Is this the poker world?Ada thief!

Chapter 1693 Cheap Tamashi
"【Otherworldly Resonance - Synchro Fusion】Activated!" Hayato pointed to his field, "I choose to send my Level 8☆ non-Tuner monster 【Earthbound Prisoner - Earth-Painted Griffin】 and Level 1☆ Tuner monster 【Earthbound Prisoner - Land Watcher】 to the Graveyard!"

The Earthbound Prisoner - Landkeeper, which had just been resurrected by the effect of Earthbound Griffin, returned to the graveyard in the blink of an eye. However, before leaving, it left two transparent clones on the field, as if it had pulled two versions of itself from a parallel world over.

Similarly, [Earthbound Prisoner - Earth-Painted Griffin] also split into two, like a clone. One of them suddenly leaped up and charged towards the first entity of the Synchro Summoning Ring, [Earthbound Prisoner - Land Guardian], which had simultaneously taken flight and transformed into a Synchro Summoning Ring.

"The required Synchro Material is one or more Tuner monsters plus one non-Tuner monster!"

"O stellar wind, the embodiment of a stellar wind hurtling at thousands of kilometers per second, on the exposed core of a star in its twilight years! Before you collapse into a black hole, descend upon me in the form of a dragon and a wolf!"

(In the official image, only a red glow is visible in the eyes, but in the UTR card art, the details of the eyes are visible.)

"Parallel Synchro Summon, Level 1 + 8 = 9☆!"

"Moonlight Thunder, Unrivaled Hunter—[Starwind Wolf - Wolfra Leaf Wolf]!"

A monster with a blue and red body, resembling both a wolf and a dragon, descended upon Hayato's field like the wind. But at the same time, another monster was emerging from the fusion vortex beside Hayato!

Another Earthbound Prisoner - Land Guardian was swallowed by the merging vortex along with another Earthbound Prisoner - Earth-Painted Griffin. Then, purple patterns began to appear on the ground, outlining the image of an octopus.

"The required fusion materials are: two [Earthbound] monsters, prisoners lurking in the earth, merge with prisoners constantly heading to the execution ground, and become a siren who inflicts punishment in the name of the Kraken!"

"Parallel Fusion Summon, Level 8☆!"

"Thousand Hands and Hundred Feet - [Earthbound Prisoner - Earth-Painted Squid]!"

【Starwind Wolf - Wolfra Leaf Wolf】【9☆/Wind】

[Orc/Synchro/Effect]

[2500/0]

【Earthbound Squid - Ground-Painted Squid】【8☆/Dark】

[Demon Race/Fusion/Effect]

[2800/1200]

Beside the dragon wolf, the light from the fusion vortex fell into the print on the ground, and several tentacles broke through the ground first, lifting up a huge squid sea monster.

"Behind the apes and giants in the Nazca Lines are the legendary beasts—the griffin 'Griffin' and the siren 'Kraken'!" Hayato paused. "As for the [Starwind Wolf - Wolfra Leaf Wolf] that orbits a dying star as if to devour it... well, it's the giant wolf 'Fenrir'!"

With a raised hand, Hayato declared, "At this very moment of my arrival, I use the effect of [Earthbound Squid]! It can only be activated when it is Special Summoned. I add any Field Spell Card from my Deck or Graveyard to my hand. I choose this [Light's Protection].

However, Oboro no Kage was not entirely distracted by the [Earthbound Squid] on Hayato's field, which was using its tentacles to grab a card from Hayato's deck and add it to Hayato's hand. He keenly observed that just as Hayato's monster effect activated, a flash of light also appeared on [Starwind Wolf - Wolfra Leaf Wolf].

“Oh, did you notice? The prototype of [Starwind Wolf - Wolfra Leaf Wolf] is the starwind orbiting an aging star. Its speed increases over time until the star it orbits becomes a black hole that destroys everything.” Hayato didn’t hide anything and directly stated the effect of [Starwind Wolf - Wolfra Leaf Wolf], “As long as this card has less than 4000 ATK and is in the Monster Zone, every time a monster other than this card has its effect activated, this card gains 300 ATK. This effect does not need to be activated and is continuous.”

【Starwind Wolf - Wolfflake Wolf】【ATK2500→2800】

[Hayato Kobayashi: 4000LP, hand 5→4→5]

"Next, I activate the second effect of [Earthbound Prisoner - Stone Sweeper] in my hand, discarding it from my hand to activate it. I add one Fiend Tuner of Level 3 or lower from my Deck to my hand. At the same time, due to the activation of a monster effect, the ATK of [Starwind Wolf - Wolfra Leaf Wolf] increases again."

【Starwind Wolf - Wolfflake Wolf】【ATK2800→3100】

Without losing any cards, Hayato used the effect of [Starwind Wolf - Wolfra Leaf Wolf] again to increase its attack power, and took out a card to show off, saying: "Although it's a bit ironic to put the only person who defeated Sergei's card in his deck, that's how the King's Duel is supposed to be entertaining!"

"The monster I added to my hand is this one, a Level 2☆ Fiend-Type Tuner monster, Jack, and Carly Nagisa's fodder card—[Horizon Resonator]!"

After showing the card, Hayato slammed it onto the magic circle in front of him: "If there is a Level 5 DARK monster on either side of the field, I can Special Summon [Horizon Resonator] directly from my hand. This Special Summon is not activated and therefore does not enter a chain, but because of this, the ability of [Starwind Wolf - Wolfra Leaf Wolf] cannot be activated."

[Vision Resonator] [2☆/Dark]

[Demon Race/Adjustment/Effect]

[400/400]

"Let's continue with the Synchro Summoning! I'll take Synchro Summoning to the next level with this card. I'll use my Level 2 Tuner monster, 'Horizon Resonator,' and my Level 9 Tuner monster, 'Thunderbolt Kaiju,' to Synchro Summon. The Synchro Materials must be a Tuner monster plus one or more non-Tuner monsters!"

"The king's rousing voice bursts forth in this resonant vision, shaking heaven and earth! Summon the golden dragon from beyond the heavens and bring it into the realm of absolute dominion, and unleash the light of execution!"

"Synchro Summon! Level 2 + 9 = 11 stars!"

"Death will bring hope for tomorrow—[Psychic Executioner]!"

[Psychic Executioner] [11☆/Light]

[Psychic/Synchro/Effect]

[3500/3500]

"If [Vision Resonator] is sent to the Graveyard, activate its second effect: add one Spell/Trap Card with the name [Crimson Dragon] from my Deck to my hand. Also, due to the activation of a monster effect, [Starwind Wolf - Wolfra Leaf Wolf]'s ATK increases again."

【Starwind Wolf - Wolfflake Wolf】【ATK3100→3400】

After using the effect of [Vision Resonator] to further increase the attack power of [Starwind Wolf - Wolfra Leaf Wolf], Hayato revealed the card he had searched using the effect of [Vision Resonator]: "The card I added to my hand is this one, the Continuous Spell Card [Crimson Hell Earth]."

"Next, I activate the Continuous Spell Card [Crimson Hell Earth] and use its first effect. This effect can only be activated during my Main Phase. Add one [Crimson Dragon] or any card other than [Crimson Hell Earth] with the [Crimson Dragon] name in its name to my hand from my Deck or Graveyard." "I add this [Earthbound God - Crimson Nova] to my hand."

【小林隼人：4000LP，手牌5→4→5→4→5】

After adding a "Earthbound God" monster that sounded like it was related to the "Earthbound" deck and seemed to be of a higher level to his hand, Hayato played another card without hesitation and said, "Field Spell Card 'Light of Protection' activated! I declare my race as Winged Beast."

"Then, since there is a Field Spell Card on the field, I can use the first effect of this [Earthbound Prisoner - Stone Sweeper] in my hand to Special Summon it from my hand!"

The whale-like [Earthbound] monster, which had appeared once before, broke through the ground and entered the field after Hayato activated the Field Spell Card, enveloping Hayato and the Shadow of Karma in a huge halo that appeared beneath his feet.

[Earthbound Prisoner - Stone Sweeper] [5☆/Dark]

[Demon Race/Effect]

[1600/1600]

Originally somewhat concerned about the Field Spell Card, Oborogane no Karma was distracted by the monster Hayato summoned: "He Special Summons a new monster in this situation."

"Feel free to say what you might be thinking, I'm definitely going to continue my Synchro Summoning." Hayato revealed a card in his hand, "The effect of [Creator of Resonance]: If I have a Level 8 or higher Synchro Monster on my field, Special Summon this card from my hand!"

"The synchronized team is complete once again!"

【Creator of Resonance】【3☆/Wind】

[Demon Race/Adjustment/Effect]

[800/600]

In Hayato's last empty monster zone, a little devil somewhat similar to the previous [Vision Resonator] appeared. The appearance of another "Tuner" indicates that Hayato will perform a Synchro Summon once again!
This is also the most special feature of Synchro Summoning: after meeting the most basic requirements, it can quickly combine two weak monsters into a powerful entity. The process does not require the loss of a third card and only requires the simplest addition within twelve. With the power of Synchro Summoning, Hayato's duels have become much faster!

"I will use my Level 3 Tuner monster [Creator Resonator] and Level 5 non-Tuner monster [Earthbound Prisoner - Stone Sweeper] to perform a Synchro Material summon! The Synchro Material requirement is to use one or more DARK monsters other than Tuner monsters!"

"The king's rousing voice makes heaven and earth roar! In the darkness where everything has burned away, let all things tremble under its might!"

"Synchron Summon, Level 3 + 5 = 8☆!"

"Tear apart the abyss, Wagatsumashi—[True Crimson Lotus Demon]!"

【True Crimson Lotus Demon】【8☆/Dark】

[Dragon/Synchro/Effect]

[3000/2500]

It was incredibly moving; finally, a monster that looked like and truly was a dragon made its appearance!
Looking at the dragon-type monster [Crimson Demon] that Hayato used as the last monster to enter the arena, a monster whose name didn't contain the word "dragon," Oborokage no Karmafuku's expression turned serious: "This monster is actually your Tamashii!"

"R-right?" Little Blue poked her head out from Hayato's graveyard, unwilling to give up. "Why can a new card that I've never seen before become my master's new Tamashi?!"

"I can't help it, Little Blue. I didn't really want to play the Tamashi deck, but the system is giving it a discount," Hayato said helplessly. "After drawing five support cards, you can exchange 250 DP points for a [Crimson Dragon] directly. Who can resist that temptation?"

"However, you really do get what you pay for." Hayato frowned as he looked at the [True Crimson Demon], which had become agitated since appearing on his field.

The infamous "Tamashi"—[Crimson Dragon]—is the ace monster of Jack the Great, the Duel King of New Domino City, several decades in the future. In terms of its penchant for stealing other people's things, it does seem to have inherited some traits from Hayato, the current Duel King from several decades ago. [Crimson Dragon] is also one of the five dragons belonging to [Red Dragon]—of course, due to well-known reasons, although it is said to be five dragons, the number of dragons that the Dragon Signers ultimately possess far exceeds five.

What's particularly noteworthy is that while ace cards are generally considered highly valuable, and regardless of the actual OCG environment, focusing solely on their role in the story, the main characters' ace monsters are never cheap—unless Manjoume's ace is truly a "Disruption" card—and their numbers are also quite limited. Even if it's not like "Blue-Eyes White Dragon," which is explicitly stated that there are only four copies in the entire world, it's still a rare card that's difficult for the average person to obtain.

But what makes [Crimson Dragon] special is that even under such circumstances, there have been more than one, a total of four cards – even if this is due to the influence of the current boss, it still makes his "Waga Tamashii" shout every time he summons it seem a bit comical.

What's even more special is that everyone was initially thought to be subordinates of the Crimson Dragon, but later it was inexplicably revealed that the Crimson Demon Dragon was actually one of the Earthbound Gods who had previously been enemies of the Crimson Dragon, and was even the self-proclaimed strongest among them, the Crimson Lotus Nova?
At this point, the situation regarding the Crimson Dragon that Hayato obtained and the Crimson Lotus Demon on the field is revealed. This is not the messenger of the Crimson Dragon that will be born decades later, but rather the Crimson Lotus Demon that still retains the power and malice of the Earthbound God—in fact, compared to the Crimson Dragon that Hayato didn't unleash, the Crimson Lotus Demon on the field at this moment is the true form!
Because he only recently acquired it, and Hayato hadn't used it in his previous duel with Yubel to interfere with his use of "Tears of the Goddess," he only added it to his deck now that he was using the "Earthbound" deck. But judging from its hyperactive behavior on the field, it's clear that if Hayato didn't have three other monsters on the field that could suppress it at any time, "Crimson Demon" would probably rebel against him as soon as it appeared!
"A spirit that doesn't obey me? To be honest, I'm actually happy about it, because that's more like it. When other cards awaken, the spirits fawn over me, and I almost lose all sense of accomplishment. It's this kind of rebellious personality that makes it worthwhile to subdue and train them." Muttering to himself, Hayato glanced at the [Earthbound God - Crimson Nova] in his hand. "But if they're not obedient, I also have 'dragon fruit' specially prepared for keycaps."

"Set a card face down, and my turn ends."

[Hayato Kobayashi: 4000LP, hand 5→1]

【True Crimson Demon】【ATK3000】

【Psychic Executioner】【ATK3500】

【Starwind Wolf - Wolfflake Wolf】【ATK3400】

【Earthbound Squid - Ground-Painted Squid】【DEF1200】

Backcourt: [Crimson Hell Earth] [Face Card]

Venue: [Light Protection Array]

　I was originally thinking that even though I'd enabled synchronization, I'd still try to avoid touching the original 5DS dragon.
　　But while revisiting the 5DS, I suddenly remembered that there were also three copies of the fake Jack's Crimson Dragon.

　　Tamashi really is cheap in both the anime and the physical card environment, Jack!

　　So—I included one Crimson Demon in my Earthbound deck.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)