Is this the world of card dealers? Yada thieves!

Thinking this, Kagemaru glanced at the cards that had been sent to the graveyard earlier, not caring at all that his hand resources had been reduced. Instead, he felt that Kobayashi Hayato was clearly helping him.

"My turn, draw a card!"

He drew a card from his deck to replenish his hand to five cards, but before Kagemaru could do anything, Hayato suddenly said, "Then, during the preparation phase before my opponent enters the main phase, I will activate the effects of the cards in my hand."

"The effect of 【The Mad Clock of the Silver Castle】 is to discard this card. If I have a 【Rabilinus】 monster on my field this turn, I can activate a Trap Card during the turn it is set." Hayato showed the card to Kagemaru by drawing his hand and tapping the side of the card. "This effect can also be activated during the opponent's turn."

The [Silver Castle's Mad Clock] that had been recycled into Hayato's hand by [Labyrinth Welcome, Welcome, Big Welcome] went back to the graveyard. Kagemaru frowned and said unhappily, "It's one thing to activate an effect directly from the hand and be recycled from the graveyard, but to be able to activate it from the hand during the opponent's turn? What kind of fake card is that!"

"My friend gave it to me, what's it to you? Besides, what kind of fake card is this? It's perfectly normal for a Modern Duel Monster to have a Speed ​​2 effect, isn't it? It's because you haven't played Yu-Gi-Oh! 2.0."

Hayato said dismissively, sending the [Clock of the Silver Castle] to the graveyard, and urged Kagemaru, "Alright, hurry up and start your turn."

"You're not allowed to command me, a god!" Kagemaru said unhappily, but after calming down and thinking for a moment, he looked at the card in Hayato's hand.

Previously, he had summarized some patterns among the lower-level furniture in the [Silver Castle] deck. Now, with the spell speed of [Silver Castle's Mad Clock] being revealed as second speed, he wasn't sure if other furniture had the same effect. But if so, the two cards Hayato had left in his hand were more than enough to activate the effect of the other card he had revealed in his hand—[Silver Castle's Dragon Lantern]—to retrieve a trap card from the deck and set it face down.

In that case, not only could Hayato Kobayashi retrieve the [Clock of the Silver Castle] from the graveyard, but the trap that was placed directly could also be activated, becoming a major obstacle for Kagemaru.

However, in the end, the prerequisite for activating the face-down card is that there is a [Rabilinus] monster on Kobayashi Hayato's field. Taking advantage of the fact that it is still his turn and he has the priority to use the card, he must cut off Kobayashi Hayato's hope in an instant!

With a cold smile, Kagemaru drew a card and activated it, saying, "During my Main Phase, I activate the Spell Card, [Lightning Strike]!"

"All those cards on your field will be utterly destroyed by the lightning of divine retribution, hahahahaha!"

After a brief build-up, the rolling lightning bolts swiftly struck down from the sky, aiming at the monsters on Hayato's field. Under the expectant gaze of Kagemaru with a smug expression, it destroyed not a single monster on Hayato's field.

Faced with the lightning strike from the sky, Hayato's Labyrinths on the field showed no fear whatsoever, and even arrogantly mocked Kagemaru.

[Rabilins of Silver City]: "Faced with the challenge of our elaborate and ritualistic trap, you actually chose to use a card like [Lightning Strike]?! Fool, we won't let you destroy this place so easily!"

[Ariana, the Summoner of the Silver City]: "Completely disrespectful of other people's hard work, utterly terrible..."

【The Silver Princess of the Labyrinth Castle】: "Hmph, I'm not just pretty! That mere 【Lightning Strike】, watch me push it back!"

That's what they said, but none of the three women on the field made a counterattack. The one who actually took action was a figure that flew out from the open face-down card on the back field.

"The Normal Trap Card [Darkness of Sacrifice] can only be activated when the effect of an opponent's Spell/Trap/Monster that would destroy a card on the field is activated. Negate that effect and then send one DARK monster with a Level of 3 or lower from my Deck to the Graveyard."

The monster that blocked all the lightning strikes revealed its form after the lightning dissipated. It was a furnace with cat ears, and those cat ears were not just decorations, but real "organs" on the furnace that could move. Behind the activated furnace, there was even a metal tail that could add firewood on its own to prevent the flame from going out, making it look like a cat had turned into a furnace.

"The card I sent to the graveyard was this [Silver Castle's Fire Furnace]. However, before that, because of the activation of a Normal Trap Card, the effect of [Labyrinthine Silver Princess] on my field was activated again, and I set a Normal Trap Card with a different name from [Scapegoat's Darkness] on my back row from my deck."

After [Lightning Strike] was perfectly defended, Hayato sent the [Darkness of the Scapegoat] he had used up in the back row and the [Fire-Blowing Furnace of the Silver Castle] that popped out of his deck to the graveyard. However, the empty slot in his back row was not left vacant by [Silver Princess of the Labyrinth Castle]. Instead, he directed his hardworking servant [Ariana] to place a new trap card there.

But that's not all. Kagemaru discovered that the [Fire-blowing Furnace of the Silver Castle] that Hayato had just sent to the cemetery did not obediently enter the cemetery. Instead, it jumped out of the cemetery and came to Hayato's field with unusual activity.

【The Fire-Blowing Furnace of Silver Castle】【2☆/Dark】

[Demon Race/Effect]

[0/2000]

"How could that monster!?"

Mikage looked puzzled, and Hayato explained, "Although it's been sitting there like a background piece since it was activated last turn, [Silver Labyrinth Castle] isn't just for decoration. The effect of this Field Spell Card was partially activated when I activated a Normal Trap Card other than [Rabilins]. That is, to Special Summon a Fiend-Type monster from my hand or Graveyard, and the one I chose was [Silver Castle's Fire Furnace], which just went to the Graveyard."

【Lightning Strike】 failed to achieve its purpose. It not only failed to destroy the monsters on Hayato's field, but also failed to deplete the face-down cards in his back row. On the contrary, more and more demon furniture was activated because of its own actions. At this moment, Kagemaru finally understood why the field spell card in Hayato's 【Rabilins】 deck was named 【Labyrinth Castle】, even though it was clearly a castle and a mansion.

I felt like an unsuspecting person who had stumbled into a maze, wandering aimlessly through this complex and ever-changing castle. Instead of finding a way out, I kept stepping into the maze's traps, activating dangers, and being forced closer to the monsters roaming within.

[Lightning Strike] and the like are completely meaningless. Even cards like [Great Storm] are probably the same. Forcing your way through this complex maze is a joke. Only by advancing steadily step by step with considerable strength and dismantling the traps one by one can you pass through smoothly. My thinking is wrong!

Although the previous destruction of his hand by [Rabilins of the Silver Castle] left Kagemaru with only four cards, it was still enough. He still had time and a good chance to find the weakness in the labyrinth set up by Kobayashi Hayato and break through it—as long as he used the "Invincible" card in his graveyard!

“The time is almost here. While you were preparing those traps, the ‘Seven Essences Unlocking Gate’ never stopped. It has been helping me absorb the power of the spirits in this world, which are like scattered jewels that I can forcibly seize, and the power of life that mortals have squandered.” Kagemaru clenched his fist and suddenly raised the Duel Disk. “It’s like a completed mechanical device that has been charged. Although it is not completely finished, its use in this duel is no longer a problem.”

"I will shatter those annoying traps of yours with the invincible power of the 'Phantom Demon'! First and foremost is this 'Phantom Demon' that symbolizes the undying 'Divine Flame,' [Divine Flame Emperor - Uria]!"

"While this card is in my Graveyard, I can send one Trap Card from my hand to the Graveyard and Special Summon it from there. This effect is a non-Chain, non-Activated effect!" Kagemaru drew a Trap Card from his hand and showed it to Hayato, then sent it to the Graveyard, declaring, "I send my Trap Card 'Exploding Armor' from my hand to the Graveyard. Rise from the Graveyard in glory, 'Divine Flame Emperor - Uriah'!"

As the card in Kagemaru's hand entered the graveyard, a thick pillar of flame suddenly rose up on the field in front of him. The red serpent demon that was not yet fully formed, let alone possessing its own intelligence, - [Divine Flame Emperor - Uria] - came from Kagemaru's graveyard to his field!

Chapter 1177 The Divine Flame Emperor Remains Motionless

【Divine Flame Emperor - Uria】【10☆/Flame】

[Phantom Beast Race/Special Summon/Effect]

【？ /？】

"【Divine Flame Emperor - Uria】cannot be Normal Summoned, and to Special Summon it from my hand requires three Trap Cards as Tributes." Kagemaru paused, a smug expression on his face. "However, to Special Summon it from the Graveyard using its own effect, I only need to discard one Trap Card. I have to thank you for destroying my hand earlier, Kobayashi Hayato!"

"The noble Phantom Demon is unaffected by the effects of mere Trap Cards, and like the 'Three Egyptian Gods,' it can only be affected by Spell Cards activated in the current turn. Although I don't know what those two face-down cards in your back row are, they won't affect my invincible 'Phantom Demon'—[Divine Flame Emperor - Uria]! Hehehehehehehe!"

Laughing, Kagemaru waved his hand again: "Not only that, the attack and defense of [Divine Flame Emperor - Uria] will depend on the number of Trap Cards in my Graveyard x 1000 points, and I currently have one [Explosive Armor] in my Graveyard, so its attack is now 1000 points!"

【Divine Flame Emperor - Uria】【ATK? →1000】

"While your decision to send such an ominous card as [Explosive Armor] to the graveyard was wise, there's no need to explain the effect of that monster that looks like a traitor to me. I've already seen enough." Even without Kagemaru's explanation, Hayato was perfectly clear about the effect of [Divine Flame Emperor - Uria]. Although the first person to fight against [Divine Flame Emperor - Uria] brought out by Bakura wasn't Hayato but Yugi, it was Hayato who held it for a long time afterward.

Hayato found it hard to get interested in the "Divine Flame Emperor - Uria," which looked too much like the "Sky Dragon of Osiris." Even the "alternate version" in Kagemaru's hands failed to pique his interest in collecting it. "Besides," he thought, "a mere 1000-point attack power weak monster, are you trying to put on a show for me by crashing into it and committing suicide?"

"Hmph, do you think I'd believe you? Nobody knows more about 'Phantom Demons' than me!" Kagemaru didn't believe Hayato's words and felt that Hayato couldn't possibly be fully aware of the effects of the "Three Phantom Demons" that he had just completed. After all, in his understanding, since the three unfinished "Three Phantom Demons" cards that Daitokuji had made had not been put into the "Seven Essences Unlocking Gate," then those cards could not have been completed.

But he didn't know that there had once been something like the "Millennium Artifact" in the world, or an existence like the "Great Dark God" from the underworld with abundant dark power that could be squandered at will. Hayato was able to use the complete version of the "Three Phantom Demons" thanks to that guy, Dark Bakura—he was killed by "Hikari Sou," right? Oh well.

"【Divine Flame Emperor - Uria】is a 'Phantom Demon' who dominates 'traps'. Not only can it gain eternal existence by harnessing the power of trap cards, but it can even destroy the opponent's traps. It can be considered the nemesis of your nonsensical 【Silver Castle】 deck!" Kagemaru sneered and waved his hand. "Activate the effect of 【Divine Flame Emperor - Uria】once per turn to destroy all trap cards on the opponent's field! If it's a face-down card, you should flip it over to check, but there's no need for that check because your two back row cards are undoubtedly trap cards!"

"Trap Destruction Power! Crush the cover card in Kobayashi Hayato's backcourt!"

Laughing triumphantly, the [Divine Flame Emperor - Uria] on the field raised its head and opened its mouth, revealing the real mouth hidden inside its outer mouth. In this respect, it is very similar to the [Sky Dragon of Osiris], both having two mouths.

There was no noisy roar, only high-frequency sound waves sweeping towards Hayato's back row. But Hayato wouldn't just let Kagemaru destroy his face-down card. He immediately pressed the button to activate the face-down card and said, "Then I'll chain the effect of [Divine Flame Emperor - Uria] and activate this face-down card!"

Hayato set two cards: one was a Normal Trap card that was retrieved from the Graveyard last turn by the effect of "Rabilins of the Silver Castle," and the other was a Normal Trap card that was retrieved from the Deck and set just now by the effect of "Silver Princess of the Labyrinth Castle." The former had been prepared for a turn and was ready to be activated at any time, but the latter had only been set not long ago.

Because Hayato activated the effect of his "Clock of the Silver Castle" during Kagemaru's preparation phase, and with the "Rabilinus" monster on his field, even the trap card that was just set could still be activated. However, he did not choose to activate it and let Kagemaru destroy it, only activating the card that was set in the previous turn.

"It's useless. Didn't you hear what I just said?" Kagemaru looked at Hayato disdainfully. "[Divine Flame Emperor - Uria] is a noble and invincible 'Phantom Demon,' trap cards won't work on it—"

"But I never said that the target of my Trap Card was your [Divine Flame Emperor - Uria], did I?" Ignoring Kagemaru's displeased and unpleasant expression, Hayato casually interrupted, flipping the card over. "I activated this card, the Normal Trap Card [Labyrinth Welcome Welcome Big Welcome]. Do I need to explain its effect again?"

"Welcome, welcome, a very warm welcome!"

Amidst the three-part shouts of the "White Princesses" similar to Kaiba's "Crush! Shatter! Cheers!", Hayato draws a card from his deck and says, "With the effect of [Rapilins Welcome, Welcome, Great Welcome], I Special Summon one [Rapilins] monster from my deck. I chose this [Silver Castle Demon Statue], and with the follow-up effect of [Rapilins Welcome, Welcome, Great Welcome], I return [Silver Castle Fire Furnace] from my field to my hand."

The fluttering petals, carried by the gust of wind, rose again before Hayato. But this time, instead of servants or princesses, a guard appeared before him, fully armed in silver armor, leaning on a greatsword planted in the ground, with only one yellow eye peeking out from under his helmet.

【The Demon Statue of Silver Castle】【7☆/Dark】

[Demon Race/Effect]

[2000/2800]

Hayato easily summoned a Level 7 monster, taking over the last empty monster zone on his field. Watching Hayato Special Summon two more monsters in just one main phase, Kagemaru was extremely annoyed.

But that's all. At least in Kagemaru's current understanding, Hayato's "Silver Castle" mainly relies on trap cards, or more precisely, normal trap cards, to operate. Now that he has cleared all the cards in Hayato's back row, there's no point in him summoning any more monsters!

【The Fire Furnace of the Silver Castle】was recycled into Hayato's hand by 【Labyrinth Welcome, Welcome, Great Welcome】, while 【Labyrinth of the Silver Castle】 and 【The Silver Princess of the Labyrinth Castle】, which were not recycled, were covered in their ears along with the emotionless maid 【Ariana】. As for 【The Demon Statue of the Silver Castle】, needless to say, she was wearing a helmet.

The noise swept through Hayato's back row, destroying all of Hayato's cards. The successful activation of [Labyrinth Welcome Welcome Big Welcome] made Kagemaru very unhappy, but destroying one card still made him somewhat gratified.

However, he also knew that destroying Hayato's face-down card was not the end, because of [Labyrinth Welcome Welcome Big Welcome], Hayato's [Silver Castle] monsters would start using their annoying abilities because some monsters left Hayato's field due to the effects of trap cards.

The instant the chain of [Divine Flame Emperor - Uria]'s "Trap Destruction" effect was resolved, Kagemaru saw that Hayato's [Silver Castle Rabillins] and [Silver Castle Summoner - Ariana] on the field both started activating their effects simultaneously, and even [Silver Castle Demon Statue], which had just appeared in his Monster Zone, started acting up.

Not only that, but a card also flew out from Hayato's grave and suddenly a grassy area was set up in the hall of the mansion where Hayato and Kagemaru were.

"For most high-risk, high-reward decks... I mean, for control decks, advantages need to be built up little by little. The worst thing is having your hard-earned advantage wiped out in one fell swoop with a single card. The opponent always has a Feather Duster when they go second; it's practically a curse." Hayato said, pointing to the grass in front of him, using language that Kagemaru didn't quite understand. "But now that we know control decks like [Silver Castle] are hard to resist backrow disruption cards, guess what I've prepared in my deck?"

"You absolutely mustn't destroy the cards in the back row carelessly, otherwise you might 'stir up trouble'!"

The instant Hayato finished speaking, he pulled out the destroyed face-down card from the Spell & Trap Zone of his Duel Disk, held it above his head, and said: "This card can only be activated if it leaves the field due to an opponent's card effect, is sent to the Graveyard, or is banished. Normal Trap Card 'Troublesome Snake' Special Summon 1 monster from my Deck or Fusion Deck!"

Suddenly, a large patch of weeds was flattened in the grass between Hayato and Kagemaru, and a dark vortex emerged from the center.

"Two alluring flowers that lure insects with their fragrance have now merged into one, giving birth to a new threat from the hell deep within those petals! Appear, lackey of the Netherworld Pearl!" Holding up a card, Hayato declared, "Special Summon: [Predatory Plant - Rhinoceros Horned Dragon]!"

On the ground, a giant morning glory—also known as a five-pointed star flower—bloomed in the vortex. From that flower, a pair of purple dragon wings that seemed to encompass the universe suddenly spread out, and a giant dragon appeared from the fusion tunnel that opened up from the weeds!

As long as there are no restrictions such as "can only be Special Summoned by Fusion Summon", Hayato can freely summon Fusion Monsters from his Extra Deck, and at this moment, the Fusion Monster he Special Summoned is Predator-Rhinoceros Dragon from the Predator-Plant Deck.

If your opponent is Kagemaru, who is trying to prey on the power of other spirits and humans in the world with the "Three Phantoms", this card would be the perfect choice.

[Plant-eating Rhinoceros Horned Dragon] [8☆/Dark]

[Plant Tribe/Fusion/Effect]

[2700/1900]

The [Provoke] Special Summon of [Predatory Plant - Rhinoceros Horned Dragon] was just the beginning. Hayato dealt with the subsequent effects in the chain one by one, while Kagemaru could only watch helplessly as it moved around randomly during his turn, unable to intervene at all.

"If the [Silver Castle Statue] is Special Summoned, I set one Normal Trap Card from my Deck that can only be activated when declaring an attack to my backrow."

The silent Demon Knight's eyes lit up, a yellow light shining on Hayato's back row, constructing yet another mysterious trap. Hayato, in turn, retrieved a trap card from his deck, placed it face-down on his back row, and continued,

"And the effect of [Rabilins of the Silver Castle], which can only be activated when my Normal Trap Card effect causes a monster to leave the field, destroying one card in your opponent's hand or on the field. I chose [Uria the Divine Flame Emperor]. Even if you can resist Trap Cards and Spell Cards that are not activated this turn, you have absolutely no resistance to monster effects."

Wielding a double-edged axe, Shirahime brandished her heavy weapon, once again using a technique similar to "Wind Scar" to slash at the air. However, this time, the target wasn't the card in Kagemaru's hand, but rather the mindless [Divine Flame Emperor - Uria] on his field. After all, the "Three Phantom Demons" weren't the more mature and powerful ones that came later. Lacking any resistance to low-level monster effects, they could be easily destroyed by anything, not even [Rabillins of the Silver Castle], or even a [Man-Eating Insect].

The newly summoned [Divine Flame Emperor - Uria] was sent to the graveyard again without any face, but it's not over yet, as Hayato still has the effect of a monster on his field that hasn't been dealt with.

"The effect of 【Ariana the Summoner of the Silver Castle】 can only be activated when the effect of my Normal Trap Card causes a monster to leave the field. I draw one card from my Deck, and after that I can Special Summon one Fiend-Type monster from my hand or Set one Spell/Trap Card."

Although he had two choices, with five monsters crowding his field, Hayato's only option was whether or not to set a Spell/Trap Card to the back field. Instead of setting the card face down, he ended the processing of the effect of "Summoner of the Silver Castle - Ariana".

Despite deploying the invincible "Phantom Demon," Kagemaru couldn't understand why Kobayashi Hayato's cards didn't decrease at all, but instead increased. Powerful monsters could be summoned so easily, and they even had troublesome effects. Furthermore, his hand size increased to four cards with each use.

With such powerful strategic abilities, Kagemaru vaguely seemed to understand Hayato's strength, and how he would handle such a difficult situation when it was his turn...

Wait a minute! It's our turn right now!

Realizing that it was now his turn, not Hayato's, and bewildered by Hayato's complex and lengthy chain of attacks, Kagemaru said with a gloomy face, "Time and time again, how long are you going to run amok in my turn, Onorai Kobayashi Hayato!"

"You think you can rest easy after killing 'Phantom Demon' once? No way! I never said that the effect of [Divine Flame Emperor - Uria] could only be used once. Its resurrection ability can be activated multiple times in one turn, as long as I have enough trap cards!"

With three cards remaining in his hand, Kagemaru didn't hesitate to draw one and reveal it—a Continuous Trap Card, [Sacrifice Sealed Mask]. After sending it to the Graveyard, Kagemaru cried out again, "The 'Divine Fire' of [Divine Flame Emperor - Uriah] is inextinguishable! Rise once more from the Graveyard, 'Phantom Demon of Flame'!"

Another Trap Card was sent to the Graveyard by Kagemaru, becoming nourishment for the power of "Phantom Demon". Once again, it was a towering pillar of fire. [Divine Flame Emperor - Uria] flew out of that pillar of fire for the second time to Kagemaru's field. And because of the change in the number of Trap Cards in Kagemaru's Graveyard, its ATK and DEF values ​​were increased once again!

【Divine Flame Emperor - Uria】【? /? →2000/2000】

"While the effect of the [Divine Flame Emperor - Uria] Trap Destruction Card is supposed to be used once per turn, it's not the card name that's used once per turn. Now that it's been destroyed and revived, its effect has been reset and can be used again!" With a smug expression, Kagemaru once again commanded, "Use the power of 'Trap Destruction' once more to shatter the cards on Kobayashi Hayato's back field, [Divine Flame Emperor - Uria]!"

However, after Kagemaru gave the order, he found that although the [Divine Flame Emperor - Uria] that appeared on his field still exuded a terrifying demonic aura, it did not move at all and did not respond to his command, as if it was ignoring him.