Is this the world of card dealers? Yada thieves!

However, the gravedigger elder, who couldn't see the card sprites, didn't hear a word of Xiao Lan's rather weak explanation.

"Taking my monsters and belittling them for being clumsy, what a wicked fellow." Hearing the Elder's words, Hayato glanced at him and said calmly, "But who said I was going to use them to attack my lovely Blue? Blue is my dearest friend, my brother."

"What a weird adjective!" Xiao Lan couldn't help but complain.

However, Hayato ignored him, glanced at the three cards remaining in his hand, and drew one of them: "At this moment, all the materials prepared for it have arrived. I originally wanted to fight in the way of a summoner, but I didn't expect to get an endless pit instead."

"I'm laying my cards on the table. Fusion Summoning is the noblest form of summoning. I activate the Spell Card [Fusion], using [Shaddoll Hedgehog] and [Shaddoll Falcon] on my field as Fusion Materials!"

Upon hearing Hayato's words, Jonouchi grabbed Honda's arm: "It's coming! That monster is coming!"

"What are you trying to do with all that force? Let go of me, Jonouchi!"

Amid Honda's pained cry, Hayato's [Fusion] was successfully activated. Although the Field Spell Card [Rampage Magic Circle] is ostensibly only used to search for [Summoner - Aleister], it actually provides Hayato with the power to activate effects that include Fusion Summoning Fusion Monsters, preventing the activation from being negated, and ensuring that the opponent cannot activate Spell, Trap, or Monster effects when that Fusion Summon is successful!

No one could stop Hayato from summoning that monster that Jonouchi cared so much about!

"The material is a combination of a Shaddoll monster and a Dark attribute monster! Souls wandering between life and death! Release the resentment that has settled in the abyss of darkness onto this land!"

"Fusion Summoning, [Shadowdew—]"

Taking a deep breath, Hayato shouted, "Mid-Rush!!!"

The two monsters that rose from the shadows returned to the shadows. Under the power of [Fusion], the power between the two monsters resonated, awakening a being that was sleeping deeper within the shadow power of [Shadowdew].

Named "Elucidation," the four members of the once-deceased [Kunfeng] priestess and [Longxing] form a group and are resurrected from the gap between the dead and the living. This card monster, which combines multiple XP elements such as "doll," "beautiful girl," "slender limbs," "monster girl," "corruption," "human modification," and "severed limbs," has appeared!

【Shadowd Midrash】【5☆/Dark】

[Mage Race/Fusion/Effect]

[2200/800]

"The ultimate question that duelists can never avoid—how to solve the millet problem." Hayato pointed to the gravedigger and said, "Now, begin your experiment."

Chapter 703 The one who will punish you is my Tamashida.

"Shaddoll Falcon can only use one of its effects once per turn, so the Shaddoll Falcon sent to the Graveyard by Fusion will not revive. However, the effect of the Shaddoll Hedgehog, which was also sent to the Graveyard by Fusion, will activate."

Hayato raised his Duel Disk, drew a card that it had automatically retrieved, and showed it: "I'm adding one Shaddoll monster from my Deck to my hand, except for Shaddoll Hedgehog. The monster I've chosen is this one, Shaddoll Lizard."

[Hayato: 4000LP, 3 cards in hand]

However, compared to Hayato's resource management in the deck, the Gravekeeper Elder is more concerned about the monsters that appear on Hayato's field.

【Shadowbringer Midrash】【ATK2200】

'2200 attack power? That's more like it, but still too weak. Next up is that monster's attack, right?'

The Elder Gravekeeper glanced at his last face-down card in the back row. 'However, I still have my strongest card in the back row for this situation. A single monster isn't enough to pose a threat. Until then, I'll use that brat's own card to hold off the rest.'

【Half-Dragon Maid - Laundry Dragon Girl】【DEF1600】

Hayato glanced at Blue in defense stance and said earnestly, "Blue, I like you so much! For you, I'm going to activate this powerful card!"

"The Spell Card [Shield Smash] can be activated by targeting one Defense Position monster on the field and destroying that monster!"

As the card was activated, a green laser beam struck Little Blue on the Gravekeeper's field, shattering the phantom of a shield that had appeared on Little Blue's body. "Ugh!" Little Blue screamed in pain as Hayato mercilessly destroyed him and sent him to the graveyard.

Catching the card [Half-Dragon Maid - Laundry Dragon Girl] returned to his hand, Hayato looked at the card with an angry expression before sending it to the graveyard: "Damn it, my cute and powerful little blue was destroyed and sent to the graveyard just like that. How dare you hurt my cherished monster! You are unforgivable!"

"What does this have to do with me? Didn't you destroy this monster yourself?!" The tomb guardian elder had no intention of taking the blame for Hayato's actions and said angrily, "Nonsense, I don't understand!"

"Alright, since that's the case, then I'll enter the battle phase and launch a direct attack on you now that you have no monsters left on the field!" Hayato pointed at the Gravekeeper Elder, "Your punishment will be by my Tamashi, [Shadowdee Midrash]!"

"Rapid dive and deafening crash!"

The monsters that inspired [Veneda the Wind Maiden] and [Purao the Wind Dragon Star] are both Wind-type monsters, so it's perfectly reasonable for Hayato to use a Flying-type Z-Move.

Faced with the attack from [Shadowy Midrash], the Elder of the Graveyard hesitated for a moment.

The current timing perfectly fulfills the activation conditions for my face-down card in the back row. However, if I were to use that powerful card now, it would be a waste to only exchange it for a mere Level 5 monster. But if I don't use it, its 2200 ATK is still quite painful, and my Life Points will instantly drop to only half.

After a moment's consideration, and taking into account that leaving the card on the field might result in it being destroyed by a card like [Whirlwind] in the next turn, the Gravekeeper Elder ultimately decided to activate the face-down card.

"Chain your monster's attack declaration," the Gravekeeper said confidently, his tone quite smug. "Although the previous [Hand Swap] was a psychological tactic, I wasn't lying last turn; I really did draw the strongest ultimate card in my deck. Now, I'm going to activate the last card I set face-down last turn!"

"False 'god,' kneel before me, before this sublime power!!"

"Trap Card, [Divine Shield - Mirror Power -]!!!"

The face-down card in the back row of the Gravekeeper Elder was revealed, and it wasn't a card like [Explosive Armor] that harbored a strange curse, but rather what could be considered the highest level of offensive declaration card, Hanno's (crossed out)... [Divine Shield - Mirror Power -]!

As the face-down card is opened, an arc-shaped shield envelops the Gravekeeper Elder. Once triggered by an attack, this seemingly fragile shield will instantly destroy all the attack-position monsters on Hayato's field without targeting them, shattering them completely without leaving a single one behind. What a powerful force!

"Although it only traded one of your mere Level 5 monsters, considering that the last monster you can leave on the field will also be destroyed, allowing me to freely summon monsters to attack you next turn, using this card is worthwhile." The Gravekeeper pointed proudly at the [Shadowy Midrash] flying towards him, "With such powerful strength, how could that monster possibly withstand it?"

He couldn't help but imagine the scene of the monster in front of him being pulverized by the despairing power of the [Holy Shield - Power of the Reflector]!

However, he failed to notice the enigmatic smiles on the faces of Jonouchi and the others watching the duel.

The next moment, although it was a mage, it was able to swoop down from the sky like a bird at Hayato's command and crash into the mirror shield in front of the Elder of the Graveyard. This successfully triggered the destructive power within, and the impact swept across Hayato's entire field in an instant. Naturally, it was the first to be damaged by the destructive effect.

However, contrary to the Elder's expectations, despite being hit by the impact of the [Divine Shield - Power of the Reflector -], [Shadowdee Midrash] was completely unharmed. After the mount shattered the shield with a bite, Midrash leaped up from its back, aimed at the spot Hayato had attacked earlier, and kicked out at the Elder!

"Buga!"

Elder: 4000 → 1800 LP

“Rider Kick…” the green-haired puppet figure muttered after completing the attack, tiptoed back onto the dragon’s back, and steadied the staff, which was more decorative than practical. It then returned to Hayato’s field as if nothing had happened and remained silent.

Only the tomb guardian elder, lying on the ground clutching his nose which had been injured a second time, glared angrily at Hayato and said, "Why, why wasn't that monster destroyed!"

"Oh my, actually I didn't expect that your backcourt card would be Hanno's Superior Power."

Hayato didn't notice Midrash's low mutterings. Looking at the gravedigger's angry expression, he grinned and said, "If you can't even imagine that, you're just a fool bound by Earth's gravity."

"Is Earth's gravity some kind of brain-destroying thing?" Aleister, who had poked his head out of the graveyard and was lying on the Duel Disk, couldn't help but retort after hearing Hayato's words.

Hayato glanced at the [Shadowdow Lizard] and [Local Hurricane] in his hand, then ended his turn without placing either card face down: "So, my turn is over."

[Hayato: 4000LP, 2 cards in hand]

【Shadowbringer Midrash】【ATK2200】

"An ability that can't be destroyed by effects...tsk, is it such a disgusting effect? ​​But, it can be dealt with by combat destruction, right? It's just a level 5 piece of trash."

Hearing the words of the tomb guardian elder, Hayato nodded: "That's right. Although combat destruction resistance is the most useless resistance, combat destruction is the most effective way to remove it."

After pausing for a moment, Hayato glanced at the Elder Gravekeeper's empty hand, or rather, lingered on his opponent's Duel Disk, before saying, "However, with not even a single card in your hand, can you accurately draw the cards necessary to summon a monster with the battle-destroying [Middrash] ability?"

The tomb guardian frowned slightly and calmly said, "Nonsense. How could I know what card I would draw before I draw it?"

"Anyway, it's my turn, draw a card!"

Reaching his hand towards the deck area of ​​the Duel Disk, the golden alternate Duel Disk spat out a card, which the Gravekeeper Elder caught in his hand. After glancing at the card he had drawn, a joyful expression appeared on his aged face: "Hehe, hahahaha, my deck responded to me, allowing me to draw the right card!"

However, in Hayato's view, the expression on the grave-guarding elder's face, while close to "surprise," was more "smug."

"Attack status normally summons this monster, [Shield Worm]!"

Placing the card on the Duel Disk, a worm appeared on the Gravekeeper's field, its body mostly covered in brown armor as part of its shell. As soon as it appeared on the field, the worm couldn't help but curl up and try to protect itself with its armor because of Hayato's [Shadowy Midrash].

"When [Shield Worm] is successfully Summoned, Flip Summoned, or Special Summoned, it will be changed to Defense Position due to its own effect." The Gravekeeper watched [Shield Worm]'s actions, but then pointed to his own monster, "However, this effect will be negated by the effect of [Imperial Decree] on my back field, and then I will draw a card from my Deck!"

The [Imperial Decree] that negated Hayato's [Summoner - Aleister] effect last turn is a continuous trap card, and its effect affects the entire field indiscriminately. A white light flashed across the [Imperial Decree] that was opened on the field and landed on the [Shield Worm]. The worm, which was trying to curl up, was forced to remain frozen in attack position on the field and could not use its own effect.

[Shield Worm] [4 stars/land]

[Insect Clan/Effect]

[800/2000]

The Elder of the Graveyard once again drew a card from the Golden Duel Disk. This time, he didn't even bother to show any surprise. He directly activated the card he had drawn: "Then this card, [Magic Flowerpot], sends my face-up Continuous Trap Card [Imperial Decree] to the Graveyard to activate. I draw two cards from my Deck."

"Next is this card, the spell card [Angel's Charity]. I draw three cards from my deck and then send two cards from my hand to the graveyard."

The overly smooth gameplay made Jonouchi scratch the back of his head in confusion: "It feels like something's not quite right? Although true duelists can decide the future of their card draws, that old guy... I can't sense the aura that a true duelist should have at all."

Yugi nodded in agreement, but said nothing, simply watching the arena. Like Hayato, he also glanced at the golden duel disk in the Elder's hand, and had some guesses in his mind.

After sending the card to the graveyard and changing his hand, the Gravekeeper Elder revealed a rather arrogant smile and said, "You've got some skill to hurt me, but that's it for now. I'm going to summon the strongest card in my deck!"

"I'll Tribute 'Shield Worm' and activate this Spell Card 'Hatch' to Special Summon 1 Insect-Type monster from my Deck that is 1 Level higher than the Tributed Monster." The Gravekeeper said, taking another card from his Deck and placing it on the field as a replacement for 'Shield Worm'. "Come forth, 'Ultimate Insect LV5'!"

Under the influence of [Hatching], the [Shield Worm] spit out a large amount of silk to wrap its body. As the cocoon wriggles and deforms, a pair of sharp catching legs pierce out and tear a large gash in the cocoon, from which a ferocious giant insect crawls out.

【Ultimate Insect LV5】【5☆/Wind】

[Insect Clan/Effect]

[2300/900]

"Hahaha, this is my trump card, the legendary LV monster [Ultimate Insect]. Although it wasn't Special Summoned with the power of [Ultimate Insect LV3] and has lost its most powerful effect, it's still enough to defeat your monster!"

“But it’s not over yet, I still need to summon this monster!” The Gravekeeper Elder said, then played another card from his hand. “【Demon Shovel Bug】can only be Special Summoned by banishing two Insect-Type monsters from my Graveyard. I’ll send the one I just sent to the Graveyard with 【Angel’s Charity】…hmm?”

Even though the cards were placed on the Duel Disk, the Gravekeeper's field did not show the [Demon Shovel Bug], and the two monster cards he was supposed to banish did not appear in the Graveyard.

The first thing the tomb guardian did was cast a suspicious glance at Hayato.

"Too many Special Summonings will turn a duel into a long, drawn-out storytelling session, which won't do. So let me use Xiaomi to save the duel." Hayato explained to the Elder of the Graveyard, "As long as [Shadowy Midrash] is in the Monster Zone, both players can only Special Summon a monster once per turn during that period."

"[Shield Worm] is a Normal Summon and is therefore unaffected, while the appearance of [Ultimate Insect LV5] has already consumed your only Special Summon."

As he spoke, Hayato pretended to look around, "As for the [Demon Shovel Bug], it's probably lost somewhere and can't come out for the time being."

"Tch, it actually works? If that's the case, that monster's strength is just too disgusting!" The Gravekeeper put away the [Demon Shovel Bug] card and looked at Mimi on Hayato's field with displeasure. "Then I'll just destroy that monster and then Special Summon [Demon Shovel Bug]. You've escaped with your life."

"Entering battle phase, use [Ultimate Insect LV5] to attack [Camille Midrash]!"

"Toxic Powder Storm!"

Chapter 704 Shout out my name!

Although Midrash was so powerful that it repeatedly switched between limited, semi-limited, and unlimited states, in the end, it was just a monster with an attack power of 2200 points and no resistance to battle destruction, and it was destroyed by the attack of Ultimate Insect LV5.

[Hayato: 4000→3900LP]

"Like other Shaddolls, it can be used when Shaddoll Midrash is sent to the Graveyard. However, since there are no cards in my Graveyard that meet its activation conditions, I cannot activate Midrash's effect."

As Hayato delivered [Shadowy Midrash] to the graveyard, the gravedigger said smugly, "What? I was pretty accurate."

"With that monster gone, my Special Summon restrictions will also be lifted, right? In that case, I'll end the Battle Phase, and then in Main Phase Two, I'll banish the two Insect-Type monsters from my Graveyard,"