Chapter 278: Mental Simulation Kill
Along with the "Sun" rising from underground, stirring orchestral music began to play from Hayato's Duel Disk, according to the function he had set up beforehand.
"Ding ding, ding ding ding, ding ding ding ding ding~"
"Ding ding, ding ding ding, ding ding ding ding ding~"
Hearing the BGM "Wrath of God" that was engraved into his DNA, Hayato couldn't help but feel his blood boil. "As the Three-Year-Old would say," he declared, "The Winged Dragon of Ra only unleashes its maximum power when it's in the Graveyard!"
The golden sphere rose all the way into the sky. With a transformation, the majestic strongest of the Three Egyptian God Cards --- The Winged Dragon of Ra --- appeared on the Field!
"When it is Special Summoned successfully," he declared, "I pay 1000 Life Points to activate The Winged Dragon of Ra's Effect, and destroy all Monsters on my opponent's Field!"
[Hayato: 6500→5500LP]
Having boldly paid 1000 Life Points, at the same time, The Winged Dragon of Ra, Revived from the Graveyard, began to burn with scorching Solar Flames all over its body. The golden flames completely engulfed it, turning it into a giant firebird that flew straight towards Raviel, Lord of Phantasms, just like the Battle that couldn't be finished before the Duel!
"Boom!"
The strongest Phantasm God and the strongest Egyptian God Cards collided head-on. The moment they made contact, a huge sound erupted. The resulting Explosion's airflow pushed Rishid back several steps before he could steady himself. Shielding his eyes with his arm, he looked towards the original location of Raviel, Lord of Phantasms, which was completely enveloped in Smoke and Dust.
Having followed Marik for so long, Rishid had naturally seen him use The Winged Dragon of Ra, and understood just how powerful it was when it entered that form --- "God Phoenix" --- just now.
As expected, after the Smoke and Dust gradually dissipated, the previously imposing Raviel, Lord of Phantasms had already been Destroyed by The Winged Dragon of Ra and Sent to the Graveyard. All that remained on the Field was Ra, the Avatar of the sun.
"After applying this Effect," Hayato said, looking at The Winged Dragon of Ra soaring above his Field, "The Winged Dragon of Ra enters its God Phoenix state. It is unaffected by any Effects, and any Damage dealt to me will become 0. Without Raviel, Lord of Phantasms as an obstacle, your Field is practically naked before me now, Rishid."
Rishid, however, remained calm. "However," he countered, "Ra, Revived from the Graveyard, has 0 ATK because it had no Tributes. Even if you Direct Attack with it, it won't inflict any Damage to my Life Points."
"Furthermore," he added, "before Raviel, Lord of Phantasms was Destroyed just now, because you Summoned a Monster, it left a Phantasm Token in Defense Position on my Field!"
[Phantasm Token][1 Star/DARK]
[Fiend Type/Token]
[1000/1000]
Hayato just smiled. He flipped over another Card in his Hand. "The Winged Dragon of Ra has already completed its task," he said. "The task of clearing the last remaining resistance on your Field will naturally be completed by another Monster."
"Thanks to Raviel, Lord of Phantasms' Attack just now," he continued, "a truly terrifying Power is now sleeping in my Graveyard."
Rishid saw the Card in Hayato's Hand clearly. It was a green-bordered Spell Card.
"What is that Card?"
"Spell Card, Dragon's Mirror, Activate!" Hayato said, taking two Cards from his Graveyard and Banish them --- meaning he stuffed them into his pocket. "By choosing Fusion Material from my Graveyard and Banish them, I Fusion Summon a Dragon-Type Fusion Monster!"
"I Banish Swift Gaia the Fierce Knight and Curse of Dragonfire from my Graveyard," he declared. "Break through the limits of the gale, Gaia! Your speed can even surpass LIGHT!"
"Come forth! Sky Galloping Gaia the Dragon Champion!!!"
Gale-force winds and fierce flames descended upon the Field. Rishid only saw a stream of light burst forth from Hayato's Graveyard. Immediately, Swift Gaia the Fierce Knight and Curse of Dragonfire turned into a phantom image.
"Dis- disappeared!?"
Rishid couldn't help but look up at the sky. Only to see that at some point, Gaia riding Curse of Dragonfire had actually circled around and was now directly above his head, moving rapidly across the Field at a speed faster than Wind. Due to its incredible speed, it even left countless afterimages on the Field.
[Sky Galloping Gaia the Dragon Champion][7 Star/Wind]
[Dragon-Type/Fusion/Effect]
[2600/2100]
"When it is Special Summoned successfully," Hayato announced, "Sky Galloping Gaia the Dragon Champion can add one Spiral Spear Strike from the Deck or Graveyard to my Hand."
Hayato said, raising his empty palm. As Gaia's afterimage swept past, a Card suddenly appeared in his Hand, as if it had been printed out of nowhere.
"Then I Activate the Continuous Spell Card, Spiral Spear Strike," he declared. "Gaia the Fierce Knight, Swift Gaia the Fierce Knight, and Gaia the Dragon Champion on my Field, when they Attack a Defense Position Monster, inflict the difference between their ATK and the Defense Position Monster's DEF as Damage to my opponent!"
"Furthermore," he added, "while Sky Galloping Gaia the Dragon Champion is on the Field, its Name can be used as Gaia the Dragon Champion!"
"What?!"
Rishid couldn't help but look at the Phantasm Token on his Field. As luck would have it, it was currently in Defense Position, perfectly meeting the Conditions for Spiral Spear Strike.
"Let's go, Gaia! Let's take another lap!" Hayato ordered with a wave of his hand. "Drive! Type Dragon!"
"Cavalry Spin - Spiral Spear Strike!"
Spinning rapidly together with Curse of Dragonfire beneath it, the moment Sky Galloping Gaia the Dragon Champion revealed its true form, it transformed into a spiral-shaped fiery drill, attacking the Defense Position "Mini-Raviel" --- the Phantasm Token. Giving Rishid no opportunity to react at all, the Phantasm Token was instantly shattered, and the overflowing Battle Damage was inflicted upon Rishid.
"Ugh!"
[Rishid: 3800→2200LP]
Recovering from the sudden, unexpected impact he was completely unprepared for, Rishid forced himself to calm down. He looked at Hayato. "But your Attack ends here," he said. "When your Turn ends, Ra will be forced to return to the Graveyard."
'And I still have a Monster Reborn in my Hand,' Rishid added in his mind. 'Next Turn, I can Revive Raviel, Lord of Phantasms that was Sent to the Graveyard. The scales of Victory still tip in my favor!'
"That's certainly true," Hayato said with a smile, his hand catching two Cards that popped out of his Deck. "Because of Spiral Spear Strike's Effect, when Gaia the Dragon Champion uses its Effect to inflict Damage to you, I can draw two Cards, then choose one Card from my Hand to Discard."
"Then," he continued, "I Tribute the Dragon-Type Fusion Monster Sky Galloping Gaia the Dragon Champion on my Field to Special Summon the Monster that was just added to my Hand!"
"Special Summoning during the Battle Phase?!" Rishid was startled.
(End of Chapter)