Supreme Sun, summon again!
[Supreme Sun, Attack Power 3000]
Of course, it's not just the Sun; during the effect of the Great Cosmos, there's another monster sent to the Other Dimension by Tragodia.
[Three-eyed Dead Spirit, Defense Power 900]
Tragodia: "First is the Three-eyed Dead Spirit, activating its Monster Effect. By sending this card to the graveyard, add a monster from the deck to the hand." (Original effect)
Yugen squinted narrowly.
The original effect is truly defying reality. As expected, comics have lots of fake cards.
"I send 'Three-eyed Dead Spirit' to the graveyard, and then from the deck, this card..."
Tragodia smirked coldly, drawing the searched card from the deck.
"Tragodia is added to the hand."
The moment the card was added to his hand, his aura seemed to become even stronger. Invisible darkness churned behind Professor Mackenzie, as if transforming into the form of a demon.
"Finally, you're going to reveal your true self." Yugen said.
He certainly couldn't forget Little Lobster's effect. Back then, it was even considered a versatile card in the physical card environment, and its performance was pretty practical.
Tragodia, Ten-Star, Attack Power?, has Attack Power and Defense Power based on hand cards x600, known as Little Sky Dragon.
It can be special summoned directly from the hand when its user takes battle damage. And it has the ability, once per turn, to send one monster from the hand to the graveyard, and NTR an opponent's monster on the field of the same level as the sent monster.
The final effect is that it can select a monster in its user's graveyard and become the same star level as that monster.
It's considered a hand trap with self-exit ability; when the hand is ample, it can act as a hitter, and in certain situations, it can take control of the opponent's monster. It also has the star level changing ability, and was naturally a common choice due to its compatibility with Synchro or Xyz decks back then.
Of course, even if the Sun is resurrected now, its Attack Power is still not enough to rival the Phantom Demon.
But Little Lobster obviously had considerations.
"Activate the Cover Card, Trap Card 'Destruction Wheel'!" Tragodia shouted, "Destroy a monster on the field, and both sides receive damage equal to that monster's attack power!" (Old version effect)
"Traps are ineffective against Phantom Demons." Yugen said.
"I know, therefore, I'm going to destroy... the 'Supreme Sun'!"
The Destruction Wheel was set upon the Sun, and the Sun, just resurrected from the Other Dimension, was blown to pieces again in a fireball!
"Then we both take damage equal to the Sun's attack power, which is 3000 points!"
Obviously, Little Lobster switched strategies. Unable to beat the Phantom Demon, he decided to find a way to exchange blows with Yugen. After all, he had over ten thousand Life Points now, so exchanging blows was definitely profitable for him.
Of course, that's what he thought, but things often don't go as planned.
"Counterattack Trap 'Hell's Cold Gun'." Yugen said, "When an effect that inflicts damage activates, the damage portion I would take is bounced back to the opponent."
Tragodia: "!!!"
Nani!?
"Destruction Wheel's effect gives both of us 3000 damage each." Yugen smiled, "So, my part will be borne by you, and you end up taking 6000 damage yourself."
Boom!
The Destruction Wheel detonated, and the Supreme Sun was blown into a fireball. As if the sun had fallen from the sky, Tragodia was engulfed entirely, emitting a series of wails, uncertain if of pain or anger.
[Tragodia, LP 9400→LP 3400]
"Darned thing..."
Little Lobster knelt on the ground, panting heavily, black smoke rising from his entire body.
In an instant, 6000 Life Points evaporated, and it was all self-inflicted. If he died like that, he feared he would be laughed at in the Underworld by Zok and the like, with the cause of death being pure suicide.
"Set a card, ending my turn." He said sullenly.
"Then it's my turn, drawing a card." Yugen said.
"The Great Cosmos is no longer on the field, the Sun returns to its Immortal form!" Tragodia announced, "In the instant of the Standby Phase, the Supreme Sun resurrects!"
[Supreme Sun, Attack Power 3000]
Of course, the Continuous Magic "Dark Sun" is no longer on the field, so he can't regain Life Points, nor will the Sun increase its Attack Power again.
"Because the Sun resurrected from the graveyard, 'Survival Treasure Scroll's' effect, draw a card from the deck." Tragodia declared.
"Attack mode..." Yugen murmured.
Knowing that the Sun's Attack Power is no match for the Phantom Demon, setting it in attack mode... deliberately enticing the Phantom Demon to strike it down?
He understood inwardly.
Tragodia's special summoning condition is self-inflicted battle damage, meant to create an opportunity for Little Lobster's true form to make an entrance.
The Three Phantom Demons are all Level Ten. Although Ten-Star monsters are rare, in duels at this level of mastery, one must be prepared for any possibility. It's entirely possible that Tragodia would have a Level Ten monster next turn, allowing Tragodia's effect to snatch the Phantom Demon once his true form is summoned.
That was probably the strategy the opponent was planning.
Indeed, Little Lobster was thinking just that.
Come, strike down my Sun.
The moment the Supreme Sun is defeated, he himself will descend in person. Next turn, the Phantom Demon will be his to seize!
But what he doesn't know is that, even though Tragodia has never appeared in the world for three thousand years, Yugen still knows its effect.
Seeing through his strategy, Yugen quickly had a plan.
"Field Spell 'Lost Paradise's' effect. Once per turn, if a Phantom Demon is present, draw two cards from the deck."
Yugen drew two cards.
"Activate Magic Card 'Angel's Charity', draw three cards from the deck, then discard two cards from the hand."