Is this the poker world?Ada thief!

Chapter 1895 The Harp Fairy is So Beautiful

"My battle phase!"

Looking at the three monsters on the field of [Mediocre Ghost], Jim shouted, "Use [Paleo Fossil Motorcycle - Skull Truck] to attack [Skull Rider]!"

Upon hearing this, [Mediocre Ghost] said in surprise, "Are you serious? My [Skeleton Rider] is a high-level monster with 1900 attack power, and because it is a level 6 ritual monster, I equipped it with a powerful [ritual weapon]."

"The Skeleton Rider now boasts a whopping 3400 attack power and 3350 defense power. You think your big truck can take him down?"

However, no sooner had [Mediocre Ghost] finished speaking than his [Skeleton Rider] on the field, facing the [Paleozoic Fossil Motorcycle - Skeleton Truck] with its high beams on and engine starting up, jumped off his motorcycle in a panic.

Not only that, but the other two monsters on the field of [Mediocre Ghost] – [Disc Rider], whose attack power had been increased by its own effect, also jumped off their respective motorcycles.

"Hey, what are you guys doing? Even if the other side crashes into us, it's entirely their fault!"

"Hey, if you're so tough, why don't you go stand in front of that big truck!"

Regarding the changes that occurred on the field with [Mediocre Ghost], Jim explained: "This is the first effect of my [Paleozoic Fossil Motorcycle - Skull Truck] - as long as this card is in the Monster Zone, the ATK of all monsters on your opponent's field will be reduced by their original DEF value."

[Disc Rider] [ATK2200→700]

[Skeleton Rider] (Ritual Weapon) [ATK 3400 → 1550]

Not only was the attack power bonus provided by the Ritual Weapon negated, but the attack power of the Skeleton Rider was also reduced to only 1550 points, not to mention the even lower attack power of the Disc Rider!
Although Jim was trying to escape on a motorcycle, his Paleozoic Fossil Motorcycle - Skull Truck didn't care. It ran over and crushed the abandoned motorcycle and crashed straight into the fleeing Skull Rider, destroying it!
"Waaah!"

[Mediocre Ghost: 6200→5650LP, 0 cards in hand]

“It’s not over yet!” Jim said again. “Once the Paleozoic Fossil Motorcycle - Skull Truck is started, it’s not so easy to stop—its second effect is that it can perform three attacks within a single combat phase. I’ll continue using it to attack the other two Disc Riders!”

The Skeleton Rider was killed by the "Great Luck," and how could the two Skeleton Riders who also fled escape unscathed? Having their attack power reduced as well, they followed in the Skeleton Rider's footsteps and were successively run over and killed by the Paleozoic Fossil Motorcycle - Skeleton Truck.

"Eek!" "Ugh!"

After two more cries of pain, [Mediocre Ghost] watched his base score plummet, quickly dwindling to just 2850 points.

[Mediocre Ghost: 5650→4250→2850LP]

"Hoo, hoo, hahaha, although you hit me hard in an instant, it's ultimately harmless!" Looking at his remaining basic points, [Mediocre Ghost] said arrogantly, "Although you deducted a full 3350 basic points from me in one round, it's only to that extent."

"Luckily, I sent one of the [Disc Riders] to the graveyard in the previous turn using the effect of [Mysterious Chinese Pot] to replenish my base points, otherwise I would only have a measly 650 base points left now."

"But I have enough basic points left, so I'll use them next round—"

[Mediocre Ghost] had only spoken halfway when he saw Jim, who was standing opposite him, put away his Duel Disk and walk back with O'Brien. This made [Mediocre Ghost] very angry: "Hey, you! The duel isn't over yet, why are you ignoring me! I hate being ignored!"

"No, the duel is over." Jim glanced at [Mediocre Ghost] and pointed to its head. "When [Paleozoic Fossil Motorcycle - Skull Truck] destroys an opponent's monster in battle, its third effect will be activated, inflicting 1000 Life Points as effect damage to the opponent. This effect is not limited to once per turn."

Following Jim's finger upwards, [Mediocre Ghost] was astonished to find that all the motorcycle parts crushed by the [Paleogene Fossil Motorcycle - Skull Truck] were being thrown up and falling towards him from the sky!?
"You shall remain here and keep company with the souls of those who died here."

"No! I don't want to be killed like a nobody!"

Having appeared for less than a chapter, the "Mediocre Ghost" made a declaration like a nobody, only to be crushed and killed on the spot by the parts, dissipating into a few wisps of white light.

Jim and O'Brien, on the other hand, walked out with a very cool "real men never look back at an explosion" attitude. As for the [Giant Mediocre Demon] blocking their way? When Jim killed the [Mediocre Demon], it suddenly collapsed as if the power had been cut off, also dissipating into white specks of light.

Although they had been in the elven world for some time, Jim and O'Brien still couldn't quite understand the phenomenon that not only the other party but also their creations would disappear along with their master.

However, upon reaching the exit and catching a glimpse of black smoke rising from the valley where they had just arrived, the two decided to immediately turn back and return to the cave to see what was happening outside.

(I highly recommend watching this part of the original episode; the performance is hilarious, it's like they really walk out and then immediately walk back—GX Episode 138, 19:42)

"That place...that's Bagandy's village!" Jim stared wide-eyed at the rising black smoke. "[The Mediocre Ghost] just said the 'Overlord Army' has set out. Could it be that they've already—"

“There’s nowhere to hide here. To avoid a head-on collision with the main force of the ‘Overlord Army,’ let’s go to higher ground, Jim.”

“Hmm.” Jim nodded in agreement with O’Brien’s suggestion, and the two immediately went to a higher place to avoid a direct confrontation with the “Overlord Army” that would inevitably pass through here.

Not long after Jim and O'Brien found a place to hide, the dark mass of the "Overlord Army" had already arrived. Although [Mediocre Ghost] hated being ignored, it seemed that even the "Overlord Army" didn't care about it, or whether it was the only one left behind and its life or death—or perhaps, they didn't even know that [Mediocre Ghost] had been left behind and hadn't gone on the expedition.

The Overlord Army passed directly through the prison to the mountain-like castle further behind—the true headquarters of the Overlord Army. Among the marching Overlord Army troops, Jim and O'Brien saw countless powerful monsters, but those were all members of the Overlord Army, soldiers and generals, not the prisoners captured by the Overlord Army that they used to see.

"No prisoners among the 'Overlord's Army'? What's going on? Have they changed their strategy and no longer need to invade and capture duelists?" Jim wondered, while a unlikely guess crept into his mind, "Or perhaps, Bagandy and his men successfully—"

“I’m afraid they don’t.” But O’Brien’s voice shattered Jim’s hopes. He pointed into the distance and said, “That’s the direction of Bagandy’s village.”

The two were now hiding on the roof of the top floor of the prison, a place few would think of. Under the cover of the jagged, broken rock walls around them, none of the "Overlord Army" passing below noticed them. They were able to see into the distance using the terrain, and could clearly see that even the flames that had been lit seemed to have been extinguished after burning everything, leaving only black smoke, a symbol of despair and death, rising continuously.

—Bagandy's village was not spared from attack as Jim imagined; it had been destroyed. They did not wait for Jim and O'Brien to return to their aid, nor could they withstand the attack of the "Overlord Army," led by "Overlord" himself.

As the "Overlord Army" marched on, Jim and O'Brien also saw the figure who was devoutly surrounded by the "Four Heavenly Kings of the Overlord Army" and kept at a distance by the rest of the "Overlord Army" out of awe of its majesty and fear of its power.

Although he was riding a skeletal horse with ram horns, it was clear that the man was not very tall. Even so, Jim and O'Brien immediately guessed that the being wearing the ferocious armor of gold and black was probably the legendary "Overlord".

“...King!” Jim clenched his fists, his mind filled with images of the people from Bagandi village who, despite their short time together, had left a deep impression on him.

Nero, who yearns to become stronger and become a duelist to protect everyone; Nero's elderly and cautious grandfather; the cheerful and friendly but resolute warrior Bagandi; and the gentle [harp spirit] Curalet, who is in love with Bagandi.
But all of this has vanished in those flames! Vanished by the invasion of the "Overlord Army," perished in the hands of the "Overlord"!

"Don't be impulsive, Jim!" Seeing Jim's impulsive intentions, O'Brien immediately dissuaded him. "Not to mention that if we act like this, we won't even be able to achieve our initial goal of rescuing Jaden and the others, and we'll just lose our lives for nothing. Even if we take the opportunity to attack now, we may not be able to kill that 'Overlord'."

“You’re right, O’Brien.” Jim, who had almost acted irrationally due to anger, quickly calmed down. “There are just too many of them. Even if it were an assassination, now wouldn’t be the right time. Besides, we can’t even be sure if they’re really ‘Overlord’ or just a target he’s using.” “That guy’s armor and mask are so thick, we might not even have any underneath.” To distract himself, Jim couldn’t help but look up at the sky.

There, a blue comet was falling in a certain direction. But if it were a normal comet, it would either have disappeared due to atmospheric friction or had already left the atmosphere and crashed to the ground. However, ever since Jaden and his companions came to this world through the area where the bird-beast race was enslaved, that "comet" has been hanging high in the sky.

In the villages Jim and his companions encountered, there were elves with divination abilities who said that the comet was not an ordinary astronomical phenomenon. In ancient legends, it had its own unique name, "Orichalcos Star." It was said to be a "phenomenon" like a scar left by the battle between the "Dragon God" and the "Great Serpent" in a certain world. Because it did not have a physical form, it had always hung in the sky.

What that comet represents is not detailed even in the ancient legends themselves, but there are many contradictory conjectures. For example, some say that the comet represents the end of the world, and when the comet lands, the world will be destroyed; some say that the comet symbolizes death, and if someone sees the comet falling in their direction, it means that it has become their "death omen"; others believe that the comet is a force of "change", and its flash may bring sacrifice, but something will be changed.

However, the elf who provided this knowledge did not believe these legends, because he had witnessed countless sacrifices in his past life, yet the comet in the sky remained the same "Orichalcos," never showing any special signs or bringing any change. The world remained the same cruel world, and it had even become worse with the appearance and rampage of the "Overlord Army."

Bargandhi also told O'Brien and Jim not to worry too much about that star that was "unpleasant no matter how you look at it." They didn't have the leisure to stargaze; they had to do everything they could to protect the people around them from the "Overlord Army."

Jim looked at the stars in the sky, then suddenly said to O'Brien, "By the way, Bro, which direction is that star you see pointing right now?"

"Hmm?" O'Brien was a little confused. Jim, who had almost impulsively attacked the "Overlord Army" below, suddenly started looking at the celestial phenomena. He wondered why Jim had studied paleontology instead of astronomy. But despite his confusion, he looked up and pointed in a direction, saying, "That star is falling in that direction, it should be due north."

“It sounds like it could be used as the North Star,” Jim chuckled, but said casually. “However, I don’t seem to be able to use that comet to determine direction. I’ve seen it falling in my direction ever since I first came into this world several days ago.”

When Jim was learning about the "Star of Orichalcos" and he was also looking for information about the "Overlord Army" from Bagandi, O'Brien didn't understand Jim's meaning at first. He didn't know what it meant for the elves in this world to see that star falling towards them.

However, he saw something else.

"Jim, look there!" He pointed into the distance, and Jim looked in the direction O'Brien was pointing and saw a figure walking out from the direction where the black smoke was rising, using something that reflected light as a support to move with difficulty.

It was the reflection of the object in his hand that caught O'Brien's attention, and with the superhuman vision common to duelists, Jim and O'Brien discovered that the person was actually Bagandy!

However, this "Absolute Defense General's" armor was tattered and riddled with arrows and blades. His shield was missing a corner, and his sword, which he used to support himself on the ground, was broken. That's why he could use it instead of stabbing it directly into the ground.

"That's... Bagand!? And he seems to be saying something?"

"What!? What is he saying?" Jim couldn't help but turn to look at O'Brien. He hadn't learned lip reading or anything like that, so he could only rely on his partner.

O'Brien's eyes widened, not disappointing Jim at all, because he really could read lips—after all, his previous profession was that of a mercenary, and on the battlefield, communication via hand gestures wasn't always possible; lip reading was an essential skill. Looking at Bagandi, he read Bagandi's words: "'Overlord,' 'Invincible,' 'Run!'"

(Reading lips at this distance, the card players really have binocular vision like everyone else)

These few words had exhausted Bagandy's last strength. In the eyes of Jim and O'Brien, the sword and shield in Bagandy's hands fell to the ground in the distance. Unable to hold them any longer, Bagandy himself was surrounded by golden light and dissipated into the air.

"Bagandi!"

Seeing Bagandy's death, Jim clenched his fist again, his hands having previously tightened and loosened. He glanced at O'Brien, said "Sorry," then abruptly turned and ran in another direction.

"Jim?!"

O'Brien didn't understand what Jim was suddenly going to do and tried to call him back, but Jim just kept running forward without turning his head and said to O'Brien, "That man is unforgivable! Absolutely unforgivable! Sorry, Bro, you should leave now and not be dragged down by me."

"Because I want to—"

(The overlord was quite easygoing, letting his subordinates go first while he went last.)
Stepping onto the protrusion at the edge of the roof, the "Overlord Army" had already entered the real main camp at the rear. The castle gates were open, and some "Overlord Army" soldiers were still walking in. However, the "Four Heavenly Kings" of the "Overlord Army" and the armored man who was suspected to be the "Overlord" himself were not the first to enter the castle, but stayed at the back of the group.

Taking a deep breath, and amidst O'Brien's distraught expression, screaming "What are you doing, Jim?", Jim disregarded the consequences of stepping forward and resolutely shouted, "Overlord—!!!"

"To destroy this world, to annihilate countless homes, and to take the lives of others!"

"Why, why would anyone do something so outrageous!"

"You bastard, you're no longer human! I absolutely, absolutely cannot forgive you! I'm going to kill you, right now, right here!"

"Let's settle this once and for all!"

Jim's right eye had been throbbing with pain for some time, but the slight discomfort was no longer enough to quell his fury. He was consumed by a raging rage, willing to sacrifice his own life for it—he had to, absolutely had to, kill "Overlord"! Because it was the source of this world's calamities, the creator of others' suffering, "Overlord" was the destroyer of this world!
"Who dares to yell at Lord 'Overlord'?!" Among the "Four Heavenly Kings" beside "Overlord", the humanoid monster with purple skin and demon horns, [Guardian-Bao], was the first to react. He considered himself Lord 'Overlord's' loyal dog and could not tolerate anyone disrespecting him. He turned his head, scanned his left and right, and suddenly looked up, locking his gaze on Jim and O'Brien standing on the roof!
With a "whoosh," he suddenly teleported to the rooftop, right in front of Jim. [Guardian-Bao] reached out and grabbed Jim's neck, seemingly intending to snap Jim's neck to atone for his disrespect. If Jim didn't die from being choked, he could take him down to the "Overlord" later.

"boom!"

Before Jim could react, a gunshot rang out. The [Volcanic Deer Bullet], launched from the gun-shaped duel disk, possessed extremely strong recoil-stopping power, stopping [Guardian-Bao]'s outstretched hand in its tracks. O'Brien immediately pulled Jim back a step, scolding him, "Jim Crocodile Cook, you're insane! You just stood there like that!"

“I’m sorry, Brother. And thank you for helping me, but you could have left.” Jim looked at O’Brien and shook his head. “Now you’re exposed to them too.”

"Stop talking nonsense! I can't abandon my comrades!" O'Brien said irritably, then immediately pressed a button on his hand—it was a detonator.

Although 【Guardian-Bao】 was hit by Obryan's hastily fired 【Volcanic Deer Bullet】, the latter only interrupted the former's actions. 【Guardian-Bao】, despite being only a Level 4☆ monster, displayed exaggerated power. Not only did it teleport just now, but it also immediately chased after Jim and Obryan after they seemed to be retreating, trying to catch both Jim and Obryan at once.

—But as O'Brien pressed the detonator, two bombs on the ground he had left behind when he pulled Jim back were detonated, directly blowing a large hole in the roof where the two were, and causing [Guardian-Bao] to fall into the air.

This was nothing to the Guardian-Bao, who possessed teleportation abilities; he could always come back after falling in. The problem was that O'Brien not only didn't take Jim with him to retreat, but also approached the hole the moment the impact of the explosion subsided, pointing his gun at the Guardian-Bao who had just fallen in, and fired a shot!
"boom!"

This time, O'Brien loaded not [Volcanic Deer Bullet], but [Volcanic Rocket Bullet]. The card that hit [Guardian-Bao] didn't explode or penetrate it; instead, it released a powerful thrust that accelerated [Guardian-Bao] downwards—[Guardian-Bao] was now falling into the lava pool where [Mediocre Ghost] had been, and directly below it was another lava pool!

Intending to teleport, but just interrupted by the [Volcanic Rocket], [Guardian-Bao] glanced at the lava below that was about to be "elbowed" by him and cursed, "This damn gravity!"

Bounty accumulation—

Recommendation: 162 votes

Monthly pass: 150 votes

Tip: 500
Unupdated: 1/6
I'll post one chapter today, and I'll continue the rest next month~