Spell Card—Shield Crush, activate!

A green beam shot from the card, piercing the Arbiter's last line of defense—the Robot Token exploded into fragments.

"Using Shield Crush on a monster with 0 DEF—yeah, I get it," Mokuba said, "Black Luster Soldier can't attack after using his effect, so clearing the token lets him deal damage later."

Is that really it?

Though the Arbiter frowned, his eyes fixed on Kira, as if to read his mind.

The Orichalcos's second barrier, Orichalcos Deuteros, hid another effect he hadn't revealed.

Compared to the first barrier, the second offered powerful counterattacks.

When the opponent declares an attack, you can tribute a monster to negate the attack and destroy the attacking monster.

This is Orichalcos Deuteros's absolute defense—as long as you have monsters, you can reflect any attack. He had a Robot Token; if Kira had attacked it, he could have used it as ammo for a counter.

Now, with an empty field, with no monsters to tribute, the absolute defense is gone.

But he still had options.

"Black Luster Soldier can't attack this turn, but Ryu Senshi can," Kira said. "Ryu Senshi, attack directly!"

The Arbiter raised his hand.

"I activate the trap, 'Widespread Ruin.'

When the opponent declares an attack, destroy the highest ATK attack position monster they control!"

Mokuba was shocked: "That would destroy Black Luster Soldier!"

Ryu Senshi attacks, but the trap targets Black Luster Soldier?

Kira remained calm. "Then Ryu Senshi's effect activates again.

Pay 1000 Life Points to negate the trap."

[Kira, LP 4800 → LP 3800]

The Arbiter frowned again, and the crowd was stunned.

This Ryu Senshi's negation isn't once per turn!?

Kira declared, "Wide Spread Ruin—effect negated!"

Ryu Senshi's blade flashed, destroying the trap card and dispersing its energy.

Now, nothing stood in the way. The warrior's sword cut through, slicing with overwhelming force.

[Arbiter, LP 2700 → LP 700]

"Tch."

Damage in the barrier is real, both physical and mental. Plus, Kira's monsters are fueled by dark power, every blow is supernatural.

But such pain means little to a serpent god. What matters is how much Kira knows about him.

He narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing Kira.

Kira could have just been dealing damage, but the Arbiter sensed more.

He knows about Orichalcos Deuteros's hidden effect.

That raises more questions.

If he knows that, what else does he know?

The Arbiter felt a tinge of irritation.

He has existed for countless ages, his years forgotten. In the past, Dartz acted for him, secretly building power for ten thousand years, eventually forming the mighty Doma organization—he always had the upper hand, knowing everything about his enemies, exploiting their darkness as their weakness.

Even three thousand years ago, when the Egyptian pharaohs fought Zorc, he watched from the shadows. So when Atem searched for his past, Dartz and the serpent god already knew his true name. ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴀɴᴛ ᴛᴏ ʀᴇᴀᴅ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs, ᴘʟᴇᴀsᴇ ᴠɪsɪᴛ novel·fiɾe·net

They knew the pharaoh's name was his power, and a seal. In his nameless state, they faced only a weakened king—no way would they help him recover.

If the pharaoh had remembered his name and invoked the Creator God of Light, a single attack would have obliterated the serpent god.

Though Atem once wavered under Dartz's manipulations, he nearly succumbed to darkness, a testament to Dartz's skill.

But this time, for the first time, the Arbiter felt at a disadvantage—as if Kira knew all his tricks, while he understood nothing about Kira's tactics, origins, or mind.

"Good, only 700 Life Points left!" Jaden cheered. "Kira is insanely strong—just a little more to go!"

The others watched silently, holding their breath.

In just one turn, both sides exchanged attacks and counters. The Arbiter's counterattacks were fierce, but Kira calmly neutralized every move, reducing his Life Points to a sliver.

It seemed Kira was ahead, but on reflection it was risky—without Metamorphosis and Ryu Senshi, he couldn't have cleared the fortress; Black Luster Soldier would have been destroyed, and his situation would be dire next turn.

The Arbiter: "My turn, draw."

He revealed his drawn card.

"Spell Card 'Spell Books from the Pot.' Both players draw three cards." (Manga card)

His face darkened as he drew.

"Looks like I underestimated you. But not anymore.

I'll uncover the truth hidden in your shell—your darkest secrets."

He set a card.

Then he drew another.

"Orichalcos Kyutora—by discarding a card and paying 500 Life Points, I can special summon it from my hand."

[Arbiter, LP 700 → LP 200]

He discarded a card and summoned the monster.

"Come, Kyutora!"

PS: Bonus chapter at 500 PS