Is this the poker world?Ada thief!

Chapter 1716, the final version of the Eight-Headed Serpent, but Judai Yuki...
"The [Scabbed Wounded Knight] that I am attacking will not be destroyed in combat, and because of the effect of [Soul Barrier], the combat damage I take will also become 0."

Although it wasn't the same time or the same place, Koji Sato set up the same defensive line as Amon Garrum—"mons that can't be destroyed in battle and can't be damaged in battle"—to deal with Jaden's attack.

"A lineup that negates battle? Tsk, I've been outmaneuvered." Jaden had chosen a strategy of keeping his monsters on the field and attacking his opponent with all his might because of the previous [Flash of the Night Star]. However, he didn't expect that Koji Sato's monsters would have effects that cannot be destroyed by battle. Combined with [Soul Barrier], it directly cut off his chance of defeating his opponent this turn.

"So, what's with this strange thing that appeared on my [E·hero]?"

"Hmph, hmph, hmph," Koji Sato said with a cold laugh, "This is another effect of the [Scabbed Scar Knight]: it places a [Scabbed Indicator] on the monster that fought against it in attack stance. This scabbed scar is proof that a battle has taken place!"

【E·hero】】【Scabbing Indicator 0→1】【ATK2700】

"A strange counter." Although there was no obvious change in [E·hero Neos] after the [Scabbed Counter] was placed on it, Jaden wasn't the type to make pointless attacks knowing he couldn't destroy his opponent right now. He planned to end his turn like this. "Since I can't destroy [Scabbed Scar Knight], then I—"

"No, Judai, are you trying to run away again?" Just then, Koji Sato said again, "Running away from your responsibilities, running away from your battles? With great power comes great responsibility, why don't you understand!"

"I have seen '400 Older Women,' okay, teacher!" Judai retorted with a frown. "While I agree with the saying 'With great power comes great responsibility,' it's a bit too much of a moral blackmail to use it to force someone to take on responsibility!"

"But wasn't this your own choice? Nobody asked you to be a hero, but since you've become a role model for others, take responsibility for it!" Teacher Sato Koji looked somewhat angry. "Since you've launched an attack, be prepared to fight!"

"【Scabbed Wounded Knight】forces the opponent's attackable monsters to attack it, and in your case, there are two monsters that have not yet attacked!"

Although Judai still didn't understand Sato Koji's thoughts, he waved his hand and said, "Although I don't know what strange things the teacher is saying, or what that [scabbing indicator] is, of course I won't run away!"

"Attacks from [E·Hero Order Neocosm] and [N·Flickering Moss]!"

A spiral-shaped energy blast was launched from the hand of [E·hero Order Neocosm], shattering the armor of [Scabbed Scar Knight], while the laser beam released by [N·Shimmering Moss] pierced through its body. However, after the series of battles, [Scabbed Scar Knight] still stubbornly stood up again and continued to face the monsters of Jaden without fear of difficulties.

Although the Scarred Knight wasn't exactly handsome and was on Sato Koji's side as Jaden's enemy, Jaden suddenly felt, "He's a true hero too," as he watched the Scarred Knight rise again and again to continue fighting.

"Place a 'Scabbed Indicator' on the 'E·hero Order Neocosm' and 'N·Shimmering Moss' that have fought against the 'Scabbed Scar Knight'!"

【E·hero Order Neocosmos】【Scabbing Indicator 0→1】【ATK3500】

【N·Flashing Moss】【Scab Indicator 0→1】【ATK500】

As Koji Sato spoke, seeing the [Scabbing Indicator], which resembled fragments of armor, stuck to Jaden's two-bodied monster, and since Jaden assumed his battle phase was over, he continued, "Then, at the end of the battle phase, the final effect of [Scabbing Scar Knight] activates!"

"The Curse of the Scar!"

"It can't be destroyed by battle, can't recover Life Points, forces an attack, and can place counters... it even has a fifth effect?" Asuka frowned from the sidelines. "This monster is only Level 4? And it can't even be Special Summoned but can be Normal Summoned directly?"

"Even if the individual effects don't seem very strong, the sheer number of effects makes it feel like a supermodel," John couldn't help but remark.

As Koji Sato gave the command, a black mist flew out from the [Scabbed Wounded Knight], enveloping all three monsters on Jaden's field and activating their respective [Scabbed Counters]. The [Scabbed Counters] shrouded in the black mist inflicted intense pain on the three monsters, forcibly controlling them to move onto Koji Sato's field!?
"This ability to control wounds with mist... could it be a Stand attack?!" Upon seeing this, John exclaimed instinctively, "It's an attack from the 'Justice' Stand, Judai!"

"Yeah, right! They clearly said it's a monster effect!"

"This isn't the time to talk about that, but to have an effect like stealing someone else's monster is truly despicable!" Jaden glared at Sato-sensei's [Scabbed Wounded Knight] on the field. "I take back the thought that just popped into my head, 'That monster was quite heroic too!'"

"You only enjoy the pleasures of heroism, but you're unwilling to shoulder the responsibilities of heroism," Professor Koji Sato said sternly. "What right do you have to define a hero, Judai!"

"I've never thought about defining a hero! I'm just admiring the heroes I think they are!"

"This is your arrogance, Judai. I still have only one thing to say to you: if powerful people cannot discover the truth, this world is hell for people."

Faced with Koji Sato's questioning, Judai curled his lip, completely ignoring what the other said, but unable to think of any rebuttal, he could only continue playing, saying, "Luckily, I prepared this card in my deck to guard against Hayato's NTR—I mean, to coordinate with the use of [Lava Demon]—so even if you steal my monsters, I can get them back!"

"During my Main Phase 2, I activate the Spell Card 'Owner's Mark' to return control of all monsters on the field to their original owners!"

The moment the monster was taken by [Scabbed Scar Knight], Jaden immediately used [Owner's Mark] to retrieve the card, avoiding the predicament of having his field cleared and preventing the activation of [E·Hero Order Neos]'s effect.

It's important to know that when [E·hero Order Neos] was still on Jaden's field, because of the choice Jaden made when facing [Night Star Flash], even the effect that was forced to activate at the end of the turn would become unactivatable, allowing it to remain on the field until the end of the turn. However, if it were moved to Koji Sato's field, the situation would be different.

【E·hero Order Neos】, as a top-tier 【Neocrypha】 summoned by Quadruple Contact Fusion, differs from regular 【Neocrypha】 which only returns to the Extra Deck without additional effects, and from higher-tier 【Neocrypha】 such as 【Lava Neos】 which gains an effect that applies to the entire field when summoned by Triple Contact Fusion. Its effect only targets the opponent.

If the effect of the card is activated after it is stolen, then all of Jaden's cards on the field will be destroyed. Keep in mind that the next turn is Koji Sato's turn. No matter what cards Jaden sets on the field, they will be destroyed by the effect of [E·hero Order Neos] and will not be able to stay until the next turn. Wouldn't that mean facing an empty field and a direct attack from Koji Sato who stole his monsters?
'Thank goodness I brought this card,' Jaden thought to himself. 'I knew it would come in handy to have some weird cards in your deck, right?'

"You've only temporarily reclaimed your cards, but have you forgotten that at the end of the next Battle Phase, the monsters on your field that already have 'Scab Counters' will still have their control transferred to my field by the effect of 'Scab Knight'?" Seeing that she had failed to reclaim Jaden's monsters, Teacher Sato wasn't in a hurry. Instead, she asked Jaden, "Does running away solve the problem?" "Teacher Sato, tell me if my method, at least for this moment, is useful?" Jaden, who had chosen "running away is shameful but useful," retorted. "So, am I supposed to just watch my monsters be taken away by you, teacher?"

"This is just a response to you. Didn't you also take things from others?" Koji Sato sneered. "A thirst for knowledge, ambition, a role model for progress, the motivation to learn. If you don't want to take responsibility, don't presume to be a hero. But you insist on calling yourself a hero yet refuse to take responsibility. It's infuriating!"

"Aspiration itself is devoid of any responsibility! You who merely fantasize about becoming a hero, yet bear no responsibility in the duel, have no right to be a hero at all!"

Upon hearing Sato-sensei's denial of Jaden, Asuka, watching from the sidelines, suddenly recalled that someone had said something similar more than a year ago. It was during the Seven-Star invasion, when "Darkness," who possessed her brother Tenjouin Fubuki, said those words in a duel with Jaden: "The moment you think about becoming a hero, you've already lost your right to be one."

"So, what exactly is this responsibility? How am I supposed to know what it is if you don't explain it clearly!" Repeatedly having his pursuit of being a "hero" denied, coupled with his inability to quickly defeat his opponent in one turn, Jaden couldn't help but feel annoyed and angry. "Stop spouting nonsense that nobody can understand!"

"I set three cards face down, end of turn!"

【游城十代：4000LP，手牌8→7→6→5→4→3→0】

【E·hero】【Scabbing Indicator 1】【ATK2700】

【E·hero Order Neocosmos】【Scabbing Indicator 1】【ATK3500】

【N·Flashing Moss】【Scabbing Indicator 1】【ATK500】

Backcourt: [Face Card] x3
Looking at Judai, Koji Sato remained silent for a moment, then suddenly asked, "Is it someone who sees trash but doesn't pick it up, or someone who doesn't see trash and therefore doesn't pick it up?"

"What?" Judai was a little confused by Sato-sensei's nonsensical question. What strange thing was she asking?

"I can tell you haven't heard of this issue before, so let me explain it from the beginning." Looking at Judai, Koji Sato's expression calmed down. It wasn't that he was no longer angry with Judai, but rather that his disgust for Judai was now beyond what could be simply expressed through expression or words. "Which is worse: someone who doesn't see the trash on the ground and doesn't pick it up, or someone who sees the trash but doesn't pick it up?"

Asuka and John, who were outside the arena, suddenly felt like they understood something when they heard Koji Sato's question. They understood why the other party hated Judai so much that, as the other party said, his emotions were amplified by the spirits and he came here to fight Judai.

Despite not understanding the question, Jaden answered without hesitation, "Of course, it's someone who finds trash but doesn't pick it up!"

Jaden believed his answer was correct, but Koji Sato shook his head and said, "Wrong. If you find trash that has been thrown away and don't pick it up, there's still a possibility that you might change your mind and pick it up. But if you can't find trash that has been thrown away, there's never any possibility of you picking it up."

Is there a difference between being aware of responsibility but not taking it, and not being aware of responsibility and therefore not taking it?

Offstage, John seemed to understand Sato-sensei's metaphor, but Judai's mind hadn't quite caught on yet. He only saw Sato-sensei pointing at him and saying, "Judai, you're that stupid human who can't even notice when trash falls."

"Just because I didn't pick up trash, they've defined my character?"

"No matter how many times the teacher tells you, you still sleep in class, and you hand in blank homework and test papers!"

"I can't help it if I'm not good at some things, both theoretically and practically. I'm not the only one like this!" Judai, being lectured by the teacher and unable to deny that what she had done was right, awkwardly looked behind her and said, "Asuka and John also slack off like this sometimes."

"My theory scores are usually perfect." Asuka, the academic star from Obelisk-Blue, shrugged behind him.

"Although my grades are average, I at least finish my homework and I don't usually sleep in class—after all, the climate at the Northern Branch Campus means we can't just find a place to lie down and sleep." John put it mildly, but in fact, apart from his strong dueling skills, his grades were quite excellent, otherwise he wouldn't have been chosen as a student representative to participate in this exchange.

"Well, at least it's just a problem with my personal grades, right? Not only are you deducting my participation points, but teacher, do you really have such a big grudge against me?"

Seeing that Judai still didn't understand his meaning, Sato Koji's upturned lips flattened, and his voice turned icy: "That's a very important matter. If you ask why, it's because your attitude will infect other students! One after another, other students will follow your example and sleep in my class."

(Kenzan, Manjoume, and even an unknown passerby from the Yellow Dormitory)
“If you were a bad student like Marufuji Sho, and you were the only one who was willingly giving up on yourself, I wouldn’t give up on you, but at most I would just advise you to study hard. But you always present yourself as a ‘hero’ in front of others and take it for granted that others will admire your feats—are you the kind of person who can’t fight without praise?!”

"So many students in the school admire you; you're already a model student!"

"I'm a model student? What are you talking about!" Even Judai, who had heard Koji Sato say this much, vaguely realized what the other person was talking about, but he subconsciously denied it, "I'm just doing what I like, striving to become the 'hero' I admire."

"I didn't rule out that you can't be a hero, nor am I the one who sets the standards for heroes." Koji Sato looked at Jaden. "But what about being unwilling to take responsibility? What kind of hero are you then?"

"You only like heroes but don't take responsibility. You're only seventeen now, right? If you continue like this, by thirty-four you'll have to give up the gentleness and kindness of heroism, and by sixty-eight you might even have to give up heroism itself, completely exposing your true nature and becoming a demon king who only acts for his own purposes?"

"As a teacher at the Duel Academy, I might have to defeat you here, really."

　The Guardian series hasn't had any new cards in years, and the long-awaited news is that it's being released as an RD (Realm) card!
　　
　
(End of this chapter)