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Chapter 648: Can't Win, How Can I Win This?
Hearing Yugi's question, Dartz, who always answers questions, replied quite honestly, "It's the 'Mirror Shield Counter', you see."
"When a [Mirror Knight Token] is destroyed by battle and sent to the Graveyard, you can remove one 'Mirror Shield Counter' from it instead."
As Dartz gave the answer, the mirror shield in the hand of the [Mirror Knight Token] that had just attacked suddenly shattered.
"Is that an effect similar to Union Monsters?" Joey Wheeler's eyes widened. While counting the number of [Mirror Knight Tokens] on Dartz's Field, he said, "One, two, three, four, a total of four [Mirror Knight Tokens], and each has one 'Mirror Shield Counter'. Doesn't that mean they can be mutually destroyed with eight monsters of any ATK!?"
But just as Joey Wheeler finished speaking, he saw a brand new, complete shield reappear in the hand of the [Mirror Knight Token] that had just lost a 'Mirror Shield Counter'.
[Mirror Knight Token] [Mirror Shield Counter 1→0→1]
"Ahaha, I forgot to explain. As long as [Mirror Knight Summoner] is present on the Field, each time a 'Mirror Shield Counter' on a [Mirror Knight Token] is removed as a substitute for destruction, you can place another 'Mirror Shield Counter' on that [Mirror Knight Token]."
Dartz wore a subtle smile on his face. "So it's not eight, but infinite, you see."
"Since I cannot destroy [True Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon] this turn, I will first end the Battle Phase, and then in Main Phase 2, I will activate the effect of [Orichalcos Deuteros]. I will gain Life Points equal to the number of monsters on my Field multiplied by 500."
The [Orichalcos Deuteros] domain underfoot radiated light. As Yugi and the others wore grim expressions, Dartz's Life Points increased.
"Because I have a total of six monsters on my Field, my Life Points gain 3000 points." Dartz Set one card and declared, "Set one card. My turn ends."
[Dartz: 10100→13100LP, Hand 1]
[Mirror Knight Token] [ATK500] X4
(Spell/Trap Zone) [Mirror Knight Summoner] [ATK500]
[Orichalcos Shunoros] [DEF500]
[Set Card]
(Field) [Seal of Orichalcos] [Orichalcos Deuteros]
Kaiba frowned and said, "Don't tell me, you people from Doma like using fake cards so much?"
First, they can't be destroyed by battle, then they gain ATK based on the opponent's monsters, and there are a full four such monsters. Besides that, Dartz's Spell/Trap Zone also has [Orichalcos Shunoros] which absorbs battle damage, and finally, there's [Orichalcos Deuteros] which gains Life Points by a ridiculously exaggerated amount. Even Kaiba couldn't help but feel that Dartz's Deck was too fake.
Can't win, how can I win this?
"My turn, draw! Then I activate this Spell Card I drew, Raigeki!"
That's right, just as he was at a loss for what to do, Yugi performed a divine draw and drew a Raigeki!
As expected of Yugi! You easily accomplished something we couldn't do, I really admire you!
"Ya-ta-ze! Raigeki is a powerful card that can destroy all monsters your opponent controls in one go! This way, Dartz's entire field setup will be wiped out!" Joey Wheeler said excitedly, seeing Yugi successfully draw a divine draw. "Go for it, Yugi!"
However, unlike the excited Joey Wheeler, Yugi, who had played Raigeki, didn't celebrate too soon. Instead, he looked at Dartz and said, "Although I also really hope things will develop as you, Joey Wheeler, expect, my intuition tells me that Set card in your Spell/Trap Zone will likely be activated."
"That's true. After all, my field setup is so perfect, isn't it? I've set up defenses almost completely countering 'battle destruction', only leaving 'effect destruction' as a vulnerability," Dartz chuckled as he pressed the button to activate the Set Card. "Thinking that just one Raigeki is enough to end the trial isn't thinking too simply, is it?"
"Chain activation of the Set Card, the Counter Trap Card Solemn Judgment! This card can only be activated when this is the only card Set in my Spell & Trap Zone, by paying 3000 Life Points!"
[Dartz: 13100→10100LP]
Dartz squandered the 3000 Life Points he recovered last turn in one go. Pointing at the Raigeki that appeared in Yugi's Spell/Trap Zone, he said, "When a Monster Effect, Spell Card, or Trap Card is activated, negate the activation and destroy it!"
A white-bearded old man wearing a robe appeared in front of Dartz. With a serious expression that was imposing without being angry, he stretched out his hand and pointed at Raigeki, roaring, "Stop!"
The Raigeki that Yugi activated shattered along with this loud shout. The Raigeki, which could have swept away all Set Cards on Dartz's Field, was negated before it could be released from the card.
Joey Wheeler, who covered his ears, shaken by the loud-voiced old man, couldn't help but show a regretful expression upon seeing this. But what he found strange was that Yugi and Kaiba's faces instead showed smiles.
"Kaiba."
"Hmph, I'll cooperate with you this time, but if you dare waste the power of Blue-Eyes..."
Just exchanging a glance and a few cryptic words, Yugi and Kaiba finished communicating. Only to see Yugi play a card from his hand: "I activate the Spell Card Double Summon! This allows me to Normal Summon twice this turn. Next, I Normal Summon Blast Sphere and Dimensional Guide from my hand."
Three cards were used by Yugi in a row. Only to see a Machine-Type monster appear on Yugi's Field. But the Dimensional Guide that Yugi specifically Normal Summoned using Double Summon actually suddenly moved to Dartz's Field! In the shadow under its cloak, a green emblem of the Seal of Orichalcos faintly lit up?
[Dimensional Guide] [4☆/DARK]
[Warrior-Type/Effect]
[1400/1000→1900/1000]
[Blast Sphere] [1☆/EARTH]
[Machine-Type/Union/Effect]
[0/0]
Although what should have been more attention-grabbing at this moment was the Dimensional Guide that unaccountably moved to Dartz's Field, Dartz, one of the parties involved, didn't pay attention at all to that mysterious monster wearing a cloak. Instead, he looked at the Blast Sphere on Yugi's Field confusedly.
Of course, Dartz wasn't concerned that Blast Sphere looked like a powerful-looking monster with 0 ATK/0 DEF, but rather...
"This monster does not belong to this era." It seemed Yugi saw what Dartz was confused about and took the initiative to answer. "This is a monster from the future. It's a gift given to me by a friend of mine before he returned to the future."
While speaking, Yugi couldn't help but recall the scene a long time ago, after the battle with Paradox ended, where Yusei insisted on stuffing a bunch of cards like Pot of Greed and Graceful Charity into his hands before returning to the future.
He heard that Yusei in the future lives in a place called the Satellite, which is close to a junkyard. The ordinary cards he took were quite rare treasures in the future and could greatly improve the living environment of Yusei and his friends.
Although, Yugi was a bit skeptical about Yusei's claim that "his Deck was picked up from the Scrapyard". After all, given the fluency of Yusei's Deck, how could anyone be so ignorant as to discard it casually?
Of course, this was also because Yugi didn't know that in a few years, someone would look down on cards like Relinquished, and decades later, some people would even think Trishula, Dragon of the Ice Barrier is trash.
"A card from the future, huh? No wonder there is no existence of this card in my impression." Knowing the origin of this unfamiliar card before him, Dartz's eyebrows relaxed slightly.
Dartz, who has lived for ten thousand years, knows better than most people that the power of Card Spirits can reach a certain level where they can print out cards themselves. But what he was concerned about before was that the Machine-Type Blast Sphere seemed unrelated to Yugi's Card Spirits no matter how you looked at it. Now that he knows the card is from the future, it doesn't matter.
After all, you see, that monster only has 0 ATK. Isn't one with 0 ATK just a weak monster?
Dartz was still very confident in his field setup.
Meanwhile, Yugi glanced at the two remaining cards in his hand. Having already finished considering his strategy, he said with a wave of his hand, "During the Main Phase, I activate the effect of True Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon! It—"
"She can make three attacks during this Battle Phase!"
Kaiba from the side snatched Yugi's words before he could finish. Although it seemed like it wouldn't be satisfying unless he was the one to announce the effect of True Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon, Yugi also felt that Kaiba was actually having an OCD attack, insisting on correcting that True Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon is not "it" but "she".
"Roar!"
True Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon roared. Its wide dragon wings suddenly spread open, and the silver patterns on its body glowed with a faint blue light. It was already ready to attack.
And Yugi said once again, "Next is the effect of Blast Sphere. Once per turn, I will take the Blast Sphere on the field and equip it as an Equip Card to True Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon."
"Then, enter my Battle Phase!"
Following Yugi's command, the mechanical figure disassembled into dozens of parts and automatically flew to various parts of True Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon's body, turning into armor. But most of the parts combined to form a device like an unfolded satellite in front of True Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon.
The front end of the satellite device unfolded and extended, forming a cannon barrel. Only then did Blast Sphere finally explain where the "Cannon" in its name came from.
[True Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon] [ATK4500→4500]
However, what was a bit strange was that even though most Union Monsters all have the effect of increasing the ATK or DEF of the equipped monster after being equipped to a monster, with Blast Sphere being equipped, True Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon did not show any change in ATK or DEF.
"I use True Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon to declare an attack on Dimensional Guide in Attack Position on Dartz's Field." Yugi said, pausing for a moment. Seeing that Kaiba from the side didn't interrupt, he then continued, "Since it's the attack of True Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon equipped with Blast Sphere, then it's called—"
"Specium Energy Amplifier!!"
"How much do you like Mebius!"
Amidst Joey Wheeler's complaining voice, True Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon, after Yugi waved his hand, suddenly spat out intense white light, which collided with that satellite-like device in front of it. The beam that was originally three-in-one spread along Blast Sphere, attacking towards Dimensional Guide!
Seeing this, Dartz suddenly had a strange premonition in his heart. He suddenly looked towards the Dimensional Guide that appeared on his own field.
Before, he didn't pay attention at all to that mysterious monster wearing a cloak, naturally because he knew its effect. Dimensional Guide, when successfully Normal Summoned, can transfer control to the opponent. Then, each time at the End Phase, the opponent from Dimensional Guide's perspective can select one card from its controller's Graveyard and Banish it.
A quite meaningless effect. Looks like it's truly useless. After all, sending an opponent's monster, if it's as annoying as Lava Golem activating its effect during the Standby Phase, would be understandable. But for an effect that only activates during the End Phase, others can simply use it to punch its original owner once, then Tribute it to avoid the effect.
The only meaning is probably just actively sending an Attack Position monster to the opponent after they have built a strong defense, just to create an opening. But Dartz doesn't think the Nameless Pharaoh would forget so quickly that Orichalcos Shunoros in his Spell/Trap Zone has the effect of absorbing battle damage. The talk of an "opening" is just nonsense.
So then, what is the goal of this monster being specifically sent to this side of the field—!
The attack of True Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon actually hit the Dimensional Guide that Yugi sent to Dartz's Field. Although it gained the power of the Seal of Orichalcos, what it faced was after all the Ultimate Dragon, True Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon. It was destroyed and sent back to Yugi's Graveyard without any resistance.
The overflowing 2700 battle damage was absorbed by Orichalcos Shunoros once again before reaching Dartz.
[Orichalcos Shunoros] [Absorbed 7300→10000]
Accumulated so far, the power within Orichalcos Shunoros finally accumulated to a full 10000 points. Dartz looked at Orichalcos Shunoros and smiled. But Yugi looked at the Dimensional Guide that returned to his own Graveyard, and also smiled.
"Dartz, you who have lived for ten thousand years, have you ever heard this saying? Never use cards given to you by others." Yugi said while speaking, reaching out and pointing at the Blast Sphere in front of True Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon. "Because of Rafael, I learned this. Now let me teach you this lesson!"
"As if I had a choice." Dartz glared at Yugi, looking at the Blast Sphere equipped to True Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon. Could it be that the Nameless Pharaoh can still take that monster with only 0 ATK and defeat me in one turn?
Just as he was thinking this, Dartz saw brilliant radiance actually light up on the satellite device that was the transformation of Blast Sphere, which had just boosted the attack of True Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon!?
"When a monster equipped with Blast Sphere destroys an opponent's monster by battle, I can activate the effect of Blast Sphere!" Yugi said with a wave of his hand, "Destroy all monsters on both players' fields that are of the same Type as the destroyed monster—"
"Destroy all!!"
The radiance accumulated on Blast Sphere suddenly radiated, spreading in an instant and affecting all four [Mirror Knight Tokens] on Dartz's Front Row!
Dartz suddenly remembered that the Dimensional Guide that had just been destroyed by battle, although it looks like a Mage pretending to be mysterious, was actually a Warrior-Type monster.
And wouldn't you know it, the [Mirror Knight Tokens] Summoned by Dartz's [Mirror Knight Summoner] just happened to be Warrior-Type monsters, you see~
"How could anyone carry this kind of card!"
Seeing that the spreading wave was about to sweep towards the [Mirror Knight Tokens] on his own field, Dartz was unwilling to accept his combo being dismantled by a weak monster like this. A plan immediately formed in his heart.
"Before activating that effect, you better think carefully, Nameless Pharaoh!" Before Yugi could declare "activate effect", Dartz quietly manipulated the [Seal of Orichalcos] underfoot, pulling out several souls that were supposed to be fed to the [Orichalcos God] from its teeth and stuffing them into the [Mirror Knight Tokens] on the field.
Under the influence of the impact of light, the armor on the heads of the [Mirror Knight Tokens] suddenly cracked and shattered, falling onto the ground and turning into a pile of shattered mirror pieces, revealing four pairs of vacant appearances.
Looking at the faces that appeared before him, the joyful expression that had just appeared on Joey Wheeler's face froze: "This is, Valon?"
"Pegasus?" Looking at the one-eyed vacant-eyed Pegasus, different from the others with vacant eyes, Kaiba was also quite surprised to see this guy here.
And Yugi also widened his eyes, looking at the figures of the two people before him: "Bandit Keith is one thing."
"How could Hayato be here too?"
'Of course I forged it, idiot! How could I possibly harm Hayato? Just by casually changing the appearance of the monsters, I could forge the illusion that Hayato's soul was hidden inside, making these foolish humans hesitate! When it comes to strategy, as expected, Dartz still had superior skill!'
Dartz laughed wildly in his heart, but on the surface wore a cold expression: "Heh heh, of course it's because after Alister and Rafael left, Hayato Kobayashi impatiently launched an attack on me."
"Although I knew from the very beginning that his goal in joining Doma was impure, I also didn't expect he would be so impatient. Just knowing that you, his friends, would be attacked by Rafael and Alister, whom I sent out, he jumped out impatiently." While speaking, Dartz smiled coldly. "But since he's no longer pretending, I simply captured his soul."
"So now, looking at the soul of your former friend being placed into this vessel by me, can you still make up your mind to personally crush your friend's soul?"
While feeling proud, Dartz directly taunted Yugi.
"Nameless Pharaoh, you undoubtedly embody humanity's greatest flaw, which is feelings. While feelings can make humans radiate brilliant radiance, it is precisely the existence of feelings that causes humans, after the radiance fades, to easily fall into the Abyss of Evil, and never be able to climb out again."
"Humans can never overcome their inner darkness!"
Because of the appearance of Hayato and the others' (Pegasus, Valon, Keith: Hey!) souls, Yugi temporarily did not make the decision whether to activate the effect. Dartz's speech designed to mislead people was echoing in this empty Central Hall of the Temple.
But just then, a stumbling figure walked into the Hall, taking a step towards the Altar: "No, that's not it."
A strange voice rang out. Rex turned around to look, somewhat confusedly. As he saw the newcomer's appearance slowly emerge from the shadow and be illuminated by the firelight, his body suddenly stiffened. Pointing at the newcomer with his finger, he said tremblingly, "You, you're that one!"
"Rafael!?" Yugi looked at the figure who appeared in the center of the Temple at this moment, somewhat surprisingly. "You actually woke up?"
"That guy Alister gave me a harsh blow. But thanks to that, I also saw one thing clearly." Rafael moved forward dragging his body with difficulty. Only then, when he stood at a position not far from Dartz, did he slightly relax his body and bow, saying, "Lord Dartz, please stop."
"Rafael, I thought you should have already sacrificed yourself to stop these Invaders, the Nameless Pharaoh and the others. You, who were defeated by Alister's rebellion, just stood up, and you actually came to advise me to stop?"
Across the Seal of Orichalcos, Dartz glanced at Rafael bowing at his side. He didn't even look him in the eye and said coldly,
"Don't you want to see the New World descend? Don't you want the tragedies that befell you, Valon, and Alister to not recur in this world?"
Hearing this, Rafael's body trembled slightly, but he still firmly said, "No, I still want these tragedies to not recur. But Lord Dartz, actions like making the New World descend are fundamentally meaningless. We should believe in humanity itself."
"Oh?"
Hearing this, Dartz's mouth curved up, and he showed a playful expression on his face, looking at Rafael. But the bowing Rafael couldn't see. He just continued saying, "While stubborn darkness certainly exists in human hearts, Alister proved to me that humans can overcome darkness. We don't need New Humans; present humans can achieve this."
While speaking, Rafael took out his Deck from his chest. The top card was surprisingly the Guardian Dreadscythe, which had already turned completely blank.
"I really didn't expect this, Rafael. To actually hear such words from your mouth." Dartz looked at the Deck Rafael took out. His face still wore that smile. "Among the Doma Three Swordsmen, although Alister and Valon both showed much more obvious desire and obsession than you, I know better than anyone that you are the one who stays true to oneself the most."
"Looks like, you now consider yourself to have overcome the darkness in your heart." As if talking to himself, Dartz turned his head away, no longer looking at Rafael. "Hatred, despair, sadness... Humans can eliminate the darkness in their hearts. I knew this long ago."
"What?" Hearing this, Rafael suddenly raised his head. "Then, why are you still—"
"Because that is not humanity's true nature, Rafael." Dartz raised his hand. His slender finger brushed past his emerald green right eye, which was a different color from his bright yellow left eye. "Just like the sunrise and sunset, the darkness in human hearts, when radiance radiates, will certainly be suppressed and eliminated. But when the radiance falls slightly, darkness will grow again."
"Over the past ten thousand years, I have seen many people who easily fall into darkness, and also many who temporarily escaped from darkness. But the ending for these people is the same. In the last, they still fall into darkness again. Without exception for ten thousand years!" Dartz's smile was a bit strange, as if showing contempt for humanity, and also as if feeling lost and sad. "I have lost confidence in humanity. Humanity, this civilization, has no hope!"
"That kind of thing is not absolute, Lord Dartz!" Rafael heard Dartz's words, felt there was still hope to persuade the opponent. He spoke again, "I think human will can overcome darkness. Present humans already can—"
"Your 'feeling' is fundamentally meaningless, Rafael." Dartz's voice suddenly turned cold. He turned his head again to look at Rafael, who had already raised his head. A contemptuous smile reflected in the latter's eyes. "Let's use a simple matter to prove it."
"For example."
"Do you know why your family experienced that shipwreck ten years ago?"
Hearing Yugi's question, Dartz, who always answers questions, replied quite honestly, "It's the 'Mirror Shield Counter', you see."
"When a [Mirror Knight Token] is destroyed by battle and sent to the Graveyard, you can remove one 'Mirror Shield Counter' from it instead."
As Dartz gave the answer, the mirror shield in the hand of the [Mirror Knight Token] that had just attacked suddenly shattered.
"Is that an effect similar to Union Monsters?" Joey Wheeler's eyes widened. While counting the number of [Mirror Knight Tokens] on Dartz's Field, he said, "One, two, three, four, a total of four [Mirror Knight Tokens], and each has one 'Mirror Shield Counter'. Doesn't that mean they can be mutually destroyed with eight monsters of any ATK!?"
But just as Joey Wheeler finished speaking, he saw a brand new, complete shield reappear in the hand of the [Mirror Knight Token] that had just lost a 'Mirror Shield Counter'.
[Mirror Knight Token] [Mirror Shield Counter 1→0→1]
"Ahaha, I forgot to explain. As long as [Mirror Knight Summoner] is present on the Field, each time a 'Mirror Shield Counter' on a [Mirror Knight Token] is removed as a substitute for destruction, you can place another 'Mirror Shield Counter' on that [Mirror Knight Token]."
Dartz wore a subtle smile on his face. "So it's not eight, but infinite, you see."
"Since I cannot destroy [True Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon] this turn, I will first end the Battle Phase, and then in Main Phase 2, I will activate the effect of [Orichalcos Deuteros]. I will gain Life Points equal to the number of monsters on my Field multiplied by 500."
The [Orichalcos Deuteros] domain underfoot radiated light. As Yugi and the others wore grim expressions, Dartz's Life Points increased.
"Because I have a total of six monsters on my Field, my Life Points gain 3000 points." Dartz Set one card and declared, "Set one card. My turn ends."
[Dartz: 10100→13100LP, Hand 1]
[Mirror Knight Token] [ATK500] X4
(Spell/Trap Zone) [Mirror Knight Summoner] [ATK500]
[Orichalcos Shunoros] [DEF500]
[Set Card]
(Field) [Seal of Orichalcos] [Orichalcos Deuteros]
Kaiba frowned and said, "Don't tell me, you people from Doma like using fake cards so much?"
First, they can't be destroyed by battle, then they gain ATK based on the opponent's monsters, and there are a full four such monsters. Besides that, Dartz's Spell/Trap Zone also has [Orichalcos Shunoros] which absorbs battle damage, and finally, there's [Orichalcos Deuteros] which gains Life Points by a ridiculously exaggerated amount. Even Kaiba couldn't help but feel that Dartz's Deck was too fake.
Can't win, how can I win this?
"My turn, draw! Then I activate this Spell Card I drew, Raigeki!"
That's right, just as he was at a loss for what to do, Yugi performed a divine draw and drew a Raigeki!
As expected of Yugi! You easily accomplished something we couldn't do, I really admire you!
"Ya-ta-ze! Raigeki is a powerful card that can destroy all monsters your opponent controls in one go! This way, Dartz's entire field setup will be wiped out!" Joey Wheeler said excitedly, seeing Yugi successfully draw a divine draw. "Go for it, Yugi!"
However, unlike the excited Joey Wheeler, Yugi, who had played Raigeki, didn't celebrate too soon. Instead, he looked at Dartz and said, "Although I also really hope things will develop as you, Joey Wheeler, expect, my intuition tells me that Set card in your Spell/Trap Zone will likely be activated."
"That's true. After all, my field setup is so perfect, isn't it? I've set up defenses almost completely countering 'battle destruction', only leaving 'effect destruction' as a vulnerability," Dartz chuckled as he pressed the button to activate the Set Card. "Thinking that just one Raigeki is enough to end the trial isn't thinking too simply, is it?"
"Chain activation of the Set Card, the Counter Trap Card Solemn Judgment! This card can only be activated when this is the only card Set in my Spell & Trap Zone, by paying 3000 Life Points!"
[Dartz: 13100→10100LP]
Dartz squandered the 3000 Life Points he recovered last turn in one go. Pointing at the Raigeki that appeared in Yugi's Spell/Trap Zone, he said, "When a Monster Effect, Spell Card, or Trap Card is activated, negate the activation and destroy it!"
A white-bearded old man wearing a robe appeared in front of Dartz. With a serious expression that was imposing without being angry, he stretched out his hand and pointed at Raigeki, roaring, "Stop!"
The Raigeki that Yugi activated shattered along with this loud shout. The Raigeki, which could have swept away all Set Cards on Dartz's Field, was negated before it could be released from the card.
Joey Wheeler, who covered his ears, shaken by the loud-voiced old man, couldn't help but show a regretful expression upon seeing this. But what he found strange was that Yugi and Kaiba's faces instead showed smiles.
"Kaiba."
"Hmph, I'll cooperate with you this time, but if you dare waste the power of Blue-Eyes..."
Just exchanging a glance and a few cryptic words, Yugi and Kaiba finished communicating. Only to see Yugi play a card from his hand: "I activate the Spell Card Double Summon! This allows me to Normal Summon twice this turn. Next, I Normal Summon Blast Sphere and Dimensional Guide from my hand."
Three cards were used by Yugi in a row. Only to see a Machine-Type monster appear on Yugi's Field. But the Dimensional Guide that Yugi specifically Normal Summoned using Double Summon actually suddenly moved to Dartz's Field! In the shadow under its cloak, a green emblem of the Seal of Orichalcos faintly lit up?
[Dimensional Guide] [4☆/DARK]
[Warrior-Type/Effect]
[1400/1000→1900/1000]
[Blast Sphere] [1☆/EARTH]
[Machine-Type/Union/Effect]
[0/0]
Although what should have been more attention-grabbing at this moment was the Dimensional Guide that unaccountably moved to Dartz's Field, Dartz, one of the parties involved, didn't pay attention at all to that mysterious monster wearing a cloak. Instead, he looked at the Blast Sphere on Yugi's Field confusedly.
Of course, Dartz wasn't concerned that Blast Sphere looked like a powerful-looking monster with 0 ATK/0 DEF, but rather...
"This monster does not belong to this era." It seemed Yugi saw what Dartz was confused about and took the initiative to answer. "This is a monster from the future. It's a gift given to me by a friend of mine before he returned to the future."
While speaking, Yugi couldn't help but recall the scene a long time ago, after the battle with Paradox ended, where Yusei insisted on stuffing a bunch of cards like Pot of Greed and Graceful Charity into his hands before returning to the future.
He heard that Yusei in the future lives in a place called the Satellite, which is close to a junkyard. The ordinary cards he took were quite rare treasures in the future and could greatly improve the living environment of Yusei and his friends.
Although, Yugi was a bit skeptical about Yusei's claim that "his Deck was picked up from the Scrapyard". After all, given the fluency of Yusei's Deck, how could anyone be so ignorant as to discard it casually?
Of course, this was also because Yugi didn't know that in a few years, someone would look down on cards like Relinquished, and decades later, some people would even think Trishula, Dragon of the Ice Barrier is trash.
"A card from the future, huh? No wonder there is no existence of this card in my impression." Knowing the origin of this unfamiliar card before him, Dartz's eyebrows relaxed slightly.
Dartz, who has lived for ten thousand years, knows better than most people that the power of Card Spirits can reach a certain level where they can print out cards themselves. But what he was concerned about before was that the Machine-Type Blast Sphere seemed unrelated to Yugi's Card Spirits no matter how you looked at it. Now that he knows the card is from the future, it doesn't matter.
After all, you see, that monster only has 0 ATK. Isn't one with 0 ATK just a weak monster?
Dartz was still very confident in his field setup.
Meanwhile, Yugi glanced at the two remaining cards in his hand. Having already finished considering his strategy, he said with a wave of his hand, "During the Main Phase, I activate the effect of True Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon! It—"
"She can make three attacks during this Battle Phase!"
Kaiba from the side snatched Yugi's words before he could finish. Although it seemed like it wouldn't be satisfying unless he was the one to announce the effect of True Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon, Yugi also felt that Kaiba was actually having an OCD attack, insisting on correcting that True Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon is not "it" but "she".
"Roar!"
True Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon roared. Its wide dragon wings suddenly spread open, and the silver patterns on its body glowed with a faint blue light. It was already ready to attack.
And Yugi said once again, "Next is the effect of Blast Sphere. Once per turn, I will take the Blast Sphere on the field and equip it as an Equip Card to True Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon."
"Then, enter my Battle Phase!"
Following Yugi's command, the mechanical figure disassembled into dozens of parts and automatically flew to various parts of True Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon's body, turning into armor. But most of the parts combined to form a device like an unfolded satellite in front of True Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon.
The front end of the satellite device unfolded and extended, forming a cannon barrel. Only then did Blast Sphere finally explain where the "Cannon" in its name came from.
[True Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon] [ATK4500→4500]
However, what was a bit strange was that even though most Union Monsters all have the effect of increasing the ATK or DEF of the equipped monster after being equipped to a monster, with Blast Sphere being equipped, True Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon did not show any change in ATK or DEF.
"I use True Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon to declare an attack on Dimensional Guide in Attack Position on Dartz's Field." Yugi said, pausing for a moment. Seeing that Kaiba from the side didn't interrupt, he then continued, "Since it's the attack of True Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon equipped with Blast Sphere, then it's called—"
"Specium Energy Amplifier!!"
"How much do you like Mebius!"
Amidst Joey Wheeler's complaining voice, True Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon, after Yugi waved his hand, suddenly spat out intense white light, which collided with that satellite-like device in front of it. The beam that was originally three-in-one spread along Blast Sphere, attacking towards Dimensional Guide!
Seeing this, Dartz suddenly had a strange premonition in his heart. He suddenly looked towards the Dimensional Guide that appeared on his own field.
Before, he didn't pay attention at all to that mysterious monster wearing a cloak, naturally because he knew its effect. Dimensional Guide, when successfully Normal Summoned, can transfer control to the opponent. Then, each time at the End Phase, the opponent from Dimensional Guide's perspective can select one card from its controller's Graveyard and Banish it.
A quite meaningless effect. Looks like it's truly useless. After all, sending an opponent's monster, if it's as annoying as Lava Golem activating its effect during the Standby Phase, would be understandable. But for an effect that only activates during the End Phase, others can simply use it to punch its original owner once, then Tribute it to avoid the effect.
The only meaning is probably just actively sending an Attack Position monster to the opponent after they have built a strong defense, just to create an opening. But Dartz doesn't think the Nameless Pharaoh would forget so quickly that Orichalcos Shunoros in his Spell/Trap Zone has the effect of absorbing battle damage. The talk of an "opening" is just nonsense.
So then, what is the goal of this monster being specifically sent to this side of the field—!
The attack of True Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon actually hit the Dimensional Guide that Yugi sent to Dartz's Field. Although it gained the power of the Seal of Orichalcos, what it faced was after all the Ultimate Dragon, True Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon. It was destroyed and sent back to Yugi's Graveyard without any resistance.
The overflowing 2700 battle damage was absorbed by Orichalcos Shunoros once again before reaching Dartz.
[Orichalcos Shunoros] [Absorbed 7300→10000]
Accumulated so far, the power within Orichalcos Shunoros finally accumulated to a full 10000 points. Dartz looked at Orichalcos Shunoros and smiled. But Yugi looked at the Dimensional Guide that returned to his own Graveyard, and also smiled.
"Dartz, you who have lived for ten thousand years, have you ever heard this saying? Never use cards given to you by others." Yugi said while speaking, reaching out and pointing at the Blast Sphere in front of True Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon. "Because of Rafael, I learned this. Now let me teach you this lesson!"
"As if I had a choice." Dartz glared at Yugi, looking at the Blast Sphere equipped to True Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon. Could it be that the Nameless Pharaoh can still take that monster with only 0 ATK and defeat me in one turn?
Just as he was thinking this, Dartz saw brilliant radiance actually light up on the satellite device that was the transformation of Blast Sphere, which had just boosted the attack of True Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon!?
"When a monster equipped with Blast Sphere destroys an opponent's monster by battle, I can activate the effect of Blast Sphere!" Yugi said with a wave of his hand, "Destroy all monsters on both players' fields that are of the same Type as the destroyed monster—"
"Destroy all!!"
The radiance accumulated on Blast Sphere suddenly radiated, spreading in an instant and affecting all four [Mirror Knight Tokens] on Dartz's Front Row!
Dartz suddenly remembered that the Dimensional Guide that had just been destroyed by battle, although it looks like a Mage pretending to be mysterious, was actually a Warrior-Type monster.
And wouldn't you know it, the [Mirror Knight Tokens] Summoned by Dartz's [Mirror Knight Summoner] just happened to be Warrior-Type monsters, you see~
"How could anyone carry this kind of card!"
Seeing that the spreading wave was about to sweep towards the [Mirror Knight Tokens] on his own field, Dartz was unwilling to accept his combo being dismantled by a weak monster like this. A plan immediately formed in his heart.
"Before activating that effect, you better think carefully, Nameless Pharaoh!" Before Yugi could declare "activate effect", Dartz quietly manipulated the [Seal of Orichalcos] underfoot, pulling out several souls that were supposed to be fed to the [Orichalcos God] from its teeth and stuffing them into the [Mirror Knight Tokens] on the field.
Under the influence of the impact of light, the armor on the heads of the [Mirror Knight Tokens] suddenly cracked and shattered, falling onto the ground and turning into a pile of shattered mirror pieces, revealing four pairs of vacant appearances.
Looking at the faces that appeared before him, the joyful expression that had just appeared on Joey Wheeler's face froze: "This is, Valon?"
"Pegasus?" Looking at the one-eyed vacant-eyed Pegasus, different from the others with vacant eyes, Kaiba was also quite surprised to see this guy here.
And Yugi also widened his eyes, looking at the figures of the two people before him: "Bandit Keith is one thing."
"How could Hayato be here too?"
'Of course I forged it, idiot! How could I possibly harm Hayato? Just by casually changing the appearance of the monsters, I could forge the illusion that Hayato's soul was hidden inside, making these foolish humans hesitate! When it comes to strategy, as expected, Dartz still had superior skill!'
Dartz laughed wildly in his heart, but on the surface wore a cold expression: "Heh heh, of course it's because after Alister and Rafael left, Hayato Kobayashi impatiently launched an attack on me."
"Although I knew from the very beginning that his goal in joining Doma was impure, I also didn't expect he would be so impatient. Just knowing that you, his friends, would be attacked by Rafael and Alister, whom I sent out, he jumped out impatiently." While speaking, Dartz smiled coldly. "But since he's no longer pretending, I simply captured his soul."
"So now, looking at the soul of your former friend being placed into this vessel by me, can you still make up your mind to personally crush your friend's soul?"
While feeling proud, Dartz directly taunted Yugi.
"Nameless Pharaoh, you undoubtedly embody humanity's greatest flaw, which is feelings. While feelings can make humans radiate brilliant radiance, it is precisely the existence of feelings that causes humans, after the radiance fades, to easily fall into the Abyss of Evil, and never be able to climb out again."
"Humans can never overcome their inner darkness!"
Because of the appearance of Hayato and the others' (Pegasus, Valon, Keith: Hey!) souls, Yugi temporarily did not make the decision whether to activate the effect. Dartz's speech designed to mislead people was echoing in this empty Central Hall of the Temple.
But just then, a stumbling figure walked into the Hall, taking a step towards the Altar: "No, that's not it."
A strange voice rang out. Rex turned around to look, somewhat confusedly. As he saw the newcomer's appearance slowly emerge from the shadow and be illuminated by the firelight, his body suddenly stiffened. Pointing at the newcomer with his finger, he said tremblingly, "You, you're that one!"
"Rafael!?" Yugi looked at the figure who appeared in the center of the Temple at this moment, somewhat surprisingly. "You actually woke up?"
"That guy Alister gave me a harsh blow. But thanks to that, I also saw one thing clearly." Rafael moved forward dragging his body with difficulty. Only then, when he stood at a position not far from Dartz, did he slightly relax his body and bow, saying, "Lord Dartz, please stop."
"Rafael, I thought you should have already sacrificed yourself to stop these Invaders, the Nameless Pharaoh and the others. You, who were defeated by Alister's rebellion, just stood up, and you actually came to advise me to stop?"
Across the Seal of Orichalcos, Dartz glanced at Rafael bowing at his side. He didn't even look him in the eye and said coldly,
"Don't you want to see the New World descend? Don't you want the tragedies that befell you, Valon, and Alister to not recur in this world?"
Hearing this, Rafael's body trembled slightly, but he still firmly said, "No, I still want these tragedies to not recur. But Lord Dartz, actions like making the New World descend are fundamentally meaningless. We should believe in humanity itself."
"Oh?"
Hearing this, Dartz's mouth curved up, and he showed a playful expression on his face, looking at Rafael. But the bowing Rafael couldn't see. He just continued saying, "While stubborn darkness certainly exists in human hearts, Alister proved to me that humans can overcome darkness. We don't need New Humans; present humans can achieve this."
While speaking, Rafael took out his Deck from his chest. The top card was surprisingly the Guardian Dreadscythe, which had already turned completely blank.
"I really didn't expect this, Rafael. To actually hear such words from your mouth." Dartz looked at the Deck Rafael took out. His face still wore that smile. "Among the Doma Three Swordsmen, although Alister and Valon both showed much more obvious desire and obsession than you, I know better than anyone that you are the one who stays true to oneself the most."
"Looks like, you now consider yourself to have overcome the darkness in your heart." As if talking to himself, Dartz turned his head away, no longer looking at Rafael. "Hatred, despair, sadness... Humans can eliminate the darkness in their hearts. I knew this long ago."
"What?" Hearing this, Rafael suddenly raised his head. "Then, why are you still—"
"Because that is not humanity's true nature, Rafael." Dartz raised his hand. His slender finger brushed past his emerald green right eye, which was a different color from his bright yellow left eye. "Just like the sunrise and sunset, the darkness in human hearts, when radiance radiates, will certainly be suppressed and eliminated. But when the radiance falls slightly, darkness will grow again."
"Over the past ten thousand years, I have seen many people who easily fall into darkness, and also many who temporarily escaped from darkness. But the ending for these people is the same. In the last, they still fall into darkness again. Without exception for ten thousand years!" Dartz's smile was a bit strange, as if showing contempt for humanity, and also as if feeling lost and sad. "I have lost confidence in humanity. Humanity, this civilization, has no hope!"
"That kind of thing is not absolute, Lord Dartz!" Rafael heard Dartz's words, felt there was still hope to persuade the opponent. He spoke again, "I think human will can overcome darkness. Present humans already can—"
"Your 'feeling' is fundamentally meaningless, Rafael." Dartz's voice suddenly turned cold. He turned his head again to look at Rafael, who had already raised his head. A contemptuous smile reflected in the latter's eyes. "Let's use a simple matter to prove it."
"For example."
"Do you know why your family experienced that shipwreck ten years ago?"
