Is this the world of card dealers? Yada thieves!

Whether you have 800 or 1600 life points left, if Darkness has any way to recover [Black Flame Bullet], then Jaden won't be able to withstand it either. In that case, it's better to spend 800 life points and call for a "miracle" from the deck - and for Jaden's [E·hero] deck, more cards in hand are the materialized "miracles".

"The effect of 【Hero Arrival】 is that if I have no face-up monsters on my field, I can Special Summon one 【E·hero】 monster with a Level 4 or lower from my Deck, and Special Summon 【E·hero Bubble Man】 from my Deck."

"Then, when [E·hero Bubble Man] is successfully Summoned, Flip Summoned, or Special Summoned, and there are no other cards on my field, I can draw two cards from my deck."

As we all know, the Pot of Greed, nicknamed the mini Bubble Man, was summoned from the deck by Jaden using the effect of Hero Arrival, while Jaden's hand size increased to seven cards instead of decreasing.

【E·hero Bubble Man】【4☆/Water】

[Warrior Race/Effect]

[800/1200]

After looking at the card he had drawn, he immediately played it out and said, "Next, I will Normal Summon [E·hero Solid Man] from my hand in Defense Position, and use the effect of [E·hero Solid Man]: When this card is successfully Summoned, I can activate this effect: Special Summon one Level 4 or lower [Hero] monster from my hand. I Special Summon [E·hero Sky Man].

"When [E·hero Skyman] is successfully Summoned or Special Summoned, I activate its effect: I add one [Hero] monster from my Deck to my hand. I choose [E·hero Liquidman].

With a smooth solid, liquid, and gas combo, Jaden had two more HERO monsters on the field, yet still had a full six cards in his hand. Compared to Darkness's easy summoning of "Red-Eyes Black Dragon," Jaden's card-using-to-gain-cards strategy was no less impressive. Moreover, Jaden's "E·hero" deck was a high-burst deck that required a large number of cards in hand as consumables.

【E·hero Solid State Vehicle】【4☆/Location】

[Warrior Race/Effect]

[1300/1100]

【E·hero Sky Warrior】【4☆/Wind】

[Warrior Race/Effect]

[1800/300]

Now that he has enough materials, Jaden is ready to officially summon his main monsters.

"[Fusion] Spell Card activated!" Although it was a Dark Game, Jaden couldn't help but show a joyful expression because he could use his favorite [Fusion], and even forgot some of his pain. He inserted the spell card into the Duel Disk and said, "Use [E-Hero Skyman] on my field and [E-Hero Liquidman] in my hand as Fusion Material!"

"The fusion material requirement is a [Hero] monster plus a Water-type monster!"

The vortex of [Fusion] swallowed a monster wearing liquid armor from Jaden's hand and his [E·Hero Sky Warrior] on the field. A pure white flash caught Darkness's eye, while a humid gust of wind swept in, dispelling some of the sweltering air and easing the heat felt by Jaden and Asuka.

"The boundless power of the storm and the pure power of the flowing water converge, transforming into solid ice that stands guard at the front!"

"Fusion Summoning! [E·hero Absolute Zero]!"

The armor was a pure, flawless white, like the snow and ice of the polar regions. Its sharp angles didn't convey a sense of menace, but rather a cool, calming feeling. Glistening ice flowers bloomed on the ground beneath his boots, supporting the warrior who had appeared on the battlefield!

【E·hero Absolute Zero】【8☆/Water】

[Warrior Race/Fusion/Effect]

[2500/2000]

"At the same time that [E·hero Absolute Zero] was successfully Fusion Summoned, the effect of [E·hero Liquid Man], which was sent to the Graveyard as Fusion Material for [Hero] Fusion Monster, was activated." Jaden said, drawing two cards from his deck. "I draw two cards from my deck, and then choose one card from my hand to discard."

After sending a card of dubious significance to the graveyard, Jaden, despite using a card-deficient Fusion Deck, still had five cards left in his hand after Fusion Summoning [E.Hero Absolute Zero]. Then, he looked at the card he had drawn and kept from [E.Hero Liquid Man]'s effect—it was the Quick-Play Spell Card [Mask Change].

Based on Asuka's hint and Jaden's own speculation, the face-down card in Darkness's back row is most likely the quick-play spell card "Unusual Food," which can be ignored. After all, under normal circumstances, no one would dare to use a card like "Nightmare Mirage," whose advantages and disadvantages are difficult to control, without the support of "Unusual Food."

However, Jaden had a gut feeling, a sense that he couldn't leave that face-down card unattended. This gut feeling led him to unconsciously draw cards that could target Darkness's back row face-down cards time and time again, and to complete a full combo in his hand.

While all three are called "divine draws," there are differences between them. Jonouchi, Hayato, and even Yugi, who learned special card-drawing techniques from Master Muto Sugoroku, can draw any card they want and can even actively change the future of their card draws. On the other hand, the card-drawing secrets learned by Oyama in his duel with Tanya are the opposite. He achieves a state of resonance with "card drawing" by harmonizing with nature. Although he does not have the ability to change the future, he can make the desired card appear at the right time and can even predict the opponent's card draw.

Jaden's situation differs from both of them. When drawing cards, he rarely intends to target a specific card; he draws purely out of passion. The reason he often gets "miracle draws" is more because his deck responds to him proactively. For example, right now, Jaden's deck is guiding him to complete the combo that destroys Darkness's back row!

"I activate the Quick-Play Spell Card 'Mask Change', targeting one of my 'Hero' monsters and sending it to the Graveyard. I then Special Summon one of 'M·hero' monsters from my Fusion Deck, which shares the same Attribute as that monster!" Jaden inserted the card into his Spell & Trap Zone and pointed to the monster on his field, saying, "I've chosen 'E·hero Absolute Zero'!"

"Mask Change!"

"Appear in a brand new guise, you resolute and indomitable hero of water!"

"【M·hero Acid Water】!"

The classic combo of Zero turning into acid water was showcased on the Xenosaga stage. The silver-white armor of E·hero Absolute Zero, who had only been on the field for a few seconds and hadn't even had time to boost his attack power with his own effects, melted back into liquid and reconstructed in this scorching space, becoming a suit of armor with an embossed shape resembling the character "water". A pistol was held in the hands of the newly born hero, pointed at the sky, and he suddenly pulled the trigger.

【M·hero Acid Water】【8☆/Water】

[Warrior Race/Fusion/Effect]

[2600/2100]

It was just a simple activation of a [Mask Change] card. In that brief instant, as the monsters on Jaden's field changed, Darkness suddenly noticed that although [E. Hero Absolute Zero] disappeared, the large patch of ice crystals it left on the ground upon its appearance didn't melt away. Instead, it suddenly exploded upon the appearance of [M. Hero Acid], shooting towards the two [Red-Eyes] monsters on his field. Meanwhile, the large amount of acid that [M. Hero Acid] shot into the air landed precisely on his backrow's face-down card after a short period of time!?

"When 【E·hero Absolute Zero】 leaves the field, it destroys all monsters on the opponent's field, and when 【M·hero Acid】 is successfully Special Summoned, it can destroy all Spell/Trap Cards on the opponent's field. The heroes have a tacit cooperation between them, and their combined ability is to destroy all the cards on the opponent's field!"

"Whether it's the high-attack-power 'Red-Eyes' or your meaningless face-down cards in the back row, as well as 'Nightmare Mirage,' they will all be destroyed in this combo!" Jaden excitedly pumped his fist and said, "This is the exhilarating combination skill of heroes!"

The combo attacks of the Jaden Heroes began to erupt, and the first to be destroyed were the cards in Darkness's back row. As the acid rain fell from the sky, in addition to Nightmare Mirage, another face-down card of Darkness was also exposed due to the acid's corrosive effects. It was not the expected Extraordinary Food or any other quick-play spell card. The face-down card that Darkness destroyed had a red border and was none other than the classic and powerful trap card, Divine Shield - Mirror Power -!

If Jaden, upon seeing "Nightmare of the Mirage," subconsciously assumes the card is "Extraordinary Food" and attacks without warning, then Jaden's monsters will be wiped out in an instant by the terrifying power of this "Divine Shield - Mirror Power -"!

Namo Samadhi! What utter lack of compassion!

The effect of 【M·hero Acid Water】in addition to destroying Spell/Trap Cards, it also has the additional effect of reducing the ATK of all monsters on the opponent's field by 300. Even though the 【Red-Eyes Black Dragon】 and 【Red-Eyes Dark Dragon】 were not kept wet for too long due to the high temperature of the volcano, their scales were still corroded to some extent, and their ATK was reduced.

[True Red-Eyes Black Dragon] [ATK2400→2100]

【True Red-Eyes Dark Dragon】【ATK2700→2400】

However, it didn't really matter how much their attack power decreased, because the moment the acid fell, the power left behind by [E·hero Absolute Zero] also began to erupt. Dense ice crystals, like a rain of knives, smashed into the front of the two black dragons. Sharp ice blades pierced into their bodies through the corroded parts of their skin. The dragons that soared in the sky and sprayed black flames finally perished in the ice crystals that could be broken at the touch!

However, regardless of whether the cards in the back row were destroyed or the two Red-Eyes monsters on the field were sent to the graveyard, Jaden noticed that Darkness was completely unmoved, simply standing there calmly watching Jaden kill his monsters.

"Hehe, how does it feel now that all the cards on your field have been wiped out?" Judai rubbed his nose and smiled. "Putting everything else aside, because of Lightning, I can barely be considered a 'dragon slayer' expert."

Upon hearing Jaden's words, Darkness coldly replied, "Stop spouting half-baked nonsense, Jaden Yuki. You think you've succeeded just because you saw your attack destroy my monster?"

"The Dark Games are never casual duels; they are brutal duels fought with lives and souls at stake. But I see no 'firmness' or 'clarity' in your eyes. You are dueling, but you don't have a clear goal to achieve through this duel!"

"Guarding the key? Enjoying the fun? No, you're just fighting blindly, without your own will, without that dark will that will stop at nothing to achieve your goal, that is, the will to win the duel!"

In the instant his field was completely empty, Darkness calmly played a card, saying, "Without the desire for victory, you are merely a 'responder.' You don't have a map in your mind to guide you out of the wilderness. You can never achieve true victory, and you can never defeat me!"

"Time, turn back here!"

"Click—" The sound of a clock ticking came from nowhere, and it rang six times in a row. Meanwhile, the smoke and dust that had been blown up on the Darkness field by the effect of [Red-Eyes Black Dragon] and [Red-Eyes Dark Dragon] being destroyed by [E·hero Absolute Zero] began to shrink in a way that defied the law, as if time had reversed.

The wounds from the ice blades that pierced his body closed up and healed as if he had never been hurt. The scales that had been corroded by the acid also returned to normal. On Darkness's field, the [Red-Eyes Black Dragon], which had just had its attack power reduced and was destroyed, had returned unharmed, and its attack power was even at the level before everything happened!?

"Six seconds? Exactly six seconds. I rewind the timeline of my monsters on the field and use the effect of this monster card in my hand, [Red-Eyes Rewind Dragon]." Darkness placed the monster card he was showing face down on the Duel Disk. "If any of my Level 7 or lower [Red-Eyes] monsters on the field are destroyed by my opponent and sent to the Graveyard, I activate this effect. I Special Summon that monster from my hand in Defense Position and Special Summon as many of the destroyed monsters as possible in the same position."

【Red-Eyes Resurrected Dragon】【4☆/Dark】

[Dragon Clan/Effect]

[1700/1600]

【True Red-Eyes Black Dragon】【ATK2400】

There were still two monsters on the field. Darkness looked at Jaden and said coldly, "One more time, Jaden Yuki. If you're confused, don't attack. Attack me again with your dark will and the resolve to kill!"

"Let's begin the second round!"

Chapter 1143 The Fiercest, Most Evil, Strongest, and Highest Dragon

"Let's begin the second round!"

Darkness, who revived Red-Eyes Black Dragon back onto the field, said that although the monsters on the field were stronger than Jaden's, for some reason, Jaden had the illusion that he was the one at a disadvantage.

"Killing someone for the sake of winning a duel? No, duels aren't like that!" Jaden said firmly, recalling the duel between Professor Chronos and Camilla that he witnessed on the way to the volcano. "Duels should be filled with light. Even if dark games exist, they should never be recognized!"

"I will defeat you with my monsters, Darkness!" Jaden glanced at the four cards remaining in his hand, drew one, and said, "Spell Card [Sudden Mutation]! I Tribute [E-Hero Bubble Man] from my field to the Graveyard to Special Summon this monster from my Fusion Deck!"

"When evil appears, vanquish its myriad skills into nothingness, and subdue evil with the grace of flowing water! Then, ascend to become a warrior who commands water!"

"【E·hero New Bubble Hero】!"

On the field, [E·hero Bubble Man] produced a bomb and threw it at his feet. The exploding bomb released a large amount of foam that completely engulfed [E·hero Bubble Man]. Using the foam as cover, [E·hero Bubble Man] quickly changed his equipment, and when the foam dissipated, he reappeared on the field in a completely new form.

(The original is a Fusion Monster, but I couldn't find an image, so I'm using the physical card version as a substitute.)

【E·hero New Bubble Warrior】【4☆/Water】

[Warrior Race/Fusion/Effect]

[800/1200]

The Fusion Monster 【E·hero New Bubble Man】, which was Special Summoned by 【Sudden Mutation】, had no changes in its level, attributes, attack power, or defense power except for its name. In fact, after 【E·hero New Bubble Man】 appeared, its name changed back to 【E·hero Bubble Man】.

"As long as [E·hero New Bubble Man] is face-up on the field, its card name is used as [E·hero Bubble Man]. Therefore, I activate the Equip Spell Card [Bubble Launcher] to equip this [E·hero Bubble Man] exclusive Equip Spell Card to [E·hero New Bubble Man], increasing its ATK by 800."

【E·hero New Foam Man】pulled out a remote control and pressed it twice. The image of an airplane flying in from the horizon dropped a huge box, which landed precisely next to 【E·hero New Foam Man】. He used his iris and fingerprint to unlock the box and took out the equipment, which turned out to be a huge rocket launcher. However, its ammunition was not rockets but specially compressed foam liquid.

With the Bubble Launcher slung over his shoulder, E·hero's attack power doubles.

[E·hero New Foam Warrior → E·hero Foam Warrior] [ATK800 → 1600]

Once everything was ready, Jaden resolutely gave the order: "Enter the battle phase, and then I will use [E·hero New Bubble Man] to attack [Red-Eyes Black Dragon]!"

"Foam cutter!"

"Does the existence of the Dark Game have the right to be judged and decided by someone as unenlightened as you?" Darkness frowned, looking at the attacking [E·hero New Bubble Man]. "Have you given up? What use is the attack of such a weak monster!"

"Fighting you, who lacks a resolute will, will not satisfy me. If you wish to approach death, then I will grant your wish! [Red-Eyes Black Dragon]! Use Black Flame Bullet to retaliate and defeat Jaden Yuki!"

Faced with the attack of [E·hero New Bubble Man], Darkness's [Red-Eyes Black Dragon] did not shy away from the battle and immediately gathered its power to counterattack. At the same time as [E·hero New Bubble Man] fired a column of bubbles from the [Bubble Launcher] on its shoulder, [Red-Eyes Black Dragon] also suddenly exhaled a jet of black flame dragon breath.

Bubbles continuously formed within the water column, condensing into foam blades through centrifugal force generated by high-speed rotation. The black dragon's breath precisely intercepted these foam blades and destroyed them in mid-air. The attacks of [Red-Eyes Black Dragon] and [E·hero New Bubble Man] were briefly locked in a stalemate in mid-air.

Normally, in such a stalemate, the monster with the higher attack power would gain the final advantage, suppressing the opponent's attacks and causing effective damage. Darkness thought so too. However, he saw that after a moment of stalemate, the breath of the [Red-Eyes Black Dragon], which was on top, gradually lost its strength and was overturned little by little by the water column of [E·hero New Bubble Man] that was flowing upstream. Then, without the suppression, the foam cutter completely covered the entire body of the [Red-Eyes Black Dragon], cutting it apart and destroying it!

"boom!"

The destroyed Red-Eyes Black Dragon stirred up a strong gust of wind. Darkness, slightly shielding himself from the airflow, exclaimed in surprise, "What?! Why was the Red-Eyes Black Dragon...!?"

"The effect of 【E·Hero New Bubble Warrior】 is to destroy the monster it is battling at the end of the damage step," Jaden explained. "Not to mention 【Red-Eyes Black Dragon】, even monsters with infinite attack power would be defeated by this effect. That's the power of heroes to create miracles!"

【E·hero New Bubble Man】in another timeline, this effect has resulted in the impressive feat of destroying two "Phantom Demons" in succession. Destroying a mere 【Red-Eyes Black Dragon】is indeed a piece of cake. After hearing Jaden's words, Darkness continued, "However, the damage calculation should apply. The battle between the 【Red-Eyes Black Dragon】 with 2400 attack power and the 【E·hero New Bubble Man】 with 1600 attack power should deal you exactly 800 points of combat damage, enough to wipe out your remaining basic points."

“This is where the Bubble Launcher comes in handy.” Jaden looked at his own Bubble Launcher, which was completely depleted of its compressed foam and had no ammunition, and casually discarded it like he would a Daimonmaru. “If the monster equipped to the Bubble Launcher is destroyed by battle, this card is destroyed in its place, and the battle damage taken by the controller of the equipped monster becomes 0.”

[Yujo Jaden: 800 → 800 LP]

Seeing that Jaden's base score remained unchanged, Darkness frowned and took out another card from his hand, saying, "That kind of trick is far too low-level for a duel. Do you think you can destroy [Red-Eyes Black Dragon] like that?"

"The effect of [Red-Eyes Rewind Dragon] isn't limited to once per turn. If my [Red-Eyes Black Dragon] is destroyed, I Special Summon the second [Red-Eyes Rewind Dragon] from my hand in Defense Position, and Special Summon the destroyed [Red-Eyes Black Dragon] back to the field in Attack Position." Darkness placed the card face down on the field. "Time, turn back here!"

"Click—"