"Taking 'Monster Reborn' from your graveyard!"
White spider web shoots from Kira's card, precisely snaring "Monster Reborn" from the Arbiter's graveyard.
The thread retracts, and the Spell arcs through the air into Kira's hand.
"He reclaimed 'Monster Reborn'!" Jaden exclaims. "Now he can bring back the Divine Beast again!"
"Tch, that lingering Pharaoh's spirit, even his Divine Beast is this persistent," the Arbiter snorts.
There's no doubt Ra is the key—the best hope to defeat Divine Serpent Geh. If Kira uses Monster Reborn to bring back Ra, it'll return as Immortal Phoenix mode due to Special Summoning.
Although Kira's current LP seems too low to use Ra's board wipe again, with only 800 left, healing even a bit would put him over 1000 and make it possible. The Arbiter can't ignore that risk.
If Divine Serpent Geh leaves the field, he loses. If the Phoenix returns, he's in real danger.
He cannot allow the Divine Beast's return.
"Spell Card: Monster Reborn!"
Kira slots the card into his duel disk.
A giant green resurrection symbol appears in the air, burning like fire. The flames take the shape of a winged bird; even before it descends, the divine phoenix's spirit seems to glare at Divine Serpent Geh through the magic, crimson eyes filled with rage.
"Targeting 'Winged Dragon of Ra' in the graveyard, revive Ra—"
Before he can finish, the Arbiter interrupts sharply.
"I activate the Trap 'Disappear'!
Banishing one card from your opponent's graveyard!"
He points at Kira's graveyard, shouting,
"'Winged Dragon of Ra,' banished! Dead things should stay dead and stop interfering!"
He's talking about Ra, but the subtext is his frustration with the Pharaoh's spirit refusing to stay buried.
God cards ignore traps, but before hitting the field, they're just regular cards. Banished, the divine bird's image fades, letting out a final roar of defiance before vanishing.
The Arbiter laughs wildly.
"Hahaha! I didn't expect you to pull a Divine Beast, but now that you've lost it, how can you fight me? What can you do against the infinite power of Divine Serpent Geh!?"
"Quick-Play Spell, 'Burial from a Different Dimension,'" Kira says. "Return up to three banished monsters to the graveyard.
I'll return these three—"
He reveals three cards.
"Clear Kuriboh, Winged Dragon of Ra, and Caius the Shadow Monarch, all back to the graveyard."
The Arbiter's heart skips a beat.
He's recovered Clear Kuriboh and Ra…
This combo gives him a bad feeling.
"I activate 'Advance Draw,' tributing my Level 8 'Cyber Twin Dragon' to draw two cards," Kira continues.
Cyber Twin Dragon dissolves into light, and Kira draws two cards.
"Normal Summon 'Cyber Valley.'"
[Cyber Valley, ATK 0]
"Cyber Valley has three effects. One lets me banish it and a card from my hand to place any card from my graveyard on top of my deck."
He tosses a card; Cyber Valley's effect activates, a black vortex opens, and both disappear. Follow current novels on NoveIＦire.net
"I banish 'Cyber Valley' and a card from my hand to return this card from my graveyard—"
As the card leaves the graveyard, a flicker of the divine bird's shadow flashes, a powerful aura surging from Kira's hand.
"Returning 'Winged Dragon of Ra' to the top of my deck."
He places the card back on top.
Now, even the Arbiter realizes his plan.
He fell for this combo last turn—direct attack triggers Clear Kuriboh, which draws the top card: Ra.
And Ra summoned this way will become 'Immortal Phoenix' again. If its effect activates, it's over.
The situation is clear.
After tributing Twin Dragon, Kira's field is empty. If the Arbiter attacks, Clear Kuriboh triggers, drawing Ra.
"Annoying brat," the Arbiter mutters. "You're that desperate to bring back Ra?"
Kira smiles, "Are you that afraid of me bringing Ra back?"
The Arbiter is left speechless.
"I set four cards and end my turn."
The Arbiter can guess now.
One of those set cards probably restores LP.
Normally, gaining 1-2k LP wouldn't matter, but now, it means two more Phoenix wipes—deadly.
"Hmph, if you think this setup can stop Divine Serpent Geh's attack, you underestimate him.
Kira immediately activates a set card.
"Trap Card, 'Battle Mania'!
All your face-up monsters must switch to Attack Position and cannot change position this turn.
And all monsters able to attack must attack this turn!"
The Arbiter frowns, "Divine Serpent Geh is unaffected by traps."
"I know. So 'Battle Mania' can't force Divine Serpent Geh to switch positions. But as long as your field has an 'able to attack' monster, you must enter the Battle Phase and attack."
The setup is complete. Now, the Arbiter can't skip attacking to avoid the Clear Kuriboh; he has only one path left.
He must attack with Divine Serpent Geh, triggering the Clear Kuriboh, and be destroyed by the Phoenix's flames.
"Amazing…" Jaden is in awe of Kira.
This is open strategy!
He's blatantly set a trap, with Ra waiting as the obvious threat, but the Arbiter seems unable to avoid it.
Everyone holds their breath, waiting to see what happens.
Can he defeat the invincible Snake God and secure victory?
"In response to 'Battle Mania,' I activate the Quick-Play Spell 'Emergency Provisions.'"
Kira activates his second set card—of course, it's Emergency Provisions.
"I send 'Battle Mania' and another set card to the graveyard to gain 2000 LP."
[Kira, LP 800 → LP 2800]
2000 LP—the crowd knows, in this duel, it means two more Phoenix wipes.
The Arbiter: "I activate the Spell Card 'Graceful Charity.' Draw three, discard two."
After refreshing his hand, he gazes at Kira, then looks up coldly.
"The strongest Divine, Ra, is challenging me? Fine. If you think this will make me surrender, you underestimate Divine Serpent Geh's power.
I accept your challenge!"
He steps forward, voice sharp:
"By sending ten cards from my deck to the graveyard, Divine Serpent Geh attacks! Direct attack!!!"