Is this the world of card dealers? Yada thieves!

After expansion came contraction. The flames, tinged with the color of the "Red-Eyes Black Dragon," turned pitch black and receded back into the dragon-shaped armor on its body within the castle.

During the duel against Baron, who was using the [Armor] deck, the armor form evolved from [Red-Eyes]—[Red King]—stood tall on the earth!

【Crimson King】【8☆/Flame】

[Dragon Clan/Ritual/Effect]

[2400/2100]

'Since that bastard Kaiba has already tampered with the monster and put it on my body, why don't I just use the monster that was originally meant to be worn on my body?' — Jonouchi thought to himself as he summoned the Crimson King using his extraordinary wisdom.

Ironically, Jonouchi's astonishing wisdom was not only astonishing, but also quite wise. Kaiba, who had just played a prank on Jonouchi because he was being overpowered and wanted to see him make a fool of himself, became displeased when he saw Jonouchi suddenly use the "Crimson King," which was practically like wearing the "Red-Eyes Black Dragon" on himself. He couldn't help but think to himself: 'Tch, this mere mediocre guy actually wears his own monster? Even I'm starting to think about wearing the "Blue-Eyes"...'

"Tch, a mere mediocre person actually wears his own monster on his body? Even I'm tempted to use [Blue Eyes]..." Well, he didn't just think about it, he actually said it out loud, "No, I didn't say anything."

"While your 'Kaiba-man' outfit does have a bit of a 'Blue-Eyes White Dragon' feel to it, compared to the armored 'Crimson King,' it's just a regular cosplay outfit," Yugi teased Kaiba. "If you're going to print new 'Blue-Eyes' cards next, are you going to take inspiration from 'Crimson King' and print a 'Blue-Eyes King' card?"

"I've never heard of anything like 'Kaiba Man'." Even though he had already seen through the entire box, Kaiba insisted on cutting ties with his secondary Holy account. "Besides, even if there is a new [Blue-Eyes] card, it should be called 'Blue King'."

"What king? Rest assured, the Sword of Damocles will fall." Hayato said, looking at Jonouchi, "However, Jonouchi, if you release the [Flame Swordsman] and send him to the graveyard, it also means..."

"The effects of monsters with [Predator Counter] are negated. Unless it is a continuous effect that does not need to be activated, the monster's effect will always be negated. That [Predator Plant - Rhinoceros Horn Dragon]'s effect is really quite terrifying."

Jonouchi, holding the "Flame Swordsman" card he'd taken from the Duel Disk, said, "But besides its effect activating upon successful summoning, 'Flame Swordsman' also has an effect that can be activated if it's sent to the Graveyard! Hayato, you can't negate the effect of 'Flame Swordsman' when it's not on the field and is no longer affected by 'Predator Counters'!"

"I will send one monster with the name 'Flame Swordsman' (excluding 'Flame Swordsman') to the Graveyard from my Fusion Deck, and the card I choose is this 'Flying Flame Dragon - Flying Dragon Flame' from my Deck." After a pause, Jonouchi raised his hand, making a gun gesture as he pointed it at Kaiba's field, "But at the same time, the effect of 'Crimson King' will also activate!"

"Once per turn, when either player activates the effect of a Spell/Trap/Monster other than [Crimson King], target one monster on the field and destroy that monster. My target is [Blue-Eyes Jet Dragon] on Kaiba's field!"

"Red Fighter!"

Under the effect called "Crimson Finger", a bullet made of black flame was actually fired from Jonouchi's fingertip, instantly destroying [Blue-Eyes Jet Dragon] - after all, Kaiba had made it very clear before that the effect of [Blue-Eyes Jet Dragon] was to protect other cards from being destroyed by card effects, but she herself had no resistance to card effect destruction.

Even though he didn't destroy Blue-Eyes Jet Dragon during the battle phase, Jonouchi didn't intend to leave that monster for Kaiba's next turn. After all, Red-Eyes King hadn't benefited from the effect of Red-Eyes Black Dragon, and its attack power was only 2400.

After sending a card to the graveyard using the effect of [Flame Swordsman], Jonouchi continued, "Because [Flame Dragon - Flying Dragon Flame] was sent to the graveyard, it can activate its effect to add a [Flying Dragon Flame] Spell/Trap Card from my deck to my hand. The card I chose is this [Flying Dragon Flame Fusion].

Although he couldn't successfully use the effect of [Flame Swordsman] to search for cards at first, with the help of [Red-Eyes Reincarnation], Jonouchi was still able to continue the "one" card combo of [Flame Swordsman], completing the graveyard buildup while also adding the key card [Flying Dragon Flame Fusion] to his hand.

"Hmph, [Flame Fusion]? It sounds like a fusion spell card." Kaiba said unhappily as he sent [Blue-Eyes Jet Dragon], which had only been on the field for one battle phase before being forced to leave the field again, to the graveyard.

But the game opposite him shook his head and said, "Although the name sounds like a Fusion Spell Card such as 'Red-Eyes Fusion,' 'Flying Dragon Flame Fusion' is actually just an Equip Spell Card that increases the ATK of a FIRE Warrior-Type monster by 700 points. At least in terms of its basic effect, it is exactly the same as the Equip Spell Card 'Flying Dragon Flame' that has been around for a long time."

Yugi's words made Kaiba frown, not because the card's effect was powerful or weak, but because Yugi recognized this card that even he didn't recognize: "You've seen Yoshitsu use that card before, Yugi?"

"No, but I designed all the enhancement cards for Jonouchi's [Flame Swordsman] series." Yugi Muto, the second largest shareholder of International Illusion Company and the chief designer of the card design department, blinked his innocent big eyes. "But if I had to say, I'd say I was just a 'laborer'; the card designers were someone else."

A certain Duel King, also known as "Another Person," said smugly: "Designing new card series or new gameplay every day is so tiring. How can it be easier than redrawing the old cards that Pegasus drew before and adding some random derivative enhancement cards? In fact, since these cards have accompanied those old friends who have been playing Duel Monsters for a long time, the strength of the new series can be given casually as long as they are usable, and people will still buy them because of nostalgia."

"Hmph, as always, you have a wicked sense of humor, Hayato Kobayashi."

“I agree with that. Take this [Flying Dragon Flame Fusion] for example. Who would guess from the name that it’s actually an Equip Spell Card?” Yugi glanced at Jonouchi, who had just added the card to his hand, and noticed that he still had four cards in his hand. “However, although it looks like a Warrior-type Flame Armor, [Crimson King] should still be a Dragon-type monster. It seems like I can’t equip [Flying Dragon Flame Fusion] to [Crimson King] at all.”

"Hehe, I never said I was going to equip [Flame Fusion] on myself, Yugi." Jonouchi subconsciously wanted to stick out his hand to show off, but failed because the armor on his head covered his chin and he couldn't put his hand on it. He could only draw a card from his hand and insert it directly into the Spell & Trap Zone. "A Warrior-type Flame attribute monster. I guess I should send that guy out. My [Flame Swordsman]."

"Although with the changes in the Duel Monsters rules, the [Flame Swordsman], which could be directly Normal Summoned before, became a Level 5 ☆ High-level monster, and was later even changed into a Fusion Monster by Pegasus, it is still my favorite card. I am not the kind of person who forgets my old partners just because I have a new ace."

"Yes, that's so true!" [Disruption Yellow] couldn't help but peek out from Hayato's waist. "Big Brother hasn't used us brothers in who knows how long! We were Big Brother's earliest ace monsters and Tamashii!"

"Putting aside the fact that both [Gaia] and [Death Stalker] became my trump cards and Tamashii much earlier than you, these lowly monsters that don't even have the disguise of an effect monster don't deserve to be in my deck, because I don't need monsters that have no value!"

Hayato put [Disruption Yellow] back into the deck and looked at Jonouchi, saying, "But the problem is, Jonouchi, you couldn't use the effect of [Flame Swordsman] to search for [Flame Sword Domain] and then Special Summon [Flame Swordsman] from the Fusion Deck, right? Were you going to play [Demon Frankenstein's Monster] and spend 5000 Life Points to Special Summon [Flame Swordsman] from the Fusion Deck?"

"Ah, not really. Even I wouldn't go to such lengths for a card I like. Rather, people who spend so many resources just to summon an ace monster are just too stupid." Jonouchi immediately followed up with his past combo of [Fusion] and [Fusion Deactivation], a five-for-one Triple Summon of [Red-Eyes Black Dragon], and pointed to the card that appeared on his back row. "I'm going to Special Summon [Flame Swordsman], mainly because of this card."

"The [Simplified Fusion] skill requires 1000 base points to activate!"

Surprisingly, the card Jonouchi drew was the same "Easy Fusion" card that Hayato had used before. The appearance of this card reminded Hayato and his friends that although most of the Fusion Monsters of the "Red-Eyes" family were high-level monsters, Jonouchi also had quite a few low-level Fusion Monsters such as "Magical Knight Giltia" and "Flame Swordsman".

Not wanting to abandon them and wanting to summon them as easily as possible in duels, it seems that [Easy Fusion], which targets low-level fusion monsters, is indeed Jonouchi's best choice.

[Jouchi Katsuya: 6100→5100LP]

For Jonouchi, who has such a wealth of Life Points, paying only 1000 Life Points is hardly a cost. He easily activated [Easy Fusion]. However, before taking the [Flame Swordsman] card from his Fusion Deck, he pointed at Kaiba and said, "After [Blue-Eyes Jet Dragon] disappeared, Kaiba, the cards on your field lost their resistance to being destroyed by card effects, right?"

"Once per turn, when either player activates the effect of a Spell/Trap/Monster other than [Crimson King], target and destroy one Spell/Trap Card on the field. And I'm going to destroy the face-down card on your back field, Kaiba!"

Since Blue-Eyes Jet Dragon had already been Special Summoned from Kaiba's hand once this turn by its own effect and could not be activated a second time, Jonouchi took the opportunity to destroy the Deck Destroyer Virus that Kaiba had just set to face in the back row, so as to avoid being hit by it next turn.

After watching Kaiba send the card to the graveyard with an increasingly displeased expression, Jonouchi took out the card "Flame Swordsman" and placed it on the Duel Disk: "Next is the effect of 'Easy Fusion,' which Special Summons 'Flame Swordsman' to my field as a Fusion Summon. However, 'Flame Swordsman' Special Summoned by the effect of 'Easy Fusion' cannot attack and is destroyed during the End Phase."

【Flame Swordsman】【5☆/Flame】

[Warrior Race/Fusion]

[1800/1600]

"Anyway, I'm already at my main stage two, so whether I can attack or not doesn't matter. Besides, the appearance of the [Flame Swordsman] is just a stepping stone for me to grow to a higher stage."

After Jonouchi finished speaking, he noticed that both Yugi and Kaiba had subtle expressions. Kaiba was one thing—he just couldn't stand Jonouchi's good fortune—but what was with Yugi's expression? Confused, Jonouchi looked over, only to hear Yugi begin to speak.

"While it's normal to like cards from the past, the way the same card feels different when used after a monster appears is quite subtle."

Compared to the game's subtlety, Kaiba was much more direct: "Kobayashi Hayato can use Easy Fusion to summon cards like Shadowdike Midrash and Narcissus Mermaid, which are so powerful it's almost like cheating. Yet, the same Easy Fusion in your hands only summons a mortal fusion monster that's neither a normal monster nor an effect monster?"

"His attack power is only 1800 points, he's just a piece of trash among trash. I thought that someone as mediocre as Jonouchi was just a second-rate duelist with a third-rate deck, but it turns out he's just a three-legged cat using fourth-rate cards."

"Huh? Are you looking down on the [Flame Swordsman]? After I further strengthen the [Flame Swordsman], I'll make sure you're crushed and suffer a crushing defeat!"

"I activate my Equip Spell Card, [Flying Dragon Flame Fusion]!"

Chapter 1280 Our Own Treasure in Yu-Gi-Oh!

"I activate my Equip Spell Card, [Flying Dragon Flame Fusion]!"

Jonouchi retrieved the Equip Spell Card [Flame Fusion], inserted it into the Spell Trap Zone, and equipped it to the newly summoned [Flame Swordsman]: "[Flame Swordsman] is a Warrior-Type FIRE monster. Equip this card to him!"

【Flame Swordsman】(Flying Dragon Flame Fusion) 【ATK 1800→2500】

The attack power of the "Flame Swordsman" equipped with the power of "Flame Fusion" is even higher than that of the "Crimson King" worn by Jonouchi. However, Jonouchi did not intend to let the "Flame Swordsman," who cannot attack and will self-destruct at the end phase, participate in the battle by equipping this card. Instead, he waved his hand and said, "In addition to the attack power of a Warrior-Type FIRE monster that has been upgraded, 'Flame Fusion' can also destroy the equipped monster once. However, what I am going to activate next is the third effect of 'Flame Fusion'!"

"Once per turn, if [Flame Fusion] is equipped to a Fusion Monster, you can send [Flame Fusion] and the equipped monster—[Flame Swordsman]—to the Graveyard, and Special Summon one [Flame Swordsman] or a Fusion Monster with [Flame Swordsman] in its name from my Fusion Deck as a Fusion Summoning Location!"

As if playing with fire and getting burned, the flames around the [Flame Swordsman] went "out of control," transforming into a fire tornado that rose into the sky, enveloping him entirely. However, thanks to the presence of the [Crimson King], the castle didn't feel the fire tornado beside him was even slightly hot; instead, it felt somewhat warm.

"Blazing sword drawn! To protect what is precious at all times, to stand shoulder to shoulder with the gods despite mortal bones, to evolve all the flames of passion—Azure Flame, Fighting Flame, and Steel Flame—to their ultimate form—the ultimate swordsman! Hero, appear!" Shouting the summoning incantation, Jonouchi raised his hand.

Fusion Summon! Level 8☆!

"【The Blazing Swordsman】!"

Driven by Hayato's wicked sense of humor, the "Extreme Flame Swordsman," whose pose inexplicably resembles a certain character who makes one want to attack an impenetrable wall, and who even makes one imagine a cheerful smile on his face, appeared on Jonouchi's field amidst the blazing flames, standing side by side with Jonouchi, who was wearing the "Crimson King" armor.

With those two identical faces, plus Jonouchi also wearing a full suit of armor, if it weren't for the Duel Disk on Jonouchi's left arm, an unsuspecting person might not be able to tell which was the duelist and which was the Duel Monster on the field.

【Swordsman of Extreme Flame】【8☆/Flame】

[Warrior Race/Fusion/Effect]

[2800/1600]

"Attack power of 2800 points? Hmph, you've summoned another monster with attack power below [Blue Eyes]."

Upon hearing Kaiba's words, Jonouchi responded with a cold laugh: "Heh, Kaiba, don't get too cocky. I never said that 2800 attack power was the limit of the [Extreme Flame Swordsman's] attack power, did I?"

"The [Flying Flame Dragon - Flying Dragon Flame] that was previously sent to the Graveyard by [Fighting Flame Swordsman] still has other effects that can be activated. If it exists in my hand or Graveyard, I can target a Warrior-Type monster on my field and equip this card to that monster as an Equip Spell Card. Naturally, I chose [Extreme Flame Swordsman]!"

"Then, if [Flying Flame Dragon - Flying Dragon Flame] is equipped to [Flame Swordsman] or a monster whose card name includes [Flame Swordsman], the equipped monster, namely [Extreme Flame Swordsman], gains 700 ATK!"

【Swordsman of Extreme Flame】(Flying Flame Dragon - Flying Dragon Flame) 【ATK 2800→3500】

Although his base strength was slightly inferior to that of the Blue-Eyes, thanks to the enhancement of his equipment, Jonouchi's Blazing Swordsman's attack power successfully surpassed that of the Blue-Eyes White Dragon by 3000 points. He propped his greatsword, which was wreathed in flames, into the ground with one hand, exuding an aura of dominance.

"Finally, I set the last two cards in my hand face down on the back field, and end my turn." Freed from Xiaomi's restrictions, Jonouchi unleashed his full hand of cards in the second round of Main Phase 2, successfully summoning two powerful monsters on the field.

【Jounouchi Katsuya: 5100LP, 0 cards in hand】

【Swordsman of Extreme Flame】(Flying Flame Dragon - Flying Dragon Flame) 【ATK3500】

【True Red King】【ATK2400】

[GaiK] X2

The effects of "Crimson King" and "Extreme Flame Swordsman" are so powerful that they can destroy both monsters and Spell/Trap Cards once each, regardless of who activates them. Jonouchi deliberately concealed the effect of "Extreme Flame Swordsman" because only Hayato and Yugi knew about it, while Kaiba did not.

That is, [Flame Swordsman] can target and destroy one monster on your opponent's field, and inflict 500 effect damage to your opponent's duelist. Furthermore, if you have an Equip Card equipped to [Flame Swordsman], this effect can be activated during your opponent's turn!

The second-speed bomb that also burns 500 HP is a useful effect in normal duels, disrupting the opponent's strategy. In the present, it is an even more powerful ability. The reason is simple: in the current duel, Kaiba's life points are down to only 300!

If Kaiba wants to defeat Jonouchi's monster and clear his Life Points, the ability to unleash a triple attack with the [True Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon] is probably his only option. However, the moment the [True Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon] appears, Jonouchi can use the power of the [Extreme Flame Swordsman] to directly destroy the [True Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon] and then clear Kaiba's Life Points in return!

This advantage is on my side!

If it weren't for the fact that there's not much room for micromanagement in Duel Monsters, Jonouchi would have liked to move the Blazing Swordsman's position five centimeters to the left, so that he and the Blazing Swordsman could be sandwiched between Kaiba... sandwiched between two people.

With his front row completely empty, no face-down cards in his back row, and no cards in his hand to use, Kaiba glanced down at his deck and smiled.

The inexplicable smile quickly vanished. Kaiba glanced at Jonouchi, his cold and arrogant expression returning, and said in a deep voice, "Hmph, is that so? This is the full strength you've shown? But in my opinion, it's nothing special. However, you're just a mediocre talent after all. Perhaps this is already the full force you've unleashed?"

"In that case, I'll give it my all with pity, but don't fall down too quickly and spoil my fun, Katsuya Jonouchi!"

"My turn, draw a card!"

Hayato, watching Kaiba draw a card, couldn't help but smile excitedly and muttered, "You've actually been teased by Jonouchi to the point that everyone can see that tsundere characters have long since left the meta."

"What did you say?"

“There’s nothing there.” Hayato repeated Kaiba’s previous lines and spoke under Kaiba’s gaze after he had drawn the card. “During the opponent’s preparation phase, due to the effect of [Nightmare Mirage], I replenished my hand to four cards. At this moment, I have three cards in my hand, so I can draw one card.”

Hayato, who had played Rainbow Kuriboh in the previous round, drew another card with Nightmare Mirage. Kaiba snorted and turned to look at Jonouchi again. He let Hayato off the hook for now, but Hayato was slandering him again—how had Hayato slandered him before? He actually repeated what he had done in the past!

"By now, everyone's resources must be almost depleted, right? To keep the duel intense, we need to replenish them." Kaiba glanced at Hayato, then played the card he'd drawn. "During my Main Phase, I activate the Spell Card 'Heavenly Treasure Card,' replenishing everyone's hand to six cards!"

As expected, Hayato showed a distressed expression, just as Kaiba had predicted.

It's great that you can replenish your hand to four cards every turn with [Nightmare Mirage], and it's even more amazing to be able to use [Nightmare Mirage] three times in a row in this four-player duel. These two wonderful things combined should have been double the happiness, but how did it turn out like this...?

Watching Yugi, Jonouchi, and Kaiba, who all had no cards in hand, draw a whopping six cards from their decks, while he could only draw two cards thanks to the effect of "Heavenly Treasure Card," seeing others gain more cards than he did was even more painful than Hayato losing cards!

"Onoreset!"

"Hmph, feeling annoyed by that kind of pointless, perverse pleasure again, Hayato Kobayashi? But I have no intention of enjoying you, who should have been saved for last, ahead of time." Kaiba glanced at the six cards in his hand, a smirk playing on his lips. "It's time to weed out the mediocre. I'll use my [Blue Eye]!"

"Quick-Play Spell Card [Ultimate Fusion] activated!"

On the field, a blue and white fusion vortex unfolded on the seahorse's field. Behind him, the figures of all three [Blue-Eyes White Dragons] existing in the graveyard appeared and were thrown into the fusion vortex one by one. Then, a pillar of light suddenly shot into the sky.