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Chapter 1921 Backcourt Five Cards, Please Advise
Following [Black Chaos Magician - Black Chaos], another ritual monster recorded in [The Ritual of Light and Darkness] - [Warrior of Light and Darkness - Chaos Warrior] was also summoned, and it was a proper ritual summoning.

As soon as he appeared, he unleashed a slash that struck Hayato's field.

"If [Warrior of Light and Darkness - Chaos Warrior] is Special Summoned, target one card on your opponent's field and activate its effect; banish that card." Pointing to Hayato's field, Demon Dragon Knight - Timaeus declared, "I banish [Secret Dragon Knight]!"

Just as [Dark Magician of Chaos - Dark Chaos] retains the powerful ability of [Dark Magician of Chaos] to recycle Spell Cards from the Graveyard, [Warrior of Light and Darkness - Chaos Warrior] clearly also possesses the banishing effect of [Chaos Warrior - Messenger of the Beginning], and even further strengthens it by becoming an effect that can be activated immediately upon entering the field. Although it lacks the ability to be reactivated later, this change makes it useful for disrupting the opponent's strategy by entering the field at second speed.

Because it is neither a Dragon-Type nor a Spellcaster-Type monster, the effect of [Sacred Dragon Knight], which is highly effective against these two types and frequently appears in duels between Hayato and Kaiba, Yugi, and others, cannot affect [Warrior of Light and Darkness - Chaos Warrior]. It is easily banished from Hayato's field, leaving only the lone [Teaching Thunder - Friedrichs] on Hayato's field.

【小林隼人：4000LP，手牌：5→4→3→2】

【Teaching Thunder - Flederis】【ATK2500】

However, it wouldn't make much difference if Hayato cleared out all the monsters on his field, since it's only the first turn of the duel and Tymaeus the Dragon Knight can't enter the battle phase to launch an attack with the monsters on his field.

【Timaeus the Dragon Knight: 3000 LP, Hand: 6→8→6】

【The Magician of Dark Chaos - Dark Chaos】【ATK2800】

[Warrior of Light and Darkness - Chaos Warrior] [ATK3000]

Backcourt: [Two Hearts] [Face Cards] x2
Seemingly dissatisfied with the large number of monsters on his field, and also bound by the effect of "Sage of the Spirits," which limited him to only one Special Summon from the Extra Deck, Tymaeus, not wanting to miss this opportunity, played another card:

"I activate the Spell Card [Fusion], and use the monsters in my hand and on the field as Fusion Materials to perform a Fusion Summon. The materials I use are [Catapult Turtle] and [Dark Dragon King] from my hand, and [Warrior of Light and Darkness - Chaos Warrior] from the field."

"The requirements for Fusion Materials are: three monsters with different card names, and only one or more monsters from my hand and field can be used as Fusion Summons from the Extra Deck!"

"Unite as one—[Guardian Chimera]!"

As if trying to completely match the game's deck, even without monsters like "Winged Beast," it still forcibly found a similar card. Demon Dragon Knight - Timaeus fused and summoned a three-headed, one-piece apothecary that stood on its field.

[Guardian Chimera] [9☆/Dark]

[Orc/Fusion/Effect]

[3300/3300]

"Because of the effect of [Sage of the Spirits], I cannot perform any more Special Summonings from the Extra Deck. However, if [Guardian Chimera] is Fusion Summoned by the effect of a Spell Card, its first effect will be activated—I draw cards from my hand equal to the number of Fusion Materials from my Deck, and then destroy cards on my opponent's field equal to the number of Fusion Materials from my field."

The three-headed stitched beast, standing where the Warrior of Light and Darkness - Chaos Warrior had disappeared, charged up and then unleashed a beam of light, instantly shattering Hayato's only remaining card, "Teaching Thunder - Fledelis." At the same time, Demon Dragon Knight - Timaeus drew two cards from his deck: "I used two monsters from my hand as Fusion Material, so I can draw two cards and destroy one card on my opponent's field - I destroy 'Teaching Thunder - Fledelis.'"

【Timaeus the Dragon Knight: 3000 LP, Hand: 6→3→5】

"Next, I will use the effect of [Chaos Lord - Skeleton Demon] in my graveyard."

"If this card is in my hand or graveyard, I can target three cards in both players' graveyards that contain the card name of 'Ritual of Light and Darkness', as well as three banished cards, excluding this card. I choose 'Warrior of Light and Darkness - Chaos Warrior', 'Pot of Greed' in my graveyard, and the banished 'Kuriguri'."

"Return those cards to the bottom of the deck in your desired order, and Special Summon [Chaos Lord - Skeleton Demon] from the Graveyard!"

【Chaos Lord - Skeleton Demon】【6☆/Dark】

[Demon Race/Effect]

[2500/1200]

With its graveyard effect and self-jump effect with recovery, in Hayato's opinion, this [Chaos Demon King - Skeleton Demon] is a pretty good card even without its appearance effect. Even if it doesn't have any subsequent appearance effects, well... really, it doesn't. So, taking back what I said, it's only a mid-tier card.

Seeing that the Chaos Demon King - Skeleton Demon had appeared on the field but hadn't done anything, Hayato wondered how the Demon Dragon Knight - Timaeus would proceed next.

With three monsters on the field and five cards in his hand, Demon Dragon Knight - Timaeus had no intention of stopping there. He continued, "The effect of my Continuous Trap Card 'Two Hearts' on the back field is: once per turn, add one monster from my Deck with the name 'Ritual of Light and Darkness' to my hand, and then discard one card from my hand."

"I added [Warrior of Light and Darkness - Chaos Warrior], which just returned to the bottom of my deck, to my hand and discarded one card."

"Next, I place two cards face down, and my turn ends."

With only three monsters left on the field, Demon Dragon Knight - Timaeus ended its turn. However, the Spectator - Fusion Dragon - Timaeus was not to underestimate its opponent's lineup. After all, the most dangerous thing was the opponent's five cards in the back row - in a way, this was also a tribute to Yugi Muto's favorite "T" pattern.

【Timaeus the Dragon Knight: 3000 LP, Hand: 5→5→3】

【Chaos Lord - Skeleton Demon】【ATK2500】

【Guardian Chimera】【ATK3300】

【The Magician of Dark Chaos - Dark Chaos】【ATK2800】

Backcourt: [Two Hearts] [Face Cards] x4
Hayato didn't think that since the opponent's other cards were almost maxed out, the "Two Hearts" card would only have such a simple search effect. Its second effect must have some special use, especially since the card art depicted "Black Chaos Magician" and "Warrior of Light and Darkness - Chaos Warrior" fighting side by side, and the name was also "Two Hearts." Could it be referring to Yugi and Atem, who once fought as a pair?

Could that card also perform a classic "switching" tactic?

The best way to deal with a back row full of cards is usually to play a [Great Storm] or [Harpie's Feather Duster] to give the opponent a good time. However, due to the existence of [Dark Chaos Magician - Dark Chaos], the spell and trap cards in the back row of Tymaeus the Dragon Knight are now in a "pseudo-invincible" state of "not being destroyed or banished by the opponent's effects". It is almost only possible to deliberately step on the traps one by one.

Not only do you have to be wary of [Two Hearts], but you also have to be careful of the other four face-down cards in the opponent's back row. The monster quality of Demon Dragon Knight - Timaeus may not look very good, but the preparation in the back row is quite sufficient, which gives Hayato the feeling that he is really dueling with Yugi.

However, the opponent is not a game after all, while Hayato, even if he were a game, would have defeated it countless times.

“Then, during the end phase of your turn, I have a card effect in my graveyard that I need to activate.” Seeing that his opponent did not respond to the effect and activate the card, Hayato also took out a card and said, “The card that was discarded earlier this turn by the effect of [Albus's Fallen Child] is this [White Mark].

"This card can only be activated during the End Phase of the turn it is sent to the Graveyard to activate the effect of [Albus's Fall]. Set this card on my back field."

Hayato's turn ended after he set a card face down. Then, Hayato placed his finger on his deck and entered the draw phase, drawing a card from his deck: "My turn, draw."

[Hayato Kobayashi: 4000LP, hand cards: 2→3]

With three cards replenished in his hand, Hayato was about to play another card when he heard Demon Dragon Knight - Timaeus shout, "At the instant I enter my opponent's Standby Phase, the face-down card on my back row activates!" "Quick-Play Spell Card [Timaeus's Gaze] can only be activated by targeting one [Dark Magician] or [Dark Magician Girl] on my field or in my Graveyard!"

The Quick-Play Spell Card that was searched by the effect of [Dark Magician of Destruction] in the previous turn was activated. Hayato still had some impression of this card, but he didn't remember when Demon Dragon Knight - Timaeus had ever played [Dark Magician] - in Demon Dragon Knight - Timaeus's deck, it was translated as "Dark Magician".

However, before Hayato could raise any questions, the Demon Dragon Knight - Timaeus himself provided an explanation: "This [Dark Magician of Destruction], which was previously chosen as a fusion material by [Albus's Fallen Child], has an effect that, in addition to its appearance effect, can be used as [Dark Magician] if it exists on the field or in the graveyard."

"Return that one-piece monster to your deck as Fusion Material, and Fusion Summon the one-piece Fusion Monster that holds that card name as Fusion Material as the effect of [Eye of Timaeus]. The monster Fusion Summoned by this effect is banished during the End Phase of the next turn."

Speaking of "Eye of Timaeus," it's hard not to think of a card that was originally a testament to the bond between Yugi and Jonouchi, but thanks to the power of "Eye of Timaeus," Yugi was able to Special Summon it even without Jonouchi's cooperation.

"Masaka?"

"The power of 【Eye of Timaeus】is that it can directly Fusion Summon a Fusion Monster using only one monster as any material and recording that card name as the Fusion Material. The monster I want to Fusion Summon is this one—【Super Magical Dragon Knight - Red-Eyes Dragon Rider】!"

【Super Magical Dragon Knight - Red-Eyes Dragon Knight】【8☆/Dark】

[Mage Race/Fusion/Effect]

[3000/2500]

The Fusion Monster codenamed "Red Maggot" descended onto the field of Demon Dragon Knight - Timaeus, balancing the number of cards in his front and back rows, turning him into four monsters in the front row and four cards in the back row. Furthermore, because each card has different resistances, it is difficult to quickly wipe them out with a single card.

—【Super Magical Dragon Knight - Red-Eyes Dragon Rider】's imposing resistance prevents it from being destroyed or targeted; 【Guardian Chimera】cannot be targeted by the opponent's effects because there is a 【Fusion】 Spell Card in the opponent's Graveyard; 【Dark Chaos Magician - Dark Chaos】provides resistance to the back row and also has the ability to not be targeted, so it is not affected by activated effects.

Only [Chaos Demon Lord - Skeleton Demon] is plain and simple, with no resistance and the lowest attack power, seemingly just there to fill a spot. However, if it were released, destroyed, or fused by Hayato and sent to the graveyard, it could activate its final effect to send another Ritual Spell Card to the graveyard for Demon Dragon Knight - Timaeus, while also searching for Ritual Monsters, which would be quite troublesome.

But from another perspective—aside from [Chaos Demon Lord - Skeleton Demon], which can activate its effect after being released, the other three monsters can all be directly defeated by Hayato through the "release" method. Isn't that a coincidence? He just happened to draw a card with the "release" ability this turn.

"Wow, that's incredible! This terrifying lineup is practically flawless. They managed to play so many powerful monsters in one go, even after all the interference I had in the previous turn." Hayato clapped his hands dramatically. "But why did you stop after only having four monsters on the field instead of five? Was it because five weren't enough?"

"That's not good, so I'll help you make up for it a little and give you a powerful monster!" He revealed a card in his hand, and the sunlight in the sky instantly intensified, as if the sun were falling to earth. "As for the reward, your monster will do!"

"Tribute any three-body monsters on your opponent's field to Summon this card to their field!"

The blazing sun in the sky was as sharp as a blade, and the monsters on the ground melted like cream. [Super Magical Dragon Knight - Red-Eyes Dragon Rider] didn't even get a chance to counter before being released by Hayato's zero-frame-starting [Ra's Winged Dragon of Ra - Sphere Form], and was sent to the graveyard along with [Guardian Chimera] and [Black Chaos Magician - Black Chaos].

Beside the Chaos Demon King - Skeleton Demon, only a lone "egg" remained.

【Ra's Winged Dragon - Spherical】】【10☆/God】

[Phantom Beast Race/Effect]

【？ /？】

"The summoned [Ra's Winged Dragon of Ra - Sphere] will return to its original owner at the end of the next turn, which is me. In other words, this card is a one-turn trial ticket that I'm giving you, so don't be too grateful." Hayato said, looking at the two cards remaining in his hand. "And since [Super Magical Dragon Knight - Red-Eyes Dragon Rider] is no longer on the field, I can safely play this card."

"The spell card [Angel's Charity] draws three cards from my deck and discards two cards from my hand."

Hayato chose to deal with the "Red Maggot" with its three colors first before playing this card draw card. However, even so, Dragon Knight - Timaeus still didn't let Hayato have his way.

"You can activate this effect when your opponent activates a monster's effect, Normal Spell Card, or Normal Trap Card. Activate my Quick-Play Spell Card [Chaos Top Hat] on my back field!"

The card that was previously set down with [Kuriguri Griffin] was activated by Tymaeus, the Dragon Knight, in a chain with Hayato's [Angel's Charity]. Three monsters on the field were released at once, but it didn't seem to have any particular emotion: "From my deck, I will treat three Spell/Trap Cards with different names as Normal Monsters with the name [Chaos Top Hat].

"I shuffle and set face-down in Defense Position a monster on my field that has 'Ritual of Light and Darkness' in its name. Then, my opponent's effect changes to 'Destroy one face-down Defense Position monster on their field'!"

In Duel Monsters, there is a card called "Magic Top Hat". Although the card art depicts four hats, its actual effect is simply to pull two Spell & Trap Cards from the deck to use as Monster Cards for defense. Not only is it a Trap Card, but the pulled-out cards only exist during the Battle Phase and are destroyed at the end of the Battle Phase.

(The Magic Hat in the game is a Quick-Play Spell Card, unlike the regular Trap Cards in the physical game.)
However, just like the different versions of "Magic Cylinder," there's also a Spell Card version of "Magic Top Hat" in the game's deck. This version allows you to select three Spell/Trap Cards from your deck and use them as monsters, and they can exist for multiple turns without being destroyed at the end of the Battle Phase. Clearly, the card that Demon Dragon Knight - Timaeus is activating right now is a "homage" to that card in the game.

The effect of [Angel's Charity] was interrupted, and Tymaeus the Dragon Knight took three cards from his deck and placed them face down on the Duel Disk, mixing them with [Chaos Lord - Skeleton Demon] which was already on the field.

[The inside side represents the monster (Chaos Hat)] [8☆/Dark]

[Mage Race/Normal]

[0/0]

The "Spell & Trap Monsters" Special Summoned by the effect of "Chaos Top Hat" are treated as Normal Monsters and do not disappear at the end of the turn. Theoretically, these cards can remain on the opponent's field, and during the turn of Tyrannosaurus Rex, these "Monster Cards" can be flipped over and used as Normal Monster Cards again. They can even be used as materials and tributes for Fusion, Ritual, Synchro Summoning, etc.

Hayato's "Angel's Charity" had its effect negated, forcing him to destroy one of the four face-down cards on his opponent's field. Hayato randomly pointed to one, and as one of the four top hats on his opponent's field was destroyed, the spell card "Heavenly Treasure" was revealed.

This is another powerful aspect of this card. If Tymaeus the Dragon Knight includes cards like "Troublemaker," he can even trigger the effects of destroyed Spell/Trap Cards, such as "Jackpot," using Hayato's destruction effect. Fortunately, this card's effect is well-limited, requiring "Spell/Trap Cards with different names." Otherwise, if someone used a single Lightning Bolt to destroy a monster and ended up blowing up three "Jackpot" cards, the game would be over.

However, Hayato was surprised that his opponent would use a powerful card like "Heavenly Treasure Card" as a "shield." Perhaps it was because his opponent's deck didn't have any cards that could be destroyed and activated. Hayato remained skeptical—with so many cards "paying homage" to Yugi's decks, there was no reason why they wouldn't include a card like "Mirror Force Activation," right?
The effect of 【Angel's Charity】 has been altered. This powerful card, which originally allowed Hayato to draw cards and add more to the graveyard without losing cards in his hand, now reduces Hayato's hand size by one, leaving him with only one card on the field. However, he remains unfazed and instead reveals the face-down card on the back field: "So what if you can change 【Angel's Charity】 once? Can you even react to this card of mine?"

"Normal Spell Card [White Mark] activated! This card is a Fusion Spell Card of the [Mark] family. It can use monsters in my hand or on the field, including Dragon-Type monsters, as Fusion Materials to Fusion Summon a Fusion Monster."

After a pause, Hayato took a card from his graveyard. "However, when using my [Albus's Fallen Blood] as Fusion Material, I can also banish monsters from my graveyard as Fusion Material!"

However, at the same time Hayato took out his card, Demon Dragon Knight - Timaeus also took back a card from his field, saying: "Chain with [White Mark], I activate the second effect of [Two Hearts] - when my opponent activates a card effect, I can return one Level 7 or higher monster on my field to my hand to activate this effect. I chose [Mirror Force Activation], which is used by this Normal Monster [Chaos Top Hat], which is considered a Level 8 monster."

Hayato's hunch was right. Among the three Spell & Trap Cards that Tymaeus selected from his deck using the effect of "Chaos Hat," there was indeed a card whose effect could be destroyed and activated. It was exactly the "Mirror Force Activation" that he had initially thought of, corresponding to "Divine Shield - Mirror Force -".

If Hayato destroys this card, then even if it is destroyed as a monster card, it can still trigger the effect of "Mirror Force Activation" which activates when "this set card is destroyed by an opponent's card effect and sent to the Graveyard".

If it weren't for the fact that Demon Dragon Knight - Timaeus greedily added "Heavenly Treasure" to his "Chaos Hat" in order to add it to his hand through the "Recycle Field Monster Cards" effect of "Two Hearts," and that it was destroyed by Hayato, he could now even have a powerful card draw card in his hand.

Having witnessed the effect of [Mirror Force Activation], Hayato realized that the remaining [Chaos Hat] was probably also a card that could take effect when destroyed. Otherwise, if it were a card like [Angel's Charity], Demon Dragon Knight - Timaeus would have already recycled it and kept [Mirror Force Activation] on the field.

Unupdated: 8/9
I feel like I can finally make up for the missed updates this month.