The animation of "Yu-Gi-Oh! DM" has numerous changes and differences compared to the original manga, and while the game world view in Linked World is closer to the animation, it still has quite a number of discrepancies.
For example, the final chapter of "King's Memory," where the battle methods in Ancient Egypt three thousand years ago were simply summoning monsters for instant pet battles, but in this version of Linked World, you still have to play cards.
Moreover, even if the duel rules differ slightly in detail, they are essentially very similar to the modern rules.
In fact, the world view of Yu-Gi-Oh World suggests that, rather than big companies like International Fantasy Society and Kaiba Group inventing the rules for the card game Duel Monsters, these game rules are part of the existing world laws, merely discovered by them.
From the Duelist Kingdom where no tributes were needed and monsters could be summoned freely, to the introduction of the tribute summon system, and then to the increasingly standardized activation speed and effect resolution of card effects, every version update is a further exploration by modern duelists of pre-existing laws.
Otherwise, it can't explain why various world-ending gods, creation titans, and even parallel dimension bosses who can rewrite reality and distort space-time all adhere to the same rules to duel with the main characters.
In the previous Linked World, among the players who entered this Memory World, some found this Land of Trial. However, the specific process of the trial was never revealed, so Youyu has no way of knowing.
Although that player gained a lot from the Land of Trial, they did not pass the final trial.
But at least that player was able to pass the test of the Gatekeeper back then, so Youyu confidently believes he won't have a problem.
At this moment, the duel between the two sides—called the "sacred ceremony" by the opponent—has officially begun.
[Youyu, LP 4000]
[Ancient Mage, LP 4000]
It is worth mentioning that the 4000 Life Points are only visible to Youyu, who adheres to modern duel rules.
Ancient duelists can't see the Life Points, but they can feel the "Soul Power" within themselves. When they take damage during the ceremony, their Soul Power decreases accordingly, and when all Soul Power is depleted and they can no longer fight, it is equivalent to their defeat.
In modern rules, this means their Life Points hit zero.
"According to the challenge rules, the ceremony starts with my priority, so I won't be polite, outsider."
It seems the Ancient Mage is taking the first move. The ancient golden Duel Disc on his arm flashes with gold light, a golden beam shoots into the sky, and then...
...then five huge stone tablets fall from the sky!
Amidst earth-shaking roars, the five stone tablets crash firmly in front of the Ancient Mage, kicking up swirling yellow dust.
Youyu: "..."
Although mentally prepared, you really bring these hefty big guys to play cards with me?
The Ancient Mage raises his hand again, and another stone tablet appears in the sky, crashing before him with a roar.
This...
...my turn, draw a tablet?
The mage glances at his hand... no, his tablets, and then a hint of smile appears under his hood.
"Looks like you're not so lucky, outsider." He says lightly, "This fellow seems eager to battle you. Let me introduce you to the strongest warrior protecting this place."
He extends his palm, flipping over a massive stone tablet. The abstract lines engraved on it emit golden light, outlining a colossal figure. Meanwhile, one of the five Monster Zones on the Duel Disc on his arm lights up, faintly imprinting a monster's outline upon it.
"Invoke thy name and descend here—
——Beast King Barbaros!"
A burly beast warrior emerges from the tablet! With lion-like golden hair and an ostentatious look, holding a blue shield and a red spear, he possesses a half-human, half-beast form.
Youyu has seen it during a duel with Tenma Yako. This figure's prototype originates from the eighth demon among the 72 Demon Pillars of King Solomon, originally named Barbatos.
However, clearly in the Yu-Gi-Oh World, it's a modified version with slight name differences.
Moreover, the Beast King appearing in this world is far more majestic than the holographic projection summoned by Tenma Yako. Wrapped in lightning, eyes blood-red, Barbaros roars defiantly at Youyu, as if unable to contain and considering him its prey.
"Higher-level monsters usually require low-tier souls as offerings to descend, but Barbatos can descend without sacrifice." The Ancient Mage explains, "However, as a cost, part of his power will be sealed."
[Beast King Barbaros, Attack 3000 → Attack 1900]
This effect Youyu knows well. Although Beast King Barbaros is a Level 8 monster, he can be normally summoned without sacrifice, but as a consequence, his attack will become 1900.
The Ancient Mage chuckles lightly.
"However, I have mastered the secret spell to break this seal."
Finished, he closes his eyes and makes a strange gesture, reciting an incantation quickly and quietly.
Then his fingers snap open: "With secret magic, I summon this weapon—Axe of Fools! Using the power of this war axe, break the seal over Beast King's strength!"
Equip Magic - Axe of Fools. The equipped monster's attack increases by 1000, but its monster effect is negated.
If Barbaros' monster effect is negated, his attack returns to the original 3000. Plus the Axe of Fools' boost, it can soar to a godlike 4000!
Beast King swings the shield behind him, reaches out, and pulls the war axe from the ground. He raises the axe high and roars, his voice causing sonic waves and generating overwhelming pressure!
[Beast King Barbaros, Attack 3000 → Attack 4000]
The Ancient Mage, despite not seeing the monster's attack power as intuitively as Youyu does, can still gauge by experience as a veteran duelist that Beast King's battle prowess now rivals the legendary destructive gods!
Youyu gazes at the berserk Barbaros, his hair fluttering, hem violently swaying, and remains silent.
He ponders, every time an ancient person activates a Magic Trap, they need gestures and incantations, feeling it's too cumbersome, like using Ninjutsu requiring hand seals...
His reaction seems mistaken for shock. The Ancient Mage proudly waves his hand, two stone tablets fall with a thump - seemingly two cards set in the backfield.
"How is it, not quite what you expected?" the Ancient Mage remarks, "The Land of Trial is no trifling matter, only the most outstanding warriors are qualified to enter.
It's still early enough to retreat, continuing, I cannot guarantee you won't get hurt."
Youyu disregards and raises his Duel Disc: "My turn, draw card."
Ancient Mage: "?"
He pauses, puzzled, "...Where are your tablets?"
Youyu: "..."