Is this the poker world?Ada thief!

Chapter 1686 Let's Give Each Other a Hug
【Caltesia, the Saintess of Hell】has the ability to "add this card from the Graveyard to your hand during the End Phase if a Fusion Monster is sent to your Graveyard", but Hayato did not activate it once in the previous two turns, even though the activation conditions were met.

The reason is simple. During his first turn, Hayato played [Nightmare Mirage], so he naturally wanted to draw an extra card and didn't want to put it back in his hand. At the end of Yubel's turn, Hayato, who had two [Tears of the Goddess] in his hand, could immediately use [Nightmare Mirage] to randomly discard two cards. So naturally, he didn't want to let [Saintess of Hell - Caltesia] into his hand. What if he didn't discard [Tears of the Goddess] but instead discarded her?
But now, after sleeping in the cemetery for two rounds, it's finally her chance to show herself!

Beside Hayato, a white-haired girl dressed in a wedding gown-like outfit of ominous black and red gradually materialized from her illusory form. Meanwhile, from the vortex of ocean currents that had been absorbed by the [Tears of Elegy Clan - Siren Mermaid], a giant wooden dragon with branches resembling fruit-laden branches, and upon closer inspection revealing arms growing from its own body from the tormented struggle of its inhabitants, slowly emerged!
(In the setting, it is a monster formed by the gathering of 666 saintesses, a dragon form that is like asking "Who are you looking for?" / "Who the hell are you looking for?" I wonder when the Marking animation will be able to include this part of the story.)

(The dragon form in the design draft before the giant puppet was released was extremely rough)
"O messenger of hell who wields the hand of fate, step onto this stage of destiny that no one can predict! Open the curtain of the stage in the empty darkness!"

"Fusion Summon, Level 8☆!"

"Ave-Mujica (Solar Doll), [Heyan Dragon - Giant Puppet Theater Dragon]!"

[Hayato Kobayashi: 2000LP, hand 0→1]

【Ice Sword Dragon - Phantom Ice Dragon】【ATK3000】

【The Lament of the Pearl-Tear Clan - Lusaka Mermaid】【ATK3000】

【Heryan Dragon - Giant Puppet Theater Dragon】【8☆/Light】

[Mage Race/Fusion/Effect]

[2500/2500]

Backcourt: [Nightmare of the Mirage]

As the towering wooden dragon descended, the wings behind it, resembling the stained-glass windows of a cathedral, suddenly shattered, their colorful glass wings completely crumbling into dust that fell like rain and mist.

"The Grand-Guignol, named after a theater in Paris, often used puppets to perform negative themes including but not limited to infanticide, horror, revenge, and murder. The Grand-Guignol also possesses the power of wrongful death and slaughter."

"This effect can only be activated when [Herrscher Dragon - Great Puppet Theater Dragon] is Fusion Summoned. Send one Level 6 or higher LIGHT or DARK monster from my Deck or Extra Deck to the Graveyard. However, before that, the second effect of the Continuous Trap Card [Eternal Elegy - Echoing Lament], which was sent to the Graveyard by the effect of [Tearful Lament-Type - Lusaka Mermaid], will also activate, adding one [Tearful Lament-Type] monster from my Deck to my hand."

C1 [He Yan Dragon - Great Puppet Theater Dragon] C2 [One Life Evil - The Elegy Played], Yubel had exhausted all her means in the previous two rounds of battle, leaving her with only this last card in her hand. Now, she was powerless to interfere in Hayato's actions to stop him, and could only watch helplessly as Hayato operated and let him unfold as he pleased.

"I add the [Tears of Elegy Mermaid] from my Deck that hasn't activated its effect this turn to my hand. Then, I send this Level 6 DARK monster [Wings of Destiny - Garuda] from my Extra Deck to the Graveyard using the effect of [Herrscher Dragon - Great Puppet Theater Dragon], thereby triggering the effect of [Wings of Destiny - Garuda]."

"This card can only be activated if it is sent to the Graveyard. I draw a card from my Deck."

[Hayato Kobayashi: 2000LP, hand 1→2→3]

Glancing at his Extra Deck, which was nearly empty after a series of plays, Hayato waved his hand and said, "The play ends here. With the monsters on my field, I can end this duel. So I'll end Main Phase 1 and move on to my Battle Phase!"

"First, there's the direct attack from the [Tears of Elegy Clan - Rusaka Mermaid]!"

"Hard Vortex Water Blade!"

Without even using the newly acquired [Tears of Elegy - Mermaid], Hayato attacked Yubel with the monsters on the field.

After all, at this moment, Yubel had no monsters or face-down cards on the field. He had his 4000 Life Points completely exposed in front of Hayato, allowing him to attack them at will. Hayato, on the other hand, had two monsters with 3000 ATK each on the field, which was more than enough to wipe out Yubel's Life Points.

"You just attack like that, Kobayashi Hayato? You even said you knew everything about my monster effects, but I added the [Yubel Spirit] card to my hand right in front of you." Yubel sneered as she played her card upon hearing Hayato's attack declaration. "Oh, right, you probably thought [Yubel Spirit] only had a few effects, didn't you?"

"The ability to absorb damage that cannot be destroyed in battle and reduces the battle damage I receive to 0; the ability to search for a Spell/Trap Card with the name [Yubel] in my hand or set on the field if it is successfully Special Summoned; and the ability to evolve a single [Yubel] card by Special Summoning it from the field if it is destroyed."

"—But! The power of [Yubel the Fairy] isn't three, it's four! The final, and my own first effect, can only be activated when the opponent's monster declares an attack, Special Summoning [Yubel the Fairy] from my hand!"

Just like Jaden's [Neuro Spirit] can be Special Summoned from the hand when the opponent's monster declares an attack, [Yubel Spirit] not only imitates the pose but also the effect. Considering its second effect of searching cards, it really is the same as [Neuro Spirit].

【Yubel Elf】【10☆/Dark】

[Demon Race/Effect]

[0/0]

"This can only be activated if [Yubel the Spirit] is Special Summoned. I can add one Spell/Trap Card with [Yubel]'s name from my Deck to my hand or Set it on my field. I will add this [Nightmare Pain] to my hand." Unaware of what Hayato was thinking, Yubel chose to add the card to her hand, since leaving it on the field might allow Hayato to destroy it with some other card later.

"And because I Special Summon a monster on my field, triggering a battle reversal, are you still going to attack me with [Tearful Lamenter - Rusaka Mermaid]?" Yubel taunted Hayato. "I Special Summoned myself on the field in Defense Position, and I have an effect that cannot be destroyed by battle. Even if I have the ability to pierce through defense, it's completely useless against me!"

"An ability that can't be destroyed by battle, and an ability to evolve into [Yubel] after being destroyed by an effect? ​​That's strong, too strong. You're invincible then." Hayato exclaimed, but Yubel found something wrong with what he said. "If I didn't know, I would have thought that your effect was actually unaffected by other card effects and couldn't be released."

"If, and I mean if—I were to banish your [Yubel Spirit] from the field, wouldn't you be in trouble?"

It was precisely because of the striking similarity between [Yubel Fairy] and [Neuro Fairy] that Hayato, despite having already confirmed [Yubel Fairy]'s three effects, continued to act with the speculation that "she might have a fourth effect," and now Yubel's special summon has indeed confirmed this.

It was because of this conjecture that Hayato had not used the effect of his [Ice Sword Dragon - Phantom Ice Dragon] in the previous turns.

"Once during both players' turns, I can send a Fusion Monster made with Albus's Fallen Blood as Fusion Material from my Extra Deck to the Graveyard to activate the effect of IceSword Dragon - Phantom Ice Dragon. After this effect is used, IceSword Dragon - Phantom Ice Dragon cannot use this effect for the next turn, which is a power that can only be used once every two turns."

Before the attack of [Tears of Elegy - Rusaka Mermaid] could resume, Hayato waved his hand and said, "I'm sending this [Abyss Dragon - White World Reincarnation Dragon] from my Fusion Deck to the Graveyard!"

"Remove one monster from the field! This effect doesn't target, and the monster I've chosen is naturally your only monster on the field, [Yubel Elf]!"

Hayato plunged the four ice swords imbued with special power around him into the ground around [Yubel Elf], forming an ice sword cage. Hayato's [Ice Sword Dragon - Phantom Ice Dragon] on the field stretched out its claws and clenched them together in front of its chest. The freezing power accumulated within the ice sword cage instantly erupted, completely filling the internal space with sharp ice spikes!

Not only was it destroyed and sent to the graveyard, the card that the Defense Position [Yubel Elf] stepped on was pierced to pieces by the ice sword, and Yubel himself was forced back to the field by the burst of cold air, watching helplessly as his last defensive measure failed.

The next moment, the long-awaited [Tears of Elegy Clan - Rusaka Mermaid] suddenly swung her longsword, cleaving the ice cage in two with a sword aura formed by a stream of water. The shattered ice and the rushing water crashed into Yubel's body!

"Grr?!"

[Yubel: 4000→1000LP, Hand 1→1]

Due to the attack from the [Tears of Elegy Clan - Rusaka Mermaid], Yubel's entire body was sent flying and embedded in the wall. The excessive impact broke the wings on her back, and intense pain filled her brain.

But this is not the end; the real end is yet to come.

"The final, direct attack from [Herrscher Dragon - Giant Puppet Theater Dragon]!"

(Personally, I think the most beautiful part of the design of the Heryan Dragon is that the saintess in front and the dragon behind are connected. The artist described it as "a Russian doll scene where the knight is embraced by the saintess, then Quim gently wraps her up, and then Quiritis wraps the saintess up.")
The colossal, hundred-armed structure, resembling both a dragon and an insect, slowly dragged itself along its four main arms to Yubel, who was embedded in the wall. The [Saintess of Hell - Caltesia], connected to the dragon's body, approached Yubel with a face identical to that of the [Saintess of Guidance - Acrisia], only appearing more terrifying due to her bloodless skin and alluring red eyes.

Since her appearance, she has uttered her first words: "You are extreme for love, moved by pain, a contradictory existence like a beast and a human. Although you are our enemy, we think you are not bad."

With her sword casually tossed to the ground, [Saintess of Hell - Caltesia] smiled gently and extended her hand: "For someone like you who can't distinguish between love and pain, the best way is indeed... let's embrace~"

From Hayato's perspective, [Saintess of Hell - Caltesia] only gently embraced Yubel's body, but to Yubel, it was completely different. She saw countless pale hands emerging from under [Saintess of Hell - Caltesia]'s clothes, her body, and even from the flowing white hair behind her, tightly gripping her. At the same time, the moment each hand touched her, the malice and resentment contained within it constantly assaulted her brain!
"Ohhhhhhh!"

The excruciating pain eroded Yubel's will, making her already shattered mind even more fragmented. She could no longer even switch between sensations, as pure pain had filled her entire brain.

Under the attack of [Hey Dragon - Great Puppet Theater Dragon], Yubel, who was being held by [Hey Saintess - Caltesia], seemed to have come into contact with some corrosive liquid. Her original body was rapidly melting, and along with her body, her basic points were also being reduced!

[Ubel: 1000LP→0]

Even without the Ice Sword Dragon - Phantom Ice Dragon itself taking action, Yubel's life points were wiped out by Hayato's two direct attacks!
"Sigh, I miscalculated. I subconsciously set up the match based on my opponent's base score of 8000 points, and ended up killing him with only 5500 points of damage." The victory wasn't the end of it. As his body rapidly disappeared, Hayato feigned regret and mocked, "Because I was unusually serious."

"Seriously?" Glancing at the three cards clutched in Hayato's drooping hand—besides the revealed [Tears of Elegy Clan - Mermaid of the Pearl], there was also a [Master Deduction] and a Quick-Play Spell Card [Super Polymerization]—Yuber, whose head was already beginning to disappear and who was forced to refill the void in his body as an energy form, was tormented by persistent and even intensifying pain, lying motionless on the ground. He looked at Hayato and managed to say, "S-Stop joking!"

"You're just treating this duel with me like a game!"

"Ah, I've been exposed. Well, I had high hopes for your deck at first, especially since you said before the duel that you had obtained the remnants of 'Light of Destruction' and evolved new power, which made me subconsciously think that you were going to start showing me coffins of men and women with your Light attribute Fiends."

Speaking in a way that Yubel couldn't understand, Hayato shrugged, "So this is what happens after the duel starts? I should have known better than to use such a 'weak' deck like [Tears of the Goddess]."

"Hey Amon, I've already finished my card game, and you still haven't taken that bracelet off?" Hayato called out Amon Garlem's name when he saw Garlem looking dazed.

　Alas, divine bow

　　Sigh, 67
　　
　
(End of this chapter)