Yugioh [442-443] (Patreon)

Chapter 442: The Game of Gods

"Divine Serpent Geh attacks! Direct attack!!!"

The Snake God opened its mouth, spewing out a chaotic vortex. It was like a dark river, surging toward Kira's field with overwhelming force.

"He's attacking even though he knows Kira's formation?" Mokuba was shocked.

"Because of 'Battle Mania's' effect, he has no choice but to attack," Jaden replied, as optimistic as ever. "That means Kira wins!"

Cards from Kira's graveyard exited accordingly, and a fluffy little creature jumped onto the field with a series of "Kuriboh, Kuriboh" cries.

"Clear Kuriboh's effect!" said Kira. "When the opponent declares a direct attack, I banish Clear Kuriboh from the graveyard to draw a card from the deck.

If it's a monster, I special summon it!"

"Hahaha, of course you'll use that effect! The top card of your deck is the Winged Dragon of Ra, which was just returned to the top by the effect of 'Cyber Valley'. If you draw Ra now, the moment the Immortal Phoenix descends, I lose!"

The Arbiter paused, then raised his voice:

"But... will it really be that easy?"

"What?"

The onlookers were all startled.

In this situation, facing this game-ending combo, what else could he do?

"Activate Trap!" the Arbiter shouted, "Trap Card 'Simultaneous Loss'!

Both players must send the top card of their decks to the graveyard!"

"NANNIII!!?"

The entire audience was stunned.

Right at the final moment when Kira's finishing combo was about to succeed, a last-ditch trap unexpectedly appeared!

"Damn, a chain trap resolves before 'Clear Kuriboh'," Zane said. "That means, when Kuriboh resolves..."

"The Winged Dragon of Ra that was originally on top of the deck is already in the graveyard," Jaden frowned.

Kira's finishing Kuriboh–Ra combo was broken.

The top cards from both decks popped out and fell into the graveyard. As Kira's card went to the graveyard, everyone seemed to hear a divine roar in midair, as if Ra lamented and was unwilling to see the combo fail.

"Now, it's time to resolve Clear Kuriboh's effect," the Arbiter announced. "Draw your card."

The Snake God's attack was imminent, infinite attack pressure crashing down like a tidal wave. Kira, under that divine force, stood protected within a golden shield from the artifact on his chest, resisting the evil god's overwhelming aura.

Kira drew a card.

"...I drew, Winged Kuriboh!"

With a wave, a tiny Kuriboh with pure white wings jumped onto the field.

"Kuriboh!"

[Winged Kuriboh, DEF 200]

The evil god's strike swept over Winged Kuriboh like a flood. In the face of infinite attack, its mere 200 defense was negligible, but as the dark impact washed over, Winged Kuriboh's body vanished, yet left behind a transparent barrier that protected Kira from all damage.

Even after it disappeared, the barrier remained steadfast on the field.

"During the turn Winged Kuriboh is destroyed, all battle damage I take becomes zero," Kira said.

"Heh, so you managed to cling on with a trash monster," the Arbiter sneered. "But how long can you stall with tricks like that?"

He set another card.

"Set one card. Turn end."

Jaden was dejected. "Ah, Kira's beautiful counterattack got shut down..."

The others were silent, but all felt it was a pity.

The Divine Serpent Geh was already a Divine monster, now with triple barrier resistance, and its stats were absurdly infinite. Plus, its bizarre effect changed victory conditions, making all tactics like burn, deck-out, or direct attacks on the duelist invalid.

Such a terrifying monster—ninety-nine percent of duelists would surrender the moment it appeared.

Yet Kira not only survived, but also created an opportunity through clever tactics. Even Seto Kaiba, who rarely praised others, secretly approved.

But clearly, his opponent was not just the invincible Snake God, but also the masterful Arbiter behind it.

The Snake God was terrifying, but its controller was even more troublesome.

Against such an opponent and combination, was victory even possible?

"Kira hasn't given up," Jaden suddenly said, then smiled.

 "Don't worry, he's Kira after all."

Zane said nothing, just silently watched Kira.

Indeed, no matter the opponent or the seemingly impossible barrier, Kira always proved nothing was impossible.

Even in a situation like this, surely he had a way?

"Activate Spell Card 'Card of Sanctity'—we both draw until we have six cards in hand," Kira said. (Anime Card)

"Next, activate Spell Card 'Hidden Armory.' Send the top card of the deck to the graveyard, then add an Equip Spell from deck or graveyard to hand."

He sent the top card of his deck to the graveyard.

The Arbiter frowned. "Searching for an Equip Spell..."

"From my deck, I add this card," Kira said, drawing the automatically searched card from his Duel Disk, "the Equip Spell 'Premature Burial' to my hand."

As expected.

The target was still Ra!

This duel had somehow become a tug-of-war between reviving Ra and stopping Ra's return. Ra wasn't even on the field, but the core of the battle had become a contest between Divine and Evil gods.

"Activate Equip Spell 'Premature Burial'!" Kira said. "Pay 800 LP to revive a monster from my graveyard in Attack Position!"

[Kira, LP 2800 → LP 2000]

Flames whirled in midair, forming the divine bird's body. The Winged Dragon of Ra's spirit appeared, wings spread, roaring at the Snake God, as if eager to teach its old foe a lesson.

"I said, the dead should stay dead!" the Arbiter roared. "I discard 'D.D. Crow' from my hand—effect activates!

Send it to the graveyard to banish one card from your graveyard. And I can use this effect during your turn, too!"

As the card was sent to the graveyard, a sinister black crow flapped its wings, flying from a fractured void. From the other side of the dimension, it dove at Kira.

Its eyes flashed green, and the Arbiter's voice rose:

"Of course I choose... this card.

Your 'Winged Dragon of Ra' in the graveyard is banished once again!"

Chapter 443: The End of the Fierce Battle

D.D. Crow's effect activates!

For real-life card players, this card needs no introduction. Though released early, it dominated the meta as a universal staple. Its quick effect disrupts the opponent's graveyard, making it very powerful.

With the Arbiter's explanation, the crowd's faces changed dramatically.

Everyone saw that this duel had become a death match between Ra and Divine Serpent Geh. Ra, the so-called Immortal Phoenix, was infamous under Marik for constantly hopping between graveyard and field, with its Phoenix form able to sweep everything.

After a fierce tug-of-war around Ra's return, it seemed the Arbiter had finally gained the upper hand.

D.D. Crow's activation caused Kira's "Premature Burial" to lose its target and fizzle. Ra was banished again, meaning that even if Kira had other revival cards, he could no longer bring Ra back.

"No way, isn't Ra sealed away for good now?" Mokuba bit his lip.

Kira's greatest hope against the Evil God—Divine power—was now out of reach.

Despair was evident in his eyes, but he still looked hopefully at Kira.

Even for Kira, what could he do in this situation?

The Arbiter laughed loudly. "Struggle! Struggle even harder! The more you fight, the more delicious your soul will be when you die. Once I finish you—and that zombie god—I will fully break the seal and resurrect myself!"

Kira ignored him and continued,

"Activate Spell Card 'Foolish Burial'—send a monster from my deck to the graveyard."

He searched his deck for a card and sent it to the graveyard, then immediately flipped a set card in his back row.

"Now I activate my set card, Continuous Trap 'Limit Reverse'."

With a grand gesture—

"Special summon 'Doomdog Octhros'!"

[Doomdog Octhros, ATK 800]

The Arbiter frowned. "That's just a trash monster..."

"Activate Spell Card 'Black Illusion Ritual'," Kira said. "Use monsters with total levels of at least 1 as tribute to ritual summon 'Relinquished.'

I tribute level 3 'Doomdog Octhros' to ritual summon—

The ace I got from the Father of Games, now descends—

—'Relinquished,' summon!"

The earliest BOSS ace in Yu-Gi-Oh! history appeared, exuding an endless sinister aura. A single, sanity-shattering eye opened in the darkness, like a hunter lurking in the abyss.

The Arbiter was shocked. "Summoning Relinquished at this point!?"

As Pegasus's iconic early ace, the Arbiter certainly recognized it. Relinquished could, once per turn, absorb an opponent's monster as an equip card—a classic early boss.

The Arbiter's heart pounded.

The Snake God within the barrier is immune to all spells and traps, but it can only resist destruction effects from monsters.

But Relinquished' effect isn't destruction, nor sending to graveyard, bouncing, or banishing—it just directly eats the target.

His mighty, invincible infinite-ATK Divine Serpent Geh was about to be devoured by this little Relinquished. The Arbiter almost laughed in disbelief.

But of course, he wouldn't allow that.

"Activate Continuous Trap!" the Arbiter shouted. "Crystal Seal!" (an anime card)

The set card activated, and the freshly summoned Relinquished was immediately sealed in a giant crystal. The whole body froze, only the single eye inside still spinning, unable to move.

"Crystal Seal can seal one opponent's monster. That monster can't attack, be tributed, change its battle position, or activate its effects!"

A trap used by Rafael in DM, printed by Doma.

"Relinquished is sealed too!" Mokuba said, frustrated. "This guy is too overpowered!"

To him, Kira was already playing out of his mind, always finding breakthroughs against such an opponent, but every time hope appeared, it was crushed.

The deeper the hope, the deeper the despair when it's cut off. Mokuba felt his heart sinking to the bottom.

"It's fine," Kaiba suddenly spoke.

"Eh?"

Mokuba looked at his brother in confusion, but noticed he was smiling?

But unlike his usual confident, mocking smile, today's smile was more... gleeful?

It was as if he knew something hilarious was about to happen and couldn't help but laugh.

"It's over," Kaiba chuckled. "What an interesting kid."

Mokuba: "?"

He was more confused than ever.

But it didn't matter. A few seconds later, he understood.

"Now, the effect of 'Doomdog Octhros,' which was just sent to the graveyard as a ritual tribute, activates," Kira said calmly. "When Doomdog Octhros is sent from the field to the graveyard, I add a level 8 Fiend-type monster from my deck to my hand."

The Arbiter froze.

Level 8, Fiend-type...

His pupils contracted, face turning pale, and his muscles began to twitch in disbelief as he realized what was coming.

No, impossible.

How could something so ridiculous happen...

"I add this level 8 Fiend from my deck to my hand," Kira revealed the card he'd just searched.

"Lava Golem."

The Arbiter completely lost his composure.

"You, what are you planning!?"

In this championship arena, in the final God battle, was this kid really going to—

"Activate my set card," Kira flipped his last set card, "Trap Card 'Ojama Trio.'

Special summon three Ojama Tokens to your field."

The yellow, green, and black tokens instantly popped out, bouncing into the Arbiter's three monster zones.

"Sorry for the trouble~"

 "Sorry to bother you again."

 "Snore snore"

The Arbiter, now fully aware of what was coming, began to tremble.

He knew, but could not accept it.

Yes, how could he accept this?

His invincible, infinitely powerful Divine Serpent Geh was about to leave the field like this?

He, the mighty God of Orichalcos, the dark side of the planet's will, was about to return with a bang and drag the world into the abyss through this duel—

Yet he was about to fall in such a ridiculous, comedic way!?

But at this point, he could do nothing.

He could only stare, eyes full of anger, unwillingness, and disbelief, as Kira calmly pulled out the card in his hand.

"Ojama Tokens can't be tributed for Tribute Summon, but if it's an effect special summon, they can be used as tribute.

So, I tribute one of your Ojama Tokens and your invincible 'Divine Serpent Geh' to special summon my soul and ace to you.

Awakening from the abyssal lava, power of destruction and rebirth—

—Level 8, Lava Golem!"

Lava erupted from the cracked earth, volcano-like flames engulfing the massive Snake God and the black hole it was emerging from.

Ignoring attack stats and all resistances, this was lava at a rules level—under such flames, all are equal.

God or minion, all become food.

A wail, so bitter it seemed to turn into a vengeful spirit, as Divine Serpent Geh was swallowed by the surging lava and exited the stage.

Lava Golem stood tall amidst the flames, towering like a giant!

"When Divine Serpent Geh leaves the field, its controller loses."

Kira said calmly.

"You lose."

[Arbiter, LP 0]

Endless lava surged as the Arbiter stood there, dazed, watching the giant before him as the magma swept towards him like a tsunami. For a moment, he felt regret.

He regretted blocking Ra's appearance so many times.

If he had a choice, he'd rather die to the Immortal Phoenix.

At least he wouldn't feel like such a clown.

PS: The true ace!