a card, "Summon 'Elemental Hero Airman'!"
The milky white cyclone descended, bringing down a hero clad in tech armor with metal wings. As he landed, he whipped up a storm and airwaves, a standard superhero landing.
[Elemental Hero Airman, Attack Power 1800]
"Airman's effect!" Youyu said calmly, "When successfully summoned, add a monster with 'Hero' in its name from the deck to the hand.
My choice is 'Elemental Hero Solidman.'
As Youyu spoke, the deck automatically popped out Solidman for him. After taking it, the deck shuffled automatically.
"Quick-Play Magic - Mask Change!" Youyu played this key transformation card again, "Send the Hero Monster on the field to the graveyard to transform into a Masked Hero of the same attribute!"
Kaiba squinted his eyes: "Are you going to transform 'Elemental Hero Absolute Zero' again?"
"No, this time I want to transform... 'Elemental Hero Airman'!" Youyu raised his hand, "Send the Wind attribute 'Elemental Hero Airman' to the graveyard, mask transformation!
Let the lonely hero don the mask of vengeance, becoming a cutting whirlwind to tear apart evil!
Masked Hero Blast!"
A magnificent green whirlwind enveloped Airman, swiftly transforming him into a hero in green. He was wrapped in a red scarf and wore striking green armor, surrounded by gentle green cyclones.
[Masked Hero Blast, Attack Power 2200]
"Ha, a Wind attribute Masked Hero." Kaiba said.
Though he had long studied Youyu's 'Masked Hero' series and witnessed many battles, this was the first time they faced off directly. During their last duel, Youyu did not have this deck series.
"Blast's effect." Youyu said, "When successfully summoned, halve the attack power of one opponent's monster on the field. I am halving the attack power of 'Blue-Eyes White Dragon'!"
The green whirlwind roared, instantly engulfing White Dragon's body. Blue Eyes let out a roar, fighting fiercely by flapping its wings, but could not completely repel the power of the hero's wind, and its strength was greatly restricted.
[Blue-Eyes White Dragon, Attack Power 3000 → Attack Power 1500]
"Tch." Kaiba clicked his tongue.
"Masked Hero Blast, another effect!" Youyu said, "Once per turn, pay 500 Life Points to return one Magic or Trap Card on the opponent's field to the owner's hand! Cyclone Burst!"
[Youyu, LP 3900 → LP 3400]
"Ah!" Mokuba said, "If Blue-Eyes' attack power is halved and the Set Card is blown back to the hand, my brother will have no means of defense!"
He couldn't help but sneak a glance at Youyu's field, where the hero's scarf fluttered, carrying a cool aura.
So strong!
With abilities to both halve attack power and clear the backfield, Youyu's Masked Hero is unbelievably strong!
...And also so cool!
Of course, as cool as it is, Mokuba did not forget to worry for his brother.
With the backfield Set Card blown away and White Dragon's attack power halved, he had no doubt that Youyu's heroes would finish him off this turn.
Another decisive killing blow!
Mokuba couldn't help but be a bit dazed.
When did Youyu become so powerful? Why does it seem like every turn is a lethal setup from the very first turn?
It's completely different from the duels he remembers!
Kaiba's expression slightly stiffened, and he said, "It was a good attempt, but it won't work on me! Open Set Card, Trap Card - Waboku!"
Before the cyclone from Blast hit, Kaiba's Set Card self-activated. Three blue-robed nuns appeared around Kaiba's field, peacefully chanting incantations, forming a transparent protective barrier that shielded Kaiba in the center.
"During the turn Waboku is activated, my monsters cannot be destroyed in battle, and all battle damage I receive this turn is 0." Kaiba laughed, "How unfortunate, it seems your full power still cannot breach my defenses!"
"...It seems so." Youyu shrugged, "But it appears you slightly misunderstood, president. This is not my full power."
"Hmm?" Kaiba raised an eyebrow.
"Although the battle is pointless, my turn isn't over yet." Youyu calmly drew another card, "Magic Card - The Warrior Returning Alive, return a Warrior-Type Monster from the graveyard to my hand."
A card was returned from the Duel Disc Grave Zone.
"I return 'Elemental Hero Shadow Mist' to my hand."
Kaiba furrowed his brow.
This kid... what does he want to do?
"Activate Magic Card - Double Summon from my hand! This turn, I can perform a second Normal Summon." Youyu drew the card retrieved at the start of the turn from his hand, "Come forth! Elemental Hero Solidman!"
A sparkling special effect like Crystal Stone, a white hero clad in steel armor, seemingly indestructible, appeared on the field, flexing his arms as a pale white energy burst forth.
[Elemental Hero Solidman, ATK 1300]
"Solidman's effect!" Youyu said, "Upon a successful summon, another Level 4 or lower Hero Monster from my hand is Special Summoned.
Come forth! Elemental Hero Shadow Mist!"
Black mist erupted, and the hero lady dressed in black returned to the field.
"Shadow Mist's effect!" A card popped out of Youyu's Card Deck, "Upon a successful Special Summon, add a 'Change' Quick-Play Magic Card from the deck to my hand.
I add the third 'Masked Change' from the deck to my hand!"
Kaiba's expression became increasingly serious: "The third 'Masked Change'..."
"Quick-Play Magic - Masked Change!" Youyu played it directly, "This time, I send the Earth Attribute 'Elemental Hero Solidman' to the graveyard for a masked transformation!
A hero dazzling like diamonds and glowing with eternal brilliance!
Masked Hero Dian, Summon!"
This transformation surrounded Solidman's body with special effects. Shimmering light enveloped him, and an indestructible steel armor covered his body. As the silver-white sword formed amidst the glow, its sword qi seemed capable of shattering even diamonds.
[Masked Hero Dian, ATK 2800]
Mokuba stared at Youyu's field filled with Absolute Zero, Blast, and Dian - such mighty heroes, radiating a powerful aura that made it hard to even look directly, leaving him dizzy.
Summoning so many ace-level powerful heroes in an instant...
But even so, Youyu did not intend to stop!
"The effect of 'Elemental Hero Solidman' sent to the graveyard by 'Masked Change'!" Youyu spoke calmly, "When sent from the Monster Zone to the graveyard by a Magic Effect, Special Summon 'Hero' Monsters other than himself from the graveyard in Defense Position.
Return to the field, Elemental Hero Airman!"
A white whirlwind, a hero dressed in high-tech armor, kneeled back onto the field.
[Elemental Hero Airman, DEF 300]
"Then once again using Airman's effect!" Youyu said, "Upon a successful Special Summon, add a 'Hero' Monster from the deck to my hand!"
Youyu's deck auto-searched again, a card popped out. Youyu took it and revealed it.
"I add the second 'Elemental Hero Shadow Mist' to my hand."
Seeing the five Monster Zones on Youyu's field packed to the brim, even Kaiba couldn't help but feel the pressure.
An immense pressure akin to facing the heroes who summon help when they're outmatched, the daily "righteous group battle"...
But even this isn't the end!
"Magic Card - Mask Charge!" Youyu said, "Return the 'Hero' Monster and a 'Change' Quick-Play Magic Card from the graveyard to my hand."
Two cards popped from his Grave Zone.
"I return the Quick-Play Magic 'Masked Change', and 'Elemental Hero Blazeman' to my hand."
Kaiba saw him retrieve these two cards—especially the 'Masked Change', his eyelids twitched again.
Could it be he's going to continue...
"Since I said I'd go all out, I won't go back on my word." Youyu added the two cards to his hand, saying, "So let me present here, President, a new hero I've never used against anyone before."
He raised his hand, once again playing 'Masked Change'.
"Quick-Play Magic - Masked Change, send the Hero Monster to the graveyard, Special Summon the corresponding Masked Hero with the same attribute!
This time I'm going to transform the Dark Attribute Elemental Hero Shadow Mist!"
A pitch-black storm swept over Shadow Mist, a black vortex soared to the sky. Incredible power brewed within the storm, as if a mighty hero was about to arrive!
"A knight born from the abyss, the embodiment of Dark Law!"
Youyu raised his arm.
"Descend! Masked Hero Dark Claw!"