Is this the world of card dealers? Yada thieves!

"I'm going to activate the effect of the destroyed 'Birdman'. When it was destroyed by battle, I can add one 'Harpie' monster from my Deck to my hand." Mai raised her hand to block the airflow, quickly found the card she wanted to add from her Deck, and placed it into her hand.

"It's not over yet! I'm going to activate this card again!" A card in the back row of the Peacock Dance was revealed—the Spell Card [Special Hurricane]. "Discard one card from my hand to destroy all Special Summoned monsters on the field!"

"While this has no effect on the normally summoned [Gaia], your other two monsters will be destroyed!"

A raging hurricane was generated after Peacock Dance discarded a card from her hand. [Earth Warrior] and [Disruption Yellow] were Special Summoned by the effects of [Rough Man's Foresight] and [Disruption Land], respectively. They were the targets of [Special Hurricane] and were instantly swept into the hurricane and destroyed.

Because the [Disruption] monster left the field, [Gaia]'s attack power also returned to 2300 points as [Disruption Land] became ineffective.

[Gaia] [ATK 2100→2300]

"The timing was just right, avoiding taking an extra 200 points of damage... If the Peacock Dance card had been activated before [Gaia] attacked, then because [Disruption Yellow] left the field, [Gaia]'s attack power would have been 200 points higher than before. "I end this turn."

[Hayato: 2900LP, 0 cards in hand]

【Gaia, the Dark Knight of Gale】【ATK2300】

【GaiKa】

Location: [Land of Disorder]

Chapter 87 Hunting Grounds

"My turn, draw a card." Even though she had no monsters on her field that could act as walls, Mai Kujaku smiled as she looked at the monster added to her hand. "Hey Hayato-kun, how about we increase the stakes a bit?"

"Huh?" Hayato didn't understand why Mai was suddenly bringing this up. 'Did you draw some powerful card?'

"If I win, I won't need your Star Chips. I want you to exchange them for your [Disruption] monster and related cards." Mai Kongjaku took a card from her graveyard. "If I lose, you'll not only get your Star Chips, but I can also give you this card!"

The card that Mai picked up was the [Harpie's Feather Duster].

“I saw the longing in your eyes when I used this card just now,” Mai Kongque said with a smile as she placed the card back in the graveyard. “What do you think of this trade?”

"It's a sure-fire deal, I agree." As expected of a croupier, Hayato was indeed very interested in Mai's [Feather Broom] card.

“Well then, I’ll begin my turn.” Hearing Hayato’s agreement, Mai Kujaku couldn’t help but smile, and played a card. “First, I will Normal Summon my ace from my deck, which is the Harpy that was added to my hand last turn because of the effect of [Birdman]!”

"Join the hunt with a joyful dance, Harpy!"

With a loud eagle's cry, a dark shadow swooped down from the clear sky and landed on the peacock dance grounds. A graceful, curvaceous figure with a beautiful face—the Harpy, a dueling monster modeled after the Greek mythological monster "Halpiea," made its magnificent entrance.

Harpy [4 stars/Wind]

[Bird/Beast Race/Normal]

[1300/1400]

"Just based on 1300—"

Before Hayato could finish speaking, he was interrupted by Mai, "1300 attack power is certainly not enough, because harpies are social creatures, and the power of the team has not yet been shown to you!"

This time, Mai played all the remaining cards in her hand in one go: "The first step is to call on my friends and activate the Spell Card [Kaleidoscope - Magnificent Clone -], and my [Harpie] on the field will split into three monsters!"

Under Hayato and Gaia's gaze, the Harpy suddenly began to dance, with the virtual projection system adding music and even lighting effects.

But when the dazzling dance ended and the Harpy stopped, the single monster on the peacock dance floor had multiplied into three. Bakura in the audience and Gaia on the stage were still foolishly applauding the Harpy's dance performance.

"【Harpy】has now summoned her sisters to the field, and the effects of all three monsters have been unlocked," Mai said proudly. "Of the three sisters, the eldest can increase the ATK of all my monsters, the second can negate the effects of your monsters when they are destroyed, and the youngest can prevent your monsters from battling after attacking her!"

"Not only that, the three Harpy sisters can also be used as a single monster!" Mai played her last card, "Cyber ​​Suit! This is a card that only the Harpy can equip, which will increase their attack power by another 500 points!"

Harpy [ATK1300→1800→2100] [DEF1400]

Although there was some exaggeration involved, Mai Kongjaku did eat a bowl of noodles—no, I mean, she activated a spell card and equipped it to three monsters. In just an instant, three monsters with an attack power of 2100 appeared on Mai Kongjaku's field.

"Oh dear, I miscalculated. I was just 200 points short. What a pity." Kong Que Wu looked surprised. She had been so confident before, but all her efforts had amounted to nothing, and her turn ended just like that.

[Peacock Dance: 3000LP, 0 cards in hand]

Harpy 1, 2, 3 [ATK2100]

【GaiKa】

'Although there are only three monsters with 2100 attack power, Gaia is undoubtedly much stronger. Mai Peacock was originally a dealer; miscalculating numbers is impossible for her.' Hayato didn't draw a card, but instead considered the situation on the field. 'No cards have been sent to the graveyard, and my hand is empty. The only possible problem is that face-down card in the back row.'

'However, it shouldn't be some kind of bluff, otherwise it would have been activated when Gaia attacked the Bird-faced Man. It's probably just a show of force.'

'In any case, let's try attacking first.'

"My turn, draw!" Hayato drew a card from his deck, glancing down at it—[Disruption Red]. Previously, when he had all three [Disruption] cards in his hand, drawing this card was a good choice, but in the current situation, its only use was—

"Activate the effect of the Field Spell [Disruptive Land]." Hayato sent [Disruptive Red], which he had just drawn and was pondering its entry line, to the Graveyard, and placed [Disruptive Yellow] in Attack Position into the field. "Resurrect [Disruptive Yellow] from the Graveyard to the field. Then, [Disruptive Land] takes effect again!"

However, before the [Disruption] monsters hiding in the [Disruption Village] could react, Mai Kujaku, who was opposite Hayato, suddenly let out her signature queenly laugh: "Oh ho ho ho~ Hayato-kun, you really fell for it. You did say 'Special Summon' just now, didn't you?"

"In response to your Special Summoned monster, I can activate this card!" Peacock Mai's face-down card flips up from the back row. "My face-down card is, [The End of the World]!"

Hayato's DNA suddenly stirred. This scene is so familiar. Are you going to summon a winged fire creature and launch a skyscraper attack to wipe me out in the next second?

However, Hayato's Gaia on the field doesn't have 3000 ATK, and Mai's card isn't Elemental HERO: "This card can only be activated when the opponent successfully Special Summons a monster. I can activate one Field Spell from my Deck!"

"This eyesore, 'Land of Disorder,' is no longer necessary, because this is the card I'm activating!" Mai Kongjaku retrieved a card from her deck and unleashed it with great momentum, "'Harpie's Hunting Ground'!"

A violent airflow converged across the field, instantly forming a massive tornado. Although the monsters were unaffected by the storm, the [Land of Disruption] itself was instantly destroyed, reduced to ruins. Above these ruins, several [Harpies] circled high in the sky, looking down upon the monsters on the ground.

"Although both are Field Spell Cards, the effect of [Harpie's Hunting Ground] is less than that of your [Disruptive Land], but it can still give my [Harpies] a solid 200 ATK."

Harpy [ATK2100→2300]

"Now my honeys' attack power is on par with your [Gaia], isn't it? Want to attack, Hayato-kun?" Mai kotsuri smiled smugly, because in her view, her victory was now inevitable. As long as she used one monster to deal with [Gaia], the remaining two [Harpies] would be enough to destroy Hayato's attack-position [Disruptor Yellow] and empty Hayato's Life Points.

But amidst Mai's astonished expression, Hayato calmly said, "Isn't that obvious? [Gaia, the Dark Knight of the Gale], attack!"

Chapter 88 The Brave Little Roadrunner

Hayato gave the attack command, and Gaia on the field squeezed her legs together, and her well-coordinated warhorse immediately charged towards the Harpy on the Peacock Dance field.

"You bastard, you actually want to die together with my Harpy?!"

Hayato remained silent in the face of Mai's question. Gaia finally clashed with one of the Harpies. Sharp spears, sharp claws, swift warhorses, and swift wings clashed. The evenly matched forces seized an opening, delivering a fatal blow while simultaneously injuring themselves.

Hayato chose to attack the eldest of the three Harpies, as she left the field and the other two Harpies lost their attack power boost.

Harpy (2 & 3) [ATK2300→2000]

"Damn it, it destroyed my Harpy!" Mai grumbled as she sent the Harpy to the Graveyard. "But now you only have one Attack Position Disruptor Yellow on your field, so I'll wipe your life points next turn!"

Hayato waved his hand: "Wait a minute, Mai, my turn isn't over yet." Hayato was genuinely afraid that Mai would forcefully end his turn like that, "Because my Gaia on the field was destroyed by battle, my face-down card can be activated, [Egg Intercept]!"

"I can Special Summon 'Little Roadrunner' from my Deck to my field!" Hayato retrieved a card from his Deck. "Charge bravely, fearless of the enemy! Come to my field, 'Little Roadrunner'!"

Taking advantage of the fact that no one recognized him in this era, Hayato shamelessly exchanged for Yusei's card and added it to his deck. Transforming from illusion into reality, a seemingly fragile fledgling bird, wearing a pair of large shoes, ran onto Hayato's field.

【Little Roadrunner】【1☆/land】

[Bird/Beast Race/Effect]

[300/300]

“Now my turn is officially over.” Hayato had done all he could. “It’s your turn, Mai.”

[Hayato: 2900LP, 0 cards in hand]

【Disruption·Yellow】【ATK0】

【Little Roadrunner】【DEF300→500】

"What's the use of a monster with only 300 defense? Even with the bonus from [Hunting Ground], it's only 500 defense. It's not even worth cannon fodder." Mai chuckled contemptuously as she drew a card from her deck. "My turn! Normal Summon [Harpy] from my hand!"

Another Harpy has been summoned to the Peacock Dance arena. Although the damage bonus provided by Harpy #1 and the Electronic Bodysuit is gone, the newly summoned Harpy still has a high attack power of 1500 after adding the 200 attack power provided by the Hunting Ground.

If you destroy Hayato's Roadrunner with one monster, the other two monsters will be enough to wipe out Hayato's Life Points.

"Battle begins! Harpies #2 and #3, take down the two monsters on the opposite side!" Mai Kongque commanded, crossing her arms over her chest as she awaited the performance of the two Harpies.

And the two Harpies certainly lived up to expectations. After soaring into the sky and locking onto one of the monsters, they swooped down like arrows. No matter how panicked Disruption Yellow was, it couldn't escape the pursuit of the Harpies, its natural enemy. Hayato's base points were thus damaged.

[Hayato: 2900LP → 900LP]

As the dust from the monster's destruction gradually dissipated, Mai said leisurely, "The destruction of [Disruption Yellow] will cause you to take 2000 combat damage. The 500 DEF of that [Roadrunner] is not worth worrying about. Next up is the [Harpie]'s direct attack on you, Hayato!"

"So-reiwadoka na?"

"What?!"

The smoke and dust completely dissipated, but on Hayato's field, the Roadrunner with a mere 500 defense points was still trembling, though it was indeed still present on the field and had not been destroyed by the previous attack from the Harpy!

"Impossible, its defense should only be 500 points!"

In response to Mai's doubts, Hayato said smugly, "Don't let the Little Roadrunner's seemingly fragile appearance fool you; it won't be afraid of even monsters with infinite attack power!"

Mai really wanted to shove Hayato's head onto the field and take a closer look at the little runner who was trembling and shaking her head in denial of Hayato's words.

"The Little Roadrunner cannot be destroyed by monsters with an attack power of 1900 or higher!"

"Tch, then let another Harpy attack it!" Mai said irritably. This time, facing a Harpy with an attack power of 1500, Roadrunner couldn't resist and was destroyed, sent to the graveyard to join the Disruptive Monsters.

"My turn ends here. You escaped unscathed, Hayato."

[Peacock Dance: 3000LP, 0 cards in hand]

Harpy 2 & 3 [ATK2000]

Harpy [ATK1500]

“Now it’s my turn, draw a card!” Hayato raised an eyebrow when he saw the card he drew. “Activate the spell card, Pot of Greed. I can draw two more cards.”

"No amount of cards can save you. What can you do with a mere 900 Life Points?" Mai said disdainfully as Hayato drew two cards. "My Harpy lineup is invincible. No matter what monsters you summon, you have no chance of defeating me!"

"Well, not necessarily." Hayato revealed a card in his hand. "Even small fry can unleash tremendous power if they fight with their lives on the line. Normal Summon this monster: [Goblin Assault Force]!"

A group of monsters resembling grunts appeared on Hayato's field. The goblins wore simple armor and carried weapons ranging from wooden clubs to spiked clubs. Although they looked like a rabble, Mai was quite surprised to see them: "They're monsters with an attack power of 2300, just like Gaia!"

[Goblin Assault Force] [4 stars/location]

[Warrior Race/Effect]

[2300/0]

"Taste the power of those lowly fodder you look down on! All troops, charge!"

Upon hearing the command, the goblins instantly bolted like wild horses, charging towards Harpy #3 on the Peacock Dance stage. After a chaotic battle, the Harpy was destroyed, and the Peacock Dance suffered an excess of 300 damage.

[Peacock Dance: 3000LP → 2700LP]