Chapter 990: The Second Machine Emperor

"The effect of the Double Vortex destroys both your 'Supreme God-King Loki' and my 'Machine Emperor·Divine Intellect ∞'!"

As You Xuan spoke, the trap activated. A blinding golden light erupted from the field. Two golden lightning bolts shot forth like spears of judgment—one striking the energy core of Machine Emperor Divine Intellect, the other piercing Loki’s chest.

The Machine Emperor’s armor melted into molten iron the instant the lightning touched it; internal circuit boards exploded in sequence, sparks gushing from every joint seam. Finally, with a deafening roar, the entire Jiti shattered into countless burning metal fragments. Loki unleashed a barrier to defend himself, but the lightning suddenly split into countless thin chains that wrapped around him. His emerald pupils shrank sharply; his divine body convulsed violently in the current, then burst apart with a “pop,” dissolving into a shower of drifting green light particles.

“You sacrificed Machine Emperor just to block Loki’s attack?” Brever said.

But he should know that trading one-for-one to destroy Loki is a loss—because gods are immortal; Loki will revive at the end of the turn. Only your own Machine Emperor is truly gone.

This move essentially just used Machine Emperor to block Loki’s attack once—something that’s highly favorable for Brever.

At that moment, Brever’s pupils contracted.

Because he saw it.

Through the fading smoke of the destroyed Machine Emperor·Divine Intellect, he saw a mech standing there behind the haze.

Against the vast horizon, a mech shimmered with cold blue light, standing firm. Its central torso resembled a hawk’s head coiled for attack; from the black hollow on its chest radiated a piercing, razor-sharp gaze. Behind it, a metallic skeleton extended into a pair of broad, elegant mechanical wings, ready to soar and cleave the sky. Directly beneath the torso stood a heavy cannon, its barrel encased in a faint blue aura as energy gathered.

Brever stammered: “Th-this is—”

“As you see,” You Xuan smiled softly. “‘Machine Emperor·Divine Sky ∞.’ Like Divine Intellect, this card cannot be Normal Summoned.”

“It can only be Special Summoned when a monster on your field is destroyed by a card effect and sent to the graveyard.”

【Machine Emperor·Divine Sky ∞, ATK 2200】

Brever’s face turned ashen, utterly pale.

Machine Emperor… there wasn’t just one?

Outside the field, Dragun slammed his fist on the table: “What the hell? Divine Intellect wasn’t even his ace card!?”

Even the usually calm captain Harald now wore a grim expression.

Machine Emperor—what a terrifying thing. And if there were two—Divine Intellect and Divine Sky—how many more models did You Xuan have hidden?

What a terrifying monster. What a terrifying opponent.

“I set one card face-down. End my turn. And at the end phase, Supreme God will revive from my graveyard.”

Brever said darkly.

“Because Divine Intellect was just destroyed, the Equip Card ‘Supreme God-King Thor’ returned to my graveyard.”

“So at the end phase, Thor and Loki revive. Return to me, both Supreme Gods!”

Lightning cracked across the sky, tearing open another rift. The sea split apart; Thor rose slowly from the center of the parted waters. The heavens shattered again; Loki crawled back through the fissure.

【Supreme God-King Loki, ATK 3300】

【Supreme God-King Thor, ATK 3500】

“First, Thor’s effect: since he revived by his own effect, he deals 800 damage to you!” Brever waved his hand. Thor swung his divine hammer. A transparent bolt of lightning struck You Xuan, carrying the fury of the Supreme God—recently bound, humiliated.

【You Xuan, LP 5400 → LP 4600】

“Then, Supreme God-King Loki’s effect: upon revival, add one trap card from the graveyard to your hand.” Brever said, “I return ‘Nest of the Needle Worm’ from my graveyard to my hand.”

Brever revealed the trap card he had retrieved.

“End of my turn.”

You Xuan said: “My turn, draw.”

“Activate third Magic Card ‘Double Gate’: banish one card with the same name from my graveyard, then draw two cards.”

You Xuan drew two cards, then immediately revealed one.

“Magic Card ‘Graveyard Incantation: Sacred Draw’: banish three Magic Cards from my graveyard, then draw two cards.”

“I banish ‘Aurora Draw,’ ‘Double Gate,’ and ‘The Suffering of the Strong’ from my graveyard, and draw two cards.”

You Xuan drew two additional cards.

After drawing, he smiled easily and looked up.

“You’ve probably guessed by now—Machine Emperor Divine Sky possesses the same ability as Divine Intellect. Machine Emperors were created specifically to suppress Synchro Monsters—even gods are not exempt.”

“Machine Emperor·Divine Sky ∞, activate effect: once per turn, absorb one Synchro Monster on your field as an Equip Card.”

“Absorb again—‘Supreme God-King Thor’!”

“Not a chance!” Brever roared. “Activate continuous trap ‘Supreme Star Jewel·Svalin’: once per turn, while I control a Supreme God, negate all effects of cards on your field!”

The divine power surged again through the trap, ready to neutralize Divine Sky as it had done to Divine Intellect.

“That trick’s run its course,” You Xuan smiled, flicking his fingertip. “Quick-Play Magic ‘Cyclone’: destroy one Magic or Trap Card on your field.”

Brever’s pupils contracted.

Damn it!

Supreme Star Jewel·Svalin is a continuous trap—if destroyed, its effect won’t resolve. And it’s his strongest defense against Machine Emperor. Losing it means—

But Cyclone struck. The trap shattered. It was too late to stop Divine Sky’s ability.

A blinding blue light erupted from Divine Sky’s core. Countless chains of high-density energy, like venomous snakes, lashed out. Upon contact with Thor, his divine body began to disintegrate into data. His armor twisted and melted like hot butter, revealing the surging thunder energy within. Thor’s raised Hammer of Thunder let out a mournful cry; cracks spiderwebbed across its surface, spewing final sparks. His body shattered like a glass statue, dissolving into countless charged particles, greedily devoured by the mechanical core.

Divine Sky’s mechanical wings snapped open to their full span. Thor’s spectral form flickered across its armor, especially its right arm, now fully wrapped in lightning, forming a silhouette identical to Mjölnir. As it raised its newly forged thunder arm, the entire battlefield was choked with storm clouds, as if countless lightning bolts across the heavens responded to the birth of a new Thunder Sovereign.

【Machine Emperor·Divine Sky ∞, ATK 2200 → ATK 5700】

Supreme God-King Thor—absorbed again!

(End of Chapter)