"This turn, I’ll bury that magician!"

The Wicked God was already furious.

Of course, he hadn’t lost his mind. Even though their field was suppressed, there was still a chance—he still had ways to fight back.

"Darklord Contact! Special Summon ’Darklord Superbia’ from the Graveyard in Defense Position!"

Once again, the black, toilet-shaped Darklord that Kira thought looked odd flapped its blood-red wings and landed on the field. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

[Darklord Superbia, DEF 2400]

Jaden said, "Then, Superbia’s effect can activate again from the Graveyard to revive another monster."

"As expected of a Darklord, immediately coming back to life," Kira smiled slightly.

"But it seems you still don’t know the story behind this Shining Sarcophagus."

The Wicked God was startled. "NANI?"

"The Shining Sarcophagus not only stands as proof of the Duel King’s three-thousand-year bond—but also as the casket that sends the departed to eternal rest.

The dead should sleep peacefully."

Kira waved his hand, and the Shining Sarcophagus radiated a dazzling light.

"The other effect of the Shining Sarcophagus: once per turn, when your opponent Special Summons a monster from the Graveyard, you can discard a Spell Card from your hand to return that revived monster to the Graveyard!"

Kira discarded a Spell Card and pointed at the freshly summoned Darklord on the Wicked God’s field.

"Return Darklord Superbia to the Graveyard!"

The sarcophagus burst with golden light, enveloping Superbia. The Darklord, who had only just returned, faded away and vanished.

Jaden: "It even has anti-revival ability. This Shining Sarcophagus is amazing..."

Jaden was simply amazed by the Sarcophagus’s powerful function, but Kaiba’s eyes flashed as he thought of something.

Back then, in the final turn of the Ceremonial Battle, wasn’t it just like this?

Atem used Monster Reborn to revive Slifer the Sky Dragon, attempting to make the final attack. But he didn’t know that Monster Reborn had already been sealed in the Shining Sarcophagus by Yugi, so Slifer’s revival failed.

The dead should rest in peace. That was exactly the message Yugi conveyed to Atem through his choice in the duel and through the Sarcophagus.

"Damn it."

The Wicked God looked more and more displeased at the Shining Sarcophagus, but gritted his teeth.

"But Superbia was sent to the Graveyard after being summoned, not negated. And Superbia’s effect activates the moment it is successfully summoned, allowing me to revive another Darklord from the Graveyard—other than Superbia itself.

I Special Summon ’Darklord Tezcatlipoca’!"

Another Darklord previously used as a tribute.

[Darklord Tezcatlipoca, ATK 2800]

"Then I Normal Summon ’Darklord Ukoback’!"

[Darklord Ukoback, ATK 700]

"Darklord Ukoback’s monster effect!" declared the Wicked God. "When this card is summoned or Special Summoned, I can send any ’Darklord’ card from my Deck to the Graveyard!"

Similarly, he could send any ’Darklord’ card—not just monsters.

And since higher-level Darklords can copy Spell/Trap effects from the Graveyard, this combination made the effect especially terrifying. He could send any Spell/Trap from his Deck, use its effect without cost, and even upgrade a normal-speed effect to Quick Effect, making it usable on the opponent’s turn.

"I’ll send the Trap Card ’Darklord Rebellion’ from my Deck to the Graveyard!"

The Wicked God drew a trap from the deck, revealed it, and sent it to the Graveyard.

Kira frowned slightly.

He remembered ’Darklord Rebellion’—a trap with destructive power, able to destroy any card on the field. A powerful disruption.

A bit troublesome.

"Now, face-down card, activate!" The Wicked God shouted, "Trap Card ’Darklord Rebellion’! By sending a ’Darklord’ monster from my hand or field to the Graveyard as cost, I can restore my Life Points equal to that monster’s ATK after resolution.

I send ’Darklord Nasten’ from my hand to the Graveyard!"

The Wicked God revealed a card from his hand and sent it to the Graveyard.

"Then, send the materials required for a DARK Fusion Monster from my hand and field to the Graveyard to Fusion Summon!"

He revealed a monster from his hand, along with the two Darklords still on his Duel Disk.

"I fuse ’Darklord Morningstar’ from my hand, with ’Darklord Ukoback’ and ’Darklord Tezcatlipoca’ from the field! Three Darklords combine!

The Archangel who harbors a demon’s heart, wielding the sword of rebellion to bring endless darkness—

—The First Darklord, Fusion Summon!"

Fusion requirements: three DARK Fairy-type monsters. The three great Darklords merged under a shroud of darkness, black wings corrupted and stained, heavy dark armor, the angel of dawn bearing eyes filled with hatred, descending with a judgement sword.

[The First Darklord, ATK 4000]

"Next, for sending ’Darklord Nasten’ to the Graveyard as cost for Darklord Rebellion, I restore Life Points equal to its ATK!"

[Darklord Nasten, ATK 2600]

[Wicked God, LP 4000 → LP 6600]

"Then, when ’The First Darklord’ is Fusion Summoned using Lucifer as material, destroy all cards on your opponent’s field!"

The Wicked God roared.

"Vanish! Be destroyed!

All shall turn to ashes under Lucifer’s judgement!"

Lucifer’s great sword swung down—not so much a real blow as the manifestation of annihilation. The slash summoned a raging storm, sweeping across Kira’s field. Silent Magician gritted her teeth in resistance, but her barrier finally shattered and she was forced to leave the field.

"Hahahaha—MUDA! All MUDA!" The Wicked God laughed, "Pharaoh, or Pharaoh’s vessel, no matter how much power you borrow—

Nani!?"

As the smoke cleared, though Silent Magician had vanished, the shining Shining Sarcophagus still stood firm, unmoved.

Wicked God: "!"

He was shaken.

"Why!?"

Lucifer’s effect should be absolute—an indiscriminate sweep across the opponent’s field. How could this tiny Sarcophagus...

"Sorry, but that won’t work." Kira dusted himself off.

"As long as the Shining Sarcophagus is on the field, it can’t be destroyed by any monster effect."

Wicked God: "!"

....