The protagonist of the Yu-Gi-Oh! world might be the same person.

Another card immediately appeared at his feet.

Seeing that Judai's attempt to kill her failed, Asuka couldn't help but feel regretful: "What a pity. If he hadn't activated the effect of the [Sabuti Amulet], that attack would have decided the outcome."

Jaden shrugged: "It is indeed a pity, but it would be a bit boring to end the battle so easily."

"My battle is over, then I'll overwrite another card..."

With that, he inserted his last card into the duel disk.

[Yuki Jaden's hand cards: 1 → 0]

"It's not over yet, Storm Warrior's special effect activated!"

Send 1 card other than this card from your field to the Graveyard, then target 1 monster you control. While this card is face-up on the field, the targeted monster cannot be destroyed by battle.

"By sacrificing this face-down card on the field as the price, Stormbreaker will not be destroyed in battle."

"Nani?!"

Asuka exclaimed, "Wow, that's amazing! Storm Warrior can't be targeted by the opponent's effects, and it can't be destroyed by battles or effects. In addition to having piercing ability, its attack power has reached 5600 points."

It combines high attack and high defense, making it extremely powerful on the field.

Moreover, Storm's ability to remain unaffected by combat will continue to work once activated, making it much stronger than the original game's effect.

"That concludes my turn."

At the same time, Judai took a card from the grave.

"And during my final phase, the effect of the field spell [Fusion Regeneration Mechanism] is activated."

During your or your opponent's End Phase, you can target 1 Fusion Material used in your Graveyard for a Fusion Summon this turn; add that monster to your hand.

"I retrieved the Water Bubble Man from the cemetery."

[Yuki Jaden's hand cards: 0 → 1]

"Young man, the power of Stormbreaker gives you a huge advantage, but such a combination is not entirely solid."

"My turn!"

[The Gravekeeper's Hand: 4 → 5]

"Is it 腫⌒∨ＺhUAnQﵙ:四〃ˉ』×粫俬℃〕三¨◇馓牾么。"

Judai was well aware of this, as his backcourt was completely unprotected.

"Just you wait and see..."

The chief guardian then commanded, "Reverse Summon, [The Guardian's Scout]!"

As the card flipped, a burst of golden light instantly emanated from the card image, projecting a scout dressed in all black.

[The Gravekeeper Scout: Attack Power 1200]

"Due to this monster's Flip effect, Special Summon a Gravekeeper monster with 1500 or less ATK from your Deck."

"Appear, [the last descendant of the tomb guardian]!"

Om-! !

Another burst of light appeared, and a blond gravedigger holding a serpent staff appeared on the field.

[Descendant of the Gravekeeper: Attack Power 1500]

Immediately afterwards, the chief tomb keeper shouted, "The special ability of the [Descendant of the Tomb Keeper] is activated!"

You can activate this effect by Tributing 1 face-up monster with "Gravekeeper" in its name that you control, other than this card. Destroy 1 card your opponent controls.

"I offer up the Gravekeeper Scout on the field as a sacrifice to destroy the Beloved Hero."

Bang bang—!

The scout and equipment card exploded.

"Because the [Beloved Hero] effect has been lost, Storm's attack power has returned to normal."

[Elemental Hero Storm Warrior: Attack Power 5600 → 2800]

He then revealed another card from his hand and said, "When this card is summoned, you can use only one [Gravekeeper] monster as a tribute."

"I offer the [Descendant of the Gravekeeper] on the field as a sacrifice to summon the [High Priest of the Gravekeeper] in the name of attack."

The tomb guardian disappeared in a flash of light, and then a high priest dressed as Anubis appeared before everyone. This priest was sitting on an ancient stone chair.

[High Priest Guardian of the Tomb: Attack Power 2000]

[The Gravekeeper's Hand: 5 → 4]

"The special effect of [Gravekeeper High Priest] is that when there is a [Gravekeeper] monster in your Graveyard, this card gains 200 ATK for each one in your Graveyard."

"There are three in my graveyard, so my total attack power has increased by 600 points."

[High Priest Guardian of the Tomb: Attack Power 2000 → 2600]

Looking at the monster, Jaden frowned: "Attack power 2600 points... In terms of attack power, Stormman is still higher. You can't just put the monster here with its attack power displayed, so you must have other ways to improve it."

"Of course it's not over yet!"

The chief of the graveyard immediately revealed a spell card: "Foolish fellow, you'll regret coming to the royal family's holy land! Field Spell [Valley of the Royal Family's Long Sleep] activated!"

[The Gravekeeper's Hand: 4 → 3]

As he inserts the card he draws this turn into the playing area, the surrounding scenery rapidly changes, and a dark canyon rises from the ground.

"Due to the effect of [Royal Valley of the Slumber], the ATK and DEF of [Gravekeeper] monsters on the field increase by 500 points each."

[High Priest Guardian of the Tomb: Attack 2600 → 3100, Defense 1800 → 2300]

Chapter Fifty-Seven: I Summon Myself

"Because a new field spell has been activated, the field spell [Fusion Regeneration Mechanism] is sent to the graveyard according to the rules."

After saying that, Judai casually tossed the card into the graveyard.

Then the Tomb Keeper waved his hand and gave the order: "Battle begins! [The Tomb Keeper] attacks [Elemental Hero Storm Knight]!"

The high priest, seated on the stone chair, immediately raised his golden serpent staff, releasing a golden beam of light that shot towards Storm Knight.

boom--! ! !

The attack caused a powerful explosion the moment it hit Stormman.

Seeing this, Judai quickly said, "This moment, thanks to Stormbreaker's effect, will not be disrupted by the battle!"

"But you still have to accept the damage that exceeds that!"

The damage from the explosion then impacted Judai's body.

"Ugh—!"

[Yujo Jaden: LP4000→3700]

Asuka couldn't help but ask worriedly, "Judai, are you alright?"

Winged Kuriboh: Curry Curry~~

Jaden broke out in a cold sweat: "It's nothing, it just hurts a little..."

At this point, the Gravekeeper continued, "Another effect of [Valley of the Royal Prison] is that neither player can banish cards from the Graveyard, and the effects of cards targeting the Graveyard are negated."

After saying this, he inserted another card into the Duel Disk: "Finally, place one card face down, end of turn."

[The Gravekeeper's Hand: 3 → 2]

He smiled faintly: "What's wrong, young man? Can't you handle this?"

Judai replied with a relaxed expression, "How can that be? I still need to take Asuka back to her original world."

"My turn, draw a card!"

[Yuki Jaden's hand cards: 1 → 2]

After drawing the card, he inserted it into the Duel Disk without hesitation: "Continuous Spell [Dark Seal Sword] activated, all monsters on the opponent's field are changed to face-down Defense Position."

[Yuki Jaden's hand cards: 2 → 1]

As the card effect took effect, several jet-black magic swords descended from the sky, sealing off the area around the Gravekeeper. The High Priest's figure then disappeared from the field, transforming into a face-down card placed in the front row.

Upon seeing this, the head of the tomb gritted his teeth, "He's just trying to be clever."

Jaden immediately swung his hand and shouted, "Go! Storm Warrior, attack the defending monster! Chaos Storm!"

Under his command, Stormman once again raised the cannon on his right arm, and the blue light was released again.

At the same time, Gaika was passively flipped over, and the High Priest reappeared on the field.

[High Priest Guardian of the Tomb: Defense 2300]

The next second, the beam of light hit the high priest.

boom--! ! !

The shockwave from the explosion bypassed the High Priest and struck the Chief Keeper of the Tomb.

"Because of the effect of [Great Fusion], Stormbreaker deals piercing damage to you."

"Yeah..."

[Gravekeeper: LP4000→3500]

"This moment!"

The Gravekeeper quickly threw a card into the graveyard and said, "The other ability of the [Gravekeeper High Priest] is that if this card on the field is destroyed, you can discard one [Gravekeeper] monster from your hand to replace the destruction."

[The Gravekeeper's Hand: 2 → 1]

A burst of magical energy erupted from the High Priest, neutralizing the energy of the light cannon.

"Furthermore, due to the addition of a [Gravekeeper] monster to the graveyard, the [Gravekeeper High Priest]'s attack power increases by 200 points."

[High Priest Guardian of the Tomb: Attack Power 3100 → 3300]

Jaden nonchalantly replied, "Although the old man's monster's attack power has increased to 3300, the opponent's monster cannot change its battle position due to the effect of the Continuous Spell [Dark Seal Sword]."

"In other words, the [High Priest Guardian of the Tomb] cannot switch to an attack stance and cannot harm me."

"..."

The head of the tomb silently drew a card.

[The Gravekeeper's Hand: 1 → 2]

After drawing the card, he immediately inserted it into his Duel Disk: "Activate [Pot of Greed] from my hand!"

[The Gravekeeper's Hand: 2 → 3]

Upon seeing the next two cards in his hand, a slight smile crept onto his lips: "Hmph~, it seems fate is still on my side..."

As he spoke, he revealed one of his cards.

"Offer the [High Priest Guardian of the Grave] on the field as a sacrifice to summon myself."

"It actually summoned itself?!"

The High Priest instantly vanished from the field, and then the Chief of the Graveyard was engulfed by a golden light effect before disappearing from the spot.

The next moment, another burst of light flashed at the spot where the High Priest had disappeared.

"Due to the effect of [Valley of Royal Sleep], my attack power has increased by 500 points."

Just as he finished speaking, the light faded, and the chief of the tomb reappeared before them.

[Gravekeeper: Attack Power 1900 → 2400]

The reappearing Gravekeeper continued, "As long as I am on the field, my graveyard is unaffected by the effect of [Valley of the Royals]."

"Then I can Special Summon a monster whose name includes the word 'Gravekeeper' from the Graveyard."

"Rise, High Priest of the Graveyard!"

Beside him, another golden light flashed, and the high priest, who was sitting on the stone chair, reappeared on the scene.