Chapter 72: Reclaiming the Glory of the EARTH Attribute, We Are Duty-Bound!
[Goblin Zombie] [Level 4/Dark]
[Zombie/Effect]
[1100/1050]
"Although its ATK has decreased, the combined ATK of [Newt] and [Goblin Zombie] is still a full 2500 points. Become fertilizer, Hayato Kobayashi!" Bakura struck a Face Art that would make even Marik impressed. "Then, the [Millennium Eye] on you will be mine!"
"Is it really as simple as you think?" Hayato snorted coldly. "Responding to [Newt]'s Attack, I Activate my Set Card!"
"It's the invincible [Sakuretsu Armor]!"
[Newt] endured the incessant chatter of "another self" in its ear, rushing forward towards Hayato. Its giant axe was just raised, but before it could swing it down, its yellow armor suddenly detonated, instantly blasting it into nothingness.
Hayato's [Newt], due to the disappearance of the entity it was possessing, its blue body returned to Hayato's side. It didn't rush back to the Graveyard, but stood behind Hayato, striking a rather "calm" pose with him, as if saying something like "[Newt] has already touched that Monster."
Hayato, feeling incredibly pleased after successfully Activating [Sakuretsu Armor], laughed smugly: "The distance between us is like a mountain. Come closer if you dare, because you'll find that while it seems close at hand, the gap is actually as far as the horizon!"
"Don't get smug!" Bakura responded unhappily. "Although [Newt] was Destroyed, [Goblin Zombie] can still make a Direct Attack!"
"Then I'll use this!" A rainbow-like light shone from the Graveyard zone of Hayato's Duel Disk. "When your Monster makes a Direct Attack, I Activate the Effect of [Rainbow Kuriboh] in the Graveyard, and Special Summon it to my Field!"
"Protect me, Partner!"
"Kuriboh~"
A band of rainbow light extended directly from the Graveyard to in front of Hayato, forming a large wall of seven colors before him. Behind the wall, the figure of [Rainbow Kuriboh] appeared. The moment [Goblin Zombie]'s long blade struck the rainbow wall, it threw its Body forward to meet it.
"Boom!"
Because its own Defense (DEF) was very weak, [Rainbow Kuriboh] ultimately couldn't survive the Attack and was Destroyed by a single strike, turning into a puff of smoke, but it ensured that Hayato didn't take any damage.
"When [Rainbow Kuriboh] Summoned by this Effect is Destroyed, it is Banished from the game."
"I really owe you, Partner. You sacrificed yourself for me. Rest for a while." Watching [Rainbow Kuriboh]'s Card dissipate and temporarily disappear from the game, Hayato thanked it, then turned and glared angrily at Bakura. "To think you would take my Partner away from me! This is unforgivable, Bakura!"
"What does that have to do with me?! Didn't you Activate the Effect of that Small Fry yourself?!" Bakura didn't indulge Hayato either. Although he was the Great Evil God, if it wasn't his fault, he would never take the blame. "My Turn End!"
[Bakura: 4000 LP, Hand 0]
[Goblin Zombie] [ATK 1100]
"Then it's my Turn, Draw a Card!" Hayato drew a Card, pretending not to hear Bakura's protest: "I Activate the Set Card on my Field, [Joint Struggle]!"
"By Discarding one Monster from my Hand, I can make the ATK and Defense (DEF) of one Monster on the Field become the same value as the Discarded Monster." From hand drew a monster card, Hayato sent it to the Graveyard. "The Monster I will Discard is this one, [Swordsman of Landstar]!"
From Hayato's Graveyard, the Soul of a fairy swordsman with a round head, round brain, and round belly flew out and slammed into the Body of [Goblin Zombie] on Bakura's Field. [Goblin Zombie] in the integration of the Soul of [Swordsman of Landstar] after instant lively, like a living creature moved the body a couple of times, also holding a battle knife swung a few times.
However, its stats proved that the integration of [Swordsman of Landstar]'s Soul did not mean it became stronger; an unsuitable Soul would only lead to a decrease in Battle Power, just like a certain giant who swallowed a straw hat's soul.
[Goblin Zombie] [ATK 1100→500] [DEF 1050→1200]
Bakura looked at the Monster on his Field that had been possessed by Hayato's Monster yet again, and couldn't help but feel puzzled: Wait a minute, I remember I'm the one with the Dark Deck, so why does that guy's Deck on the other side feel even more Shady (playstyle)? It's all Souls and possessions.
"Because [Swordsman of Landstar] was sent to the Graveyard, Bakura, I've already figured out the Equation for Victory!" Hayato drew a Card from his Hand. "In my Graveyard, I have now Assembled five EARTH Attribute Monsters, so I can directly Special Summon this Card!"
"Special Summon by Effect!?" No, when did you Assemble five EARTH Attribute Monsters?!
Hayato smiled: "You're not the only one who used [Card Destruction]. At that time, without exception, all the Monsters in my Hand were EARTH Attribute."
"[Man-Eater Bug], [Gatekeeper], [The Judgement Hand], [Gaia The Fierce Knight], and [Swordsman of Landstar] which was just sent to the Graveyard! Everyone, gather your Power!"
From Hayato's Graveyard, five Light Clusters of Soul floated out, each corresponding to one of the five Monsters whose names Hayato had just called out. Before Bakura could Rant about how there was another Soul when [Swordsman of Landstar] was clearly still possessing [Goblin Zombie], the five Light Clusters of Soul collided, transforming into a massive Light Cluster.
"The gathered Power will turn into lightning, shattering everything blocking the path ahead, and forge a path of light! Special Summon, [Grandsoil the Elemental Lord]!"
The Light Cluster was dazzling, but the mere light could hardly conceal the colossal Body of the being that Appeared after gathering five Souls. Its two feet stomped heavily on the ground, sending tremors that could almost shake the earth's crust, and a towering rock giant appeared behind Hayato.
[Grandsoil the Elemental Lord] [Level 8/EARTH]
[Beast-Warrior/Special Summon/Effect]
[2800/2200]
Standing like a Titan giant from ancient times, Bakura could swear that among all the Duel Monsters he had seen since waking up, none had an Aura that could compare to the being before him, not even the [Blue-Eyes White Dragon] that Kaiba had Summoned, which he had secretly observed: "How can such a Monster exist?! This isn't a Duel Monster at all!"
"It's not a Monster, it's a Kami!" Hayato's hair stood on end from the updraft around him due to [Grandsoil the Elemental Lord]'s Appearance. "Wealth returns to the earth, and so do the souls of the dead. As a deity governing the earth, [Grandsoil the Elemental Lord] can revive any Monster in the Graveyard, whether yours or mine!"
"Appear here, my most loyal Servant, the Dark Knight—"
"Ga—ia——!!!"