Yu-Gi-Oh! The Pitfall Hero

However, unlike [Masked Hero Darkclaw], which directly blocks the opponent's graveyard, [Valley of the Royal Sleep] affects both duelists simultaneously.

In other words, if the High Priest chooses to activate this card, not only will Yusei's graveyard become useless, but his own graveyard will also suffer the same fate.

"I summon [Gravekeeper Spellcaster] (Spellcaster/DARK/Level 3/ATK 800/DEF 800) in Attack Position, and activate its effect: When this card is Normal Summoned, Flip Summoned, or Special Summoned, inflict 500 damage to your opponent!"

Instead of immediately activating the Field Spell Card he had just drawn, the High Priest placed his other card onto the golden Duel Disk.

After that, a humanoid monster dressed in the standard black robes of the tomb guardians, holding a long-handled magic flute, and with multiple braids on its head, as if it had traveled from Mexico, appeared before him with a sinister smile as the high priest called.

"Instead of immediately activating a field spell, they chose a normal summon? Are they planning to start with a pre-cast spell?"

Seeing that the High Priest did not immediately activate Mother Valley, but instead summoned the monsters in his hand, Yusei couldn't help but start thinking about his tactics.

It seems he has his own plans...

If it's just a simple case of "Mommy's Valley," then Yusei can still find a way to deal with it. But if it's not that simple, then it'll be a bit troublesome...

If I remember correctly, the Gravekeeper deck does indeed have a rather disgusting combination...

"Take this, young man... a weakening spell from a sorcerer!"

Raising his arm towards Yusei, the High Priest immediately activated the monster effect of [Gravekeeper's Spellcaster], inflicting 500 effect damage on Yusei.

"500 points of damage... no problem." Holding the Duel Disk upright in front of him, Yusei prepared to take the 500 points of damage with a relaxed expression.

however……

"Gulp! What's going on? It's only 500 points of damage, why... is there such intense pain?"

As the sorcerer played his flute, an excruciating pain, so intense it felt like Yusei's brain was about to split open, was immediately and clearly felt across his body.

As Yusei's health was reduced, the stone coffin beneath his feet began to close partially on its own.

Yusei: "?!"

"Young man, your life points are linked to the lives of your companions."

Seemingly understanding Yusei's confusion, the High Priest began to slowly explain the current situation: "In this duel, both sides will suffer real combat damage... and when your life points reach zero, your companions will also become royal sacrifices along with you, and be sunk into this pitch-black abyss."

"Isn't this... a dark duel where lives are at stake?"

It inflicts real damage on duelists, along with extremely severe penalties for the loser.

This so-called trial ceremony was not fundamentally different from the dark duel that Yusei had experienced in the underground space of the old school building.

The ultimate fate of the loser will be to fall into an abyss of no return.

Of course, if the High Priest is defeated, he will not lose his life, but will grant Yusei and the others the freedom they agreed upon.

330 Use Whirlwind on the Underworld Beings!

"...That's why I said before that this is a sacred dueling trial ritual, a trial specifically for outsiders like you!"

Touching his beard, the High Priest's face showed a look of reminiscence: "In the past, many young people with strong self-confidence like you challenged me, but... after they experienced real harm... without exception, they were all affected to varying degrees."

"Some with weaker mental fortitude collapsed during the duel, plunging headfirst into the abyss below to become food for those monsters... no! They should be called sacrifices..."

Youxing: “…”

Clearing his throat, the High Priest looked in Yusei's direction again: "So, after hearing these words, are you going to give up? At least... I can give you an easy, less painful way to end this."

"No! Please continue the trial."

As the pain caused by the curse gradually subsided and Yusei returned to normal, he raised his head and looked towards the location of the High Priest, a resolute expression on his face.

Giving up now will only lead to certain death.

Although you will suffer real pain in the duel, this pain is not unbearable.

Realizing that victory was a must in this duel and that he should try his best to avoid getting hurt, Yusei abandoned any侥幸心理 (侥幸心理 refers to a mentality of taking chances or relying on luck) and began to take this so-called trial seriously.

Not only do you have to win, you also have to make sure you don't get hurt, so as not to affect your mindset during the duel!

"Is that so? In that case, I'll continue..."

Seeing the determination in Yusei's eyes, the High Priest nodded, then took out a spell card from his hand: "I activate the spell card [Fusion] from my hand, sending [Gravekeeper's Spellcaster] on the field and [Gravekeeper's Prayer] (Spellcaster/DARK/Level 6/ATK 1500/DEF 1500) from my hand as Fusion materials to the Graveyard for Fusion Summoning!"

Yusei: "...Fusion Summon?"

"O sorcerer who plays the music of soul-stealing! O prayer master who presides over the sacred rituals in the royal tombs! In the light of fusion and summoning, become one!"

With his hands crossed in front of his chest, the High Priest devoutly proclaimed the name of his ace monster: "Fusion Summon! Come forth—[The Gravekeeper]!"

-

【Gravekeeper's Superpower】

(Mage/Dark/7-star/Attack 2000/Defense 2000)

Fusion/Effect: 2 Gravekeeper monsters

The ③ effect of this card name can only be used once per turn.

①: This card gains 100 ATK and DEF based on the original Levels of the monsters used as Fusion Material for this card.

②: As long as "Royal Valley of the Long Sleep" is on the field, this card and the cards in your Field Zone cannot be destroyed by card effects.

③: Can only be activated during your Main Phase. During the End Phase of this turn, add 1 "Gravekeeper" monster or 1 "Royal Valley of the Sleeping King" card from your Deck to your hand.

-

The white-haired [Heretical Guardian of the Tomb] evolved under the light of fusion, upgrading from 4 stars to 7 stars and transforming into a completely new being.

A ghostly blue flame ignited around him, his leg-length robe became a short robe, and the staff in his hand was also given a new look.

Facing Yusei's direction, the ability user, formed from the fusion of two [Grave Guardian] monsters, calmly raised the long staff that emitted light in his hand.

A powerful aura, typical of high-level monsters, enveloped Yusei's body as he moved.

"When the first effect of [Gravekeeper's Psionicist] is activated, this card's ATK and DEF increase by 100 points equal to the sum of the original Levels of the monsters used as materials! [Gravekeeper's Spellcaster] is Level 3, while [Gravekeeper's Prayer] is Level 6, so [Gravekeeper's Psionicist]'s ATK and DEF will both increase by 900 points!"

(【The Tomb Guardian】Attack 2900/Defense 2900)

"A monster with an attack power of 2900...?"

Seeing the changes in the [Gravekeeper], Yusei couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.

The current ability user's attack power is only slightly lower than that of the legendary dragon, the Blue-Eyes White Dragon, while its defense power is a full 400 points higher!

Kisara, who was once again being used as a combat unit, was furious!

"Next up is this card!"

"Young man! Be sure to regret your unauthorized trespassing into the royal tomb!"

With a smirk, the High Priest immediately placed the Field Spell Card in his hand into the designated area on the side of the Duel Disk: "Field Spell - [Valley of the Royal Sleep - Valley of the Dead -] Activate!"

With the activation of Mother Valley, the high platform where the High Priest and Yusei were originally located was immediately replaced by two towering stone pillars.

Mountain peaks rise abruptly from the ground, forming a narrow, sunless canyon.

The stone coffin beneath their feet was also shrouded in the ensuing mist, obscuring their exact condition.

"……This is?"

Sensing the changing scenery around him, Yusei couldn't help but start observing the ground beneath his feet.

Unlike the virtual images generated by the Duel Disk that I had seen at the Duel Academy in the past, the magic card activated by the Grand Priest this time brought about a real change in the scene.

In an instant, the two were pulled from the top of the pyramid to the royal family's resting cemetery.

Here, all the dead will fall into eternal slumber, and no one will be able to disturb their sleep.

"The effect of [Valley of Royal Sleep] is a permanent effect and will not chain."

"As long as this card is in the Field Zone, neither player can banish cards from the Graveyard, and any effects that affect cards in the Graveyard are negated and cannot be applied."

"Furthermore, all ATK and DEF of the 'Gravekeeper' monsters on the field will increase by 500."

As the surrounding scenery is replaced by the Valley of the Royal Rest, or the Royal Mausoleum, under the setting sun, the attributes of the [Tomb Guardian] are further enhanced.

(【The Tomb Guardian】Attack 2900/Defense 2900 → Attack 3400/Defense 3400)

This time, in this moment alone, he surpassed the legend!

"The second effect of [The Gravekeeper] ensures that neither the caster nor the area-of-effect spells are destroyed by other effects..."

"Then, I activate the third effect of [Gravekeeper's Ability]: During the End Phase of this turn, add 1 [Gravekeeper] monster or 1 [Royal Valley of the Slumber] card from my Deck to my hand."

"Hey? Is this still going on? This guy really knows how to pull off some crazy things!"

At the bottom of the canyon, Jaden Yuki, who had finally woken up from his coma after being attacked by the small fists of the Winged Kuriboh, watched the entire Grand Priest's operation.

Seeing that he didn't seem to be planning to end his turn, Jaden Yuki couldn't help but complain.

"...Yusei, do your best!" Part of the stone coffin had been closed, and with the clouds obscuring the view, Asuka could no longer see Yusei's condition from her angle.

At this moment, all she could do was pray for Yusei in her heart, hoping that he would achieve final victory.

This young man, who constantly surprises himself, always manages to create all sorts of miracles...

As Asuka recalled the scene of her first meeting with Yusei, a slight smile crept onto her lips.

Although they are facing a life-or-death crisis, for some reason, after seeing Yusei fight for them, Asuka feels a strange emotion.

Perhaps, this indescribable feeling is precisely why she fell in love with Youxing...

“Yusei… In this dark duel, I will be able to see all the power you are dormant…” Holding the Pharaoh, the bandaged master Daitokuji looked deeply in the direction of Yusei outside the stone coffin.

He suddenly uttered a seemingly profound sentence in a low voice.

"Hmph! Young man... are you ready? Now it's officially beginning!" After activating the Field Spell Card, the High Priest pulled out another card from his hand and placed it on the Duel Disk: "Spell Card [Royal Sacrifice] activated!"

"...Holy crap!" Upon seeing the Grand Priest activate the magic card, Yusei immediately swore.

No wonder he chose to deploy his power first, summoning his ace monster, and then unleash his ultimate attack...

So that's what you were planning!

"The card 【Royal Sacrifice】 can only be activated when 【Royal Valley of the Slumber】 is on the field. According to the effect of this card, both players must send monsters from their hands to the Graveyard."

The high priest said this, but made no move with his hands.

"I have one card left in my hand, and it's not a monster card." The Grand Priest shook the last card in his hand and smiled at Yusei.