In a real match one could check the face down cards, but in this Duel no one could walk over and inspect the opponent's back row. From a brief glimpse, Shell saw that two of them were Solemn Judgment.
"Two Mirror Force. Quite a solid defense," Shell said. "But I still have effects to resolve in my Standby Phase. The card destroyed last turn by Nephthys the Preserver was Nephthys the Preserver's Narrator.
When Nephthys the Preserver's Narrator is destroyed by effect and sent to the Graveyard, during my next Standby Phase I can add one Nephthys card from my Graveyard to my hand."
A card rose from the Graveyard into his grasp.
"I return Spell Card Hope of Nephthys to my hand."
"Not that troublesome Spell again," Judai Yuki muttered.
"I activate Spell Card Hope of Nephthys once more," Shell declared, as flames flared before him. "Destroy one Nephthys card on my field and one card on yours!"
"Spell Card 'Hope of Nephthys'! I target my own 'Sacred Phoenix of Nephthys' and your 'True Silent Magician' and Destroy them!"
"The same trick again." Judai Yuki frowned. "My Elemental HERO Mudballman was taken out by that."
"Silent Magician, Effect Activation." Yugen Do said calmly. "Once Per Turn, When a Spell Card is Activated, Negate that Activation!" (ANIME EFFECT)
Silent Magician spun her staff, and milky white Arcane Pulse burst out. It was as if Invisible Chains bound the magic in the opponent's Back Row. The Spell Card shattered into fragments with a sharp crack.
"Hah, as expected of Yugen." Judai Yuki flashed him a V sign. "You've got answers for both the Front Row and the Back Row."
Shell narrowed his eyes and studied Silent Magician and Yugen.
"So you have such a troublesome ability. Is that your Spirit?"
"That's right. Spirits are companions who fight alongside us," Judai Yuki said. "Someone who uses power to enslave his own monsters would never understand."
A cold smile appeared on Shell's face. "And what makes you think I wouldn't understand? What makes you think I never believed?"
Judai Yuki paused. "What?"
"Not just me. My family, for generations, we believed. We called ourselves messengers of the Phoenix. We passed down the Phoenix Card and trusted that the Phoenix God would protect us."
Yugen almost blurted out that Maximillion Pegasus had only uncovered Duel Monsters not long ago, so how could there be ancestral cards. Then he remembered that even the Nordic Gods (Aesir) in 5DS were said to be family heirlooms. Perhaps before Maximillion Pegasus invented card printing, they preserved stone tablets instead.
"But that was not the truth," Shell continued. "One day disaster struck. Enemies invaded our village, and I watched my clansmen slaughtered and my friends die before my eyes."
"In the end, the Phoenix God never appeared. So called companions and guardians were nothing but self comfort. Only power held in your own hands is absolute."
Judai Yuki fell silent for a moment as he listened.
"So something like that happened to you."
"It's all in the past." Shell spoke flatly. "The god of the Phoenix abandoned us. To gain power, the power to protect everyone, I found a new path."
"Orichalcos?" Yugen asked.
"Correct. They gave me a chance, a new power gained by making a contract with a Fiend." Shell raised his voice. "If it means gaining strength, what does it matter if I sell my soul to a Fiend?
I activate from my hand Spell Card 'Card of Sanctity'! Until both players have six cards in hand, we each draw until we have 6 cards in our hand!"
Yugen's eyes widened. He wanted to ask where someone could buy that kind of power if selling a soul only got you this. Still, he straightened and looked at Judai Yuki seriously.
"Judai Yuki! We have to win this Duel, no matter what."
"Yeah. Of course." Judai Yuki nodded, though he felt that Yugen suddenly seemed far more fired up than before.
After replenishing his hand, Shell drew another card more slowly, as if performing a ritual.
"This is the absolute power I obtained from the Fiend!" he shouted. "I activate Spell Card 'Advanced Ritual Art'! By sending Normal Monsters from my Deck as ritual material, I Ritual Summon a Ritual Monster whose Level equals their total!"
He revealed two cards sent from the Deck.
"I send two Level 4 'Flying Kamakiri #1' from my Deck as the tribute! Ritual Summon!
Let the flames of the end wrap the world and grind everything to dust. King of the End, Demise, descend!"
A ritual circle burned with blue destructive flames. Dark currents burst from it like the arrival of Doomsday. A black giant in ruined armor stepped out, gripping a heavy axe, and a crushing pressure followed his descent.
The legendary demon king who appears only when a world reaches Dead End had arrived. King of the End, Demise.
?King of the End, Demise, ATK 2400 ? ATK 2900?
"Raaah!"
As the ritual completed, Shell roared. Veins bulged on his forehead as blue flames wrapped around him, mixing with the green glow of Orichalcos.
Judai Yuki stared up at the giant and pressed a hand to his chest. "Wh what is this pressure?"
"That is no ordinary monster," Yugen Do said. "That card holds powerful dark energy."
"Yes. Demise is the demon king of destruction. With this power, I drove back my enemies," Shell said, blue fire burning in his eyes. "Now you will be reduced to ashes as well!
'King of the End, Demise' Effect Activation! Pay 2000 Life Points, and Destroy all cards on the field except him!"
He raised his right hand and clenched it.
"Doomsday!"
?Shell, LP 5500 ? LP 3500?
The axe fell. Blue flames colder than ice spread across the field, swallowing everything in their path. The god of the Phoenix let out a faint cry before being burned away. The fire rolled toward Yugen and Judai Yuki's field, wiping out Silent Magician and every card in the Back Row.
"Then 'True Silent Magician' Effect Activation." Yugen Do said. "When she is Destroyed by an opponent's effect, she can evolve further.
From the meeting point of chaos and order, let silent light bloom. Descend, mage of light. Silent Magician LV8!"
After Silence left the field, her released magic formed a white circle. A burst of light followed, and the silver haired magician stepped out in a higher form.
?Silent Magician LV8, ATK 3500?
Judai Yuki's eyes lit up. "Nice, Yugen! A counter after the counter."
Shell's breathing grew uneven, as if the two forces empowering him were straining his mind. Demise turned his head slightly, and a dull blue light flickered in his eyes.
A cold voice whispered by Shell's ear.
"You still need more power. Offer me more life, and you will gain even greater strength."
"Shut up and take it if that's what you want!"
Shell staggered upright and shouted.
"Demise's effect again! Pay 2000 Life Points and Destroy all cards on the field!
Doomsday!"
?Shell, LP 3500 ? LP 1500?
The demon king accepted more of his Life Points and brought the axe down once more. Blue flames surged like a tidal wave. Silent Magician tried to hold her ground, but the circle shattered and she vanished.
"Now your field is empty."
Shell took a moment to steady his breathing.
"Next, this card in my hand.
'Doom Dozer'! By banishing two Insect-Types from my Graveyard, I Special Summon it!"
He banished the two 'Flying Kamakiri #1' he had just sent to the Graveyard for the ritual.
"I Special Summon 'Doom Dozer'!"
It was clear he had chosen those Insect-Types as ritual material on purpose. After clearing the field with Demise, he used the grave setup to bring out Doom Dozer and secure a finishing strike in a single turn.
Doom Dozer, ATK 2800
ATK 3300?
"This is the end. I will eliminate one of you first."
His gaze moved between them before settling on Judai Yuki. Whether it was irritation from their earlier argument or something he sensed in him, his decision was clear.
"Let's start with you. If your bond with monsters can create miracles, then show me."
He thrust his arm forward.
"It's over!
Doom Dozer! King of the End, Demise!
Direct attack!"
"First, Doom Dozer attacks directly!"