"It's indeed a luxurious opening."
Yugen observed Ed's field at the first turn with a smile.
An Eight-Star Monster, Destiny Hero: Dogma, with the Clock Tower field of the Destiny Heroes, plus two Cover Cards in the backfield, is indeed luxurious.
"Then on my side, it seems I have no choice but to get a bit serious." Yugen said, "My turn, draw card."
"At the moment the standby phase begins, the effect of 'Destiny Hero: Dogma' activates!" Ed shouted, "As long as Dogma is on the field, during each of your opponent's standby phases, the opponent's Life Points become halved!" (Original effect)
Although the physical card retains this effect, it is weakened as per usual conventions. In the original animation, the effect activates every turn as long as Dogma is on the field, but as a physical card, it was changed to activate only during the next standby phase of the opponent after Dogma is Special Summoned, becoming a one-time effect.
The power of Dogma activates, and a towering pillar of light rises beneath Yugen's feet, simultaneously, a similar light circle appears under Yugen's feet, and the pillar of light towers into the sky, as if a scorching energy burns.
[Yugen, LP 4000→LP 2000]
It is worth mentioning that Dogma's effect is to "make the opponent's Life Points become halved," not "deal damage to the opponent equal to half of their current Life Points."
Thus, this effect determines to directly modify Life Points rather than be effect damage. In other words, whether it's a rebound like a Hellfire Sniper or immunity to effect damage like Feathered Cotton Ball, they cannot block this move.
It can be said that Dogma's attack is a sure hit unless it is directly negated, there is almost no defense.
"This is the power of a hero who bears the heavy fate of battle." Ed said, "Unlike someone like Yuki Judai!"
"Haha alright, if you say it's different, then it's different."
Yugen laughed.
"Activate the Magic Card 'Angel's Charity', draw three cards from the deck, then discard two cards from the hand."
"Because 'Scholar Spirit' was discarded from the hand, when this card is sent to the graveyard, I can draw one more card."
"Next, I activate the Ritual Magic 'Fantasy Ritual' from my hand. From my hand and field, I take Monsters totaling Level 1 or more as sacrifices, and Ritual Summon the 'Sacrificial Demon'."
Ed's face slightly changed: "Sacrificial Demon?"
"From the hand, I take the Level Three 'Changeable Air Hummingbird' as a sacrifice, Ritual Summon!"
Yugen snapped his fingers. The form of the Changeable Air Hummingbird appeared in mid-air, quickly transforming into a beam of purple light that flew into the ritual altar.
Torrential energy quickly erupted, a grim single eye opened in the chaos, and the Sacrificial Demon stretched its body, scanning the field ominously.
[Sacrificial Demon, Attack Power 0]
"Effect of Sacrificial Demon." Yugen said, "Once per turn, absorb one monster on the opponent's field as an Equipment Card."
He paused, then chuckled slightly.
"Since your Destiny Heroes bear such a heavy fate, let me help relieve them.
Sacrificial Demon, absorb 'Destiny Hero: Dogma'."
The single eye of the Sacrificial Demon seemed to widen, and a terrifying suction erupted instantly. The powerful force unceremoniously pulled Dogma towards the Sacrificial Demon.
"Activate the Cover Card, Speed Attack Magic 'Effect Confinement'!" Ed shouted, "Negate the activation of the Monster Effect and destroy it!" (Original Card)
The body of the Sacrificial Demon was confined and bound, and it exploded violently, turning into shattered pieces.
"The fate of a hero isn't something that just any creature can bear." Ed said coldly.
"Hahaha, I think so too." Yugen said, "Then, I normally summon 'Synthetic Air Hummingbird'."
A cyclone swirled in the field, with the airflow forming a circular shape. The small Synthetic Air Hummingbird curled up within.
[Synthetic Air Hummingbird, Attack Power 1000]
"When Synthetic Air Hummingbird is successfully summoned, Special Summon a 'Air Hummingbird' of Four-Star or lower from the graveyard."
Yugen received a card ejected from the graveyard.
"The Changeable Air Hummingbird I just sent to the graveyard as ritual material is Special Summoned."
[Changeable Air Hummingbird, Attack Power 100]
"Monsters with Attack Power of only 100 and 1000 in attack position?" Ed frowned.
"From my hand, I activate the Magic Card 'Attack Seal', forcibly changing monsters in attack position on the field to defense position." Yugen said, "Change 'Destiny Hero: Dogma' to defense position."
Though the formidable hero was extremely unwilling, he couldn't resist the constraints of magic. He grunted under the magical confinement, struggled, but his body trembled and knelt under an invisible bind, crossing his arms in front.
[Destiny Hero: Dogma, Attack Power 3400→Defense Power 2400]
"Changeable Air Hummingbird's effect, by discarding one card from the hand, can absorb the opponent's face-up defense position monster as an Equipment Card."
Ed: "!!!"
Another absorption!?
"I discard one card from my hand." Yugen said, "Absorb 'Destiny Hero: Dogma'!"
Changeable Air Hummingbird shrieked, and a transparent cyclone caught Dogma. Dogma roared mightily but was futile in resistance, ending up obediently bound under the tiny bird's cyclone, manipulated like a puppet.
[Changeable Air Hummingbird, Attack Power 100→Attack Power 3500]
"Changeable Air Hummingbird gains the Attack Power value of the absorbed monster." Yugen said, "Also, the card I discarded is the Magic Card 'Card of Compensation'. When this card is sent from the hand to the graveyard, draw two cards from the deck."
Yugen drew two more cards, glanced at them, then waved his hand.
"Direct attack by Changeable Air Hummingbird!"
Ed gritted his teeth.
You've got to be kidding, a direct attack by these two birds would be an OTK?
First came the Sacrificial Demon, now this wretched bird... where did all these Minotaurs come from?
"Activate the Trap 'Guardian Defense Wall'!" Ed shouted, "Reduce one battle damage to 0, and then draw a card from the deck!"
A transparent defense wall appeared in front. The sword-wielded by Dogma controlled by the Air Hummingbird struck the transparent barrier, narrowly avoiding the embarrassment of one-hit knocking out the bosses.
"I draw a card from the deck!"
Ed also drew a card.
"Then there's the 'Synthetic Air Hummingbird', direct attack." Yugen said.
This time, Ed had indeed exhausted all defensive means. The Air Hummingbird slammed into him, and Ed staggered backward with a groan.
[Ed, LP 4000→LP 3000]
"After the battle ends, 'Changeable Air Hummingbird' automatically returns to defense position." Yugen said, "Then activate Continuous Magic 'Nightmare Mirage Tower', can draw cards from the deck in the opponent's standby phase until the hand count becomes four cards.
Finally, set two cards face-down, turn ends."
Yugen pointed to Dogma absorbed by the Air Hummingbird on their field.
"And Changeable Air Hummingbird's absorption of the equipped effect only lasts for one turn. At the end of the turn, the 'Destiny Hero: Dogma' equipped to it returns to the opponent's field."
The Air Hummingbird finally released the binds of the cyclone beneath it, and Dogma immediately flew back to Ed's field.
Ed took a deep breath.
Today, he was indeed exceptionally serious.
He had never even taken out the Hero Card Deck in professional circle competitions until now, let alone have Elemental Heroes appear; Destiny Heroes had never seen the light of day. Today he not only directly displayed his trump at the start but also achieved such a formation in the first round, with his strongest trump card Dogma, with means to counter Monster effects with both offensive and defensive capabilities...
Yet such a formation was almost effortlessly unraveled by the opponent, who still managed to force him into such a predicament.
As expected, his caution wasn't wrong; this adversary might be the most powerful he has ever faced since his debut... or possibly the strongest.
Ed propped himself up with his knees to stand, showing no fear as battle intent flowed in his eyes.
He is a Duelist, a Professional Duelist, and aims to become the world champion.
Only an opponent like this makes it worth going all out to defeat.