"My turn. Draw."
Kira slotted a card into his back row.
"Spell Card ’Advance Draw’. I tribute a Level 8 or higher monster I control, and draw two cards."
He pointed to the steel giant Yubel had "gifted" him.
"I tribute ’Grinder Golem’ and draw two."
Grinder Golem was engulfed in golden light. Bit by bit it disintegrated, until it fully broke down into countless specks that gathered above Kira’s Deck.
Kira drew two cards.
"Hmph. A monster I went out of my way to give you," Yubel scoffed. "Ungrateful."
Kira just smiled.
"I activate the Spell Card ’Gladiator Proving Ground’," Kira said. "Add 1 Level 4 or lower ’Gladiator Beast’ monster from my Deck to my hand.
I add this card—"
He took the card that slid out of the Deck.
"Gladiator Beast Murmillo, which returned to the Deck automatically at the end of last turn."
Yubel frowned. "That thing again."
A nuisance: a low-level monster, but with the ability to blow up a card when summoned by Gladiator Beast effect.
But... nothing to fear.
Yubel glanced at her huge, imposing dragon body and snorted inwardly.
You want to keep blowing up my monsters?
Fine. Do it.
After you destroy the vessel of Terror Incarnate, you’ll understand: you’ll be the one who personally unleashes the strongest, most terrifying demon of all.
Trying to remove me, Yubel, with destruction? Laughable.
Now that I’ve returned from beyond the stars, the thing I fear least is "blowing up."
"Effect of Test Tiger in my hand," Kira said. "If I control a monster with ’Gladiator Beast’ in its name, I can Special Summon this card.
I control Gladiator Beast Augustus, so I Special Summon Test Tiger from my hand.
Come—Test Tiger!"
The small tiger—always working overtime despite not having "Gladiator Beast" in its name—hopped onto the field. It looked listless, covered its mouth with a paw, and yawned.
[Test Tiger, ATK 600]
"Then I tribute Test Tiger, and return my Gladiator Beast on the field to the Deck, to Special Summon a monster with ’Gladiator Beast’ in its name from my Deck," Kira said.
"I tribute Test Tiger and return Gladiator Beast Augustus on my field to the Deck!"
The little tiger lazily waved a paw, yawned again, then dissolved into golden light.
Its work attitude didn’t seem very enthusiastic.
Augustus was likewise wrapped in light and flew back into Kira’s Deck.
"I return Augustus to the Deck, then Special Summon from the Deck—"
Kira slid the card into the Deck. The Duel Disk automatically shuffled, then another card popped out. He took it and smiled softly.
"Special Summon Gladiator Beast Augustus!"
Yubel: "?"

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