Is this the world of card dealers? Yada thieves!

【2800/2000→2900/2100】

The power of the Half-Dragon Maid - Personal Dragon Girl has awakened a new terror. A green-purple poisonous dragon stretches its body wildly on Hayato's field, ferocious and savage.

Meanwhile, Hayato also used the effect of Kuro, which had already returned to the deck, to take a card from the deck and add it to his hand.

【小林隼人：4000LP，手牌：3→2→2→3→4】

[Crystal Wing Synchron Dragon] [ATK3000→3100]

【Four Heavenly Dragons - Ferocious, Hungry, and Poisonous Fusion Dragon】【ATK2900】

【Half-Dragon Maid - Personal Dragon Girl】【ATK2100】

Backstage: [The half-dragon maid greets them] [Gaikka (Rabilins welcomes them, welcomes them, a big welcome)]

"Another one, 'Four Heavenly Dragons'?" Valentine wondered, recalling the previous [Four Heavenly Dragons - Translucent Wing Synchro Dragon]. "Could it be that there are two other [Four Heavenly Dragons] monsters corresponding to the other two Special Summoning methods? Ritual, or Superior Summon?"

"Rituals and superiors are such outdated things. Don't even get involved." Hayato curled his lip. "You don't need to know what else [Four Heavenly Dragons] has. You just need to know that, just like [Phantom Wing] before, it has an effect that can be activated when [Four Heavenly Dragons - Ferocious Hungry Poison Fusion Dragon] is Special Summoned."

"If this card is Special Summoned, you can target another face-up monster on the field to activate this effect. Reduce that monster's ATK to 0, negate its effects, and change its Attribute to DARK."

"Um!?"

(Use the image generated by AI as a demonstration of the action.)

Valentine's expression changed drastically. He saw that the [Four Heavenly Dragons - Ferocious Hungry Poison Fusion Dragon] had secretly planted vines into the ground and spread all the way to his field under the cover of its entrance effect. In just an instant, the vines burst out of the ground and wrapped around the body of his [Gem Knight Lady Rose Diamond]!?

【Gem Knight Lady - Rose Diamond】【8☆/Earth→8☆/Dark】【ATK3700→0】

Just moments ago, the [Gem Knight Lady Rose Diamond] had a whopping 3700 attack power, but in the blink of an eye, the vines drained her of all her strength, instantly reducing her attack power to 0 points, and even changing her attribute to dark.

At this moment, [Gem Knight Lady Rose Diamond] is like those female knights in doujinshi who have lost their power due to being controlled by the X-mark, lying helplessly on the ground, and even corrupted!

Up until now, Valentine could have taunted Hayato that after all that time, he hadn't even managed to field a single monster with attack power exceeding his own [Gem Knights], and that no matter how many monsters Hayato had, they couldn't deal him any damage.

But now, with [Gem Knight Lady Rose Diamond]'s attack power reduced to zero, any of Hayato's monsters can use her to inflict high damage on him, equivalent to a direct attack, significantly reducing his life points!

However, Valentine restrained his urge to activate the face card and waited for Hayato's next move. If he timed the activation of [Radiant Stone Fusion] well, he might be able to dodge one or two more of Hayato's effects, or even cause Hayato, who thought he could finish him off, to miscalculate and miss the opportunity.

Meanwhile, after a long preparation phase, Hayato finally entered the main phase, playing a card from his hand: "My first main phase, I activate the effect of [Aleister of Remembrance] in my hand."

"While this card is in my hand, you can target any Spellcaster monster or Fusion Monster on the field to activate this effect. I select the Fusion Monster I control, 'Four Heavenly Dragons - Ferocious Venomous Fusion Dragon'."

"Special Summon it, and the target monster's ATK increases by 1000 until the end of the turn!"

A sword shaped like a staff of twin serpents was thrown out and merged into the body of the [Four Heavenly Dragons - Ferocious Hungry Poison Fusion Dragon]. The indiscriminate poison dragon absorbed the nourishment without hesitation, greatly increasing its attack power. Meanwhile, [Aleister], who threw out the sword, quietly appeared on Hayato's field.

"Alright, let's begin the experiment~" [Aleister of Remembrance] said coolly, shaking a magic cup in one hand.

【Aleister's Remembrance】【4☆/Dark】

[Mage Race/Effect]

【1800/1000→1900/1100】

[Four Heavenly Dragons - Ferocious, Hungry, and Poisonous Fusion Dragon] [ATK 2900 → 3900]

With the buff provided by [Aleister of Remembrance], [Four Heavenly Dragons - Ferocious Hungry Poison Fusion Dragon]'s attack power reaches 3900 points, instantly becoming the monster with the highest attack power on the field, enough to defeat [Gem Knight Ruby].

Then, Hayato's monsters, such as Crystal Wing Synchro Dragon, were able to destroy the Jewel Knight Lady Rose Diamond, whose attack power was reduced to 0, and deal high damage to Valentine—meaning that from this moment on, Hayato had gathered enough monsters to defeat Valentine!

In other words—Hayato won!

However, Hayato didn't stop there. He pulled out another card and showed it off, saying, "Next, I activate the Spell Card 'Summoning Magic - 'Cup'. If this card contains an 'Aleister' monster on my field, in my Graveyard, or in any banished card, you can choose one effect to activate."

Hayato played the [Summoning Magic - "Cup"], which he had recently created by absorbing Mr. T's power. He waved his hand and said, "I choose to banish one of my monsters and one of my opponent's face-up monsters as Fusion Material to perform a Fusion Summon of One [Summoning Beast] Monster!"

"Use my monster for fusion?!"

Valentine was getting restless, after all, his monster was about to be banished by Hayato. However, even if he activated the face-down card, it wouldn't help, because the Fusion Summoning Magic "Cup" only banishes the monster during effect resolution, so there was no targeting before that.

"I banish 'Gem Knight Ruby' and 'Aleister of Remembrance' from my opponent's field, and use the Fusion Material requirement to create a 'Aleister' monster plus a monster Special Summoned from the Extra Deck!"

"The dregs of the underworld, originating from the icy prison, are summoned at my command. Then, they pierce through the soul, and under the witness of the Holy Grail, manifest, Isis, the goddess of the soul!"

"Fusion Summon, Level 8☆!"

"Moonlight Falls—[Summoned Beast - De Anima]!"

[Summoned Beast - De Anima] [8☆/Dark]

[Demon Race/Fusion/Effect]

[2900/1500]

A ferocious dragon-shaped demon descended upon Hayato's field. Having absorbed the [Gem Knight: Ruby], he immediately unleashed devastating laser beams from the gems embedded throughout his body, sweeping across Valentine's field!

"When [Summoned Beast - De Anima] is Special Summoned, you can activate one of its two effects: Destroy all Spell & Trap Cards on your opponent's field, or Destroy all monsters on your opponent's field that are Special Summoned from the Extra Deck."

Hayato looked at Fanny Valentine and said, "My choice is the second one: destroy all the Spell & Trap cards on the opponent's field!"

Valentine breathed a slight sigh of relief upon hearing this, but not much. He understood that Hayato's choice was to clear out the monsters on the back field to avoid trouble, and it was fortunate that Hayato thought that way—otherwise, if Hayato had chosen to destroy the monsters on the field, Valentine would have been finished.

After all, he only has one face-down card left to activate in the back row, [Radiant Stone Fusion]. Even if he activates it and the monster he Fusion Summons is still a monster Special Summoned from the Extra Deck, it will still be destroyed by the effect of [Summoned Beast - De Anima].

If you don't activate the face-down card, after "Gem Knight Lady Rose Diamond" is destroyed, you'll only have one monster card left in your hand, and there's no possibility of activating "Radiant Fusion".

It's really lucky that the effect of a spell/trap card is destroyed, not a monster—thinking this, Valentine couldn't help but look towards the back row.

If I don't activate it now, I'll lose [Radiant Fusion] and I'll only have one [Gem Knight Lady Rose Diamond] on the field with its effect nullified and its attack power at 0. I won't be able to withstand the onslaught of Kobayashi Hayato's monsters coming up.

However—the [Four Heavenly Dragons - Ferocious Hungry Poison Fusion Dragon] on the opponent's field gave Valentine a very ominous feeling. Considering that the opponent has a similar entry effect, perhaps it also has a second-speed fusion effect, similar to [Four Heavenly Dragons - Phantom Wing Synchro Dragon], which is banished when the opponent's effect is activated?

If I were to activate [Radiant Stone Fusion] now, wouldn't I be falling into Kobayashi Hayato's trap and actually causing his monster to evolve?

After a moment's thought, Valentine made his decision—not to activate Gaika!

"boom!"

In Valentine's back row, the three cards [Bright Fusion], [Gem Knight Fusion], and the trap card [Radiant Fusion] were destroyed and sent to the graveyard by the effect of [Summoned Beast - De Anima], and Hayato was slightly surprised to see [Radiant Fusion].

"Why didn't you activate the Trap Card before it was destroyed?"

"Then you've fallen for my trick, haven't you, Hayato Kobayashi!" Valentine retorted. "Your [Four Heavenly Dragons - Ferocious Hunger Poison Fusion Dragon] should have that kind of effect, similar to [Four Heavenly Dragons - Phantom Wing Synchronization Dragon]?"

“That’s right, it’s not hard to guess after all.” Hayato didn’t play any more cards, but waved his hand and said, “But seeing through it is one thing, being able to withstand it is another—enter my battle phase, attack of [Four Heavenly Dragons - Ferocious Hungry Poison Fusion Dragon]!”

"Smash the [Gem Knight Lady - Rose Diamond] to pieces!"

"Absolute Predatory Spinning Slash!"

Chapter 2106 The First Napkin

【Gem Knight Lady Rose Diamond】with 0 attack power, VS 【Four Heavenly Dragons - Ferocious Hungry Poison Fusion Dragon】with 3900 attack power!

Will it win?

【Gem Knight Lady - Rose Diamond】: Guaranteed!

Faced with the attack of the [Four Heavenly Dragons - Ferocious Hungry Poison Fusion Dragon], [Gem Knight Lady Rose Diamond] wanted to fight back, but not only was she currently weakened by the effects of the [Four Heavenly Dragons - Ferocious Hungry Poison Fusion Dragon], even in her unaffected, fully-powered state, she was no match for the [Four Heavenly Dragons - Ferocious Hungry Poison Fusion Dragon]!

The [Four Heavenly Dragons - Ferocious Hungry Poison Fusion Dragon] retracted its outstretched vines, then dragged the [Gem Knight Lady Rose Diamond]'s body towards him, opened its mouth and bit down on the latter with its venomous fangs. The [Gem Knight Lady Rose Diamond] was instantly corroded and destroyed by the potent poison!

Fanny Valentine: 4000 → 100LP, Hand: 1

In an instant, Fanny Valentine's base score plummeted from a maximum to a mere 100 points!

The moment [Gem Knight Lady Rose Diamond] was destroyed, shattered gems flew everywhere, striking Valentine, who was otherwise empty on the field, and sending him flying. However, because Hayato had deployed a spherical Dark Game Barrier, Valentine was knocked back and fell to the ground.

The life score dropped for the first time after the duel began, and by such a terrifying amount that Valentine almost fainted from the pain. However, the intense pain even robbed him of the right to fall unconscious, because the moment he lost consciousness, he was forcibly woken up by the pain.

Seeing his [Jewel Knight Lady Rose Diamond] destroyed, he suddenly raised his hand and said, "Now's the time, Kobayashi Hayato! You destroyed my [Jewel Knight] Fusion Monster with battle!"

"But precisely because of this, the second effect of [Gem Knight King - Diamond Dispersion] in my Graveyard will also meet the activation conditions, allowing it to be Special Summoned from my Graveyard!"

The shattered gems suddenly coalesced, reforming in front of Valentine into the form of [Gem Knight King - Brilliant Diamond Dispersion], whose body was covered in clusters of crystals.

But seeing this, Hayato frowned: "A meaningless move. If it were your [Gem Knight King - Diamond], it could at least draw power from monsters in the graveyard through its effect to increase its attack power."

"However, the form of 【Gem Knight King - Diamond Dispersion】 sacrifices the effect of increasing attack power in exchange for the ability to summon other 【Gem】 monsters. As a price, its attack power is fixed at 3000 points."

"What's the use of Special Summoning it? In Attack Position, my Crystal Wing Synchro Dragon can easily destroy it, dealing you the final 100 damage and wiping out your Life Points; in Defense Position, even Summoned Anima can defeat it."

"And your so-called 'American Dream' will perish with you."

"That kind of thing, it doesn't matter!" Valentine struggled to his feet, his life force as weak as a candle in the wind, yet he wore an expression of fearlessness. "Although my consciousness can transfer within my clone body, every death I experience is real for me."

"Having survived that first death, I no longer care about dying again. What truly matters to me is my country, and what has enabled me to do all this is my patriotism!"

"If I lose to you in this duel, I may indeed die, but my 'dream' may not perish. The state of the world will not change because of my death, and war will continue in some form of system or industry."

"Humans fight for reasons they don't even understand, and then lose their faith... and all of this is because humanity lacks a guide."

"Hayato Kobayashi, you are strong, but you only stand high above in the light and are admired by others, yet you have never guided anyone. How can anyone reach the radiance you occupies? But if you are unwilling to take on the responsibility of guiding humanity, why stand in such a high position!"

"Why do I need to become stronger? Because the position of the strongest is already there," Hayato calmly replied.

“What a ‘the mountain is right there’! This is the you I know, Hayato Kobayashi. You never care about those bullshit laws, and you’re willing to sacrifice other people’s lives…” Valentine’s expression twisted. “This makes me even more convinced that what I’m doing is right.”

"You have hindered my nation's path to a happy future! So—even if it's just to delay you for a little longer, resurrect, my ace!"

However, just as the shattered crystal was about to be reassembled, Hayato's [Summoned Beast - De Anima] suddenly moved and crashed into [Gem Knight King - Diamond Dispersion]?

"I have at least three ways to deal with your little tricks, three ways!" Hayato held up three fingers and pointed to his own field. "Unfortunately, you're not up to par, so many of my methods can only be used in the end."

"When my opponent activates the effect of a card in my Graveyard, I can activate the second effect of [Summoned Beast - De Anima] on my field to Special Summon a [Aleister] monster from my Deck and negate that activation effect."

"I Special Summon [Summoner - Aleister] and negate the effect of [Gem Knight King - Diamond Dispersion]."

The [Gem Knight King - Diamond Dispersion], which was just a hair's breadth away from being reunited, and the [Summon - De Anima], which was born after absorbing the power of the [Gem Knight], were instantly killed.

Aleister, one of the fusion materials, also separated from Summoned Beast - De Anima and came to Hayato's field. However, this time he did not bring a sword or a goblet, but only the standard staff and grimoire.

[Summoner - Aleister] [ATK 1000 → 1100]

The effect of 【Gem Knight King - Diamond Dispersion】, which was activated in the Graveyard, was negated, so it could not be revived. Valentine will have to use his last 100 Life Points to face the three monsters that Hayato has not yet attacked on the field!

"Final attack! Use [Crystal Wing Synchro Dragon] to directly attack Fanny Valentine!" Hayato waved his hand and gave the command, "Diamond Storm!"

Countless crystal ore rained down from the Crystal Wing Synchro Dragon, crashing down on Valentine. Seeing this desperate scene, Valentine took a deep breath and calmly looked at Hayato: "As expected of you, Hayato Kobayashi, you're truly amazing."

"But even if you are as powerful as you are, can you protect everyone around you? And can you defeat yourself, who is just as powerful as you? What if the number of 'you' grows to dozens, hundreds, or even thousands?"

Valentine's inexplicable words left Hayato somewhat bewildered: "What nonsense are you talking about?"

"The 'D4C' system clone can only achieve 1000% effectiveness when used on me; it is extremely difficult for anyone else to reach 100% effectiveness."