Is this the world of card dealers? Yada thieves!

The blue lightning released by [Thunder Emperor - Hamon] shattered the darkness in [Paradise Lost], but this does not mean that its lightning is a symbol of light. On the contrary, the lightning that struck [Silver Castle Statue] on Hayato's field was exuding an aura of destruction.

At this moment, since Kagemaru had already taken the initiative to let the monster launch an attack and declare an attack, Hayato naturally couldn't waste the opportunity given by the other party. He immediately pressed the button to activate the Set card and activated the Trap Card that was set by the effect of "Silver Castle Statue".

"Because of the effect of [Silver Castle's Mad Clock], if I have a [Rabillins] monster on my field, I can activate a Normal Trap Card only once per turn I set it to face, chaining to [Thunder King Hamon]'s attack declaration, and I open my backrow face-down card—"

"At this moment? You must be joking, Hayato Kobayashi!" Kagemaru said dismissively, interrupting Hayato. "Do I need to remind you again? The invincible 'Three Phantom Demons' have resistance to Trap Card effects, and with the protection of [Paradise Lost], they now have even greater resistance—they won't become the target of the opponent's effects or be destroyed by them!"

"【Explosive Armor】? 【Holy Shield - Mirror Power-】 or 【Magic Cylinder】? Useless, useless, useless! None of your trap cards can affect my invincible 'Three Phantoms'!"

Unexpectedly, Hayato remained unfazed after hearing Kagemaru's words, calmly drawing out the trap card he was about to activate and showing it to Kagemaru, saying, "But when did you get the misconception that the trap card I'm about to activate is meant to affect your 'Three Phantom Demons'?"

"Instead of letting you use the effect of [Divine Flame Emperor - Uria] to destroy all the trap cards on my field next turn, I'd rather detonate them myself now to increase the monster's attack power! The trap card I'm going to activate is this one with the name of an 'evil god' that sounds even more powerful than 'Phantom Demon', the invincible [Great Calamity of the Evil God]!"

A powerful suction force was suddenly released from the card Hayato opened in the back row, and a dark purple vortex began to expand and spread from the opened [Great Calamity of the Evil God].

"【Great Calamity of the Evil God】is the card I just retrieved from my deck using the effect of 【Demonic Statue of the Silver Castle】. This card can only be activated when the opponent declares an attack. Its effect is very simple: a Speed ​​2 【Great Storm】 that destroys all Spell/Trap Cards on both players' fields, whether they are face-down, face-up, or located in the field area!"

Hayato points to the two Continuous Spell Cards, one face-down card of unknown purpose, and one Field Spell Card on Kagemaru's back field. Kagemaru will have four cards destroyed in one go by the effect of [Great Calamity of the Evil God].

However, that's not the point. The real point is that Hayato played both furniture cards from the Silver Castle in his hand in order to draw as many cards as possible from the Treasure Card from the Sky in order to retrieve the two face-down cards placed on the back row from his deck. Since those two cards were just face-down this turn, they couldn't be used. But who says that cards that can't be activated can't be used by oneself?

As a duelist, your power is limitless!

When Kagemaru heard Hayato's words, his first thought was that so many of his cards were going to be destroyed, and he was surprised and angry. However, he was not too slow to realize that the real focus was not on the cards that were going to be destroyed, but on the other two cards that Hayato had not yet opened in the back row.

Trap cards like [Security Ball] that still have effects even after being destroyed are ineffective against "Phantom Demon" whether they are on the field or in the graveyard. Furthermore, cards like [Stirring Up Grass and Provoking Snake] require Kagemaru to destroy them instead of Hayato destroying them himself to activate. However, the problem is not what effect the trap has, but simply that "a trap is sent to the graveyard"!

Kagemaru hadn't forgotten the effect of the [Silver Castle Statue]: each type of Trap Card in Hayato's graveyard could provide her with a 400-point attack bonus. Originally, her attack power was only 2000 points, but after receiving the bonus from three Trap Cards, her attack power had already surpassed the legendary [Blue-Eyes White Dragon]'s 3200 points. If she added the two Trap Cards that were destroyed and sent to the graveyard, her attack power would soar again to a full 4000 points, on par with [Thunder Emperor Hamon]!

The card 【Great Calamity of the Evil God】only destroys Spell & Trap Cards and does not affect monsters. Therefore, Kagemaru cannot trigger a Battle Recall to undo the attack already launched by 【Thunder Emperor Hamon】. If he doesn't do something, he can only watch helplessly as the 【Thunder Emperor Hamon】 he finally managed to summon is destroyed along with the 【Silver Castle Statue】!

Hayato's monster is dead, of course it doesn't matter, but he absolutely cannot let his trusted [Thunder Emperor - Hamon], one of the important "Three Phantom Demons", be destroyed like this. He doesn't want that to happen!

"You can't, you can't do that!"

"*Domino swears*, I can do that, huh!" Hayato sneered. "Not only that, I'll also chain the third effect of [Silver Princess of the Labyrinth Castle]: when a Normal Trap Card is activated, I set one Normal Trap Card from my Deck with a different name than that card on the field and send an extra Trap Card to the Graveyard!"

"I will destroy not just two trap cards, but a full three! The attack power of [Silver Castle Statue] will be 4400 points, which is more than 4000 points!"

"Hahahaha, don't stop! Kagemaru, keep attacking with [Thunder Emperor - Hamon]! I want to see if you'll be excited and raise the flag when you're stabbing [Thunder Emperor - Hamon] to death with the [Silver Castle Demon Statue] that you thought you could easily defeat, and then you're churning inside it with your giant sword! Hahahaha!"

"Waaah!"

As Kagemaru sank into utter despair, he suddenly noticed the magic trap area on his Duel Disk lit up with the [Thunderbolt of Paradise] spell active because he hadn't exited the tutorial mode. Like a drowning man spotting a piece of driftwood, he reached for it without a second thought—

Chapter 1180 The Awakened Three Phantom Demons

"I am the storm that is approaching!"

After placing a Trap Card face-down on the back row with the effect of "Silver Princess of the Labyrinth Castle," the storm of "Great Calamity of the Evil God" began to unleash its full power amidst Hayato's incomprehensible shout. In an instant, both the three face-down cards on Hayato's back row and the Spell & Trap Cards on Kagemaru's field began to sway and were on the verge of being swept away and torn apart by the storm.

The fact that the "Three Phantoms" have resistance does not mean that they can share that resistance with other cards. When Kagemaru's cards are destroyed, their weaknesses, which were not erased but only temporarily covered up, will be exposed.

However, just as the power of the [Great Calamity of the Evil God] was about to be unleashed at full power, a buzzing sound suddenly came from the back of Kagemaru's field:

"Om-!"

The opened Continuous Spell Card [Thunderbolt of Pain] trembled, with streaks of lightning coiling around it, actively reminding Kagemaru that he could use its effect at this moment, as if the card itself had developed a reluctance to be destroyed. And what Kagemaru reached out and grabbed in his despair was [Thunderbolt of Pain].

Not only the card 【Thunderbolt of Paradise Lost】, but the rampaging electricity on it also caused the electricity on Kagemaru's 【Thunder Emperor - Hamon】 to overflow continuously, as if trying to drain all the stored electricity. After learning the full effect of the 【Thunderbolt of Paradise Lost】 card, Kagemaru, holding the card in his hand, said smugly, "Although I didn't check the specific effects of the card beforehand, I didn't expect that even under such circumstances I would still not be driven to the brink of despair."

"As expected, I am destined to become a god, surrounded by the 'Three Phantom Demons'!"

After [Thunder Emperor Hamon] almost malfunctioned and emptied its stored power, the release of a large amount of energy caused it to lose its own power. As [Thunder Emperor Hamon] began to absorb heat, the temperature in the air rapidly increased, and a large number of ice crystals formed, enveloping [Thunder Emperor Hamon] itself, just like when it first appeared.

"The effect of the Continuous Spell Card [Thunder of Pain] can negate the effects of any Spell/Trap Card activated by my opponent once per turn, provided that I have [Thunder Emperor - Hamon] on my field in Attack Position. This effect does not enter a chain!" Kagemaru arrogantly pointed at Hayato's [Great Calamity of the Evil God] on his field and said, "I've decided to name this ability 'Vaporization Freezing Spell'."

"The only cost of this effect is to reseal [Thunder Emperor - Hamon] and change it from attack position to defense position, but it successfully negated your trap card [Great Calamity of the Evil God]. As a god, my will is absolute!"

As [Thunder Emperor - Hamon] was completely frozen and changed from attack position to defense position, the frost that started from it covered Hayato's field, freezing the [Great Calamity of the Evil God] he had opened, and the storm was forcibly stopped.

After Hayato sent the card with the negated effect of "Great Calamity of the Evil God" to the graveyard, increasing the attack power of "Silver Castle Statue" to 3600, the change in battle position also prevented "Thunder Emperor Hamon" in defense position from continuing its previous attack declaration. As a result, "Thunder Emperor Hamon's" attack declaration was ultimately just a bolt from the blue, failing to destroy anything or cause any damage.

【The Demon Statue of the Silver Castle】【ATK3200→3600】

【Thunder Emperor - Hamon】【ATK4000→DEF4000】

Kagemaru confidently commanded [Thunder Emperor - Hamon] to launch an attack, but it came to nothing. Although his battle phase was not yet over and there was another [Divine Flame Emperor - Uria] in attack position on the field, Kagemaru did not command it to attack any other monsters on Hayato's field to perform a self-destruct attack, so that it could be revived and then cleared with a trap card.

"【Uria the Divine Flame Emperor】is Special Summoned from the Graveyard by its own effect this turn. It cannot attack if there are other monsters on my field."

Reluctantly reciting the effect of [Divine Flame Emperor - Uria], Kagemaru looked at the three face-down cards on Hayato's back field. He knew that if he missed this turn and didn't destroy those three cards now, Hayato would be able to activate those three ready cards again to annoy him in the next turn.

But what could he do? Summoning two "Three Phantoms" in a single turn is impressive, okay? He used "Heavenly Treasure Card"? So what if he used "Heavenly Treasure Card" to replenish his hand? Putting aside the facts, doesn't he deserve at least 99% credit for his brilliant maneuver in one turn?

"You've escaped with your life, Hayato Kobayashi. I'm ending my battle phase." Even though it was clear that he was at a disadvantage, Kagemaru arrogantly looked at Hayato as he announced the end of his battle phase, as if Hayato had only barely survived his attack by sheer luck. "Although I couldn't finish you off in one go, it's alright. I have plenty of patience to slowly wear you down, which will allow me to absorb as much of the Pokémon's power as possible that's rightfully mine."

"It doesn't matter that you have more monsters than me. Even if [Divine Flame Emperor - Uria] is in Attack Position with 2000 ATK, my [Thunder Emperor - Hamon] in Defense Position has the power to absorb attacks with electromagnetic force. Even direct attacks against me will bounce back to it."

"Let's just call this ability 'Magnetic Field Rotation'. In short, under the protection of [Thunder Emperor - Hamon], no matter how you attack, I won't shed a single drop of blood or suffer any harm. What threat can you possibly pose to me?"

"I'll set two cards face down, and my turn is over!" With a strange look in his eyes, Kagemaru glanced at the two cards he had just set down and looked at Hayato with a sinister gaze, confidently announcing the end of his turn.

[Kagemaru: 4000LP, 1 cards in hand]

【Divine Flame Emperor - Uria】【ATK2000】

【Thunder Emperor - Hamon】【DEF4000】

[Seven Essences Unlocked] [Thunderbolt of Lost Pleasure] [GaiK] X3

Location: Paradise Lost

Although his arrogant statement just now seemed like the kind of "explaining death" behavior often seen in villains—and in fact, Kagemaru was indeed showing off while explaining the effects of his [Thunder Emperor - Hamon], Kagemaru was not worried at all about Hayato being a threat.

The reason is simple. Although it is said that the so-called "magnetic field rotation" ability of [Thunder Emperor - Hamon] can forcibly transfer the target of the attack to itself, its attack power of up to 4000 points does not seem to be a small fry that can be easily broken through. Not to mention its strong resistance makes it an extremely troublesome and almost impenetrable wall - at least that's what Kagemaru thinks.

But! Here's the important part, but! Kagemaru didn't explain to Hayato that when [Thunder Emperor - Hamon] is destroyed, it grants Kagemaru a full turn of protection, making him "unharmed." That's the source of Kagemaru's proudest barrier and confidence.

After Hayato Kobayashi, withstanding the perfect resistance of [Thunder King Hamon], finally managed to destroy it with all his might, he could only despairingly discover that his efforts were completely futile. Even when he attacked with infinitely large monsters, he couldn't be harmed in the slightest by the effect of [Thunder King Hamon].

Meanwhile, this is also the second part of Kagemaru's perfect plan. The main purpose of the first part of the plan is to make Hayato's monsters attack as much as possible, so that Hayato can have monsters on his field in attack position. If possible, it would be even better if some monsters could attack [God Flame Emperor - Uria].

Because one of the cards he just set face-down was a support card for "Three Phantom Demons," or more precisely, [Divine Flame Emperor - Uria]. Just like [Thunderbolt of Lost Paradise] is named after the attack move of [Thunder Emperor - Hamon], it is also a Continuous Trap Card named after the attack move of [Divine Flame Emperor - Uria], namely [High-pitched Flame Wave]!

Hayato's monster, the [Silver Castle Statue], can absorb the power of trap cards in the graveyard to increase its attack power, but so what? [Divine Flame Emperor - Uria] is a powerful "Phantom Demon." In addition to the trap cards in its own graveyard, with the support of the trap card [High-pitched Flame Wave], Kagemaru can even allow [Divine Flame Emperor - Uria] to absorb the power of trap cards in Hayato's graveyard to increase its attack and defense power!

With two cards currently in Kagemaru's graveyard and four cards in Hayato's graveyard, once the power of [High-Intensity Flame Wave] takes effect and Hayato's monster attacks, the attack power of [Divine Flame Emperor - Uria] will instantly surge from 2000 points to at least 6000 points, just like the legendary [Osiris the Sky Dragon] whose attack power can be greatly increased when combined with [Heavenly Treasure Card]!

If he's lucky enough, he might even be able to take down this kid, who always has the confidence that Kagemaru finds most annoying and the talent that makes Kagemaru so jealous, in one blow during Kobayashi Hayato's turn!

Hehehe! You can't laugh now! Laughing will only make you seem like a naive and shallow person...

But how could I not laugh when such a joyful scene was about to unfold before my eyes!

Covering the lower half of his face with one hand, Kagemaru tried his best to suppress his excitement and eagerness to see Hayato suffer a humiliation, and lowered the duel disk holding two cards.

"Hey~ I have a feeling that you're plotting something, Kagemaru."

Although he doesn't have a tool like the "Millennium Eye" that can directly read minds, Kagemaru's acting skills are really not good. Hayato guessed what he was scheming with just one glance, and that inexplicable confidence most likely came from one of the three cards he placed face down in the back row.

The card he set face-down before activating "Heavenly Treasure" was probably not his main asset, so the key point is undoubtedly one of the two cards he set face-down during the second main phase before the end of his turn.

"My turn, draw a card."

Drawing a card, thanks to Kagemaru's previous [Heavenly Treasure Card], Hayato now has a full seven cards in his hand. It's so much fun to fight with such a rich hand. It's a pity that he didn't include a level 8 3000 attack power card in this "pure [Silver Castle]" deck to give Kagemaru a little "liberation" shock.

While Kagemaru hadn't fully explained the effects of [Thunderbolt Emperor - Hamon], keeping only half of it to himself, making it seem as if Hayato had been bluffing him and didn't actually know its full effects, Hayato was perfectly aware of the other effects of [Thunderbolt Emperor - Hamon] that Kagemaru had deliberately kept hidden. It was simply the same as [Winged Kuriboh] – it wouldn't take any damage during the turn it was destroyed.

Destroying [Thunder Emperor Hamon] in battle is naturally not difficult, but if Kagemaru triggers the effect of [Thunder Emperor Hamon], it will take at least another turn. Looking at [Winged Kuriboh], which was already so weak that it could only lie motionless on Jaden's shoulder, next to Jaden who was fighting Daitokuji not far away, Hayato knew that the "Seven Spirits Release Gate" was still absorbing the power of the spirits and the life force of humans.

With Jaden and Hayato's physical abilities, they could continue to persevere, but Hayato also knew that not everyone could withstand the effects of the "Seven Essences Unlocking Gate" like young people. If he didn't deal with Kagemaru as soon as possible, the elderly and those with pre-existing illnesses and weak bodies might die from the "Seven Essences Unlocking Gate."

“Since the opponent is the ‘Three Phantom Demons,’ although she has gone from second-rate to third-rate because the user is too weak, it’s still worth letting her out there have some opportunities.” As he spoke, Hayato played a card from his hand. “During my Main Phase, I will use this Spell Card, Dark Burst, to target one DARK monster card with 1500 or less ATK in my Graveyard and add it to my hand.”

Seeing Hayato begin his main phase, Kagemaru immediately placed a card in the back row and said, "In that case, I'll chain that spell card and activate the face-down card in the back row, the Continuous Trap Card [Awakened Three Phantoms]."

As Kagemaru activated his Faceless Vow, a flash of light appeared on the pillars surrounding the two duelists in the "Seven Gates of Release." Then, the spirit power and human life force, previously imperceptible to the naked eye, coalesced into conspicuous golden specks upon entering the "Seven Gates of Release," drifting towards Kagemaru's [Divine Flame Emperor - Uria] and [Thunder Emperor - Hamon] on the field.

The absorbed spiritual power and human life force were divided into three parts. The largest portion was absorbed by the "Seven Essences Unlocking Gate" and flowed underground. Then, it was absorbed by [Divine Flame Emperor - Uria], [Thunder Emperor - Hamon], and the third entity "Phantom Demon" that had not yet appeared in the Shadow Maru deck. Finally, the remaining dregs were absorbed by Shadow Maru.

The golden light was being continuously absorbed by the "Phantom Demons." Even though it was initially in an incomplete state, with the continuous opening of the "Seven Essence Unlocking Gates," it seemed that the "Three Phantom Demons" in Kagemaru's hands would soon fully awaken and possess their own consciousness.

“This power to rule the world, this glorious figure, is undoubtedly the apostle most worthy of me as a ‘god’.” Looking at the two “phantom demons” enveloped in golden light as they absorbed the power extracted from the “Seven Essences Unlocking Gate”, Kagemaru revealed a rather enjoyable expression, opened his arms and said, “I am ascending to godhood!”

Although the Continuous Trap Card "Awakened Three Phantoms" was activated, Kagemaru was completely absorbed in the incredibly cool appearance of the monsters on his field and did not intend to use its effect when it was activated. After the chain dealt with the activation of "Awakened Three Phantoms", it was Hayato's turn to retrieve a card of unknown meaning from the graveyard to his hand.

"Heh, what a weak 'god'." Hayato said with some disdain after hearing Kagemaru's words.

"You're jealous of me, aren't you, Hayato Kobayashi? Jealous of me being a god?" With inexplicable confidence, Kagemaru pointed at Hayato and said, "Seeing such invincible power, you probably already vaguely feel the approaching despair in your heart, don't you?"

"DARK monsters with an attack power of 1500 or less are nothing more than the furniture you sent to the graveyard before. Besides, aren't monsters with an attack power of 1500 or less just weaklings? Even the monsters on your field can't do anything to my invincible [Thunder King - Hamon], let alone those weakling monsters."

At this point, Kagemaru paused, then sneered, "But even if I don't know what you're up to, I won't give you even the slightest chance to annoy me, so I used this [Awakened Three Phantoms]. Besides its second effect, which allows me to recycle one Continuous Trap Card from my Graveyard once per turn when I have a Level 10 or higher monster on my field, its most invincible effect is its first effect."

"That is, to gain a powerful, permanent effect based on the number of 'Three Phantoms' on my field!"

Chapter 1181: Not suffering even the slightest harm ≠ Basic score will not change.

"Based on the number of 'Three Phantoms' on my field, [Awakened Three Phantoms] will gain a powerful, continuous effect," Kagemaru said, pointing to the face-down card that had been revealed on his field.

"In cases of one or more types, each time my opponent successfully Normal or Special Summons a monster, I gain Life Points equal to the ATK of that monster; in cases of two or more types, the effects activated by monsters on my opponent's field are negated!"

"Although I can't use the effect of 'monsters sent to the opponent's graveyard are banished instead of going to the graveyard' when there are three types of 'Phantom Demons' because I haven't summoned the third entity 'Phantom Demon' yet, this is enough!"

"No matter what monster you intend to summon, its effects while on the field will be nullified, just like my [Divine Flame Emperor - Uria] which has been marked with a Predator Counter. Furthermore, the higher its ATK, the more Life Points it can restore for me!"

"Those incompetent monsters of yours are the ones who helped me ascend to the throne! Hahahaha!"

Looking at the laughing Kagemaru, Hayato shrugged indifferently: "If you want to restore her basic attack power value, go ahead. Even I wouldn't be so stingy as to not let you restore a mere 1 point of basic power."

Kagemaru didn't pay much attention to Hayato's "1 base point," assuming it was just empty talk, since Hayato had just said "I won't take any damage" at the end of his turn.

Looking at the cards in his hand, Hayato continued, "Because of the Awakened Three Phantoms, even if I activate the effects of Ariana the Silver Castle's Summoner and Labyrinth the Silver Castle on my field, their effects will be negated."

"At this moment, only those effects that exist indefinitely without needing to be activated, such as the effect of [Predatory Plant - Rhinoceros Horn Dragon] which negates activation and the ability of [Silver Castle Demon Statue] which increases attack power, are still in effect."

Hayato decisively removed the cards [Summoner of the Silver City - Ariana] and [Predatory Plant - Rhinoceros Horn Dragon] from the Duel Disk and sent them to the Graveyard. Then, he drew the card he had just retrieved from the Graveyard with [Dark Burst] from his hand and said, "In that case, rather than letting them continue to suffer on the field, I might as well end their pain myself. After all, there is no duelist more compassionate than me."

"I release [Predatory Plant - Rhinoceros Horn] and [Summoner of the Silver City - Ariana] from my field as tributes for a Superior Summon—"

Hearing Hayato's words, Kagemaru didn't take the card he was about to play seriously at all. The fact that two monsters were needed as tributes meant that the monster Hayato was about to Normal Summon would be at least Level 7, or even higher. Although monster stats like attack power were never tied to star level, Kagemaru understood that higher-level monsters should have higher attack power.

Even at the lowest possible level, it should still have at least 2000 attack power, right? Kagemaru made no attempt to stop Hayato; he wouldn't refuse over 2000 basic points offered to him for free.