Chapter 45

"Hmph! Not a chance!"

"Activate the trap card, 【Dark Barrier】!"

(PS: Anime card, not OCG-legal)

Instantly, a dark, eerie wall appeared on Malik's field, blocking You Tian's attack.

"This card prevents your opponent from conducting direct attacks!"

You Tian understood.

Jonouchi: "Aww! So close!"

You Tian: "Fine, then I'll end my turn like this!"

"Ehehehehe!"

Suddenly, Malik burst into mad laughter.

"You↑Tian↓ I underestimated you."

"Originally, I didn't plan to use this card. But now it seems you're eager to be buried by 【God Phoenix Cannon】!"

As he spoke, Malik slowly revealed his only card in hand.

"The Winged Dragon of Ra!" Everyone cried out in shock.

You Tian frowned: So Malik had 【The Winged Dragon of Ra】 in his hand all along!

Seto also stared coldly: So it's coming—the third Phantom God!

Jonouchi: "Hmph! Malik, summoning a god requires three tributes. But your field has no monsters at all!"

Malik glanced down at Jonouchi.

"Oh~?"

He turned his head back to You Tian.

"Before my turn begins, I'll activate a trap card."

"Trap Card, 【Left Arm's Compensation】!"

"This card lets me discard all cards in my hand to add one Magic Card from my deck to my hand!"

(PS: Real card 【Left Arm's Compensation】 is a self-restraining Magic Card; anime version is a non-restraining Trap Card—here we use the anime version.)

"I'll send 【The Winged Dragon of Ra】 to my Graveyard, and add 【Monster Reborn】 from my deck to my hand!"

Everyone: "What?!"

Game: "Malik! He just discarded Ra voluntarily?!"

Seto was equally stunned: "What the hell is he planning?!"

Shhhhh!

【Monster Reborn】 was added to Malik's hand, while 【The Winged Dragon of Ra】 was sent to the Graveyard.

You Tian: So Malik's finally getting serious.

Malik fixed his gaze on You Tian, licking the newly drawn 【Monster Reborn】.

Ehehe, Ra has a One-Hit Kill effect upon returning from the Graveyard—this guy's about to be burned to ash by 【God Phoenix Cannon】!

"My turn, Draw Phase!"

"I activate 【Monster Reborn】, which lets me revive one monster from my Graveyard!"

Seto: The monster with the highest Attack Power in the Graveyard is You Tian's 【Masked Beast Death Guardian】. Is Malik going to revive You Tian's monster?

"Ehehehehe! I'm reviving—【The Winged Dragon of Ra】!!!"

Everyone: "NANI!!!!"

Game: "What is Malik doing?! Ra's Attack Power depends on three tributes—reviving it from the Graveyard gives it 0 Attack Power!"

As 【Monster Reborn】 activated, the temperature spiked violently. Flames erupted instantly from Malik's Graveyard, a scorching heatwave radiating outward from the Duel Boat. The sky around them ignited, flames engulfing the entire Duel Boat.

The next instant!

Shhh~~~!

With a piercing bird cry, The Winged Dragon of Ra shot straight out of the flames!

【The Winged Dragon of Ra】, descend!

"Ahahaha! Ahahahahahaha!"

Seeing Ra revived, Malik erupted into mad laughter again.

"Th-this..." Jonouchi stared in terror at the true 【The Winged Dragon of Ra】.

Thirty minutes ago, he had seen its replica card—and nearly been killed by Heavenly Judgment.

Now, the true 【The Winged Dragon of Ra】 radiated even greater pressure.

Seto: "Malik, what are you planning? Ra revived from the Graveyard has no Attack Power! And gods only remain affected by magic effects for one turn—after this turn, Ra returns to the Graveyard!"

Malik licked his lips and looked down at Seto.

"Too bad! As the supreme Phantom God among the Three Phantom Gods, Ra possesses a One-Hit Kill effect upon revival from the Graveyard!"

Everyone: "One-Hit Kill?!"

As Malik spoke, 【The Winged Dragon of Ra】 exhaled a flame that engulfed itself. Gradually, the entire dragon was consumed by roaring fire.

【The Winged Dragon of Ra - Phoenix Form】!!

Everyone:!!

"I can pay 1000 Life Points to activate Ra's Phoenix Form! In this form, Ra is invincible—it will burn every monster on your field to ashes! No matter how many weaklings you have, none can stop Ra's attack! This is One-Hit Kill!"

【Malik LP: 3600→2600】

Everyone: "NANI!"

Jonouchi frowned in confusion. "Wait, even if you destroy all of You Tian's monsters, you still can't deal him direct damage?"

Malik: "Ahahahaha! Unfortunately, what's happening now is Yami's Game — both of us will feel the pain of our Duel Monsters!"

Jonouchi: "How could this be!!!"

Game's brows knit tightly.

Malik pointed a finger at You Tian: "When the monsters on your field are burned away by the Phoenix's flames, that will be the moment your life reaches its end!"

"Go! God Phoenix!"

Swoooosh~~~!

The burning Phoenix, carrying searing heat that soared to the heavens, screeched as it charged at You Tian.

You Tian's expression was solemn as he stared straight at the incoming Slifer the Sky Dragon.

"You Tian, congratulations on becoming the first Tribute of God Phoenix Form!"

Swoooosh~~~!

The monsters on You Tian's field were swallowed by flames in an instant.

"Aaaahhh!!!!!" You Tian collapsed to the ground in agony.

Everyone: "You Tian!!"

Jonouchi immediately tried to rush up onto the stage to pull You Tian out of the flames.

"Ahahaha! It's useless — the flames of God Phoenix are simply not something a mortal can withstand!"

"Your friend is already dead!! Ahahaha!"

Jonouchi: "You Tian!!"

Fwooo~

"Sore wa doko ka na…"

"Nani!!!"

The blazing flames dispersed — You Tian, on the opposite side, was still standing!

Everyone: "Thank goodness! You Tian is okay!"

"Impossible!!" Malik's eyes nearly split with rage.

"How could anyone survive the flames of God Phoenix without dying!!"

"Ah, ha, ahaha~" You Tian gasped for breath with great difficulty.

Jonouchi: "You Tian! Thank goodness, you're still alive!!!"

You Tian turned his head toward Jonouchi and gave a weak, wry smile.

"I'm fine."

Then, You Tian turned his head back again.

"What on earth is going on!!" A few beads of cold sweat seeped from Malik's temple.

Could it be that this guy really endured the attack of God Phoenix through sheer willpower?

"Indeed, Ra's flames are truly terrifying, and a mortal really would have a hard time withstanding them." You Tian spoke unhurriedly.

Clatter-clatter.

As he spoke, he took out a glittering golden object from behind his waist.

"But, sorry about this, Malik. My people skills are better than yours — someone lent this to me."

Malik stared in disbelief at the object You Tian had produced.

The thing was shaped like a balance, golden in color. Right at the center of the beam, there was unmistakably an Eye of Wdjat emblem.

"Th-the Millennium Scale!?" Malik cried out in shock.