Is this the world of card dealers? Yada thieves!

"Checkmate! Yugi, Jonouchi!"

Chapter 587 Picking up the napkin

Faced with Hayato's "Hellfire Machine" monster, Yugi and Jonouchi, relying on their bond, created a miracle called "Super Magical Dragon Knight - Red-Eyes Dragon Knight".

If such a miracle had been played by any other opponent, perhaps Jonouchi and Yugi would have won in the end. However, in the face of [Super Fusion], [Super Magical Dragon Knight - Red-Eyes Dragon Knight] was nothing more than nourishment for the evil predatory dragon [Hungry Poison Fusion Dragon] to grow into a deadly and beautiful flower, along with Hayato's [Death Stalker] on the field.

“【Super Magical Dragon Knight - Red-Eyes Dragon Rider】 should have the ability to not become the target of an effect, so why was it fused by 【Super Fusion】!” Jonouchi said unwillingly. “Damn it, if I had a card in hand, I might be able to negate the effect of 【Super Fusion】.”

"Hmph, foolish Jonouchi! [Fusion] is essentially sending the target to their grave without actually using it. The mere resistance to not using the target is like resisting the power of [Hyperfusion], boxer shorts, boxer shorts! Fusion Summoning is the noblest form of summoning!"

Hayato, who commanded the [Hungry Poison Fusion Dragon] to launch the attack, laughed loudly, "Moreover, [Super Fusion] has the ability to activate the effects of Spell, Trap, and Monster that cannot be countered by its activation. No matter how powerful the effect of [Super Magical Dragon Knight - Red-Eyes Dragon Rider] is, it is meaningless if it cannot be activated!"

"This is the final blow. There's still Yugi inside the castle. Become fodder for my [Ferocious Hungry Poison Fusion Dragon]!"

[Within the city: 2000LP, 0 cards in hand]

[Fierce, Hungry, and Poisonous Fusion Dragon] [8☆/Dark]

[Dragon/Fusion/Effect]

[2800/2000]

With no cards available to activate, the Predatory Dragon opened its mouth, revealing its venomous teeth, and lunged at Jonouchi and Yugi. Even Jonouchi, with the fastest reflexes, could only shove Yugi aside in the face of this swift attack, then roll away to avoid being bitten directly by the [Ferocious Poison Fusion Dragon].

It must be said that Jonouchi's reaction was indeed very quick. The sharp teeth of the [Fierce Hungry Poison Fusion Dragon] missed their target and crashed directly through the wall behind Jonouchi and Yugi, making the top floor of the International Illusion Company headquarters building even more damaged.

After absorbing the power of "Super Fusion" by using the ability of "Super Magical Dragon Knight - Red-Eyes Dragon Knight", "Greedy Poison Fusion Dragon" has become a physical Duel Monster, even though it is the first time Hayato has used it. Fortunately, Jonouchi reacted quickly, otherwise the two who were bitten by this attack would probably have died on the spot!

However, they only managed to avoid the direct bite of the [Fierce Hungry Poison Fusion Dragon]. This is not a simple action duel where avoiding the attack means you have truly avoided it. The [Fierce Hungry Poison Fusion Dragon] swung its vine-like, emerald-green body, and its slender form crashed into Yugi and Jonouchi. The sharp spikes on its body scraped against them, leaving streaks of blood. The combat damage still fell on the two of them.

"Ugh!" "Hiss!"

[Game + Joey Wheeler: 2000LP → 0]

The moment the poisonous sting pierced his skin, the game felt something seep into his body through the wound—it was poison, the venom of the monster 【Ferocious Hungry Poison Fusion Dragon】, which literally means "fierce" and "hungry" in its predatory nature!

In just a moment, Yugi felt the dark magic emanating from the Millennium Puzzle that protected him from harm being completely devoured. Intense pain pierced through his nerve defenses, and his personality was forcibly sealed back into the dim Millennium Puzzle, with Yugi taking control of his body instead.

Compared to the game, the pain that Jonouchi felt was much more intense, as if lava had been poured into every delicate nerve in his body, and the burning sensation spread rapidly along the wound.

This feeling is just like a carnivorous plant injecting a decomposing fluid into its prey that has fallen into its trap, intending to turn the whole person into a puddle of liquid for easy digestion!

Even the strong-willed Jonouchi was helpless against this level of pain, his limbs went limp and he was unable to get up. He and Yugi lay side by side on the ground, gasping for breath in agony.

Seeing the duel over and the pained expressions on Yugi and Jonouchi's faces, Raphael, who was approaching Hayato, was somewhat unable to accept Hayato's ruthless act of killing his former friends without hesitation: "Did that monster inject them with some kind of deadly toxin? How cruel, Hayato Kobayashi."

Nonsense, I clearly just had the [Fierce Hungry Poison Fusion Dragon] inject some adrenaline into the game and the others.

Because Hayato remembered that Rafael was by his side from beginning to end, he not only didn't forget to act during the duel, but he also had [Hellfire Machine] and the [Fierce Venomous Fusion Dragon] that had just attacked put on an act.

The Hellfire Machines could have attacked directly, but instead they only used flames. While their attacks were indeed impressive, demolishing buildings and causing surrounding structures to collapse, if Rafael had actually experienced it for himself, he would have found that the temperature of those flames was so low that they couldn't even melt butter, except for making people feel subconsciously uncomfortable.

There's also the [Fierce, Hungry, Poisonous Fusion Dragon]. When it attacks, it deliberately waits until Jonouchi pushes Yugi away before crashing into an attack that won't affect either of them. Not only is it deliberately slow, but when it whips its tail, it deliberately hides the sharp blades at the end of its tail and only uses the spikes to make some scary-looking superficial wounds.

To make the effect even more realistic, Hayato even had the [Fierce Hungry Poison Fusion Dragon] replace the toxins it secreted with adrenaline, which could effectively stimulate the nerves and would indeed cause severe pain afterward, but the dosage was completely controlled within a level that was harmless to the human body, in order to deceive Rafiru.

Hayato retorted inwardly, but aloud he said, "Hmph, I'm quite satisfied with the power of the [Fierce, Hungry, Poisonous Fusion Dragon] that I awakened through my duels with them. This is the kind of powerful strength worthy of me. With this level of power, there's no doubt I'll become an 'invincible' even stronger than the 'strongest'!"

"What an interesting duel! But all good things must come to an end. Even for us, Jonouchi, there's still the game." Hayato said, slowly taking out a card from the Duel Disk—the Field Spell Card [Orichalcos Barrier]. "I didn't have much of a chance to use this card during the duel, since my opponents were the two of you."

Judging by the timing, besides the adrenaline used for acting, the other force of the [Fierce, Hungry, Poisonous Fusion Dragon], or more precisely, the force residing within the [Super Fusion], should have also taken effect.

"But now you no longer have the ability to get up from the ground and resist, right? Hmph, just let my souls be sealed away like this."

As he spoke, Hayato stalled for time by showing Yugi and Jonouchi the cards in his hand before putting them into the Duel Disk. Rafael didn't find anything strange about Hayato's behavior; he just watched as Hayato prepared to attack Yugi and Jonouchi.

However, just as Hayato was about to put the card in his hand into the Duel Disk, a loud dragon roar suddenly came from beneath his feet, followed by a violent tremor of the ground!

Immediately, Hayato withdrew the [Orichalcos Barrier] that he hadn't intended to activate in the first place, and with a wave of his hand, summoned the [Fierce Hungry Poison Fusion Dragon] that hadn't yet dissipated, which leaped into the air and jumped off the cliff behind him. Rafael also hurriedly used the power of the "Orichalcos Fragment" to materialize his card spirit [Guardian-Ethos], and followed Hayato in leaping off.

He glanced back at Yugi and Jonouchi, only to find that beside them, the phantoms of two giant dragons of different colors had materialized, destroying buildings that were as worthless to them as tofu, and carrying the two of them toward the location from which the dragon's roar was coming from, as if they were about to meet with something.

“That’s how it is, Lord Dartz.” In the Doma base, Rafael, standing at the bottom of the steps, reported to Dartz, who had his back to him, “Although we sealed the soul of Pegasus J. Crawford, the ‘Father of Duel Monsters,’ when we tried to seal the soul of the Nameless Pharaoh, we were stopped by the dragon that appeared on him and Jonouchi Katsuya, and we had to leave.”

"Is it a legendary dragon? Tsk, causing trouble again. Even ten thousand years of slumber isn't enough for them to learn their lesson..." From Rafiru's description, Dartz naturally recalled the experience of his first cleansing of surface civilizations ten thousand years ago, only to be interfered with by a legendary dragon from the Elf Realm. Even someone as composed as Dartz couldn't help but show his displeasure.

He remembered clearly that many Atlanteans had become monsters from the inside out due to their spiritual corruption. When Dartz was determined to destroy the Atlanteans in order to preserve their dignity and prevent the spread of this darkness, the first person who did not understand him and even wanted Atlantis to continue its ugly, dying struggle was his own father—the former Atlantean emperor, Eyahart.

Due to their disagreement, Dartz did not kill him but simply banished him. However, he did not expect that while he continued to use the power of "Orichalcos" to carry out the elimination plan, Eyahart somehow managed to run to the Elf Realm to seek help and brought back the legendary dragon to stop him.

Dartz was extremely annoyed by this. In his view, whether humans live or die is a matter for the human world, and has nothing to do with the elves. As the emperor of humanity, even if he wanted to stop it, he should only be stopped by human power. Why can't the elves just die?

Then, Dartz fought the legendary dragon. As a result, the "Orichalcos," who had only recently awakened, was knocked unconscious and fell into a deep sleep. Dartz was also affected, and the legendary dragon didn't fare any better, being knocked unconscious and falling into a deep sleep for nearly ten thousand years.

Unexpectedly, just when he had finally managed to awaken the "Orichalcos" after years of waiting, the legendary dragon seemed to have awakened as well, and even sought out the nameless pharaoh he had observed three thousand years ago as its current user.

What's a little strange is that in Dartz's memory there should only be one "Legendary Dragon," named [Timaeus]. But now, according to Raferu and Amelda, the nameless pharaoh is using a strange card called [Eye of Timaeus], ​​and Seto Kaiba has also acquired a card called [Fang of Critia].

So, the legendary dragon hasn't been idle for the past ten thousand years, and has given birth to a new one?

Dartz didn't quite understand what was going on, but he wasn't interested in figuring it out.

Even if the legendary dragon returns, so what? We can just interrupt it again.

"The nameless pharaoh's vessel is now yours, Rafiru, but rather than hunting his soul, get rid of the card in his hand first."

Turning around, Dartz looked at Rafael and the other two in front of the steps, "And Seto Kaiba, you'll continue to be in charge, Ameruda. As for that unnamed card in Katsuya Jonouchi's hand—"

“I’ll handle that guy, Lord Dartz!” Baron volunteered. “How did that guy manage to make Mai keep chanting his name even during my duel, and even encouraging herself in various ways? It’s incredibly annoying, like when you’re trying to step on a white brick but accidentally land on a black one!”

"I can't regain my composure until I defeat that guy and prove I'm stronger than him!"

Dartz glanced at Baron and said indifferently, "Since you've said that, then you can deal with Jonouchi Katsuyuki, Baron."

"Another thing is..."

Turning to look at Hayato sitting at the round table, Dartz's expression was as radiant as when she looked at Rafael and the others, "How do you feel about Doma, Hayato?"

"How does it feel? It's like the water a princess playing the harp in the Alps is drinking—super refreshing. It even calmed my thirst for 'tapioca' like a hibernating catfish." Hayato fiddled with the [Inferno Machine] deck in his hand. "Perfect, perfect. Only a deck with such power can satisfy me. I'm so excited right now, hehehehehe."

"A monster was born from the power of 'Orichalcos'? Judging from your appearance, it seems to be a very powerful card. As expected of you, Hayato." Dartz smiled, seeing Hayato's satisfaction. "Use the power of Doma to become even stronger, Hayato. I'll be behind you, my Hero~"

Hayato glanced at Dartz, ignoring him, and instead reached out to take a can of soda from the drinks on the round table. Without unzipping the can, he casually picked up a pen and stabbed it into the lower side of the can, making a hole. He then drank the soda that flowed out of the hole.

Dartz's nonchalant behavior did not displease him. He simply smiled, took the large stack of cards that Rafael had brought, cards that contained the souls of duelists—including Pegasus—and intended to offer them as a sacrifice to "Orichalcos."

As Rafiru watched Dartz leave, he couldn't help but turn his gaze to Hayato, who was acting as if he were in his own home, without any hesitation.

"Hayato Kobayashi, may I ask you a question?" Rafael said, looking at Hayato who casually tossed away the can after finishing his soda. "You've said more than once that you want greater power, right? But all you've ever said is that you need power to stay at the top forever."

What is your reason for pursuing power?

Baron and Amelda had originally planned to go back and rest after Dartz left, giving themselves a short break from their relentless hunting of duelist souls, and also preparing for their upcoming battles against Jonouchi and Kaiba. However, upon hearing Rafael's words, they stopped in their tracks, clearly intrigued by Hayato's answer to Rafael's question.

"Seeking power" was indeed Hayato's stated purpose for staying in Doma, a point that Amelda and Baron had also heard before. Rafael had also stated that it was understandable for someone at the top not to want to step down.

However, Hayato's pursuit of power to stand at the pinnacle is ultimately just a goal, and they are very interested in what drives him to achieve this goal.

Just as Baron wanted to enjoy a peaceful life, so he was willing to accept Doma's power, Amelda needed power to take revenge on the Kaiba Corporation, and Rafael accepted power in order to realize the new world that Dartz spoke of.

They also need power, but power is merely a tool to achieve their respective goals, not the ultimate ability.

Hayato, with a smudge of soda on his lips, glanced at Rafael: "Hmm? A reason for seeking power, huh..."

“Instead of saying things you might not understand, I’ll answer your question with a question.” As he spoke, Hayato pointed to the round table in front of him. “When you’re sitting at a round table and you find napkins on both your left and right sides, which napkin would you pick up? The one facing your ‘left’ or the one facing your ‘right’?”

"Huh? Why are you suddenly saying something so random?" Baron frowned in displeasure when Hayato brought up the napkin as if changing the subject. "Generally speaking, it's more convenient to pick up the napkin on the 'right' side, isn't it?"

However, Ameruda disagreed: "No, although most people are right-handed, at the table the right hand is used to hold the knife and spoon, while the left hand, which is only used to hold the fork, has more space, so it should hold the napkin on the 'left' side."

Rafael frowned. He shared Baron's opinion, finding Hayato's question strangely absurd and completely unrelated to his own earlier question. However, Hayato continued to look at Rafael, awaiting his answer.

"Would you pick up the napkin on the 'left' or the 'right'?"

"If it were me, I would pick up the napkin on the 'left' side."

Hearing Rafael's answer, Hayato nodded and said, "Yes, that's a correct answer."

"However, this is not the case in this 'society,' and it would be appropriate to replace it with the word 'universe.'"

"universe?"

"The correct answer is 'the person who picks up the napkin first'." Seeing Rafael's puzzled look, Hayato revealed the correct answer. Rafael was also taken aback, then remembered that it seemed that what Hayato said was true. Although the direction in which one picks up the napkin at the table is not fixed, it does seem that the direction is determined by the person who picks up the napkin first.

“If someone picks up the napkin on the ‘right’ first, then everyone else has no choice but to pick up the napkin on the ‘right’ as well; and if they pick up the ‘left’ first, then everyone else will pick up the ‘left’ first, they have no choice but to do so.”

"This is what is called 'society'."

With that, Hayato stood up from the table and, under the watchful eyes of the three, walked around the round table to the opposite side.

"Who determines the value of land? And before that, someone determined the value of money. Who was that person?"

"What about the dimensions of train tracks and the specifications of electrical systems? Laws and regulations? Who exactly defined these things first?"

"Is it because we uphold democracy and allow everyone in the world to make decisions together, or is it through free competition?"

"wrong!"

"The answer remains the same: it's decided by 'the person who picks up the napkin first'!"

As he walked and talked, Hayato's fingers traced across the round tabletop, disrupting the plates, cutlery, and other items that had been neatly arranged on the surface.

"The rule of the world is 'either left or right'! Once the equilibrium, like this round table, changes, everyone has to take action! In any era, the world's direction will only be like these napkins!"

"And the first person to pick up a napkin must be someone who is 'respected,' such as the 'host of the party' or an 'elder.' Everyone will follow suit and pick up a napkin because of 'respect.'"

“This ‘respect’ is relative. It’s like the Pope is a ‘respected’ great figure, but if Christ is sitting at the table, the Pope has to follow Christ and pick up a napkin out of ‘respect’.”

Rafael's eyes widened slightly upon hearing this. Although it was somewhat unclear, he seemed to understand what Hayato was trying to say.

But Ameruda, standing behind Rafael, frowned: "What does Christ have to do with the problem? What exactly do you mean?"

“It doesn’t mean anything, it’s just an ‘example’. What I mean is, I want something that will make thousands of people express ‘respect’ for me, an ‘respect’ that is unshakable, like the unquestionable ‘respect’ that makes you burp after drinking soda.”

Hayato stopped and looked at the three of them. "That is, 'true power'!"

“Under the power of ‘true strength,’ everyone will only become my ‘companion.’ I am the one who is the first to pick up a napkin. I, Kobayashi Hayato, am destined to sit in the host’s seat at this ‘table’!”

As he spoke, Hayato reached out his hand to a napkin on the table.

"This is the 'napkin on the round table,' and everyone after me must follow this rule!"

"I am Hayato Kobayashi!"

"I've already picked up the original napkin!"