Yugioh [915-917] (Patreon)

Chapter 915 — You Just Said "Attack," Right?

Yubel, summon!

As her true form descended, Yubel's aura—and her confidence—seemed to swell even further. Of course, that didn't mean she'd forgotten there were still troublesome problems left unresolved on the field.

"Effect of the Continuous Spell 'Precious Cards from Beyond'. Because I performed a Tribute Summon using two tributes, I draw two cards from my Deck."

Yubel drew two cards. After only a glance, she immediately revealed one of them.

"I activate the Spell Card 'Magic Planter'. Send a Continuous Spell on the field to the Graveyard, then draw two cards from the Deck." (anime effect)

Yubel pulled a Continuous Spell from her back row slot, flashed it briefly, then slid it into the Graveyard.

"I send the Continuous Spell 'Kishido Spirit' to the Graveyard and draw two cards."

Yubel drew two more.

Kira: "Terrifying sustain. You're refilling ammo until it overflows in one go?"

Silent Magician made a gesture beside him. Kira met her eyes and smiled.

"Don't be careless? Don't worry—she can't threaten me. At least, not in her current state."

He wasn't speaking quietly, nor did he bother to hide it. Yubel heard every word—and her anger flared.

"You still have time to flirt during my duel!"

Feeling slighted yet again, Yubel raised her voice and revealed another card in her hand.

"I activate the Spell Card 'Soul Taker'!

Destroy one monster on your opponent's field, then your opponent gains 1000 Life Points."

A projection of the Spell appeared behind her. From its artwork, a demonic claw seemed to thrust out. Its fingers spread wide, as if unleashing boundless gravity.

Zaborg the Thunder Monarch—was instantly seized by that pull. He dug in his heels, gritting his teeth, his body trembling from the strain. But soon, a mass of golden energy was torn from within him—like a soul being ripped free—and dragged into the card.

Zaborg's body became an empty shell. It froze for a few seconds, then cracks spiderwebbed across it—crack, crack—and it shattered, scattering debris across the ground.

[Kira, LP 4000 → 5000]

The fallen spirit of Zaborg the Thunder Monarch reverted to a ghostly state. With an apologetic look, it dropped to one knee as if begging forgiveness.

Kira waved it off. "It's fine. You did great. Let the others have a chance to shine next."

"That means your damned Rainbow Veil is destroyed too," Yubel snorted.

"That's true."

Kira nodded, smiling.

"Looks like you're really afraid of this card."

Yubel froze, then snapped, "I-I'm not!"

But being told that made a strange feeling rise in her. This duel felt like running a gauntlet—like her opponent had prepared layer after layer of obstacles, each more perilous than the last.

Every time she struggled through a barrier and thought daylight was finally breaking through, she'd realize it had only been an appetizer. The real threat was still waiting ahead.

Yubel shook her head, forcing away the uneasy thought.

"Battle!"

She shouted it—partly to bolster her momentum, partly to steady herself.

"Yubel, attack 'Grinder Golem'!"

[Yubel, ATK 0]

[Grinder Golem, ATK 3000]

Kira: "What!? Attacking with a monster that has 0 ATK!?"

Yubel felt she'd regained a bit of face, and smirked. "Heh. Yubel's effect is: no matter what, it cannot be destroyed by battle.

All battle damage from battles involving this card becomes 0, and after each battle, it inflicts damage to the opponent equal to the amount of damage that was reduced to 0." (anime effect)

Kira was shocked. "So this is why you gave me Grinder Golem. Once this combo is online, you can deal a massive 3000 damage in one shot."

Yubel grinned proudly. "Exactly!"

Eye was practically speechless. "With acting this over-the-top, she actually bought it…"

"Really? I think it's soul acting."

Kira put away his surprised look and smiled.

"But since you put it that way…"

He slowly raised his right arm.

"I activate a face-down card—Trap Card 'Intruder Alarm - Yellow Alert'!

When the opponent declares an attack: Special Summon 1 monster from your hand, and your opponent must attack that monster." (anime effect)

As he spoke, he revealed a monster in his hand.

"With you as my opponent, these guys are perfect," he said with a mysterious grin. "Come—Gladiator Beast Darius!"

"Gladiator Beast?"

Yubel frowned. It was something new that had appeared while she was away from Earth—another blind spot in her knowledge.

A bipedal, horse-shaped Gladiator Beast warrior landed on Kira's field in a defensive crouch. It wore a gladiator's armor, and the long whip in its hand crackled with electricity.

[Gladiator Beast Darius, DEF 300]

"Only 300 DEF—so that's it."

Yubel chuckled, feeling like she'd seen through him.

"Right. You're forcing the attack target onto some trash with only 300 DEF. That way, the damage reflected back to you is only 300. Avoiding most of the damage with a trick like that—nice response."

She spoke casually.

"Then I'll attack 'Gladiator Beast Darius'."

She called it an attack, but Yubel's ATK was 0. Her specialty wasn't physical force—it was mental domination, seducing and controlling hearts.

Her heterochromatic eyes shimmered. The same eerie gleam appeared in the Gladiator Beast's eyes.

The warrior instantly roared, unable to resist. The electrified whip lashed down, striking Yubel's body.

At the same time, thorny vines shot up beneath Yubel, coiling into a circular barrier around her. The electric impact was absorbed completely by the vines—then surged back toward Kira in a roaring countercurrent!

[Kira, LP 5000 → 4700]

"You dodged it this time," Yubel sneered. "But next turn won't be so easy. If you don't want to die too fast, you'd better not leave monsters that are too powerful on your field."

As she spoke, she licked her lips.

"I loooove strong men~!"

Yubel still hadn't realized how serious the situation was.

Kira calmly brushed dust from himself. Then, with a shadowy smile, he said:

"You just attacked a Gladiator Beast, right?"

"Huh?"

Yubel blinked.

What kind of question was that?

"It's nothing," Kira said. "Just that you may have made the single most serious mistake in this entire duel."

He snapped his fingers.

"Effect of Gladiator Beast Darius," Kira said. "At the end of the Battle Phase, if this card battled: return it to its owner's Deck, then Special Summon 1 'Gladiator Beast' monster from the Deck, except 'Gladiator Beast Darius.'"

A beam of light shot out from his Deck.

"Come forth—Gladiator Beast Augustus!"

…

Chapter 916 — Terror Incarnate

"Gladiator Beast Augustus, summon!"

A bird-beast Gladiator draped in darkness—bearing an ancient king's name—descended amidst a storm of black wind. Its pitch-black armor looked like it had been tempered a thousand times on forgotten battlefields. On its broad wings gleamed avian talons.

[Gladiator Beast Augustus, ATK 2600]

Yubel's expression sank.

Special Summon from the Deck after battle… so that had been the true purpose of the battle just now?

But even knowing that Yubel couldn't be destroyed by battle—and would reflect battle damage—he still insisted on bringing out a high-level monster like this.

Something was off.

"Effect of Gladiator Beast Augustus: when this card is Special Summoned by the effect of a 'Gladiator Beast' monster, I can Special Summon 1 'Gladiator Beast' monster from my hand in Defense Position."

Kira played another card from his hand.

"Special Summon 'Gladiator Beast Murmillo' from my hand!"

A Sea Serpent-style Gladiator warrior—one of the most common low-level Gladiator Beasts—appeared as a blue vortex of water erupted like a fountain. The blue, fish-bodied gladiator dove onto the field, twin turbines behind it spinning at full speed.

[Gladiator Beast Murmillo, ATK 800]

"Murmillo's effect: when this card is Special Summoned by the effect of a Gladiator Beast monster, destroy 1 face-up monster on the field." Kira snapped. "Destroy 'Yubel'!"

The turbines roared, and a high-pressure water blast fired straight at Yubel!

Yubel understood immediately—and smiled.

"I see. Right: I can't be destroyed by battle, and battle damage reflects. But if you destroy me by effect, you can deal with me cleanly. That's what you're thinking, right?"

She snorted, her smile widening.

"But will it really be that simple?"

Boom!

The water blast hit Yubel head-on. She exploded on the spot, shattered into fragments by the surging torrent.

But Yubel did not leave the field.

As the smoke and spray cleared, something larger took her place—a more massive silhouette.

Yubel had completely lost her humanoid shape, transforming into a demonic dragon: two dragon heads, long necks, a blood-red single eye opening in the center of her chest, and blade-like claws for hands and feet.

Yubel — Terror Incarnate, summon!

With the Terror Incarnate's descent, the pressure and aura erupting from Yubel's core surged dramatically!

"Yubel — Terror Incarnate can only appear when the 'Yubel' on my field is destroyed by a card effect!"

Even Yubel's narration had changed—no longer a feminine voice, but a heavy, unnatural blend, as if male and female overlapped.

[Yubel — Terror Incarnate, ATK 0]

"Ten years—ten full years—the torment I endured, the pain I suffered, is beyond anything you can imagine!" Yubel roared in that distorted voice. "But you think that's all? Compared to what came after, that pain was nothing!

The true torment is being unneeded—being abandoned—being hated! And what that darkness becomes… is this ultimate demonic form!"

Kira rested his chin on his hand. "Mm. Sounds like it really wasn't easy."

"I activate the Quick-Play Spell 'Burial from a Different Dimension'," Yubel said coldly. "Return up to three monsters that were removed from play by either player to the Graveyard.

I return 'Samsara Lotus'—the one you removed from play—to the Graveyard."

Kira nodded. "So your target is still the Lotus + Yubel package."

But Kira remembered: only Yubel's base form needed to tribute monsters to maintain itself. The second form shouldn't need that—both in the anime and the real card game.

So her goal was…

"I activate the Continuous Spell 'Mirage of Nightmare'," Yubel said. "During your opponent's Standby Phase, I can draw until I have four cards in hand."

"Next, I set three cards to my back row."

"End Phase: 'Samsara Lotus' in my Graveyard Special Summons itself to the field," Yubel said.

With the anime effect, Lotus could revive itself at the End Phase as long as it existed in the Graveyard—no cost required.

Of course, it had to be Special Summoned in Attack Position. So unless it had a special purpose, it was basically just leaving a 0 ATK target on the field.

[Samsara Lotus, ATK 0]

"And also in the End Phase, Yubel — Terror Incarnate's effect activates!" Yubel shouted. "In the End Phase, Yubel — Terror Incarnate must destroy all other monsters on my field!

Then, based on the number of monsters destroyed, I destroy the same number of monsters on your field!" (anime effect)

(This differs from the real card version; the real effect is much simpler—just "destroy all other monsters on the field," essentially.)

"Taste this pain with me!"

The first to be consumed was Samsara Lotus. It had barely revived before it was dragged into Yubel's erupting chaotic vortex and shredded into pieces by brutal energy.

"Accordingly, I can destroy one monster on your field."

Yubel narrowed her eyes and pointed a claw at Augustus.

"Gladiator Beast Augustus, disappear!"

The same vortex appeared under Augustus's feet. Violent energy erupted upward!

"I activate my set card," Kira said. "Continuous Trap 'Dimension Guardian.'

Target 1 Attack Position monster I control. This Trap protects that monster from being destroyed by battle, and also from being destroyed by card effects."

Yubel's furious strike slammed into Augustus, but it was completely blocked by the Dimensional barrier—without leaving even a crack.

"Damn it!" Yubel snapped. "Why!? Why won't you just die like you're supposed to!?"

"Sorry," Kira said, putting on an innocent look. "People do say I'm hard to get rid of."

"And in this End Phase, because Gladiator Beast Murmillo was Special Summoned by Gladiator Beast Augustus's effect, Murmillo must return to the Deck."

The twin water turbines activated again. Water wrapped around Murmillo, turning it into a stream that flew back into Kira's Deck.

Yubel's face was dark with rage. She stared at Augustus for a moment, then said heavily:

"My turn ends."

…

Chapter 917 — The Ultimate Form

"My turn. Draw."

Kira slotted a card into his back row.

"Spell Card 'Advance Draw'. I tribute a Level 8 or higher monster I control, and draw two cards."

He pointed to the steel giant Yubel had "gifted" him.

"I tribute 'Grinder Golem' and draw two."

Grinder Golem was engulfed in golden light. Bit by bit it disintegrated, until it fully broke down into countless specks that gathered above Kira's Deck.

Kira drew two cards.

"Hmph. A monster I went out of my way to give you," Yubel scoffed. "Ungrateful."

Kira just smiled.

"I activate the Spell Card 'Gladiator Proving Ground'," Kira said. "Add 1 Level 4 or lower 'Gladiator Beast' monster from my Deck to my hand.

I add this card—"

He took the card that slid out of the Deck.

"Gladiator Beast Murmillo, which returned to the Deck automatically at the end of last turn."

Yubel frowned. "That thing again."

A nuisance: a low-level monster, but with the ability to blow up a card when summoned by Gladiator Beast effect.

But… nothing to fear.

Yubel glanced at her huge, imposing dragon body and snorted inwardly.

You want to keep blowing up my monsters?

Fine. Do it.

After you destroy the vessel of Terror Incarnate, you'll understand: you'll be the one who personally unleashes the strongest, most terrifying demon of all.

Trying to remove me, Yubel, with destruction? Laughable.

Now that I've returned from beyond the stars, the thing I fear least is "blowing up."

"Effect of Test Tiger in my hand," Kira said. "If I control a monster with 'Gladiator Beast' in its name, I can Special Summon this card.

I control Gladiator Beast Augustus, so I Special Summon Test Tiger from my hand.

Come—Test Tiger!"

The small tiger—always working overtime despite not having "Gladiator Beast" in its name—hopped onto the field. It looked listless, covered its mouth with a paw, and yawned.

[Test Tiger, ATK 600]

"Then I tribute Test Tiger, and return my Gladiator Beast on the field to the Deck, to Special Summon a monster with 'Gladiator Beast' in its name from my Deck," Kira said.

"I tribute Test Tiger and return Gladiator Beast Augustus on my field to the Deck!"

The little tiger lazily waved a paw, yawned again, then dissolved into golden light.

Its work attitude didn't seem very enthusiastic.

Augustus was likewise wrapped in light and flew back into Kira's Deck.

"I return Augustus to the Deck, then Special Summon from the Deck—"

Kira slid the card into the Deck. The Duel Disk automatically shuffled, then another card popped out. He took it and smiled softly.

"Special Summon Gladiator Beast Augustus!"

Yubel: "?"

Return it… then summon it again?

The dark storm returned, and the same black armor emerged—solid and unyielding. The king of bird-beasts stood tall on the battlefield, greatsword in hand, eyes looking down on all foes.

[Gladiator Beast Augustus, ATK 2600]

"When Gladiator Beast Augustus is Special Summoned by the effect of a Gladiator Beast, I can Special Summon a Gladiator Beast from my hand," Kira said. "Test Tiger isn't a Gladiator Beast, but a Gladiator Beast Special Summoned by Test Tiger's effect counts as being 'Special Summoned by a Gladiator Beast effect'!"

That was the benefit of a temp worker: it's not "in-archetype," but the work can still be credited to the archetype.

"So Augustus's effect—Special Summon a 'Gladiator Beast' monster from my hand."

"A Gladiator Beast from your hand… the one you just searched?" Yubel said.

"Yeah."

Kira smiled, holding the searched card between his index and middle fingers.

"Special Summon Gladiator Beast Murmillo!"

A vortex of water erupted again, gathering into the fish-bodied gladiator warrior as the twin turbines behind it rumbled.

[Gladiator Beast Murmillo, ATK 800]

"And once again—Murmillo's effect," Kira said. "When Murmillo is Special Summoned by a Gladiator Beast effect, destroy one monster on the field.

Destroy Yubel — Terror Incarnate!"

The turbines spun at full speed. The high-pressure water blast fired again—smacking Yubel right in the face.

Twice in a row.

Even the demonic dragon couldn't endure it. The single eye in the center of its chest burst apart with a deep boom.

Of course, Terror Incarnate inherited Yubel's core traits: it couldn't be destroyed by battle; battle damage became 0 and could be reflected.

But that only mattered if the opponent fought it head-on.

And Kira didn't seem interested in battling at all. Murmillo's double destruction had already burned through two of Yubel's "lives."

But—

"I should thank you."

From within the smoke came Yubel's voice—more twisted, deeper, and heavier than ever.

Then, from the place where the dragon had been destroyed, a creature even more enormous emerged!

Two long, contorted necks supported massive dragon heads, coated in rough black scales. The light in its eyes was like candles from the underworld—peering into the deepest darkness of the heart.

Its grotesque body looked like something that shouldn't exist in this world: a fusion of demon and dragon. Bone plates armored its powerful torso, and an enormous single eye was embedded in its leg. Three eyes in its chest formed a triangular pattern, their gaze filled with indescribable sorrow and hatred.

(In the anime, when this form appeared, Yubel the duelist actually fused into the dragon's back—like Marik half-merged atop the Winged Dragon of Ra's head in DM.

But here, Yubel herself still stood on the ground wearing her Duel Disk—probably because her condition was incomplete.)

"Thanks to you breaking the second seal, my final, ultimate, complete form can descend."

Yubel's voice boomed.

"My name is—Yubel - The Ultimate Nightmare!"

[Yubel - The Ultimate Nightmare, ATK 0]

This ultimate form, too, could not be destroyed by battle. Battle damage became 0 and could be reflected. And on top of that, it could destroy any monster that battled it.

Damage and annihilation alike—this was the final monster born from the darkness in Yubel's heart, sorrow pushed to its absolute limit!

"If I'm truly no longer needed—if there isn't even a home I can return to—then a world like this has no reason to exist!"

Yubel's voice was hoarse.

"Then everything… should be destroyed!"