Is this the world of card dealers? Yada thieves!

"Hmph, you know the answer already. When did you start to have the misconception that I would do something as despicable as sending monsters to the graveyard for the sake of victory?"

The seahorse raised its chin and spoke arrogantly, but Hayato always felt that this guy was definitely alluding to him.

"Tch, even so, I choose to exclude the three machine-type monsters, [XY-Steel Dragon Cannon], [XZ-Tank Cannon], and [YZ-Tank Dragon], to increase the attack power of [Destruction Swordsman] by 3000 points."

After a moment's consideration, Hiroya Misawa, though he really wanted to banish Kaiba's Blue-Eyes Steelix, ultimately chose to banish three Machine-type units for the sake of victory. "Although I gave you the chance to retrieve that Blue-Eyes Steelix, that's for the next turn. But in this turn, I'm going to eliminate Hayato Kobayashi!"

[Destroyer Swordsman] [ATK 2600 → 5600]

Although the effects of Blue-Eyes Steel Dragon and Destroyer are negated, preventing it from increasing its ATK based on the number of Dragon-Type monsters in the opponent's Graveyard and on the field, its ATK has been increased to a level surpassing that of Armored Dragon - Cyber ​​Dark Terminator under the effect of Destroyer's Destiny.

Although the [Armored Dragon - Cyber ​​Dark Terminator] possesses considerable resistance, there's a saying that goes, the most useless resistance is combat destruction resistance, and the most useful way to remove it is through combat destruction. Against a [Destruction Swordsman] with an attack power of 5600, even the [Armored Dragon - Cyber ​​Dark Terminator] can only be destroyed by combat; its powerful resistance is completely ineffective.

However, what's even more important is that, besides [Armored Dragon - Cyber ​​Dark End Dragon], Hayato also has another monster on his field, namely [Silver Castle Statue], and in Attack Position, [Silver Castle Statue] had its ATK reduced to 0 last turn due to the effect of [Guardian of the Golden City].

If he were chosen as the target of the [Destruction Swordsman], it would be no different from attacking Hayato directly. With an attack power of up to 5600 points, even if Hayato's base score is still at its maximum of 4000 points, it would be no match for him!

Seeing that Kaiba had eliminated the three Machine-Type monsters, Hiroya Misawa was still not satisfied. He looked at Kaiba and said, "With the power of the Destroyer Swordsman, it was more than enough to take down Hayato Kobayashi. So, you're next, Seto Kaiba!"

“As I said before, there’s absolutely no synergy between you and Hayato Kobayashi. I said that because our doubles team is much more coordinated than yours.” As he spoke, he looked at the mysterious figure on the other side and said, “Hey, I’m going to use your face card, is that okay?”

The mysterious man didn't say anything, but simply gestured to the two face-down cards in his back row, indicating that Hiroya Misawa could do as he pleased.

"Then I'll activate the one on the left."

Upon hearing Hiroya Misawa's words, the mysterious man pressed a button to open the face-down card, revealing a red trap card: "Red Bloodstained Golden Kingdom Elixir of Immortality".

"【Red Bloodstained Golden Kingdom Elixir of Immortality】This card's effect is to Special Summon 1 Zombie-Type monster from your Deck or Graveyard. However, if no 【Eldridge】 monster is present, no monster other than 【Eldridge】 can be Special Summoned. Furthermore, after this card is used, until the end of this turn, no monster other than Zombie-Type can be Special Summoned."

Hiroshi Misawa impatiently interrupted the mysterious man: "But because you have [Golden Lord Eldridge] on your field, the restriction no longer applies. I can Special Summon a Zombie monster directly from my Deck or Graveyard."

"I Special Summon this monster from the graveyard. Come forth, [Minotaur]!"

The [Bullhead Demon], who had been liberated and sent to the cemetery, resurrected and returned to Hiroya Misawa's field, still wielding that large wooden mallet, and bravely chose attack stance. However, upon seeing his old buddy [Horsehead Demon] equipped with [Armored Dragon - Cyber ​​Dark Terminator Dragon], the [Bullhead Demon] paused for a moment, choosing to pretend it didn't see him.

"I activate the effect of [Bullhead Demon] once per turn. Send one Zombie-Type monster from my Deck to the Graveyard. I send [Indra] to the Graveyard, then activate another face-down card, [Call of the Living Dead], to Special Summon the [Indra] sent to the Graveyard!"

The "Bullhead Demon" summons the spirits of the dead, sending a monster from Hiroya Misawa's deck to the graveyard. However, this monster, named after a yokai from the Night Parade of One Hundred Demons, is Special Summoned to the field in Attack Position under the effect of "Call of the Living Dead," and it breathes blue flames.

【Bullhead Demon】【ATK1700】

【Yinmo Luo Gui】【ATK1200】

"The deck I use is a 'Yokai' Zombie deck based on the yokai from the Hyakki Yagyō (Night Parade of One Hundred Demons). Although I had to remove some cards in order to counter Seto Kaiba's 'Blue-Eyes White Dragon' and add cards like 'Destroyer Swordsman', I deliberately kept some so that you would know I was using a 'Yokai' deck."

It was only then that Hiroya Misawa began to introduce his deck, placing his finger above it. "As a yokai, it naturally embodies the racial characteristics of the undead, and the graveyard is a core element of it."

"When I Special Summon [Infernal Demon] from the Graveyard, I draw one card from my Deck, and I draw!"

Drawing his card, Hiroya Misawa glanced at it and revealed a rather smug expression: "Here it comes! The strongest monster in my deck, and a crucial part of that person's plan. I haven't performed a Normal Summon this turn yet. Now, I'm going to Tribute [Inmoro Oni] on the field!"

"The legendary giant, also known as the Tadala Master, and an unparalleled great demon, descend!"

"【Master Daitaro】!"

The purple bird, born from the resentment of the newly deceased, transformed back into its former self, its resentment dissipating and disappearing from Hiroya Misawa's field. In its place, a jet-black giant rose from the ground, standing tall on the earth, corresponding to Kaiba's Blue-Eyes White Dragon and Hayato's Armored Dragon - Cyber ​​Dark Terminator Dragon!

【Daitaro Hoshi】【10☆/Location】

[Undead/Effect]

[2900/2500]

"A level 10 monster? Hmph, it feels... inferior to [Blue-Eyes White Dragon]." Kaiba said casually, but then frowned. "However, when summoning a level 7 or higher monster using the Superior Summon, the required tribute should be two, right? Could the Duel Disk system have been hacked?"

"No, the reason why [Daitaro the Mage] only used one tribute when it was Tributed is because of its own summoning conditions. This card cannot be Special Summoned, but when it is Tributed, it can be Tributed with only one Zombie monster."

With that, Hiroya Misawa waved his hand again and said, "As for being inferior to [Blue-Eyes White Dragon]? Heh, then let me show you, Seto Kaiba, how terrifying I can be when I get serious!"

"【Daitaro the Mage】's effect: This card can increase the number of Zombie-Type monsters on my field by 200 points, excluding this card. Currently, I have four Zombie-Type monsters on my field: 【Ox-Headed Demon】, 【Golden Lord Eldridge】, 【Guardian of the Golden Land】, and 【Conqueror of the Golden Land】."

"Therefore, [Daitaro the Mage]'s attack power has increased by 800 points!"

【Daitaro Hoshi】【ATK2900→3700】

"In that case, the attack power of [Daitaro the Mage] would be higher than that of [Blue-Eyes White Dragon], right?"

Seeing his [Daitaro the Wizard] raise its hand, and several strands of power from the other undead monsters on the field converged on the giant, increasing its attack power, Hiroya Misawa arrogantly said, "Entering my battle phase, I will first take down Hayato Kobayashi, and then eliminate Seto Kaiba, using these two powerful monsters on my field!"

"【Destruction Swordsman】, attack that 【Silver Castle Demon Statue】 with 0 attack power! Destruction Sword Flash!"

The Destroyer, with an attack power of 5600, sensed something was wrong, but forced by the controller's declaration of attack, had no choice but to raise his longsword at Hayato's seemingly powerless Demon Statue of the Silver Castle.

Hayato was somewhat helpless as he watched his opponent so easily declare an attack without even clearing his back row of face-down cards.

However, that's not what he said: "A [Destruction Swordsman] with 5600 attack power attacked my [Silver Castle Demon Statue], which means I'm going to take a whopping 5600 points of combat damage!? Good heavens, my basic points are practically nonexistent!"

"So powerful, too powerful!" Hayato exclaimed, but without hesitation, he pressed the button to activate the face-down card. "So I'm going to activate the invincible [Magic Cylinder]!"

"Witness the top-tier understanding of Duel Monsters from Leader Zuo!"

Chapter 882 Only those who are prepared to be shot have the right to fire.

"Activate the [Magic Cylinder]!"

Hayato's back row was opened, revealing the classic and useful trap card, [Magic Cylinder]. Only then did Misawa Hiroya, who had been acting impulsively, suddenly remember that it was the card Hayato had set face-down when he Special Summoned [Silver Castle Statue].

The card that is searched when the 【Demonic Statue of the Silver Castle】is Special Summoned is specifically required to be activated when an attack is declared. How could I have forgotten that?

"【Magic Cylinder】can only be activated when the opponent declares an attack, targeting that attacking monster. It negates that monster's attack and inflicts damage to the opponent equal to that monster's ATK." Hayato looked at Hiroya Misawa's 【Destroyer Swordsman】on the field and said, "How terrifying, 5600 ATK, it can easily wipe out my Life Points."

"But the reverse is also true; 5600 points of damage is enough to wipe out your base score!"

Hearing Hayato's words, Hiroya Misawa panicked: "Oh no! If I die in this dark game... no, I absolutely don't want that to happen!"

Looking panicked, he glanced at his empty hand and then at the monster effects on his field that he couldn't activate. His eyes then fell on the last face-down card on his back row: "I've got it! I still have this card! I still have a chance! I'm not going to die yet!"

"Activate the Quick-Play Spell Card [Partially Sealed]!"

With an expression of having escaped death, Hiroya Misawa opened the cards in his back row, and a beam of light fell on the [Destroyer Swordsman] on his field.

Despite the buff from "Destiny of the Destroyer" boosting its attack to a whopping 5600 points, the attack of "Destroyer" actually decreased after Hiroya Misawa activated that face-down card in the back row!

[Destroyer Swordsman] [ATK 5600 → 2800]

"【Magic Cylinder】does indeed have the powerful ability to reflect attacks, but the prerequisite for defeating me with that card is that 【Destroyer Swordsman】must have enough attack power to wipe out my basic points, right?"

Just moments before, Misawa Hiroya had been panicking, but now that he had grasped this lifeline, he became arrogant and smug again, looking at Hayato and saying, "But according to the reverse chain, as long as I reduce the attack power of the [Destruction Swordsman] to a level that won't deplete my basic attack before the [Magic Cylinder] effect takes effect, that's fine!"

"Because of the [Half-Sealing] effect, the [Destroyer Swordsman]'s attack power is halved until the end of the turn and cannot be destroyed in battle."

Hiroya Misawa watched smugly as the attack of the "Destroyer Swordsman" was blocked by two cylinders that appeared in front of the "Silver Castle Demon Statue," and the sword energy was absorbed into them.

"My base score is 4000 points, so although 2800 points of damage is a heavy blow to me, as long as I can survive this, I can retaliate against you with [Daitaro Mage], which has an attack power of 3700 points, Kobayashi Hayato!"

"You were right about one thing earlier, that is, after this battle phase ends, your basic points will be as weak as a candle in the wind. If you replaced [Half-Seal] with [Fireball], it would be a fatal blow, but unfortunately, you can't do that."

The Magic Cylinder began to convert the previously absorbed attacks, aiming its barrel at Hiroya Misawa, seemingly to reflect the attacks back. Hiroya Misawa was also ready to receive the attack.

However, when his gaze fell behind the Magic Cylinder, he was taken aback, because he saw a hexagonal device that had appeared behind Hayato at some point, with six round holes that looked like revolver cylinders, filled with several Magic Cylinders.

"What is that?"

"This? You were looking at what cards you could activate in your back row, so you didn't see it. This is a card that I chained into when I activated [Magic Cylinder], the Normal Trap Card [Heavy Loader]."

Hayato shrugged, looking completely innocent.

"But you clearly only had one face-down card, [Magic Cylinder], in your back row just now!"

“That’s right, I only have one face-down card, [Magic Cylinder], but I didn’t say that [Heavy Loader] was activated on the field.” As Hayato spoke, he actually took a card from the graveyard. “When I activate [Magic Cylinder], [Heavy Loader] can be banished from the graveyard to activate its effect. It’s not just that guy next to you who can activate trap cards in the graveyard.”

"And the effect of [Heavy Loader] is that it doubles the damage returned to the opponent by [Magic Cylinder]." Hayato grinned wickedly, licking his lips. "So, your attempt to struggle with [Partial Seal] was completely futile, utterly useless! Hahahaha!"

"What?!"

Hiroya Misawa looked again at the [Magic Cylinder] that was about to be launched, and sensed a power even stronger than the attack unleashed by the [Destruction Swordsman] earlier.

I halved the [Destroyer Swordsman's] attack power with a [Half-Sealing] skill, then the [Magic Cylinder] absorbed that damage, which was then doubled by the [Heavy Loader] effect. In other words, the attack that's being returned is still the [Destroyer Swordsman's] original 5600 attack power!?

This time, Hiroshi Misawa truly had no cards left to activate. He looked at the mysterious figure beside him and pleaded, "Hey, help me! Quickly activate any card you can, use your card effects to help me! My brilliant mind cannot disappear from this world!"

Why are you just watching?

"Tsk, why are you making such a ugly face? Could it be that you can't accept the reality that you're about to be defeated in the Dark Game?" Hayato looked at Hiroya Misawa and mocked, "Only those who are prepared to be shot have the right to fire a shot. Rest in peace, you small fry."

Even Kaiba crossed his arms and sneered, "Just now you seemed to be making self-righteous comments about my teamwork with Kobayashi Hayato, right? Since your ridiculous behavior made me laugh, I'll respond to you."

"Is it that Kobayashi Hayato and I can't cooperate? That's not the case. There's only one reason why you can't see any cooperation between us in this duel, and it's very simple—that is, a third-rate duelist like you with a fourth-rate deck can't even get us serious in a one-on-one duel. There's absolutely no need for cooperation!"

"You!" Seeing that the [Magic Cylinder] was finally about to be fired, Hiroya Misawa said hysterically, "Just you wait, when you are swallowed by darkness and fall into purgatory, you will remember my wrath, Hiroya Misawa!"

"boom!"

From the Magic Cylinder, a beam cannon transformed from the slash of the Destruction Swordsman was launched, sweeping past the Destruction Swordsman on Misawa Hiroya's field, as well as the Bull Demon and the Daitaro Mage, who had only appeared briefly and hadn't even attacked once, and directly struck him.

The destructive magical energy instantly wiped out Hiroya Misawa's basic attack, sending him flying through the Dark Game's barrier and landing on the outside amidst his screams.

Outside the dueling group, Keihei, who had been squatting outside with Amelda for a long time and had been watching the duel through a one-way window specially opened by Hayato using the power of the Millennium Wisdom Wheel, noticed that Misawa Hiroya had flown out. He glanced at him subconsciously, then turned back to watch the duel without paying any attention.

“One lost.” “Yeah, one’s taken care of.” Ameluda and Keipai chatted casually, neither of them paying any attention to the unconscious Misawa Hiroya. Even inside the barrier of the Dark Games, it was the same.

"Hmph, the extra minions have finally been eliminated. It would have been faster if you had attacked that guy directly, Hayato." With Hiroya Misawa's elimination, his turn ended and it was Kaiba's turn. While saying this, Kaiba placed his finger on the deck, "My turn, draw a card."

"Don't say that, Kaiba. If I had attacked that guy just now, who would have stepped into the trap for you? After all, your Blue-Eyes is too easy to fall into traps, isn't it?"

Seeing the raised eyebrow of Kaiba as he drew his card, Hayato had a pretty good idea of ​​what card he had drawn this time. He reminded him, "Although I don't think you'll listen, it's okay to restrain your attacks a little. You'll have a hard time taking down this guy in one turn."

"Hmph, have you forgotten how powerful the Blue-Eyes White Dragon is because you haven't faced her in so long, Kobayashi Hayato?" If Hayato hadn't said anything, Kaiba wouldn't have felt the need to activate the card in his hand. But now he felt he had to. "Just you wait and see, I'm going to take care of that mysterious guy on the other side this turn!"

"Activate the spell card 'Heavenly Treasure Card,' everyone draw six cards from their hand!" Kaiba said, inserting the card into the Spell & Trap Zone, having already drawn six cards. "My hand is 0, so I can draw a total of six cards!"

“...My hand also has 0 cards, so I can also draw six cards.” The mysterious person opposite him followed closely behind Kaiba and also drew six cards. Seeing this, Hayato sighed, “You’ve given the opponent six cards, Kaiba. Tsk, I only have one card in my hand, so I can only draw five cards.”

"Honestly, if I had known you were going to use the [Heavenly Treasure Card], I would have used this card in my hand. Losing a card is even more painful than losing a card."

"Hmph, whatever. So what if the opponent draws six cards? I won't let him have a chance to activate his cards on his turn."

As Kaiba spoke, he activated the effect of a card on the field, "Once per turn, I use the effect of [Blue-Eyes Illusion] to return [Blue-Eyes White Dragon] from my field to my hand. Then, because the returned card is [Blue-Eyes White Dragon], I can Special Summon a monster directly from my hand!"

"Come forth, [White Spirit Dragon]!"

The figure of the Blue-Eyes White Dragon disappeared with the effect of Blue-Eyes Illusion, and in its place appeared a giant dragon that was entirely white.

【White Spirit Dragon】【8☆/Light】

[Dragon Clan/Effect]