Chapter 1199: Desperate Lifeline

"My turn. Draw."

It was Kira's turn again.

"Activate Spell Card 'Fiend's Sanctuary'," Kira declared. "Special Summon one 'Metal Fiend Token' on my field."

A classic summoning array opened up on the ground, summoning a tiny silver puppet at its center.

[Metal Fiend Token, ATK 0]

"Next, from my hand, activate Spell Card 'Tribute Doll'," Kira continued. "Release one monster on my field, and Special Summon a Level 7 monster from my hand.

But as a cost, that monster cannot attack this turn.

I release 'Metal Fiend Token'."

The token disintegrated into light and vanished.

"I Special Summon Level 7 'Phantasmal Summoning Beast' from my hand!"

The monster's thin body was built on a skeletal frame, its massive signature bone wings stretching to three times its frame. The semi-transparent violet wing membranes contrasted sharply with its emaciated spine.

[Phantasmal Summoning Beast, ATK 0]

Level 7 with 0 ATK, and named 'Phantasmal Summoning Beast'—its very presence sent a sense of crisis over the field.

That sense of crisis was proven instantly.

"Phantasmal Summoning Beast's effect," Kira said. "Release this card to add one 'Uria, Lord of Searing Flames', 'Hamon, Lord of Striking Thunder', or 'Raviel, Lord of Phantasms' from your Deck or Graveyard to your hand."

Kira waved a card retrieved from the Graveyard.

"I return 'Lord of Phantasms Raviel' from my Graveyard to my hand."

Crow gritted his teeth. "After so much effort, he brought back Raviel…"

Jack: "But summoning that Sacred Beast needs three tributes! Even if he recovers it, he can't play it that easily!"

Kira laughed, "Not necessarily."

Jack: "Nani!?"

"Phantasmal Summoning Beast's next effect: After adding a Sacred Beast to the hand, you can Special Summon from your hand a Level 10 Pyro, Thunder, or Fiend monster with equal ATK and DEF, ignoring summoning conditions!"

The three: "!"

'Pyro, Thunder, Fiend'—the exact tribes for Uria, Hamon, and Raviel.

'Level 10, ATK = DEF'—narrowing the options to just those three.

"Descend again! Lord of Phantasms Raviel!"

The world changed color. A blue blaze erupted from the earth's fissure. The giant shadow of a Sacred Beast soared up, great claws slamming the ground and shaking heaven and earth.

[Lord of Phantasms Raviel, ATK 4000]

Yusei said gravely, "This precise Sacred Beast play…"

He'd realized it. The Three Phantoms had high ATK, trap immunity, strong effects, but that wasn't the main issue. The problem was they had a thousand ways of bouncing back.

Even if you barely defeated them after immense effort, they'd probably return next turn.

Crow: "Sacred Beasts… just how terrifying are they?"

"That's not all," Kira smiled. "Now, the effect of 'Shimmering Scraper' in my Graveyard: once per turn, by releasing a monster on my field, I can add this card from my Graveyard to my hand."

Everyone: "!"

Shimmering Scraper, Raviel's signature OTK move. It can double Raviel's ATK to 8000 and allow him to attack all enemy monsters in one turn—and now, it can retrieve itself from the Graveyard!

This meant Raviel could effectively gain "once per turn: release a monster to double your ATK and attack all opposing monsters."

"Then, again, my Field Spell 'Fallen Paradise' effect," Kira added. "If I have a Sacred Beast on my field, once per turn I can draw two cards from my deck."

He drew two cards.

"Battle! Raviel attacks 'Blackwing – Bora the Spear'!"

Raviel gathered dark blue energy on his right fist, exploding into the void.

"Crow!" Yusei finally spoke out.

Raviel had 4000 ATK, Bora had 1700, so a 2300 difference. They'd have a sliver of Life Points left. Yet, everyone remembered Kira had just retrieved 'Shimmering Scraper'!

During damage calculation, he could discard Shimmering Scraper, making Raviel 8000 ATK. The trio's remaining LP was only 2600—more than enough to wipe them out!

Crow yelled: "I'm not done yet!

Activate the face-down Trap, 'Destruct Potion'!

Destroy one monster you control and gain Life Points equal to its ATK!"

Crow took a deep breath.

"Forgive me, my Blackwings."

He raised his arm high.

"I destroy 'Bora the Spear' and gain Life Points equal to its ATK!"

Boom!

Bora burst under the trap's red glow, mist pouring into Crow himself.

[Crow / Jack / Yusei, LP 2600 → LP 4300]

Leo cheered from the sidelines, "He had to destroy his own Blackwing…"

"But that's good," Akiza said. "Although Raviel can still reach 8000 ATK and do multiple attacks, by destroying Bora, Raviel has no target."

Yusei agreed, "Right. With Bora gone, our only monster left is 'Blackwing Armor Master'."

"Exactly!" Crow said, "Armor Master is battle invincible, no matter how many times you attack!"

"Ha, not bad. Once again, relying on Armor Master's power." Kira said. "I'll set two cards and end my turn."

Jack: "My turn! Draw!"

"Activate Spell Card 'Cards of Adversity'! If the opponent controls a Special Summoned monster and you control none, draw two cards!"

Jack rapidly drew two cards, but his face fell a little as he saw them.

This card… it's finally time to use this move?