Van'Dalgyon the Dark Dragon Lord, Summon!
With a dark red body seemingly stepping out of the Netherworld, each step like a heavy warhammer coming down. It clenched its fists, silvery-white claws like steel knives rubbing against each other, sparking and flashing with pale blue lightning.
[Van'Dalgyon the Dark Dragon Lord, Attack Power 2800]
Youyu finally found the source of the powerful dark energy within his opponent, it came from this monster right before him.
Someone had infused a significant amount of dark energy into this "Van'Dalgyon the Dark Dragon Lord" card, pouring it into the monster's body.
And Amir, being granted this card, had obtained the "power" sealed within, temporarily gaining dark energy he wasn't supposed to possess...along with elevating his Duelist level.
Rather than saying Youyu was confronting this Doma leader, it's more apt to say he was indirectly facing the mastermind who endowed this person with power. The person before him was no more than a puppet.
"...Interesting." Youyu said blandly.
To casually grant others such formidable dark energy, the person behind must possess terrifying power themselves.
In fact, at this stage, there should be only very few people in this world with that level of power.
"Set two cards face down, turn ends."
"My turn, draw card!" Amir sneered coldly, "Feel it with your body, Duel King! The power given by the great one!
Battle commenced! Use 'Van'Dalgyon the Dark Dragon Lord' to attack 'Gladiator Beast Secutor'!"
Van'Dalgyon's whole body surged with lightning, dark red patterns climbing along its form, like molten lava cracking the ground!
It opened its claws, which seemed to guide thunder, the lightning gathered to form a mighty spear that shot towards Gladiator Beast's body!
Youyu raised his hand: "Activate Set Card! Trap Card - Intrigue Shield!"
The Set Card flipped over, an ancient emblem-imprinted shield with golden edges materialized, landing in Secutor's hand, shielding him securely behind the shield.
"Once activated, this card equips 'Gladiator Beast Secutor'!" Youyu said, "The equipped monster can't be destroyed by battle once per turn, and all battle damage to its controller is 0!"
"Oh? Cannot be destroyed by battle, and then at the end of the Battle Phase, triggers that troublesome effect of the 'Gladiator Beast' huh?" Amir sneered.
Youyu remained silent.
Indeed, after battling, 'Gladiator Beast Secutor' returns to the deck at the end of the Battle Phase, allowing two other Gladiator Beast monsters to be summoned from the deck in one breath, enabling an instant resource comeback and counterattack.
"But that's not going to happen!" Amir laughed loudly, "Reveal Set Card! Counter Trap - Judgment of Anubis! Pay 500 Life Points, negate the activation of the Trap Card, and return it to its original form!"
[Amir, LP 4000 → LP 3500]
Mokuba exclaimed in shock, "Huh? How could this happen!?"
"So the activation of 'Intrigue Shield' is negated, return it face down!" Amir shouted.
The golden-edged shield immediately disappeared, reformed into a Set Card and returned to Youyu's field.
Without the shield's protection, Secutor was helplessly left to face the overwhelmingly potent Van'Dalgyon, its small body engulfed by endless lightning.
But it's not over yet!
"At this moment!"
Amir drew another card, immediately, the intense darkness from the card surface exploded, like a wave of black engulfing!
"Because I negated your Trap Card activation with a Counter Trap, it triggers the effect of another 'Van'Dalgyon the Dark Dragon Lord' in my hand! When a card controlled by the opponent is negated by a Counter Trap, it can be special summoned!
Appear now, second Van'Dalgyon the Dark Dragon Lord!!
As if a dark torrent broke through the ground, a gigantic form like a mountain stood! The second Van'Dalgyon proudly stood, extending its arms, spreading its claws, roaring towards the sky, even the distant thunder seemed to be stirred by this roar!
[Van'Dalgyon the Dark Dragon Lord, Attack Power 2800]
Mokuba exclaimed, "There's actually a second one!?"
"And!" Amir sneered, "If our Counter Trap negated a Trap Card's activation, Van'Dalgyon the Dark Dragon Lord can gain a corresponding follow-up effect!
I can destroy one card on the field!"
He waved his hand grandiosely, pointing to Youyu's Secutor.
"Destroy 'Gladiator Beast Secutor'!"
The second Van'Dalgyon roared, its huge claw slashed through the air, the black airflow forming a menacing surge, aggressively heading towards Secutor!
Sadly, the low-level Gladiator Beast stood no chance against this colossal force, the moment it came into contact, Secutor shattered in the dark surge, disappearing from the field.
"When 'Gladiator Beast Secutor' is destroyed, it triggers Battle Recall!" Amir shouted, "The first 'Van'Dalgyon the Dark Dragon Lord' loses its attack target, I can choose a new attack target.
Battle continues! Direct attack on Duel King Youyu!!
Van'Dalgyon roared louder, blasting out even more dazzling blue lightning. The azure bolts dispersed the darkness, illuminating the entire Dueling Arena, there amidst an undeniable malice and raging killing intent!
Direct hit!
The fierce impact, lightning radiating outward from one point, the intense explosion ignited a large fire and smoke, swallowing Youyu whole.
Mokuba shouted with concern, "Brother Youyu!"
[Youyu, LP 4000 → LP 1200]
Youyu's body swayed slightly but then stood up straight, still expressionless and silent.
"Hey, I still have another 'Van'Dalgyon the Dark Dragon Lord' on the field that didn't attack." Amir couldn't hide the pride in his eyes, "With this, it's completely over!"
Youyu's front field was empty, the backfield held the "Intrigue Shield" that was just forcefully returned to its Set Card form, the other Set Card was unknown, but the previous attack hadn't triggered it, indicating it definitely wasn't a trap that could defend against an attack.
In other words, he had no means to block this attack.
"Take this!" Amir's eyes flashed with madness, his facial muscles almost uncontrollably twisted, "Van'Dalgyon the Dark Dragon Lord, direct attack!"
It's a success!
I have defeated the King reigning at the peak of the Dueling World!
Thunder gathered, like a bombardment piercing through the world! Lightning flashed and thunder roared in the air, the dazzling brilliance pulling all the thunder in the sky, blasting straight at Youyu!
"Hm." Youyu smirked disdainfully, "Thinking you've won just with this, truly a naive Duelist."
"What!?" Amir's expression changed.
No monsters, no Set Cards...is there still a way to turn things around in this situation!?
"At the moment of the opponent's direct attack declaration," Youyu said indifferently, "The effect of 'Gladiator Beast Noxious' in my hand activates! This card is special summoned from the hand!"
A burst of gold light, the leopard-shaped Gladiator Beast adorned with blue armor appeared on the field. It crouched slightly in front of Youyu, crossing its blue-armored claws defensively.
[Gladiator Beast Noxious, Defense Power 1000 → Defense Power 1100] (Increased due to Dueling Arena effect)
"Furthermore, under this circumstance, the opponent's attack target forcibly changes to 'Gladiator Beast Noxious', proceeding with damage calculation."
"Tch, managed to survive huh?" Amir irritably pursed his lips, "Well then Van'Dalgyon, tear that monster apart!"
Rolling thunder struck down, blasting straight at the leopard-shaped Gladiator Beast! The Gladiator Beast Warrior sighed softly amidst the electric shock, faint black smoke rising from its fur and blue armor, yet after a few shakes, it stubbornly stood firm, not being defeated.
"What?" Amir was astonished, "Why...even though Van'Dalgyon's attack power should be higher!"
"Noxious's effect when special summoned from the hand," Youyu calmly explained, "Just this once, it won't be destroyed by battle."
"Eh?" Mokuba suddenly realized something, "If when the first 'Van'Dalgyon' attacked, special summoned Noxious from the hand, there wouldn't have been any damage to bear..."
Amir bit his lip tightly, almost hard enough to draw blood from his own lips.
"So you let my attack go through on purpose...is that what's going on?"