Is this the world of card dealers? Yada thieves!

Chapter 1219 Aibo Save Me

[Golden Madman - Eldridge] [10☆/Light]

[Undead/Fusion/Effect]

[3800/3500]

While Hayato did start with Horus and then pulled out Infernal, he didn't mention this time that he was using a "pure Coffin of the King" deck. Actually, Hayato was playing a "pure Golden Country" deck this time!

—In short, let's just believe it for now.

"【Golden Madman - Eldridge】is used as 【Golden Lord - Eldridge】while it exists in the Monster Zone. It has resistance that cannot be destroyed by battle or card effects, making it a perfect shield for 'Defense Descent'."

Hayato chuckled smugly, “The effect of [Destroyer Dragon - Gandora G] is limited to once per turn, and it destroys and banishes instead of banishing directly. What a pity, Yugi, with your current field lineup, even if you overturn my field, you still can’t break through my defense.”

"I, Kobayashi Hayato, am still the emperor, and that has never changed!"

Hearing Hayato's words, Yugi smiled and said, "Don't be too confident, Hayato. I still have three cards in my hand. Maybe I have a card combination that can defeat you, [Golden Madman - Eldridge]. After all, the power of the bond between comrades is limitless."

"This card can only be activated if I control [Golden Chest of Light] and a monster whose name is listed as [Golden Chest of Light]!" - Normal Spell Card [Partner's Bond]!

The card that the game is currently playing looks like a family portrait, with a whole bunch of monsters crammed onto one card image. Not only are there [Silent Magician Zero] and [Destroyer Dragon - Gandora G] already on the field, but also [Tricolor Gadgets] and its associated mechanical fortress that appeared earlier, as well as the [Silent Swordsman] enhancement card and [Cotton Candy] that have not yet appeared.

“Kyoko, Jonouchi, Honda, Hayato, and the other me, you are all my friends, and the bond between us ultimately led me to create this card, ‘Power of Friendship.’” Yugi said, drawing two cards from his deck in one go. “I can use the effect of ‘Bonds of Companions’ to Special Summon up to two monsters with a Level of 4 or lower and whose names include ‘Golden Coffin of Light’ from my hand or deck!”

"Come out, [Silent Swordsman Zero] and [Increased Cotton Candy]!"

With its small, round, golden eyes, the soft, pink [Marshmallow]'s enhanced form—[Increased Marshmallow]—appeared on the field in defense position. However, its original form, [Marshmallow], is a monster that looks weak but is actually quite troublesome to deal with, and Hayato will not underestimate this monster because of its appearance.

In addition, there is also the enhanced form of the Silent Swordsman, which corresponds to the Silent Magician – the young swordsman with messy yellow short hair, the Silent Swordsman Zero. However, unlike the Silent Magician Zero, who received a significant level boost from the effect of the Destroyer Dragon - Gandora G upon his first appearance, the Silent Swordsman Zero still attacks in his juvenile form.

[Increased Marshmallow] [3 stars/light]

[Angel Race/Effect]

[300/500]

[Silent Swordsman Zero] [4☆/Light]

[Warrior Race/Effect]

[1000/1000]

However, compared to the two new monsters that appeared on the field, Hayato was more concerned about the "Partner Bonds" card that Yugi activated: "The card art for that card is really well made, Yugi."

"Although the core card of this deck, 'Golden Coffin of Light,' is 'Golden Coffin of Light,' it was actually this card, 'Partner's Bond,' that took the most effort from me. Only after completing this card did I start making the other related cards that were drawn on it."

Hearing Hayato's approval of the card he had made, Yugi smiled contentedly, revealing a hint of shyness that he hadn't shown in a long time, as if he had returned to five years ago.

Hayato, too, was deeply moved as he looked at the card depicting "The Bonds of Companions".

Just as the game was about to continue, Hayato suddenly spoke up: "But speaking of which, Yugi, you said that this [Bond of Companions] is the crystallization of the friendship between you, Jonouchi, Honda, Kyoko, Atem, and me, right?"

"Hmm? What's wrong, Hayato?" Yugi nodded, then tilted his head in confusion.

“This is a big problem, Yugi. I recognize the prototype of every card on this card,” Hayato said, pointing to the card.

"Jonouchi corresponds to the [Three-Color Gadgets], and Honda is the enhanced form of the [Mobile City-Fortress] that supports the [Gadgets], right? Then there are the twin cards [Silent Magician] and [Silent Swordsman], which need no further explanation. You've already stated that [Silent Magician] is a card that symbolizes your growth, so [Silent Swordsman] corresponds to Atem. And the remaining [Marshmallow] is Anzu, who seems inconspicuous but has always been silently supporting you, right?"

"So, I am the [Destroyer Dragon]? In your mind, you're actually using [Destroyer Dragon - Gandora] to represent me?"

Hearing Hayato's吐槽 (tu cao, a Chinese internet slang term for sarcastic or sarcastic commentary), Yugi awkwardly stuck out his tongue: "Because Hayato, you really do give off a similar vibe to [Destroyer Dragon - Gandora], not only do you like to release monsters or send them to their deaths, but you also particularly like to use some ridiculously overpowered cards that are practically cheating and should be banned..."

"Ahem, anyway, let's continue our duel. It seems another duel over there is about to begin." Yugi abruptly changed the subject, glancing into the distance as he did so.

Marufuji Sho was helped up by Judai, and then Judai started to talk his way out of Kagurazaka who had stolen his deck, trying to persuade him. However, Kagurazaka quickly shut Judai up with a "Who understands what you're saying?" It seemed that the other side, whose negotiation failed, was about to start the next duel. After all, when it comes to persuading others, how can talking about principles be as effective as playing a game of cards?

“Hayato, you often say, ‘Powerful cards often come with great risks.’ Although there are certain conditions for activation, ‘Partner Bond’ is a card that can easily Special Summon two monsters from the Deck in one go, so I’ve added some necessary restrictions to it.” Yugi sends the activated ‘Partner Bond’ card to the Graveyard. “After this card is activated, I cannot Special Summon monsters from the Fusion Deck until the end of this turn.”

“In addition, the effect of [Increased Cotton Candy] is that as long as I have [Golden Chest of Light] on my field, this card will not be destroyed by battle, and you can only target her as your attack target, Hayato.” Yugi explained the card’s effect. “In this way, the monsters on my field are protected, and I can attack you, Hayato, without any worries.”

"You've prepared your defenses as well as you've deployed them—your usual steady and classic dueling style, Yugi." Hayato raised an eyebrow. "But if you don't go all out in this duel, you won't be able to take victory from me."

After one round, the game still had two cards left in his hand. Although the number of monsters on the field had increased again, Hayato still did not see any cards that could threaten his "Golden Madman - Eldridge".

But he knew that, barring any unforeseen circumstances, he likely already had the cards in his hand to counter [Golden Madman - Eldridge], completing the "puzzle to victory."

As expected, Yugi drew a card from his hand and declared, "While I don't have a convenient way to directly release the opponent's monsters like Hayato's [Turtle Kaiju - Gamesiale], I do have my own tactics for dealing with monsters that can't be destroyed by battle or card effects!"

"Continuous Spell Card [Dimensional Isolator] activated! Banish one monster from each player's field, then when this card is destroyed and sent to the Graveyard, the banished monster returns to its original field position!"

While the effect of this card sounds somewhat ambiguous—both players banish one monster each for a mutual destruction, destroying this card returns both players' cards to the field—it sounds a bit like forcing someone into a one-on-one duel in a dark room. However, ambiguous as the effect may be, the card is useful, especially when Hayato only has one monster on the field and has no other options.

The card that was excluded from the "Dimensional Isolator" was none other than the temporarily useless "Incremental Marshmallow". As a huge device rose in the back row of the game, Hayato's "Golden Madman - Eldridge" was sucked into the "Dimensional Isolator" along with "Incremental Marshmallow" and disappeared from the field.

At the same time, with the increase in the number of banished cards, the attack power of [Destroyer Dragon - Gandora G] on the field also increases once again.

[Destroyer Dragon - Gandora G] [ATK2100→2700]

At this moment, Hayato's field is once again empty, and he is about to face a direct attack from the three monsters on the field!

"This is a rare opportunity. Looks like I can finally beat you, Hayato!" Yugi held two cards in his hand without playing them, and instead declared with a wave of his hand, "Now, let's enter my battle phase! I'll use [Destruction Dragon - Gandora G] to attack directly! Roar of Destruction!"

The golden Tyrannosaurus once again unleashed its red beam, but this time it didn't expand its attack range indiscriminately. Instead, it concentrated all the beams in front of it and aimed them at Hayato. With an attack power of 2700 points, it could easily reduce Hayato's base score to a wisp of smoke in one hit.

However, Hayato certainly had a way to deal with it. Without him having to use any of the cards in his hand, they automatically released seven-colored rainbow light to form a barrier. Before the attack of [Destroyer Dragon - Gandora G] arrived, [Rainbow Kuriboh] jumped out on its own and set up a barrier to protect Hayato in advance.

"At the pinnacle of card games, I reign supreme! With me, Hayato, the heavens reign!" Hayato exclaimed as he played the Rainbow Kuriboh from his hand, "Aibo, save me!"

Seeing this, Yugi was unsurprised, with an "I knew it" expression: "You're still the same as before, always keeping [Rainbow Kuriboh] in your hand. Although I also seem to often keep [Kuriboh] in my hand, I can't say anything about that, Hayato."

"But it was precisely because I had anticipated the existence of [Rainbow Kuriboh] that I prepared this card specifically."

As Yugi spoke, he waved his hand and said, "The effect of [Rainbow Kuriboh] is an effect that activates when the opponent's monster declares an attack, targeting the attacking monster. So, if the effect of [Rainbow Kuriboh] is activated in a chain, I will also use the effect of [Silent Swordsman Zero] on my field!"

"When an opponent activates an effect that targets either [Golden Chest of Light] on my field or a monster with that card name, you can negate that activation and increase this card's Level by 1!"

In response to his words, the Silent Swordsman Zero raised his sword on the field. A stream of energy swirled around the sword, making it visibly longer, and the Silent Swordsman Zero himself seemed to have grown a little as well.

The price was that the rainbow curtain of light that Hayato had set up on the field with Rainbow Kuriboh suddenly collapsed, and could no longer protect Hayato from the attack of Destroyer Dragon - Gandora G.

"Rank 4☆ with target negation? Not bad. But my preparations are superior!" Seeing that his [Rainbow Kuriboh] effect was about to be negated by [Silent Swordsman Zero], Hayato drew another card from his hand and said, "But do you dare to defy me who possesses [Infinite Impermanence]? This trap card can be activated directly from my hand if I have no cards on my field!"

"Target one of your opponent's monsters and negate its effects until the end of this turn!"

This duel was to test the new cards in the game, so Hayato didn't immediately use the effect of [Infinite Impermanence] to negate the effect of [Destroyer Dragon - Gandora G] and let it activate its effect to clear the field. But the past is the past, and the present is the present. Since Yugi is going to use a monster to attack him directly, he doesn't need to hold back and will use [Infinite Impermanence] to erase the effect of [Silent Swordsman Zero] on the spot.

However, just as the power of [Infinite Bubble] was about to fall on [Silent Swordsman Zero], the air currents surrounding him intensified and expanded into a storm.

"When I saw [Nightmare Mirage], I knew you must have a lot of cards in your hand that can be used to disrupt other players' turns. Hayato, just as I expected. This card in my hand was prepared for this moment."

Showing the cards in his hand, Yugi laughed, "[Rainbow Kuriboh], [Silent Swordsman Zero], [Infinite Bubble], and then [Red Reboot] in my hand. I've actually chained them four times in one go, but it's time to end this."

"You should know the effect of the counter-trap card [Red Reboot] better than I do, right? I pay half of my Life Points to activate this card directly from my hand, so that [Infinite Impermanence] activated from your hand can be set on the field, and you can also set another trap card from your deck."

"However, as a price, Hayato, you will not be able to activate any more trap cards this turn!"

[Game: 2000 → 1000 LP]

"You dare use the cards I created against me, Pott!"

Amidst Hayato's ambiguous dialogue, the game further halved his already meager Life Points. Meanwhile, his character, [Silent Swordsman Zero], after using [Red Reboot] to withstand the power of [Infinite Bubble], took a deep breath facing the light screen of [Rainbow Kuriboh], then swung his sword fiercely, uttering his first line since his debut: "Starburst Stream Slash!"

The swift sword dance created a blur of blades, tearing apart the power released by the Rainbow Kuriboh!

[Silent Swordsman Zero] [4☆/Light→5☆/Light] [ATK1000→1500]

More important than the attack power of [Silent Swordsman Zero] after cutting through all obstacles in its path is the attack of [Destruction Dragon - Gandora G]. With the help of [Silent Swordsman Zero], it was successfully launched and hit Hayato, who had played two cards in a row but still couldn't stop the game's offensive!

"boom!"

[Hayato: 4000→1300LP]

Seeing that Hayato had successfully taken damage in the battle, Yugi smiled with a hint of joy. However, the moment Hayato's base score dropped, he suddenly saw Hayato abruptly appear on the field—

Chapter 1220 Kami

[Guardian Slime] [10☆/Water]

[Aquarium/Effect]

[0/0]

A giant, bluish-purple slime appeared on Hayato's field, its core protected by a layer of golden armor, and its jet-black head resembled that of an ancient Egyptian jackal guardian deity.

Despite its seemingly weak appearance, slime was always portrayed as a high-level monster in D&D-style tabletop games before Japanese RPGs and some adult games created its current image and status. Hayato's Guardian Slime is undoubtedly a superior monster that fits the original image better than the low-level slime monsters in the game, even though its attack and defense are only 0.

—On the contrary, it is precisely because of its zero attack and zero defense that its extraordinary abilities are further proven.

"Only when I take damage from battle or card effects can I activate the effect of this [Guardian Slime] card in my hand to Special Summon it from my hand to the field."

After taking combat damage, Hayato dramatically wiped away non-existent sweat from his forehead, stuck out his tongue to lick his lips, and made a funny face, saying, "A full 2700 points of combat damage, that really hurts."

Yugi, however, seemed unfazed by Hayato's exaggerated facial expressions and asked, "The 'Slime' is Malik's card, right? This is the first time I've seen such a high-level 'Slime' monster."

"First it was [Coffin of the King], then [Golden Madman - Eldridge], and now it's [Slime]. It feels like Hayato, your deck is made entirely of other people's cards."

"Nonsense, didn't I put cards like Rainbow Kuriboh and Inferno into my deck?" Hayato said smugly. "So what if other people's cards are mine? Once they're in my hands, they're mine too."

"Because this is precisely my unique divine talent!"

Seeing Hayato getting carried away, Yugi helplessly turned his attention back to Guardian Slime. Although the defense indicated that the Guardian Slime on the scene only had a mere 0 defense points and seemed like any monster could easily defeat it, Yugi's intuition told him that this monster was not an opponent that could be easily defeated.

He currently has three monsters on the field. Among them, [Destroyer Dragon - Gandora G] has already attacked, while the other two that have not yet attacked are [Silent Magician Zero] with 4000 ATK and [Silent Swordsman Zero] with 1500 ATK.

Out of caution, he chose to first launch a probing attack with [Silent Swordsman Zero].

"My combat phase continues. I will use [Silent Swordsman Zero] to attack [Guardian Slime]."

After issuing the attack command, Yugi casually remarked, "Although it's a [Slime], I don't think the effect of a [Guardian Slime] that has expanded to this size is in terms of regeneration, right? It would be troublesome if it couldn't be destroyed in battle or would immediately revive after being destroyed."

"【Regenerated Slime】? That uncontrollable forced resurrection effect was removed from the cards released by Illusion International in the later releases. Only the old version of the card that Malik has still retains the original effect. It's just that you don't know that it was a new card released when you were in college."

Hayato paused, looking at [Silent Swordsman Zero], and said, "However, just because it's not the kind of effect that can't be destroyed doesn't mean that your [Silent Swordsman Zero] can easily defeat [Guardian Slime], Yugi."

Under the game's command, [Silent Swordsman Zero] charged towards the towering [Guardian Slime], shouting the name of his move as he charged: "Demon Aura - Asura - Sword Draw - Play of the Dead!"

Although there was only one sword in the hand of [Silent Swordsman Zero], when he swung the greatsword, multiple swords appeared simultaneously from different directions, making it seem as if [Silent Swordsman Zero] had several greatswords in his hand.

"What kind of 'silence' is this? The naming is a bit too cheesy." Hayato retorted, then snapped his fingers. "But Muda Muda Muda! [Guardian Slime] is immortal!"

"When Guardian Slime battles an opponent's monster, its effect activates. Guardian Slime's DEF increases by the opponent's monster's ATK by the amount calculated during this damage calculation, which is 1500 points!"

[Guardian Slime] [DEF0→1500]