Is this the world of card dealers? Yada thieves!

"What else do you want? To have a deck that specializes in going second fill the field with monsters when going first?" Manjoume said helplessly. "Just enough is fine. What if we run out of resources and have no cards left to use next turn?"

"Of course, you should trust your own deck! Just trust it! This is 'Lesson 3' that Hayato-sensei mentioned!"

Asuka, who was standing nearby and had no "spirit master" ability and therefore couldn't understand the content of Hayato's "spirit coexistence class," looked at this and said with an expression that said, "Isn't it good?"

"Mr. Kumazo's 'Scrap Iron' deck mainly uses the 'Satsuma Dimensional Style,' which is also known as the 'Satsuma Manifestation Style.' It's a style that leans towards offense rather than defense," Misawa said. "That being said, in his duel against the genius duelist Ed Phoenix who defeated him, the 'Scrap Iron' deck still showed considerable resilience, and his opponent only narrowly won by luck."

"Maeda-kun, we should be more cautious."

On the field, seeing the defense his father had set up, Maeda Hayato felt there was an opportunity. If he could seize the chance during this round when his father's defense was relatively weak, perhaps he could slightly expand his advantage?

"My turn, draw a card!"

Upon seeing that the card he had drawn was his most frequently used one, [Death Koala], Maeda Hayato couldn't help but smile. He immediately decided to use this card, thinking, "During my Main Phase, I'll activate the Spell Card [Angel's Charity]. I don't need to explain the effect of this card, do I?"

After Maeda Kumazo started with [Angel's Blessing], his son Maeda Hayato also played the same [Angel's Blessing] in the first round, causing Maeda Kumazo to raise an eyebrow: "You little brat..."

"I draw three cards from my deck, then discard two cards from my hand." After changing the cards in his hand, Maeda Hayato played [Death Koala], "Next, I summon a monster in face-down Defense Position on the field!"

"Then I activate the effect of [AD Changer] in my Graveyard, banishing it from my Graveyard to change the battle position of one monster on the field. I choose the face-down monster I control. Flip it, [Death Koala]!"

Without a doubt, [AD Changer] must be one of the cards that Maeda Hayato just sent to the graveyard with [Angel's Charity]. [AD Changer], holding a flag, waved it around and flipped the monsters on Maeda Hayato's field, changing them from face-down defense position to face-up attack position, which also triggered the effect of [Death Koala], a flip monster.

[Death Koala] [DEF1800→ATK1100]

"When 【Death Koala】 is flipped, its effect activates, dealing 400 effect damage to the opponent's duelist for each card in their hand. Since you have two copies of 【Death Koala】 in your hand, the effect of 【Death Koala】 will deal 800 effect damage to you!"

Although it usually does whatever it wants, in duels, the Death Koala will obey Maeda's commands, unlike some Rathalos that will sleep during battle. Under the effect of AD Changer, it can throw eucalyptus leaves from its bag onto Maeda Kumazo's field at any time, and the poisonous eucalyptus leaves will immediately deal 800 points of effect damage to its opponent.

[Maeda Kumazo: 4000→3200LP]

"You've actually figured out how to use the effects of Flip Monsters? That's an improvement over last year, kid. But these are the very basics of Duel Monsters. Do you really expect to destroy my 'Scrap Recycler' with that monster that only has 1100 attack power?"

"Just [Death Koala] might not be powerful enough, but I still have an Equip Card to use!" Maeda said, inserting a card into the Spell & Trap Zone. "Equip the Spell Card [Fragile Blade], this card can increase the equipped monster's ATK by up to 2000 points, I'll equip it to [Death Koala]!"

The longsword, which appeared sacred and magnificent but was actually riddled with nicks, fell before the Death Koala. Although it seemed a bit of a stretch for the beast-like Death Koala to master the sword, it could still use it if it simply regarded it as a strangely shaped tree branch.

The moment Death Koala gripped the hilt, the powerful force sealed within the sword was instantly released. Even Death Koala, who had been somewhat dazed due to its daily consumption of poisonous eucalyptus leaves, suddenly had a sharp look in its eyes.

[Death Koala] [ATK1100→3100]

"Attack power of 3100 points!? That's even higher than my [Ancient Mechanical Giant]!" Professor Chronos exclaimed in surprise. "After repeating a year last year, Maeda-kun has changed so much?"

"Rather than saying that repeating a grade brought about a change, perhaps it was the help from his friends that made him work harder without even realizing it." Samejima smiled, but when he looked at Kumazo's backcourt, he shook his head. "However, for professional duelists, the level of attack power alone is not enough to determine the outcome of a duel."

"Enter combat phase, use [Death Koala] to attack [Scrap Metal Recycler], and unleash a Dizzy Impact!"

Despite its fancy name, "Death Koala" simply tossed out its "Fragile Blade Sword" with a sleepy look on its face, as if its sharp gaze had exhausted all its energy—after all, koalas are animals that can sleep for 20 hours a day.

However, the consequences of Maeda Hayato's lack of vigilance against his father's face-down card in the back row soon became apparent. As a professional duelist, Maeda Kumazo did not include the cursed "Explosive Armor" in his deck, but he did include the attack declaration trap and set it face-down in the back row!

"You idiot son! You didn't even consider what face-down cards the opponent had in their back row before recklessly attacking! If this is all you've got, you should go back to the restaurant back home and help out instead of getting yourself all bloodied and humiliated by me!" Maeda Kumazo said angrily, pressing the button to activate a face-down card. "Chain attack declaration for [Death Koala], I activate face-down card, [Magic Cylinder]!"

"When the opponent's monster declares an attack, this effect targets that attacking monster! Negate the opponent's monster's attack and inflict effect damage equal to that monster's ATK on the opponent's duelist, which is 3100 effect damage!"

Chapter 1260 Scrap Metal vs. Beastmen? Heavy Pit vs. Dog-Snatching!

"[Magic Cylinder], reflects the attack of [Death Koala] back, dealing 3100 points of effect damage to the opposing duelist!"

Kumazo's counterattack came faster than Maeda had anticipated. Having just taken 800 points of damage from the [Death Koala] effect, he couldn't wait to return a full 3100 points of damage.

After Kumazo takes 800 points of effect damage, he still has 3200 points of base score remaining. But if Maeda takes the damage reflected from the Magic Cylinder, his base score will be reduced to a mere 900 points!

"Just like what Liuzhe analyzed, a seemingly weak defense hides a deadly counterattack." Although attacking like that seems reckless, Maeda Hayato possesses a surprisingly meticulous mind. Facing Maeda Kumazo's backcourt block when gaining the second attack is also within Misawa Daichi's calculations!

"When my monster declares an attack while battling an opponent's monster, or when my opponent activates a Normal Trap Card, I send 'Correct Chow Chow' from my hand to the Graveyard to activate its effect!"

In front of Maeda Kumazo's opened [Magic Cylinder] on the back field, as Maeda Hayato discarded a monster card, a small Chow Chow standing upright blocked the cannon, striking the [Magic Cylinder] with a wooden stick. Although it didn't seem to have much force, it successfully deflected the [Magic Cylinder], causing it to lose its ability to absorb and reflect attacks!?

"Under the effect of [Correction Chow Chow], the activation of [Magic Cylinder] will be nullified and destroyed, and then [Death Koala]'s attack will continue!" Maeda Hayato waved his hand, "Destroy [Scrap Metal Recycler]!"

Seeing the card played by Maeda Hayato with surprise, Kumazo thought to himself, 'Not only has he mastered how to use Flip Monsters effectively, but he's also added cards that can be activated from the hand to his deck. His growth over the past year has been truly remarkable.'

'However, you're still too inexperienced. You're already smug after just breaking through one card?'

After the monster's attack declaration, the damage calculation step quickly began. The Death Koala, which had thrown out the Crispy Blade, started comparing its attack and defense stats with the Scrap Metal Recycler. Just when Maeda Hayato thought he could destroy the opponent's monster, Maeda Kumazo suddenly spoke up: "Although it seems like a reckless tactic of attacking without regard for anything, 'Satsuma Manifestation Style' is far more profound than you understand. You think you can destroy my monster? Dream on!"

"Push the attack back, [Scrap Metal Recycler]! Ah-da!"

Under Maeda Kumazo's command, a mere scrap metal collector at a junkyard actually grabbed a piece of iron from a parts bin that hadn't yet been crushed, assumed a sword-wielding stance, and with a single swing, successfully deflected the incoming brittle blade!

【Maeda: 4000→3700LP】

"H-How could this be!?"

Hayato Maeda's base score immediately dropped by 300 points after being slashed by the [Crispy Blade Sword]. Confused, he saw that the [Scrap Metal Recycler], who was wielding the sword with both hands, had his defense soar to 3400 points.

"Trap Card [Scrap Counter]: When a [Scrap] monster in Defense Position on my field is attacked, this card can be activated during damage calculation to increase the DEF of the attacked [Scrap] monster by 2000." Only then did Kumazo explain to Maeda the face-down card he had secretly revealed on his back field. "When you increase the ATK of your own monsters, you should be prepared for others to increase their DEF as well!"

[Scrap Metal Recycler] [DEF1400→3400]

"It actually raised its defense to 3400 points..." Maeda Hayato looked at [Scrap Metal Recycler], whose defense showed no sign of decreasing after the increase. "However, 'powerful cards often come with great risks.' While [Fragile Blade] increases [Death Koala's] attack, it also makes both of them share the damage caused by the battles they participate in. When I get hurt, Dad, you get hurt too!"

[Kumozang: 3200→2900LP]

Seeing that Kumazo's base score was dropping along with his own, Maeda Hayato pointed at [Scrap Metal Recycler] again, "My battle phase is over, but [Scrap Metal Recycler]'s defense, which was raised by [Scrap Metal Counter], did not decrease with the end of the battle. In that case, I think its negative effects must be manifested elsewhere!"

"Hmm? This isn't the kind of thinking a typical duelist would use. It's more like you're thinking from the perspective of a card designer." Maeda Kumazo looked at his son with some surprise, a smile playing on his lips. "That's right. The Scrap Recycler, empowered by Scrap Counter, will be destroyed at the end of the battle phase."

"However, true duelists can even utilize the negative effects of cards!" As if scolding his son, or perhaps reminding him to be careful with the negative effects when designing cards in the future, so as not to create cards whose negative effects could be used against them, Maeda Kumazo waved his hand, and the [Scrap Metal Recycler] on the field was destroyed due to the effect of [Scrap Metal Counterattack].

But the next moment, the parts that had fallen off the [Scrap Metal Recycler] were collected by the [Scrap Metal Factory] that had been set up earlier, and after a series of reassemblies on Maeda Kumazo's field, they became a new [Scrap Metal Recycler]?

[Scrap Metal Recycler] [DEF1200→1400]

"The Field Spell Card 'Scrap Factory' has this effect: When a face-up 'Scrap' monster on the field is destroyed by a card effect and sent to the Graveyard, I Special Summon one 'Scrap' monster from my Deck. You can only use this effect of this card's name once per turn." Besides increasing the ATK of 'Scrap' monsters, Kumazo explained the second effect of the Field Spell Card 'Scrap Factory,' which allowed him to Special Summon the 'Scrap Recycler' monster that was supposed to self-destruct.

Furthermore, the effect of the Special Summoned [Scrap Metal Recycler] was activated again. Maeda Kumazo retrieved a card from his deck: "When [Scrap Metal Recycler] is Special Summoned, its effect is activated again. I send one Machine-Type monster from my deck to the Graveyard. I choose [Surf Inspector]."

As he sent the card to the graveyard, Kumazo looked at Maeda and laughed contemptuously: "I even gave you the second turn, and after a whole turn you couldn't even destroy all the monsters on my field. If it were your old man, you would have been defeated long ago!"

"I was naive enough to have some expectations of you, but if that's all I'm going to do, I'm not in the mood to watch this farce anymore. I'd better end the duel sooner and let you realize just how incompetent you really are."

Maeda was taken aback by this: "What do you mean? Does that mean you're not serious yet, Dad?"

"Heh, don't get cocky, kid. You didn't actually think I'd go all out right from the start when dueling with a complete idiot like you, who's the worst student in the class, did you?"

Upon hearing Kumazo's words, Maeda Hayato clenched his fists, wanting to argue but unable to say anything. He simply glanced at his hand, then drew two cards and said, "...I'll set two cards face down. End of turn."

【Hayato Maeda: 3700LP, 1 card in hand】

【Death Koala】(Crispy Blade Sword)【ATK3100】

[GaiK] X2

"My turn." Looking at Hayato's cards on the field, Kumazo shook his head. "Your offense is weak, and your defense is atrocious. Have you ever really tried your best as a duelist?"

"Draw a card! Then I activate a Continuous Spell Card, [Flip the Table!]"

After drawing the card and adding it to his hand, Maeda Kumazo plays a card that was in his hand last turn—his most iconic card, [Table Flip]!

"Watch closely, this is the ultimate one-hit kill duel of 'Satsuma Manifestation Style'! Once per turn, I will activate the effect of 'Table Flip'!" Maeda Kumazo declared, striking a pose reminiscent of a mid-to-high level kendo practitioner wielding a sword, "Destroy all the cards on my field except for 'Table Flip'!"

With the help of the Continuous Spell Card, Maeda Hayato discovered that the field had changed from the original [Scrap Metal Factory] to a huge table, on which all the cards on both sides' fields were placed!

Maeda Kumazo stood at the edge of the table and actually lifted a corner of the table with his bare hands, flipping the table over where the cards of both sides were placed!

In an instant, Maeda Kumazo's [Scrap Metal Collector], [Scrap Metal Factory], and all his face-down cards in the back row were destroyed. Also destroyed were Maeda Hayato's two face-down cards and his [Death Koala] in attack position!

"For each card on my field destroyed by 'Table Flip,' I can destroy one card on my opponent's field without targeting. Since 'Table Flip' destroyed three of my cards, kid, your two face-down cards and that 'Death Koala' will all be destroyed by 'Table Flip.' At the same time, the 'Fragile Blade' equipped on 'Death Koala' will also be sent to the Graveyard!"

The overturned table disappeared, and both players' fields were simultaneously empty, except for Maeda Kumazo's back field where the [Table Flip] card remained open, waiting to be activated again. Kumazo pointed at Maeda and said, "You don't have a single monster on your field anymore!"

"Not only that! The face-down card that was destroyed on my back row was [Jug]. When this card is destroyed and sent to the Graveyard, it inflicts 500 effect damage to the opponent's Duelist!"

"Ugh! Such a strong smell of alcohol!" A strong odor wafted from Maeda Kumzo's backcourt, causing Maeda Hayato to cover his nose as he watched his base score drop.

[Hayato Maeda: 3700→3200LP]

Seeing Maeda Kumazo so smug, Maeda Hayato couldn't help but say, "Dad, you always do this when things are going badly! You make a mess of everything without any sense of reason!"

"Hmph, an adult's experience is far greater than that of a brat like you, so naturally you have your reasons for doing so!" Maeda Kumzo said. "Without monsters on the field, you're in danger."

“But Dad, you can’t summon monsters anymore, can you?” Unfazed by those words, Maeda Hayato looked at his father without fear. “The effect of [Table Flip] is comparable to a combination of [Black Hole] and [Great Storm], and it can be used every turn, but such a card also has huge side effects.”

"That means you can't summon any monsters after using it until the end of the turn. I'm your son, Dad, so I know that negative effect! Even if you haven't performed a Normal Summon this turn, you can't attack me if you can't summon any monsters!"

Seeing Maeda Hayato analyze his cards with such clarity and logic, Maeda Kumazo was both surprised and somewhat relieved. However, on the surface, he still smiled arrogantly: "It's rare that you're not stupid, but you're still not exactly smart. Did you think I didn't know the side effects of my cards?"

"I can't Normal Summon, but there's no restriction on Special Summoning monsters. For example, right now, I can activate the Spell Card [Shuffle Resurrection] from my hand. If I have no monsters on my field, I can target one monster in my Graveyard and Special Summon it, negating its effects on my field, and banish it during the End Phase of this turn."

"I've chosen the [Surfing Prosecutor]!"

The mechanical policeman riding a skateboard arrived on Maeda Kumazo's field under the effect of [Shuffle Resurrection]. Although the effect was nullified, its attack power of up to 2000 points was still powerful enough.

【Surfing Prosecutor】【4☆/Light】

[Mechanical Race/Effect]

[2000/2000]

But that's not all. Maeda Kumzo played his last card, saying, "With no hand, this card's effectiveness will be maximized. Although it will give the opponent some resources, there won't be any problems as long as I end the duel this turn."

"The Spell Card [Heavenly Treasure Card] is activated! Both players draw cards from their decks until each player has six cards in their hand!" Maeda Kumazo said, drawing six cards in one go. "My hand has zero cards, so I can draw six cards directly!"

Maeda Hayato glanced at the two cards in his hand and said, "Then I can also draw four cards."

"No matter how many cards you have in your hand, they're meaningless if you can't play them!" Maeda Kumazo glanced at the cards he had drawn and played another card, saying, "Pay me 800 Life Points. Spell Card [Premature Burial], target a monster in my Graveyard and activate it. I chose [Perfect Machine King]."

[Maeda Kumazo: 2900→2100LP]

"Special Summon 'Perfect Machine King' face-up to my field in Attack Position and equip it with 'Premature Burial'. When 'Premature Burial' is destroyed, the equipped monster is also destroyed."

The Perfect Machine King, who had been sent to the graveyard by the Scrap Metal Recycler, returned to the Kumazo Field under the effect of the Premature Burial, and its attack power of up to 2700 points immediately put considerable pressure on Maeda Hayato.

【Perfect Mechanical King】【8☆/Land】

[Mechanical Race/Effect]

[2700/1500]

Furthermore, Maeda Hayato noticed that a cable was extending from the Perfect Machine King and connecting to the Surf Prosecutor, drawing power from it?

"【Perfect Machine King】can gain 500 ATK from each other Machine-Type monster on the field. With 【Surf Inspector】 present, its ATK will increase by 500 to 3200!" Kumazo said, and then played another card. "The last card I activate is the Continuous Spell Card 【Frontline Base】. Once per turn, I can use its effect to Special Summon one Union Monster of Level 4 or lower from my hand. I choose 【Strengthened Support Machine - Heavy Armor】!"

"Due to the increase in mechanical monsters, the attack power of [Perfect Machine King] has increased by another 500 points!"