Is this the world of card dealers? Yada thieves!

[Mechanical Race/Effect]

[1700/2400]

Ameruda continued, "The second effect of [Machine Radiation Soldier] can be activated by targeting one of my Machine-Type monsters. Special Summon one [Machine] monster from my Graveyard that has a different name from that monster and a Level lower than that monster's Level, and destroy the targeted monster."

"I choose to destroy my [Mech Iron Hand] on the field, and then Special Summon [Mech Force: Mega Transformer] from my Graveyard!"

Under the laser beam of the [Mech Radiation Soldier], its ally, the [Mech Iron Hand Soldier], survived the attack of the Seahorse but was destroyed by a backstab from its own teammate. From the wreckage of the [Mech Iron Hand Soldier], the giant robot [Mech Force - Super Transformer] made its return.

[Mech Force: Super Transformation] [ATK2600]

"Hmph, clearly the [Mech Iron Hand Soldier] has higher attack power, yet they chose to summon [Mech Force: Super Transformation] again? What a nonsensical move." Kaiba said disdainfully, "A monster that has been defeated by my [Blue Eyes] once is useless no matter how many times it is resurrected, because its future is only to be crushed by [Blue Eyes]!"

Hearing Kaiba's words, Ameruda ignored them and instead waved his hand, ordering, "I'm not some crazy fool. Everything I'm doing now is paving the way for the upcoming victory. For victory, I'm going to unleash my [Mech Force: Mega Transformation] to activate its effect!"

"Special Summon 1 [Mech] monster from my hand or Deck. I Special Summon [Mech Sniper] from my Deck in Defense Position!"

After seemingly sending his only high-level monster in attack position to the graveyard, Amelda only summoned a low-level [Machine] monster.

【Mech Sniper】This card isn't uncommon. Kaiba remembers that its effect was to prevent the opponent from attacking monsters other than 【Mech Sniper】, which is pretty bad.

Other monsters with similar "attack attraction" effects mostly have the ability to "only attack this card". If you collect two of them, you can barely achieve an attack-sealing lineup. However, [Mech Sniper] only restricts "attack [Mech Sniper]", which is so weak that it's barely worth mentioning. It only has 1800 attack power, which is not enough to catch Kaiba's eye.

【Mech Sniper】【DEF800】

However, to Kaiba's surprise, Ameruda's expression turned serious after sending [Mech Force: Super Transformation] to the graveyard.

"I activate the effect of [Supercritical Mech Force] in my graveyard." Ameruda reached into the graveyard and retrieved a Trap Card he had activated the previous turn. "After banishing [Supercritical Mech Force] from the graveyard, I target [Mech Iron Hand] in the graveyard, along with the banished [Mech Fortress] and [Mech Colonel]—three Machine-Type monsters—and add them to my Deck. Shuffle them, then draw one card!"

After retrieving the three cards and shuffling them into the deck, Amelda solemnly placed her fingers on the deck: "Bearing hatred, I will never stop in my duel with Seto Kaiba. I'm betting everything on this card draw!"

"Draw!"

Suddenly pulling out the card, Ameluda saw a jet-black mechanical soldier on the card that was different from the usual [Mech] monsters. He truly saw the path to victory appear before his eyes!

"If [Unclassified Mech Soldier] is added to my hand by a method other than drawing a card, I activate its effect to Special Summon [Unclassified Mech Soldier] from my hand to the field in Defense Position. As a restriction, I cannot Special Summon non-Machine-Type monsters this turn!"

With a slam of the card onto the Duel Disk, a [Mech] monster appeared on Amelda's field. However, unlike other [Mech] monsters, this one, while also covered in steel armor, was wreathed in dark purple energy resembling vines or flames, constantly rising and twisting, giving off an ominous feeling.

[Unclassified Mech Reserve Soldier] [4☆/Dark]

[Mechanical Race/Effect]

[1800/800]

"Is it dark attribute instead of earth attribute? And that appearance is somewhat similar to [Mech Sniper]..." Kaiba looked at the monster in front of him. Although it gave him a subtle feeling, he didn't take it too seriously because its attack power wasn't very good.

Ameruda pointed at the [Unclassified Spare Mech] and said, "If earth-attribute [Mech] monsters are ordinary beings, then dark-attribute [Mech] monsters are the embodiment of my hatred for you. Your filthy life should be ended by the twisted and corrupt dark [Mech], Seto Kaiba!"

Even Kaiba, who had never thought much of Amelda, couldn't help but frown after hearing him say it so many times: "You, from the start of the duel, have been muttering things like 'resentment,' 'pain,' and 'revenge.' That's enough of your silly jokes. I have no interest in what you, who just popped up out of nowhere, might have about me."

"Is that so? My pain is something 'inexplicable' to you, Seto Kaiba, hehehehehehe..." Upon hearing this, Amelda laughed somewhat maniacally, her eyes filled with rage as she glared at Kaiba. "I can't let a filthy creature like you feel the pain properly. Let this duel, starting from this moment, be the beginning of my revenge!"

"If [Unclassified Mech Reserve] is Normal or Special Summoned, send one [Mech] monster other than [Unclassified Mech Reserve] from my Deck to the Graveyard..."

"The monster I've chosen is this one: [Mech Force - Destruction Armed Force]!"

With Ameruda's high fighting spirit, he suddenly drew a card from his deck. Although he intended to send it to the graveyard, Kaiba felt as if some terrifying being capable of destroying the world was beginning to awaken before his eyes!

Ameruda, who sent [Mech Force - Destruction Force] to the graveyard, glanced at the only remaining, insignificant trap card in his hand, casually set it down, and pointed to the top of his head: "Seto Kaiba, in my eyes neither the Kaiba Corporation, which has committed countless crimes, nor you, are things that have no reason to exist in this world."

"The wealth and power you enjoy now are nothing but filthy things built on the blood-stained arms you once sold. You say my grudge is insignificant, then use these filthy arms, stained with 'insignificant grudges,' to destroy everything you have as a duelist!"

"I banish the Level 4 [Mech Skeleton] and the Level 8 [Mech Force: Mega Transformer] from my Graveyard, and Special Summon my Ace Monster, which I just sent to the Graveyard!"

As he spoke, Ameluda grabbed two monster cards that popped out of the graveyard and flung them up. As the cards flew into the air, phantoms of two monsters, [Mech Skeleton] and [Mech Force: Super Transformation], appeared behind him, but were immediately shattered by darkness!

"What?! It banishes a monster from the graveyard and then Special Summons it from there?" Kaiba was quite surprised by the summoning method Amelda had described for his ace monster. "And what's with this aura? What is this familiar feeling?!"

The puzzled Haima suddenly remembered where he had felt this atmosphere before—at the headquarters of Haima Group!

However, it was not the current "Kaiba Entertainment Group", but the former headquarters of the "Kaiba Arms Group", which was on the Devil Island that he destroyed many years ago, on the arms production line filled with Kaiba Gosaburo's ambition and evil!

"Unleash the resentment that has settled in the abyss of darkness upon this land, the embodiment of destruction who will shatter all order and unify all darkness and chaos!"

Ameruda ripped off his mask, revealing a ferocious grin. He held the card he had taken from the graveyard between his fingers and slammed it onto the Duel Disk!

"Descend, my hatred, my Tamashi!"

"[Mech Force - Destroy Armed Forces]!"

It was supposed to be just a virtual projection, but at this moment, Kaiba felt the tremors beneath his feet were so real. Amidst the rumbling of the earth, a gigantic war machine burst forth from the ground, its body shrouded in black mist identical to that of the [Unclassified Mech Reserve], its imposing aura pressing down on Kaiba!

[Mech Force - Destroying Armed Forces] [10☆/Dark]

[Machine Race/Special Summon/Effect]

[4600/4100]

"Enter my battle phase! Here we go, Seto Kaiba!" Amelda pointed at the Blue-Eyes Chaos Dragon on Kaiba's field, "[Machine Armored Force - Destruction Force], attack the Blue-Eyes Chaos Dragon and crush that eyesore of a monster!"

"Positron Convergence Cannon - Instant Thunder!"

Chapter 553 Soul Energy MAX!

"[Mech Force - Destruction Armed Forces], Attack [Blue-Eyes Chaos Dragon]!"

[Mech Forces - Destroying Armed Forces] [ATK4600]

[Blue-Eyes Chaos Dragon] [ATK3000]

Blue-Eyes Chaos Dragon on Kaiba's field is powerful when it's attacking. It can reduce the attack and defense of all opponent's monsters to 0, change their battle position, and gain the effect of defense penetration. It is a powerful monster that can easily reduce a lot of the opponent's life points.

However, its effect can only be activated when it attacks. When attacked by Ameruda's [Mech Force - Destruction Armed Force], it can only sit and wait to die with 3000 points of attack power and can do nothing.

However, Kaiba activated his face-down card in the back row at this moment: "A monster with 4600 ATK, huh? I certainly thought highly of you, you little rat. But don't think that gives you the ability to touch my [Blue Eyes]!"

"I activate the Trap Card [Explosive Armor] to destroy your monster when your [Machine Force - Destruction Armed Force] attacks!"

A laser beam shot out from the [Explosive Armor] that the seahorse had opened, heading straight for the [Mech Force: Destruction Force] that was ready to attack on the field. Although it had an attack power that was 100 points higher than the [Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon], no matter how high the attack power was, it was meaningless if it could not hit.

Kaiba watched helplessly as the effect of [Explosive Armor] struck [Mech Force - Destruction Force], only to be repelled by the "dark power" emanating from it!?

Not only that, after being affected by the [Exploding Armor], the black flames on the [Mech Force - Destruction Force] burned even more fiercely, and even continued to spread to Amelda and Kaiba!

"Well!"

"Cough!"

The two, whose bodies were scorched by the black flames, cried out in pain, and their basic scores plummeted.

Seto Kaiba: 4000→2000LP

[Ameruda: 2000→1000LP]

"Hmph, munda munda munda! During the battle phase, when your opponent activates an effect, I can pay half of your Life Points to negate that effect and reduce your Life Points to half. Before my [Mech Force: Destruction Armed Force], all your struggles are futile, Seto Kaiba!"

Because he lost 1000 basic points from activating the [Mech Force - Destroy Armed Forces] effect, Amelda was also in a bad mood, but he seemed to be in a better position than Kaiba. Perhaps it was the anticipation of getting revenge on Kaiba that made him wave his hand with great momentum and say: "Destroy that [Blue-Eyes Chaos Dragon]!"

"Positron Convergence Cannon - Instant Thunder!"

[Mech Force - Destruction Armed Force] The tracks on its lower body spun at high speed, propelling the massive war machine like a dump truck speeding down a highway as it crashed into the [Blue-Eyes Chaos Dragon] on the seahorse field.

The Blue-Eyes Chaos Dragon only had time to spread its wings of light to block the first wave of impact, but it did not expect that the cannon barrel on the shoulder of the Mech Force - Destruction Force, which was large enough to fit the Disruptor King, was already fully charged, and the scorching ray cannon was fired at point-blank range onto the face of the Blue-Eyes Chaos Dragon!

The damage was easily destroyed by the Blue-Eyes Chaos Dragon, and the excess combat damage was inflicted on the still-unable-to-catch-the-breath Kaiba!

"Ughhhhh!!"

[Haima: 2000→400LP]

In just one round, the Seahorse, which had previously held a significant advantage, was reduced to a mere 400 points. At the start of the round, it had 4000 points, meaning it lost a full rank of basic points.

Ameruda laughed smugly: "Hmph~ Hmph~, that's the kind of wail you're looking for, Seto Kaiba. I just want to hear your pathetic wail, but compared to the pain the Kaiba Corporation has brought to the world, your wail is still a bit too mild."

"Let me enjoy these wails for the next few rounds. My round is over."

[Ameruda: 1000LP, 0 cards in hand]

【Mech Sniper】【DEF800】

[Unclassified Mech Reserve Soldiers] [DEF800]

[Mech Forces - Destroying Armed Forces] [ATK4600]

[Mech Radiation Soldier] [DEF2400]

[The Frontline of the Mech Force] [Gaikka]

It took Kaiba quite a while to recover from the intense pain. He was panting heavily, puzzled as to why a virtual projection system could cause such exaggerated damage, as if it were a game, or one of those unrealistic "dark games" that Hayato and the others had mentioned before.

That's so illogical. The seahorse doesn't remember setting such a high damage cap for the virtual projection system.

There shouldn't be any problems with my own duel disk, so the only problem could be with the guy on the other side who claims he wants to take revenge on me.

Kaiba wasn't entirely sure of the other person's identity, but if he still hadn't grasped the origin of the other person's hatred after all that had been said, then he wouldn't be the same Seto Kaiba who overthrew Gosaburo Kaiba's rule over the Kaiba Group.

'The legacy of the Haima Arms Group...'

'Hmph, you've done all sorts of bad things, haven't you? Now the debts you left behind have landed on me. But I have no interest in paying the price for anyone else.'

Because all I ever see is the future, never the past!

Kaiba's gaze fell upon Ameruda's field. The attack power of [Mech Force: Destruction Force] exceeded that of [Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon] by 4600 points, meaning that even if Kaiba summoned [Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon] or [True Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon], he would still find it difficult to defeat his opponent.

As for the next level up from Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon, Blue-Eyes Light Dragon, Kaiba currently only has Blue-Eyes Chaos Dragon in his graveyard, and Blue-Eyes White Dragon on the field. Even if you add the Dragon monsters that are added to the graveyard during the summoning of Blue-Eyes Light Dragon, it is still difficult to surpass Blue-Eyes Machine Force: Destruction Force.

When [Abyss Eye White Dragon] appears, the rage of the Graveyard Dragon that it can gather can wipe out the opponent's life points. However, [Abyss Eye] appears when [Blue Eye] is destroyed. Its effect activated during the battle phase can be countered by [Mech Force - Destruction Armed Force], so it cannot win either. Moreover, winning by passive defense is not Kaiba's style. He prefers to take the initiative.

As for the Blue-Eyes Twin Burst Dragon, it goes without saying that although it can exclude the Mech Force - Destruction Armed Force, it will be killed by combat damage before that.

In that case, what cards in your deck could gain power surpassing that monster?

The seahorse lowered its head, a smile playing on its lips.

"Hmph, such a sorry state is rare, but I guess it's just that I was too careless. You, a fourth-rate duelist using a third-rate deck, don't actually think you can defeat me, do you?" Kaiba's fingers rested on the duel disk. "I've said it before, I won't lose until I defeat that guy who disappeared after defeating me. I don't care if I have to use his power to win!"

"My turn, draw a card!"

"Then, I activate the spell card [Heavenly Treasure Card]. Both players draw cards until they have six cards in their hands. Since I have zero cards in my hand, I can draw six cards."

After drawing six cards with a bold gesture, Kaiba saw the blue-bordered monster in his hand and couldn't help but smile.

Ameruda retorted, "My hand also has 0 cards, so I can also draw six cards."

Kaiba was indifferent to Ameruda's fighting spirit; he had always been indifferent.