"Technology Attribute: Transparent Metal Skeleton!" Antinomy declared, "Attack 'Cotton Candy'!"
This attack, if successful, will secure his victory!
As he reached the moment of absolute victory again, Antinomy's heart did not surge with excitement as if about to seize a win, or rather, he felt no sense of reality regarding the impending victory.
Can I really win?
Sure enough, the next moment, another Trap Card was activated on the side of Yugen's D-Wheel.
"Activate the cover card, Continuous Trap 'Soul Barrier'.
As long as there is a monster on my field, this card turns all battle damage I receive into 0!"
The originally small and fragile Cotton Candy suddenly burst with transparent ripples, forming an absolute defensive barrier as if fueled by burning soul.
"Indeed, there's still a counter measure..."
As he thought this, a flash of insight suddenly crossed Antinomy's mind.
Wait...
That's right, 'Soul Barrier' turns any battle damage to 0 as long as there are monsters on the field, technically even defense-piercing should count. Meaning, the 2700 points of massive damage dealt by my "Technology Attribute: Blade Gunman" attacking "Transformation Pot" could have been blocked if he had activated 'Soul Barrier' earlier.
But he didn't, instead choosing to take the damage and then using it to launch Cotton Candy from the deck.
Though Cotton Candy cannot be destroyed by battle, is it truly worth sacrificing so much Life Points to summon such a weak monster?
Or is it...
"Such keen perception, seems like you've noticed something." Yugen smiled slightly.
"If you have a feeling of impending danger, then let me be clear, that feeling... is correct."
At this moment, his previously fleeting unease was completely gone, replaced by a gleeful expression akin to "You've fallen into my trap."
"Earlier, in order to activate the Trap Card 'Damage Capacitor', I discarded a card from my hand."
Yugen waved the card in his hand.
"The discarded card was 'Executioner Demon Asura'."
The sinister Executioner floated above his D-Wheel.
Antinomy: "This card is..."
"Indeed, when 'Executioner Demon Asura' is sent to the graveyard, the controller can activate Trap Cards from their hand."
Yugen paused his words, not hurrying to activate Traps, but instead chuckled softly.
"Remember I said that I am not the strongest in my dimension, there are those stronger than I am?"
Antinomy pondered.
"Now you're about to witness the ultimate combo pioneered by that true master!"
He swiftly drew two cards from his hand.
"Activate these two cards from my hand!
First, Continuous Trap 'Dimensional Sphinx'!"
Summoned from the Trap is a golden giant resembling the classic Sphinx from Ancient Egypt, seemingly coming from the endless void of another dimension. Majestic golden energy was released, forming a second barrier on top of the Soul Barrier.
The transparent Metal Skeleton's strike hit the barrier, the power permeating through. Cotton Candy's indestructible body endured the impact, while the damage piercing through was completely nullified by the Soul Barrier.
Immediately following, on the Dimensional Sphinx's barrier, the energy surged back, rushing towards Antinomy himself.
Antinomy: "Ugh!"
[Antinomy, LP4000→LP3200]
Antinomy, shocked: "How... why?"
Even though his monster had higher attack power, unable to destroy, damage negated, how come he still lost life points?
Yugen: "Continuous Trap 'Dimensional Sphinx', activate when selecting a monster in attack position on your own field.
When that monster is attacked by a monster with higher attack power, inflict damage to the opponent equal to the difference in attack power of both monsters."
Antinomy realized.
Cotton Candy's attack power is 300, Metal Skeleton's attack power is 1100. Since Cotton Candy cannot be destroyed and damage was negated, the battle result is solely Antinomy suffering backlash due to "Dimensional Sphinx"...
"It's not over yet, this is the second card!"
Yugen smiled.
"Continuous Trap 'Dimensional Mirage!'
Choose an opponent's monster in attack position, when a monster on your field in attack position is not destroyed by that opponent's monster in battle, banish a monster from your graveyard, and force the opponent's monster to attack again!"
Antinomy was stunned for a moment, then quickly understood, his expression changed drastically.
"Attack again... Masaka (could it be)!?"
Yugen had already revealed the card drawn from the graveyard, his D-Wheel displaying a virtual shadow.
"I banished 'Transformation Pot' from the game from the graveyard, activating 'Dimensional Mirage' effect.
Technology Attribute: Transparent Metal Skeleton must attack 'Cotton Candy' once more."
Antinomy now fully understood.
This is... a pseudo-Infinite LOOP!
His Metal Skeleton attacks Cotton Candy, each battle causing him to take 800 points of damage. With "Dimensional Mirage" effect, as long as his attack doesn't destroy the monster, Yugen can keep forcing attacks by banishing monsters from the graveyard.
In Yugen's graveyard, there are at least known monsters: Transformation Pot, Netherworld King Dragon - God of Judgment, Executioner Demon Asura. Now Antinomy's remaining Life Points are 3200; only four repeated attacks are required to complete the loop and finish him off.
In other words, as long as the cards thrown to the graveyard by "Transformation Pot" have at least one monster card, his fate is sealed.
ZONE, watching from the void, spoke softly: "Instantly completing such a fearsome combo, truly a terrifying guy."
ZONE naturally quickly realized that Yugen mentioned this formation was designed by another Duel King from their dimension.
And ZONE, being the savior of the human apocalypse, had considerable knowledge about the various Duel Kings throughout the great history. He often thought of the legendary Duel King with a particular hair style, the more he thought of it, the more he felt the formation's style greatly resembled that king.
Could it really be "that one"?
"Antinomy... will you end like this?" ZONE asked.
The situation instantaneously reversed from Yugen's imminent victory, turning directly into Antinomy's life-and-death moment!
Seeing his Metal Skeleton forcefully drawn forward under the illusion of the Mirage, readying to charge at Cotton Candy again, Antinomy hesitated no longer, swiftly revealing his counter.
"Activate the cover card, Continuous Trap 'Forced Termination'!
By sending one card from your field to the graveyard, the battle phase can be forcibly ended."
Antinomy pointed to his Metal Skeleton currently being forced into attacking.
"I send 'Technology Attribute: Transparent Metal Skeleton' to the graveyard, forcibly ending the battle phase!"