章 28: The Introvert vs Pharaoh [2]

Okay, I just realised I made a mistake with Divine Dragon Lord Felgrand. When it banishes a monster, it gained defense as well as attack and I felt that I haven't been doing that. Well, its not that big of a deal but just letting you guys know as I will go back and change them!

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[3rd POV]

"The Poisonous Dragon with hungering fangs! Starving Venom Fusion Dragon!"

Darkness consumed Yuna's field as Keeper of the Shrine and Darkflare Dragon vanished from view. Soon everyone felt a new presence amongst the shadows. Yami Yugi frowned and noticed two yellow pupils staring at him. Immediately, countless yellow and red lights illuminated the darkness, and a disturbing sound entered his ears.

The horrifying noise of flesh and bones merging together made everyone's skin crawl and then a guttering roar of pain and hatred echoed through the rooms. The shockwave generated washed away the darkness, revealing a grotesque beast.

The monster has green flesh with a purple carapace protecting its body—yellow and red bulbs on each of its joints, pair of large wings that stretched open like an insect emerging from a fresh moult, thin purple legs, sharp claws, ferocious face with large horns and a long tail with a poisonous stinger at the end that resembled a scythe...

[Starving Venom Fusion Dragon: 2800 Attack, 2000 Defense] [1]

"This feeling..." Yami Yugi mumbled: "Such terror,"

Snapping out of his daze, Yami Yugi frowned and remembered that he was still in a duel. Yuna smirked and raised a card in the air.

"Then I will use Return of the Dragon Lord! I can special summon one dragon monster from my graveyard, and the one I will revive is Divine Dragon Lord Felgrand!"

Beside Starving Venom Fusion Dragon, there was a golden glimmer shining from the ceilings and another dragon landed gracefully. Compared to the ominous darkness of Starving Venom Fusion Dragon, this monster was akin to a divine beast sent from the heavens with its pure and intimidating aura.

[Divine Dragon Lord Felgrand: 2800 Attack, 2800 Defense]

"With Divine Dragon Lord Felgrand's ability, I can banish one of your monsters in the graveyard or on the field, and it would gain the amount of attack and defence equal to that chosen monster's level!" Yuna told Yami Yugi.

"Since I couldn't target Dark Magician because of Eternal Soul, I will banish Celtic Guardian!"

Divine Dragon Lord Felgrand caught Celtic Guardian in its claws. The elven warrior struggled desperately but was brutally devoured.

[Divine Dragon Lord Felgrand: 2800 -> 3200 Attack, 2800 -> 3200 Defense]

"I will end my turn." Yuna declared.

Yami Yugi gritted his teeth, he had seen the capabilities of Starving Venom Fusion Dragon, and he couldn't help but feel intimidated by its might.

"I draw!" He shouted: "I will activate Eternal Soul's effect! I can add the spell card, Thousand Knives, from my deck to my hand!"

Yami Yugi searched through his deck before shuffling and placing it back onto the table: "Then I activate the spell Thousand Knives! If there's a Dark Magician on the field, I can target one monster and destroy it! I choose Divine Dragon Lord Felgrand!"

Dark Magician swung his staff, and knives manifested from all sides. The weapons shot towards Divine Dragon Lord Felgrand. However, before it reached, a blue translucent dragon spirit blocked the attack, and the projectiles fell helplessly to the floor.

"I will use Return of the Dragon Lord's second effect," Yuna explained: "If one of my dragon monsters is destroyed by battle or card effect, I can banish this card instead!"

Yami Yugi watched helplessly as Divine Dragon Lord Felgrand roared with rage: "I will put Dark Magician to defence position and set a monster. Then I end my turn."

A card appeared beside Dark Magician while he reluctantly followed his master's order and knelt on one knee.

[Yuna Sano: 3350 LP -> 3850 LP]

"I will immediately go into my battle phase! Divine Dragon Lord Felgrand, attack the set monster!"

Divine Dragon Lord Felgrand swooped down from the sky and lunged at the hidden card. When the dragon reached its target, a man carrying a shield the size of its body emerged.

[Big Shield Gardna: 100 Attack, 2600 Defense]

However, despite its name, Divine Dragon Lord Felgrand's teeth easily pierced through the shield and reached the man's flesh, killing him.

"Then Divine Dragon Lord Felgrand's ability has triggered!" Yuna announced: "By destroying a monster in battle, I can special summon one Level Seven or Eight dragon monster from the graveyard! I summon Arkbrave Dragon!"

[Arkbrave Dragon: 2400 Attack, 2000 Defense]

A smaller celestial dragon appeared, and it flapped its four wings eagerly. Arkbrave Dragon sneakily glanced at the two powerhouses with admiration, and it growled, determined to prove to them that its strong too.

"With Arkbrave Dragon, I can banish as many face-up spell or trap cards as my opponent control, and it gains two hundred attacks and defence for each card! I will banish Eternal Soul and Book of Secret Arts!"

[Arkbrave Dragon: 2400 -> 2800 Attack, 2000 -> 2400 Defense]

[Dark Magician: 2800 -> 2500 Attack, 2100 Defense]

"You must know what happens when Eternal Soul leaves the field, right?" Yuna smiled.

Yami Yugi clenched his fist and said solemnly, "It will destroy all monsters I control..."

As the stone tablet crumbled, it emitted an explosion that ravaged Yugi's field. Dark Magician tried to raise a protective barrier but perished to the blast.

[Yugi Mutou: 2000 LP -> 600 LP]

"Since you don't have any more monsters, my turn ends here." Yuna declared with a smile.

Yugi drew, and his expression became grim: "I will set a card and a monster, and that concludes my turn."

[Yuna Sano: 3850 LP -> 4350 LP]

Yuna stared intently at the set card, and her instincts warned her to be careful. Weighing her options, she nodded to herself: "Divine Dragon Lord Felgrand and Starving Venom Fusion Dragon will be set to defence position, then I will attack the set monster using Arkbrave Dragon!"

Divine Dragon Lord Felgrand and Starving Venom Fusion Dragon obediently lay on the floor while Arkbrave Dragon charged. Yami Yugi frowned when his expectations weren't met. However, he reluctantly activates the trap to protect his monster.

"I will use Mirror Force again and destroy all monsters in the attacking position!"

Arkbrave Dragon struck a translucent shield before erupting in flames. Yuna was relieved while Yugi gritted his teeth, knowing that with Arkbrave Dragon's death, another mighty dragon would soon spawn.

[Yuna Sano: 4350 LP -> 2950 LP]

"Keeper of the Shrine's effect has been activated, special summoning himself to the field," Yuna announced: "I will end my turn."

[Keeper of the Shrine: 0 Attack, 2100 Defense]

Yami Yugi drew with a furrowed brow, and it was rare that he was pushed to this extreme, and he hadn't felt a sense of crisis looming over him even when he was battling other duelists participating in this tournament. Was it because it was the last duel he had to face before fighting Pegasus, or was Yuna simply that strong...

"I use Pot of Greed!" Yami Yugi declared: "I can draw two cards from my deck!"

"Then I activate the Mystical Space Typhoon, which allows me to destroy one spell or trap on the field! Disappear Solemn Wish!"

Yuna frowned when Solemn Wish shattered into pieces. No longer can she regain life points, and she bit her lips nervously.

"Then I use Card Destruction. Both players discard their entire hand and draw the same number of cards!" Yami Yugi declared and dumped his cards into the graveyard.

Currently, he has four cards in total, while Yuna has six. However, he wasn't bothered and believed his deck wouldn't fail.

Yuna and Yami Yugi began to draw from their deck. With Solemn Wish gone, Yuna could no longer gain life points; otherwise, Yami Yugi would be in trouble. The two duelists stared at their new hand as strategies and plans formulated in their minds. Yami Yugi's eyes widened slightly at his hand, and he realised that his chances of winning may have increased drastically.

"I will set another monster and end my turn!" He declared.

"My turn!" Yuna said: "With Arkbrave Dragon's effect, when this monster was in the graveyard because it was sent there last turn, I can special summon a Level Seven or Eight dragon from the graveyard, rise Blue Eyes White Dragon!"

A thunderous roar echoed through the room, and a white dragon emerged. It howled fiercely at Yami Yugi, and he instinctively stepped back.

[Blue Eyes White Dragon: 3000 Attack, 2500 Defense]

While Yami Yugi was admiring the appearance of Blue Eyes White Dragon, Yuna scowled. She has detected Yami Yugi's sudden shift in the atmosphere before focusing on a particular card. A piece of her soul told her to play it now, but another part sprouted doubt and informed her to be patient.

However, if she doesn't play the card now, when? If Yuna timed it wrong, it would ultimately spell her doom, so suppressing the anxiety, she shouted: "I will play the card Exchange! We will reveal our hands and take one card from each other!"

Yami Yugi felt bewildered as the podium they were standing on automatically approached one another. Eventually, Yuna and Yami Yugi stood face to face and revealed their hands.

"I will take the Monster Reborn," Yami Yugi said thoughtfully.

"I...." Yuna frowned: "I will take Exodia, the Forbidden One!"

Yami Yugi: !!!!

"So, that's your plan," He smirked, impressed with Yuna's bold idea.

Using Cards Destruction, he retrieved Exodia the Forbidden One, the Right Arm of the Forbidden One and the Left Leg of the Forbidden One. However, it was now all useless when Yuna took one of the pieces...

However, Yami Yugi knew that Yuna must have also understood Exodia wasn't his only option. By taking the Exodia card, Yuna was announcing to him that she have methods to counter his plans.

"Then I will set Divine Dragon Lord Felgrand to attack position and battle your set monster!" Yuna pointed at the hidden card on the left: "Go, Divine Dragon Lord Felgrand!"

The dragon unleashed a fiery beam and swept through his field. The Giant Soldier of Stone Yami Yugi placed earlier stood no chance and even its rocky body melted from the heat.

"With Divine Dragon Lord Felgrand's ability! I can special summon Arkbrave Dragon!"

[Arkbrave Dragon: 2400 Attack, 2000 Defence]

Arkbrave Dragon

Blue Eyes White Dragon

Divine Dragon Lord Felgrand

Keeper of the Shrine

Starving Venom Fusion Dragon

Yuna's field was filled with monsters, and each one with strength sent chills down any duelist's spine. Yami Yugi gritted his teeth and watched with anticipation: 'Yuna Sano... The first one to push me to this extent....'

Yami Yugi drew from his deck as soon as Yuna set a card and ended her turn. His heart thumped against his ribs as the anxiety was gradually overtaking him.

'Don't worry, and we got this!' Yugi's determined voice echoed in the pharaoh's head, and Yami Yugi nodded: 'You're right. We will save our Grandfather!'

"I will activate Card of Demise! I can draw cards until I have five cards in my hand!" Yami Yugi declared: "However, I must discard my entire hand on my 5th turn after I played this card. But we both know that this duel will end sooner than that!"

Yami Yugi draws as his cards have now matched Yuna's: "Here I come Yuna Sano! This is my final stand!"

"I will activate your Monster Reborn and summon Dark Magician from my graveyard!" Yami Yugi announced and the familiar mage emerges from a magic circle. He glared at his enemies and readied his staff with resolve.

[Dark Magician: 2500 Attack, 2100 Defense]

"Then I will use Polymerization! Fusing Dark Magician and Gaia the Fierce Knight in my hand!"

A portal appeared behind Dark Magician and the mage instantly stepped in. Soon, the sound of galloping hooves could be heard. A purple horse dressed in armour leapt through the portal and it ran across the duelling field.

On the horse was Dark Magician but his outfit have transformed into a bluish knight armour instead of the purple robe. In his hand was a large red lance that was so sharp it can puncture the air. The warrior reined his steed as he swung his lance with murderous intent.

[Dark Calvary: 2800 Attack, 2300 Defense]

"With Dark Calvary's effect, it will gain one hundred attacks for each spell and trap on the field or in the graveyard!"

[Dark Calvary: 2800 -> 4400 Attack, 2300 Defense] [2]

"Now go and attack Arkrbave Dragon!" Yami Yugi shouted and he felt his voice going hoarse.

Dark Calvary charged and pointed his lance at the celestial dragon. However, a magic spell struck Dark Calvary out of nowhere, as if hypnotised, Dark Calvary withdraw from attack and returned to Yugi's field.

"I will activate the set trap, Negate Attack! I can target one of my opponent's monsters and negate its attack before ending the battle face!" Yuna yelled as sweat visibly appeared on her forehead.

"It will be your turn," Yami Yugi said unwillingly: "But I will end this battle on my next turn!"

Yuna shook her head and Yami Yugi glared with confusion: "No Mutou-san this duel will end right now! I will turn Starving Venom Fusion Dragon to attack mode, now go! Starving Venom Fusion Dragon, attack Dark Calvary!"

The dark dragon slithered its way towards the warrior and pounced with its claws. Yami Yugi watched as Starving Venom Fusion Dragon wrapped its tail around the body of the horse.

Yami Yugi clenched the railings and he was baffled. No matter how hard he thinks, Starving Venom Fusion Dragon was way weaker than his Dark Calvary and it would simply be suicide.

Starving Venom Fusion Dragon roared and slashed at the rider with its claws. Dark Calvary deflected with his weapon before stabbing into the creature's chest and knocking it away. Before Starving Venom Fusion Dragon can recover, Dark Calvary stomped onto its skull...

[Yuna Sano: 2950 LP -> 1450 LP]

"What are you doing?!" He shouted with frustration: "Why ar...."

Yami Yugi froze when he saw Yuna's expression. He remembered clearly that unbothered face was the exact same as when she was looking at Joey during their duel! There wasn't a hint of emotions except for her eyes, her pupils were wavering not out of fear but of pity and that's when Yami Yugi understood that he was merely playing into the palm of her hands all along.

Suddenly Yami Yugi's heart sank as Dark Calvary fell off his horse. The warrior clutched the side of his stomach before glancing at his hand which was now oozed with blood and a green acidic liquid that was the exact same substance that was dripping from Starving Venom Fusion Dragon's stinger.

"Starving Venom Fusion Dragon's effect has been activated...." Yuna said in a gentle tone: "When it was defeated and sent to the graveyard, destroy every special summon monster my opponent controls."

Dark Calvary's body convulsed uncontrollably, and green veins appeared along its face. It spat a mouthful of blood and fell on the floor, dead to the horrible poison.

"No way... A suicide attack?" Yami Yugi spoke in disbelief.

Dark Calvary's body began to turn white, blinding the room. Yami Yugi blocked his eyes and heard Yuna's soft voice.

"Mutou-san, I will save your grandfather." She declared as Yami Yugi stared at her in a daze.

BOOM

[Yugi Mutou: 600 LP -> 0 LP]

An hour later...

[Yuna's POV]

I walked quietly down an empty hallway while reflecting on the previous match. When the adrenaline left my body, I realised the sole reason I win was the severe difference with our deck. My monsters could all be considered to have powerful effects in this era compared to Yugi's normal monsters.

Also, the only cards I really should worry about were Mirror Force and the Exodia. With me beating Kaiba, Yugi really didn't have a chance to showcase it so Wevil didn't toss the cards into the sea. Now that I think about it, there must have been a poor soul in the duelist kingdom that has to taste the defeat of Exodia, they have my condolences.

Finally, my thoughts end when I reached a door. I held my breath and entered, revealing a dark vacant room. In the middle of the room was a table with two chairs, illuminated by a dim light. One of the seats was already occupied by a man with white hair, dressed in a dashing red suit.

I sat down across from the man and observed him quietly. He smiled at me and rested his chin on his hand: "I knew you would win ~Yuna~."

My anger rose at my silky voice and he laughed: "Alright I get it, stop giving me that look. Let's just get this over with. I, Maximillian Pegasus, the creator of Duel Monsters, challenge you to a duel!"

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[1] If you're wondering why I didn't activate Starving Venom Fusion Dragon's first effect of gaining attack to one of the special summon monsters? Well, simply it's useless as it would only last until the end of the turn and Yuna have already used her battle phase.

[2] I know Dark Calvary was a monster that was made in 2019, contradicting my statement on using cards made before 2010. However, its way too cool not to use it and its the only fusion monster that seemed reasonable as its effect isn't as broken as the others Gaia the fierce knight and Darkmagican was monsters Yugi regularly used.