Is this the world of card dealers? Yada thieves!

"Okay, 'scumbag Crowley'."

"It is 'the handsome, elegant and powerful mage Lord Crowley'."

“‘Perverted Crowley’ San.”

"I'm not a pervert!"

"So, I don't deny that he's scum at all..." Hayato retorted. "Then, Crowley, are you prepared to be defeated by me in this duel and become my guide?"

"Hmph, you're quite confident, but I'm used to being free and have never intended to be anyone's servant. So I'll take this duel ceremony a little more seriously."

Crowley was somewhat displeased that Hayato didn't call him "the handsome, elegant, and powerful mage Crowley-sama," but "Crowley" was better than "scumbag Crowley."

“However, since it’s a duel ceremony, the price for both sides should be equal, right? That’s the basic rule of this game.” Crowley smiled slyly. “If you want me to become your servant, as an equal price, I’ll take your soul and body as materials for me to perfect my spell.”

As Crowley put it, he submitted his conditions to the fair yet rigid Dark Game, but to his surprise, the final verdict was completely different from what he had expected.

"Who are you?!" Crowley looked at Hayato with a strange expression. "You're just a guy who looks exactly like those ordinary people, so why is the value of just one of your arms enough to mortgage my entire life so far?"

"If you lose, you only have to give me an arm. Why should I become your card if I lose?"

"I can't get there!"

Hayato answered casually, which annoyed Crowley somewhat: "Fine, as long as I defeat you, that's enough. Even one hand is fine. Anyway, with my intelligence, one hand is enough to figure out what secrets you have."

"Duel!"

Chapter 537 Super, Cut the Grass!

"Duel!" x2

[Hayato: 4000LP]

Crowley: 4000LP

“I’ll take the first turn. Draw!” Crowley drew a card from his deck, checked it, and placed it face down on his field. “I have one monster in face-down Defense Position on my field. Then I activate this Spell Card, Book of the Sun, from my hand to change one face-down monster on the field to face-up Attack Position.”

"My choice is, of course, the only monster on the field. Flip it! [Magical General Store]!"

A quaint-looking magic book with a sun relief on its cover appeared in Crowley's backcourt. As the book opened, it released the magical power contained within. The card that Crowley had just covered on the field was lifted, revealing a blue-purple cockroach that stood like a person, wearing a traveler's cloak and holding all sorts of random props.

[Magical General Goods Merchant] [1☆/Light]

[Insectoids/Reverse/Effect]

[200/700]

With only 200 attack power, the [Magic General Store Merchant] is undoubtedly just a weak monster. However, as a Reversal Monster, its attack and defense power are not the key factors. What matters is its reversal effect.

"【Magical General Store】Activates its effect when flipped face down: flip cards from the top of my deck until a Spell/Trap Card appears, add that Spell/Trap Card to my hand, and then discard the remaining flipped cards."

Crowley said smugly, reaching his hand toward his deck.

But just as Crowley was about to flip over the top card, Hayato suddenly stopped him: "Search? Check it out!"

Hayato revealed a card he had obtained from Paradox of Heaven from his hand: "I activate the effect of [Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring] in my hand. When my opponent activates an effect that adds a card from their deck to their hand, Special Summons a monster from their deck, or sends a card from their deck to the Graveyard, I discard [Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring] from my hand, and negate that effect!"

"Um?!"

To Crowley's surprise, a streak of light flew from Hayato's hand and struck his [Magical General Store Merchant] on the field, transforming into an adorable little girl with a mischievous grin. The cockroach-like [Magical General Store Merchant], upon seeing the little girl appear, instantly and skillfully crouched down, feigning death, not daring to move an inch, let alone retrieve cards for Crowley.

As Ash Blossom, whose true form is actually a dog girl, playfully made a face at him and disappeared, Hayato wasn't too bothered. Instead, he smiled at Crowley on the other side and said, "Although it's only a level 1 monster, I won't look down on its effects just because the level of Magical General Store is low."

"It would be unreasonable for an effect that can quickly fill the graveyard with a large number of cards and also search for Spell Cards from the deck."

With that, Hayato glanced at the "Adjustment" word that should have been present on the [Ash Blossom] card but was now empty, and sent it to the graveyard.

【Ashfall Lane】【3☆/Flame】

[Undead/Dark Sword/Effect]

[0/1800]

Although Paradox and Yusei, who came from the future, had various synchronization techniques, the once active "Yusei Particles" eventually returned to calm after the red dragon "Ultramania Zolkin" left this timeline. It is likely that Yusei's father, Dr. Fudo, will have to invent a perpetual motion machine again decades later before they can have a chance to restart the synchronization summon.

With the demise of the Star Particles, Synchro Summoning, a summoning method from the future, could no longer exist in this world. In the deck that Hayato borrowed from Paradox, the Synchro and Tuner monsters of the "Sin" archetype disappeared directly due to Paradox's death, and the other Tuner monsters also lost the word "Tuner" and could no longer be used for Synchro Summoning.

However, their effects were retained, so the loss of "adjustment" was not a great loss. After all, for hand traps like [Ghost Rabbit] and [Ash Blossom], whether or not there is the word "adjustment" is irrelevant, since Hayato will never use it anyway.

While it was satisfying for Hayato to counter someone else's play, Crowley, who was countered, wasn't so happy. After all, he used the resources of two cards to activate the effect of [Magical General Store], only to have one of Hayato's cards countered, which seemed like a huge loss. Not to mention, he also wasted a normal summon opportunity by placing a target with only 200 attack power on his field.

"Oh dear, little girls that age are really annoying. They look so cute, but they have such awful effects." Crowley adjusted his glasses. "In that case, I'll activate the spell card [Foresight Savings Account] and banish the three cards at the top of my deck face down."

"The three cards banished due to this effect will be added to my hand during the preparation phase of my third turn after [Foresight Savings Book] is activated."

"After that, I'll cover two cards, and my turn ends."

[Crowley: 4000LP, 1 card in hand]

[Magic General Store Merchant] [ATK 200]

【Signature Card】【Signature Card】

“It’s my turn. Draw a card.” Hayato looked at Crowley’s [Magical General Store Merchant] on the field, unconcerned. “Although there are two face-down cards in the back row, unfortunately, they can’t protect your weak monster from being destroyed.”

"Activate the Spell Card [Harpie's Feather Duster] to destroy all Spell/Trap Cards on your opponent's field. Use this card to destroy all face-down cards in your back row!"

A massive feather duster appeared on Hayato's field, its small swing unleashing a violent hurricane that swept towards Crowley's backfield, destroying both of his face-down cards.

One of the cards was [Explosive Armor], but when Hayato saw the other card, he had a bad feeling.

"Tsk tsk, it actually destroyed my back row face-down card, how terrifying. But, it slightly alerted something ominous." Crowley proudly displayed a card in his back row, "Although [Explosive Armor] was destroyed, the effect of this card that was destroyed at the same time was able to activate!"

"【Troublesome】! If this face-down card leaves the field due to an opponent's card effect, is sent to the Graveyard, or is banished, you can activate this effect: Special Summon 1 monster from my Deck or Fusion Deck. I will Special Summon this monster from my Fusion Deck!"

"Light converges into armor, chariots of the gods are harnessed, manifest in the name of the hexagram, my oneness!"

"[Summoned Beast - Merkaba]!"

In the storm stirred up by the Harpy's Feather Duster, the destroyed Snake-Beating Grass turned into a patch of grass, from which a white figure leaped out.

White and gray armor tightly covered the monster that was dragging a pair of huge wheels. Although only the front and back halves of its body were connected to the wheels, the monster, which looked like both a cow and a gorilla, was still over ten meters long.

On the chariot stood a soldier holding a spear and shield, covered in gray and white armor like the monster pulling the chariot. However, looking through the gap in the helmet, one could see that the "soldier" was actually just a suit of armor that no one was wearing. A staff glowing green, stuck in the center of the monster's head, further proved that the chariot's true form was actually the monster pulling it, not the armor on it.

[Summoned Beast - Merkaba] [9☆/Light]

[Mechanical Race/Fusion/Effect]

[2500/2100]

Looking at the monster with standard Dark Magician attack and defense that appeared on Crowley's field, Hayato finally realized what that feeling of familiarity he had felt when he first saw Crowley was.

"Tch, you actually used the 'Stirring Up Trouble' skill, which made you summon the Light Summoner." Hayato looked at Crowley opposite him with a dangerous gaze, as if he were looking at a scumbag who was two-timing multiple women.

"Light Summon? Are you talking about Merkaba? That abbreviation sounds pretty good, but 'Merkaba' is a name I went through a lot of trouble to come up with, so don't dismiss my efforts in choosing a name so easily." Crowley said with a smug look, spreading his hands.

Hayato glanced at Crowley's [Summoned Beast - Merkaba] on the field, then looked down at the cards in his hand, and drew a card: "Although it's a monster with 2500 ATK, it's meaningless if it can't attack. I activate the Spell Card [Change of Heart], which will give me control of your [Summoned Beast - Merkaba] until the end of this turn."

"Tsk tsk, Dame dame, I value summoning magic and the summoned creatures I create, so I won't let you take Merkaba away like that."

As Hayato watched the half-angel, half-demon priest appear in his back row about to take away his [Summoned Beast - Merkaba], Crowley revealed a card from his hand: "Once per turn, when a monster's effect, spell, or trap card is activated, send one card of the same type from my hand to the Graveyard, negate that activation, and banish it."

"【Change of Heart】is a Spell Card. Therefore, I discard the Equip Spell Card 【Demon Blade Bamboo Light】 from my hand to negate and banish 【Change of Heart】!"

As Crowley discarded the cards from his hand, the patterns on the armor of the soldier holding a shield and spear on the mechanical chariot [Summoned Beast - Merkaba] lit up with alternating yellow, green, and red lights, before settling on green after a series of changes.

The magic of "Changing Hearts" came into contact with it, but was absorbed by the shield held by the armor in an instant. The energy flowed along the green patterns, gathered at the tip of the spear, and returned along the original path!

"boom!"

The card with the "Change of Heart" was shattered by its own power and banished from Hayato's field. Crowley then said, "When 'Demon Blade Bamboo Light' is sent to the graveyard, I can activate its effect. I can add one 'Bamboo Light' card other than 'Demon Blade Bamboo Light' from my deck to my hand. I choose 'Golden Bamboo Light'."

"The cards discarded as a price have the effect of replenishing the hand, but the effect of [Summoned Beast - Merkaba] can only be used once per turn, which means that it no longer has a counter effect."

Hayato glanced at the [Summoned Beast - Merkaba] whose markings had faded. Since he already knew its effect beforehand, Hayato deliberately used the unavoidable [Change of Heart] as a test to trick Crowley into using its one-time effect.

Now that the [Summoned Beast - Merkaba] is no longer an obstacle, Hayato can finally unleash his full potential.

"Activate the Spell Card [Fusion], using [Cursed Dragon - Cursed Dragon] and [Spell Knight - Gaia] from my hand as Fusion Materials!"

"A knight soaring through the skies, riding the winds and dragons! Fusion Summon! [Sky Dragon Knight - Gaia]!"

【Sky Dragon Knight - Gaia】【ATK2600】

Riding a dragon, Gaia appeared before Hayato, wielding a long spear, exuding an imposing aura.

"Although the Fusion Materials required for [Sky Dragon Knight Gaia] are specified as [Dark Knight Gaia] and a Dragon-Type Monster, [Magic Knight Gaia] has the ability to have its card name listed as [Dark Knight Gaia] according to the rules."

"If the fusion material 【Cursed Dragon - Cursed Dragon】 is sent to the Graveyard, you can target 【Sky Dragon Knight - Gaia】 on my field whose name is 【Dragon Knight - Gaia】 and activate its effect to negate the effects of all face-up monsters on your opponent's field whose ATK is less than that of 【Sky Dragon Knight - Gaia】 until the end of this turn."

"In addition, if [Sky Dragon Knight - Gaia] is successfully Special Summoned, I can add one [Spiral Shot] from my Deck or Graveyard to my hand."

"For chain reversal, I first add [Spiral Shot] to my hand from the deck, and then deal with the effect of [Cursed Dragon - Cursed Dragon], because [Sky Dragon Knight - Gaia] has the highest attack power of 2600, which negates the effects of all monsters on the opponent's field!"

As Hayato pointed forward, the dragon riding Gaia, the Sky Dragon Knight, roared. The oppressive aura emanating from the dragon clan instantly dampened the morale of Crowley's Magic General Store Merchant and Summoned Beast Merkaba, nullifying their effects.

"I activate the Continuous Spell Card [Spiral Shot]! This card grants my [Sky Dragon Knight - Gaia] the effect of piercing defense against Defense Position monsters, and then I enter my Battle Phase!" Hayato pointed at Crowley's [Summoned Beast - Merkaba] on the field, "Attack on [Summoned Beast - Merkaba] in Attack Position!"

"When [Sky Dragon Knight - Gaia] declares an attack, change the target monster's battle position and believe in its power!"

The dragon knight urged his dragon to flap its giant wings, and faced with the storm descending from the sky, the [Summoned Beast - Merkaba], whose effects had been nullified, was helplessly altered in its battle formation.

[Summoned Beast - Merkaba] [ATK2500→DEF2100]

"Dive, charge, and then pierce through—the golden cavalry circle!"

"Our spiral is going to break through the sky!"

With Hayato's powerful declaration of attack, [Sky Dragon Knight - Gaia] thrust out his spinning spear, the spiraling power instantly piercing and shattering [Summon - Merkaba], whose form had been altered!

The combat damage was transferred to Crowley behind him: "Ugh!"

Crowley: 4000 → 3500 LP

Chapter 538 A Timeless Classic—I Summon Myself

[Sky Dragon Knight - Gaia] destroyed [Spiral Shot] while inflicting piercing damage on Crowley due to the effect of [Summoned Beast - Merkaba]. However, since [Summoned Beast - Merkaba]'s offense and defense were relatively balanced, it only dealt him a mere 500 points of damage.

However, causing damage is enough. Hayato's fingers rested on the deck as he drew two cards: "When [Sky Dragon Knight Gaia], who is regarded as [Dragon Knight Gaia], deals damage to the opponent due to the first effect of [Spiral Shot], I draw two cards from my deck and then choose one card to discard."

"Then, I cover a card, and the turn ends."

It wasn't that Hayato didn't want to do more additional actions; he was simply struggling because he didn't have many resources left in his hand.