Is this the world of card dealers? Yada thieves!

It wasn't that the feel of the cards had changed; the two cards the game took out still had a smooth feel. For a game where the grandfather runs a card shop, performing basic maintenance on the cards to prevent wear and tear is a fundamental skill, since well-protected cards can sell for a high price.

The difference he experienced in the game was that he could no longer feel the presence of the spirits in the cards the moment he touched them, as if he were exhaling after inhaling, just like before.

The card was still the same card, but now it gave him a feeling of emptiness.

The card spirits of [Dark Magician] and [Dark Magician Girl] were truly sealed away by Rafael's [Crystal Seal]!

"【Dark Magician】..."

"【Dark Magician Girl】..."

As Raferrut stared intently at the [Grand Mage - Dark Mage Apprentice] sealed within the crystal, his arms crossed, he calmly thought: 'Nameless Pharaoh, I've told you before, you and I are both victims of fate's cruel jokes and favored by the elves.'

"It's precisely because of these similarities that I can empathize with you, knowing how to trigger a vulnerability in your heart, just as I can tell a tractor by the sound of its engine. That vulnerability is the time when something important, cherished, is taken away from you."

"While I can't even accept a monster being sent to the graveyard due to slight differences in our ideologies, and you, influenced by Hayato Kobayashi, believe that it's acceptable for spirits to sacrifice their power for you in order to achieve victory, even you would reveal a fatal flaw in your heart if an important spirit disappeared from your side!"

Now, I'm going to seize the opportunity!

Thinking of this, Rafiru's eyes suddenly sharpened as he stared intently at the dazed Yugi, his aura aggressive. Someone who didn't know better might have thought that Yugi was the one with only 200 points left in the base score.

Yugi withdrew his gaze from the [Super Mage - Dark Mage Apprentice] card, put away the [Dark Mage] and [Dark Mage Girl] cards, and glared at Rafael with icy eyes: "What exactly did you do to my cards, Rafael!"

"Fine, I don't need your answer. From the moment you took my important card, I made up my mind, Rafael, that I would definitely defeat you in this duel!"

"I'll end my Battle Phase, and then activate this card: [Heavenly Treasure]!"

"Both duelists will replenish their hands to six cards each. Since my hand has zero cards, I will draw six cards from my deck!" Yugi inserts "Heavenly Treasure" into his duel disk, drawing six cards in one go. Then, his eyes immediately fell on a 5-star monster—"Catapult Turtle"—which can reduce an opponent's Life Points by Tributing monsters.

Because it is a Level 5 monster, even though the game hasn't made a Normal Summon this turn, the only monster, [Super Magister - Dark Magister's Apprentice], is sealed by [Crystal Seal]. Therefore, the game can't summon [Catapult Turtle], which can bypass Rafael's monsters on the field and reduce his fragile Life Points, for the time being.

“It’s time to replenish my hand. Since my hand is also empty, I can draw six cards.” Rafael watched Yugi draw cards calmly, not worried at all that Yugi might draw a card that could deal damage to him outside of the battle phase.

Seeing that Rafael remained calm and collected, Yugi, annoyed, searched his hand for a way to defeat Rafael. Unfortunately, although as a true duelist, Yugi often received responses from his deck, this time his deck's response was slightly weaker, and he failed to draw many powerful cards to clear the field.

"I haven't made a normal summon this turn. I will normal summon 'Flipping the Enemy's Elf Swordsman' from my hand in attack position and equip it with the Equip Spell Card 'Hip Kill'."

Summon "Cannon Fodder Swordsman" in Attack Position. The game then equips him with an Equip Spell Card. The "Elf Swordsman Who Tumbles on Enemies," who was originally crouching and guarding with his sword hilt, makes a strange gesture. Instead of continuing to hold the hilt, he grips the tip of the sword and points the hilt forward.

[The Elven Swordsman Who Tricks the Enemy] [4☆/Land]

[Warrior Race/Effect]

[1400/1200]

【Hood Kill】 is an Equip Spell Card that can only be equipped to Normal Summoned monsters. It grants 【Swordsman Who Tricks the Enemy】 the ability to be unaffected by the effects of monsters Special Summoned by the opponent, and to reduce the original ATK and DEF of 【Swordsman Who Tricks the Enemy】 when battling a Special Summoned monster.

Combined with the [Elf Swordsman Who Tricks the Enemy]'s ability to "not be destroyed by battles with monsters with an attack power of 1900 or higher," its ability to stay on the field is extremely strong, and it should have no problem surviving until the next turn. At that time, the game can then release it to summon [Catapult Turtle] and fire a literal shot at Rafael's face to get revenge.

"Then, I activate the Spell Card [Burial from Another Dimension] and return up to three monsters from both players' banished monsters to the Graveyard."

Yugi played another card and took out three cards from his pocket. "I have chosen my banished [Dark Magician], [Dark Magician Girl], and [Super Magician Knight - Dark Magician Rider] to return to my graveyard."

Seeing that the game had sent the banished monsters to the graveyard, Rafael raised an eyebrow: "So you're returning the banished [Super Magic Knight - Dark Magician Rider] to the graveyard to avoid the effect of [Good Rival's Memory]? But you've sent your own monsters to the graveyard again, Nameless Pharaoh."

"It is because you have sacrificed your monsters time and time again that your card spirits have left you."

"Ha☆Na☆Se!"

The game was already in a bad mood, and Rafael's provocation only made him angrier. He glanced at a card in his hand and decided to play it to retaliate against Rafael.

'Wait a minute, the other me!'

In the game *Millennium Puzzle*, the other Yugi can empathize with Yami Yugi's anger at the departure of the card spirits. Looking at the furious Yami Yugi, he guesses his intention: 'Calm down, my other self, stay calm!'

'Now is not the time to activate that card!'

'Aibo...'

Although he usually has a good personality, Yami Yugi is never someone who is easily persuaded; his personal will is extremely firm and difficult to shake. Once he makes up his mind to do something, basically no one can change his mind.

If it were Jonouchi, Honda, or Kyoko, who were his usual friends, trying to dissuade the hot-tempered Yami Yugi at this moment, they would probably only get a cold "HA☆NA☆SE" in return.

However, Omotegi is the only one who is "basically" different from Yamigi. He holds a unique place in Yamigi's heart and is the only one who can persuade Yamigi to stay. This is not some low-level relationship of love and affection. Omotegi and Yamigi can be said to be the most important soulmates in each other's lives.

Although Yami Yugi was furious that Rafael had taken the [Dark Magician] and [Dark Magician Girl] card spirits, his words successfully calmed him down a bit.

'I understand, Aibo. Thanks to you for calming me down.'

'Now is definitely not the time to activate this card.' Glancing at the crystal statue on his field, Yugi took a deep breath to calm himself. 'Let's wait a little longer. [Dark Magician], [Dark Magician Girl]... it won't be long. Let's wait and hold onto hope.'

Yugi takes a deep breath, places the card he almost inserted into the Duel Disk in his right hand back into his left, and declares, "I'm setting one card face down on my back field. My turn is over."

[Game: 2800LP, 2 cards in hand]

[Super Mage - Dark Mage Apprentice] (The Seal of the Crystal) [ATK2800]

[The Elven Swordsman Who Tricks the Enemy] (Hood Strike) [ATK1400]

【GaiKa】

"My turn," Rafael said, drawing a card as he looked at the [Elf Swordsman Who Tricks the Enemy] summoned on the field. "Draw."

Rafael's eyes narrowed slightly when he saw the Field Spell Card he had drawn.

He has completed all the preparations for the plan he intended to carry out from the very beginning of the duel. So, nameless pharaoh, can you resist the darkness in your heart and not succumb to it?

Chapter 624 Malik, Rafael, Best Match

Because of the card "Heavenly Treasure" replenishing the hand, the game didn't end its turn with an empty field after "Super Magician - Dark Magician's Apprentice" was sealed. Instead, it completed basic defensive setup on its own field and retrieved "Super Magician Knight - Dark Magician Rider" which had been banished by "Good Opponent's Memory" to prevent Raferl from using it.

However, the game, now fully prepared, also faces a fierce offensive from Rafael, who has replenished his hand. After Rafael's draw phase, he now has a full seven cards in his hand.

The stronger a duelist is, the more capable they are of converting their card resources into actual combat power. Not everyone is like Dark Marik back then, holding an unlimited hand of cards but only using them to increase the attack power of [Sky Dragon of Osiris].

At the same time, the stronger the duelist, the more efficiently they can convert resources. A powerful duelist can create a perfect field in one round and may even increase the number of cards in their hand instead of decreasing. Meanwhile, a weaker duelist can only use the [Fusion] and [Fusion Deactivation] combo to perform a costly five-for-one exchange.

The game allows players to predict what kind of offensive Rafael will launch next.

"Activate the Equip Spell Card [Meteor Bow - Blazing Flame] to equip [Support Guardian] on my field."

After inserting an Equip Spell Card into the Duel Disk, Rafael played another Monster Card to Yugi's unsurprised look. "Then, only if [Meteor Bow - Blaze] is on the field, I will Normal Summon [Guardian - Hill] from my hand, and transfer [Meteor Bow - Blaze] by the effect of [Support Guardian]."

Following [Support Guardian] and [Guardian-Glar], Rafael summoned a third [Guardian] monster. A crack appeared in the ground, spewing forth lava. Emerging from the rising lava was a wolf-headed warrior clad in armor, holding a set of arrows the same color as the lava.

【Guardian - Hill】【4☆/Fire】

[Flame Clan/Effect]

【1700/1400→700/1400】

The game noticed that when [Guardian-Hill] picked up the bow and arrow [Meteor Bow-Blazing Flame], its originally excellent base score dropped by a full 1000 points. This happened after [Support Guardian] handed over the weapon, meaning it wasn't an effect of the bow itself, but rather an effect of the [Meteor Bow-Blazing Flame].

Instead of increasing, the monster's attack power is decreased by the Equipment Spell Card. The more illogical the card is, the more cheating it sometimes is, making it hard for the game not to notice.

Rafael didn't try to hide anything. Looking at the game, he frankly said, "【Meteor Bow - Blazing Flame】as an Equip Spell Card, it doesn't increase the ATK of the equipped monster. Instead, it reduces the ATK of the equipped monster by 1000 points. However, in exchange, it will give 【Guardian - Hill】the ability to bypass the monsters on your field and attack directly."

"Trying to bypass the 'Elf Swordsman Who Tricks the Enemy' and attack me directly?" Yugi raised an eyebrow, but didn't take it to heart, because the card he had set face-down on his back field was the Continuous Trap Card 'Soul Barrier,' which had the effect that as long as there were monsters on his field, his Life Points would not be lost due to battle.

On the surface, the "Elf Swordsman Who Tumbles the Enemy" seems to be a defensive barrier used by the game, but in reality, the "Soul Barrier" is the real barrier. The "Elf Swordsman Who Tumbles the Enemy" is just a target to draw fire. It is because of the existence of the "Soul Barrier" that the game dares to keep the "Elf Swordsman Who Tumbles the Enemy" in attack position.

If the [Elf Swordsman Who Tricks the Enemy] survives until the next turn, the game will release it to summon [Catapult Turtle] to take down Raferu in one go. But even if it is destroyed, it doesn't matter. Although [Super Magus - Dark Magus Apprentice] is sealed, it is still a monster on the field and can also be used to maintain the effect of [Soul Barrier].

While this kind of duel, where the "elf swordsman who manipulates the enemy" is destined to be cannon fodder no matter what, might anger Raphiel, the game doesn't care about his feelings right now. From the moment he sealed away the "Dark Magician" and the "Dark Magician Girl," the game abandoned any notion of respecting opponents in duels.

Rafiru was unaware of the game's plans, but that didn't stop him from continuing to play cards.

"I will activate this spell card again, [Nightmare's Iron Chains]. This card can be activated by targeting one monster on your opponent's field. I choose [Nameless Pharaoh], your [Elf Swordsman Who Tricks the Enemy]."

As Rafael played his card, a large number of chains appeared on the field, rising from beneath the feet of the Elf Swordsman who was toying with enemies, and binding him tightly in an instant.

"This is?!"

Yugi stared in surprise at his monster, which was instantly "bound" again. He suddenly realized that Rafael might have a lot in common with Malik, because this wasn't the first time Rafael had used "binding play" or "binding play" on Yugi's monsters since the start of this duel. Coincidentally, Malik's deck also contained many cards like "Torture Wheel" and "[].

Furthermore, Rafael dislikes sending his monsters to the graveyard, and Malik is the same way. Not only is his constantly resurrected [Regenerating Slime] always sent to the safest spot on the opponent's field, but his favorite [Lava Demon] is also always sent there.

"【Nightmare's Chains】reduces the ATK of the selected monster by 800 points, and then that power is converted into 800 Life Points for me." Rafael explained, looking at the rising Life Points on his Duel Disk. "The monster selected by 【Nightmare's Chains】cannot be Tributed and its effects are negated."

[The Elven Swordsman Who Tricks the Enemy] [ATK 1400 → 600]

[Rafiru: 200→1000LP]

"Tsk, can't it be released?" Upon hearing this, Yugi glanced at the [Catapult Turtle] in his hand and frowned. Rafael regaining his basic points was secondary, but the fact that [Elf Swordsman Who Tricks the Enemy] couldn't be released was a bit troublesome.

Without the effect of "not being destroyed by monsters with an attack power of 1900 or more", the Elf Swordsman who manipulates enemies is now just a target with an attack power of 600 even with the blessing of "Hood Strike". A monster with an attack power of 2000 or more can destroy him.

It seems the "ejector tortoise" tactic won't work; I'll have to find other ways to win next round.

Just as Yugi was preparing to activate [Soul Barrier] when Rafael attacked, he saw Rafael unexpectedly set two cards face down in the back row, contrary to the normal duel flow.

That's strange, so very strange.

The game is unclear why Rafael sets two cards face-down in the back row. Is he trying to skip the battle phase and end the turn directly? Setting cards before the battle phase is like a habit that's hard to break even after playing too much DL on MD.

Rafael's back row was packed full of cards, leaving only a gap. After leaving only one card in his hand, Rafael drew another card to fill the last slot on his Duel Disk: "Are you wondering why I put my hand face down before the Battle Phase, Nameless Pharaoh?"

"The card I'm about to activate is the answer you're looking for."

"I told you that this duel would make you realize that 'will' is a better standard for distinguishing people than 'good and evil.' Prepare to receive your card of destiny, nameless pharaoh!"

"I activate the Spell Card [Hand Exchange]!"

As Rafael finished speaking, he actually flipped his hand over, revealing his last card to the game's audience!

The card that appeared in the game's view was none other than [Orichalcos Barrier]!

"The effect of [Hand Exchange] is that both duelists reveal their hands and each choose one card from the other's hand to add to their own. Since I only have one card in my hand, take it, Nameless Pharaoh."

Without hesitation, he threw out the card in his hand. The card, "Orichalcos Barrier," crossed the field between the two players and was caught by Yugi.

"Rafael, you bastard..." Yugi caught the [Orichalcos Barrier] card with a look of surprise and uncertainty. It wasn't the first time he had obtained a [Orichalcos Barrier] card, but obtaining a usable [Orichalcos Barrier] card in a duel, one that hadn't yet sealed any souls, was unprecedented and something that had never appeared in Yugi's plans before.

“I told you, Nameless Pharaoh, I won’t let my monsters go to the graveyard in this duel, and I won’t activate the card ‘Orichalcos Barrier.’ I’ve given this card to you, so you should believe me to some extent,” Rafael said calmly. “Besides, I remember you had the ‘Orichalcos Fragment’ on Grimo, which means you can also activate that card and it won’t clog your hand.”

"Now, it's your turn to show your cue cards."

Upon hearing Rafael's words, Yugi, though still reeling from the shock of obtaining the [Orichalcos Barrier] card, flipped the two cards in his hand and showed them to Rafael.

"【Ejector Turtle】, and 【Soul Capturer】?" After seeing the two cards revealed in the game, Rafael understood the game's strategy.

[The Elf Swordsman Who Tricks the Enemy] If he can survive to the next game turn, he can release it to summon [Catapult Turtle], and use [Catapult Turtle] to release itself to deal effect damage to Rafael and clear his life points.

【Soul Captor】This is probably the card that Yugi wanted to take revenge on Rafael but held back at the last moment. It has the ability to directly destroy one monster on the opponent's field, but it will restore 1000 of the opponent's Life Points.

Because Rafael sealed away [Super Magician - Dark Magician's Apprentice], Yugi wanted to use this card in retaliation to destroy Rafael's prized monsters and cause mutual damage. However, the cost of doing so was that Rafael's Life Points would return to 1200, exceeding the kill threshold of the [Catapult Turtle] tactic. Therefore, Yugi persuaded Yugi to stop.