Is this the poker world?Ada thief!

Chapter 1690 Mysterious Red Comet - Hayato Kobayashi
"Whoosh-!"

A red "shooting star" streaked across the sky, startling the tiny creatures living in the desert who quickly hid in the sand and pretended to be dead. Only after the roaring sound in the sky faded away did they dare to cautiously peek out and look at the mysterious red light that had disappeared into the distance.

While piloting the [Iron Nargacuga - Nargacuga] with one hand, Hayato still had the mind to introduce it to the trembling [Harpies] behind him: "The power of technology is amazing, isn't it? Don't underestimate the [Iron Nargacuga - Nargacuga] just because it's a mechanical creation. It can unleash power beyond that of ordinary creatures, as can be seen from its protagonist ace panel with 2500 attack power."

"No, no, no, don't tell us about this!" [Harpy 1] was being held tightly by her two sisters, their wings almost being ripped out of their feathers, tears welling in her eyes from the pain. "Look ahead!"

"Don't worry, my riding skill is A+!" Saying the signature line of a certain purple-haired, bespectacled cyclist, Hayato even performed a dangerous driving maneuver, taking both hands off the rudder and stepping on the lever with one foot, controlling the [Iron Nargacuga - Nargacuga] to fly in a spiral trajectory in the air.

In this world of card spirits that don't belong to humans, Duel Monsters with awakened card spirits can materialize on their own without Hayato's help. Even Monsters without awakened card spirits can be played as if they were used in a duel—or even just by holding the card up, they can be materialized and summoned for the controller to use. It doesn't matter if there's no Duel Disk, as long as there's the subjective intention to "play" it.

People who come to this world for the first time, regardless of their abilities in Duel Monsters, are more or less unable to think "I want to use the cards" because of the knowledge they have cultivated over the years in the real world. When faced with a crisis, they will mostly choose to deal with it in ways other than Duel Monsters. But Hayato does not have this concern.

On one hand, as someone who already possesses certain supernatural abilities, he had previously summoned materialized Duel Monsters in the human world, so he had a subconscious desire to "play cards to fight." On the other hand, this wasn't his first time in the world of Duel Monsters; it's just that in the past, the world he reached through the [Gate of the Illusion] wasn't this one, but rather the world of the "Nameless Dragons."

"As expected, I can't sense the aura of the 'Nameless Dragons'." [Summoner-Aleister], who had met Hayato in that world, been defeated and conquered, and brought under Hayato's command, remembered the aura of the "Nameless Dragons," but after sensing it, he couldn't find any trace of that world. "Even though the 'Three Knights' chosen by them were unsealed one by one and escaped the damage they suffered ten thousand years ago through a ritual, their aura shouldn't have disappeared."

"Even if it had become the combined [Dragon-Timaeus], ​​which could be considered the supreme god of that world, I could still detect some of its aura."

“But since you can’t do it, it means this isn’t their world.” Hayato nodded. “Then, let’s communicate with that world.”

Alai shrugged helplessly and said, "Having coordinates is one thing, but if Master wants to use my [Summoning Magic] to get there, it will be the same as returning to the human world."

But Hayato shook his head: "Who said I was going over there? Didn't you say your [Summoning Magic] is essentially 'spirit summoning'? Then try to see if you can use your connection over there to summon the power of the 'Nameless Dragons' over here."

"You can do that?" Alai was amazed by Hayato's imagination. "That makes sense. Although the thick barrier between the human world and the spirit world makes it difficult to effectively reduce the power of the other side even when using 'Spirit Descent' in the human world, and the efficiency is far less than using Duel Monster Cards as a medium, the situation is different now that we are in the spirit world."

"I'll give it a try right away, Master. Just wait for my good news." With that, Alai's body gradually became transparent as he returned to the card he was in to conduct his experiment.

Hayato finished his conversation with Alai and looked at Harpy 1, who was still hugging her sisters, and asked, "Although the Iron Nargacuga-Nargacuga wasn't painted red and didn't have horns, its speed is at least three times that of you. You said you left the tribe in less than half a day, so at the speed of the Iron Nargacuga-Nargacuga, you should be almost there—provided you're pointing in the right direction."

"Absolutely, there's no mistake!" Fearing that Hayato might misunderstand that she had given false information, [Harpie 1] hurriedly said, "If it really is three times the speed, then it should take about two minutes—no, another minute or so!"

"Then why are you all so scared? It's like you're afraid I'll kill you to vent my anger if I find out you pointed in the wrong direction?" Hayato retorted, looking at the Harpy sisters, who were clearly flying dueling monsters but were now huddled together for warmth. "You can't possibly have a fear of heights or something, can you?"

"We can fly, and fly very fast, but we've never experienced speeds like this before." Feeling the thrusters shooting out red pillars of fire behind her, [Harpy 1] couldn't help but complain, "And it's so loud and hot! Didn't they design a more sealed pilot's seat for this thing?"

"That's just how the [Iron Beast] is designed. Not to mention the [Iron Nargacuga - Nargacuga] which is just a means of transportation, even the [Iron Dragon - Blue Nargacuga] used for combat has a bare cockpit - at most a windshield is added, and the effect is not as good as the sunglasses that Kit wears herself."

Hayato spoke casually, but it was as if he had eyes in the back of his head. He was clearly looking at the three harpy sisters behind him, but then suddenly turned around as if he had seen something: "I sensed it. It's the same aura as yours. Although it's a bit weak, it should indeed be your kind. Congratulations, you've escaped with your lives because you didn't lie to me."

Hearing Hayato's words, Harpy 1 also stood up despite her fear and looked at the ground outside. She found that the desert below was still being swept by quickly. Even with her dynamic vision, she felt a little dizzy. When she looked into the distance, she saw a black line and guessed that it was the edge of the forest where her tribe was temporarily living. But how could she see what was there from here?
Could this man possibly have better eyesight than I, a Harpy? What a joke! No, to be honest, I don't even know what kind of monster he is yet.

Thinking of this, Harpy 1 looked at Hayato. He wasn't wearing a mage's robe and had attacked her with a sword earlier, so he was likely a mage or warrior. However, judging from the fact that he was piloting such a machine, he could also be a machine. But his vibrant life force could rule out the possibility of him being undead. Considering the previous schemes, it wasn't impossible that he was a demon.

Furthermore, since it doesn't look very much like a dragon, it's possible that it's a dragon. After all, it's common knowledge that creatures that look like dragons are more likely not to be dragon monsters.

(Albus: Yes, children, I look like a human but I am actually a dragon.)

But in short, what exactly made the other party judge that they were not lying?

Although Harpy 1 didn't say anything, Hayato spoke up again: "Perception is something I'm good at. While I can't sense the details of a place dozens of kilometers away just by touching the ground and then use Flying Thunder God to show someone the secret technique diagram that says 'You're not bad, even though you're an opponent,' I can still get a rough sense of it."

If Kaiba were here, he would definitely expose Hayato for talking nonsense again. His actual perception ability is far more exaggerated, but even the current level has already surprised Harpy 1. Ignoring the few sentences she didn't understand, she asked curiously, "Tens of kilometers? It usually takes us several minutes to fly there. I thought only we bird-beasts could see that far."

Eagles have the best eyesight among birds, reaching speeds of over 30 kilometers per hour under optimal conditions. The fastest bird to fly is the frigatebird, which can reach speeds of over 400 kilometers per hour. However, the Harpy, as a dueling monster, surpasses normal creatures in both of these aspects. "From the aura I sense in your tribe, there seem to be few stronger than you. Although you rely on the power of the three sisters, you are indeed among the strongest Harpies. The only one who seems stronger than you is a frenzied aura."

"Rampaging? That must be our [Pet Dragon]. It's really strong, sometimes even unleashing power stronger than the legendary [Blue-Eyes White Dragon]." It seems that even in the world of Card Monsters, Kaiba's [Blue-Eyes] is still destined to be used as a comparison and a unit of comparison for combat power. [Harpie 1] paused, then added somewhat strangely, "But normally, when there are no external enemies, it should be quite docile, right?"

“I didn’t say I only sensed the aura of you Harpies,” Hayato said calmly. “It’s as cold as ice cream shoved through the back door, which feels quite cruel. That kind of aura is approaching someone in your tribe who gives off a noble feeling.”

“That must be the Queen! She led us out of the center of the forest and took over the desert as our territory. She also integrated the other Harpy tribes and continues to rule the tribe as the Harpy Queen!” Harpy 1 said excitedly. As the Iron Nargacuga approached the gradually enlarging forest, she finally saw the location of her tribe, but black smoke was rising from there.

Knowing it couldn't possibly be the smoke from the stove during lunch, she became very anxious. "Although the description of the cold feeling is strange, there's no mistake, it must be those guys coming!"

"Damn it, how did they even find us? Are all the other tribes around us blind? They can't even warn us, and we've already left our tribe to patrol the hunting grounds!"

Seeing Hayato out of the corner of her eye, Harpy 1 realized something and pleaded, "I beg you! Please drive faster! Please get to our tribe! The Queen is in danger! I cannot stand idly by!"

"Oh no! Without the Queen, Vatasi!"

If it weren't for the constraints of the environment, Hayato had no doubt that she would kneel down before him.

Her two younger sisters also quickly asked Hayato for help, since Hayato's [Iron Nargacuga - Nargacuga] was three times faster than theirs, and only he could bring them back to the tribe in time.

"I don't need you to tell me. I was going to your tribe to learn more about this world from your queen, wasn't I? But you said I could go even faster." Hayato's lips curled into a smile. "Actually, from just now until now, [Iron Nargacuga - Nargacuga] has been in the most energy-efficient mode. After the limit is lifted, the speed can be increased by another 1000%!"

"Let them see your power, [Iron Nargacuga - Nargacuga]! Trans-Am!"

Pressing a red button next to the control stick, while the three Harpy sisters were terrified by the sudden push and completely blurred vision, the Iron Nargacuga-Narcosaurus, entering super-speed mode, almost instantly disappeared from the sky!
Meanwhile, in the forest on the edge of the desert, most of the wooden huts built in the trees had been demolished and burned. The Harpy Queen stood in front of the other Harpy Maidens, shouting, "You are not allowed to attack our people!"

"Do you think you, so weak, can stop our advance?" The somewhat roguish bird-beast arrogantly charged forward like a rogue, completely ignoring the [Harp Queen's] warning. "Your tribe's warriors are too weak, and there are too many weaklings who have nothing to do with fighting. Despite being so weak, you dare to rebel against us, and even think that running away will allow you to escape our rule and enslavement?"

"In this world, the strong rule over the weak. Why should you weaklings fight? You won't die if you don't resist. Don't you even understand that?"

While roaring, the black bird-beast monster spread its wings, about to attack the [Harp Queen] before it: "Remember my name, the one who wiped out your race, it's Lord Simon!"

"Nisnei——"

The Harp Queen and the Harp Girls she protected closed their eyes in fear, but the next moment, a loud and exciting background music started as if something was approaching, followed by a huge explosion!
(Police respond to emergencies!)

"Ahhh, ah, ahhh—"

"boom!"

"Chong-"

The ringing sound echoed in the ears of all the elves present, giving them the momentary illusion that they had gone deaf due to the loud explosion.

"I've been wanting to try this 'Cute Star Flying Collision' move for ages!" Satisfied, Hayato put away the [Iron Nargacuga - Nargacuga] card, watching the [Harpy Sisters], their eyes now curled up like mosquito coils, lying haphazardly on the ground. He stepped on a piece of wing that had somehow appeared and rubbed it against the sole of his shoe, watching it dissipate into white specks of light. "Hmm? I thought it was a speed bump. Red flying objects really are prone to causing accidents."

"Who are you?!" A black bird-beast monster, who had come with "Simon" to the Harpy's territory after the explosion that had occurred at his location, angrily questioned him. After all, no matter how you looked at it, the accident could only have been caused by the creature in front of him.

"Just a duelist passing by, remember that." Hayato wasn't going to be polite to Duel Monsters and let them forget him. Looking at the fully armed Bird Beast monsters in front of him, he raised an eyebrow. "So, just as I guessed. After all, the characteristic of being a Bird Beast monster with black feathers is practically an open secret."

"Are you interested in exchanging information about your race, Blackfeathers?"

　Classic 23:59 Update
　　
　
(End of this chapter)