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## Chapter 639: Pure Machina Deck
Spending three cards from his Hand finally allowed **Machina Colonel** to break through the restriction of **Wall of Revealing Light**. Now that he could finally attack, **Alister** glanced at the **Seal of Orichalcos** in his **Hand**.
With **Machina Colonel**'s current **ATK** of 4700, he still couldn't defeat **Rafael**. After this turn, the effect of **Inheritance of Power** would also fade, preventing him from attacking again, leaving **Rafael** with only 300 Life Points remaining for the next turn.
However, using **Seal of Orichalcos** could prevent that situation from occurring.
Should he activate it?
**Alister** made his decision without hesitation.
**Rafael** was the same as him, a puppet guided and manipulated by that guy, **Dartz**. He would win this duel, but definitely not by killing **Rafael**.
"Enter Battle Phase. I use **Machina Colonel** to attack your **Guardian Eatos**, **Rafael**," **Alister** said, pointing towards **Rafael**'s **Field**. "**Rafael**, here I come!"
"Railgun!"
Azure electric current burst forth. **Machina Colonel**'s long-charged Railgun fired fiercely, blasting towards **Guardian Eatos** on **Rafael**'s **Field**. Seeing this, **Rafael** quickly said, "Activate the effect of **Relief of the Buried God** in my **Graveyard** at this instant!"
As he spoke, **Rafael**'s **Duel Disk**'s **Graveyard Zone** ejected a card. It was the Spell Card, **Relief of the Buried God**. That card seemed to have been sent to the **Graveyard** by **Rafael** when he first used **Card of the Guardian**.
**Yugi**'s face couldn't help but show a look of regret. "**Relief of the Buried God** is a card that can be used from the **Graveyard**. When the **Opponent**'s **Monster** declares an attack, it can negate the attack declaration and further end the Battle Phase. The cost is to banish five cards from **Rafael**'s **Graveyard**, including **Relief of the Buried God**."
"Sounds a lot like **Electromagnetic Turtle**, huh? What a pity. That guy **Alister** finally managed to increase **Machina Colonel**'s **ATK** to 4700 to break through **Wall of Revealing Light**'s seal," **Joey Wheeler**'s tone also carried some regret.
However, **Kaiba** curled his lips. "Hmph, a **Commoner**'s imagination can only calculate a duel up to this point. **Commoner**, if you were to duel **Mutou Yuugi**, would you use a card specifically for defense against **Spellcaster Type** attacks?"
"Huh? Isn't that obvious? After all, **Yugi** is quite good at summoning high-level **Spellcaster Type** **Monster**s like **Dark Magician** and **Dark Magician Girl** all at once. While I wouldn't go as far as **Hayato**, who deliberately includes **Magical Wand** in a **Deck** without **Spellcaster Type** **Monster**s, I would also use cards like **Counterattack Preparations**," **Joey Wheeler** said.
**Counterattack Preparations** is a Normal Trap Card that changes one face-up **Warrior Type** or **Spellcaster Type** **Monster** on the **Field** to face-down Defense Position. It can only be used on **Warrior Type** and **Spellcaster Type**, limiting its use. It's slightly less versatile than **Book of Moon**, which doesn't have Type restrictions, but its biggest feature is that it cannot be targeted, making it useful against **Yugi**'s **Deck**.
Feeling strange about **Kaiba**'s words, **Joey Wheeler** glanced at **Kaiba** and said, "What do you mean, suddenly asking if I'd use a counter card if I were dueling **Yugi**?"
"**Kaiba**, do you mean...?" Compared to **Joey Wheeler**, **Yugi** was much more perceptive. He instantly understood **Kaiba**'s meaning and looked back at **Alister** in the duel, noticing that **Alister** wasn't regretful because **Rafael** activated **Relief of the Buried God**. Instead, he wore a smile as if he had anticipated it.
"Dueling someone familiar means they are familiar with your **Deck**, and powerful combos might have their flaws already seen through," **Kaiba** paused before saying, "But just like how I always bring **Trojan Blast** when dueling **Hayato Kobayashi**, **Alister** also seems like he has prepared a counter card against **Rafael**."
As the saying goes, the person who understands you best is your **Opponent**, especially for two people with very similar styles like **Kaiba** and **Alister**. As **Kaiba**'s words fell, **Alister** indeed activated the counter card he had ready in his **Hand**: "You're still using the same old tricks, **Rafael**. Always thinking of protecting **Monster**s even if it means making a sacrifice yourself."
"You're not a kid anymore! Stop burying yourself in the past!"
"When a Spell/Trap/**Monster** Effect is activated in the **Opponent**'s **Graveyard**, send **King of the Skull Servants** from my **Hand** to the **Graveyard** to negate that effect!"
Just as the five banished cards flying out of **Rafael**'s **Graveyard** were about to take effect and cause **Machina Colonel**'s attack to stagnate, the **King of the Skull Servants** discarded from **Alister**'s **Hand** appeared before **Relief of the Buried God**. Its mystical power was released, dragging several cards back to the **Underworld**.
"Nani!?"
His hundred-times-effective means of obstructing attacks was negated by **Alister**'s **King of the Skull Servants**. **Rafael** had a look of surprise: "Why would you include a **Fiend Type** **King of the Skull Servants** in a Machina **Deck**, **Alister**!?"
"I actually brought **King of the Skull Servants** to deal with **Kaiba Seto**'s **Deep-Eyes White Dragon**, which blows up the **Field** after being destroyed. But that reason is a bit outdated. So, how about this reason..." **Alister** grinned, "Including **King of the Skull Servants** in a Machina **Deck** is, of course, because this time I'm using a 'Pure' Machina **Deck**~"
"Are you **Hayato Kobayashi** or something!?" **Rafael** said, also getting a little angry. "However, don't think you can destroy my **Guardian Eatos** just like that! After the chain where **Relief of the Buried God** was negated, I can still activate this card!"
Saying this, **Rafael** pressed the button to activate his Set Card. The moment he looked at **Rafael**'s **Spell/Trap Zone**, **Yugi**'s heartbeat suddenly accelerated.
It wasn't because **Rafael** suddenly pulled out a card with inappropriate card art that made **Yugi** blush, but because the moment **Rafael**'s Set Card opened, dense crystals suddenly emerged from his **Spell/Trap Zone**. It was none other than **Crystal Seal**, which **Rafael** had used when he guided **Yugi** to use **Seal of Orichalcos** back then.
"**Crystal Seal** can put one **Monster** on the opponent's **Field** into a state where it cannot attack, cannot defend, cannot activate its effect, cannot change battle position, and cannot be Tributed. Are you trying to seal **Machina Colonel** again with this?"
**Alister** played another card from his **Hand**. "My heart is surging with the waves called resolve! I won't fall into the stagnation called the past like you anymore, **Rafael**!"
Just as the crystals were about to turn into a wall and seal **Machina Colonel** and the Railgun it fired into a **Statue**, a **Cosmic Cyclone** suddenly swirled from the void, sweeping across all the crystals on the **Field** and crushing these sparkling crystals into dazzling dust!
"The Quick-Play Spell Card, **Cosmic Cyclone**. Although it could be used to destroy **Wall of Revealing Light**, luckily I saved it for this moment," **Alister** said, inserting the card into the **Spell & Trap Zone**. "By paying 1000 Life Points, I banish one Spell/Trap Card on your **Field** and crush that **Crystal Seal**!"
[**Alister**: 3900 → 2900 LP]
"Then, the battle continues! And during the Damage Calculation Step, I finally activate this last card, **Limiter Removal**!" Relying on his abundant **Hand**, **Alister** activated a card for the third time during this Battle Phase. **Limiter Removal** took effect in an instant, removing the original safety restrictions from **Machina Colonel** on his **Field**.
"Unbelievable!" Looking at **Machina Colonel** on **Alister**'s **Field**, going all out and its entire frame glowing red from overheating, **Joey Wheeler** exclaimed, "This is the fifth card activated during this single attack! And that **ATK**—"
[**Machina Colonel**: **ATK** 4700 → 9400]
"**ATK**, 9400!" Even **Kaiba** couldn't help but be a little amazed. "Although it's not the highest **ATK** I've seen, it can certainly be called the full power of a second-rate **Duelist**."
"At the End Phase of this turn, **Machina Colonel** will self-destruct due to this all-out strike, but this ultimate strike that sacrifices everything will be the final blow to wipe out your Life Points!" **Alister** clenched his Hand into a fist and swung it forward. "Explode☆Kill!"
The Railgun, wrapped in electric current, finally reached **Guardian Eatos** on **Rafael**'s **Field** after breaking through layer after layer of obstruction. This guardian angel of **Rafael** had no powerful holy sword in her Hand. After looking back at **Rafael**, she smiled slightly and stepped forward without hesitation, actively meeting the cannon blast!
However, the firmness of her will was far less than the width of the caliber. Just like how **Guardragon**s with the name "**Guardian**" fundamentally cannot protect their boss monster, **Guardian Eatos**'s body was pierced and destroyed by the spiraling, drill-like Railgun projectile in one hit. Then the cannon blast landed on **Rafael**'s **Field**!
"Boom!"
The firelight of the explosion engulfed **Rafael**'s **Field**, which had only one **Monster** left. The wreckage of the crystals that hadn't been completely cleared before was lifted into the air, scattering and drifting down along with the pure white feathers remaining from **Guardian Eatos**'s destruction.
Looking at the beautiful scene, **Kujaku Mai** said uncertainly, "Did he win?"
"With an **ATK** of 9400, the win rate was originally very high, but **Kujaku Mai**, the moment you said that line, it means he won't win," **Rex** ranted. "After all, if the duel had been decided, the feathers materialized by the virtual projection system wouldn't have appeared."
"So he didn't win yet?" **Joey Wheeler** looked regretful, and also a little confused. "How did **Rafael** take that strike? There aren't many cards that can be activated during the Damage Calculation Step."
In the slowly dispersing firelight, **Rafael**'s unharmed figure gradually became visible. He had a card in his Hand at some point, and was staring blankly at the white feathers drifting down from the sky.
And on his **Spell/Trap Zone**, the true nature of the card that protected him was revealed — the Trap Card, **Guardian Barrier**. It was a rare card that could be activated during the Damage Calculation Step. Its effect was to make the damage from that battle to himself 0, and to draw a card from the **Deck**.
"Tch, it was blocked again. Although Set Cards are also an important part of Duel Monsters, it's still a bit annoying," **Alister** thought he could defeat **Rafael** with this strike and make him see the truth from a different perspective, but sure enough, this duel wasn't that easy to end. **Rafael** actually endured it.
However, at least he destroyed **Rafael**'s **Guardian Eatos**, so it wasn't without result. **Alister** thought this, but felt something was off.
Looking up, **Alister**'s pupils contracted.
At this moment, the aura around **Rafael**, who was looking up at the sky, was visible to the naked eye. However, it wasn't the pure white aura that symbolized him being protected by **Guardian Eatos** and other card spirits in the past, but a pitch-black aura that gave off an incredibly dangerous feeling.
"...Even my most important cards, even **Eatos**, were taken from me..." His raised head slowly lowered. **Rafael**'s tone, which had instantly become dangerous and evil with aura, sounded like he was grinding his teeth. "Having gone this far, there's no reason to hold back anymore. I won't let you get away!"
"A-li-ster!"
With a tone like Sougo Tokiwa shouting Swartz, Sento Kiryu shouting Evolt, or Dan Kuroto shouting Emu Hojo, **Rafael** suddenly raised his head and stared at **Alister** with bloodshot eyes, shouting, "You said you had given up your darkness, right?"
"To be able to so easily let go of the darkness in your human heart, the truth of the **World** you've seen is nothing more than that. You who betrayed **Doma**, betrayed **Lord Dartz**, betrayed the new world, I will show you what true darkness is!"
Saying this, **Rafael** took out a card from his **Deck** and slammed it onto his **Duel Disk**. To **Alister**'s surprise, that card was different from **Rafael**'s other cards. The wear and tear on the card face was almost non-existent, as if it had rarely been used.
And as **Rafael** slammed the card onto his **Duel Disk**, the pitch-black aura around him grew thicker. Then, to **Alister**'s surprised gaze, even though no one on the **Field** activated **Seal of Orichalcos**, the **Orichalcos** mark that only appears when the domain is activated appeared on **Rafael**'s forehead!?
"**Seal of Orichalcos** can nurture powerful cards based on the darkness in the human heart. **Valon**, who didn't want to be influenced, dispersed that darkness into every single card. **Alister**, you nurtured **Machina Troops: Destruction Armament Strength** but then gave it up. And **Hayato Kobayashi**, he who could nurture the existence of **Infernoid**, even the darkness of **Doma** feels like it can't contain him."
**Rafael** clenched his right hand into a fist and swung it fiercely in front of him. "Because of this card's summoning condition, this is only the second time I've used this **Monster** since this card's birth. Witness the despair and death born from my inner thoughts, and become souls under the scythe, **Alister**!"
"Malice, terror, wrath, hatred, despair, strife, killing intent, ruin, annihilation, extinction!"
"Descend, my nightmare!"
"**Guardian Dreadscythe**!"
(Author's Note: A single attack in Duel Monsters can be understood as several phases—
Attack Declaration: I raise my fist, meaning I'm going to attack with this fist;
From the declaration to the face: For a **Monster**'s attack, some **Monster** effects can be applied at this time, and Flip **Monster**s are flipped face-up;
The fist hitting the face: This is Damage Calculation, calculating the difference between **ATK** and **DEF**, or **ATK** and **ATK**;
The fist leaving the face: This is After Damage Step. What should be destroyed is destroyed, what effects should be activated are activated, and what should be sent to the **Graveyard** is sent to the **Graveyard**.
)
(End of Chapter)
Spending three cards from his Hand finally allowed **Machina Colonel** to break through the restriction of **Wall of Revealing Light**. Now that he could finally attack, **Alister** glanced at the **Seal of Orichalcos** in his **Hand**.
With **Machina Colonel**'s current **ATK** of 4700, he still couldn't defeat **Rafael**. After this turn, the effect of **Inheritance of Power** would also fade, preventing him from attacking again, leaving **Rafael** with only 300 Life Points remaining for the next turn.
However, using **Seal of Orichalcos** could prevent that situation from occurring.
Should he activate it?
**Alister** made his decision without hesitation.
**Rafael** was the same as him, a puppet guided and manipulated by that guy, **Dartz**. He would win this duel, but definitely not by killing **Rafael**.
"Enter Battle Phase. I use **Machina Colonel** to attack your **Guardian Eatos**, **Rafael**," **Alister** said, pointing towards **Rafael**'s **Field**. "**Rafael**, here I come!"
"Railgun!"
Azure electric current burst forth. **Machina Colonel**'s long-charged Railgun fired fiercely, blasting towards **Guardian Eatos** on **Rafael**'s **Field**. Seeing this, **Rafael** quickly said, "Activate the effect of **Relief of the Buried God** in my **Graveyard** at this instant!"
As he spoke, **Rafael**'s **Duel Disk**'s **Graveyard Zone** ejected a card. It was the Spell Card, **Relief of the Buried God**. That card seemed to have been sent to the **Graveyard** by **Rafael** when he first used **Card of the Guardian**.
**Yugi**'s face couldn't help but show a look of regret. "**Relief of the Buried God** is a card that can be used from the **Graveyard**. When the **Opponent**'s **Monster** declares an attack, it can negate the attack declaration and further end the Battle Phase. The cost is to banish five cards from **Rafael**'s **Graveyard**, including **Relief of the Buried God**."
"Sounds a lot like **Electromagnetic Turtle**, huh? What a pity. That guy **Alister** finally managed to increase **Machina Colonel**'s **ATK** to 4700 to break through **Wall of Revealing Light**'s seal," **Joey Wheeler**'s tone also carried some regret.
However, **Kaiba** curled his lips. "Hmph, a **Commoner**'s imagination can only calculate a duel up to this point. **Commoner**, if you were to duel **Mutou Yuugi**, would you use a card specifically for defense against **Spellcaster Type** attacks?"
"Huh? Isn't that obvious? After all, **Yugi** is quite good at summoning high-level **Spellcaster Type** **Monster**s like **Dark Magician** and **Dark Magician Girl** all at once. While I wouldn't go as far as **Hayato**, who deliberately includes **Magical Wand** in a **Deck** without **Spellcaster Type** **Monster**s, I would also use cards like **Counterattack Preparations**," **Joey Wheeler** said.
**Counterattack Preparations** is a Normal Trap Card that changes one face-up **Warrior Type** or **Spellcaster Type** **Monster** on the **Field** to face-down Defense Position. It can only be used on **Warrior Type** and **Spellcaster Type**, limiting its use. It's slightly less versatile than **Book of Moon**, which doesn't have Type restrictions, but its biggest feature is that it cannot be targeted, making it useful against **Yugi**'s **Deck**.
Feeling strange about **Kaiba**'s words, **Joey Wheeler** glanced at **Kaiba** and said, "What do you mean, suddenly asking if I'd use a counter card if I were dueling **Yugi**?"
"**Kaiba**, do you mean...?" Compared to **Joey Wheeler**, **Yugi** was much more perceptive. He instantly understood **Kaiba**'s meaning and looked back at **Alister** in the duel, noticing that **Alister** wasn't regretful because **Rafael** activated **Relief of the Buried God**. Instead, he wore a smile as if he had anticipated it.
"Dueling someone familiar means they are familiar with your **Deck**, and powerful combos might have their flaws already seen through," **Kaiba** paused before saying, "But just like how I always bring **Trojan Blast** when dueling **Hayato Kobayashi**, **Alister** also seems like he has prepared a counter card against **Rafael**."
As the saying goes, the person who understands you best is your **Opponent**, especially for two people with very similar styles like **Kaiba** and **Alister**. As **Kaiba**'s words fell, **Alister** indeed activated the counter card he had ready in his **Hand**: "You're still using the same old tricks, **Rafael**. Always thinking of protecting **Monster**s even if it means making a sacrifice yourself."
"You're not a kid anymore! Stop burying yourself in the past!"
"When a Spell/Trap/**Monster** Effect is activated in the **Opponent**'s **Graveyard**, send **King of the Skull Servants** from my **Hand** to the **Graveyard** to negate that effect!"
Just as the five banished cards flying out of **Rafael**'s **Graveyard** were about to take effect and cause **Machina Colonel**'s attack to stagnate, the **King of the Skull Servants** discarded from **Alister**'s **Hand** appeared before **Relief of the Buried God**. Its mystical power was released, dragging several cards back to the **Underworld**.
"Nani!?"
His hundred-times-effective means of obstructing attacks was negated by **Alister**'s **King of the Skull Servants**. **Rafael** had a look of surprise: "Why would you include a **Fiend Type** **King of the Skull Servants** in a Machina **Deck**, **Alister**!?"
"I actually brought **King of the Skull Servants** to deal with **Kaiba Seto**'s **Deep-Eyes White Dragon**, which blows up the **Field** after being destroyed. But that reason is a bit outdated. So, how about this reason..." **Alister** grinned, "Including **King of the Skull Servants** in a Machina **Deck** is, of course, because this time I'm using a 'Pure' Machina **Deck**~"
"Are you **Hayato Kobayashi** or something!?" **Rafael** said, also getting a little angry. "However, don't think you can destroy my **Guardian Eatos** just like that! After the chain where **Relief of the Buried God** was negated, I can still activate this card!"
Saying this, **Rafael** pressed the button to activate his Set Card. The moment he looked at **Rafael**'s **Spell/Trap Zone**, **Yugi**'s heartbeat suddenly accelerated.
It wasn't because **Rafael** suddenly pulled out a card with inappropriate card art that made **Yugi** blush, but because the moment **Rafael**'s Set Card opened, dense crystals suddenly emerged from his **Spell/Trap Zone**. It was none other than **Crystal Seal**, which **Rafael** had used when he guided **Yugi** to use **Seal of Orichalcos** back then.
"**Crystal Seal** can put one **Monster** on the opponent's **Field** into a state where it cannot attack, cannot defend, cannot activate its effect, cannot change battle position, and cannot be Tributed. Are you trying to seal **Machina Colonel** again with this?"
**Alister** played another card from his **Hand**. "My heart is surging with the waves called resolve! I won't fall into the stagnation called the past like you anymore, **Rafael**!"
Just as the crystals were about to turn into a wall and seal **Machina Colonel** and the Railgun it fired into a **Statue**, a **Cosmic Cyclone** suddenly swirled from the void, sweeping across all the crystals on the **Field** and crushing these sparkling crystals into dazzling dust!
"The Quick-Play Spell Card, **Cosmic Cyclone**. Although it could be used to destroy **Wall of Revealing Light**, luckily I saved it for this moment," **Alister** said, inserting the card into the **Spell & Trap Zone**. "By paying 1000 Life Points, I banish one Spell/Trap Card on your **Field** and crush that **Crystal Seal**!"
[**Alister**: 3900 → 2900 LP]
"Then, the battle continues! And during the Damage Calculation Step, I finally activate this last card, **Limiter Removal**!" Relying on his abundant **Hand**, **Alister** activated a card for the third time during this Battle Phase. **Limiter Removal** took effect in an instant, removing the original safety restrictions from **Machina Colonel** on his **Field**.
"Unbelievable!" Looking at **Machina Colonel** on **Alister**'s **Field**, going all out and its entire frame glowing red from overheating, **Joey Wheeler** exclaimed, "This is the fifth card activated during this single attack! And that **ATK**—"
[**Machina Colonel**: **ATK** 4700 → 9400]
"**ATK**, 9400!" Even **Kaiba** couldn't help but be a little amazed. "Although it's not the highest **ATK** I've seen, it can certainly be called the full power of a second-rate **Duelist**."
"At the End Phase of this turn, **Machina Colonel** will self-destruct due to this all-out strike, but this ultimate strike that sacrifices everything will be the final blow to wipe out your Life Points!" **Alister** clenched his Hand into a fist and swung it forward. "Explode☆Kill!"
The Railgun, wrapped in electric current, finally reached **Guardian Eatos** on **Rafael**'s **Field** after breaking through layer after layer of obstruction. This guardian angel of **Rafael** had no powerful holy sword in her Hand. After looking back at **Rafael**, she smiled slightly and stepped forward without hesitation, actively meeting the cannon blast!
However, the firmness of her will was far less than the width of the caliber. Just like how **Guardragon**s with the name "**Guardian**" fundamentally cannot protect their boss monster, **Guardian Eatos**'s body was pierced and destroyed by the spiraling, drill-like Railgun projectile in one hit. Then the cannon blast landed on **Rafael**'s **Field**!
"Boom!"
The firelight of the explosion engulfed **Rafael**'s **Field**, which had only one **Monster** left. The wreckage of the crystals that hadn't been completely cleared before was lifted into the air, scattering and drifting down along with the pure white feathers remaining from **Guardian Eatos**'s destruction.
Looking at the beautiful scene, **Kujaku Mai** said uncertainly, "Did he win?"
"With an **ATK** of 9400, the win rate was originally very high, but **Kujaku Mai**, the moment you said that line, it means he won't win," **Rex** ranted. "After all, if the duel had been decided, the feathers materialized by the virtual projection system wouldn't have appeared."
"So he didn't win yet?" **Joey Wheeler** looked regretful, and also a little confused. "How did **Rafael** take that strike? There aren't many cards that can be activated during the Damage Calculation Step."
In the slowly dispersing firelight, **Rafael**'s unharmed figure gradually became visible. He had a card in his Hand at some point, and was staring blankly at the white feathers drifting down from the sky.
And on his **Spell/Trap Zone**, the true nature of the card that protected him was revealed — the Trap Card, **Guardian Barrier**. It was a rare card that could be activated during the Damage Calculation Step. Its effect was to make the damage from that battle to himself 0, and to draw a card from the **Deck**.
"Tch, it was blocked again. Although Set Cards are also an important part of Duel Monsters, it's still a bit annoying," **Alister** thought he could defeat **Rafael** with this strike and make him see the truth from a different perspective, but sure enough, this duel wasn't that easy to end. **Rafael** actually endured it.
However, at least he destroyed **Rafael**'s **Guardian Eatos**, so it wasn't without result. **Alister** thought this, but felt something was off.
Looking up, **Alister**'s pupils contracted.
At this moment, the aura around **Rafael**, who was looking up at the sky, was visible to the naked eye. However, it wasn't the pure white aura that symbolized him being protected by **Guardian Eatos** and other card spirits in the past, but a pitch-black aura that gave off an incredibly dangerous feeling.
"...Even my most important cards, even **Eatos**, were taken from me..." His raised head slowly lowered. **Rafael**'s tone, which had instantly become dangerous and evil with aura, sounded like he was grinding his teeth. "Having gone this far, there's no reason to hold back anymore. I won't let you get away!"
"A-li-ster!"
With a tone like Sougo Tokiwa shouting Swartz, Sento Kiryu shouting Evolt, or Dan Kuroto shouting Emu Hojo, **Rafael** suddenly raised his head and stared at **Alister** with bloodshot eyes, shouting, "You said you had given up your darkness, right?"
"To be able to so easily let go of the darkness in your human heart, the truth of the **World** you've seen is nothing more than that. You who betrayed **Doma**, betrayed **Lord Dartz**, betrayed the new world, I will show you what true darkness is!"
Saying this, **Rafael** took out a card from his **Deck** and slammed it onto his **Duel Disk**. To **Alister**'s surprise, that card was different from **Rafael**'s other cards. The wear and tear on the card face was almost non-existent, as if it had rarely been used.
And as **Rafael** slammed the card onto his **Duel Disk**, the pitch-black aura around him grew thicker. Then, to **Alister**'s surprised gaze, even though no one on the **Field** activated **Seal of Orichalcos**, the **Orichalcos** mark that only appears when the domain is activated appeared on **Rafael**'s forehead!?
"**Seal of Orichalcos** can nurture powerful cards based on the darkness in the human heart. **Valon**, who didn't want to be influenced, dispersed that darkness into every single card. **Alister**, you nurtured **Machina Troops: Destruction Armament Strength** but then gave it up. And **Hayato Kobayashi**, he who could nurture the existence of **Infernoid**, even the darkness of **Doma** feels like it can't contain him."
**Rafael** clenched his right hand into a fist and swung it fiercely in front of him. "Because of this card's summoning condition, this is only the second time I've used this **Monster** since this card's birth. Witness the despair and death born from my inner thoughts, and become souls under the scythe, **Alister**!"
"Malice, terror, wrath, hatred, despair, strife, killing intent, ruin, annihilation, extinction!"
"Descend, my nightmare!"
"**Guardian Dreadscythe**!"
(Author's Note: A single attack in Duel Monsters can be understood as several phases—
Attack Declaration: I raise my fist, meaning I'm going to attack with this fist;
From the declaration to the face: For a **Monster**'s attack, some **Monster** effects can be applied at this time, and Flip **Monster**s are flipped face-up;
The fist hitting the face: This is Damage Calculation, calculating the difference between **ATK** and **DEF**, or **ATK** and **ATK**;
The fist leaving the face: This is After Damage Step. What should be destroyed is destroyed, what effects should be activated are activated, and what should be sent to the **Graveyard** is sent to the **Graveyard**.
)
(End of Chapter)
