Yugioh [429-431] (Patreon)

Chapter 429: Ryu Senshi

Endless darkness gathered in the Shadow Monarch's hands, forming an orb like the gloom of the underworld, shooting toward the massive fortress in the sky that blocked out the sun!

"Hmph, Air Fortress Ziggurat can't be affected by spells or traps, so you're trying to break through with a monster effect now?" the Arbiter remarked. "But such a simple tactic won't work.

I activate the trap 'Spellbinding Illusion.' One monster on the field loses 500 ATK, and its effect is negated." (Manga card)

 He raised his hand toward Kira's Shadow Monarch on the field.

"I reduce 'Caius the Shadow Monarch' ATK by 500 and negate its effect."

A transparent magic circle locked around the Shadow Monarch like invisible shackles, instantly dimming the dark orb he had just fired. The Shadow Monarch grunted, the dark aura around him fading.

[Caius the Shadow Monarch, ATK 2400 → ATK 1900]

The orb of darkness vanished in midair, unable to strike the colossal fortress.

"Oh, what a pity," Mokuba lamented, "just a bit short."

"Don't rush," Kaiba replied coolly. "This is just the beginning."

Sure enough, after his first attempt failed, Kira immediately played his next card.

"Spell Card 'Metamorphosis'! I tribute a monster on the field to special summon a Fusion Monster with the same level.

I tribute the Level 6 'Caius the Shadow Monarch'!"

A green spell card appeared behind Caius, enveloping him in energy until only a vague silhouette remained. The outline rapidly transformed, growing into a warrior clad in dragon armor, wielding a blue blade, landing on Kira's field.

"Level 6, Ryu Senshi, special summon!"

[Ryu Senshi, ATK 2000]

The Arbiter stayed silent.

"Next, I banish from the graveyard the LIGHT monster 'Zaborg the Thunder Monarch' and the DARK monster 'Caius the Shadow Monarch'—the first sent this turn."

Beams of light and darkness spiraled upward, vanishing into a chaotic vortex. Power surged through the field, like a hurricane battering the transparent Orichalcos barrier.

"Oh? Here it comes," the Arbiter looked up at the vortex.

"Light and darkness, sacrificed to the field of chaos—for the legendary swordsman returns!"

Kira swung his arm.

"Worlds divide! Descend now—

—Black Luster Soldier – Envoy of the Beginning!"

Chaotic light descended from the sky, his sword cleaving through the chaos. The armored warrior landed in a crouch, then stood, sword gleaming, eyes locked fiercely on the Arbiter.

[Black Luster Soldier – Envoy of the Beginning, ATK 3000]

This was the reason he came to this world.

The source of evil that once sealed him away, now coveting both the world of spirits and duelists—the most terrifying Evil God of this era.

"The legendary warrior. You seem much stronger than before—looks like you found a worthy master," the Arbiter said calmly.

"Envoy of the Beginning, activate effect," Kira declared. "Once per turn, by giving up this turn's attack, I can banish one monster on the field."

"Going after the fortress again?" the Arbiter said.

"The fortress's tokens can block attacks, but monster effects bypass them," Kira replied. "Envoy, banish the fortress!

Chaos Dimension Slash!"

Sword gleamed—a dimension-shattering slash. Light and dark fused on the blade, forming a silver dragon that split the heavens!

"Then I activate my set card, trap 'Memory Loss,'" the Arbiter said. "Negate the effect of an attacking monster, and change it to defense position."

"He's got another counter!" Jaden exclaimed from the sidelines.

The Air Fortress Ziggurat was immune to spells and traps, tokens blocked attacks, and now he's ready to counter monster effects too—a wall of defense.

But Kira was prepared: "It's useless. Ryu Senshi, block it for me!"

As Memory Loss triggered, its magic hadn't yet locked onto Black Luster Soldier when Ryu Senshi leapt out. His sword flashed, slashing through the trap card, dispelling its energy vortex.

The Arbiter frowned slightly. "That monster's effect…"

"Ryu Senshi can pay 1000 Life Points to negate a trap's effect," Kira explained.

[Kira, LP 5800 → LP 4800]

"So that's why you used Metamorphosis to summon Ryu Senshi!" Mokuba cheered.

Zane also praised, "A monster that counters traps, clearing the way for Black Luster Soldier's arrival and attack."

Ryu Senshi may be obscure for modern players, but when Metamorphosis was legal, it was a top-tier—no, a staple card.

Its proper Fusion materials are 'Warrior Dai Grepher' and 'Spirit Ryu'—strictly limited. No substitutes like King of the Swamp allowed, making it hard to summon by Fusion alone, and nearly useless that way.

But its advantage: it doesn't require Fusion Summon to appear.

So, naturally, it became Metamorphosis's go-to Level 6 Fusion.

No Fusion Summon restriction, built-in trap negation, and immunity to spell cards that target it—almost certainly the top Level 6 Fusion of its era.

If it's lacking anywhere, it's only that at 2000 ATK, it can't beat Cyber Dragon.

"So, under Ryu Senshi's protection, Black Luster Soldier's effect resolves. Chaos Dimension Slash!" Kira declared.

The sword finally fell, leaving a dramatic spatial fissure. The fortress was sucked in by a powerful force, vanishing into nothing.

"Yes!" Mokuba shouted. "The fortress is gone! Go, Kira!"

The Arbiter remained calm, his expression unreadable.

Kira didn't attack, but set another card.

"I activate the spell 'Shield Crush' to destroy a defense-position monster.

This will destroy the 'Robot Token!'"

For the first time, the Arbiter's face shifted slightly.

Chapter 430: Unknown Details

Spell Card—Shield Crush, activate!

 A green beam shot from the card, piercing the Arbiter's last line of defense—the Robot Token exploded into fragments.

"Using Shield Crush on a monster with 0 DEF—yeah, I get it," Mokuba said, "Black Luster Soldier can't attack after using his effect, so clearing the token lets him deal damage later."

Is that really it?

Though the Arbiter frowned, his eyes fixed on Kira, as if to read his mind.

The Orichalcos's second barrier, Orichalcos Deuteros, hid another effect he hadn't revealed.

Compared to the first barrier, the second offered powerful counterattacks.

When the opponent declares an attack, you can tribute a monster to negate the attack and destroy the attacking monster.

This is Orichalcos Deuteros's absolute defense—as long as you have monsters, you can reflect any attack. He had a Robot Token; if Kira had attacked it, he could have used it as ammo for a counter.

Now, with an empty field, with no monsters to tribute, the absolute defense is gone.

But he still had options.

"Black Luster Soldier can't attack this turn, but Ryu Senshi can," Kira said. "Ryu Senshi, attack directly!"

The Arbiter raised his hand.

"I activate the trap, 'Widespread Ruin.'

When the opponent declares an attack, destroy the highest ATK attack position monster they control!"

Mokuba was shocked: "That would destroy Black Luster Soldier!"

Ryu Senshi attacks, but the trap targets Black Luster Soldier?

Kira remained calm. "Then Ryu Senshi's effect activates again.

Pay 1000 Life Points to negate the trap."

[Kira, LP 4800 → LP 3800]

The Arbiter frowned again, and the crowd was stunned.

This Ryu Senshi's negation isn't once per turn!?

Kira declared, "Wide Spread Ruin—effect negated!"

Ryu Senshi's blade flashed, destroying the trap card and dispersing its energy.

Now, nothing stood in the way. The warrior's sword cut through, slicing with overwhelming force.

[Arbiter, LP 2700 → LP 700]

"Tch."

Damage in the barrier is real, both physical and mental. Plus, Kira's monsters are fueled by dark power, every blow is supernatural.

But such pain means little to a serpent god. What matters is how much Kira knows about him.

He narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing Kira.

Kira could have just been dealing damage, but the Arbiter sensed more.

He knows about Orichalcos Deuteros's hidden effect.

That raises more questions.

If he knows that, what else does he know?

 The Arbiter felt a tinge of irritation.

He has existed for countless ages, his years forgotten. In the past, Dartz acted for him, secretly building power for ten thousand years, eventually forming the mighty Doma organization—he always had the upper hand, knowing everything about his enemies, exploiting their darkness as their weakness.

Even three thousand years ago, when the Egyptian pharaohs fought Zorc, he watched from the shadows. So when Atem searched for his past, Dartz and the serpent god already knew his true name.

They knew the pharaoh's name was his power, and a seal. In his nameless state, they faced only a weakened king—no way would they help him recover.

If the pharaoh had remembered his name and invoked the Creator God of Light, a single attack would have obliterated the serpent god.

Though Atem once wavered under Dartz's manipulations, he nearly succumbed to darkness, a testament to Dartz's skill.

But this time, for the first time, the Arbiter felt at a disadvantage—as if Kira knew all his tricks, while he understood nothing about Kira's tactics, origins, or mind.

"Good, only 700 Life Points left!" Jaden cheered. "Kira is insanely strong—just a little more to go!"

The others watched silently, holding their breath.

In just one turn, both sides exchanged attacks and counters. The Arbiter's counterattacks were fierce, but Kira calmly neutralized every move, reducing his Life Points to a sliver.

It seemed Kira was ahead, but on reflection it was risky—without Metamorphosis and Ryu Senshi, he couldn't have cleared the fortress; Black Luster Soldier would have been destroyed, and his situation would be dire next turn.

The Arbiter: "My turn, draw."

He revealed his drawn card.

"Spell Card 'Spell Books from the Pot.' Both players draw three cards." (Manga card)

 His face darkened as he drew.

"Looks like I underestimated you. But not anymore.

I'll uncover the truth hidden in your shell—your darkest secrets."

He set a card.

Then he drew another.

"Orichalcos Kyutora—by discarding a card and paying 500 Life Points, I can special summon it from my hand."

[Arbiter, LP 700 → LP 200]

He discarded a card and summoned the monster.

"Come, Kyutora!"

Chapter 431: Arbiter's Counterattack

A bizarre eye opened in the Arbiter's back row. A spiky, ball-shaped monster landed lightly on his field, its single eye spinning as it surveyed everything.

Orichalcos Kyutora, summoned!

[Orichalcos Kyutora, DEF 500]

"That Kyutora again, big brother," Mokuba said.

"Yeah, the origin of the Orichalcos system," Kaiba replied.

Jaden and Midori grew tense. They'd seen Kyutora's power before, when Koyo was defeated by it.

"When Kyutora was summoned, I discarded 'Card of Compensation.' When sent to the graveyard from hand, I draw two cards."

The Arbiter calmly revealed another card.

"At this moment, Quick-Play Spell 'Serial Spell'—discard all cards in hand to copy a Normal Spell's effect."

He discarded his hand, and another spell card appeared alongside 'Card of Compensation.'

"I copy 'Card of Compensation'—so I draw four cards in total!"

He drew four cards at once.

"I summon 'Mystic Tomato' in attack mode."

A red, round tomato appeared, its leafy top like a small hat—though it looks more like a Halloween pumpkin, eyes glinting with malice.

"Orichalcos Deuteros has the same effect as the first barrier. Mystic Tomato gains 500 ATK."

[Mystic Tomato, ATK 1400 → ATK 1900]

"Then Orichalcos Deuteros's effect activates—recover 500 Life Points for each monster I control.

I have two monsters, so I gain 1000 Life Points."

[Arbiter, LP 200 → LP 1200]

"Now, battle phase," the Arbiter said casually. "Mystic Tomato, attack Black Luster Soldier!"

Once again, a weaker monster suicides into Black Luster Soldier. The others were tense—they'd seen this trick before.

Again.

Mystic Tomato charged, forcing Black Luster Soldier to retaliate. Sword flashed, slicing Tomato in two.

"When Orichalcos Kyutora is on the field, all battle damage I'd take from monster battles is absorbed by Kyutora and becomes 0."

Kyutora's eye opened wide, absorbing all the sword's energy—no damage to the Arbiter.

"Then, Mystic Tomato's effect. When destroyed by battle, special summon a DARK monster with 1500 or less ATK from the deck.

Special summon a second Mystic Tomato."

A beam shot from the deck, summoning another tomato.

[Mystic Tomato, ATK 1400 → ATK 1900]

"Second Tomato attacks."

Again, Black Luster Soldier slashes it in two.

"Battle damage is absorbed by Kyutora. Special summon the third Tomato."

[Mystic Tomato, ATK 1400 → ATK 1900]

"He's accumulating damage in Kyutora again?" Jaden frowned.

Zane said, "When Kyutora leaves the field, it summons the terrifying Orichalcos Shunoros, whose ATK equals the damage Kyutora absorbed—it can easily reach tens of thousands."

The third Tomato charged and was destroyed, its energy absorbed by Kyutora.

"Third Tomato's effect—special summon a DARK monster with 1500 or less ATK."

No fourth Tomato was possible. The Arbiter smiled, raising his arm—a beam shot from the deck, bursting into a swirl of thorns.

"I special summon—

—Yubel!"

This surprised everyone—especially Jaden, who stepped forward at the name.

A storm and vortex erupted as thorny vines whirled. The demon's heterochromatic eyes opened, rising, vines waving like tentacles.

[Yubel, ATK 0 → ATK 500] (Orichalcos boost)

"Yubel…"

Though he knew this wasn't his own partner, Jaden was still shaken seeing Yubel on the field.

"Mystic Tomato can summon that? That's a Level 10 monster!" Mokuba said.

"But it's DARK and has 1500 or less ATK," Kaiba replied.

"Battle phase continues; monsters summoned during battle can attack," the Arbiter said. "Yubel attacks Black Luster Soldier!"

Yubel only has 0 ATK—even boosted, just 500—but no one dares underestimate her.

"Yubel's effect…" Mokuba tensed.

This monster has built-in thorns!

She negates battle damage and inflicts it on the opponent instead. If this attack goes through, it'll deal massive damage!

"Yubel can't be destroyed by battle, and I take no damage from her battles," the Arbiter said. "She also has a second effect.

Before damage calculation, she inflicts to your monster the battle damage I would have taken." (Anime effect)

Her real-life card was changed: it must be attacked to trigger, and it inflicts the attacker's ATK as damage. The effects are similar, but the details differ.

Thorns lashed out at Black Luster Soldier, who was forced to slash back. Yubel's stats are weak, but the sword pierced her easily.

Yubel moaned, but as the sword hit, more thorns erupted, reflecting the energy back at Kira.

But Kira remained calm, revealing a card.

"'Clear Kuriboh's' effect," Kira said. "When a monster's effect would inflict damage, I discard Clear Kuriboh to negate that effect."