Is this the world of card dealers? Yada thieves!

After a brief pause, [Utgard the King of the Void] showed the cards remaining in his hand. He still had five cards left. Compared to the seven cards he had when he Normal Summoned himself, the two cards he had lost had been converted into several monster cards in his graveyard and two Ritual Monsters on the field.

But he wasn't satisfied with that. He placed the [Stone Relic Formless] card he had just retrieved on the back row and activated it: "I activate the Quick-Play Spell Card [Stone Relic Formless]. I can choose one of its two effects to activate—to reduce the ATK of all monsters on my opponent's field by 500 times the number of Ritual Monsters on the field until the end of this turn, or to increase the total Levels of the monsters I Ritual Summon to twice the Level of the monster I Ritual Summon. I Tribute monsters from my hand and field to Ritual Summon one [Stone Relic] monster from my Deck in Defense Position."

The seven-colored vortex that was previously atop [Stone Relic - Fu'er] reappeared on [Void King - Utgard]'s field after [Stone Relic Without Form] was activated, pulling [Stone Relic - Bertol] from his hand, which had been repeatedly switching between the graveyard and his hand, into it and sending it to the graveyard once again.

"I choose the latter, and I will release the Level 8 [Stone Relic Bertol] from my hand so that I can Ritual Summon a Level 4 [Stone Relic] Ritual Monster in Defense Position from my Deck."

【Utgard, the King of the Void】 takes a card from his deck and places it face down on the field. Another heptagonal stone pedestal is activated, emitting a golden glow. "The monster I Ritual Summon is this one, 【Stone Relic - Ottoman】!"

After the angel statue [Stone Relic - Ophir] and the demon statue [Stone Relic - Hekis], the third entity summoned by [War of the Void Kings - Utgard], a level 4 [Stone Relic], is a combination of the two. Two boy statues, one black and one white, representing angels and demons respectively, appear on the golden stone base. Instead of being at odds, they appear to be coexisting peacefully.

[Megalithic Relic - Otsu] [4 stars/location]

[Rock Clan/Ritual/Effect]

[1000/2700]

"If [Stone Relic - Ottoman] is successfully Ritual Summoned, I will draw one card from my Deck and then discard one card from my hand." [Utgard, the Void King Warrior] then spoke again, sending a card of unknown meaning from his hand to the Graveyard. "The card I drew is the second [Stone Relic - Hegemon]. Its effect, when successfully Ritual Summoned, is not limited to once per turn. I will activate the second effect of [Stone Relic - Hegemon] on my field."

"This can only be activated during my Main Phase. My total Levels must be equal to or higher than the Level of the Ritual Summoned monster. I Tribute all monsters in my hand and on the field, including this card, and Ritual Summon 1 Ritual Monster from my hand. I Tribute [Hyperstone Relic] itself, and then Ritual Summon a second [Hyperstone Relic] from my hand!"

The seemingly meaningless action of [Utgard the Void King] was merely to make [Hygian Stone Relic] on his field flash briefly; the number of monsters remained unchanged at four. However, he did use the effect of [Hygian Stone Relic] to retrieve another card from his deck and increase the number of monsters in his graveyard.

"Using the effect of [Stone Relic - Hegemon], I search for a second [Stone Relic - Formless] and add it to my hand. At the same time, in my graveyard, besides [Brick Dragon], I now have three EARTH monsters: [Stone Relic - Bertol], [Stone Relic - Orpheus], ​​and [Stone Relic - Hegemon], which I just sent to the graveyard!"

With a wave of his hand, [Utgard the King of the Void] shouted: "Ban the three [Stone Relic] monsters in my Graveyard, and satisfy the condition of 'ban the three EARTH monsters in my hand or Graveyard,' Special Summon the [Brick Dragon] monster that was previously delivered to the Graveyard from my Graveyard to the field by its own effect!"

(The most PTSD-inducing scene in Gochard)

In the graveyard of [King of Hollows - Utgard], three [Stone Relic] monsters previously used by the same entity were banished, transforming into pure-colored building blocks that floated on his field. The instant all three types were gathered, the countless blocks were suddenly attracted to each other and combined to form a colorful block dragon, which landed on [King of Hollows - Utgard]'s field with overwhelming force!

In terms of oppressive power, it far surpasses the mere stone statues of the [Megastone Relics], and even exceeds the [War of the Void Realm Kings - Utgard] itself!

【Block Dragon】【8☆/Land】

[Rock-type/Special Summon/Effect]

[2500/3000]

"【Giant Stone Relic Portal】 will grant my Ritual Summoned monsters on the field a resistance that prevents them from being destroyed by battle once per turn, and while 【Brick Dragon】 is in the Monster Zone, my Rock-Type monsters on the field will not be destroyed by means other than battle."

At this point, it seemed that [Utgard, the King of the Void] had reached its limit. Having completely filled his field, he confidently began to explain, "Not only am I perfect in defense, but I'm also invincible in offense. [Utgard, the King of the Void]—that is, my own effect—can be activated by Tributing two [King of the Void] or Rock-Type monsters on my field, targeting one card on the field. Instead of destroying it, it banishes it directly. This powerful effect can even be activated freely during your opponent's turn!"

"Endless [Megalith Relics], the invincible [Brick Dragon], and the invincible power of me, [Void Realm King War - Utgard]!"

"Insignificant humans, tremble before the terrifying power of my [King of the Void]!"

"I set two cards face down, my turn is over!"

[Voidlord Warrior - Utgard: 4000 LP, 1 card in hand]

[War of the Void Realm Kings - Utgard] [DEF 2700]

[Megalithic Relic - Fuhr] [DEF2000]

[Megalithic Relic - Ochre] [DEF2700]

[Megalithic Relic - Hector's] [DEF2600]

【Building Block Dragon】【DEF3000】

【Gaikka】【Gaikka (Megalithic Relic, Formless)】

Location: [Metallic Relic Portal]

Chapter 1361 Pure Dragon Radiance (Confirmed)

"Huh? It's my turn to play Yu-Gi-Oh!"

Contrary to expectations in [Void Realm King Battle - Utgard], Hayato felt no fear whatsoever from his powerful display. He was like a customer who had ordered ramen and waited for more than ten minutes without getting his food, looking impatient, and finally saw his ramen being served. He breathed a sigh of relief that it was finally his turn.

"If your opponent hasn't conceded after you've created a perfect hand, then you should probably think about whether it's your turn to concede, [King of the Void]." Saying something his opponent couldn't understand, Hayato's fingers swept across the Duel Disk, and a digital card was ejected and shot into his fingertips. "My turn, draw!"

"Then, during my preparation phase, I activate the Quick-Play Spell Card, 'Night Star Flash'!"

Hayato had his reasons for specifically mentioning that this card was activated during the Preparation Phase before the Main Phase. Even though he didn't quite remember the exact effects of each card in the [Giant Stone Relics] set, he had at least heard them clearly during the turn of [King of the Void - Utgard].

Of the five monsters on his field, [Stone Relic - Ful] has the ability to select a Ritual Monster from the Deck at Speed ​​2 during both players' Main Phases for Ritual Summoning. [Stone Relic - Ottogi] can also perform Ritual Summoning at Speed ​​2.

In other words, starting from the main phase of Hayato's game, even if you immediately play a [Heart Change] card against the Minotaur, or [Utgarde, the King of Hollows], you can still chain [Heart Change] to immediately release your own monster and then have other Ritual Monsters enter the field faster.

—In that case, wouldn't it be better to just defeat the opponent's monster before entering the main phase?

"You can only activate one card with the name 'Flash of the Evening Star' per turn, and it can only be activated if your opponent controls two or more monsters than you control. Right now, you have five monsters on your field, while I have none, so the activation condition is met." Hayato tapped his forehead with his finger. "During the effect of 'Flash of the Evening Star,' your opponent can freely choose to send any number of monsters they control to the Graveyard. Because it's a player-targeting effect, even monsters with all resistances are affected."

Hayato's explanation emphasizes that this card is effective against monsters with all resistances, but [King of the Void - Utgard] focuses on the word "any": "Any number of monsters? Even if you don't send any to the graveyard?"

"That's natural."

"But wouldn't that cause some trouble?"

“Of course.” Hayato held up five fingers, corresponding to the five monsters on the field of [Utgarde, the King of the Hollow Realms], and then slowly withdrew them. “The follow-up effect of [Flash of the Night Star] is that after the opponent sends any number of monsters to the Graveyard, different effects are applied depending on the number of monsters remaining on the opponent’s field.”

"When your opponent has 0 monsters left on their field, reduce my Life Points to half; when they have 1 monster left, restore your opponent's Life Points to 2000." Hayato paused as he extended his finger, then smiled as he extended his second finger. "So far, these effects are favorable to you. However, when they have 2 monsters left, banish your opponent's hand face-up until the end of the turn; when they have 3 or more monsters left, prevent your opponent from activating monster effects this turn."

Hayato glanced at the [Knight of the Evening Star - Gilsu] who appeared behind him in phantom form, and the hairband tightly held around his left arm, and muttered to himself, "The so-called 'Evening Star' is the 'Midnight Star,' referring to Venus that appears in the western sky at dusk. Although it is not as dazzling as the sun, this flash of light that carries the brother's feelings for his sister can dispel the darkness for a moment."

Unlike Hayato, who knew the story behind the card called "Star Relic," [King of the Void - Utgard] was still shocked by the effect of [Flash of the Evening Star]: "It's such a powerful effect!?"

For [Utgard the Void King], in order to get the positive effect of [Flash of the Night Star], at least four monsters need to be sent to the graveyard, which is too much of a cost. Even if you take the least negative effect - banishing cards from your hand for one turn when you have two monsters left, you still need to send a full three monsters to the graveyard.

However, the negative effects of not sending a single monster to the Graveyard are too great. You can't use monster effects for an entire turn. This means that your "Brick Dragon", "Stone Relic - Ful", "Stone Relic - Ochre", and "Utgard the Void King" will become almost vanilla monsters. They have high defense and resistance from the field and "Brick Dragon", but no ability to counterattack. Even if you use the Set "Stone Relic Formless" to Ritual Summon a new "Stone Relic" monster from your deck, you still can't use its effects.

I don't want to choose either of them, so I can only use this face-down card from the back row!

"I don't want to choose any effect that applies to any number of monsters sent to the graveyard, so I'm going to reveal one of my face-down cards in the back row. Chain to [Night Star Flash], activate the counter trap card [Bribery of the Demon Palace]!" [King of the Void - Utgard] controls one of the two face-down cards in the back row to reveal itself. "When the opponent activates a Spell/Trap Card: I can activate this, negate that activation and destroy it, and the opponent draws one card from their Deck!"

"Oh!"

【Knight of the Night Star - Gilsu】originally wanted to show Hayato a "true hero kills the enemy with his eyes", but he had no chance to perform. He was expelled from the field by the effect of 【Bribery of the Demon Palace】, and Hayato was instead allowed to draw a card from his deck as compensation.

"Tsk, they even included a spell/trap counter. But I didn't lose out; I even managed to find a face-down card." Hayato, whose hand had returned to six cards, glanced at the only card left on the field after [Voidlord Warrior - Utgard]. "So, that card is the quick-play spell card [Giant Relic Formless]?"

"So, do you have any spell or trap counters that can counter this spell card of mine? Normal Spell Card [Cyber ​​Emergency Call] activated!"

"Add one Cyber ​​Dragon monster or one Machine-Type LIGHT monster that cannot be Normal Summoned from my Deck to my hand!"

Upon hearing the effect of Hayato's activated card, [Void King Warrior - Utgard] looked at [Spellblade Dragon Rider - Cursed Dragon], which was still supporting Hayato at his feet: "I thought your deck might be a Dragon or Warrior deck, but it turns out to be a Machine deck called [Cyber ​​Dragon]?"

However, Hayato did not respond to [Utgard, the King of the Void]'s words, which made him ask again, somewhat puzzled: "You're looking for the [Cyber ​​Dragon] card, right?"

Under the watchful gaze of [Utgard, the King of the Void], Hayato stretched his hand towards the sky, revealing a bright smile: "No, the card I'm looking for is this one. The dazzling light of the Heavenly Dragon shines once more, let it fall into my palm, ν-yo!"

"I'm adding [Dragonlight Takumi-νII] to my hand!" Hayato said, giving himself a thumbs-up. "This time, we're playing 'pure [Dragonlight Takumi],' showing you how a real ritual deck should be played!"

"A ritual deck? It's the same type of deck as mine... But my [Giant Stone Relic] is even stronger!" [Utgard the Void King] didn't care about [Dragon Shining Takumi] that Hayato mentioned. "Then I'll chain your [Cyber ​​Emergency Call] and use my monster's effect too."

"【Relic of the Giant Stone - Ochre】, during both players' Main Phases, activate its second effect: until the total Levels of the Ritual Summoned monster exceed the Level of the monster, Tribute monsters from my hand and field, including 【Relic of the Giant Stone - Ochre】 on the field, and Ritual Summon a single Ritual Monster from my hand. The monsters I Tribute are a Level 4☆ 【Relic of the Giant Stone - Ochre】 and a Level 4☆ 【Relic of the Giant Stone - Hegemon】, making the total Levels 8☆!"

"Descend, war lord of Mars, one of the pinnacles of the [Stone Relics]—[Stone Relic·Freg]!"

Although the exact prototype of the [Metal Relics] is not immediately apparent, the statues of angels and demons are actually designed based on the ruins of Olympia and the Archangel of Olympia.

The prototype of [Metal Relic Ophiel] is the Archangel Ophiel, meaning "the virtue of God," representing Mercury; the prototype of [Metal Relic Hagith] is the Angel Hagith, representing Venus; the prototype of [Metal Relic Och] is the Olympian Angel Och, symbolizing the "sun," and also a symbol of "alchemist, physician, and magician," whose twin statues of angel and demon also represent the cyclical nature of all things in alchemy; then there is [Metal Relic Phul], whose prototype, in contrast to [Metal Relic Och], is the Olympian Angel Phul, representing the moon.

The four mentioned above are lower-level monsters in the [Metal Relic], but there are also three higher-level "angels" in addition to them, which is one of the reasons why the stone base of the [Metal Relic] is heptagonal.

The [Stone Relic - Bethor] that repeatedly bounced around in the hand graveyard in [War of the Void - Utgard] was one of the high-level Ritual Monsters. Its prototype is the Olympian angel "Bethor" representing "Jupiter". Although it does not have any effect, its prototype is the god who grants the summoner health, including lifespan.

The sixth [Metal Relic] to appear at this moment—[Metal Relic - Freyg]—is the second superior "Angel". As [Void King War - Utgard] said, its prototype is the Olympian angel "Phaleg", symbolized by "Mars", and known as the "War Lord". Its effect is different from [Metal Relic - Bertol], and it embodies the characteristics of the prototype.

[Megalithic Relics - Freguesia] [8 stars/location]

[Rock Clan/Ritual/Effect]

[2500/1200]

As soon as the battle angel with a gun and shield appeared, he immediately slammed his spear into the ground, drawing upon the power of the other monsters in the graveyard.

"【Ritual of the Giant Stone - Frege】As long as it exists in the Monster Zone, the ATK and DEF of all monsters I control increase by 300 times the number of Ritual Monsters in my Graveyard." 【Utgard the Void King War】 said, retrieving a card from the Graveyard. "If 【Ritual of the Giant Stone】 is Special Summoned, I will retrieve this Ritual Monster, 【Ritual of the Giant Stone - Hegemon】, from my Graveyard to my hand by the effect of 【Ritual of the Giant Stone Portal】. However, since 【Ritual of the Giant Stone - Ogre】 is still in my Graveyard, all monsters I control gain 300 ATK and DEF!"

[Megalithic Relic - Frege] [2500/1200→2800/1500]

[Megalithic Relic - Fu'er] [500/2000→800/2300]

[Building Blocks Dragon] [2500/3000→2800/3300]

[War of the Void Realm Kings - Utgard] [2200/2700→2500/3000]

Hayato merely did a quick search, and while the [Virtual Realm King Battle - Utgard] had a significant reaction, boosting the ATK and DEF of all monsters on its field, the increase was minimal. It raised the ATK, but not by much, and the increase primarily affected the DEF of monsters in Defense Position. Hayato might have cared a bit more if the opponent were playing a [Overweight] deck.

"This [Dragonlight Takumi - Shangbi ζ] in my hand cannot be Normal Summoned, but can only be Special Summoned by the effect of a [Dragonlight Takumi] card. Tribute [Dragonlight Takumi - νII] that I just searched to activate the first effect of [Dragonlight Takumi - Shangbi ζ]. You can activate this effect by Tributing any other [Dragonlight Takumi] monster or Ritual Monster in my hand or on the field. During the turn I activate this effect, I cannot Special Summon any monster that is not Normal Summonable."

Hayato sends [Dragon Shining Takumi-νII] to the Graveyard and plays [Dragon Shining Takumi-Uesugi ζ] from his hand. "Special Summon [Dragon Shining Takumi-Uesugi ζ] to the field in Defense Position by its own effect. Then I can add one Ritual Spell Card from my Deck to my hand. I choose the Ritual Spell Card [Meteor Shining Takumi Swarm]!"

"Come out, Urtoram Zeta... cough, I mean, Shangbi Zeta!"

The dazzling light of Draco shone down from the sky of the real world, passing through the virtual game pod and illuminating Jotunheim, the "Outer Realm," the land of giants. The stars of Draco lit up, and the Ziwei Zuoyuan Si star among them lit up, sending down a beam of light in the air in front of Hayato.

After the beam of light dissipated, the mechanical dragon, equipped with a sword and shield on each arm, spread its wings and announced its arrival!

【Ryūki Chō-Sōbi ζ】【1☆/Hikaru】

[Machine Race/Special Summon/Effect]

[2000/0]

"Madada! The spinning power of the new card [Dragon's Radiance] is about to be unleashed! Only when I have a [Dragon's Radiance] card on my field can I activate the effect of [Dragon's Radiance -νII] in my Graveyard and Special Summon it from my hand or Graveyard. If [Dragon's Radiance -νII] Special Summoned by this effect leaves the field, it is banished!"

"This effect can only be activated if [Dragonlight Takumi-νII] is successfully Special Summoned. Add one [Dragonlight Takumi] monster other than [Dragonlight Takumi-νII] from my Deck to my hand. I choose [Heavenly Radiance - Bear Fighting Dragon Takumi α]. This card's name can also be used as a [Bear Heavenly] and [Dragonlight Takumi] card according to the rules."

【Dragon's Radiance - νII】【1☆/Light】

[Machine Race/Special Summon/Effect]

[2000/0]

"However, powerful cards often come with great risks. The price of the spinning power of 【Dragon Shining Takumi-νII】 is that this card cannot be normally summoned, but can only be Special Summoned by card effects. The first and second effects of this card name have a restriction that can only be used once per turn. Also, during the turn these effects are activated, I cannot Ritual Summon non-Machine-Type monsters."

"This means that this 'pure [Dragonlight Takumi]' is a true 'pure [Dragonlight Takumi]' that abandons the [Declarer], but it doesn't matter, because with the new card I am invincible!"

Hayato, who had just added a [Tenkyoku Shikishi - Kuma Douryu Takumi α] to his hand, said this.

Chapter 1362 The Supreme Ritual of the Dragon