This is a world overwhelmed with despair and filled with darkness. The entire world seems to be purple-black, suffused with a cold oppressive atmosphere. Massive ancient trees twist into bizarre shapes, and undead creatures rise and fall beneath the sky and within the dark mists.
Countless spirits born of resentful thoughts echo within this confined space, the cold wind carrying spine-chilling laments.
Field Magic - Zombie World!
Seeing this card, Youyu was somewhat surprised.
Zombie World, its effect transforms all monsters on the field and in the graveyard into Undead-Type, and neither player can Tribute Summon monsters that are not Undead-Type.
This card always has its place in the physical card environment; this "all monsters become Undead-Type" effect is utterly infuriating for decks reliant on specific creature characteristics.
To give a simple example, suppose your deck is built around Dragon-Type, and the deck's core is the "Red-Eyes Darkness Metal Dragon." Red-Eyes Darkness Metal Dragon is originally a Dragon-Type monster with extremely powerful effects. It can Special Summon itself directly by banishing one Dragon-Type monster from play and can summon Dragon-Type monsters once per turn from the hand or graveyard.
But once Zombie World is activated, lo and behold, all Dragon-Type monsters on the field become Undead-Type, causing Red-Eyes Darkness Metal Dragon to be stuck in your hand forever.
Even if you manage to summon Red-Eyes Darkness Metal Dragon, its once-per-turn effect to resurrect Dragon-Type monsters from the graveyard becomes unusable. Because all dragons in the graveyard turn into Undead-Type...
This is just a simple instance, but it showcases the nasty level of "Zombie World."
"Ha, now this place is a field ruled by undead souls." Bakura licked his lips, seemingly in a good mood from this sinister atmosphere, "Next up is this one!
Zombie Master in Attack Mode!"
The white-haired, small figure seemed to crawl out from the grave piles of this field. His complexion was as pale as a dead man, his lips were parched, and a black cloak like a tattered rag hung from his back, with a head of disheveled white hair. Yet the dry, cracked mouth bore a clown-like smile.
[Zombie Master, Attack Strength: 1800]
Bakura chuckled: "Zombie Master's effect is once per turn, by discarding a monster card from the hand, you can Special Summon a level 4 or lower undead monster from your own or your opponent's graveyard."
Youyu raised his eyebrows.
This thing is even nastier, a perfect match with "Zombie World."
As mentioned before, due to "Zombie World," all monsters in both players' graveyards have become Undead-Type. And this thing can resurrect any 4-star or lower Undead-Type monster from either graveyard once per turn, meaning not only does it have the ability to resurrect monsters from the graveyard each turn, it also has the power to NTR monsters from the opponent's graveyard, which is extremely powerful.
"Zombie Master effect!" Bakura discarded a hand card to the graveyard, "Discard a monster card from the hand to resurrect an undead from the graveyard!
I discarded 'Gozuki' from my hand to the grave, and then resurrect 'Gozuki'!"
Indeed, "Zombie Master" effect allows discarding a monster to resurrect an undead from the graveyard, and does not prohibit resurrecting the monster just discarded.
Meaning it can Special Summon any 4-star or lower monster in the hand through this effect with extremely broad usage.
So now, unexpectedly, a pitch-black bull-headed monster appears on Bakura's field. It wears large blue prayer beads on its neck, a nose ring through the bull's nose, wielding an exaggeratedly large hammer.
[Gozuki, Attack Strength: 1700]
"Gozuki's effect!" Bakura continues his operation, "Once per turn, send an Undead-Type monster from the deck to the graveyard!"
He drew from the deck, selecting a card.
"I send 'Mezuki' to the grave!" He sent the card to the grave, and immediately after a grand gesture, "Mezuki's effect! During your own main phase, banish 'Mezuki' to resurrect an undead monster from the grave!"
Freshly sent to the grave for less than a second, Mezuki is immediately emerged, along with another card discarded at the turn's start through "Graceful Charity."
Bakura grinned and chuckled: "This creature might be Fiend-Type, but under 'Zombie World' effect, it has become an Undead-Type, thus can be Special Summoned here.
Come and witness this one! Diabound Kernel!"
Arriving at Bakura's field is a white demon with angel-like wings, yet its lower body is a menacing, coiled white snake. The tip of its tail bears a snake head, revealing a mouth dripping with crimson string.
[Diabound Kernel, Attack Strength: 1800]
Youyu squinted.
Do not be deceived by its seemingly mere 1800 attack strength demon-type monster, this entity is not to be underestimated.
During the Egyptian arc in the anime, Bakura initiated with a single Diabound and later slaughtered the Three Egyptian God!
Alright, so maybe it's exaggerated, but Bakura indeed fought Yugi's Three Egyptian God toe-to-toe with just this Diabound which is also a fact.
Though they engaged in a Pokémon-style duel rather than a proper card duel, it is still enough to prove the formidable potential of this snake-tailed demon.
"Set a card face-down, end of turn!"
Bakura sneered.
Come on, attack if you dare!
In attacking, you will step into Diabound's endless trap!
Youyu glanced at Bakura's white snake-tailed demon on the field, pondering briefly.
The anime did not fully explain Diabound's special effects, but through its manifestations, he could roughly guess.
Firstly, Diabound can equip to an opponent's monster on the field, reducing its attack based on its own attack strength, and when the opponent's monster is destroyed, it can un-equip and return to its field.
Furthermore, according to Bakura's description, Diabound's hidden ultimate ability is to mimic the opponent's monster special ability.
It even copied Blue-Eyes White Dragon's special ability during a duel with President Kaiba...
What? You think Blue-Eyes White Dragon, a Normal Monster, has no special ability?
Of course, it's "can crush any monster, destructive power immeasurable"! (Blue- Eyes White Dragon card description)
Believe it or not, Bakura used Diabound to copy Blue-Eyes White Dragon's "special ability," during a duel with Yugi, and actually casted a "Burst Stream of Destruction," fighting Giant Soldier of Stone to draw...
The scariest part of dealing with such monsters is not knowing the opponent's effects, easily falling into a trap. Now that Youyu has the basic intelligence, there is naturally nothing to be afraid of.
He has his counter-measures ready!
"My turn, draw card!" Youyu reveals a hand card, "Magic Card 'E - Emergency Call' activate! Add 'Elemental Hero' monster from deck to hand."
His Duel Disc executes the search, automatically ejecting the card.
"I add 'Elemental Hero Shadow Mist' to hand!" Youyu directly places this card, "Then Normal Summon 'Elemental Hero Shadow Mist'!"
Amidst the dark fog, Miss Shadow Mist in her black tight suit magnificently enters the field, emitting a crisp shout.
[Elemental Hero Shadow Mist, Attack Strength: 1000]
"Quick Magic - Mask Change!" A magic card floats before Youyu, "Send Hero Monster to the grave to transform into a Masked Hero of the same attribute!
I send 'Elemental Hero Shadow Mist' to the grave, mask transformation!
Advancing through darkness, defeating monsters and safeguarding justice as the ghost—
——Masked Hero Anki, summon!"