Chapter 1197: Shimmering Scraper

Junk Warrior, ATK 4600!

Facing the strongest Sacred Beast as his opponent, Yusei played his specialty—hand traps, turning the tables from a desperate situation!

Yusei held his breath.

Can he… defeat a Sacred Beast?

"Haha, as expected of Fudou Yusei. Your hand trap skills are truly polished."

But then, Kira shifted the topic.

"But it's not only your warriors who possess hand trap power."

Yusei's heart skipped a beat—a bad premonition: "Nani!?"

"Lord of Phantasms—Raviel! As the strongest among the Sacred Beasts, allow me to show you his true might!"

Kira revealed another card from his hand. The moment he raised it high, boundless waves of sacred blue light burst forth from the card art, erupting with earth-shaking power.

That card was resonating with the Lord of Phantasms!

"Unleash the Lord of Phantasms's real power!" Kira declared. "Discard 'Lord of Phantasms Raviel – Shimmering Scraper' from my hand. Effect activates!"

Yusei was stunned. "Another monster effect that activates from the hand!?"

It was a hand-activated effect, just like his own, and even bore the same name as Raviel's move—a dedicated card for Raviel!

"The effect of Shimmering Scraper: by discarding this card from your hand, you double the ATK of your on-field 'Lord of Phantasms Raviel' for this turn!" Kira announced. "And this effect can be activated during your opponent's turn too!"

The 5D's trio: "NANI!?"

His ATK doubled too!

This really was the same type of hand trap as Yusei's.

[Lord of Phantasms Raviel, ATK 4000 → ATK 8000]

Like a single punch that shattered the heavens, Raviel's knuckles glimmered with an endless, deep blue spark. Countless swirling dark-blue vortexes spun across the tip of his fist. The tyrannical energy surged like a tsunami, tearing through the boundaries of another world. Yet, it wasn't water, but pure, immense roaring energy that twisted the field like an immense, unseen pressure the moment his fist swung.

BOOM—

Even Junk Warrior, boosted and at his limit, was no match. Yusei's steel giant's fist clashed with Raviel's twin fists—and instantly shattered to pieces, fragments scattering everywhere.

Yusei: "Urgh—ahhh!"

[Crow / Jack / Yusei, LP 11000 → LP 7600]

With the three sharing Life Points, the damage and shock were shared as well. Over 3000 damage in one go, the impact almost knocked them all to the ground. In a Riding Duel, 99% of Duel Runners couldn't withstand such a blow without crashing.

Crow clutched his ribs, gritting his teeth, "What kind of monster is this guy? Even with such a perfect setup by Yusei, the opponent caught up and counterattacked instantly!"

Jack was also unwilling to accept it: "Are you saying the power this guy wields… is even greater than what we have combined!?"

"It's not over yet. The strongest Sacred Beast is just getting started."

Kira smiled and continued.

"Lord of Phantasms Raviel—Shimmering Scraper has an even further effect! Now unchained, Raviel can attack all opposing monsters once each this turn!"

Their faces changed once again.

Nani!?

Eight thousand ATK and multiple attacks…

"You've got to be kidding me!?" Even Crow was shocked.

Yusei said, "This is the power of the Sacred Beasts—Goodwin's strength."

Kira gestured, "Take a seat, basics. I once saw an Overload Dragon with 20,000 ATK hitting a dozen times in one turn. Compared to that, this is nothing special."

"So compared to those scenes, this is still small time stuff."

Kira waved his hand, "Lord of Phantasms Raviel! Next, attack Jack's 'Red Dragon Archfiend'!"

The second punch!

Shattering space itself, the punch was like a blast tearing through the heavens. Jack's proud power—his Red Dragon Archfiend—was nothing but a small fly in front of that blow, powerless to resist.

"Ahhh—!"

[Crow / Jack / Yusei, LP 7600 → LP 2600]

The shockwave swept the field. Red Dragon Archfiend was easily obliterated in the flames, the three once again blown back.

Outside the field, Leo was dumbfounded.

"This is… just too strong…"

For the first time, he felt that even if Yusei, Jack, and Crow teamed up, there was still a massive gap between them and the being atop the altar.

Luna slumped, "It's hopeless—we can't win. Against this kind of enemy…"

Noticing his sister's disappointment, Leo hurried to cheer her up, "Don't say that! Yusei and the others… the Signers won't lose!"

But even as he said so, his heart was uneasy.

Can anyone really beat someone like this?

"Well, Raviel can still keep attacking."

Kira's eyes scanned their field, fixing on Crow's "Blackwing Armor Master."

"But, Armor Master is indestructible by battle, and combat damage with him becomes 0. There's no point attacking him. I'll skip my attack."

Kira shrugged.

The trio finally managed to breathe a little easier.

Thank goodness for Crow's Armor Master. If it had been any other monster, Raviel's third punch would have totally wiped them out.

Kira: "At End Phase, Raviel's ATK returns to normal."

[Lord of Phantasms Raviel, ATK 8000 → ATK 4000]

Crow: "Then it's my turn again!"

But at this point, Crow's momentum had dropped sharply. Goodwin's dominance, the appearance of the Sacred Beasts, seemed to shift the whole duel's "momentum" to his side. As the only ordinary human present, even as a top duelist, Crow felt immense pressure facing the Sacred Beasts.

Crow shook his head.

No matter what, I can't drag Yusei and Jack down.

"I Special Summon 'Blackwing - Bora the Spear'!"

A black bird-like warrior appeared in a swirl of black feathers, spiraling lance stabbing out, creating a transparent shockwave.

[Blackwing - Bora the Spear, ATK 1700]

Kira: "Then at this moment, Raviel's effect activates: 'When your opponent Summons, Special Summons, or Flip Summons a monster, Special Summon an equal number of "Phantasm Tokens" on your field." (Anime effect.)

The printed card version only activates for Normal Summons, but the anime original triggers on all kinds of Summons.

[Phantasm Token, DEF 1000]

"Also," Kira smiled, "Raviel's effect: by releasing two monsters on your field, it can absorb their combined ATK until the end of the turn."

Yusei: "So whenever we Summon, Raviel gains equal numbers of tokens. And these can turn into Raviel's strength?"

"Even if I'm not a Signer, my spirit to fight isn't behind Yusei's!" Crow declared.

Yusei was moved, "…Crow."

Crow shouted, "Battle! Blackwing Armor Master, attack Raviel!"

…