"Executioner?"
Yugen stood up from the sofa, sizing up the person who entered.
This person was masked, their appearance unseen, but their aura felt distinctly different from that of an ordinary person. It was akin to the sharpness of a veteran warrior, like an unsheathed sword, revealing its edge without concealment.
"Indeed."
The person spoke in a somewhat somber tone.
"I am the Executioner of Taiyi, responsible for executing those who betray the organization or leak secrets."
Clark, who was lying on the ground, said despairingly: "No! I didn't betray the organization, nor did I leak anything... I just... I just..."
"You simply stepped foolishly into a simple Dark Game trap, and were manipulated at will. Yes, I don't doubt your loyalty; I know you are merely naïve."
The Executioner spoke coldly.
"But the reasons don't matter anymore; the judgment has already been passed by Taiyi, and the verdict is execution."
Clark was in total despair and regret.
Why did I foolishly throw that dice...
"And you."
The Executioner raised his eyes to look at Yugen.
"Someone who possesses such power over Dark Games... I see, it's indeed rare in this era. However..."
He snorted, raising his arm. Mechanical devices appeared flying around him, assembling on his arm into a strange floating Duel Disc.
"But no matter who you are, if you're probing into Taiyi's affairs... then there's only obliteration!"
"Oh? Is that so? Interesting..."
Yugen thought, In the animation, Taiyi and Yusei and others kept battling, apart from the ghostly robot minions, it was basically just that Three Emperors trio. It's as if Taiyi's huge organization only has the Three Emperors as leaders and no one else.
But of course, that's impossible; an entity hidden in the river of time, constantly revising history, and infiltrating every corner of the world must be monumental, how could it be just three commanders?
"Alright, it seems if I don't deal with you, those three won't appear... I have some questions I'd like to ask them."
Yugen also activated his Duel Disc.
"Then I'll deal with you first before anything."
The Executioner said calmly, "If you can do it, that is."
"Duel!" x2
[Yugen, LP4000]
[Executioner, LP4000]
"I'll go first, draw a card."
The Executioner's first move. He drew a card and, without much thought, swiftly pulled two cards from his hand and set them aside.
"Set a monster on the field."
"Then set a card face-down, ending the turn."
Yugen: "My turn, draw a card."
He added the drawn card to his hand, then pulled another card from his hand.
"Then I'll also set a monster face-down on the field..."
Yugen placed his Monster Card on the Duel Disc, and a ripple of starlight displayed the image of the covered monster. At this instant, the Executioner waved his hand, activating the backfield.
"This moment, activate the set card. Trap Card 'Shadow of Temptation'!"
The trap activated, and a huge eye appeared within, releasing waves of tempting magnetic energy, wordlessly conveying something.
Under this gravitational pull, Yugen's newly set monster uncontrollably shifted from horizontal to vertical, flipping into attack mode.
'Shadow of Temptation can only be activated when the opponent sets a card." The Executioner said, "This card forces the set monster into attack position.
Furthermore, if it's a Reversed Monster at this moment, its flip effect can't activate!"
Yugen: "I see, a card targeting the flip effect?"
The monster he set was not a Reversed Monster, however...
At this moment, the covered monster flipped, summoning a fluffy white creature onto the field, grumbling: "Ugh, they've seen it all..."
[Cotton Candy, Attack Power 300]
"Cotton Candy, huh?" the Executioner remarked. "If attacked while face-down, it would inflict 1000 damage to me, and it's an annoying monster that can't be destroyed by battle.
But being flipped means it can't bounce back damage. Besides, with only 300 attack power, it presents a major flaw..."
"Indeed, flipping my Cotton Candy, how mean."
Yugen sighed, resigned.
"Alright, I'll set one card and end my turn."
Executioner: "My turn, draw a card."
He placed one Monster Card from his hand.
"Normal Summon 'Alliance Bomb'!"
The round bomb-like entity, engulfed in purple flames, hovered mid-air on the Executioner's field.
[Alliance Bomb, Attack Power 400]
"Then, flip the monster set face-down on the field, Flip Summon!"
The Executioner's set monster flipped, becoming a mechanical bug resembling a spider.
[Justice Alliance - Periodic Interpretation Worm, Attack Power 1000]
Yugen: "A Justice Alliance deck, huh."
This deck appeared in the early era of synchro, and had some appearances in the animation. Placido's mass-produced army of ghost soldiers used cards related to the Alliance series.
"Level 2, Adjusted Monster 'Alliance Bomb'!
Level 3, 'Justice Alliance - Periodic Interpretation Worm'!
Star-Tuning!"
[2+3=5]
A synchro aura burst forth with blinding purple light, the mechanical giant insect's silhouette gradually materializing in the data storm.
"Let metallic fangs gnaw at light, let infinite regenerating corpses crush hope!"
Executioner raised his arm, and the dark steel scales on the storming giant insect unfolded, a crimson Alliance emblem appeared on its body, and its energy core began to overdrive and spin.
"Synchro Summon——
——Justice Alliance - Disaster Insect!"
[Justice Alliance - Disaster Insect, Attack Power 2200]
"It's Justice Alliance..." Yugen grinned slyly and glanced at his own Cotton Candy on the field, "You seem to have encountered just the right obstacle."
Cotton Candy was still puzzled, tilted its head and looked at him in confusion: "Huh?"
What does he mean? Although it's in attack mode, the owner takes the damage anyway. It can't be destroyed in battle, so why worry about being hit?
What does he mean by 'encountered just the right obstacle'?
The Executioner then shouted, "Battle!
Attack 'Cotton Candy' with 'Justice Alliance - Disaster Insect'!"
The mechanical giant insect charged aggressively at the Cotton Candy, energy infused into its metal brain's eyes, transforming into a beam of golden light shooting through.
Initially, Cotton Candy remained fearless, until it heard the Executioner say: "Justice Alliance - Disaster Insect's effect!
When this card battles any attribute monster other than Dark Attribute, it can directly destroy that monster!"
Monsters not having the Dark Attribute...
Only then did Cotton Candy turn pale with shock.
What!? This sly giant insect doesn't even engage in battle, instead it destroys by effect...
Such a cheating ability!