Chapter 305: Cheating Slime
In a typical Duel Monsters game, a Card like Black Snake Disease, whose meaning was unclear, would never be used.
It dealt 200 points of Damage during each of your own Standby Phases, and then the Damage doubled each Turn after the second, accumulating to an exaggerated amount in just a few Turns. However, its Effect was two-way; it would not only inflict Effect Damage on the opponent but also couldn't be avoided by the user.
Moreover, just as Marik himself said, this Duel, from the moment he Activated the Black Snake Disease Card, began a Countdown to its end, entering a "brief but unforgettable path to hell." With both players' Life Points starting at only 4000, and without any highly efficient ways to recover, the Duel's outcome could be decided as early as Marik's sixth Turn.
However, although this Duel had such a Countdown added to it, Yugi Mutou showed no panic. Instead, he met Marik's gaze with a composed smile: "Do you really think you can Defeat me with just this one Card? Are you perhaps thinking too simply about Duel Monsters, Marik?"
"Don't be impatient, nameless Pharaoh. I already said, this Card is just for speeding up the Duel. The Card I'll truly use to Defeat you is this one."
In Marik's Hand was a blue Monster resembling slime.
As Marik Summoned that Monster, Yugi also recognized the Monster's true identity: "Is that Regenerating Slime?"
Regenerating Slime [4☆/WATER]
[Aqua Type/Effect]
[1500/500]
"Although it looks quite weak, don't underestimate this Monster from the Abyss, nameless Pharaoh," Marik sneered. "No matter how many times it's Destroyed, no matter how many times it's sent to the Graveyard, Regenerating Slime can revive from the Abyss an infinite number of times. Even an invincible hero would find it incredibly troublesome."
"Then, I Activate Card of Safe Return. After Setting three cards, I end my Turn."
[Marik: 4000 LP, Hand 0]
Regenerating Slime [DEF 500]
Black Snake Disease Card of Safe Return [Set Card] X3
Since it was the first Turn and Battle was not possible, Marik simply ended his Turn after Activating two Continuous Spell Cards and Summoning a weak Regenerating Slime. But even the people still remaining in the audience, including Mokuba who had some understanding of Duel Monsters, could see how troublesome Marik's field setup was.
Unlike the physical card version, the Regenerating Slime Marik was using was the quite outrageous anime version. Although both versions of Regenerating Slime had the Effect "When Destroyed and sent to the Graveyard, Special Summon it on the field," the physical card version was limited to being Destroyed by Battle, and Reviving not only required a cost of 1000 Life Points but also had to wait until your next Standby Phase.
The anime version of Regenerating Slime's Effect was much more unfair. Not only was it Special Summoned immediately after being Destroyed, but it also Revived without any cost.
Although its DEF was only a mere 500, the infinitely Reviving Regenerating Slime was even more difficult to deal with than a Monster with 5000 DEF—Five-Headed Dragon—especially since Marik had even Activated Card of Safe Return, which had the Effect "When a Monster is Special Summoned from the Graveyard, Draw three Cards."
If Yugi attacked recklessly but couldn't inflict Damage on Marik, it would only give him free Cards.
"My Turn, I draw!"
Facing such a troublesome situation, Yugi drew a Card with considerable Confidence, as if he already had a method in mind to Defeat Marik's stall strategy.
"Although Regenerating Slime has the ability to Revive from the Graveyard an infinite number of times, and in Defense Position, a normal Attack cannot penetrate its defense to Damage you," Yugi said, drawing a Card from his Hand and playing it onto his Duel Disk, "but Marik, what if I just don't Destroy your Monster?"
"Normal Summon Magician's Valkyria in Attack Position! Then, use its effect. While Magician's Valkyria is on the field, once per Main Phase, I can Tribute Summon a Spellcaster Type monster in face-up Attack Position, in addition to my Normal Summon!"
Magician's Valkyria [4☆/DARK]
[Spellcaster Type/Effect]
[1300/1500]
On Yugi's field, a clown-dressed Monster appeared with a comical dance. After bowing politely to the audience, Magician's Valkyria turned sideways, revealing a Magic Circle that appeared behind it.
As the Magic Circle passed through Magician's Valkyria, like a magic trick, the clown instantly vanished. Taking its place was another Monster Yugi played from his Hand: "Fight for me, Dark Magician Girl!"
"At your service~" The playful and cute Dark Magician Girl elegantly tiptoed and spun in place. Her short skirt lifted slightly, then fell back down under the force of gravity. Facing Yugi, she gave a brilliant smile.
Dark Magician Girl [6☆/DARK]
[Spellcaster Type/Effect]
[2000/1700]
Yugi simply smiled and nodded at Dark Magician Girl's cuteness, then continued: "When Magician's Valkyria is sent to the Graveyard from the field, its second Effect Activates. I add one Spellcaster Type Normal Monster from my Deck to my Hand."
Without Yugi needing to explain, or even reveal it, Marik guessed the card Yugi wanted to add to his Hand: "Is it Dark Magician?"
"Adding your Ace Monster to your Hand immediately, truly the style of a King. But even the ultimate Spellcaster, Dark Magician, his magic is useless against the infinitely Reviving Regenerating Slime. What's more, you've already performed a Normal Summon this Turn."
"Spellcasters aren't as simple as you think, Marik." Yugi's mouth curved into a smile. As he added the Dark Magician Card to his Hand, he revealed another Card from it. "The Bond between Dark Magician and Dark Magician Girl, this Master and Disciple pair, won't be easily broken by the rules of Duel Monsters."
"Spell Card Black Magic Ritual Activate! Send the Fusion Materials listed on the Fusion Monster, including Dark Magician or Dark Magician Girl, from my Hand or Field to the Graveyard, and Fusion Summon a Fusion Monster!" A blue and purple magical vortex emerged from the Card in Yugi's Hand. Dark Magician and Dark Magician Girl, existing in his Hand and on the field respectively, willingly plunged into the vortex.
"Bond Link! Shatter the Darkness with the endless bonds of light! The Dark Magicians!"
(End of Chapter)