Is this the world of card dealers? Yada thieves!

"From the brink of death, life will emerge! Hope will be born after destruction!" Giving a thumbs-up to [Guardian Priest - Mahad], Yugi said without hesitation, "Self-destruct, [Mahad], this is a necessary sacrifice!"

Chapter 995 The Last Knight

Before the effect of [Summoned Beast - Erythion] fully took effect and banished itself along with [Guardian Priest - Mahad] and [Dark Magician Girl] on the field, a huge spiked ceiling suddenly appeared above both fields and crashed down.

"boom!"

In an instant, apart from the Trisolaran monsters that should have been excluded, the Summoner Aleister, who was just squatting on the sidelines watching the show, also suffered an undeserved disaster because of the Ceiling that the game had opened. It was destroyed along with the other Trisolaran monsters and sent to the graveyard. After the dust settled, both sides' front fields were empty.

"You monster who chose to destroy yourself before being eliminated, Yugi Muto, you're really despicable now!"

"No, Hayato, you have no right to talk to me like that, do you?" Yugi retorted, "Besides, although it sounds like we're competing to see who's worse, it's definitely better for me to destroy it than for you to exclude it, right?"

"While the card 【Ceiling】 has a field-wide destruction effect similar to 【Black Hole】, its activation prerequisite—having four or more monsters on the field—is a bit troublesome. However, I knew very well that if you were to launch an offensive, new monsters would inevitably appear to fulfill the activation condition of 【Ceiling】. Obviously, I guessed correctly and seized the best opportunity to activate 【Ceiling】!"

As the game's voice faded, Atum continued, "I remember seeing a Norwegian saying back in the real world: 'The North Wind Creates the Viking Warriors.' The harsh North Wind of the Arctic Ocean created the courageous and persevering Vikings, meaning that through wisdom, one can turn harsh environments into opportunities."

"Aibo activated [Ceiling] at the perfect moment, banishing [Summoner - Aleister] from your field, which you could have survived, while also preventing the banishment effect of [Summoned Beast - Erythion]. Now, the effect of [Guardian Priest - Mahad], which was destroyed by [Ceiling], is activated!"

At the location of the destroyed [Guardian Priest - Mahad], as purple magical light points converged into a human shape, the Pharaoh's loyal mage returned to the field at his call, standing in front of the game. If you want to harm the game, you must get past him.

"If [Guardian Priest - Mahad] is destroyed by battle or card effect, activate its effect to Special Summon [Dark Magician] from my hand, Deck, or Graveyard. Thank you for protecting us all this time, Mahad." Yugi said, looking at [Dark Magician] on the field. [Dark Magician] bowed slightly to Yugi, indicating that Yugi didn't need to be so polite.

[Dark Magician] [DEF2100]

Originally, under the effect of [Summoned Beast - Erythion], Yugi would face the risk of having all the monsters on the field cleared and being directly attacked by Hayato at any time. However, as Atem said, Yugi changed that situation with his own ability, and the one with an empty field became Hayato.

"Better safe than sorry" is a saying that the game has always taken to heart. The Dark Magician that was specially summoned at this moment is in defense position, which means that even if Hayato can summon more monsters to attack, unless there is a monster with defense penetration ability, it will take at least two attacks to break through the Dark Magician before it can attack the game.

So, does Hayato have a powerful monster with defensive and penetrating abilities?

"Hmph, I really didn't expect that my 'Summoning Machine Knight' [Summoned Beast - Erythion] couldn't do anything to you. In fact, you even seized the opportunity and gained the upper hand." Looking at the five cards remaining in his hand, Hayato drew one of them and said, "But unfortunately, the power of my 'Pure [Machine Knight] Deck' has no limit!"

"Are you still thinking about that 'pure [Machine Knight] deck'?" Atum thought speechlessly upon hearing Hayato's words, wanting to roll his eyes at Hayato to express his helplessness.

Everything else is fine; for example, his fondness for releasing monsters can be understood as a personal dueling style. However, Hayato's obsession with the so-called "pure XX deck" is truly baffling. It's not that there's anything wrong with it, but his understanding of it is just too strange. What do cards like [Shadowdew], [Blood Demon-D], and [Summoned Beast] have to do with [Machine Knight]?

While Atem was internally grumbling, Hayato inserted the card into the Spell Trap Zone and activated it: "Spell Card [Double Summon] activated. This turn I can perform a second Normal Summon, and then I Normal Summon this monster from my hand!"

"My new wind pierces through the closed world! Come forth, [Magic Knight - Gaia]!"

As Hayato played the card, a red steed appeared on his field, and riding it, wielding a golden lance that whipped up a whirlwind, was a valiant warrior clad in azure armor. That was none other than Gaia, one of the spirits who had been with Hayato for arguably the longest!

【Gaia, the Mage of Magic】【7☆/Light】

[Warrior Race/Effect]

【2300/ 2100】

"Gaia, who is also a 7-star [Dark Magician], has been summoned directly!" Yugi said with some surprise, recalling the effect of [Magic Knight - Gaia] in his mind, "Right, his effect seems to be—"

“If Hayato has no monsters on his field, or if your opponent has a monster with 2300 or more ATK, [Magic Knight Gaia] can be Normal Summoned without Tribute.” Atem added the effect of [Magic Knight Gaia] that Yugi didn’t say, and then said, “The monster that finally appeared before us was [Gaia]? Even I am feeling excited.”

"However, even Gaia, while able to break through the defense of a Dark Magician in defense position, is still far from being able to defeat us!"

Hearing Atum's words, Hayato's lips curled up: "Heh, indeed. After all, Gaia's main body only has an attack power of 600 points. The fact that it can reach an attack power of 2300 points is entirely due to that horse with an attack power of 1700 points. But as a cavalryman, one must ride both a horse and a dragon to be considered complete!"

"【Gaia the Magic Knight】Can only be activated if it is successfully Normal or Special Summoned. Special Summon 1 Level 5 ☆ Dragon-Type monster from my hand or Graveyard in Defense Position. I chose this monster from my Graveyard!"

"My fierce wind that cleaves through the closed world! Resurrect, my beloved horse ga... I mean, my beloved dragon!"

"【The Cursed Dragon - The Cursed Dragon】!"

The evil cursed dragon, waving its pair of yellow bone wings, flew out from underground, breaking through the boundary between the underworld and reality, and arrived on Hayato's field. Its scarlet eyes looked down at Yugi, who was the only one [Dark Magician] remaining on the field.

【The Cursed Dragon - The Cursed Dragon】【5☆/Dark】

[Dragon Clan/Effect]

[2000/1500]

"That monster!? When did it enter your grave, Hayato? I don't remember you using that monster before, Hayato."

Upon hearing Yugi's words, Hayato said smugly, "Really? You don't remember this card? That's not right. [Cursed Dragon - Cursed Dragon] once saved 500 points of damage for me."

"500 points of damage?" Atem recalled for a moment, then reminded Yugi, "Right, it's that [Power Wall] from before. Only the [Shadowdow] monsters activated its effect back then. Was [Cursed Dragon - Cursed Dragon] sent to the graveyard at that time?"

"That's right, because the deck loves me, Hayato Kobayashi. They're willing to give everything for me, even if it means temporarily enduring the desolation of the underworld." Hayato said, taking a card from his deck. "The [Cursed Dragon - Cursed Dragon] that is resurrected from the graveyard also has an effect that can be activated. This effect can only be activated if this card is Normal or Special Summoned. Add one Spell/Trap Card with the name [Dragon Knight - Gaia] from your deck to your hand."

"I've chosen this [Spiral Fusion] card!"

Upon catching the [Spiral Fusion] that automatically popped out of the Duel Disk, Hayato didn't add it to his hand but instead inserted it directly into the Spell & Trap Zone of the Duel Disk. He said to Yugi, "Don't blink, Yugi Muto, Pharaoh Atem, this is the last monster you will ever see, the ultimate Dragon Knight that surpasses the pinnacle!"

"Activate [Spiral Fusion], the required materials are [Dark Knight Gaia] monster + Level 5☆ Dragon monster. Send two monsters on my field to the Graveyard as fusion materials!"

"The Light-attribute [Magic Knight - Gaia] and the Dark-attribute [Cursed Dragon - Cursed Dragon], one soul guides the light, the other guides the darkness, their two spiraling winds intertwine, ride the gale that connects the unknown world!"

The card name 【Magic Knight Gaia】 is also used as 【Dark Knight Gaia】 in the rules. After finding a better mount to replace it, he did not hesitate to abandon the red warhorse that had given him the rumor that "its attack power is only 600 points" and rode the yellow cursed dragon.

The power of the two merged in sync, and the trajectory of their wings in the air and the airflow from their twin guns together formed countless perfect golden spirals. The parallel and intertwined airflow wrapped around the dragon knight that appeared after the fusion, stirring up a storm!

"I am the approaching storm!"

With a loud, triumphant shout, Hayato placed the purple-bordered card on the Duel Disk, "Fusion Summon! The Last Knight of the Machine Knights, [Dragon Magic Knight—]!"

"Gaia!"

【Dragon Knight - Gaia】【7☆/Wind】

[Dragon/Fusion/Effect]

[2600/2100]

The monster has appeared, but the spiraling airflow that appeared when the fusion began did not disappear. Instead, it transformed into a real storm that wrapped around the twin guns of [Dragon Demon Knight - Gaia].

"The effect of [Spiral Fusion] is to send the Fusion Material Monsters specified by a Dragon Fusion Monster from my hand or field to the Graveyard, and Fusion Summon that Fusion Monster from the Fusion Deck. If [Dragon Knight Gaia] is Special Summoned using this effect, that monster gains 2600 ATK and can attack the monster up to twice during a Battle Phase."

Hayato waved his hand, "And as long as [Dragon Knight Gaia] exists in the Monster Zone, its card name will be used as [Dragon Knight Gaia] because the effect of [Spiral Fusion] will increase its attack power!"

【Dragon Knight - Gaia】【ATK2600→5200】【ATK7800→5200】

At this moment, just as Hayato said, [Dragon Magic Knight - Gaia] has become the ultimate dragon knight standing at the very top of Duel Monsters. Its attack power is even higher than that of the [Ultimate Dragon Knight], which requires the fusion of [Chaos Warrior] and [Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon], reaching a full 5200 points, and it can even attack monsters twice!

“Although its attack power is as high as 5200 points, Hayato, without the [Spiral Shot], [Dragon Magic Knight - Gaia] does not have the ability to penetrate defenses, right?” Yugi said, looking at the dragon knight soaring in the air. “In that case, even if [Dark Magician] is destroyed, he will not be able to attack us again. [Spiral Fusion] only gives him the ability to attack monsters twice, not to attack twice.”

Hayato nodded and said, "Of course I know that. But did I say we were going to attack the Dark Magician?"

"Ok?"

Seeing Yugi frown, Hayato waved his hand and ordered, "Increasing attack power will only mean greater combat damage to most monsters, but for [Dragon Magic Knight - Gaia], even its own attack power is a consumable that can be sacrificed!"

"During both players' Main Phases, you can target one card on the field other than [Dragon Magician - Gaia]. This card loses 2600 ATK, then destroys the targeted card." Pointing to [Dark Magician] on the field, Hayato declared, "I'm going to destroy [Dark Magician]!"

【Dragon Knight - Gaia】【ATK5200→2600】【ATK7800→5200】

Raising his lance, which was wreathed in a raging storm, [Dragon Magician - Gaia] took a quick aim and was about to throw it. Just as [Dark Magician] was about to be destroyed, Yugi immediately said, "However, when the effect of an opponent's Spell/Trap/Monster that targets only one Spellcaster-Type monster on my field is activated, the effect of [Guardian Priestess - Mana] in my Graveyard is activated, and I can Special Summon it!"

The game plans to Special Summon Guardian Priestess Mana from the Graveyard before Hayato's Dragon Knight Gaia takes action. This will protect Dark Magician from being destroyed by effects. If Guardian Priestess Mana is destroyed by battle or effects, Dark Magician Girl can be summoned again to block the attack.

However, before [Guardian Priestess - Mana] could be brought back to the field by [Anka Kuriboh], Hayato suddenly played a card from his hand and said, "I've marked it, no resurrection allowed!"

"Quick-Play Spell Card [Called by the Grave]: You can target one monster in your opponent's Graveyard, banish that monster, and negate the effects of any monster banished by this effect and any monsters with the same original name as that monster until the end of the next turn!"

Just as she peeked out of the graveyard, intending to return to the field, before [Guardian Priest - Mana] could even see what was happening, a hand suddenly emerged from the ground behind her, raising a finger and unleashing a "Secret Technique of Konoha"—

"Yeah!"

"Hmph, hmph! Ughhhhhh, ahhhhhhh!"

Emits a strange, painful cry, [Guardian Priestess - Mana] was cut short before her return was even halfway through, and was removed from the game without being able to participate. At this moment, [Dragon Magic Knight - Gaia] also threw out his lance, destroying [Dark Magician]!

"【Dark Magician】!" "Mahad is dead again, what an inhumane person!"

Atum had almost lost count of how many times he had sent Mahad to the graveyard in this duel; he felt that Mahad was switching back and forth between the arena and the graveyard at an unusually high frequency.

As the last monster on the field was destroyed, Hayato, clutching his remaining two cards, arrogantly declared, "Hmph, you're finished, Yugi Muto. Your last barrier has vanished. What can you use to stop me now?"

"Entering the battle phase, I will use [Dragon Demon Knight - Gaia] to directly attack you!"

"The Golden Cavalry Circles!"

Chapter 996 The Golden Cavalry's Return

"Entering the battle phase, I will use [Dragon Demon Knight - Gaia] to directly attack you!" Hayato waved his hand and said, "Golden Rider Roundabout!"

The effect of [Dragon Knight Gaia] destroyed the last monster on the field, [Dark Magician]. [Guardian Priestess Mana], who appeared midway to try to protect [Dark Magician], was also banished by [Called by the Grave].

—Regarding this, Hayato actually played terribly. Just now, because the game's [Ceiling] card was so unexpected, he completely missed the opportunity to chain [Guardian Priest - Mahad]'s effect to activate [Called One of the Grave]. If he had reacted in time, even [Dark Magician] wouldn't have appeared, which would have reduced even more variables.

But it doesn't matter, the outcome of this duel remains unchanged, and the victor is still me, Hayato Kobayashi! Now, as long as [Dragon Demon Knight - Gaia]'s attack passes, I can clear the remaining 2000 base points in the game through battle!

As for that face-down card in the back row? It's nothing to worry about!

Okay, to be honest, Hayato actually wanted to deal with that face-down card first before attacking, as that would be safer. However, if he had used the effect of [Dragon Magic Knight - Gaia] on that face-down card, he wouldn't have been able to destroy [Dark Magician], since he didn't have any cards like [Whirlwind] that could destroy the back row.

In other words, the safer approach is to first use an effect to destroy the game's face-down cards, then use [Dragon Spell Knight - Gaia] to battle and destroy [Dark Magician], leaving the remaining 2000 life points to be eliminated in the next turn, thus delaying the game by another turn to add more unpredictability.

Alternatively, it could be a risky approach like this, first destroying [Dark Magician], then gambling that the face-down card in the back row of the game is something like [Troublemaker], which isn't a chain attack declaration.

Most people would probably choose the former, since it's unknown whether the game can be changed in his turn. He might actually launch a counterattack, or he might just be delaying the game for another turn and still win in the next turn. The latter is far riskier than the potential gains.

However, Hayato is actually a rather daring gambler. He's willing to bet as long as there's a probability of more than 50%. If he, who is good at using blind betting tactics, can't even take this much risk, then what's the point of the duel? He might as well go back and sleep with the half-dragon maid, the dragon girl butler, and the god-shadowed Nephilim.

—Of course, I'll pass on Xiao Lan's blind stacking of a completely new type of card. Hayato reminded himself again that he must kick Xiao Lan out of the deck when he got back. This time, her crying and begging won't work. He won't be as soft-hearted as before.

【Dragon Knight Gaia】 took to the air at Hayato's command, holding the last remaining lance in both hands in front of him. As 【Cursed Dragon - Cursed Dragon】 retracted its bone wings and began to spin, the dragon knight, maintaining a thrusting posture, swooped down from the sky in a spiral, attacking Yugi. The swirling storm swirled around the dragon, the cavalry, and the lance, shimmering with golden light.

Seeing this, Yugi took a deep breath and suddenly sighed, "Last time in Duel City, it was [Dragon Demon Knight - Gaia] who delivered the final blow, right, Hayato? But back then, my choice was to replicate our first duel, using [Force] to steal [Dragon Demon Knight - Gaia]'s attack boost, [Summoning of the Devil]. However, in the end, I was defeated by your face-down card, Hayato."

"Is this a case of fortunes changing, or fate? This time, although it's still [Dragon Sorcerer Knight - Gaia], you're the one who initiated the attack. And it's also my turn to activate my face-down card!"

As he spoke, Yugi pressed the button to activate the face-down card, revealing a face-down card on his back field.

Hayato saw that the card was none other than the [Magic Cylinder]!

"What?!"

“To trigger the attack declaration of the chain [Dragon Spell Knight - Gaia], I open my face-down card, the trap card [Magic Cylinder]. Just like how Jonouchi, on Hayato's advice, included both types of [Angel's Dice] in his deck, I also have two types of [Magic Cylinder] in my deck.” Yugi paused, then continued, “Although Hayato already knows this, I still want to explain the effect of [Magic Cylinder] again.”

"When the opponent's monster declares an attack, this can be activated by targeting that attacking monster. When the attack is nullified, the monster's attack is negated, and the opponent inflicts damage equal to the attack power of that monster."

"【Dragon Magic Knight - Gaia】's attack will be nullified by the 【Magic Cylinder】, and Hayato, you will also suffer effect damage equal to its attack power—2600 points!"

The golden cavalrymen swirled and entangled around the lance in the hands of [Dragon Demon Knight - Gaia], charging towards Yugi. But by sheer coincidence, two exquisite cylinders suddenly appeared in their path. Yugi, like a magician performing a masterful magic trick, commanded the cylinders to absorb [Dragon Demon Knight - Gaia]'s attack entirely, sucking it into the cylinders.