Is this the world of card dealers? Yada thieves!

"Dark Magician Burst!"

A crimson-purple magic bullet instantly formed. With a single swing of her staff, the Dark Magician Girl effortlessly completed the attack spell. She gripped her staff with both hands, raised it above her head, and swung it fiercely at the magic bullet, launching it like a character from a certain psychopathic anime getting their head smashed with a golf club. She held grudges fiercely. Even though it was under Hayato's orders, she hadn't easily forgotten that the Shaddoll had disrupted the Guardian Priestess Mana's spell with its effect; she had to retaliate on the spot!

Hayato, who had no face-down cards on the field, knew that his Dark Magician Girl, a DARK-attribute Spellcaster, was immune to the effects of Dark Magician's Enhancement and didn't try to stop her attack. He let the Magic Bullet fired by Dark Magician Girl hit Shaddoll, which had only been on the field for a few seconds, and blast it into a shadow that fell back to the ground.

Hayato also suffered combat injuries because his attack gesture was intended to be offensive.

[Hayato Kobayashi: 3500→2700LP]

Atem originally planned that even if Hayato managed to avoid the devastating attack from [Guardian Priest-Mahad], he would then use [Guardian Priest-Mana] to sacrifice himself alongside [Summoned Beast-Light] in order to special summon [Dark Magician Girl]. This would allow him to achieve three attacks within a single battle phase, forcing Hayato to withstand 2600 points of direct damage from [Dark Magician Girl].

However, the situation is quite different from what he expected. While [Summoned Beast - Light Body] is still on Hayato's field, [Dark Magician Girl] has only destroyed [Shadowdow Lizard] and dealt 800 combat damage to Hayato. Hayato still has more Life Points than him and Aibo.

"Seriously, I've almost exhausted all my tricks. As expected of Hayato, he's not so easy to defeat."

The game continued, "It's alright. My other self can deal 800 damage, which is enough. We're gradually gaining the upper hand."

Looking at the [Nightmare Mirage] on Hayato's back field, Atum understood the game's meaning: "Ah, compared to us who still have three cards left in our hand, Hayato currently has seven cards in his hand, but because of the effect of [Nightmare Mirage], he needs to randomly discard four cards during his turn's preparation phase."

"Furthermore, the monsters on both sides' fields are stronger on our side." Atum said helplessly, glancing at the three cards in his hand. "Well then, I'll leave the rest to you, Aibo."

“Okay, don’t worry, it’s the other me.” Yugi nodded and looked at Hayato, “After the battle phase, I’ll set three cards during Main Phase Two!”

"Our round is over."

[Yugi Muto: 2000LP, 0 cards in hand]

[Guardian Priest - Mahad] [ATK3500→2500]

Dark Magician Girls, ATK2600

[GaiK] X3

Looking at the three face-down cards on the field in the back row, Hayato was somewhat speechless. What's wrong? Blue God wasn't skilled enough to let you use that triple trap that became a "doom field," so Yugi, you heavy trap player, came here to try this trick, huh?

He finally understood what the game meant when it said to Atum at the beginning: "You attack, I defend." So it meant "You are responsible for setting up the attack, and I am responsible for resetting the attack."

But it doesn't matter, because you have that "trap-busting" card [Harpie's Feather Duster] in your deck, and it just came into your hand because of [Shadowdow Beast]'s effect.

As long as [Harpie's Feather Duster] is successfully activated, everything will be alright.

"My turn, draw!" Hayato confidently drew a card, and then saw half of the cards in his hand suddenly turn into phantoms and disappear. He knew that this was the negative effect of [Nightmare Mirage] taking effect. Although drawing cards was enjoyable, discarding them was not so enjoyable, especially since the effect of discarding cards was random.

Because I drew four cards in the last round, I now need to randomly discard four cards as well. But that's no big deal, since I have a full eight cards in my hand. Even if I discard four, I'll still have four left.

The problem is, why was the [Harpie's Feather Duster] among the four cards that were discarded?

Seeing the Half-Dragon Maid - Laundry Girl sticking out her tongue and acting cute, being sent to the graveyard by Nightmare Mirage along with powerful cards like Harpy's Feather Duster, Bitter Choice, and Shaddoll, Hayato felt like he had found the answer. It must have been Little Blue who did it!

"Hmph, because [Shadowdome] was sent to the graveyard by its effect, I draw a card from my deck."

"Then, during my main phase, I activate the effect of the Continuous Spell Card 'Demon's Declaration' on the field, pay 500 Life Points to declare a card name, and if the card at the top of my deck is the declared card name, add it to my hand." With a slightly annoyed snort, Hayato resolved to kick Ran out of his deck when he got back. "My declared card name is 'Fusion Magic'."

[Hayato: 2700→2200LP]

As expected, the top card of the deck was Hayato's "Perfect Magic," and Atum and Yugi watched as Hayato added it to his hand.

"That card... could it mean that the monster is coming?" Yugi recalled that the earliest fusion monster to use this Spellcaster version of "Dragon's Mirror" was created by Hayato, and he looked very serious.

"【Fusion Magic】Activated. This card can be Fusion Summoned from the Fusion Deck as a Fusion Monster by banishing monsters from the field or Graveyard as Fusion Material." Hayato removes five cards from the Graveyard and banishes them all, saying, "Banish the five monsters in my Graveyard: 【Summoner Aleister】, 【Shaddoll Dragon】, 【Shaddoll Beast】, 【Shaddoll Hound】, and 【Shaddoll Lizard】!"

"Celebrate!"

Chapter 994 Second Clearance

"Rejoice! The ultimate mage, embodying the utmost benevolence, goodness, supreme virtue, strength, and dignity, will descend upon this place, and the duel that accompanies him will enter its final chapter!"

"Fusion Summoning! [Five-Element Magician]!"

Five pillars of light rose from the open space in front of Hayato. The five body-magic monsters that he had banished from the graveyard due to the effect of [Harmony Magic] appeared in phantom form, with four animal-shaped [Shadow] monsters surrounding [Summoner-Aleister].

Although it is difficult for ordinary people to understand, the races of Duel Monsters are so magical. The lower-level monsters of [Shadow] that seem to be reptiles, dragons, beasts or birds are actually all spellcasters, which just happens to meet the fusion material requirement of [Five Magician] which requires five spellcaster monsters.

The phantoms suddenly merged and converged into one place, and the five pillars of light transformed into five wheel-like staffs that floated around the central humanoid figure, rotating like satellites orbiting a planet. The magician, who had gathered the power of the five monsters, opened his eyes as Hayato placed the card on the duel disk.

[Five-Element Magician] [12☆/Dark]

[Mage Race/Fusion/Effect]

[4500/4500]

"As expected, it is the [Five-Element Magician]! The ultimate magician that can descend only by combining the monsters of the five magician races. Whether it is attack or defense, it is flawless. It is not afraid of being released, nor will it become fusion material, nor will it be destroyed by effects. It is simply a perfect monster."

Looking at Hayato's [Five-Formation Magician] on the field, Yugi sighed.

Hayato waved his hand forward and said, "Not only that, although the materials required for [Five-Element Magician] are five [Mage-Type] monsters, if the fusion materials used are five different types of Mage-Type monsters and the fusion summon is successful, an additional effect can be activated."

Destroy all the cards on the opponent's field!

Although he accidentally dropped the Harpy's Feather Duster into the graveyard, there was no need to retrieve it. The effect of the Five Magicians that Hayato summoned at this moment was essentially an upgraded version of the Harpy's Feather Duster with the effect of Lightning Strike. It could not only clear the face-down cards in Yugi's back row, but also take down the monsters on his field.

Then comes its own direct attack. The Five Elements Magician's attack power of 4500 points, comparable to that of the Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon, can completely wipe out the remaining 2000 points of the game's base score with just one hit!

—If the button to activate the face card is not pressed during the game.

"You've destroyed the effects of all the cards on my field! That's powerful, incredibly powerful. It seems you're getting serious, Hayato." Yugi said as he pressed the button to activate a face-down card. "However, we won't be so easily defeated. Chain the effect of [Five-Element Magician] to open my face-down card!"

"Trap Card [Forgetfulness]! Can be activated when the effect of a face-up Attack Position monster on your opponent's field is activated. Negate that activated effect and change it to face-up Defense Position!"

From the cards revealed in the game, a beam of light shot out and struck the [Five-Element Magician], who was raising his hand to unleash a powerful spell to destroy the cards on the field, causing him to suddenly stop.

As if he had dementia, the Five Array Magician suddenly didn't know what he had just done. He scratched the back of his head but couldn't remember. After a long pause, he actually sat down and started thinking.

Hayato stared at the Five Elements Magician, who had suddenly fallen into a dazed state: "Why are you just staring? Five Elements Magician, have you betrayed us?!"

【Five Array Magician】：OMO

[Five-Array Magician] [ATK4500→DEF4500]

Ah, this...

It's one thing that the field-bombing effect didn't activate, but why did you switch to a defensive stance?

"Most powerful monsters are summoned in Attack Position to maximize their damage output in the current turn, in order to work with their effects. Very few people would Special Summon a powerful monster in Defense Position."

After a pause, the game continued with an example, "Take Kaiba's [True Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon], for instance. In order to utilize its powerful continuous attack capabilities, it will always be in attack position whenever it enters the battle. Then, the [Forgetful] card comes in handy, as it can negate effects and further intercept subsequent attacks."

Although he spoke in a calm tone, Yugi was actually somewhat concerned about the cards in Hayato's hand. The powerful monster, "Five-Card Magician," whose effect had been negated, would have been reasonably summoned by anyone else, even at the cost of five cards. Trading five for one wouldn't have been a loss. The problem was that Hayato only used one card when he fused to summon "Five-Card Magician."

No, that doesn't even qualify as a card. Hayato added [Perfect Magic] to his hand using the effect of [Demon's Declaration]. Strictly speaking, all he gave up was a monster card from his graveyard and 500 Life Points. He currently has five cards in his hand, but only two face-down cards left.

"Activate the effect of [Summoning Magic] in my graveyard. Target one of my banished [Summoner - Aleister] cards, return [Summoning Magic] to the deck, and add the banished [Summoner - Aleister] card to your hand."

After recovering the card from the banished zone, Hayato played another card. "Then, I will Normal Summon this [Summoner - Aleister] card that I just recovered from my hand in Defense Position, and add [Summoning Magic] to my hand from my deck through its effect."

Having learned his lesson the hard way, this time Hayato deliberately summoned [Summoner Aleister] in a defensive stance. The great sage, a master of summoning magic, made an elegant entrance, unleashing a profound spell with a wave of his hand, which transformed into a card that fell into Hayato's hand.

“Although it’s not the first time I’ve seen this effect, the combo is really…” Atum said helplessly, “With just two cards, you can create a complete system with a simple recycling system. [Summoner - Aleister] and [Summoning Magic] are really outrageous cards.”

"So, Hayato, which [summoned beast] will you summon next? [Merkaba] which can negate cards, [Caligula] which restricts monster attacks and effects, [Raiden] which flips cards, or [Pulgaterio] which attacks multiple times?"

Having fought Hayato so many times, Atum and Yugi knew to some extent what kind of summons [Summoner - Aleister] could summon with [Summoning Magic], and also had some knowledge of their effects.

As for the [Summoned Beast - Light] already on the field, Yugi and Atem are not worried that Hayato will summon this [Summoned Beast] with the ability to destroy monsters again, because they know that Hayato only has one of each type of [Summoned Beast], and there will not be a second [Summoned Beast - Light].

As Atum listed the types of [Summoned Beasts], Hayato raised a finger and shook it: "Unfortunately, you guessed nothing right except for the prefix 'Summoned Beast,' Yugi Muto. What will appear before you next is the Ultimate Summoned Beast, which goes even deeper into the core mysteries of [Summoning Magic] than [Summoned Beast - Light Body], and symbolizes its limit."

"Activate the Spell Card [Summoning Magic], banishing my [Five-Element Magician] and [Summoned Beast - Light] as Fusion Material!"

"Using [Five-Element Magician] as a fusion material? But doesn't it have an effect that prevents it from becoming a fusion material—" The game paused, looking at the [Forgetful] card at the top of its graveyard, "Because [Forgetful] negates its effect, [Five-Element Magician] can now be used as a fusion material!?"

"You actually used my card? Was this part of your plan, Hayato!"

"Of course, I, Hayato Kobayashi, have planned everything long ago. Your struggles are nothing but dancing in the palm of my hand!" Hayato grinned maliciously, his face arrogant. "The ultimate beast bearing the name of the Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, descend now under the guidance of the forbidden summoning ritual, and grant eternity to all things in the world!"

"The materials are [Summoned Beasts] and monsters Special Summoned from the Fusion Deck. Fusion Summon!"

"[Summoned Beast - Erythion]!"

Hayato placed the card on the duel disk, a smirk playing on his lips: "Blessing~"

Behind him, the [Summoned Beast - Light Body] absorbed the [Five-Element Magician], which was in a defensive position and could not be used for offense. The spiral structure that was originally on the surface of his body shed itself like an insect molting, turning into particles and dissipating, but was captured by invisible magic and formed into a huge thin film.

Like some kind of enormous airship, or perhaps an alien sailboat soaring through the clouds, a colossal monster appeared behind Hayato that couldn't even be described as "giant."

[Summoned Beast - Erythion] [10☆/Light]

[Angel Race/Fusion/Effect]

[3200/4000]

"Ah, I've summoned it, Master." Looking up at the enormous [Summoned Beast - Erythion], [Summoner - Aleister] smiled. "The ultimate crystallization of the summoning technique I've been pursuing, let the world witness my power!"

Hayato waved his hand and said, "[Summoned Beast - Erythion] effect activated! Once per turn, you can target one [Summoned Beast] on my field or in my Graveyard, banish that monster and all monsters on your opponent's field that have the same Attribute as that monster. This effect can also be activated during your opponent's turn!"

Upon hearing Hayato's words, Yugi was taken aback: "As for [Summoned Beasts]... Hayato, there shouldn't be any other [Summoned Beasts] in your graveyard. The previous [Summoned Beast - Light Body] should have been removed by [Summoning Magic]."

"Huh? What are you talking about? The best target for activating the effect of [Summon - Erythion] is right on the field, isn't it?" Hayato commanded without hesitation. "The target for activating the effect of [Summon - Erythion] is [Summon - Erythion] itself!"

"Use your power to guide everything to the paradise beyond the underworld!"

With Hayato's command, the [Summoned Beast - Erythion] behind him released a chilling wind from the underworld, as if to freeze everything. Yugi saw that although the [Guardian Priest - Mahad] and [Dark Magician Girl] on his field had erected magical barriers to try to resist the aura from the underworld, frost quickly climbed onto their bodies.

"How could this be? Doesn't the effect of [Summoned Beast - Erysion] banish monsters of the same attribute?" Yugi couldn't understand the situation. "[Summoned Beast - Erysion] is a Light attribute monster, so it should only banish [Guardian Priest - Mahad], which is also a Light attribute monster. Why is it banishing [Dark Magician Girl] as well?"

"Hoo hoo hoo, this is my privilege as a Kami! Although the attribute of [Summoned Beast - Erythion] seems to be Light, in fact, as long as it exists in the Monster Zone, its attribute can also be used as Dark, Water, Fire, Earth, and Wind. In other words, monsters of all attributes except God will be banished!"

Looking at the [Guardian Priest-Mahad] who was about to turn into a sculpture, Hayato said smugly, "[Guardian Priest-Mahad] should also have the ability to Special Summon [Dark Magician] after being destroyed by battle or effect, right? But if it is banished by [Summon-Erysion], then that effect cannot be activated."

"Cut the weeds and eliminate the roots—this is my favorite saying. At this moment, I will bury your last possibility of resisting me. Sacrifice yourself for the greater good, [Summoned Beast - Erythion]!"

"The wings roared!"

The aura of the underworld surged to its maximum in an instant, assaulting the monsters on the game field. Both the light-attribute [Guardian Priest - Mahad] and the dark-attribute [Dark Magician Girl] were captured by this power and rendered immobile, forced to watch helplessly as the ice from the underworld grew thicker and thicker on their bodies.

However, Hayato's summoned beast Erythion wasn't much better off. As the entrance for this aura from the underworld to the field, it was also affected by the freezing air and gradually turned into an ice sculpture, about to disappear along with the monsters on the field.

After the effect of [Summoned Beast - Erythion] is successfully applied, only the monster [Summoner - Aleister] on Hayato's field will remain. Although there is no need to worry about him attacking while in defense position, the empty field at that time will not bring any sense of security to the game.

Rather than letting [Guardian Priest - Mahad] be banished, it would be better to... With that thought, Yugi made up his mind and pressed the button to activate the face-down card: "Chain with the effect of [Summoned Beast - Erythion], I will activate this Trap Card!"

"【Ceiling】! Can only be activated if there are four or more monsters on the field. Destroy all face-up monsters on the field!"

"What?!"

Seeing Hayato's surprised expression, Yugi said, "Instead of letting [Guardian Priest - Mahad] be excluded by your [Summon - Erythion], I'd rather take the initiative to destroy him."