Is this the world of card dealers? Yada thieves!

Watching Hayato send the card to the graveyard, Jonouchi said dismissively, "Judging from the name 'One Life Evil,' it must have an effect that activates when sent to the graveyard. And I'm sure 'Tearful Lament Clan - Rusaka Mermaid' also has an effect that activates when sent to the graveyard."

"Well, I didn't say I didn't." Hayato shrugged and looked at Yugi. "I won't repeat the relationship between the card names of [Eternal Evil] and [Tears of Elegy Tribe]. When [Eternal Evil's Lament] is sent to the Graveyard by its effect, its second effect is activated, adding one [Tears of Elegy Tribe] monster from my Deck to my hand. I choose [Tears of Elegy Tribe - Mermaid].

It's said there's a cost, but it seems like there isn't. The game shows Hayato's hand size decreasing and increasing, maintaining six cards, while simultaneously adding [Tears of Elegy - Merlo Mermaid] to his hand. This way, during Hayato's turn, he can use Normal Summon [Tears of Elegy - Merlo Mermaid] to fill the graveyard, and then send it to the graveyard for a fusion that doesn't even require fusion—from his hand, field, and graveyard.

Not only can they freely disrupt the opponent's turn, but they can also continuously provide resources during their own turn. In addition, the unified style already achieved in the [Tears of Elegy] archetype, as well as their excellent compatibility with other decks, makes it no wonder that Hayato calls [Tears of Elegy] "Duel Monsters 2.0". Their existence is indeed a dimensional reduction blow to ordinary Duel Monsters.

“But Hayato, shouldn’t the effect of [Tears of Elegy - Rusaka Mermaid] also have a limit of once per turn?” Yugi said, drawing a card from his hand. “Although I couldn’t Special Summon [Dark Magician], I still have this card to use!”

"This card can only be activated if I control [Golden Chest of Light] and a monster with the name [Golden Chest of Light] – namely [Light of the Fiend] – on my field. It is a Normal Spell Card [Partner's Bond]!"

Yugi played the powerful Spell Card "Partner's Bond," which can only be activated at the cost of preventing the Special Summoning of monsters from the Fusion Deck after its use. Although Hayato had seen this card before, it was the first time for Kaiba and Jonouchi to see it.

"The bond between comrades... " Jonouchi couldn't help but smile as he looked at the card that activated the game. "That's definitely what the game excels at. Defeating Hayato and stuff, suddenly it feels like I could do it!"

"Hmph, even if a bunch of weak monsters are grouped together, can they really stand up to Hayato Kobayashi?" Although Kaiba glanced at the "family portrait" on the card art of "Partners' Bonds" one more time, he still had more confidence in Hayato. "Besides, don't forget that Hayato Kobayashi is also good at using a large number of weak monsters at the same time."

"In his own words, 'Only by mastering powerful monsters and utilizing weak ones can one be considered whole,' which is his most impeccable and insurmountable strength as the King of Duel!"

"Under the effect of [Partner's Bond], I can Special Summon up to two Level 4 or lower monsters with a story recorded in the name of [Golden Coffin of Light] from my hand or Deck, with a maximum of one copy of the same name. The cost is that after [Partner's Bond] is activated, I cannot Special Summon monsters from the Fusion Deck until the end of the turn."

Although Yugi knew that Hayato knew the effect of this card, considering that Jonouchi and Kaiba outside the field had never seen the card "Partner Bonds," he still repeated the card's effect. He reached into the empty space in front of him and squeezed, and Yugi "pulled" two cards out of thin air, showing them off, "The monsters I want to Special Summon are naturally these two, 'Silent Magician Zero' and 'Silent Swordsman Zero'!"

[Silent Swordsman Zero] [ATK1000]

[The Silent Magician - Zero] [ATK1000]

"It's this combination again. Although it's not the first time I've seen it, this single-card format is definitely more suitable for the new era of Duel Monsters than the outdated [LV] design."

As the young swordsman and the young mage appeared on the field, Hayato remarked, "[Horus's Black Flame Dragon] has become [King's Coffin], and [Silence] has become [Golden Coffin of Light]. I wonder what the future holds for the other levels."

"Like [The Enchanting Queen] or something?"

(Seductive Queen: LV? I'm not familiar with that, I've gone to Sister Run Link.)

"If we have to say, wasn't Hayato the first person to bring out a completely new form of a [LV] monster?" Yugi asked with a smile after hearing Hayato's words. "Although [Armed Dragon Raiden] and the others still retained the [LV] designation, they can indeed be called the first [LV] monsters to obtain a new form, right?"

With only three cards left in his hand, Yugi drew another card and said, "Now I have a total of four monsters on the field. Although it's not the limit yet, it's enough to unleash most of the power of this card!"

"Equip the Spell Card [Unity Power]! Equip it to [Light of the Demon] on my field, increasing its ATK and DEF by 800 times the number of face-up monsters I control!"

The three monsters, [Dark Merchant of Magic], [Silent Magician Zero], and [Silent Swordsman Zero], stood behind [Light of the Devil], extending their weapons and channeling their power into [Light of the Devil] in front of them.

Although the demon who controls lightning had its effects erased by the [Effect Masker], its power is still a solid 2500 points, and it continues to rise after receiving assistance from other monsters in the game! Even its appearance is changing towards its earlier design.

The four-bodied monster represents the [Power of Unity], providing a whopping 3200 points of attack and defense. Combined with the power of [The Light of the Devil] itself, its final value is—

[The Demon's Light Arrives] [2500/1200→5700/4400]

"High attack power has never been the exclusive domain of Dragon-type monsters. Even if the individual monsters are weak, my deck can still gather amazing power!" Yugi pointed to Hayato's field. "Although [Tears of Elegy-type Rusaka Mermaid] may have a powerful effect that activates when it is sent to the Graveyard, as long as you deplete your Life Points at the same time it is sent to the Graveyard, then even the most powerful effect will become meaningless!"

"Entering the battle phase, I use [Demon's Light] to attack [Tears of Elegy Clan - Rusaka Mermaid]. My cards' fiery combo attack will deal 2700 points of battle damage in one go. This is the final blow, Hayato!"

The demon, crackling with lightning, opened its palm and aimed at the "weak" mermaid girl; a terrifying attack came instantly!

"Summoning Lightning - Brilliant Shard!"

Chapter 1289: Thank you, Xiao Lan, for your voluntary (not really) offering of ten years of good luck when I opened the box.

"Summoning Lightning - Brilliant Shard!"

A bolt of lightning was swiftly released from the hand of [Demon's Light]. [Tears of Elegy Clan - Rusaka Mermaid] imitated a ninja with a severed hand from Hayato's memory, leaping into the air to test the "Lightning Return" with the blade she swung.

However, the damp blade was no match for the attack of [Demon's Light] as she had imagined. The lightning bolt was detonated the moment it touched her, shattering into a huge cross of lightning that was about to destroy her!

Hayato's meager 1000 base points are practically worthless in the face of the impending 2700 points of combat damage!

However, as he watched his monster being struck by electricity, Hayato looked up at the [Tearful Elegy Clan - Rusaka Mermaid] entangled in lightning in the sky and examined it with great interest, saying, "After being struck by electricity, it can actually show its skeleton just like in anime? It's like a comedic character."

"However, although it's called a 'mermaid,' its skeleton is almost identical to a human's. Isn't that fraudulent? I used to really like mermaids, but now I'm completely bored..."

It seemed that Hayato, who was talking to himself, had only just noticed him now. The lightning that surrounded the [Tearful Song Clan - Rusaka Mermaid] in the sky also poured down on him, aiming to wipe out his remaining life points in one fell swoop.

However, Hayato casually slapped the falling lightning away, sending it flying to his side without harming him in the slightest!

"Wasn't that 'Slap Descent' cool?" Hayato said to Yugi triumphantly after swatting away the lightning. Seeing Yugi's puzzled expression, and before anyone else could ask, Hayato waved a chubby purple "balloon" that he had somehow gotten into his hand and said, "Don't look at me like that. It's just 'insulating rubber,' simple science."

"【Entertainment Partner - Obstacle Balloon Tapir】When both monsters are battling, you can discard this card from your hand to activate its effect, reducing the battle damage dealt to both players in that battle to 0."

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

"It's [Entertainment Partner]? It's been a long time." Yugi looked at [Entertainment Partner - Obstacle Balloon Baku], which was clinging tightly to Hayato's hand and wouldn't let go, even when Hayato shook it off in disgust, and said with a touch of nostalgia, "I used to see it quite often after Duel Kingdom."

"Is this also part of how you recreated your state during the Duelist era, Hayato? It's quite nostalgic."

"Although he says things like 'I don't need cards that have no value,' Hayato still includes cards like 'Death Stalker' in his decks even now," Jonouchi said with a smile from the sidelines.

However, Hayato turned his head away.

Seeing that Hayato didn't respond, Jonouchi said in surprise, "Hayato, you added [Death Stalker] to your deck... right?"

"Ahem, let's continue the duel. We can't get distracted by such a heated battle." Hayato waved his hand, forcibly changing the subject. "Although the battle damage became 0, [Tears of Elegy Clan - Rusaka Mermaid] was still destroyed in the battle and sent to the graveyard."

“Now I have no cards left on my field.” Hayato looked away from the few cards in his hand and turned to Yugi. “Are your remaining monsters still going to attack me, Yugi?”

"Hayato, you have no cards in your front and back rows. This situation is just like Zhuge Liang setting up an empty city in the legend. Even if we know you definitely have a backup plan, it's still hard to give up and not seize the opportunity to win." Yugi smiled, glanced at the monsters on his field, and waved his hand, saying, "Let's start with [Magical Dark Merchant]!"

"Direct attack on Hayato, unleash a barrage of magic cannon shots!"

The Dark Merchant, who carried a large amount of goods with him, didn't care whether the things he sold would become second-hand goods. He arrogantly attacked with his staff while throwing many items on his back into the magic cannon, giving it extra energy and attributes. A magic cannon with an attack power of 1500 points flew towards Hayato.

At that moment, seven-colored light burst forth from Hayato's grave, and a rainbow-colored light curtain was about to pull the previously featured Rainbow Kuriboh back onto the field.

"Defeating me won't be that easy, Yugi. Don't forget I still have 'Rainbow Kuriboh' in my graveyard." Hayato said, taking the 'Rainbow Kuriboh' card from his graveyard. "When an opponent's monster attacks directly, I can Special Summon Aibo to my field!"

However, as if it had been anticipated, Yugi said, "The effect of [Rainbow Kuriboh] has helped you win countless times, how could I forget? But, before the [Golden Chest of Light], the monsters in the graveyard should continue to find peaceful rest in the graveyard!"

"The third effect of the [Golden Coffin of Light], which I have kept hidden until now, is activated!"

"If my opponent Special Summons a monster from the Graveyard, I can activate this effect by sending one Spell Card from my hand to the Graveyard." With only two cards left in his hand, Yugi sent another card to the Graveyard. He pointed to the Rainbow Kuriboh that had just peeked out from Hayato's field. "I discard 'Monster Reborn' and then send the Special Summonsed Rainbow Kuriboh to the Graveyard, allowing the direct attack to continue!"

"Dust to dust, ashes to ashes, let go of what must go... Return to where you came from, [Rainbow Kuriboh]!"

The card that the game sent to the graveyard was none other than the powerful spell card [Monster Resurrection]!

For the first time, the closed [Golden Casket of Light] opened its lid completely, and a card radiating golden light slowly rose from it. It was the [Monster Resurrection] card that Yugi had just sent to the graveyard. The scene before them was just like the final moment of that duel ceremony many years ago, and Jonouchi and Kaiba's memories were involuntarily brought back to the past.

Even though Yugi could have used this card to Special Summon many powerful monsters that had been sent to the Graveyard before, such as [Destroyer Dragon - Gandora G], during the previous Main Phase, Yugi has always had a habit, or rather a principle, of never activating [Monster Reborn].

The dead should remain in the world of the dead, while the living have their own lives to live. This is the philosophy and principle that Yugi adheres to. It was with this idea in mind that Yugi defeated Atem and sent him back to the underworld. It is worth noting that Monster Reborn was not only the last card Yugi used in that duel, but it was also the last card Atem used in his first Duel Monster after being awakened by Yugi's Millennium Puzzle.

While such persistence may seem tedious and treat victory and defeat as a game, Kaiba himself somewhat agrees with this. One could say that the existence of [Monster Resurrection] is—

Kaiba's thoughts were interrupted by Jonouchi, who was looking at the "Monster Resurrection" card that had risen from the "Golden Chest of Light" with a strange expression: "[Magic Card [Monster Resurrection]]?"

"Hmph, it's just a 'Monster Resurrection' card. Is this your first time seeing one? If it's not a magic card, what else could it be?" Kaiba said, glancing casually at the cards in the "Golden Chest of Light," but he was also stunned and stared at the "Monster Resurrection" card image with a puzzled look.

"So the card you discarded in the game was a quick-play spell card, [Spell Card [Monster Resurrection]]?" Even Hayato looked at the displayed card with considerable surprise, holding his [Rainbow Kuriboh] which hadn't been sent to the graveyard yet, and exclaimed, "What a strange name, it's like a tongue twister."

"Magic Card [Magic Card [Monster Resurrection]]... To be honest, it is." After trying to read it aloud, Jonouchi remarked, "So this is yet another new card that Yugi came up with?"

"Although the rules of Duel Monsters are pretty good now, I sometimes miss the old days when you could set a card as a Trap Card and use it as a Spell Card. So I wanted to use a new card to recreate the old gameplay." Yugi smiled sheepishly. "Besides a quick-play Spell Card version of [Monster Reborn], I've also thought about quick-play Spell Card versions of other cards like [Fusion]."

—Hmm? Why does the game reminisce about the days when [Monster Resurrection] could be activated at second speed, even though the player has never used it? Cough cough, what does Atum activating [Monster Resurrection] have to do with me, Yugi Muto?

"As for the name, it's because it was a card that was hastily completed while making the [Devil's Light] card, so the name does sound really weird... Hehe~" Unable to come up with any reason, the game simply told the truth and then tried to get away with it by being cute.

It has to be said that although the game nowadays doesn't look as childish or cute as it did back in high school, the delicate face that looks almost exactly like Atum's is still very effective at being cute—especially since the game also has a mysterious special attack attribute on younger men.

Unfortunately, of the other three present, Jonouchi is a straight man who could go to the Warhammer world to perform "steel inside and out," and is only interested in blonde, well-built women like Mai, who perfectly hit his bullseye and knows how to play cards; as for Kaiba, he is a pure dragon fanatic, and keeps saying things like "I want to become the world's number one duelist, and women are a hindrance."

As for Hayato? He's a power-hungry player. If the game had a powerful hand trap with three-color counter-effects, he'd definitely be able to take down the flag. However, that's not the case in the game.

"Hmph, what a card full of twisted humor. It even uses [Dark Magician] to fill the card art. Do you really enjoy adding nonsensical things to the card art you create, Yugi Muto?" Kaiba looked at the [Spell Card [Monster Resurrection]] and sneered.

Jonouchi raised an eyebrow, though he already had a guess in mind, he still asked, "And if it were you, Kaiba..."

"It has to be the Blue-Eyes White Dragon!"

This is what Seto Kaiba, a player with the "Blue Eyes" trait, said.

After reviewing the new cards, the chain continues. Yugi's "Golden Chest of Light" attempts to send "Rainbow Kuriboh" back to the graveyard. However, due to "Rainbow Kuriboh's" own effect, if it leaves the field, it will not be sent to the graveyard but will be banished directly.

Seeing that even his cherished monster had been excluded, Hayato wore a serious expression: "You actually excluded my important [Rainbow Kuriboh] and Aibo, Yugi, are you so eager for victory that you would do such a despicable thing for it!"

"Compared to Hayato's deeds of stealing or freeing other people's monsters, I think I've already been quite restrained by simply sending the monster to the graveyard..." Yugi retorted, completely unaffected by Hayato's actions.

"Damn it, you still look so relaxed even now! You forced me to use this method!" Hayato gritted his teeth, looking like he had been pushed to the limit. "Now! I've reached my limit! I'm going to throw the card!"

【Rainbow Kuriboh】Watching Hayato's movements, I don't know what card he's going to play, but it must be a card that can protect him, right?

Under her expectant gaze, Hayato revealed the true form of the card in his hand: "The card I'm activating is this one, [Half-Dragon Maid - Earthly Compassionate Dragon Girl]! You can activate this effect by discarding this card from my hand. Special Summon one [Half-Dragon Maid] monster with a Level of 4 or lower from my hand to my field. This effect can also be activated during your opponent's turn!"

"Use your ultimate power to cleanse the filth and restore the world to its original purity, my glory! Wagatsumashi! Invincible future Dragon Emperor!"

Shouting an incomprehensible but impressive summoning incantation, Hayato played the card.

"Anyway, come out and clean the floor, Little Blue!"

"I Special Summon [Half-Dragon Maid - Laundry Dragon Girl] in Defense Position!"

Without a moment's mourning for the impending removal of Rainbow Kuriboh, the one who immediately rushed to Hayato's field was—

With her hands on her hips and an arrogant expression, Xiao Lan seemed to be saying, "Master's favorite is indeed my little blue-haired lady, hahaha!"

"Master's favorite is definitely my little blue-haired lord, hahaha!"

Oh, she did say it.

【Half-Dragon Maid - Laundry Dragon Girl】【DEF1600】

Looking at the [Half-Dragon Maid - Earthly Kind Dragon Girl] that Hayato had sent to the cemetery, and then at the inexplicably arrogant Little Blue beside her, [Rainbow Kuriboh] looked at Hayato, pointed to herself, as if asking, "What about me?"

Looking at Aibo, who had been with him for quite some time, how could Hayato bear to watch her be excluded?

Under the watchful eye of Rainbow Kuriboh, Hayato actually turned his head away and closed his eyes!

"This is a necessary sacrifice!"

Under the power of the Golden Chest of Light, Rainbow Kuriboh was sent from Hayato's field to the Graveyard, and then banished by its own effect!

Chapter 1290 Purity, is it useful?

"【Half-Dragon Maid - Earth-kind Dragon Girl】 and 【Half-Dragon Maid - Laundry Dragon Girl】? They even included a 【Half-Dragon Maid】 monster in the deck." Kaiba raised an eyebrow. "These are just some nonsensical monsters. The purity of that so-called 'Pure Pearl Tears Deck' has been greatly reduced."