"Special summon four Sword Fighting Beasts from the card deck."
Yugen placed four cards down in one go.
"The effect of 'Sword Fighting Beast - Blind Fighting' allows the special summon of these two Sword Fighting Beasts.
Sword Fighting Beast - Gun Fight! Sword Fighting Beast - Net Fighting!"
[Sword Fighting Beast - Gun Fight, Attack Power 1600]
[Sword Fighting Beast - Net Fighting, Attack Power 1200]
"The effect of 'Sword Fighting Beast Caesar' summons these two.
Sword Fighting Beast - Augustus! Sword Fighting Beast - Double Fight!"
[Sword Fighting Beast - Augustus, Attack Power 2600]
[Sword Fighting Beast - Double Fight, Attack Power 1600]
"The effect of Sword Fighting Beast - Net Fighting." Yugen stated, "When summoning with the effect of the Sword Fighting Beast, you can exclude one card from the opponent's graveyard.
Of course, I'll exclude this one..."
Yugen pointed maliciously at Yubel's graveyard.
"Exclude 'Yubel' from the game."
Yubel's pupils contracted.
Digging up my grave again?
And this time, even pointedly digging up her own body's coffin...
"The hated knight, the extremely sorrowful Demon Dragon, these two cards were restricted to special summon only through the previous stage of Yubel's effect. In other words, even if properly summoned, they can't be revived from the graveyard through other means."
Yugen calmly stated.
"However, through Yubel's effect, they can be tiered up from either the card deck or the graveyard."
The core of Yubel's deck is naturally her own self. It's not difficult to predict that her main objective will be to bring her first stage back from the graveyard, then she can transform into the second and third stage for another round.
But if her true form is kicked out of the game, then all of this is off the table.
"Set two cards, end turn." Yugen.
Yubel pondered.
Another four Sword Fighting Beasts...
After battle, they can constantly switch into new Sword Fighting Beasts, and each wave comes with terrifying explosive card capabilities like flattening everything.
Even Yubel had to admit now... how strong.
Perhaps... this really is the opponent she can't handle with her current level of revival.
Maybe, this truly will be her last battle.
Yubel lowered her head, looking at the Duel Disc extending from her hand and the card deck on it, remaining silent for a long time.
"Sorry, Judai." She suddenly spoke softly, "I might have to break my promise, unable to... return to your side."
This time, she might really not be able to win.
But even so...
She raised her head, the flames in her heterochromatic eyes still burned.
"Oh?" Yugen said, "Haven't given up yet?"
"Give up? What a joke."
Yubel snorted.
"Do you know how much pain I endured to return to this planet? Compared to all that, this is just... what's it supposed to be?!"
Yes, it was already decided. For Judai, she could resort to any means, sacrifice everything.
The duel isn't over, nor is she at her wits' end.
"My turn, draw a card!"
Yubel was still struggling, she could still fight.
"Activate the Magic Card 'Dark Temptation'!
Draw two cards from the deck, then exclude a Dark Attribute monster from the hand from the game. If there are no Dark Attributes in hand, send all cards in the hand to the graveyard!"
Yubel drew two cards and then threw a Monster Card into the air. The card was absorbed into the dimensional vortex and disappeared.
"Next is the Magic Card 'Pot of Great Desire'!" Yubel shouted, "Select three excluded monsters from the excluded cards, return those three monsters to the card deck, shuffle, and then draw one card from the deck!
I'll return the excluded 'Yubel', 'Split Demon Realm Rose', and the recently excluded three Dark Attribute monsters to the deck, shuffle, then draw a card!"
Yugen: "Oh? Is this a temporary means to recover the main body?"
He squinted his eyes: "And then, do you plan to rely on just this one draw to pull it back?"
Well, considering it's an Elf itself playing, having a bond of this degree isn't surprising...
"Not necessary!"
Yubel said coldly.
"Normal summon 'Killer Tomato'!"
[Killer Tomato, Attack Power 1400]
Yugen understood.
Oh, there's that move too.
"Battle!" Yubel said, "Killer Tomato, attack 'Sword Fighting Beast - Gun Fight'!"
Killer Tomato launched a kamikaze attack, naturally being pierced through by Gun Fight in one hit, exiting in an explosion.
[Yubel, LP 9700 → LP 9500]
"The effect of Killer Tomato, when destroyed by battle, special summon a Dark Attribute monster with attack power 1500 or less from the deck in attack position."
She paused, then smirked.
"And I myself am a Dark Attribute with 1500 or less attack power! Return to the field, my doppelgänger—
—Yubel!!!"
The dragon's skeletal wings spread open again, the demon body with dual features, though covered in scars, the eyes reflecting loneliness and sorrow, yet not lacking the determination to face fate.
[Yubel, Attack Power 0]
"Yubel, attack 'Sword Fighting Beast - Augustus'!"
Yubel's eyes turned blood-red, enticing the Sword Fighting Warrior to strike.
This time, Yubel finally succeeded. Augustus couldn't restrain himself, let out a roar, swung his great sword, and violently struck Yubel. The impact was entirely absorbed by the entwining vines and rebounded back at Yugen himself.
[Yugen, LP 4700 → LP 2100]
Success!
Yubel's excitement was hard to contain.
Finally, at the very last, she managed a hit somehow.
So it turns out this person isn't as invincible as it seems, his life points aren't unshakeable.
There's still a chance!
"To not give up until now, your determination is impressive." Yugen patted off the dust on himself.
"Nonsense." Yubel coldly said, "I said, anyone who impedes me and Judai must be destroyed."
Dangerous light flared in her eyes once more.
"Even if the cost for that is my own self."
Yugen: "Very good, very good, that's the spirit."
Yubel gave him an inexplicable look and snorted coldly: "End phase, special summon 'Sacrificial Lotus' from the graveyard."
[Sacrificial Lotus, Attack Power 0]
"During the end phase, if Yubel doesn't sacrifice a monster, she must be destroyed." Yubel said, "I'll use Sacrificial Lotus as a sacrifice, end of turn."
At this point, she suddenly remembered something and frowned: "Your Sword Fighting Beasts battled this turn, aren't they returning to the card deck?"
Yugen slapped his forehead: "Oops, look at my memory. I completely forgot..."
Yubel stared at him expressionlessly.
"Ah ha ha, alright, it seems like you don't quite believe it." Yugen laughed, "In fact, because it's no longer necessary."
"What?" Yubel frowned.
"My turn, draw card." Yugen said calmly, "I've already seen your determination, that's enough. Now it's about time to bring this duel to a close.
I summon 'Spartan Sorcerer'."
[Spartan Sorcerer, Attack Power 400]
Yubel frowned.
What is this thing?
"Let's continue the battle then."
Yugen said in a light-hearted tone.
"'Sword Fighting Beast - Augustus', attack 'Yubel'."
"What!?"
Yubel was shocked.
Attacking even though you know I have a counter ability...
She gritted her teeth, feeling something was off, but with no other choice at the moment, she shouted.
"If you're seeking death, then I'll oblige you... Yubel, counterattack!"
As expected, Augustus's sword strike had no effect on Yubel, and the sword's impact was reflected back by the thorny vines.
"But during the attack declaration, my trap has already been activated."
Yubel: "!"
Activating a trap during the attack declaration?
"Trap Card 'Natural Reflection'." Yugen said calmly, "This turn, all effect damage that the opponent inflicts to my Life Points... is all reflected back to the opponent."
Yubel's pupils contracted.
Her own effect was that any battle damage inflicted to this card becomes 0, and it inflicts damage equal to the negated damage value to the opponent.
It definitely belongs to the type of "inflicting damage to the opponent" effect.
And with all the effect damage being reflected within this turn, doesn't that mean...
"That's right, Augustus's Attack Power is 2600. So Yubel reflects 2600 points of damage to me," Yugen smiled, "then it's reflected back to you again by 'Natural Reflection'."
So Yubel was slammed in the face by her own counter damage.
"Ughaa——"
[Yubel, LP9500→LP6900]
Yubel panted heavily, gritting her teeth, "You... you you..."
"'Sword Fighting Beast - Net Fighting', attack Yubel."
[Sword Fighting Beast - Net Fighting, Attack Power 1200]
Then, once again, Natural Reflection bounced back Yubel's counterattack, another counter damage slammed onto Yubel's face.
"Ugh!"
[Yubel, LP6900→LP5700]
Yubel: "You... you damn thing..."
"Thank you for the compliment." Yugen politely, "'Sword Fighting Beast - Gun Fight', attack 'Yubel'."
[Sword Fighting Beast - Gun Fight, Attack Power 1600]
Yubel: "Aaaah——"
[Yubel, LP5700→LP4100]
She kneeled on the ground, her eyes already a little scattered.
Is... it still not over?
"Spartan Sorcerer, attack Yubel."
[Spartan Sorcerer, Attack Power 400]
[Yubel, LP4100→LP3700]
"'Sword Fighting Beast - Double Fight', attack Yubel."
[Sword Fighting Beast - Double Fight, Attack Power 1600]
[Yubel, LP3700→LP2100]
Five muscle-bound men took turns grinding Yubel into the ground. Even though she endured this deadly five-combo attack, her physical and mental limits seemed to be on the brink.
She kneeled on the ground, gritting her teeth to support herself with difficulty.
"It's... it's not over yet."
She still had Life Points left, she could still fight.
She promised to see Judai once again.
The two of them, to be together again...
"The monster effect of 'Sword Fighting Beast - Double Fight'."
The cold voice from the opposite side seemed to come from the depths of Hell, gentle in tone, yet like the whisper of a Demon King.
"The Double Fight, Special Summoned by the monster effect of the Sword Fighting Beast, can attack twice in one turn."
Yubel's lips quivered involuntarily.
Is... there still more?
"'Sword Fighting Beast - Double Fight.'" Yugen said, "Once again, attack Yubel."
Six-combo attack!
"Aaaah——"
[Yubel, LP2100→LP500]
What a bitter irony. Yubel, who most often used counter damage from the Underworld and had blasted who knows how many people to death, was tormented to this extent by her own counter damage.
She lost over nine thousand Life Points in an instant, and she could hardly stand.
But her gaze still persisted.
"It's... not over yet."
"Your perseverance is quite admirable. However, in reality, it's already over, you just haven't realized it yet." Yugen said calmly.
Yubel was stunned.
What?
"The effect of Spartan Sorcerer, as long as this card exists on the field, every time a monster is Special Summoned from the deck, it inflicts 500 points of damage to the opponent."
Yubel suddenly froze.
The common effect of the Sword Fighting Beast is that after a battle it can return to the deck, and then summon a new Sword Fighting Beast from the deck...
"It seems you've realized." Yugen smiled, "That's right. At the end of the battle, all four Sword Fighting Beasts on my field return to the deck, and then four Sword Fighting Beasts are Special Summoned from the deck.
So let's calculate, how much damage do you still owe me?"
Yubel: "..."
"I return all four Sword Fighting Beasts on the field to the deck."
Yugen leisurely placed the cards back onto the Duel Disc. The deck shuffled automatically, four cards ejected from the Duel Disc.
"Special Summon four new Sword Fighting Beasts from the deck. And at that moment, the effect of Spartan Sorcerer..."
Yugen squinted.
"A total of two thousand additional damage."
Yubel didn't say a word, feeling as if something was stuck in her throat, making her unable to speak.
After a while, until the new four Sword Fighting Beasts landed, until the sorcerer chanted his spell, carrying the destructive energy surging towards him.
Yubel slowly looked up at the sky.
"I'm sorry... Judai."
She closed her eyes.
[Yubel, LP500→LP0]