Yu-Gi-Oh!: This isn't a duel!

"I choose to forcibly return your [Destiny Hero - Phoenix of Destruction] to the Extra Deck!"

"Look carefully! Since this is not a 'destructive' effect, the destruction resistance granted to the Destiny Hero - Fear Man is completely unable to withstand this impact!"

"Shatter these shackles of fate! — Heavy Drilling!!"

As You Yang gave the order, the Earth New Universe Knight let out a deep and resonant roar.

The huge metal drill bit mounted on his right arm began to vibrate violently, emitting a piercing crackling sound of electricity, and then it began to spin wildly, creating visible gusts of wind!

Om-!

The Earth New Universe Knight burst forth, its drill tearing through the air.

Behind Gray Wanderer, a dark gate suddenly opened, a dimensional rift leading to the Extra Deck.

The powerful suction, combined with the impact of the drill, instantly locked onto the Phoenix Man.

Even the phoenix burning with black flames appears powerless in the face of the enforced power of the rules.

It let out a defiant screech before being swept up by an irresistible force and completely swallowed up into the dark doorway.

"Huh? Youyang's deck actually has a monster that can bounce cards back to the hand?"

Lilith, standing on the sidelines, couldn't help but gasp in amazement, her purple eyes filled with surprise.

In her memory, You Yang's previous dueling style was mostly based on strong attacks and destruction, so this kind of delicate field clearing technique was indeed rare.

The reason is simply because these cards all require the new Spaceman as material.

The new Spaceman is actually a bad card.

That's why youyang rarely uses it.

Despite having his ace countered, Gray Youyang did not show much panic.

He silently picked up the [Destiny HERO - Phoenix of Destruction] card that popped out of the Duel Disk and expressionlessly put it back into the Extra Deck.

Seeing that the biggest problem on the field had been solved, You Yang took a deep breath, his eyes becoming even sharper.

"Now that the biggest obstacle has been removed, the next step is to deal with the potential hazards within the cemetery!"

You Yang quickly drew his last card, which rustled in the wind.

He plunged it forcefully into the Quick Attack Spell zone of the Duel Disk:

"The final piece of the puzzle! I activate the Quick-Play Spell Card—[Mask Change]!"

You can target 1 "Hero" monster you control to activate this effect.

"Confirm the monster's attributes and send it to the graveyard."

"Then, Special Summon 1 'Masked HERO' monster with the same Attribute from your Extra Deck!"

You Yang pointed to the petite magical girl on the field:

"Although the name of [Miracle Exile] doesn't have a Hero field, according to her special effect rules, she can be used as an Elemental HERO card while on the field, so I can target her to activate this effect!"

"Thank you for your guidance. Now, let it transform into an even stronger force!"

"I'll send it to the graveyard to perform a transformation summon!"

The Miracle Warrior on the field was instantly enveloped in a thick, dark brown light, a radiance symbolizing the earth.

A mask gleaming with a cold metallic light appeared out of thin air, and with a "click," it fit perfectly into the light.

Immediately afterwards, the magic on her body condensed into a layer of rock, which then collapsed with a roar!

A dazzling, almost blinding light shot out from the crack in the rock, a scene as if an uncut rough stone had been polished into a rare diamond in an instant!

"Having been refined through countless trials, it shines with a brilliance surpassing that of diamonds!"

"Masked Transformation! Descend—[Masked Hero Diamond]!!"

Thump—!

As the blinding light faded, a heavy yet magnificent figure crashed to the ground, its feet creating two high walls of water the instant they touched the surface.

This hero wore a set of heavy alloy armor interwoven with deep blue and silver. The surface of the armor had been polished to the extreme, as smooth as a mirror, reflecting all the surrounding light, making him look like a giant, indestructible walking black diamond.

His shoulders and knees were inlaid with golden, angular armor, signifying his nobility and power.

The mask was a single piece of red crystal, gleaming with a sharp and dangerous light under the lamp.

Despite being clad in heavy armor, his fighting stance did not appear clumsy at all.

He carried no weapons, for his steel fists, capable of crushing all matter, were the strongest weapons in the world.

【Masked Hero - Diamond】

【★8】【Earth/Warrior/Fusion/Effect】【Attack: 2800 / Defense: 3000】

Looking at this dazzling diamond giant, a hint of doubt finally appeared on Gray Youyang's perpetually icy face.

"【Masked Hero - Diamond】...?"

He frowned slightly, quickly analyzing the situation in his mind:

"This monster's effect is that when it destroys an opponent's monster by battle and sends it to the Graveyard, you can Special Summon 1 Level 4 or lower 'HERO' monster from your Deck."

Gray Sun's gaze swept across the battlefield:

"Although the deck was bounced back by Yu Yang because of [Destiny Hero - Phoenix of Destruction]".

"There is indeed no monster on my field with a higher attack power than him, but..."

"Since the effect of [Destiny Hero - Fear Man] still applies, your monsters will not be destroyed in battle, and you will not take battle damage."

"This means that You Yang is completely unable to meet the trigger condition of 'destroying the tomb in battle'."

"In this situation, what is the purpose of summoning him?"

Gray Yu Yang stared at the Masked Hero Diamond on the Yu Yang field, and for the first time felt that he couldn't figure out what the man was thinking.

"Logically speaking, the best solution would be to save this [Mask Transformation] in your hand for [Elemental HERO Absolute Zero].

Gray Wanderer gazed at the ice and snow king and slowly said:

"If I use Masked Change on Element HERO Absolute Zero during the Battle Phase or my turn, I will send it to the Graveyard and Special Summon Element HERO Acidic Water."

"That would trigger Absolute Zero's Graveyard effect, destroying all monsters on the opponent's field."

"And trigger the entry effect of [Masked Hero - Acid Water], destroying all Spells and Trap cards on the opponent's field."

"That's an absolute killing move that could wipe me out in an instant."

"But you used this crucial card at this critical moment..."

Gray Wanderer looked at the glittering diamond hero, a hint of confusion flashing in his eyes.

"Not only did it abandon the strongest removal combo, it also summoned a monster whose effect cannot be triggered."

"This move is indeed somewhat unclear in its meaning."

Looking at the confused-looking gray-haired You Yang opposite him, You Yang smiled faintly, a smile that suggested he was in complete control.

"Indeed, judging from the situation alone, [Masked Hero - Diamond] is just a high-attack blank card that cannot be triggered in front of [Destiny Hero - Fearman] who has destruction resistance."

"but--"

You Yang abruptly changed the subject, pointing sharply to his own grave.

"Have you forgotten the 'guide' I sent to the grave as the price for my transformation?"

"The Miracle Excluder, who was sacrificed to the grave, has more than just the effects of Special Summon and Search!"

As if in response to his words, a bright, pale yellow light suddenly shone in You Yang's grave.

The light was pure and sharp, as if it could purify all filth.

"At this moment, the last effect of [Miracle Exorcist] in the graveyard activates!"

"If this card is sent to the Graveyard, you can target 1 card in your opponent's Graveyard to activate this effect."

"Remove that card from the game!"

You Yang's gaze was like lightning, piercing through the battlefield:

"The one I'm excluding is, of course, that ticking time bomb that I just sent to the graveyard—[Evil Hero: Hell Rider]!"

"Disappear!"

With a command, the pale yellow light transformed into a precise laser beam, plunging straight into the gray, swirling vortex of the graveyard.

From that deep darkness came a shrill roar. The phantom of [Evil Hero - Hell Rider] twisted painfully in the light before completely disintegrating into countless fragments that vanished into the other dimension.

Seeing this, Gray Youyang rubbed his temples with a headache, and a hint of helplessness finally appeared on his poker face.

"Tsk..."

He was naturally very familiar with the effects of those classic hero cards.

However, he really didn't know the effect of the [Miracle Excluder] summoned by Youyang through bonds.

"I never expected that this card, besides its built-in Special Summon, Graveyard Summoning, and Summoning Search, would also have a free Graveyard Banishing ability..."

He clicked his tongue inwardly in amazement:

"One card has three powerful effects, and none of them are superfluous or useless."

"This extreme efficiency in earning cards reminded him of a certain Cyberse card."

This move effectively eliminated his idea of ​​using the graveyard resource [Evil Hero - Hell Rider] to search for that card.

Meanwhile, You Yang, standing on the opposite side, also had his own considerations.

In fact, he didn't want to give up this precious quick-attack spell, Mask Change, so soon.

According to his original tactical plan, if it was a favorable situation, this card should have been used to summon the suppressive core that made all opponents tremble with fear - [Masked Hero - Dark Claw].

However, Gray Wanderer kept the card-bombing effect of [Destiny Hero - Phoenix Man of Destruction] to himself, like a Damocles' sword hanging over his head.

In order to avoid that fatal interference, Yu Yang had no choice but to use the [Masked Hero - Twilight Raven] in his hand as a springboard for special summoning and as a fusion material.

Although this chain of operations generated a lot of resources, it also came at the cost of excluding the core retrieval point in the graveyard, [Elemental Hero - Shadow Mist Lady].

Moreover, Youyang also thought of the question in his mind: "Why not use the Absolute Zero Hero plus Acid Water full-field destruction combo?"

But he dared not.