Is this the world of card dealers? Yada thieves!

After silently taking the hit, Hayato watched as the rain of blood that had injured him abruptly stopped, then returned to the Vampire Sorceress. Feeling the power drawn from Hayato, both the Vampire Sorceress and Tira Muku blushed.

[Tila: 2000→3500LP]

"Turning blood into his own power? Hmph, as expected of a vampire?" Hayato felt a sense of weakness emanating from his body, losing 1500 basic points in one go. Although it wasn't as intense as the pain Hayato felt when dueling other dark duelists, it was still not negligible.

"May I take this as a compliment?" The [Vampire Sorceress] licked her lips, seemingly savoring the taste she had just received from Hayato. "Well then, my battle phase is over."

As a Duel Monster, [Vampire Fairy] directly took Tira's place and declared the end of the battle phase. At the same time, [E·hero Wingman], whose body had been destroyed by [Vampire Baby] and was still on Hayato's field, began to move strangely.

"The monsters destroyed by the [Vampire Baby] will become my familiars after the battle phase ends."

Upon hearing the vampire witch's explanation, Hayato frowned: "The so-called 'First Embrace'?"

"You're finished, Tira Muku. I'm the only one who can take away monsters, but you not only refused to let me take away your monsters, you even took away my [Winged Warrior]! I'll definitely crush you next turn!"

Tira narrowed her eyes: "Oh? Are you angry? But talking tough won't do any good, because you can't defeat my master, the invincible [Vampire Witch]!"

"My turn is over."

[Tira: 3500LP, 0 cards in hand]

[Vampire Witch] [ATK2000]

[Vampire Baby] [ATK700]

【E·hero Winged Warrior】【DEF1000】

The Vampire's Domain

Location: [Vampire Empire]

In Tira's opinion, Hayato's words were just empty threats, because she didn't think she would be "killed" in any way.

Thanks to the effect of [Vampire's Domain], my base score has been restored to a full 3500 points, which is basically the same as when I was unharmed. The attack power of my weakest unit on the field, [Vampire Baby], is also 1200 points if I add the bonus from [Vampire Empire].

what does this mean?

Even if the Vampire Baby is used as a breakthrough point, Dan Kuroto still needs to summon a monster with an attack power of 3500 + 1200 = 4700 points or more in one turn.

Even the Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon, which is fused from three legendary Blue-Eyes White Dragons, only has an attack power of 4500. Dan Kuroto would need to summon a monster even stronger than the Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon to defeat him. As far as Tira knows, such a monster is not something that just anyone can possess and summon in one turn when empty-handed.

"My turn, draw." Hayato calmly drew a card from his deck and pressed the activate/set card button on the Duel Disk. "Then there's the trap card I set last turn, [Reckless Greed]."

"The effect of this card is that I can draw two cards from my deck, but in return, my next two draw phases will be skipped."

Tira scoffed, "Using a card like this, mortgaging your future to this point? Heh, do you really believe you can summon a monster even more powerful than [Vampire Witch] this turn?"

Hayato responded with a cold laugh: "No one knows what their future holds before drawing a card, but true duelists can control their own future, even creating their own card draws."

"My card draws can even control the future!" He suddenly drew two cards from his deck, and at the same time, two huge "X"-shaped crosses appeared above Hayato's head, meaning that the cards for Hayato's next two draw phases had already been pre-drawn.

If he can't defeat Tira Muku in one turn as he said in the last round, then Hayato, without any cards to replenish his hand, will only face defeat in the future.

However, looking at the card in his hand, Hayato smiled confidently: "It seems that Lady Luck is on my side."

"I can feel it! The winds of victory are blowing right behind me!" Hayato draws a card from his hand and summons it to the field. "Then, monster that holds my hopes for victory, descend!"

"My glory, my Tamashi!"

"Invincible Curibo!"

A flash of light appeared on Hayato's field, where Winged Kuriboh looked around at the eerie environment with a bewildered expression, its voice trembling slightly: "K-Kuriri!?"

【Winged Kuriboh】【1☆/Light】

[Angel Race/Effect]

[300/200]

Looking at the Winged Kuriboh, the Vampire Sorceress raised her head contemptuously, not taking it seriously at all, while Tira sneered, "So what you summoned was just a weak monster of this level?"

"What use is a monster that has no fighting ability? And you actually attacked it?"

"Hmph, you'll find out about that soon enough. Knowing the future in advance will only plunge you into despair prematurely." Hayato didn't explain anything, but instead played out the other two cards in his hand one after another. "First, I activate the magic card [Last Words]."

"This card's effect is: when one of my monsters is sent to the Graveyard this turn, I can Special Summon 1 monster with 1500 or less ATK from my Deck."

"Then comes the final piece of the puzzle to victory: activate the Equip Spell Card [Scrap Slam]."

"The effect of this card is: if the equipped monster destroys a monster by battle, inflict damage to your opponent equal to half the ATK of the destroyed monster."

Tira was increasingly puzzled by Hayato's actions.

"What use would such an equipment card be to you in your current situation? Even if you equip that equipment card that can't increase your attack power, what kind of monster can your winged furball destroy?"

"Or are you trying to make me laugh to death with this nonsensical action?"

"It's as ridiculous as stabbing someone with a stick without a spearhead!"

Hayato smiled confidently upon hearing this: "Who says you can't kill someone without a gun barrel?"

"And I never said that [Scrap Smash] would be equipped on [Winged Kuriboh]." Pointing at [Vampire Baby] on Tira's field, "I'm going to equip this powerful Equip Card on your monster!"

"Then, I'll begin my battle phase."

After completing all the preparations, Hayato squatted down under Tira's questioning yet disdainful gaze. Looking at Winged Kuriboh, which had huddled at his feet in fear, he gently placed his hand on Winged Kuriboh's head.

"Kuribo, my dear Kuribo!"

"Kurry?"

Despite being an angel, Winged Kuriboh, who was terrified of the dark and eerie environments, trembled as she raised her head, her eyes brimming with tears as she looked at Hayato.

"I can sense your fear; after all, it's your first time participating in Duel Monsters."

"But Curipo, my dear Curipo! This is a trial, a trial of fear. Only by overcoming this fear can you grow."

While [Winged Kuriboh] was stunned, Hayato grabbed its head with one hand as if it were a basketball, lifting [Winged Kuriboh] up in his hand, and glanced in the direction of [Vampire Baby].

"So, attack bravely, Curipo! The target is the [Vampire Baby]!"

As he spoke, Hayato actually raised the [Winged Kuriboh] he was holding high above his head, assuming a throwing motion to gather strength!

"Wow, you actually did that!" Even the [Vampire Demoness] widened her eyes. She had thought Hayato would comfort the frightened [Winged Kuriboh], but his actions clearly indicated that he was going to—

"Eora!"

"A yellow, fluffy ball that spins and thrusts!"

"You actually threw out a monster you didn't want to attack?!" Tira looked at the Winged Kuriboh, which was hurtling towards her field like a rugby ball, and while surprised, she also sneered. "I don't know why you would use such a suicidal attack."

"But don't forget, any monster destroyed by [Vampire Baby] will become my monster at the end of this turn's Battle Phase. This effect can be activated even if you are passively attacked!"

"Kill that furry ball, [Vampire Baby]!"

[Vampire Baby] [ATK700→1200]

Winged Kuriboh's base attack power is only 300 points, while Vampire Baby has 700 points of attack power even without the Vampire Empire's bonus. With just a flick of its claws from under its black robe, Winged Kuriboh, which was crying in fear because of Hayato, was destroyed.

At the same time, Hayato and Tira's base scores also changed.

[Hayato: 2500→1600LP]

[Tila: 3500→4400LP]

Because the [Vampire Baby] dealt 900 points of combat damage to Hayato, Tira was enjoying the life force flowing back into her body due to the effect of [Vampire Domain]. But just as she was enjoying this incredibly pleasant feeling, she suddenly let out a muffled groan: "Ugh!"

[Tila: 4400→4250LP]

Extremely abruptly, Tira lost 150 basic points despite not being attacked by any monster. The amount was exactly half the attack power of the Winged Kuriboh that had just been destroyed by the Vampire Baby.

Seeing Tira's puzzled expression, Hayato took a deep breath, ignoring the weakness in his body, and revealed a smug smile: "How was my base score?"

Because of her deep control over Tira, the [Vampire Sorceress], who received most of the power when absorbing the basic points, was also experiencing the greatest pain. The nauseating feeling that the blood she inhaled was mixed with poison, although it only caused 150 points of damage, still made her extremely uncomfortable.

"What on earth did you do?!"

"The effect of 【Scrap Smash】 is that after the equipped monster destroys the monster by battle, you inflict damage on your opponent. Unfortunately, the opponent in this effect is not me but you, because I am the controller of this card." Hayato pointed smugly to the Equip Spell Card on his field, "Therefore, after 【Winged Kuriboh】 is destroyed by battle, you will take damage equal to half of its ATK."

"However, to actually destroy my monster is unforgivable!"

"Didn't you attack me yourself?"

Hearing Hayato's seemingly angry but clearly amused words, Tira didn't want to take the blame for something that had nothing to do with her, and retorted directly. At the same time, recovering from the slight pain, she sneered: "It's just a mere 150 points of damage, not even as much as I recovered."

"That's all the damage you're talking about. Is this what you mean by killing me in one round?"

Upon hearing this, Hayato raised his hand and snapped his fingers. With that crisp snap, the Earth-type Elemental Hero, E·hero Nendoroid, appeared in Attack Mode at the spot where Winged Kuriboh had just been knocked down on Hayato's field.

【E·hero Nendoroid】【ATK800】

"A Special Summon during the Battle Phase?" Tira was also taken aback, then suddenly remembered one of the three cards Hayato had activated earlier, "It was that [Last Word]!"

“Bingo~” Hayato crossed his arms and said smugly, “Because of the effect of [Last Will], every time one of my monsters is sent to the Graveyard during this turn, I can Special Summon one monster with 1500 or less ATK from my Deck.”

"Since the monster was summoned during this battle phase, [E·hero Nendoroid] can continue to attack."

As he spoke, Hayato pointed his finger toward the Vampire Baby: "Winged Kuriboh is a monster I cherish dearly, and you, you evil monster, actually harmed it and even destroyed it. You are truly guilty of heinous crimes!"

"Although my attack power is not as good as yours, don't think you can escape this sin so easily!"

"【E·hero Nendoroid】, attack 【Vampire Baby】!"

"Polar dust storm!"

Using a move with a name that sounds powerful enough to kill a gorilla, [E·hero Nendoroid] is actually just simply taking a step and throwing a punch. Seeing this, Tira didn't even bother to complain about the shameless act of the other party claiming that she attacked the other party when the other party had attacked with a monster. Instead, she laughed wildly.

"Hehehehe, useless, useless. What can a mere [E·hero Nendoroid], a Normal Monster with an attack power of only 800, do? The last brat who used [E·hero] was stupid enough to challenge Yugi Muto, but I didn't expect you to be even stupider than him!"

"Because of the effect of [Vampire Empire], my [Vampire Baby]'s attack power will increase to 1200 points. The battle with [E·hero Nendoroid] will deal 400 points of combat damage to you, and this damage will be converted into 400 points of recovery for my base points, which is exactly enough to offset half of [E·hero Nendoroid]'s attack power!"

"Since you're so eager to give me a monster, then I'll use the [Vampire Baby] to ruthlessly destroy it and then take it!"

The Vampire Baby, facing the clumsy attack of E-hero Nendoroid, perfectly replicated the action of killing Winged Kuriboh. With a single swing of its claws, it easily severed E-hero Nendoroid's strong body. The destroyed body of E-hero Nendoroid, like the fallen Winged Kuriboh, remained on Hayato's field, seemingly waiting for the battle phase to end and for Tira to take control of it.

Tira and the [Vampire Witch] opened their arms in sync, waiting to absorb the power from the battle damage, while also slightly raising their attention to guard against the damage from the [Scrap Smash] that would come along with their life force.

"uh-huh!"

[Tila: 4250→3850LP]

As the damage landed, Tira and [Vampire Witch] both showed expressions of pain. Unlike actively paying life points to use the various abilities of the [Vampire] deck, after the complete Dark Game began, every instance of damage inflicted on Tira by Hayato's side felt like a sharp knife piercing straight to the soul.

With its fangs bared menacingly, [Vampire Fairy] endured the pain and couldn't help but sneer, awaiting the arrival of the life force it had absorbed. However, even after a second [E·hero Nendoroid] appeared on Hayato's field due to the effect of [Last Will], [Vampire Fairy] and Tira still hadn't received an increase in life points, which suddenly made them feel a little panicked.

"What...what happened?!"

"Why haven't I received any replies for my basic points?!"