Who asked him to play Yu-Gi-Oh!

Chapter 1478 Why summon Hope?
There are two six-star monsters!
The black mist was bewildered, Yuma was confused, and even Hope in the extra deck was probably confused.

Hope: Huh? Does that mean I won't be appearing in any scenes today?
To be honest, this situation has never occurred since Yuma took over. Not counting ordinary entertainment matches that don't involve the battle for No. 1, Hope has never missed a single one of Yuma's major duels since the first episode. He's definitely worked himself to death.

It's hard to imagine that someone who has died from overwork to this extent would ever have a day when they don't have to go to work.

"Transformed into Level 6 'GagGag Magician' and 'GagGag Boy' overlay! Two monsters form an overlay network, Xyz Summon!"

You Xuan raised his arm.

"NO.25! Heavy-duty optical camera - Focus Power!!!"

The two monsters transformed into beams of light that shot into the sky and disappeared into the supermassive vortex. Then, an explosion of energy erupted, and their steel bodies slowly rose from the chaotic vortex.

Energy condensed into a black camera with a square red metal casing. The protruding camera, like an elongated eye, with a deep zoom lens, observed and scrutinized everything on the field.

Yes, it's exactly a giant camera. Calling this NO. a camera that has come to life wouldn't be an exaggeration at all.

[NO.25 Heavy-Duty Optical Camera - Focus Power, Attack Power 2800]

"Camera?"

Yuma thought for a while.

"That's right! This card belongs to Hideta."

The holder of this number is Shuta Hayami, a casual photographer in the early stages of ZEXAL. Although it's just a single episode in the anime, this monster's appearance and backstory are quite impressive.

The heavy-duty optical camera, in the animation, is a card with the ability to "predict the future".

The holder of this card can take photos of the future, gaining the ability to predict it. Whether it's the outcome of a duel, the weather, disasters, or the trivialities of life, anything can be predicted using this power.

However, after Yuma defeated the holder and retrieved the card, this power seemed to disappear—at least it never manifested itself in Yuma's hands.

Even so, these small details reveal the terrifying power that No. cards possess. Many No. cards are like this, possessing power that influences reality in a certain area and defies common sense.

Yugen: "However, 'I-I-I-Kid' also has a side effect: the Xyz Monster summoned with this card cannot attack during the turn it is summoned." (Animation effect)

The animation effect is stronger than the physical card effect. Under the physical card effect, if you Xyz Summon Ga-Ga-Kid, you can't enter the Battle Phase at all that turn. The animation relaxes this condition; it only means that the Xyz Monster cannot attack.

"The round is over."

Black Mist: "My turn, draw a card!"

The moment the card was drawn, a surge of power seemed to erupt with the action. Faintly visible Balian energy spread out from the center of the black mist, as if burning around him.

“Looks like you got lucky,” Vector said from the side.

"Hahahaha! Perfect! I'll test my new power on you now!" the black mist roared. "Activate the upgrade spell 'Barian Power'!"
Using the Xyz Monsters on the field as Xyz Material, perform a Chaos Xyz Transformation!

As he spoke, the black mist raised his arm high.

"Let me, the black mist, ascend to a new form!"

The power obtained from the Balian allowed the Black Mist, the opposite of the Astral, to receive a further upgrade.

A void, resembling a gateway to the world of Balian, appeared in mid-air, and chaotic energy poured down from its mouth, enveloping the entire black mist.

The black mist suddenly erupted with a hundred times denser, churning mist that enveloped its entire body. The figure writhed and expanded within the mist, becoming more chaotic, more frenzied, and more malevolent, as if countless sharp claws were tearing through the surrounding air, leaving a web of claw marks.

"Chaos Xyz Transformation!" The black mist's voice seemed to sharpen, and a transparent sound wave erupted. "Appear, CNO.96! I accept the more perfect form of the power of chaos—"

—CNO.96 Dark Storm!!!

【CNO.96 Dark Storm, ATK 1000】 Not only the monsters summoned on the field, but even the Black Mist itself, the duelist, seems to have been significantly affected.

His originally slender physique, similar to that of a star-like being, suddenly swelled up, his height increased, and his build became more robust. His once thin arms now seemed to have countless muscle structures, and the lines and wrinkles on his face became more exaggerated and distorted, almost like exaggerated facial expressions.

"This guy," Yuma exclaimed nervously, "has evolved after accepting the power of the Varia!"

Vector also said, "So this is the form that the Black Mist transformed into after obtaining the power of the Varia. Hehe, not bad. It might be interesting."

The black mist has advanced and evolved, and the chaos has transformed into its ultimate form. Everyone felt this marked a new stage in the duel. What followed was sure to be another fierce battle, perhaps forcing You Xuan to reveal more of his trump cards, such as Hope.

After all, it's Yuma's deck. Without Hope's appearance, it always feels like something's missing, regardless of whether it's the protagonist or the antagonist.

but
"Go forth, CNO.96 Dark Storm, show your power!" the black mist laughed. "Attack 'NO.25 Heavy-Duty Optical Camera - Focus Power'!"

The pitch-black storm began to gather strength, and the dark, transparent storm converged into its palm from all directions!

"As expected, you superhumans are just too easy to predict." You Xuan shrugged.

Black Mist: "What?!"

"Just like you think I have to use Hope when I use Yuma's deck, you, Black Mist, also have to use yourself as the ace in your duel, right?"

You Xuan said slowly and deliberately.

"And since you're cooperating with the Balians, it's entirely expected that your trump card is using Balian power to advance your own level."

Black Mist's pupils contracted as he suppressed his unease: "So what?"

"Not so great. I'm just saying that the current development and the upcoming ending are inevitable," You Xuan said calmly. "Activating the effects of NO.25 Heavy-Duty Optical Camera - Focus Power."

When your opponent activates a monster effect, detach 1 Xyz Material from this card. Negate that monster's effects only for this turn! (Anime effect)

The black mist instantly turned to stone.

Na. Nai!?
The effect of this broken camera is...
"Wait, wait!" the black mist hurriedly called out.

But he had no chance to speak. The Focus Force camera extended, locking onto the dark storm like a cannon barrel, and the shutter clicked.

Click.

As if frozen in time by the magic of a camera, the dark storm was fixed in place, like a tiger whose fangs had been pulled out, losing all its magic.

[NO.25 Focus Optical Camera - Focus Power, Attack Power 2800]

【CNO.96 Dark Storm, Attack Power 1000】

"How is it possible? How is it possible?"

The black mist erupted in fury.

"How could this happen?!"

"Focus power, fight back."

You Xuan gave the order while shaking his head.

Why do you all think I'll pick Hope?
Can Hope do that?

[Black fog, LP1800 → LP0]

(End of this chapter)