Agony, accompanied by a heavy attack, pierced through Judai's body like lightning.
That was the Supreme King's power, emphasized in this dimension where all duel damage is real, tangible impact. Barely eight hundred points of damage came with an almost suffocating icy shock.
But right now, Judai felt that wasn't entirely a bad thing.
At least it cleared his mind.
"My turn, draw!" Judai said, "Activate 'Pot of Greed', draw two cards. Then activate Magic Card 'Takes Over 5' from my hand! Discard the top five cards from the deck to the graveyard!"
He flipped over five cards at once and sent them to the graveyard, quickly playing another card: "Magic Card 'O - Oversoul'! Special Summon a Normal Monster 'Elemental Hero' from the graveyard.
Come forth! Elemental Hero Neos!"
A rainbow-colored beam of light shot out from the vortex of the graveyard, as the white Elemental Hero from the cosmic realm returned in response to the distant call.
[Elemental Hero Neos, ATK 2500]
"Neos, that Monster is now your symbol in this duel," the Supreme King said solemnly, "Then bring down both yourself and that Monster in this duel."
"The one who will disappear is you!" Judai retorted, "I'll Normal Summon 'Neo-Spacian Dark Panther'!"
The black panther leapt out and landed before Judai, even winking at him: "Leave it to me!"
[Neo-Spacian Dark Panther, ATK 1000]
"Activate Dark Panther's effect," Judai said, "Once per turn, it can transform into one face-up Monster on the opponent's field. This turn, Dark Panther can be used as that Monster's same-name card and gain the same Monster effect!"
He pointed to the Supreme King's field.
"I'm going to acquire the effect of 'Evil Hero Lightning Golem'!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Dark Panther's entire body seemed to dissolve, turning into a pool of black mire. It quickly reshaped, rising from the swamp into the form of a steel giant, surrounded by pitch-black lightning.
"Using Dark Panther as 'Lightning Golem', activate the effect!" Judai continued, "Once per turn, destroy an opponent's Monster on the field.
Go, destroy 'Evil Hero Lightning Golem'!"
The faux Lightning Golem raised its right hand, spread its fingers wide, and the pitch-black electric current struck its own kind. Lightning Golem roared furiously, but even so, it couldn't resist its own thunderbolts, being shattered into pieces by a single strike.
"Battle!" Judai said, "Neo-Spacian Dark Panther, attack 'Ra's Disciple'!"
[Ra's Disciple, DEF 600]
Axe of Fools strengthened Disciple's ATK, but the Monster summoned via "Give and Take" is in Defense position, and its DEF wasn't enhanced. Dark Panther effortlessly tore through Disciple along with its armor.
"Neos, direct attack!"
Judai continued the command, Neos leapt forward, performing a magnificent somersault, its knife hand slashing towards the Supreme King's face.
"It's useless. Open Set Card, Trap 'Guardian's Wall'." Said the Supreme King, "Make one battle damage zero, then draw a card."
Neos' attack was blocked, but Judai wasn't too surprised.
"I knew it wouldn't be so easily passed..." He said, "Then I'll Set a card, turn is over."
"Then it's my turn, draw."
Looking at the drawn card, the Supreme King didn't hesitate to play it directly: "Magic Card 'Dark Calling'! Banish Fusion Material Monsters from my hand and graveyard out of the game, for a Dark Fusion Summon of an Evil Hero Fusion Monster.
I will banish the 'Evil Hero Malicious Edge' and 'Evil Hero Lightning Golem' discarded from last turn from the game.
The Fusion materials are 'Evil Hero Malicious Edge' plus a level six or higher Fiend-Type Monster, Dark Fusion! Appear——
——Evil Hero Malicious Fiend!!!"
Two streams of dark current shot into the chaotic vortex, a surge of chaotic energy exploded, and the black-clad hero charged out from the energy storm. His head was adorned with steel blades styled like a gothic hairdo, each finger fitted with claw-like blades, glinting with icy cold light.
[Evil Hero Malicious Fiend, ATK 3500]
"Then activate the effect of 'Evil Hero Sinister Necrom' in the graveyard. Banish this card from the game to Special Summon any 'Evil Hero' Monster from the deck.
I banish Sinister Necrom from the game, and Special Summon 'Evil Hero Malicious Edge' from the deck!"
A black shadow flew out from the Supreme King's deck, morphing into the image of an Evil Hero clad in black tights, holding lethal claws, the grin under the helm still carried a wicked smile.
[Evil Hero Malicious Edge, ATK 2600]
"Then 'Evil Hero Infernal Gainer' Normal Summon!"
[Evil Hero Infernal Gainer, ATK 1600]
Judai held his breath in focus: "In one swoop, three Evil Heroes..."
"Battle," The Supreme King declared, "'Evil Hero Malicious Fiend', attack 'Elemental Hero Neos'!
And at this moment, the effect of Field Magic 'Supreme King Castle' activates. Send level eight 'Evil Hero Dark Gaia' from the extra deck to the graveyard, and increase Malicious Fiend's ATK by 1600 until the end of the turn!"
[Evil Hero Malicious Fiend, ATK 3500 →ATK 5100]
The Malicious Fiend approached like a specter, its claws leaving transparent blade trails in the air, slashing straight down from Judai's head!
"Then discard 'Kuriboh' from the hand, activate effect!" Judai shouted, "Make one battle damage zero!"
"Kuriboh Kuri Kuri Kuri!"
Kuriboh jumped out with an "extreme fierce" expression, using its small body to block the lethal strike, though Neos was still shattered amidst the impact.
But the Supreme King wasn't surprised, as if he had anticipated this, he continued: "Then 'Evil Hero Malicious Edge', continue the attack, attack 'Neo-Spacian Dark Panther'."
Malicious Edge received the command, the arc of its mouth continued to widen. It leaped with astonishing agility, sweeping its arms fan-shaped across the air, silver blades flashed down from above, slicing the Dark Panther into a sieve.
[Judai, LP 3200 →LP 1600]
This impact was even more intense, a dark vortex lashed over Judai like countless whip strikes, making him stagger backward, his legs struggling to maintain balance.
"Judai!" Asuka was the first to cry out in worry.
"...I'm fine." Judai took a deep breath and stood up again.
"The next hit won't be fine." The Supreme King said solemnly, "Evil Hero Infernal Gainer, effect activation. During the Battle Phase, temporarily banish this card that hasn't attacked, granting the Fiend-Type on the field a second attack opportunity." (Animation effect)
The Infernal Gainer's form flickered, turning into a phantom image disappearing from the field with dimensional distortions.
"The Monster I choose is 'Evil Hero Malicious Fiend', this turn it can make a second attack."
[Evil Hero Malicious Fiend, ATK 5100]
"It's bad," Ed said solemnly, "Judai no longer has a Monster to defend with..."
"Fall into eternal slumber, my shadow!" The Supreme King shouted, "Malicious Fiend, direct attack!"
No barriers remained, with an ATK of 5000, Malicious Fiend flashed forward again, blades carrying sharp sonic booms, slicing straight toward Judai's face!
Judai pushed through the darkness that almost froze movement, taking a step forward and swung his arm: "Activate Trap - Hero Visit! During an opponent's attack declaration, they must randomly choose one of their own cards from their hand.
If the card is a Monster Card, it Summons on the field. If not, it must be sent to the graveyard!"
Supreme King: "You only have one card in your hand."
"That's right, so you can only choose this one." Judai raised his voice, playing the sole remaining card from his hand, "Therefore, according to 'Hero Visit's effect, I'll Special Summon this card directly——
——Come forth, Yubel!!!"