How come the Ace of Cups isn't considered the Holy Grail?

It seems that's correct...

The familiar process unfolded: the floating cannons gathered, aimed at the sky, and fired beams to open a new nebula vortex. From this vortex, a giant object, resembling both a shield and a double-edged axe, slowly descended.

【No. 69 Heraldry and Shield - Gods Smash】

[Excess Material: 0]

[Attack power: 2800]

Then, as if unwilling to be outdone, a demon-like figure emerged from the Pale Knight's arena, stepping onto the scorching lava.

It was a big black dog... or something that looked like a black dog.

Its mouth was filled with sharp teeth, its round eyes were bloodshot, its muscles bulged, it had a pair of slightly damaged bat wings on its back, a glowing red 'X'-shaped scar and horizontal short stripes on its chest, and broken shackles on its arms.

【The Demon Grafiacane from the Other Shore】

【3 stars】

[Demon/Dark]

[Defense: 1500]

After that, before the Pale Knight could say anything more, Yudou continued to speak first.

"The effect of [Super Rank 1 Spell - Power of Utopia] in my Graveyard is activated! Use this card as Xyz Material for [Number 69: Crest of the Shield - God Smash]!"

The golden light flew out from the graveyard of the wandering souls and, upon arriving beside the Shattered God, began to circle around it along its predetermined orbit, much like an asteroid captured by the planet's gravity.

【No. 69 Heraldry and Shield - Gods Smash】

[Excess Material: 0 → 1]

This gives him one more... oh no, if you include the Wrath of God that changed later, it should be two Kang!

Youdu continued to look at the Pale Knight.

He wanted to see how the other party would handle this situation!

Under Yuuto's gaze, the Pale Knight remained silent for a moment before taking out a green magic card and inserting it into the Duel Disk.

"Perpetual Magic [Phantom Death Gun] activated."

A long wooden spear, suspended beside the pale knight, passed through the center of a magic circle inscribed with unidentified characters. Its tip pointed towards where Youdu was, and it was inlaid with pink crystals. Several small skulls surrounded the spear as decoration, and it exuded an ominous aura.

The Pale Knight then explained the card's effect at that opportune moment.

"As long as this card is in the Spell/Trap Zone, every time you activate an effect targeting one of my 'Phantom Knights' monsters, you will take 500 damage!"

It turns out to be the Phantom Knights deck!

Yudo took a closer look at the Pale Knight card on the field.

If you have the card [Phantom Death Gun] on the field, you need to be careful when activating its effect. If you accidentally use up too many Life Points, your opponent can easily seize the opportunity to finish you off with combat damage...

Even with Hope's ineffective attack effect, we cannot be careless!

"【Phantom Knights' Dusty Robe】, Normal Summon." The Pale Knight placed one card on the Duel Disk, and a robe appeared on the field.

【Phantom Knights' Dusty Robes】

【3 stars】

[Warrior/Dark]

[Defense: 1000]

A tattered purple robe and scarf were worn over a dark, empty space.

The departed spirit did not return to the underworld, but instead attached itself to this tattered robe, with short, gem-encrusted staffs floating on either side as its hands, and an arched stone ornament above its head.

Deep purple will-o'-the-wisps floated around his body. Whether it was a personal preference or a way to display his status, a terrifying skull necklace hung on his robe.

"If there is a 'Phantom Knights' monster on the field, you can Special Summon 'Silent Boots' from your hand directly from your hand!" The Pale Knight places 1 card from his hand into the Monster Zone.

The ghost, wrapped in tattered linen clothes and wearing brown leather boots, appeared silently on the field.

【Silent Boots of the Phantom Knights】

【3 stars】

[Warrior/Dark]

[Defense: 1200]

At the same time, a closed blue circuit appeared on the ground without anyone noticing.

"I'll set up a link arrow between [Graviacanne the Demon from the Other Shore] and [Dusty Robe of the Phantom Knights] on the field, and link them for summoning!"

"Come forth, L-ink2, [the cherubim, the dark angel from the other side]!"

【The Black Angel Cherubim of the Other Shore】

【L-ink2】

[Angel Race/Connection/Dark]

[Attack power: 500]

Before the alien black angel even landed, the pale knight continued, "I activate the effect of 'Gravia Cane the Demon of the Other Shore' in my graveyard. If this card is sent to the graveyard, Special Summon 1 'Other Shore' monster from my Deck, except 'Gravia Cane the Demon of the Other Shore'."

Special Summon: Carcabrina, the Demon from the Other Shore.

This time, a centaur-like demon appeared, but its horse-like belly was a gaping maw covered in sharp teeth. Compared to this gaping maw, its four curved horns and fleshy wings on its back looked much more pleasing to the eye.

Carcabrina, the Demon from the Other Shore

【3 stars】

[Demon/Dark]

[Attack power: 1400]

"【Carcabrina the Demon of the Other Shore】will be destroyed if there is a monster other than a 'Other Shore' monster on the field."

The Pale Knight calmly pronounced the death sentence on his monster, and continued after Calkbrina was pulled into the Gates of Hell:

"When the effect of 【Carcabrina the Demon of the Other Shore】 is activated, if this card is sent to the Graveyard, target 1 Set Spell/Trap Card on the field and return that card to its owner's hand."

He was not shaken in the slightest by Carcabrina's brief appearance; he simply pointed to the only card that Yudo had covered in the backcourt.

"I choose the card you have on the field."

Chapter 280 One Card Saves Two Lives

(PS: A bug was fixed in the previous chapter.)

The gates of the underworld were forcefully forced open.

Carcabrina, standing upright and supported only by his hind limbs, spewed a ball of lava from his gaping maw and splashed it onto Geka in the swimming area.

The effect returns to the hand, but it happens to activate in the graveyard... tsk.

Knowing that this card was beyond saving, Yuuto frowned: "Then let's chain your [Otherworldly Demon Carcabrina] effect, I'll open my face-down card! Counter Trap [Xyz Unbreakable Barrier] activates!"

"If there is an Xyz Monster on my field, when a monster's effect, Spell Card, or Trap Card is activated, you can negate that activation! After that, you can detach 2 Xyz Materials from my field and destroy 1 card on the field!"

"I remove 2 Xyz Materials from [FNo.0 Future Dragon Emperor Hope] and destroy [Cherubim the Dark Angel] on your field!"

【FNo.0 Future Dragon Emperor Hope】

[Excess Material: 3 → 1]

The two Xyz Materials on the future Dragon Emperor broke free from their original trajectory, flew to the lava, transformed into a giant sword, and used the blade of the giant sword as a shield to block the incoming lava and return it to the Pale Knight's [Cherubim the Dark Angel of the Other Shore].

In the blink of an eye, the alien angel's figure was swallowed up by a large amount of lava.

Just when everyone thought that Cherubim was about to be burned to ashes in the lava, when the lava receded, they found that the alien figure was still standing there unharmed, except that the wooden spear that had been next to the Pale Knight was nowhere to be seen.

"If the [Cherubim the Dark Angel on the Other Side] on the field is destroyed by battle or card effect, you can send 1 card on my field to the Graveyard instead."

The Pale Knight draws the card "Phantom Death Gun" from the Duel Disk.

"I sent the Phantom Death Gun to the graveyard to be destroyed in place of the Black Angel Cherubim of the Other Shore."

It even has a replacement effect...

Yuto clicked his tongue with a hint of regret and sent the Trap Card and two cards used as Xyz Material to the Graveyard.

"Activate the effect of [Cherubim, the Black Angel of the Other Shore]." After Yu Du finished his actions, the Pale Knight raised his hand and pointed to the alien angel in front of him, his slightly hoarse voice taking on a sinister tone at this moment.

"Send 1 Level 3 monster from your Deck to the Graveyard, then target 1 'Otherworld' monster on the field; that monster gains ATK and DEF equal to the monster sent to the Graveyard until the end of this turn."

"I sent [Falfarello the Demon of the Other Shore] to the graveyard, increasing [Cherubim the Black Angel of the Other Shore]'s attack power by 1000 points."

Clearly, the Pale Knight's main purpose in activating this effect is to compensate for the cost of sending the card to the graveyard, rather than for the subsequent increase in attack power.

At the same time, because sending a card to the graveyard is the cost of activating an effect, rather than the effect itself, even if Yuwaku negates Cherubim's effect at this point, it does not affect Pale Knight's ability to continue sending cards to the graveyard.

But... he can activate other effects!

"Chain the effect of [Cherubim the Dark Angel on the Other Side] on your field, and I will activate the effect of [Number 69, Crest of the Shield - God's Smash]!"

The nebula vortex in the sky reappeared, and the God's Smash on the Floating Field was enveloped in light, flying into it along with its 1 Xyz Material.

"When a monster on your opponent's field activates its effect, Special Summon 1 [Number 69 Crest of the Shield - Wrath of the Gods] from your Extra Deck by Xyz Summoning over this card on your field! Then destroy that 1 opponent's monster!"

Just like Ayaka Sajo had seen before, golden lightning flashed between the black clouds and golden particles of light.

A massive, bewitching emblem appeared on the field, radiating a purple light. As the nebula vortex above exploded, a thick bolt of golden lightning struck the center of the emblem, and the familiar, serpentine figure appeared on the field, wielding a lance with both arms.

【No. 69 Heraldry and Shield - Wrath of the Gods】

[Excess Material: 2]

[Attack power: 3100]

Immediately afterward, Yuuto pointed at the alien angel on the Pale Knight's field: "I choose the [Cherubim, the Black Angel of the Other Shore] as my target, and destroy it!"

If you're so capable, bring out the silent boots to replace the broken ones too!

"When a DARK monster on my field is destroyed by battle or by an opponent's card effect, you can banish 'Phantom Death Gun' from your Graveyard in lieu of that destruction."

The Pale Knight sends one card to the banished zone and then begins processing the Cherubim's subsequent effects, increasing its attack by 1000.

【The Black Angel Cherubim of the Other Shore】

[Attack power: 500→1500]

Yu Du: "..."

It even has the ability to banish from the graveyard instead of destroying, and this card saved Cherubim's life twice in one turn, making it even more of a kite machine than Kuriboh...

"When the effect of 'Falfarello the Demon of the Other Shore' is activated after this card is sent to the Graveyard, you can banish 1 monster on the field until the End Phase of this turn."

"I will exclude [FNo.0 Future Dragon Emperor Hope] from your field."

The Pale Knight once again unleashed the 'Great Wilderness Imprisoning Heaven Finger (bushi)', pointing it at the future Dragon Emperor on the voyage field.

This is the monster he identified as the most threatening in the game.

The others either lacked Xyz Material, couldn't be targeted, or had lower attack power than Future Dragon Emperor.

More importantly... the number 'FNo.0' is clearly different from the numbering format used by the other 'No.' monsters!

Then, a white-haired demon with no hands, wings that had changed from bird wings to bat wings, and legs that were bird claws descended from the sky, preparing to use its claws to grab the future Dragon Emperor's shoulders and take him away from the arena.

Oh my god, a bungee jumping zombie...

Despite wanting to complain about this familiar scene, Yuuto managed to save himself by using the effect of the Future Dragon Emperor.

"Chain activation of the effect of [FNo.0 Future Dragon Emperor Hope]! Once per turn, when your opponent activates a monster's effect, detach 1 Xyz Material from this card, and negate that activation!"