Is this the poker world?Ada thief!

"Because the number of monsters on my field has changed, the attack rollback rule has been triggered." Hayato put down the card [Phantom Wing Synchro Dragon] and said, "Shall we continue attacking [Crystal Machine - Quantum Cardinal White Crystal], [Loki]?"

"Hmph, you know perfectly well what I'm asking!" [Loki, the Supreme God Emperor] looked at the monster that Hayato had summoned in Defense Position on the field and said, "Summoning three weak monsters together only results in a monster with 3000 ATK, and it was Special Summoned in Defense Position."

"Originally, after our 'Triple God' attack ended, you would still have two monsters left on the field. If you summoned another monster next turn, you could barely survive another turn. But now, all three of your monsters are about to be destroyed!"

"Odin will naturally deal with that new monster. I'll just use your Crystal Mechanism - Quantum Red Sparrow White Crystal for now - Void Bullet!"

The magic cannon pierced through Hayato's body in the [Crystal Machine - Quantum Red Sparrow White Crystal] on the field, ejecting a pilot from the cockpit. Then, the entire giant mobile suit exploded. The [Extreme God Emperor - Loki] with an attack power of 3300 destroyed the [Crystal Machine - Quantum Red Sparrow White Crystal] with an attack power of 3100. Naturally, Hayato suffered 200 combat damage.

[Hayato Kobayashi: 4000→3800LP, 2 card in hand]

After Loki's attack, it was Thor's turn. He raised his massive hammer and declared, "Then next up is me, Thor! The other Crystal Machine monster is mine—huh?!"

"Another one? It's as if after [Crystal Machine - Quantum Cardinal White Crystal] was destroyed, the only [Crystal Machine - Central Serpent] left on my field was a [Crystal Machine] monster." Hayato retrieved a card from his graveyard, looking at [Crystal Machine - Trinity Crystal], which had deployed its parachute after being ejected and was slowly descending onto his field. "If [Crystal Machine - Quantum Cardinal White Crystal], which was Synchro Summoned, is destroyed by battle or card effect, I can activate this effect by Special Summoning one other monster from my graveyard to my field."

"The monster I Special Summoned is this one—[Crystal Machine - Sacred Crystal]!"

The landing [Crystal Machine - Trinity Crystal] casually pulled two Synchro Rings. Although it wasn't a Synchro Summon, it still managed to Special Summon [Crystal Machine - Sacred Crystal] from Hayato's graveyard, which he had previously destroyed himself. As soon as it appeared, both [Loki], who had already attacked, and [Thor] and [Odin], who hadn't yet attacked, felt a sudden weight on their bodies.

【Crystal Ingenuity - Sacred Celestial Crystal】【DEF2100→2400】

"This feeling... have I been captured by gravity?" Feeling the increased weight of the raised hammer, [Emperor Thor] angrily exclaimed, "Damn gravity!"

"Idiot, can't you even look at your own hammer?" [Loki, the Supreme God Emperor] complained from the side. "It's that [Crystal Mechanism - Holy Celestial Crystal] that covered us in crystals the moment it appeared, making us heavier!"

[Loki, the Supreme God Emperor] [ATK3300→2800]

【Emperor of the Ultimate Gods - Thor】【ATK3500→3000】

【Supreme Holy Emperor - Odin】【ATK4000→3500】

"The effect of [Crystal Machine - Holy Sky Crystal] is only limited to when it is Synchro Summoned, but its ability to lower the opponent's monster's ATK is not limited to that. It can still be triggered even if it is revived," Hayato explained. "Although it is summoned at the cost of destroying [Crystal Machine - Quantum Red Sparrow White Crystal], in terms of ATK, my [Crystal Machine - Central Serpent] has higher ATK than your [Ultimate Emperor - Thor], [Odin]!"

Even with the Field Spell Card bonus, [King of Gods - Thor]'s 3500 ATK was still greater than [Crystal Machine - Central Serpent]'s 3300 ATK after the bonus. However, with the support of [Crystal Machine - Holy Heaven Skeleton], the situation changed again, and Hayato's side now has a higher ATK.

"Although Spell & Trap Cards are ineffective against us, can Monster Effects still be activated?" [Emperor Thor] understood the situation and said with a look of lingering fear, "Fortunately, [Odin] hasn't given the attack command yet, otherwise I might have perished together with Jormungandr, just like in the prophecy of Ragnarok."

[Loki, the Supreme God Emperor] continued to undermine the argument: "Mutual destruction? Stop trying to glorify yourself. You were clearly the one who got unilaterally and brutally killed by the other side, weren't you?"

"Saying one less word won't kill you, [Loki]!"

However, Odin, the Supreme Holy Emperor, wore a solemn expression upon witnessing the regeneration of the Crystal Mechanism - Holy Celestial Skeleton: "I saw Hela, the Queen of the Land of the Dead, standing on a great ship made of dead men's fingernails. That ship was called Nagilfa, filled with an army of giants, sailing towards the realm of the gods. The evil god was the king of the sailors on board, the giant wolf Fenrir dwelled atop it, and the giant serpent Jormungandr coiled on the waves."

Originally, Odin, the Supreme Holy Emperor, didn't have any particular feelings about the Crystal Machine - Holy Celestial Skeleton. However, when he saw it standing next to the Crystal Machine - Central Serpent, he couldn't help but recall the prophecy about "Ragnarok" that he had learned about. No matter how he looked at it, the Crystal Machine - Holy Celestial Skeleton, which had the word "skeleton" in its name and did indeed have a vehicle function, seemed to be referring to the ship of the dead.

"As expected, you are a rather dangerous being, Hayato Kobayashi." Instead of ordering [Thor] to change its target, he personally took action, raising his spear. "I have never demanded that you humans refrain from wielding power beyond your own kind. However, you have repeatedly shown me the approaching prophesied fate!"

“You are only twenty-three years old now, and you have already obtained the two powers that threaten us, ‘Jormungandr’ and ‘Nagilfa’. If this continues, you will have four powers by the time you are forty-six, and by the time you are ninety-two, you will be able to bring about Ragnarok by yourself.”

"As the King of Gods, I must defeat you here—for the glory of the gods!"

"The Great God's Declaration: Gungnir!"

What streaked across the sky—was it a shooting star? No, it was the spear in the hands of the Supreme Holy Emperor, Odin! This divine spear, which in mythology was said to "always pierce its target," was hurled by Odin in an instant, piercing through the body of the Crystal Mechanism—Holy Celestial Skeleton—and shattering it to pieces!
The God King's furious strike, even with its attack power reduced by 500 points by the [Crystal Mechanism - Holy Celestial Crystal], still instantly destroyed it and sent it back to the graveyard!
However, because it was a defensive signal, Hayato did not suffer any further combat damage.

Because of the departure of [Crystal Mechanism - Holy Celestial Crystal], the crystal clusters on the "Three Extreme Gods" shattered and their power was restored. [Extreme God Emperor - Thor] immediately took action and smashed his giant hammer hard onto [Crystal Mechanism - Central Serpent]!

【Emperor of the Ultimate Gods - Thor】【ATK3000→3500】

[Hayato Kobayashi: 3800→3600LP, 2 card in hand]

After a powerful attack that combined the strength of the "Three Gods," Hayato only lost a mere 400 Life Points. However, he still had a [Phantom Wing Synchro Dragon] and a face-down card remaining on his field. Even the effect of [Crystal Machine - Central Serpent], which had just been destroyed in battle by [God Emperor - Thor], was activated.

"Although the effect of [Crystal Machine - Central Serpent] was negated by you, [Thor], while it was on the field, it successfully escaped your restriction after being destroyed and sent to the Graveyard." Hayato took out another card from the banished monsters and said, "If the Synchro Summoned [Crystal Machine - Central Serpent] is destroyed by battle or card effect, I can target any banished monsters of both players other than this card and Special Summon them to my field."

"I Special Summon this banished [Crystal Machine - Smoky Tiger]".

【Crystal Mechanism - Smoky Tiger】【DEF1800→2100】

"Tch, one kill and another one comes, there's no way to kill them all." Although it felt great to smash [Crystal Machine - Central Serpent], [Ultimate God Emperor - Thor] felt a little annoyed when he saw another [Crystal Machine - Smoke Tiger] appear on Hayato's field in the blink of an eye.

"Are you really annoyed?" Hayato asked knowingly. "You'll definitely feel that way at first, but if I do it a few more times, maybe you'll get used to it?"

"Before your Battle Phase ends, [Supreme Holy Emperor - Odin], I activate my last face-down card - Trap Card [Crystal Machine Capsule]! Special Summon one [Crystal Machine] Tuner Monster from my hand and Graveyard."

"I Special Summon [Crystal Machine - Quantum White Crystal] from my hand and [Crystal Machine - Matrix Topaz] from my Graveyard!" [Crystal Machine - Quantum White Crystal] [DEF 500 → 800]

【Crystal Mechanism - Matrix Citrine】【DEF500→800】

【Supreme Holy Emperor - Odin】 frowned as he saw two more Tuners appear on Hayato's field. He subconsciously checked the two monsters with his eyes, then his expression suddenly changed: "So that's how it is. Is this your true power?!"

"Where exactly does the strength of [Crystal Machine] lie? To be honest, its control over the terminal isn't very strong, and its effect when destroyed is also quite outdated. Its own Spell & Trap Cards aren't particularly powerful either, and most of its non-Tuner effects can only be activated once per turn." Hayato muttered to himself, perhaps answering [Odin], "But the one thing that can't be denied is the strength of [Crystal Machine] Tuner monsters."

"So far, the only [Crystal Machine] Tuner effect I've revealed is [Crystal Machine - Trinity Crystal], right? Actually, the other three [Crystal Machine] Tuner effects aren't much weaker, because they all have the ability to Special Summon monsters from a specific area during the opponent's Main Phase and Battle Phase and perform Accelerated Synchro Summoning on themselves!"

Hayato waved his hand and said, "First, there's the effect of [Crystal Machine - Quantum White Crystal]. I can Special Summon a monster from my hand that is not a Tuner by negating its effects, and then Synchro Summon a Machine Synchro Monster using only that monster and this card as materials!"

(Perpetually banned card)
"I Special Summon this Level 1☆ [Level Thief Bug] from my hand, and then send the Level 1☆ Tuner monster [Crystal Machine - Quantum White Crystal] and the Level 1☆ non-Tuner monster [Level Thief Bug] as Synchro Materials to the Graveyard!"

"May our gathered prayers reach a new horizon of speed, transforming into a radiant path!"

"Summoning Synchro, Level 1☆ + 1☆ = 2☆!"

"The invincible little car—[Formula Synchronizer]!"

[Formula Synchronizer] [2☆/Light]

[Mechanical Race/Synchro/Adjustment/Effect]

[200/1500]

"【Formula】?" Odin was more interested in the name preceding 【Formula Synchron】 than the 【Synchronizer】 field, because there had been a 【Formula Athlete - Lightning Track Champion】 before, and it mistakenly thought that was the main field of 【Formula Synchronizer】. "Is it a Synchron Monster from the same series as that previous monster?"

"Actually, no, the two are not that related. But let's skip the detailed explanation." Hayato was too lazy to explain how huge the [Synchronizer] series was, and waved his hand, saying, "First, because of the effect of [Formula Synchronizer] - this card can only be activated when it is Synchro Summoned, I drew a card from my deck."

"Draw!"

[Hayato Kobayashi: 3600LP, hand 2→1→2]

Having replenished the cards consumed when activating [Crystal Machine Capsule], Hayato continued, "Then, I activate the effect of my [Crystal Machine - Matrix Topaz], which Special Summons a One-in-One monster from my Graveyard during my opponent's Main Phase and Battle Phase, negating its effects, and then Synchro Summons it as Synchro Material for a One-in-One Machine-Type monster. However, when Synchro Summons using this effect, the Synchro Material monster is banished instead of sent to the Graveyard."

"I will Special Summon the Level 5☆ Crystal Machine - Lemon Fafnir from my Graveyard, and then banish the Level 2☆ Tuner monster Crystal Machine - Matrix Topaz and the Level 5☆ Non-Tuner monster Crystal Machine - Lemon Fafnir!"

"Summon [Formula Athlete - Lightning Track Champion] once again!"

[Formula Athlete - Racing Champion] [DEF2000]

Hayato placed the card on the field and shrugged, "Alright, I've finished my turn. You can continue your turn now."

As Hayato moved around freely during his turn, while he could only watch from the sidelines like an "incompetent husband," [Supreme Holy Emperor - Odin] felt a sense of frustration that came from nowhere. But in reality, even if Hayato gave him back his turn, there was nothing he could do.

"I end my battle phase, and then in Main Phase 2, I set two cards face down on my back row and end my turn." Even though [Supreme Holy Emperor - Odin] had already completed all possible combos in Main Phase 1, he only managed to set two cards face down before ending his turn, even after regaining control of his turn.

【Supreme Holy Emperor - Odin: 2000 LP, Hand size 2 → 0】

【Emperor of the Ultimate Gods - Thor】【ATK3500】

【Loki, the Supreme God Emperor】【ATK3300】

【Supreme Holy Emperor - Odin】【ATK4000】

Backcourt: [Face Card] x2
However, while Odin declared the end of the turn, Hayato had a card effect to activate: "Then during the end phase of the opponent's turn, by the effect of my Field Spell Card [Crystal Array Potential], I draw cards from my Deck equal to the number of [Crystal Machine] Synchro Monsters I Synchro Summoned this turn."

"I Synchro Summoned [Crystal Machine - Quantum Ruby White Crystal] and [Crystal Machine - Central Serpent], so I can draw two cards."

[Hayato Kobayashi: 3600LP, hand 2→4]

【Crystal Mechanism - Smoky Tiger】【DEF2100】

[Formula Synchronizer] [DEF1500]

[Formula Athlete - Racing Champion] [DEF2000]

【Phantom Wing Synchron Dragon】【DEF2000】

Venue: [Crystal Array - Potential] (End of Chapter)