Is this the world of card dealers? Yada thieves!

[1900/1200]

Although he didn't know beforehand that Fubuki was using the "Red-Eyes" deck, Edward knew about the effect of "Black Dragon Paladin" because its other user, Joey, was so famous. He immediately said, "The effect of 'Black Dragon Paladin' is to destroy a monster at the start of the damage step when attacking a defense position monster. However, this effect is meaningless if I don't have any defense position monsters on my field. Besides, 'D-Power' and 'D-Hero Blood Demon-D' will negate your monster's effects."

"Its second effect, like [Black Dragon's Hatchling], uses self-liberation as its cost to avoid the suppression of [D·hero Blood Demon-D], but it only summons another [Red-Eyes Black Dragon] from your hand or deck. Don't forget that [Black Flame Bullet] seals not the target monster, but the attack power of all your [Red-Eyes Black Dragon]."

After a pause, Edward pointed to his [D·hero Blood Demon-D] on the field, "What's more, because you sent monsters to the Graveyard, increasing the number of monsters in the Graveyard, my [D·hero Blood Demon-D]'s ATK has increased again!"

【D·hero Blood Demon-D】【ATK2700→2800】【

"It doesn't matter. If you want to upgrade, you can upgrade it even more. I won't mind." However, looking at the two high-attack monsters on Edward's field, Fubuki's tone was as contemptuous as ever, "But even if you upgrade it to infinity, it's meaningless!"

With three cards remaining in his hand, he drew a card and said, "I activate the Normal Spell Card 'Ode to Death'. At the cost of not being able to activate the effects of monsters in my hand during this duel, I grant my monsters the ability to attack monsters up to twice during a Battle Phase, and double the battle damage dealt when my monsters battle against my opponent's monsters!"

After playing a card with a ruby ​​on its back row, Fubuki waved her hand and said, "Then, I enter the Battle Phase and use [Black Dragon Paladin] to attack [D·hero Blood Demon-D]!"

Edward didn't quite understand Fubuki's actions. He just sneered and said, "You don't actually think that doubling the damage from two battles means you can double the monster's power, do you? Is this the quality of students at Duel Academy?"

"Using the [Black Dragon Paladin] with an attack power of only 1900 to attack my [D·hero Blood Demon-D] with an attack power of 2800, this difference of 1100 points will only rebound on you, deducting almost all of your already fragile basic points!"

"Take down that dragon knight, [D·hero Blood Demon-D]!"

"A blood-red terror!"

Facing the Black Dragon Paladin on the snowfield, D·hero Blood Demon-D, under Edward's command, took the initiative, spreading his wings and shooting out a large number of needle-like blood spikes, seemingly intending to kill the Black Dragon Paladin with such an attack!

However, seeing this, Fubuki could no longer suppress her laughter and burst into loud laughter: "Kuhohoho, hohohahahaha! How ridiculous! With only this level of power, you think you're strong and dare to swing your sword at someone stronger? Your courage is commendable, but it's just too laughable!"

“You know what, Ed Phoenix? Our Duel Academy principal, Hayato Kobayashi, often tells us, ‘Battle Destruction Resistance is the most useless resistance, but Battle Destruction is the most effective way to clear the field.’ This statement is very suitable for your monsters right now!”

Despite her own monster being the weaker one, Fubuki laughed and said, "Your [D·hero Blood Demon-D] and [D·hero Doctrine] have gained decent resistances, but their strength is simply too weak. Just like I said before, they are no match for monsters with high attack power like [Cyber ​​Terminator Dragon]!"

"Although the Black Flame Bullet was blocked, preventing a one-hit kill, it's just one more attack under the power of the Death-Singing Demon Eye—so watch closely, Ed Phoenix, since you claim that fate is on your and your D-hero's side, then accept this fate of defeat!"

"When my Level 5 or higher Normal Monster, a monster Ritual Summoned using a Normal Monster, or a Fusion Monster made from a Normal Monster Material battles my opponent, the second effect of [Severed Darkness] activates!" Fubuki paused, looking at [D·hero Blood Demon-D] flying in the air with its wings spread, "Besides its draw effect, [Severed Darkness] is more than just for show! That mere [D·hero Blood Demon-D], watch me push it back!"

"Under the effect of [Severed Darkness], the ATK of a certain type of monster increases by the ATK of that opponent's monster until the end of the turn. This effect does not target the opponent's monster. Your [D·Hero Blood Demon-D] is merely a decoration and cannot stop my [Black Dragon Paladin] from becoming stronger!"

It is precisely because of the power of this effect that [Severed Darkness] has imposed strict restrictions on the target of application, but this is exactly what Fubuki can take advantage of, since her [Black Dragon Paladin] on the field was Ritual Summoned using the Normal Monster [Red-Eyes Black Dragon], wasn't it?

【D·hero Blood Demon-D】, in conjunction with 【D-Power】, possesses a powerful ability to suppress monsters, forcing opponents into a stagnation, preventing them from growing stronger and more freely—like holding someone back from progress. However, the limit of this power is too low, so much so that under the effect of 【Severed Darkness】, 【Black Dragon Paladin】 easily gained the immense power needed to break through this barrier!

Just as Fubuki said before, he didn't care about Ed's [D·hero Blood Demon-D] increasing attack power, because as the attack power of [D·hero Blood Demon-D] increases, [Black Dragon Paladin] will also gain a higher attack power increase!

【D·hero Blood Demon-D】【ATK2800】

After the buff, the attack power of the [Black Dragon Paladin] will reach 4700 points, which will not only surpass the attack power of Edward's [D·hero Blood Demon-D] and [D·hero Doctrine], but also exceed the legendary [Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon]!

"Attack power, 4700 points!?" Calculating the final attack power, Edward's eyes widened in disbelief that Fubuki could withstand the suppression of [D·hero Blood Demon-D] and transform into such a powerful monster with terrifying attack power, especially since a large part of its power was provided by his own [D·hero]!

"The attack power difference was 1100 points just now, right? Now it's just increased to 1900 points, don't be so surprised. However, now I'm the stronger one and you're the weaker one." Fubuki waved her hand with a cold smile, "The balance of power has shifted! You haven't forgotten what the effect of [Echoes of Death] is, have you, Ed Phoenix? Be prepared to take this doubled 3800 points of combat damage!"

"And there will be another attack on [D·hero the Cultist] later!"

If "Severed Darkness" was the foundation for Fubuki to break through the blockade and surpass Ed Phoenix, then "Ode to Death's Demonic Eye" was the key to defeating the enemy, delivering a decisive blow. Granting monsters the ability to attack twice in a single battle phase and doubling the battle damage dealt, combined with "Severed Darkness," which increases monster attack power not just for a moment but for an entire turn, it's a truly devastating attack.

In an instant, the rain of blood needles unleashed by [D·hero Blood Demon-D] was broken through, and [Black Dragon Paladin], using the dragon wings covered in black dragon armor as cover, approached [D·hero Blood Demon-D] and was about to strike with his sword!

At that very moment, [D·hero Blood Demon-D] suddenly vanished from before the eyes of [Black Dragon Paladin]!

Not only [D·hero Blood Demon-D], but Fubuki also saw another monster on Edward's field—[D·hero Doctrine]—being sucked into a vortex at that moment, and one of Edward's two face-down cards in the back row was finally revealed at this moment.

"Trap Card [D-Fusion]: This card can only use [D-hero] as Fusion Material. I activate this card by using [D-hero Blood Demon-D] and [D-hero Doctrine] from my field as Fusion Material, thereby triggering the Attack Reversal rule."

Edward looked at the powerful [Black Dragon Paladin], his heart filled with resentment: 'For now, I'll endure and avoid their sharp edge!'

"This card is one of the few I've ever had the chance to play, but once it's on the field, it lays the foundation for my victory. It means that you can't absolutely overcome any obstacle in front of me, and I'll prove it to you!"

He picked up two cards from the Duel Disk and sent them to the Graveyard. Edward raised his palm high towards the sky: "The sublime will and the end of destiny, all things and phenomena are united at this moment, announcing the arrival of the end!"

"Fusion Summon, Level 10☆!"

"Ring the bells of destiny, [Dragon Knight - D-END]!"

The [D-Fusion] that had absorbed the two high-level [D·heroes] gradually dissipated, revealing a gray curtain, as if it were the end of the world or the end of fate. From within this gray curtain, a warrior wearing armor clearly made of dragon material and with broad, blood-red wings on his back emerged.

Equal to the God Cards in rank, at the very pinnacle of the [D·hero] tier, yet without the [D·hero] designation—[Dragon Knight·D-END] has arrived!

Chapter 1444 Dark Steel Dragon is the Best

【Dragon Knight - D-END】【10☆/Dark】

[Warrior Race/Fusion/Effect]

[3000/3000]

Using [D·hero Blood Demon-D] and [D·hero Doctrine] as fusion materials, the newly appearing [Dragon Knight·D-END] has a slightly lower attack power compared to [D·hero Doctrine], but maintains a balance between attack and defense, both at 3000 points, which is equivalent to the "legendary [Blue-Eyes White Dragon]'s attack power".

However, his opponent was the [Black Dragon Paladin], but unlike the expected 4700 attack power, the [Black Dragon Paladin]'s attack power did not successfully rise to that level.

“The chain just now was C1 [Black Dragon Paladin]’s attack declaration, C2 [Severed Darkness]’s second effect, and then C3 my [D-Fusion].” Edward looked at the [Black Dragon Paladin] on the snow field, absorbing the surrounding scattered power, and said, “Because of the rule of the later-acting-first-acting in chain processing, first my [Dragon Knight·D-END] was fused and summoned by [D-Fusion], and then [Severed Darkness] increased the attack power of the [Black Dragon Paladin].

"However, because I sent [D·hero Blood Demon-D] to the graveyard as a fusion material, it lost the bonus from [D-Power] after leaving the field, and its attack power returned to its original value when the effect of [Severed Darkness] was resolved."

Pointing at the [Black Dragon Paladin], Edward said, "So in the end, the [Black Dragon Paladin]'s attack power will only increase by the original attack power of [D·hero Blood Demon-D]—that is, the same 1900 points!"

[Black Dragon Paladin] [ATK 1900 → 3800]

Although it wasn't as high as the originally expected 4700 points, 3800 points was still quite formidable, considering it was a full 800 points higher than the legendary [Blue-Eyes White Dragon]. Therefore, Edward cleverly chose to place the Fusion Summoned [Dragon Knight D-END] on the field in Defense Position, directly preventing [Black Dragon Paladin] from attacking it and causing combat damage to himself.

Fubuki also saw this, but sneered, "So what if we sent [D·hero Blood Demon-D] to the graveyard as a fusion material? The attack power increase effect of [Severed Darkness] is not one of those that only lasts until the end of the damage calculation step, but lasts for an entire turn."

"And, defense position? I forgot to tell you, because [D·hero Blood Demon-D] left the field and its effect negation ability was removed, and my [Black Dragon Paladin] unfortunately has an effect that destroys a monster in defense position at the start of its damage step!"

"In other words, even if the [Severed Darkness] doesn't increase the [Black Dragon Paladin's] attack power, your [Dragon Knight - D-END] is no match for him!"

"Continue the attack and crush the enemy, [Black Dragon Paladin]!"

The Black Dragon Paladin obeyed Fubuki's orders and continued to act. However, when the Black Dragon Paladin returned to the field and approached the Dragon Knight D-END, his sword was precisely blocked by the dragon head shield raised by the Dragon Knight D-END!

"Um!?"

"To put it bluntly, I'm using this effect to barely survive, which is a bit shameful, but you can also see it as the resilience of [D·hero] that it can't be easily defeated." Edward picked up the [D-Fusion] card that he hadn't had time to send to the graveyard yet. "[D-Fusion] is not only a trap card, but it also limits the use of [D·hero] monsters on the field as fusion materials. How could it not have some slightly special abilities?"

"The [Dragon Knight D-END] summoned by [D-Fusion] cannot be destroyed by any effects during this turn, meaning that [Dragon Knight D-END] is invincible at this moment! Even if this turn ends and it's my turn, [Dragon Knight D-END] itself has the ability to be destroyed by any of the opponent's Spell, Trap, or Monster effects!"

"Even if you manage to remove it from my field by any means, as long as this card is in my graveyard during my turn, I can resurrect it infinitely by banishing one [D·hero] from my graveyard!"

"As you can see, he is destiny itself, which cannot be defied and is destined to come!"

This is Edward's hidden trump card, the trump card above all others: [Dragon Knight D-END]!

However, Fubuki scoffed, "An inescapable fate? Well, I think I've already said it before: prepare yourself, the user of 'Destiny Hero' [D·hero], to be crushed and shattered by my destiny."

"Before you start shouting, take a good look at the condition of the monsters on your field."

Upon hearing this, Edward looked at his [Dragon Knight D-END], only to find that, for some reason, [Dragon Knight D-END] had involuntarily been forced to stand up and switch from defense to attack stance during its struggle with [Black Dragon Paladin]!

Suddenly, Edward noticed that a cable had been forcibly connected to [Dragon Knight D-END], extending all the way to Fubuki's backstage area and connecting to a game controller.

"When the attack was triggered and I let [Black Dragon Paladin] continue the attack, I had already activated this card in my hand. Quick-Play Spell Card [Enemy Manipulator]!"

Fubuki pointed to the [D-Power] card on Edward's field, "The effect of that card, 'I can't target your monsters,' requires [D-Hero Blood Demon-D] to be on the field to take effect. Because of your own choice, your monster has lost that resistance! In that case, I can naturally use [Enemy Manipulator] to target your [Dragon Knight-D-END]!"

"I'm going to use the first effect of [Enemy Manipulator]! Target one face-up monster on your opponent's field and change its battle position. In other words, [Dragon Knight D-END] in Defense Position was already in Attack Position the moment it started fighting [Black Dragon Paladin]!"

【Dragon Knight - D-END】【DEF3000→ATK3000】

Edward gritted his teeth: "Besides the effect, the battle also cannot destroy the [Dragon Knight D-END] summoned by [D-Fusion] this turn!"

Fubuki waved her hand: "Even if it can't be destroyed, the combat damage will still exist. Just take this difference of 800 points of attack power—but because of the effect of [Elegy of Death's Demon Eye], the damage you will receive will not be 800 points but 1600 points!"

"Not only that, but also due to the same effect of [Eye of Death], both of my [Black Dragon Paladin's] attacks will land on your [Dragon Knight - D-END]!"

With Fubuki's command, [Dragon Knight D-END] was instantly cleaved away and fell to the ground. A large amount of rubble and the accompanying gale swept towards Edward, instantly deducting a large number of his basic points!

"Ugh!"

[Ed Phoenix: 4000→2400→800LP, Hand 1]

Edward, whose base score was just ahead of Fubuki's, was reduced to only three digits even faster than Fubuki!

Looking at the only card left in her hand, Fubuki sighed with regret, "It's such a pity that I don't have a card like [Fire Dragon's Fireball] or [Hermit's Deadly Poison] that can directly deal 800 points of effect damage. Otherwise, I could have wiped out your Life Points and defeated you during my Main Phase 2. It's a shame I don't have one."

"My battle phase ends, then I release [Black Dragon Paladin] on my field to activate its second effect."

Without hesitation, Fubuki sent her "Black Dragon Paladin" to the Graveyard and took a card from her deck. "Special Summon a single "Red-Eyes" monster from my hand and Deck!"

"I will summon the most ferocious, evil, powerful, and supreme dragon monster slumbering in my deck—the surging power of darkness will transform into cold armor, and when spirit and flesh dissipate at the end of time, the demon king's soul that rules the dragon race will curse the world and reign supreme!"

Fubuki held the monster card high in his hand, his trench coat swaying in the scorching wind that seemed to come from nowhere, and wisps of black energy rose from his body—especially from his mask—and flowed into the card!

As time went by, the power of Darkness was gradually eroding him, but he could still hold on!

"In the cold, despairing, and dark abyss, the supreme black dragon will evolve into its final form. Descend, my trump card!"

"【Red-Eyes Dark Steel Dragon】!"

Similarly, because [D·hero Blood Demon-D] left Edward's field, Fubuki finally broke the restriction that monster effects on the field could be negated, and without hesitation, she chose to Special Summon the strongest monster from her deck—[Red-Eyes Dark Steel Dragon], which had just arrived!

【Red-Eyes Dark Steel Dragon】【10☆/Dark】

[Dragon Clan/Effect]

[2800/2400]

"During my Main Phase 2, I activate the effect of [Red-Eyes Dark Steel Dragon], and Special Summon one Dragon-Type monster from my hand or Graveyard other than [Red-Eyes Dark Steel Dragon]. My choice, naturally, is this [Red-Eyes Black Dragon] from my Graveyard!"

Fubuki retrieved the Red-Eyes Black Dragon, which had been released for the ritual summoning of the Black Dragon Paladin, and placed it back on the field. At this moment, she revealed the last card in her hand, "Then, I activate this card, which can only be activated by sending one face-up monster on my field other than an Effect Monster to the Graveyard, the Price of Horse Bones!"

Since she included a card like "Severed Darkness" specifically designed to support Normal Monsters in her deck, Fubuki naturally added quite a few related cards as well, including this low-budget version of "Pot of Greed" called "Horse Bone Price".

"Send the Normal Monster [Red-Eyes Black Dragon] to the Graveyard, and I draw two cards from my deck." Having just drawn two cards with a basic version of [Pot of Greed], Fubuki paused for a moment when she saw the cards she had drawn, then played one of them, saying, "Heh, it seems fate isn't on your side but on mine. The proof is this card—I activate [Pot of Greed] and draw two more cards from my deck."

Replenishing her hand to three cards, Fubuki glanced at the card she had drawn and frowned: "Tsk, I drew this card while [Ode to Death's Demonic Eye] was active. That's a bit unlucky."

"This [Red-Eyes Black Steel Dragon] could have been used to search my deck for a [Metalize] Trap Card and set it by presenting itself, but due to the restriction of [Ode to Death], I cannot activate monster effects from my hand in this duel. However, there are no unusable cards in the world, and even this card, which cannot activate its effect, has a way to be used."

Under Edward's watchful gaze, Fubuki actually took out the "Ode to Death" card from the graveyard: "The second effect of 'Ode to Death' is to banish this card from my graveyard to activate this effect. Add one 'Ode to Death' card from my deck to my hand, and then select one card from my hand to return to the bottom of my deck."

"I added another [Demonic Eye] card from my deck to my hand—[Demonic Eye that Tears Through Time]—and then the card that returned to the bottom of my deck was naturally this [Red-Eyes Black Steel Dragon].

"Next, I activate the spell card [Time-Tearing Demon Eye]!"

Unlike the color of [Ode to Death], a purple gem floated above Fubuki's back row. Before this card, Fubuki's eyes were able to remain the same red as [Ode to Death] thanks to the assistance of [Red Eyes]. However, after [Time-Tearing Eyes] was activated, Fubuki's eyes uncontrollably lit up with a purple light.

—That was one of the characteristics of the "Darkness" era.