The dark air current swept in, engulfing the Air Hummingbird that had descended. The shape of the Air Hummingbird began to transform under the cloak of darkness, morphing into a sinister and eerie entity.
Countless eyes opened one after another, covering the entire twisted body. A supremely terrifying creature seemed to awaken in the darkness, coldly surveying everything.
[Thousand-Eyed Sacrificial Demon, Attack Power 0]
"Thousand-Eyed Sacrificial Demon's effect: once per turn, absorbs an opponent's monster on the field as equipment."
Yugen lazily raised his hand.
"Since you don't want me to absorb the Sprinter, I'll leave it to you. What I want to absorb is this one..."
He smiled slightly.
"'Destiny Hero: Dogma', as equipment for Thousand-Eyed Sacrificial Demon."
Ed: "..."
A majestic darkness erupted from Thousand-Eyed Sacrificial Demon, wrapping Dogma within without any hesitation. The powerful Destiny Hero let out a mighty roar, but ultimately was helplessly dragged and absorbed by the darkness, with eyes turning white, being absorbed into the body of Thousand-Eyed Sacrificial Demon like a puppet.
"Thousand-Eyed Sacrificial Demon's attack power increases to match the attack power of the equipped monster."
[Thousand-Eyed Sacrificial Demon, Attack Power 0 → Attack Power 3400]
Ed's mouth twitched slightly.
The Changeable Air Hummingbird transformed into the Thousand-Eyed Sacrificial Demon, from one Minotaur into another even more otherworldly Minotaur...
In the past, this was a scene unimaginable even in dreams.
But now it was happening, truly, right before his eyes.
It even made him question for a moment.
Could it really be destiny?
Was his hero, no matter how he struggled, destined to be taken by the opponent?
"Equipment Magic 'Blast Flame Piercing', equip to a monster on the field." Yugen continued his operations, "I'm giving this card to 'Thousand-Eyed Sacrificial Demon' as equipment.
The equipped monster gains a 400-point attack power increase, and when attacking a defending monster, if the attack power exceeds the defense power, it gains piercing damage."
[Thousand-Eyed Sacrificial Demon, Attack Power 3400 → Attack Power 3800]
"Thousand-Eyed Sacrificial Demon, attack 'Destiny Hero: Sprinter'."
[Destiny Hero: Sprinter, Defense Power 1000]
The attack-defense disparity was colossal, like a crushing blow. With the added piercing ability of Blast Flame Piercing, the monster dealt an immense 2800 points of damage.
And Yugen still had Synthesize Air Hummingbird without attacking. If he continued the onslaught, it would result in a decisive victory!
At this moment, Ed's heart was shaken.
He had known Saio since childhood and firmly believed in the concept of destiny because Saio's predictions had never failed, making him believe that everyone truly had a destiny.
If all his victories up to now were arranged by destiny, was it possible that destiny was also arranging for his defeat today?
No, impossible.
Ed shook his head to rid himself of such thoughts.
His tarot card was the Chariot, symbolizing absolute victory and the utter dismantling of opponents. All these years, in countless duels, such a prediction had never changed.
No matter the opponent, he would win, and he would keep winning until he found the Ultimate D card and the culprit who destroyed his life,
"Activate cover card, Trap Card 'Endless Fear'!"
Ed shouted.
The Trap Card flipped, and an enormous 'D' symbol, like a spotlight, appeared behind the clock tower he stood by.
The clock's hands on the tower immediately accelerated, whirring like mad. It was as if some invisible force was spinning the hands of time, moving forward rapidly in the nick of time.
At almost the same instant, the long sword wielded by Dogma, controlled by Thousand-Eyed Sacrificial Demon, slashed out.
The armor of the Sprinter was sliced like butter, and with a wretched groan, it exploded on the spot. Flames and shockwaves swept toward Ed's side of the field, engulfing him entirely.
[Ed, LP 3000]
Unharmed.
The smoke cleared slowly, and Ed still stood poised beneath the clock tower. Yet, his field began to shimmer, as if an invisible refraction barrier stood before him.
"Oh? You defended with Clock Tower, I see." Yugen nodded, "When Clock Tower has four or more time indicators, the controller is immune to any battle damage—an impressive last-minute defense."
Though Ed perfectly defended against the attack, his brows furrowed even more.
The hidden effect of Netherworld Clock Tower: when four or more "Time Indicators" appear on the tower, its true power activates. As long as Clock Tower with four or more "Time Indicators" is present on the field, its controller takes no battle damage.
And the Trap "Endless Fear" he just activated was specifically used in conjunction with Netherworld Clock Tower. Endless Fear can instantly place two "Time Indicators" on Netherworld Clock Tower.
Netherworld Clock Tower had already gained one indicator during each of Yugen's two preparation phases, and now gained two more due to the trap, totaling exactly four Time Indicators. Thus, in this arena, Ed had the strongest shield, fully immune to battle damage.
The problem was, how did Revolver know about this?
Ed grew increasingly wary.
He had hardly used the Destiny Hero cards in front of others, not even in the professional arena. Destiny Hero had been designed by his father back then, the only set in the world, never officially released, and there shouldn't be any information about this deck in any public records.
What kind of person was this Revolver? How did he appear to know even the effects of the Clock Tower?
Could he really possess the power to see through destiny like Saio did?
Was what he said true? Did dueling against him mean facing the wheels of destiny... just like those duelists who had faced Ed previously?
"The Clock Tower has reached four indicators, so continuing to attack is meaningless. I'm done." Yugen said nonchalantly.
"Battle phase ends.
I will now switch the 'Synthetic Air Hummingbird', which hasn't attacked yet, from attack to defense mode. End of turn."
[Synthetic Air Hummingbird, Attack Power 1000 → Defense Power 1000]
It is worth mentioning that when the physical card Thousand-Eyed Sacrificial Demon is on the field, all other monsters on both sides cannot attack except it. But the original animation effect is that only the opponent's monsters cannot attack.
So if it weren't for Ed having amassed four time indicators at this critical moment, earning the Clock Tower's protection, he would have been taken out by the Synthetic Air Hummingbird by now.
But now, although Yugen has no attack restriction, as long as Thousand-Eyed Sacrificial Demon is on the field, Ed still cannot attack.
"Oh, by the way, Thousand-Eyed Sacrificial Demon is not an Air Hummingbird, absorbing monsters isn't just for one turn." Yugen chuckled, "If you were expecting Dogma to return to your field at the end of the turn, you'll be disappointed."
With a stern expression, Ed did not reply, instead saying firmly,
"My turn, draw card!"