Is this the world of card dealers? Yada thieves!

However, as for "gods," haven't I defeated them in the past? My other self, as the pharaoh of ancient Egypt, was also regarded as a "god."

It wasn't because of reasons like "I can't lose because I'm carrying the honor of my best friend." Although he didn't have the same strong sense of self-esteem as Jonouchi, nor was he as obsessive as Kaiba, Yugi also had the pride of a duelist in his heart—that is, the desire to become stronger and the instinct to become the number one duelist!

So, it's time to turn everything around!

"I will flip my monster in defense position face down on the field and turn the tide!"

When [Super Magical Dragon Knight - Red-Eyes Dragon Rider] was destroyed, the face-down Defense Position monster that Yugi Special Summoned with the effect of [Layout Uppercut] finally flipped over and revealed its true form. Under the curious gazes of the other three present, a boy holding a flute appeared on the flipped card.

"The Reverse Monster [Apprentice Pied Piper] has an attack power of 100, which couldn't be more in line with the Special Summoning restriction of [Layout Uppercut]. In fact, even if what was destroyed before wasn't [Super Magical Dragon Knight - Red-Eyes Dragon Rider] but [Yellow Gadget], I could still use it to Special Summon [Apprentice Pied Piper].

"And when [Apprentice Piper] is flipped, its effect activates, Special Summoning one monster from my hand!"

As he spoke, the game was about to play a card from his hand.

Hayato frowned, glanced at the card Yugi was about to play, and immediately waved his hand, saying, "Then let's activate the effect of the chain [Apprentice Pied Piper], and I'll also activate the effect of my [Predatory Plant - Rhinoceros Horned Dragon], which places a [Predator Counter] on a monster once per turn, and I've chosen the [Apprentice Pied Piper] that you just flipped over on your field, Yugi."

"Because of the chain's 'later-on-first' effect, the 'Predator's Marker' will be placed on the 'Apprentice Piper' before the 'Apprentice Piper's' effect takes effect. Then, because the second effect of 'Predatory Plant - Rhinoceros Horn Dragon' is a continuous effect, the 'Apprentice Piper' with the 'Predator's Marker' will not only have its level reduced from 2☆ to 1☆, but its activated effect will also be nullified!"

The boy with the magic flute appeared and was about to play it when he discovered that a plant vine had suddenly grown rapidly in front of him. Before he could use the flute to awaken the monster sleeping in the pottery jar he carried, the vine blocked the flute's air hole, preventing the flute from making a sound.

What's even more outrageous is that the vine actually stole his flute! Then, as if showing off a treasure, he presented it to the duelist opposite him. The [Predatory Plant - Rhinoceros Horned Dragon] controlling the vine was a plant with a dragon's head, which was bad enough, but at this moment it was also showing a rather human-like fawning expression!

Honore Kobayashi Hayato!

[Apprentice Piper] (Predator indicator 0→1) [2☆/Dark→1☆/Dark]

[Mage Race/Reverse/Effect]

[100/1500]

Unable to reclaim his flute, the Apprentice Piper could only sulk in frustration. Yugi, unsurprised that his opening move had been interrupted by Hayato, laughed and said, "It's a bit of a shame that I couldn't Special Summon this card from my hand, but at least I used up your Predator-Rhinoceros Dragon, so it's not too bad."

"In that case, I'll use this card's effect to Special Summon it." As he spoke, Yugi's finger tapped over the two monster cards on the Duel Disk. "If I send two monsters from my hand or field, other than this card, to the Graveyard, I Special Summon them by their own effects! I send the 'Yellow Gadget' on the field and one monster card from my hand to the Graveyard!"

"O black tyrannosaurus, bathed in this crimson flash, transformed into a shooting star, and becoming the strongest 'Gandora,' bring destruction to my enemies! Come forth, the strongest destructive dragon codenamed Crimson Comet!"

Special Summon! Rank 8!

"【Destroyer Dragon - Gandora: Brilliant Flash】!!!"

With its jet-black body devoid of any useless embellishments, the Tyrannosaurus Rex, flapping its enormous wings, landed on the field after mitigating the impact of its descent. This was completely inconsistent with the summoning phrase the game had used when it was Special Summoned; the title "Red Comet" seemed utterly inappropriate for it.

【Destroyer Dragon - Gandora: Brilliant Flash】【8☆/Dark】

[Dragon/Special Summon/Effect]

【0/0→1200/0】

The monster [Gandora the Destroyer - Blazing Flash] drawn at the start of the turn was the one that Yugi had planned to Special Summon using the effect of [Apprentice Piper]. However, after Hayato blocked its first appearance with [Predator-Rhinoceros Horned Dragon], he still Special Summoned it using the effect of [Gandora the Destroyer - Blazing Flash] itself.

"Similar to the previous [Destroyer Dragon - Gandora G], [Destroyer Dragon - Gandora Flash] also has a continuous effect that increases its ATK based on the number of cards banished. Each banished card increases its ATK by 300." Although Jonouchi and Kaiba have left the field, their banished cards still exist in the game and will be counted in by [Destroyer Dragon - Gandora Flash].

With Jonouchi's "Red-Eyes Armored Spin" and "Red-Eyes Black Star Dragon", Yugi's "Tri-Color Gadgets", and Hayato's "Damage Devourer", there are currently a total of four cards that are banished in the duel. Therefore, the attack power of "Destroyer Dragon - Gandora: Brilliant Flash" is increased by 300 points for each banished card, becoming 1200 points.

However, compared to its second effect, the first effect of [Gandora the Destroyer Dragon - Blazing Flash] is clearly just an added bonus. After being summoned, Yugi immediately waved his hand and commanded: "Once per turn, pay me half of your Life Points to activate the second effect of [Gandora the Destroyer Dragon - Blazing Flash]. The effect will vary depending on the type of [Gandora] monster in my Graveyard!"

【Muto Game: 1400→700LP】

Having deliberately lowered its own base score, the game seems very confident in the effect of [Destroyer Dragon - Gandora - Flash], and continues to explain: "In the case of one type, [Destroyer Dragon - Gandora - Flash] can destroy all cards on the field except itself; in the case of two types, [Destroyer Dragon - Gandora - Flash] will banish all cards on the field except itself."

"And if there are three or more types of [Gandora] monsters, banish all cards on both players' fields and in their graveyards except for [Destroyer Dragon - Gandora: Flash]!"

Hayato raised an eyebrow upon hearing this: "Yugi, is the [Gandora] monster in your graveyard the same [Destroyer Dragon - Gandora G] that was sent to the graveyard as Fusion Material before? Since there's only one, then it must have the effect of destroying all cards on the field except [Destroyer Dragon - Gandora Flash]."

However, Yugi shook his head, denying Hayato's words, and smiled, saying, "No, the [Gandora] monsters in my graveyard are not one type, but two!"

"When I brought [Destroyer Dragon - Gandora Blazing Flash] into the field by its own effect, in addition to the [Yellow Gadget] on my field, I also sent one monster card from my hand to the graveyard. That was [Destroyer Dragon - Gandora X], which is also a [Gandora] monster!"

"Therefore, [Destroyer Dragon - Gandora Brilliant Flash] will banish all cards on both players' fields. However, I only have [Apprentice Piper] and [Golden Chest of Light] on my field. On the other hand, Hayato, you have far more monsters on your field. And because it's a banishment, it won't even trigger the effects that activate when [Tearful Melo Mermaid], [Shadowmon], and [Hungry Poison Fusion Dragon] are destroyed or sent to the Graveyard!"

"Checkmate, Hayato!"

With a flick of his finger, the black gems on the [Destruction Dragon - Gandora: Blazing Light] beside him lit up one after another from its tail, then suddenly burst into a crimson light, explaining why the game called it the "Crimson Comet." The crimson laser beam contained endless destructive energy, engulfing everything on the field in an instant!

At this moment, even Jonouchi and Kaiba stood quietly outside the arena, no longer arguing, their eyes fixed intently on the arena, anticipating what would happen next.

Under the crimson light, even the powerful monsters on Hayato's field seemed unable to resist the destructive power. One after another, they were wiped out into ashes. In just a moment, Hayato's field, which had just had six cards, became completely empty!

On the other hand, after taking down so many targets with its own effect, [Destroyer Dragon - Gandora: Blazing Light] stopped releasing its dazzling crimson beams and gave itself a moment to catch its breath. Then it began to take a deep breath, intending to draw power from the void where the banished cards were located to enhance its power.

However, the next moment, both Yugi and [Destroyer Dragon - Gandora Flash] showed surprised expressions, because [Destroyer Dragon - Gandora Flash]'s attack power stopped after increasing by 400 points. The mere 1600 attack power was not commensurate with the number of cards that disappeared from the field. It was as if only one card was banished!

Huh? Only one card was excluded?!

Yugi looked at his Duel Disk in surprise. The card of "Apprentice Piper" had indeed been shattered and removed from the Duel Disk by the effect of "Destroyer Dragon - Gandora - Flash of Light", but the card of "Golden Coffin of Light" was still on his back row and had not been affected by the effect of "Destroyer Dragon - Gandora - Flash of Light"?

Chapter 1286 I, who chose the Pearl Tears, am now invincible!

"It's a real shame that the effect of my [Predatory Plant - Rhinoceros Horned Dragon] was consumed by [Apprentice Piper] because of your previous probing in the game. Otherwise, I wouldn't have needed to play this card at all."

Just as the game was shrouded in confusion, Hayato's voice rang out. With the cards on the field swept clean, he grinned triumphantly, "[DD Raven], linked to the effect of [Destroyer Dragon - Gandora: Brilliant Flash], I activated this card in my hand!"

Yugi waved the card in his hand, watching the [DD Crow] card dissipate in Hayato's hand and drift into the graveyard. Then, he transformed into a black crow and grabbed a card. "The effect of [DD Crow] can be activated during the opponent's turn. You can discard this card from my hand to the graveyard and target a card in the opponent's graveyard to banish that card."

"And the target of my effect is naturally the monster card [Destruction Dragon - Gandora X] in your graveyard."

"So, when the chain reached [Destroyer Dragon - Gandora: Blazing Flash], because the number of [Gandora] monsters in my graveyard decreased, the effect of [Destroyer Dragon - Gandora: Blazing Flash] deteriorated from banishing all other cards on the field except itself to destroying other cards on the field except itself?" Yugi looked regretful. "As expected of Hayato, you easily did what ordinary duelists couldn't do. It's really hard to defeat you."

This is why, among the cards on the field, "Apprentice Piper" left the field while "Golden Chest of Light" remained on the field after the game. This is because as long as "Golden Chest of Light" exists in the Spell & Trap Zone, it cannot be destroyed by monster effects, and the degraded effect of "Destroyer Dragon - Gandora Brilliant Flash" is "Destruction".

"But to be able to banish cards from the opponent's graveyard at second speed, that [DD Raven] is simply the bane of cards like [Monster Resurrection] that require targeting graveyard monsters to activate. It's terrifyingly strong." Yugi exclaimed, looking at Hayato who still had a full five cards left in his hand.

Hayato shrugged: "[DD Raven] is alright, since its effect is just simple exclusion. If it were [Abyssal Beast] or the like, they would be terrifyingly strong, even if their exclusion is limited by light and dark attributes."

Yugi tilted his head, not understanding what Hayato was saying, but over the years he had gotten used to Hayato always spouting cards that no one else had ever heard of, and didn't pay much attention to it.

"Because [Destroyer Dragon - Gandora X] in your Graveyard was banished, [Destroyer Dragon - Gandora Brilliant Flash]'s ATK increased by 300 points. At the same time, its activated effect was downgraded from 'banished' to 'destroyed,' thus triggering the effects of the three monsters on my field and the face-down cards in my back row!"

Hayato waved his hand and shouted, "If a monster is sent to the Graveyard by an effect, the effects of [Tearful Melo Mermaid], [Shaddoll Beast], and my backrow face-down card [Shaddoll Core] will activate respectively: return monsters from my hand, field, and Graveyard (including myself) as Fusion Material to the Deck for Fusion Summoning; draw one card from my Deck; and add one [Shaddoll] Spell/Trap Card from my Graveyard other than [Shaddoll Core] to my hand!"

"In addition, if destroyed, [Ferocious Hungry Poison Fusion Dragon] will also activate its effect! Destroy all Special Summoned monsters on the opponent's field and inflict damage equal to their combined ATK!"

"Self-chained, C1 [Tears of Elegy Clan - Mermaid] C2 [Shaddoll] C3 [Shaddoll's Protocore] C4 [Fierce Venomous Fusion Dragon]!"

The effects of four cards were unleashed in a chain reaction, causing even the gamer to unconsciously swallow hard: "Although it's not the first time I've seen this, it's still quite shocking. Is this the power of the [Tears of Elegy Clan]?"

"However, before activating the effect of [Destroyer Dragon - Gandora Brilliant Flash], I had already considered what to do if 'banned' was turned into 'destruction' by you, Hayato. Not only your monsters, Hayato, but also my destroyed [Apprentice Pied Piper] can activate its own effect!"

C5, [Apprentice Piper]!

【Destroyer Dragon - Gandora: Blazing Flash】Using its ability once, it actually triggered the effects of five cards on the field. Even though Kaiba and Jonouchi had just been eliminated, the intensity of the duel between Hayato and Yugi did not decrease at all, but instead intensified!

Due to the nature of chained reverse processing, the first to take effect before Hayato's monster effect is activated is the destroyed [Apprentice Pied Piper]. Although [Predator-Rhinoceros] had placed [Predator Counters] on it, and even Hayato had stolen its flute, the effect activated by the destroyed [Apprentice Pied Piper] is beyond the control of the destroyed [Predator-Rhinoceros].

"If [Apprentice Piper] is destroyed by battle or card effect and sent to the Graveyard, its second effect can be activated. As with the first effect, I can Special Summon 1 monster card from my hand."

Seeing Yugi draw a card from his hand and prepare to play it, Hayato raised an eyebrow and reminded him, "But what gets dealt with after the effect of [Apprentice Pied Piper] is the effect of [Hungry Poison Fusion Dragon] that was destroyed in my graveyard, Yugi."

"Originally, the only monster left on your field was [Destroyer Dragon - Gandora Flash]. Although it could be destroyed by the effect of [Hungry Poison], you would not be affected by the additional effect damage from [Hungry Poison] because its ATK would be reset to 0 after being sent to the Graveyard, thus losing its field buff."

"But if I Special Summon another monster to your field, and that monster's ATK exceeds 700, then my [Hungry Poison] can deal additional effect damage to you equal to its ATK after destroying it, wiping out your already fragile Life Points!"

Hearing Hayato's warning, which even included the phrase "a candle flickering in the wind," Yugi simply smiled and confidently said, "Sure wa do ka ne, Hayato!"

"The monster I want to Special Summon is this one, [Magical Dark Merchant]!"

As the [Destroyer Dragon - Gandora - Brilliant Flash] appeared, accompanied by the [Apprentice Pied Piper] who took out a spare flute after leaving the field and played a curry-flavored melody, a stag-headed spirit dressed as a merchant, wearing a red coat and carrying a lot of goods, appeared on the field with a staff, looking frail and weak.

[Dark Spell Merchant] [3☆/Dark]

[Mage Race/Effect]

[1500/200]

The data panel next to the [Magical Dark Merchant] was displayed. All other data could be ignored. At this moment, what mattered was its attack power. Everyone focused their attention on the attack power of the [Magical Dark Merchant]. Then they saw that the attack power of the [Magical Dark Merchant] specially summoned by the game was 1500 points, which was greater than the remaining 700 base points in the game!

The effect that followed the effect of the [Apprentice Piper] was the dangerous effect of the [Fierce Hungry Poison Fusion Dragon]!

Compared to when Hayato used "Super Polymerization" to create the "Hungry Poison Fusion Dragon" card out of thin air by combining "Phantom Gate" and Anubis as fusion materials, the current "Hungry Poison Fusion Dragon" card has evolved several times, and its effect has long since changed from the original physical card version to a combination of the physical card version and the anime version effect.

Not only has the condition for its appearance been changed to "DARK monsters" and the two monsters no longer need to be on the field, but the ability to copy has also been enhanced with the effect of changing the card name as in the physical card version. And the ability to self-destruct when destroyed goes without saying. It can not only destroy all Special Summoned monsters on the opponent's field, but also deal additional damage equal to the combined ATK of the destroyed monsters!

Even though it had already been destroyed and sent to the graveyard by the previous effect of [Destroyer Dragon - Gandora - Brilliant Flash], the evil aura of [Hungry Poison] still lingered around Hayato for a long time. The moment after the effect of [Apprentice Piper] was resolved, this blackish-purple poisonous mist suddenly rushed out.

In an instant, the [Fierce Hungry Poison Fusion Dragon] left behind a surge of power that transformed into a tidal wave of venom several meters high, slamming it onto the game field, intending to drag the [Destruction Dragon - Gandora - Brilliant Flash] that had destroyed her, as well as the innocent [Magic Dark Merchant] who was passing by, into the graveyard!

The venom tide arrived just as [Destroyer Dragon - Gandora: Brilliant Flash] was still recovering. Even the once invincible "Crimson Comet" was now powerless to resist. Its jewels were all dim and empty. Although it struggled, it was completely swallowed up by the purple waves. The unobstructed tide swept over the game and passed over its body.

However, while Jonouchi was torn between cheering for Yugi or Hayato, he noticed that although the toxic tide passed by Yugi, he calmly waited for the tide to pass without getting a single drop of poison on him.

"The power of [Hungry Poison Fusion Dragon] is still so terrifying. I can't help but think back to that time when you fought me and Jonouchi, Hayato. Not only are the conditions for its appearance extremely suitable for [Super Polymerization], but it also has the ability to increase its attack power upon appearance and the even more ferocious ability to steal the effects and names of other monsters. Even the power it activates when destroyed is so terrifying."

"However, no matter how powerful the force is, it's meaningless if you can't hit the target!"

After the tide of venom receded, the [Magic Dark Merchant] was revealed on the game field, mimicking Moses parting the Red Sea with his wand and escaping the venom unscathed!

"While I control a Continuous Spell Card or Continuous Trap Card, [Magical Dark Merchant] is immune to being destroyed by battle or card effects. While it's not as powerful as [Super Magical Dragon Knight - Red-Eyes Dragon Rider], Duel Monsters is never a game where the stronger monster determines the winner!"

Upon hearing Yugi's explanation, Hayato glanced at the [Golden Chest of Light] card on Yugi's field: "You're still as good as ever at creating all-around synergy between monsters and spell/trap cards, Yugi. The [Golden Chest of Light], which can't be destroyed by monster effects, and the [Magical Dark Merchant], which can rely on the Continuous Spell Card [Golden Chest of Light] to prevent itself from being destroyed, are truly a perfect match."

"Therefore, the effect of [Ferocious Hungry Poison Fusion Dragon] destroying all the Special Summoned monsters on the opponent's field only destroyed your [Destroyer Dragon - Gandora - Flash] in the end. Therefore, the effect damage it caused to you was 0 of the original ATK of [Destroyer Dragon - Gandora - Flash]."

[Yugi Muto: 700→700LP, 4 cards in hand]

"However, that's not enough to beat me. Don't forget that we're only at C4 now. Next, we need to deal with the effect of C3's [Shaddoll Core]. Add one [Shaddoll] Spell/Trap Card other than [Shaddoll Core] from my Graveyard to my hand—this [Shaddoll Fusion]."

To be honest, Jonouchi's [Red-Eyes Fusion] is very strong, but its self-restraint after activation limits its strength, just like using an O-hole to fill a loose O-gate, which fits the saying that "powerful cards are often accompanied by great risks".

However, Hayato's [Shaddoll Fusion], which he uses as a catchphrase, doesn't follow this principle at all. As long as the opponent has a Fusion Monster on their field, it can send monsters from the Deck to the Graveyard as Fusion Material, just like [Red-Eyes Fusion]. Combined with the multiple effects that can be chained together when [Shaddoll] monsters are sent to the Graveyard by card effects, it's just too overpowered!

The only saving grace for Yugi is that his only Special Summoned Fusion Monster, [Super Magical Dragon Knight - Red-Eyes Dragon Rider], had already been destroyed by Hayato's monsters. He doesn't need to worry about Hayato using [Shaddoll Fusion] to select Fusion Materials from his Deck and then play a card like [Divine Shaddoll Midrash]. As long as he survives until his turn—

After a moment of stunned silence, the game suddenly realized something was wrong. It wasn't Hayato's turn anymore, but its own. Hayato was making random moves during its own turn, and the game player could only watch him operate as if it were outside of its own turn, completely helpless!

Unaware of the game's intentions, Hayato added [Shaddoll Fusion] to his hand and then drew a card from his deck, saying, "Next is the effect of [Shaddoll Beast] from C2. If this card is sent to the Graveyard by an effect, I will draw a card from my deck."

[Hayato Kobayashi: 1000LP, hand 6→5→7]

By playing a [DD Raven], Hayato's hand actually increased to seven cards after the monsters were cleared, three more than Yugi's hand.

What's even more outrageous is that the chain effect was still not resolved, and the final C1, which is the most feared in the game, [Tears of Elegy - Mermaid of the Pearl Clan], was activated.

"Finally, here's the effect of [Tears of Elegy Mermaid]. If she's sent to the Graveyard by a card effect, I will perform a Fusion Summon by returning the Fusion Material Monsters of [Tears of Elegy Mermaid] (including those in the Graveyard) from my hand, field, and Graveyard to the bottom of their respective Deck in my preferred order!"

"Since you summoned the King of 'Gandora' before, I will return the favor and summon the King of [Tears of the Pearl]. However, not the old king who wields chains and whips, but the strongest king of [Tears of the Pearl] itself!"