Yugioh [742-745] (Patreon)

Chapter 742: Supreme King

Dark Fusion, activate!
Supreme King: "Fuse for a Fiend-type Fusion Monster by using the monsters in my hand and on my field as Fusion Materials."

Dark Fusion, the Supreme King's exclusive key card for his corrupted HERO series—the "Evil HEROes," symbol of darkened fall. It's the specialized Fusion card used when Jaden's Elemental HEROes have fallen to darkness.

Most monsters Fusion Summoned with this card are the corrupted versions of the original Elemental HERO Fusions. With the same materials, they generally have the same ATK/DEF stats, but become Fiend-type and have stronger effects.

"I'll Dark Fusion the 'Elemental HERO Wildheart' and 'Elemental HERO Avian' in my hand!" the Supreme King declared. "Wings of the wilderness, become a storm of darkness—

—Evil HERO Wild Cyclone, appear!"

Wildheart and Avian, two classic HERO figures from Jaden's hand—even these HEROes looked a little more sinister when projected onto the field.

A vortex of darkness formed in midair. The two HEROes turned into streams of dark energy and plunged into it. The vortex erupted; black feathers scattered through the air as a wicked HERO descended with arms folded.

[Evil HERO Wild Cyclone, ATK 1900]

Clearly, this is the darkened counterpart to Wild Wingman, the Fusion of Avian and Wildheart. It also has 1900 ATK.

"Evil HERO Wild Cyclone attacks," the Supreme King ordered coldly. "Cyclone Slash!"

The dark HERO's wings scythed, and a storm, like slicing wind, cut straight toward Kira.

Kira remained calm: "Then I activate—"

"Pointless," the Supreme King cut in. "Wild Cyclone's effect: when this card attacks, until the end of the Damage Step, your Spell/Trap Cards cannot be activated."

He paused, then added indifferently:

"You didn't summon a monster, hoping to bait an attack and counter with a trap to seize tempo. Such a crude tactic is already laid bare before me. It won't work against Wild Cyclone.

Also, when Wild Cyclone inflicts battle damage, it destroys all set Spell/Trap Cards you control."

It was obvious the Supreme King didn't pick this Evil HERO at random; it was perfectly suited for the current board. With this strike, Kira's backrow might as well have been decoration—he wouldn't even get the chance to activate anything before this Evil HERO wiped it all out.

However—
"Who said I was going to use a trap?" Kira said.

"What?"

"What I said was, I'm activating this card in the Graveyard."

Kira swept his arm, and a beam of golden light flew from the Graveyard, coalescing midair into a round, adorable little creature.

"Clear Kuriboh!
When an opponent's monster declares a direct attack, you can banish this card from your Graveyard; draw 1 card. If it's a monster, Special Summon it, then change the attack target to that monster."

"Draw one card," the Supreme King said, voice flat. "The top card of your Deck—"

He naturally remembered the Spellbook Organization Kira used last turn.

"Indeed. I've already arranged the top of my deck. So the top card is, of course, a monster."

Kira drew, slapped the card onto the Duel Disk without even looking.

"Clear Kuriboh's effect—Special Summon 'Chaos Command Magician'!"

A magician in ornate robes descended onto his field. He leapt forward; his staff gathered an emerald-black sphere of mana and, with a flicker, he intercepted Wild Cyclone, staff swinging to block.

[Chaos Command Magician, ATK 2400]

"Normally, when a new monster appears, the battle rewinds. But Clear Kuriboh's effect forces Wild Cyclone's attack to switch to the newly Summoned monster and continue."

Kira explained.

"Therefore Wild Cyclone is forced to battle Chaos Command Magician."

Wild Cyclone's wings beat; transparent cyclones sliced forth. But the sorcerer handled them with ease—his staff twirled lightly, catching the black feathers, and the dark HERO's storm was shattered head-on as the mana sphere plowed on.

The Evil HERO's face changed; he hurriedly crossed his wings like shields, but it was too late. The shield was pierced through with a clean hole, and Wild Cyclone exploded into fragments.

[Supreme King, LP 4000 → 3500]

"Looks like the Supreme King's training isn't quite enough." Kira chuckled. "We've got plenty of duel lines over here."

It was a decent setback to open with, but the Supreme King's expression didn't change.

"Then Elemental HERO Stratos won't attack. Turn end."

"My turn. Draw." Kira drew, then revealed a card in hand. "The 'Silent Magician' in my hand cannot be Normal Summoned. It can only be Special Summoned by Tributing a Spellcaster-type monster on my field.

I Tribute the Spellcaster 'Chaos Command Magician.'

Wings of silence that carry our hopes, magician of light—now appear—

—Silent Magician, Summon!"

Chaos Command Magician dissolved into white light as a magic barrier unfolded on the ground.

The school-uniformed girl who had been standing by Kira stepped onto the field and into the barrier. Swathed in radiance, her attire transformed into a sacred robe; her silver hair streamed in the light.

[Silent Magician, ATK 1000]

The Supreme King glanced at the Silent Magician, who had walked in from "off-field" to start her shift.

"A spirit, hm," he said coolly.

"Silent's ATK increases by 500 times the number of cards in my hand," Kira said. "I have four, so ATK increases by 2000."

[Silent Magician, ATK 1000 → 3000]

"Silent attacks 'Elemental HERO Stratos,'" Kira declared. "Silent Burning!"

The white magic circle opened again, rotating slowly as white light gathered on the tip of her raised staff, forming a milky white orb that blasted Stratos to pieces.

[Supreme King, LP 3500 → 2300]

"Then it's my turn. Draw."

The Supreme King drew, then immediately revealed the card.

"I activate the Spell Card 'Hero's Legacy.' If there are at least two Level 4 'HERO' monsters in my Graveyard, draw three cards." (Manga card)

"You HEROes sure do have a violent draw engine. Straight up trying to draw three?" Kira said. "Silent Magician—activate effect.

Once per turn, negate the activation of an opponent's Spell!"

"NANI?"

"Negate the activation of 'Hero's Legacy.'"

A blast of mana shot from Silent Magician's staff. The Spell Card in front of the Supreme King dimmed and shattered into pieces.

Chapter 743: Evil Heart

"So she really can negate Spells."

To say it didn't affect the Supreme King would be a lie. Elemental HEROes burn through cards—Hand Fusion is often a three-for-one. Even darkened into Evil HEROes, that problem isn't truly solved.

This negate was equivalent to deleting three cards from his resources—a nearly fatal blow on that axis.

But he was the Supreme King; even so, his face didn't change.

"Then I activate the Spell Card 'Card Destruction,'" the Supreme King said. "Both players discard their entire hands, then draw the same number."

He discarded his hand, then redrew.

"Spell Card 'Akashic Record'—draw two cards. If any drawn cards have already been used in this Duel, banish them."

He refilled his hand, then yanked three cards at once and raised them high.

"Once again—Dark Fusion! Fuse monsters in my hand and on my field to perform a Dark Fusion Summon of an Evil HERO Fiend!

From my hand, fuse 'Elemental HERO Sparkman' and 'Elemental HERO Clayman'!"

The classic Jaden combo. Sparkman, in his blue suit crackling with electricity, and Clayman, the sturdy defensive HERO—both looked a shade darker now, their presence tinged with malice as they entered.

The two HEROes became streams of light and fell into the fusion vortex. Black thunder boomed as lightning coalesced on the thunder HERO's body, descending domineeringly.

[Evil HERO Lightning Golem, ATK 2400]

From materials to stats to silhouette, it's clearly the corrupted Thunder Giant, one of Jaden's early favorites.

"Evil HERO Lightning Golem's effect—once per turn, destroy any monster on the field."

Upgraded from the original Thunder Giant that could only destroy a monster with less original ATK than itself, and anime-only on-summon, to a stronger once-per-turn any-monster pop. Compared to both anime and TCG, Evil Lightning Golem is strictly enhanced.

Of course, stronger monsters don't change the three-for-one essence of fixed-material Fusions. That's why the Evil HEROes look cool in the anime but have long struggled even in casual play in reality…

"Voltic Ball!"

Lightning Golem thrust out a palm; surging black lightning blasted toward Kira. Silent Magician was shattered amid thunder, but as she broke, a new vortex of mana bloomed.

"When Silent Magician is destroyed by battle or an opponent's effect, Special Summon 1 'Silent Magician' other than itself from your hand or Deck, ignoring its Summoning conditions.

From the nexus of Chaos and Order, let silent light blossom—magician of light, descend—

—Silent Magician LV8!"

The light converged and reshaped into Silent Magician—now taller, more mature in all the right places, and with an even stronger aura.

[Silent Magician LV8, ATK 3500]

Supreme King: "Then I set one card and end my turn."

"My turn. Draw," Kira said. "I activate my set card, the Spell 'Card of Spell Containment'—draw two cards, but I can't activate Spells or set cards this turn as the cost."

Kira drew two.

"Then I Normal Summon 'Breaker the Magical Warrior'!"

The red-armored swordsman stepped onto a circular spell array, sword and shield in hand. The jewel on his shield lit up on its own.

"Breaker gets a Spell Counter on Summon and gains 300 ATK.

But I'll use his second effect. Remove his Spell Counter to destroy a Spell/Trap on the field."

[Breaker, ATK 1600 → 1900 → 1600]

Breaker had barely landed and already converted his fresh 300 ATK into a slicing wave of magic. He drew his blade and casually slashed at the opponent's backrow.

The Supreme King's backrow flipped and was cleaved by the sword aura.

"You destroyed the Trap Card 'Dummy Marker,'" the Supreme King said. "When Dummy Marker is destroyed by a card effect and sent to the Graveyard, draw one card."

He drew one.

A pity for him—if Dummy Marker is destroyed by an opponent's Spell effect, he could've drawn two. But Breaker's a monster effect, so no.

And the situation was already bad for him. With 2300 LP remaining, Silent Magician could destroy Lightning Golem for 1100 damage; Breaker could finish the rest.

"If the attacks go through, it's over—though since you're the Supreme King, you won't let us down that easily, right?" Kira smiled.

Supreme King: "…"

"Battle," Kira said. "Silent Magician LV8 attacks 'Evil HERO Lightning Golem.'"

White currents coalesced at the tip of the staff; a brilliant beam like a river of stars speared toward the Lightning Golem's chest.

As expected, the Supreme King revealed his defensive measure.

"Special Summon 'Juragedo' in Attack Position!"

A stream of dark light shot from the card in his hand, slamming into the ground and forming a twisted fiend.

[Juragedo, ATK 1700]

"A hand trap, huh." Kira smiled.

Called it—never that simple.

"Juragedo can be activated from the hand during either player's Battle Step. Special Summon it and I gain 1000 LP."

[Supreme King, LP 2300 → 3300]

"I know," Kira said. "And by Tributing it, one of your monsters can gain 1000 ATK until the end of the next turn.

Well? Gonna Tribute it?"

"No." The Supreme King's tone was flat.

Naturally. Even with the boost, Lightning Golem would only reach 3400—still lower than Silent Magician. The gap's too big; even with a hand trap, he couldn't bridge it.

Silent Burning went through, blasting a hole in the Lightning Golem's chest. The dark HERO groaned and fell, shattering.

[Supreme King, LP 3300 → 2200]

"Breaker's Spell Counter is gone, so he's back to 1600—can't punch through Juragedo."

Kira shrugged.

"And because of 'Card of Spell Containment,' I can't set cards this turn.

I end my turn."

Chapter 744: Vicious Claws

"I've heard the Supreme King is a king from another world—the ruler of twelve dimensions," Kira said.

"You must be stronger than this, right?"

Kira knew the Supreme King wasn't at full power. He hadn't fully devoured Jaden's heart and lacked his hallmark Super Polymerization. Also, channeling into reality through Jaden likely limited his output—who knew how much of his prime he could muster?

Even so, the darkness felt at the Red Dorm was genuinely strong. He was still the Supreme King—no full power, but not to be taken lightly.

The Supreme King, meanwhile, regarded Kira with increasing caution.

He had roamed twelve dimensions and rarely met opponents. Yet the aura of power from this man could vaguely match his own.

He knew at once this was a rare opponent—one who'd take real effort to defeat.

Such a strong foe in this other world? No wonder he dared come to the Supreme King's castle—he really had some skill.

Having crushed all comers for years, the Supreme King was bored of stomping weaklings. Meeting someone who could actually fight stirred his interest.

"My turn. Draw," said the Supreme King. "I activate the Spell Card 'Graceful Charity.' Draw three cards, then discard two."

At once, another Spell appeared midair.

"Because I discarded the Spell 'Card of Compensation,' I draw two cards," he said. "Then I Tribute 'Juragedo' to Tribute Summon!
Piercing fiend, with indomitable claws shatter the enemy!

Evil HERO Malicious Edge, Summon!"

Juragedo melted into a black mire, and a blue-clad fiend emerged with arms folded. His body bristled with dangerous spikes that masked half his face; vicious claws like a certain adamantium mutant's protruded from the backs of his hands, and the sneer at his mouth mocked his prey.

[Evil HERO Malicious Edge, ATK 2600]

Though the look has changed a lot, from ATK and effect, this is clearly the darkened Bladedge.

"Even though Malicious Edge is Level 7, if the opponent controls a monster, it can be Tribute Summoned with just one Tribute."

The Supreme King played an Equip Spell.

"Next, the Equip Spell 'Vicious Claws.' The equipped monster gains 300 ATK."

"Buffing Malicious Edge?" Kira asked.

"No, not Malicious Edge," the Supreme King said calmly. "Even with a boost, it's far short of Silent Magician.

I'll equip Vicious Claws to 'Breaker the Magical Warrior.'"

The red-armored warrior suddenly found razor claws strapped to his arms—like forged dragon talons of steel. He swung twice, and a gloom erupted from the claws, shrouding him in dark miasma; even his complexion turned ashen.

[Breaker, ATK 1600 → 1900]

"You're equipping my monster?" Kira blinked.

"Correct," the Supreme King said icily. "Battle. 'Evil HERO Malicious Edge' attacks 'Breaker the Magical Warrior!'"

Malicious Edge's claws slashed for Breaker's throat.

Breaker thrust his sword out—blade light flashed and was cut into pieces by the claws. He raised his shield to block, but a flying kick crashed into his shield arm; the magic shield flew spinning into the air.

Disarmed of both sword and shield, he had no choice but to counter with the very Vicious Claws he'd just gained. Malicious Edge laughed derisively, seized Breaker's wrist, and slashed.

A clang—claws met claws. Despite the huge ATK gap, Breaker somehow weathered the blow and staggered back, not destroyed. The impact still transmitted to Kira.

[Kira, LP 4000 → 3300]

But then the equipped claws popped off, whirled into the air, and like hidden blades zipped spinning toward Silent Magician.

"Another effect of Vicious Claws: if the equipped monster is destroyed by battle, instead of being sent to the Graveyard, this card returns to the owner's hand. Then destroy 1 other monster your opponent controls besides the battling one, and inflict 600 damage."

"I see," Kira said, intrigued. "That's creative."

Clearly the Equip is meant for your own monster: it boosts ATK and, when that monster is destroyed by battle, the equip saves itself by returning to hand, then pops an opponent's monster and burns for 600—quite good.

But the Supreme King equipped it to the opponent's monster. Even though the equipped monster is the opponent's, the Equip Card itself is controlled by the Supreme King in his S/T zone, so "destroy 1 monster your opponent controls" still targets Kira's field from the equip's perspective.

So Kira would take battle damage and then lose a monster plus 600 effect damage.

Well—if it went through.

Silent Magician, expressionless, faced the incoming claws without panic. She casually flicked her staff. A white surge knocked the spinning claws aside.

"Nice combo, but what a shame," Kira said. "Silent Magician LV8 is unaffected by your Spell Cards."

"Tch…"

The Supreme King clicked his tongue, feeling more keenly how troublesome this opponent was.

"I activate the Spell 'Card of Burial Magic.' Banish from my Graveyard the Spell Cards 'Hero's Legacy,' 'Graceful Charity,' and 'Card of Compensation' to draw two cards."

He drew two.

"Then 'Card of Heaven and Earth.' Since I Tribute Summoned this turn, draw two cards. Cards drawn this way cannot be used this turn; if they can be set, at least one must be set."

He drew two more, then quickly pulled out three cards.

"I set three and end my turn."

"My turn. Draw," Kira said.

"I activate the Spell 'Spell Power Grasp.' Place a Spell Counter on a card I control that can hold Spell Counters, then add a 'Spell Power Grasp' from my Deck to my hand.

I place a Spell Counter on 'Breaker the Magical Warrior.'"

[Breaker the Magical Warrior, ATK 1600 → 1900]

"Then Breaker's effect. Remove his Spell Counter to destroy a Spell/Trap in your backrow!"

Chapter 745: Classic Pairing

"Breaker—destroy the set backrow!"

At some point Breaker had already regained his sword. Magic gathered along the blade and became a crescent slash.

"In response, my Trap activates," the Supreme King said. "Trap Card 'Card of Pandora.' When a Spell/Trap I control becomes the target of a card effect, transfer the target to this card, then draw two cards." (Anime card)
The slash curved mid-flight and struck that set card. The Supreme King drew two.

"So you stopped it," Kira said. "Then Silent Magician attacks 'Evil HERO Malicious Edge.'"

Though Vicious Claws had returned to the Supreme King's hand last turn, its self-restriction prevents it from being activated from hand the turn it returns, so he couldn't re-equip Malicious Edge to substitute destruction or blast Kira's card.

But he had other measures: "I activate my set Trap, 'Power Frame.'

When a monster you control becomes the attack target of a monster with higher ATK, negate that attack!"

A cubic frame appeared in front of Malicious Edge. Silent Magician's full-power blast poured into the frame, filling it with pure energy like a blazing sun.

"Then equip this card to that attacked monster. Increase the equipped monster's ATK by the difference between the two monsters' ATK at the time of battle!"

The frame merged into Malicious Edge, along with the condensed magic within. Malicious Edge roared as power flooded his body.

[Evil HERO Malicious Edge, ATK 2600 → 3500]

"He's caught up to Silent," Kira narrowed his eyes. "So next turn, equipping 'Vicious Claws' would push him over Silent.

I'll set one and end."

"My turn. Draw." As expected, the Supreme King revealed an Equip. "Equip Spell 'Vicious Claws.' Equip to 'Evil HERO Malicious Edge'—gain 300 ATK."

[Evil HERO Malicious Edge, ATK 3500 → 3800]

"Then I Normal Summon 'Evil HERO Infernal Gainer.'"

[Evil HERO Infernal Gainer, ATK 1600]

"Battle," the Supreme King barked. "'Evil HERO Malicious Edge' attacks 'Silent Magician LV8!'"

Empowered by the Equip, Malicious Edge let out a battle cry. Finally overtaking the Silent Magician that had suppressed him, he slashed with relish.

"Then I activate my set Trap," Kira said. "'Magic Cylinder'! When an opponent's monster declares an attack: negate the attack and inflict damage to your opponent equal to that monster's ATK."

The Supreme King's golden eyes flickered, then he continued coldly: "I activate my set card.

Trap Card 'Nature's Reflection'! This turn, any effect damage you would inflict is reflected back to you."

I reflect your reflection!
At 3800 ATK, the reflected-reflection would be lethal to either player!
At the last moment, Kira revealed a card from hand: "Then I discard 'Hanewata.' If this card is discarded from the hand, all effect damage I would take this turn becomes 0. This can be activated during the opponent's turn."

A white cotton puff bounced onto the field and released a holy, milky barrier. Malicious Edge's ricocheting damage was all dissolved, ending the reflect war.

Although the effect damage was nullified, Magic Cylinder had still negated Malicious Edge's attack.

The Supreme King remained composed.

"Then I activate 'Evil HERO Infernal Gainer's' effect," he said. "This effect can only be activated during my Battle Phase.

Banish this card; choose 1 Fiend monster I control. As long as that monster remains face-up, during this Battle Phase it can attack twice!" (Anime effect)

It permanently grants an ally a "Cyber Twin Dragon"-style extra attack. The OCG effect is similar, but timing differs: anime Infernal Gainer activates in the Battle Phase; the card version in Main Phase.

The difference is: the anime version can attack once itself, then banish to grant an ally another attack in the Battle Phase; the printed card cannot—it must banish in Main Phase.

"I banish Infernal Gainer—Malicious Edge can attack twice this turn," the Supreme King declared. "Second attack! Strike 'Silent Magician LV8'!"

Empowered by his ally's sacrifice, Malicious Edge slashed again, finally breaking Silent's defense and cutting her down.

[Kira, LP 3300 → 3000]

Supreme King: "Then I activate the Continuous Spell 'Mirage of Nightmare.' During your next Draw Phase, draw until you have four cards in your hand.

I set one and end my turn."

Classic Mirage + one set.

Kira smiled. "Looks like even as the Supreme King, you haven't forgotten the classic combo."

"I don't know what you've misunderstood, but I'm not whoever you think I am," the Supreme King said coldly.

Kira shrugged. "If you say so.

My turn. Draw."

Supreme King: "In your Draw Phase, I draw until I have four cards."

Kira: "Main Phase. I activate 'Graceful Charity'—draw three, discard two."

"The 'Learning Elf' I just discarded—when sent to the Graveyard, draw one."

Kira then revealed a card he'd searched last turn: "I activate 'Spell Power Grasp' again. Place a Spell Counter on a card that can hold one.

Once again, I place a counter on 'Breaker the Magical Warrior.'"

[Breaker, ATK 1600 → 1900]

"Then remove Breaker's counter to destroy your set backrow."

Based on experience, that set was probably Emergency Provisions, but not guaranteed. Best to remove it first.

The Supreme King frowned slightly. "So Spell Power Grasp plus Breaker can form a stable, per-turn backrow removal engine… Then I activate my set Quick-Play Spell 'Emergency Provisions.'

Send any number of Spell/Trap Cards to the Graveyard; gain 1000 LP for each."