Is this the poker world?Ada thief!

[Steel Flame Swordsman] [6☆/Flame]

[Machine → Undead/Special Summon/Effect]

[2500/1600]

"From Red-Eyes to Swordsman of Fire? They actually connected three card series!" Tachibana looked at the monsters in Jonouchi in surprise, "But my Death Lord has a higher attack power!"

"Hehe, let me make a bold statement here. The attack power of the Duel Monster is not the key to winning the Duel." Jonouchi removed the [Metalized Steel Flame Armor] card from the Duel Disk and inserted it back into the Magic Trap Area face up. "And [Metalized Steel Flame Armor] is similar to [Metalized Enhanced Reflective Armor]. It will also be equipped to the monster after the Special Summon."

"As for the effect of Metallized Steel Armor as an Equipment Card, if the equipped monster is destroyed by battle or an effect, you can send this card to the Graveyard instead."

"And, equip the Spell Card [Meteor Direct] to [Steel Flame Swordsman], so that when it attacks a monster in Defense Position, if the attack power exceeds the defense power, inflict that amount of battle damage to the opponent."

On Ikkaku Tachibana's field, the only monster in defense position is [Necromancer - Evil Eyes], which has a defense of 2000 points. If [Steel Flame Swordsman] attacks it, it will cause 500 points of combat damage to Ikkaku Tachibana.

"But even if you equip [Meteor Direct], it won't work, right? Because of [Provocation], your monster won't be able to attack my other monsters until the [Death Lord] on my field is destroyed."

As soon as Tachibana Ikkaku finished speaking, Jonouchi said, "That's right, so my [Steel Flame Swordsman] only needs to deal with [Death King - Evil Eye], and he will deal with the [Death Lord]."

As he said this, he took out another card in his hand, "I banish the Equip Magic Card [Flying Dragon Flame] in my Graveyard to activate the effect of this card in my hand and Special Summon [Mighty Phoenix Swordmaster - Kia Freed] from my hand with its own effect!"

[Mighty Phoenix Sword Saint - Kia Freed] [9☆/Flame]

[Warrior → Undead/Effect]

[3000/2200]

The mighty swordsman appeared in the inner court of the castle. Although he was still corroded by the aura of the undead from the [Undead World] in the first place, at least because of the existence of the armor, there was no obvious change on the outside.

"That's it. I'm entering my battle phase. Then I'm going to use [Mighty Phoenix Swordmaster - Kiya Freed] to attack [Death Lord]!"

Hearing what Jonouchi said, Tachibana Ikkaku was stunned: "Let two monsters with 3000 attack points each fight? Although the two monsters will die together in the end, my [Death Lord] will be Special Summoned again from the Graveyard at the End Phase of the turn destroyed by the battle!"

“No, I don’t intend to let [Mighty Phoenix Sword Saint - Kia Freed] perish together with your monster. The only one who will be destroyed in the end is your [Lord of Death].”

Even as Jonouchi was talking, the [Lord of Death] and [Mighty Phoenix Sword Saint - Kia Freed] had already started a sword fight, using sickles and shields at the same time, the fight was so intense that it seemed that they would both die in the end.

But at this moment, the [Red-Eyes Black Heavy Steel Dragon] that was taken away by Tachibana Ikkaku suddenly roared, as if saying "I'm here to help you", and suddenly rushed into the field and merged into the body of [Mighty Phoenix Sword Saint - Kia Freed], causing its power to suddenly increase!

"From a dull [Iron Knight], to a [Shirtless Sword Master] who broke free from his restraints, to a [Phoenix Sword Master] who picked up his sword again, [Kia Freed] evolved to the current [Mighty Phoenix Sword Master - Kia Freed] by constantly improving himself. His use of weapons, or equipment cards, has reached a superb level."

Jonouchi explained the effect and pointed at Tachibana Ikkaku, "At the beginning of the Damage Step of [Mighty Phoenix Swordmaster - Kia Freed]'s attack, you can activate its second effect. Choose a face-up monster on the field other than this card and equip it as an Equipment Card that increases its ATK by 500 points. You can only equip one monster with this effect."

"And now is the best time to take back my [Red-Eyes], come back to me, [Red-Eyes Black Heavy Steel Dragon]!"

[Mighty Phoenix Swordmaster - Kia Freed] (Red-Eyes Black Steel Dragon) [ATK 3000 → 3500]

"Then, defeat the Death Lord!" Jonouchi waved his hand, "God-controlled Phoenix!"

The growth of one side's strength also means that the other side will be suppressed. The [Lord of Death] who was able to fight back and forth with [Mighty Phoenix Sword Saint - Kia Fried] just now was blocked by a perfect block of his scythe in the blink of an eye. [Mighty Phoenix Sword Saint - Kia Fried] seized the opportunity and used a shield poke to hit him with a finishing move!

"Pfft!"

[Orange corner: 1900→1400LP, 6 cards in hand]

The Death Lord, whose body was pierced, had a black mist that looked like blood gushing out of his body. It disappeared from Tachibana Ikkaku's field and was successfully destroyed and sent to the graveyard. While Tachibana Ikkaku's basic points decreased as a result, Jonouchi once again commanded the monsters to attack, saying, "Next, it's the Steel Flame Swordsman's attack! Destroy the Death King - Evil Eye!"

"Fire Slash within the City!"

The card [Mighty Phoenix Swordmaster - Kia Freed] is not unique to Jonouchi, it has also been used by Baron and [Sword King War - Frode]. Although [Sword King War - Frode], which is based on Jonouchi's duel data, has the same talent in naming as Jonouchi, Baron still knows how to name it compared to the two of them. The name of the attack move "God-controlled Phoenix" just now was borrowed by Jonouchi from Baron.

However, when it came to [Steel and Flame Swordsman], Jonouchi's weird talent for naming was exposed again. The seemingly mighty mechanical knight could only bear such a difficult name, wielding a steel sword wrapped in flames to slash at the [Necromancer - Evil Eye] on guard, and defeated it.

And because of that [Meteor Direct], Ikkaku Tachibana suffered another 500 points of combat damage!

[Orange corner: 1400→900LP, 6 cards in hand]

"As expected of a legendary Duelist, Jonouchi Katsuya!" Looking at his remaining three-digit Basic Points, Tachibana Ikkaku exclaimed, "You actually managed to break through all the monsters on my field in one turn, and deployed a very strong lineup."

"However, I still have 900 basic points left. If you don't have a card like [Psychic Ectoplasm] that can cause a lot of effect damage, then the next stage will be for me and my deck!"

However, facing Tachibana Ikkaku's gaze, Jonouchi shook his head and said, "No, the duel is actually over."

"I end my battle phase, then set down a card, and my turn ends just like that." Without further elaboration, Jonouchi simply declared the end of his turn.

[Jouchi Katsuya: 1200LP, hand 1→0]

[Mighty Phoenix Sword Saint - Kia Freed] (Red-Eyes Black Heavy Steel Dragon) [ATK 3500]

[Steel Flame Swordsman] [ATK2500]

【Gaika】

"Then, at the end of this turn destroyed by battle, the effect of [Death Lord] is activated, and it is Special Summoned from the Graveyard to the field again, with 3000 attack points, and it cannot be destroyed by card effects." After telling Ikkaku Tachibana about the effect of [Death Lord] in his graveyard, Jonouchi paused and pointed at [Steel Swordsman] on his field, "And my [Steel Swordsman] is waiting for this moment!" In Ikkaku Tachibana's graveyard, [Death Lord] tried to revive from the graveyard just like in the previous turn, and he was successfully resurrected, but just as he returned to the field again, Jonouchi's [Steel Swordsman] raised his arm, and the arm armor suddenly transformed into a dragon head, and suddenly spit out a burst of flames? !

"As long as [Steel Flame Swordsman] exists in the monster zone, every time the opponent activates its effect, [Steel Flame Swordsman]'s attack power will increase by 300 points, and the opponent will be dealt 500 points of effect damage!"

"boom!"

The raging flames rolled in like a wave, engulfing the [Lord of Death]!

([Death Lord]: You said you would burn my blood, why did you attack me?)

[Orange corner: 900→400LP, 6 cards in hand]

[Steel Flame Swordsman] [ATK2500→2800]

Although the already few basic points were reduced again, and the [Steel Flame Swordsman] on the castle grounds suddenly possessed the same attack power as the previous [Phantom Flame Swordsman], Tachibana Ikkaku noticed another point.

"Because the effect of [Steel Blade] is a permanent effect that does not need to be activated, no matter which card effect I use, it will immediately increase the attack power and give me effect damage. In other words, now that my basic points have dropped to 400 points, I have lost the ability to use card effects?"

"Even if it's a card like Hayato's [Super Fusion] that can't be chained by monster effects, [Steel Swordsman] can still respond to its activation and deduct your basic points." Jonouchi thought for a moment and replied, "The only way to deal with it is probably a monster like [Turtle Beast - Gamesiel] or [Lava Golem] that can directly release my [Steel Swordsman] without activating it, right?"

"Just as the name implies, this duel has been declared over. Even if you have [Dead King - Evil Eye] in your graveyard that can revive itself during the preparation phase of both parties, the moment its effect is activated, [Steel Flame Swordsman] will clear your basic points."

"It's true. It's an unsolvable situation." Tachibana Ikkaku realized the gap between himself and Jonouchi. Although he now has a hand of cards, he can't play any of them.

But even so, he still put his finger on the deck and said, "But I will still fight to the end with the deck I trust. It's my turn, draw a card!"

Using that awkward posture, Ikkaku used his left hand to draw a card from the deck.

"Nice try!" Jonouchi, who is not very good at English, has learned some common phrases over the years because of participating in the World Championships for many years. "I think so too. Wouldn't it be a pity to lose the duel under such circumstances? So let me use this cover card to help you!"

"Open the trap card, [Prophecy of Reincarnation]!"

During Ikkaku Tachibana's preparation phase, Jonouchi activated the cover card in his backfield, and a beam of light enveloped the two cards in Ikkaku Tachibana's graveyard, taking them out and returning them to Ikkaku Tachibana's deck for shuffling.

"You can activate [Prophecy of Reincarnation] by targeting two cards in both parties' graveyards. Under the effect of this card, those cards are returned to their respective owners' decks." Facing Tachibana's puzzled gaze, Jonouchi explained, "And the cards I will return to your deck for you are [Necromancer - Evil Eyes] and [One Hit Kill! Iai Draw]."

"Now, help me put the [One-hit kill! Iai draw] card back into the deck?"

Tachibana Ikkaku was stunned for a moment, then suddenly thought of something and lowered his head to check the card he had just drawn.

"Because, now is the best time, right?" Jonouchi looked at the surprised Tachibana Ikkaku as if he had expected it, "Believe in the card, there will be a reward in the end, right?"

"This is truly... the most appropriate ending to the duel." Looking at the magic card in his hand, Tachibana Ikkaku smiled happily. Wasn't that the trump card of his deck - the third card in the deck [One-hit kill! Iai card draw]?

Drawing this card alone is meaningless, because Tachibana Ikkaku has already sent two [One Hit Kill! Iai Draw Card] to the graveyard, and this [One Hit Kill! Iai Draw Card] in his hand has become a decoration because there are no other [One Hit Kill! Iai Draw Card] in the deck. However, with the support of Jonouchi's [Prophecy of Reincarnation], the situation is different.

"Did he draw [One Hit Kill! Iai Draw]?" Because of the angle, Kitamori Reiko and Madoka could clearly see the card that Tachibana Ikkaku drew as spectators, but Kitamori Reiko couldn't understand, "But no matter if there is another [One Hit Kill! Iai Draw] in Tachibana Ikkaku's deck, Jonouchi's [Steel Blade] will affect the opponent's basic points the moment it is activated, right?"

"Hehe, I really understand men better in this regard." With the demeanor of a senior, Kongquewu explained to Kitamori Reiko, "At this point in the duel, the outcome is no longer important. Although it's not the same meaning, what the kid named Tachibana Ikkaku said at the beginning of the duel is absolutely correct, 'This is a trial, a trial from the past'."

"Yes, it is a test to get rid of the past and embrace the future!"

"So, are you ready to activate it, Tachibana Ikkaku?" Jonouchi asked, looking at the boy opposite him, "Let me see the reborn One-Hit Kill deck that truly belongs to you!"

"I wish for it, no, it should be so!" Without worrying that his basic points would be cleared after this attack, Tachibana Ikkaku casually sent the [Magic Regeneration] in his hand to the graveyard and played the [One Hit Kill! Iai Draw] in his hand, "Please lend me your power once more, my deck, come with me to see the vastness of the world!"

"Discard a card from hand, activate the magic card [One Hit Kill! Iai Draw]!"

At the moment the card was activated, the flames of [Steel Flame Swordsman] were released, sweeping across Ikkaku Tachibana's field. However, despite the blazing fire, Ikkaku Tachibana continued to operate and took out several cards from the top of the deck: "Send the number of cards on the opponent's field from my deck to the graveyard, and then draw a card. At this moment, the opponent has five cards on the field, and I will send five cards from my deck to the graveyard!"

【橘一角：400LP→0，手牌6→7→5】

Although Ikkaku Tachibana's basic points have been reduced to zero, neither Jonouchi nor Ikkaku Tachibana intend to stop the duel, and the virtual projection system is kept in operation, with flames converging on Ikkaku Tachibana's deck.

After the activation of [One Hit Kill! Iai Card Draw], there were still fifteen cards left in Tachibana Ikkaku's deck, of which only one [One Hit Kill! Iai Card Draw] existed. The probability of accurately drawing it in this draw was less than 7%, but Tachibana Ikkaku firmly believed in what Jonouchi said just now. As long as he had faith in the deck, then the probability of his deck responding to him was -

Up to 1000%!

"Draw!"

As Tachibana Ikkaku drew the card, white light bloomed along the path of the card in the air, just like the knife marks left by a peerless swordsman. And the card he drew was the one that just returned to the deck, [One-hit kill! Iai draw card]!

The previous card drawing could perhaps be explained by the fact that Ikkaku Tachibana first let the "God of Death" adjust the order of the cards and then abandoned the "Power of Death" to draw cards, but the card drawing at this moment is a real proof of the bond between Ikkaku Tachibana and the deck!

The sword energy swept across, and together with the flames of the [Steel Flame Swordsman], it hit the [Lord of Death] between Jonouchi and Ikkaku Tachibana, completely tearing it apart and burning it!

However, of course, because the duel ended long before [One Hit Kill! Iai Draw] could take effect, it failed to reach Jonouchi's field, and the flames around Tachibana Ikkaku were split to the sides after this slash and completely dissipated.

Tachibana Ikkaku himself fell on his back on the ground, but there was no expression of pain on his face, only satisfaction and joy from the bottom of his heart.

"What should you say at a time like this?" Jonouchi raised two fingers and made a "yeah" gesture. "What an interesting duel!"

"Ah, I enjoyed an interesting duel as well."

Raising his finger in response, the skull tattoo on the back of Tachibana Ikkaku's hand dissipated with the wind. He looked at his deck that had been blown up in the impact and was now floating in the air, tears streaming from his eyes without dark circles: "I love you, my deck."

"I will continue to count on you from now on." (End of this chapter)