Book of Eclipse—all monsters become face-down!
As a champion, he instantly realized what this meant.
Normally, monsters summoned by Chain Material would self-destruct at the end of the turn, but turning them face-down dodges that risk—no, even more.
Even if those monsters are turned face-up later, the self-destruct won't trigger. Once face-down, they're treated as having left the field, and flipping face-up refreshes their state—they're no longer considered summoned by Chain Material, so they won't self-destruct.
"You had that up your sleeve…"
Koyo gritted his teeth.
He hated to admit it, but even though the Arbiter used Elemental Heroes and likely not his real deck—and didn't even go all out—Koyo could still sense his power.
This opponent was the strongest he'd ever faced as a duelist.
"Activate Spell Card 'Card of Burial Magic.' Banish 'Book of Eclipse,' 'Card of Sanctity,' and 'Fusion Gate' from my Graveyard; draw two cards." (Anime card.)
The Arbiter drew two cards.
"Set three cards, end turn," the Arbiter said calmly. "Book of Eclipse has a follow-up effect.
At the End Phase, all opponent's face-down monsters are flipped face-up, and the opponent draws a card for each.
But you have no monsters, so that doesn't matter."
"Now, let me see just how brightly the world champion's soul can blaze."
"My thoughts exactly."
Koyo coughed twice, then declared firmly,
The opponent still had five powerful Heroes, a huge Life Point and field advantage.
But even so, he would not give up.
Even if he died, he would fall fighting to the last second.
Having put life and death aside, Koyo felt unusually light inside—perhaps purer in this near-death moment than ever before as a duelist.
So he decided not to think too much, just to immerse himself in the duel, following his heart.
"Activate Spell Card 'Spell Books from the Pot'—both players draw three cards." (Manga card.)
"Next, activate Spell Card 'Card Rotator'," said Koyo. "Discard one card, change the battle position of all opponent's monsters."
He discarded a card to the Graveyard.
"All your monsters return to Attack Position!"
[Elemental HERO Phoenix Enforcer, ATK 2600]
[Elemental HERO Great Tornado, ATK 3300]
[Elemental HERO Escuridao, ATK 3000]
[Elemental HERO Nova Master, ATK 3100]
[Elemental HERO The Shining, ATK 5500]
The five face-down cards flipped back to attack position, like a chain of mountains before Koyo.
"You chose to face them head-on," the Arbiter remarked.
"A hero never runs from battle," Koyo smiled. "I activate Spell Card 'Polymerization'! I fuse 'Elemental HERO Bubbleman' and the WIND-attribute 'Elemental HERO Stratos' from my hand! Fusion requirements: Elemental Hero plus any WIND monster! Fusion Summon—
—Elemental HERO Great Tornado!"
The same WIND-attribute Fusion Hero as the Arbiter's, Great Tornado descended, arms crossed, amidst howling winds!
"Great Tornado's effect—when Fusion Summoned, all opponent's monsters' ATK and DEF are halved!" Koyo roared. "Downburst!" ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴀɴᴛ ᴛᴏ ʀᴇᴀᴅ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs, ᴘʟᴇᴀsᴇ ᴠɪsɪᴛ novelFirｅ.net
Earlier, when Arbiter summoned Great Tornado, Koyo had no monsters, so the effect didn't trigger.
Now, a storm swept across the Arbiter's field. The five heroes wavered under the gale, greatly weakened.
[Elemental HERO Phoenix Enforcer, ATK 2600 → 1300]
[Elemental HERO Great Tornado, ATK 3300 → 1650]
[Elemental HERO Escuridao, ATK 3000 → 1500]
[Elemental HERO Nova Master, ATK 3100 → 1550]
[Elemental HERO The Shining, ATK 5500 → 2750]
"Nice!" Jaden exclaimed. "That's a huge drop in strength!"
Koyo continued, "Next, activate Spell Card 'Fusion Recovery'. Return 'Elemental HERO Bubbleman' and 'Polymerization' from the Graveyard to my hand!"
He promptly played them again.
"Activate 'Polymerization' again—this time, fuse 'Elemental HERO Clayman' and 'Elemental HERO Bubbleman' from my hand! Requirements: Hero plus any WATER monster! Fusion Summon—
—Elemental HERO Absolute Zero!!!"
Snow and ice fell, freezing the field. The pure white caped hero arrived!
Koyo's strongest ace outside the Planet Series—Absolute Zero!
[Elemental HERO Absolute Zero, ATK 2500]
"Activate Spell Card 'Monster Reborn'!" Koyo declared. "Revive my ace, my soul—
—Elemental HERO Terra Firma!!!"
The earth split, lava erupting like a furious fire dragon. Amidst molten rock, the giant white hero representing the planet Earth landed, shaking the field.
[Elemental HERO Terra Firma, ATK 2500]
(Of course, in the real card game, Terra can't be revived except by Fusion, but in the manga, it often gets revived by all sorts of effects.)
"Activate set card, Continuous Trap 'DNA Transplant'!" Koyo declared. "Change all monsters' Attributes to one I declare—
A torrent enveloped all monsters on both fields.
"Attribute-changing card?" the Arbiter asked.
"'Elemental HERO Absolute Zero' gains 500 ATK for each WATER monster on the field except itself," Koyo explained. "You have five monsters, and besides Absolute Zero, I have two more—all now WATER.
Absolute Zero's ATK increases by…"
[Elemental HERO Absolute Zero, ATK 2500 → 6000]
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