Is this the world of card dealers? Yada thieves!

Rather than dealing with the back row's card, Marufuji Sho was more interested in eliminating those "New-Style Chef" monsters in the front row who couldn't be targeted in any way, otherwise they would immediately start pushing their luck and leveling up like boxers.

Lightning began to gather, and it looked like it was about to strike, but then Ameluda pressed the button to activate the card again, revealing another card that said, "The same trick won't work on me a second time!"

"It's a counter-trap card—【Bribery of the Demon Palace】! You can activate this card when your opponent activates a Spell/Trap Card. Negate and destroy that activation, and your opponent draws one card from their deck!"

"Eh?"

While Marufuji Sho was still in a daze, his [Lightning Vortex] card suddenly shattered, and the electric explosion brewing in the sky disappeared without a trace after a few flickers, like a faulty light bulb. Then a gold coin rolled to the ground in front of Marufuji Sho, as if saying to him, "Hey, come and eat."

No way, I already used a Black Hole followed by a Lightning Storm, how could I possibly block this?!

"Tsk, time and time again, aren't there just too many counter-trap cards?" Marufuji Sho complained as he picked up a coin from the ground and drew a card from his deck, glancing with a resentful look at the three cards remaining on Ameruda's back row.

Besides the Continuous Trap Card [Recette-de-Personnel ~The Recipe for Meals~], could the other two face-down cards also be Counter Trap Cards? No, that guess is too far-fetched. Considering the effects of the [New Chefs], perhaps they are cards that can actively target monsters on your field to trigger the [New Chefs] effect, like [Forbidden Lance].

“There’s no point in just guessing; we might as well try.” Glancing at the cards in his hand, Marufuji Sho played one card and said, “I activate the Continuous Spell Card [Future Fusion]. This card allows me to Fusion Summon a selected Fusion Monster during my next Standby Phase. As for this turn, I’ll send the Fusion Material Monsters required for that Fusion Monster from my Deck to the Graveyard beforehand.”

“The Fusion Monster I’ve chosen is this one, [Extreme War Machine King - War God Machine]. Its Fusion Materials require five Machine-Type monsters with ‘Machine’ in their name.” Sho Marufuji took out five cards from his deck and showed them to Ameruda. “Therefore, I can send five ‘Machine’ monsters from my deck to the Graveyard: [Truck Machine], [Drill Machine], [Submarine Machine], [Rescue Machine], and [Steam Machine]!”

After sending five cards to the graveyard in one go, Marufuji Sho played another card and said, "Then, although I didn't draw any more cards with the effect of destroying the back row, if I can't deal with the face-down cards, let me deal with the field spell cards first!"

"Field Spell Card [Giant Machine City] activated! And since only one Field Spell Card can exist on the field at a time, [New-Style Chef's Inn Restaurant 'A-Table'] will be sent to the Graveyard!"

The dining table, which originally held the dishes of the two Amelda [New-Style Magic Chefs], suddenly tilted over, and the restaurant floor was cracked by a huge steel structure that suddenly rose up. As Marufuji Sho activated the Field Spell Card, a huge steel city on water replaced the magical restaurant.

“The two effects of [Giant Machine City] can each be used once per turn. Now I’m going to use its first effect.” Marufuji Sho filled the [Giant Machine City] card into the Field Zone, watched as Amelda removed his Field Spell Card and sent it to the Graveyard, then raised his Duel Disk, revealing the only card on it. “You can target one card on my field other than [Giant Machine City] to activate this effect. Destroy that card, and then add one [Machine] card from my Deck to my hand.”

"I destroy the Continuous Spell Card [Future Fusion], and then add this [Dragon Man] from my deck to my hand."

Ameruda glanced at the card Marufuji Sho sent to the graveyard and raised an eyebrow: "From the very beginning, you didn't expect [Future Fusion] to successfully fuse, but instead used it to send the card to the graveyard? Heh, that really has the style of Kobayashi Hayato. He has learned something, hasn't he?"

“I’m afraid this will disappoint you, Mr. Ameruda, because my grades in school were terrible. I didn’t learn anything from school at all; I was the worst of the worst.” Marufuji Sho glanced at the card he had retrieved, added it to his hand, and looked up at Ameruda. “If I had to say, my growth came more from my older brother.”

"It is because I believe in him that I can believe in myself now and have the confidence to duel with you!"

What Marufuji Sho didn't know was that Jaden, who was watching the duel from the sidelines, actually rejected his statement in his mind.

Xiang said he was just a bad student, but he was able to withstand the pressure from Mr. Ameruda and unleash [Black Hole] and [Lightning Storm] in succession. Even though they didn't work, he successfully depleted two large pits and is now starting his own development with [Future Fusion].

The way he was pondering the other party's card just now completely betrayed his usual timid and insecure demeanor. The change was drastic... No, it's more accurate to say that this is the ability that Marufuji Sho has always possessed, but he usually hides it behind his insecurity.

The fundamental reason why Marufuji Sho was forced to show his true abilities, even Judai had already seen it clearly: it was because of the expectations and hopes that were placed on him, which in turn brought him expectations and hopes in return.

However, carrying expectations can sometimes lead people down the wrong path. It's not that Judai didn't want Sho as his little brother anymore, but Judai was also thinking that it would be good if Marufuji Sho could grow more deeply, so that instead of "Judai believing in Sho," people would "believe in Sho whom Judai believes in."

Chapter 1477 Great! It's the King of Heroes! We're saved!

"I discard this [Dragon Machine] from my hand to activate one of its effects."

Marufuji Sho's strategy continued, sending the card he had just added to his hand to the graveyard again. "I choose to add one non-WIND [Machine] monster from my deck to my hand." The Duel Disk completed its search automatically, and Marufuji Sho drew a card. "I choose this DARK [Stealth Machine]."

"Next, I Normal Summon [Blender] to my field in Defense Position. Then I Tribute it to activate its first effect."

[Blender Man] [4☆/Wind]

[Mechanical Race/Effect]

[0/2200]

Suspecting that the cards in Amelda's back row might be cards that could actively target "New Chef", Marufuji Sho cautiously chose to Normal Summon the monster in Defense Position.

Despite being a Level 4 monster, it boasts 2200 DEF. While its stats are somewhat unbalanced, they are still quite good. However, compared to its powerful counterpart, the Mud Truck, which wields the power to traverse through space, the Blender's fate is much more tragic. It only appeared on Marufuji's field for a mere second before being sent to the Graveyard by its own effect, disappearing in an instant.

"【Blender Man】can Tribute one Machine-Type monster on my field and then Special Summon one 【Machine】 monster from my Deck other than WIND. The monster I Special Summoned is this one, the EARTH 【Express Machine】."

The concrete truck disappeared, but a track extended from Marufuji Sho's Duel Disk deck all the way to where it disappeared. The high-speed [Express Machine] drove out along the track and created a temporary platform in front of Marufuji Sho, dropping the two cards in Marufuji Sho's graveyard like passengers arriving at their destination.

【Express Man】【4 stars/location】

[Mechanical Race/Effect]

[400/1600]

“When I successfully Summon, Flip Summon, or Special Summon [Express Machine], I can target two [Machine] monsters other than [Express Machine] in my Graveyard and add them to my hand.” After showing the cards, Marufuji Sho added them to his hand. “The monsters I recycled are [Truck Machine] and [Drill Machine], which were just sent to the Graveyard by [Future Fusion].

【Marufuji Sho: 4000LP, hand 4→6】

“The [Truck Robot] and [Drill Robot] that I retrieved from my hand, plus the [Invisible Robot] that I searched with [Dragon Robot], and finally the [Express Robot] on the field.” Jaden counted on his fingers, then suddenly his eyes widened with excitement. “So that’s how it is! So that’s how you collect the required four fusion materials? You’re really capable, Sho!”

"Hmph, that's how it is. After all, you trust me so much, so of course I have to put in the courage to fight to the death." Marufuji Sho nodded and showed another card. "The final step is this card. I discard this [Swamp Demon King] from my hand to the graveyard to activate its effect and add one [Fusion] from my deck to my hand."

“Next, the Fusion Spell Card is activated! My Invisible Machine, Truck Machine, and Drill Machine in my hand, plus the Express Machine on the field, I’ll use these four monsters as Fusion Material!” After a pause, Marufuji Sho glanced at Jaden on the sidelines and continued, “This is, a tribute to my brother’s ‘E-Hero Eternal’s’ ‘Four Elements Fusion’, my ‘Four Elements Fusion’, my final fusion—Final Fusion!”

The giant stealth fighter jet representing "wind" soaring through the sky—the [Stealth Robot]—dives towards the ground;

The train, representing "water" and guided by the track, the [Express Robot], sped toward the side of the [Invisible Robot], burst in through the reserved connecting channel, and unfolded its two retractable arms, connecting with the [Invisible Robot]'s forearm, which was transformed from the engine.

The drilling rig representing "earth" breaking through the ground—the [Drill Man]—deformed and disintegrated, just in time to catch the [Invisible Man] and [Express Man] that were diving down, becoming the legs that could step onto the earth;

Finally, the truck representing "fire," wreathed in flames—the [Truck Robot]—collides with the massive combined machine, transforming and splitting into a chest component and a head!

It combines four different monsters perfectly, and the monster that descends onto Marufuji's field is the trump card among trump cards in his deck, even stronger than [Super Transporter - Giant Drill]—

"The absolute hero who pierces through all things, the ultimate machine that rules heaven and earth, the four bodies united! Final Fusion!" Shout Marufuji raised the card and shouted the monster's name, "Fusion Summon, Level 9☆!"

"【Super Transportation Robot - Invisible Combination】!"

【Super Transportation Robot - Invisible Combination】【9☆/Location】

[Mechanical Race/Fusion/Effect]

[3600/3000]

"Oh my god! Sho's ace monster is out, yay..." Just as Jaden was about to shout "Yay!", he looked at the [Super Transport Robot - Invisible Fusion] that Marufuji Sho had placed horizontally on the Duel Disk, and tilted his head, "Defense position? Why is that?"

"Uh, because monsters from the [New Chef] class can use their effects to release Attack Position monsters on my field, right?"

"What?! It has such an extreme effect?!" Jaden exclaimed in shock. "When did Mr. Ameruda mention this? How come I didn't know about it?!"

Covering his face, Marufuji Sho said helplessly, "Even if you ask me, I don't know where to begin. Mr. Ameluda basically revealed everything when he used the effects of the [New Magic Chef's Bouillabaisse]."

"Oh, I guess I didn't hear it because the monster's name also has 'Bess' in it."

"Don't tell bass jokes at a time like this!"

Watching the boisterous Jaden and Sho, Amelda's lips curved slightly before returning to normal. He said, "That's right. Whether it's 'New Chef's Butter-Fried Baranil' or 'New Chef's Oil-Sealed Comfilas' on my field, both 'New Chef' monsters need to Tribute an Attack Position monster other than themselves when using their effects, and they can Tribute monsters on the opponent's field without targeting."

Previously, the monsters of [New-Style Magic Chef] had already revealed their ability to gradually increase their level, and Marufuji Sho had already guessed most of their release conditions. Ameruda didn't mind revealing some of the effects, letting Marufuji Sho choose whether to believe it or not.

The effects of the 1☆, 2☆, and 3☆, 4☆ [New Chef] monsters have been largely revealed due to the previous use of [New Chef's Bouillabaisse Bouillabes] and [New Chef's Pan-Fried Bularetis]. However, the effect of Amelda's Level 5 [New Chef's Butter-Fried Baranil] has not yet been fully revealed. His description of the effect matches the monster's effect to some extent, but if Marufuji Sho misunderstands it, he will suffer a great loss.

“If your opponent’s monster is in Defense Position, it’s indeed difficult to trigger the effects of my ‘New Chef’ monsters. But then your monsters won’t be able to attack and deal with my ‘New Chef’ monsters, right?” Amelda looked at the giant robot on Marufuji’s field with great interest and sneered, “So how are you going to win?”

"Who says my monster in defense position can't deal with the monsters on your field, Mr. Amelda?" Marufuji Sho grinned smugly, raising his hand. "Whether it's attacking or using a targeting effect, it can be exploited by your [New Magic Chef] monster. But if I only have [Super Transporter - Stealth Fusion] in defense position on my field, even if I use a targeting effect, Mr. Amelda, you'll have to choose your own monster to Tribute, right?"

"Once per turn, during my Main Phase, I select one non-Machine-Type monster on the field, and activate the effect of [Super Transporter - Invisible Fusion] to equip the targeted monster as an Equip Card to [Super Transporter - Invisible Fusion]!"

Pointing to Ameruda's field, Marufuji Sho said, "My choice is naturally the one that looks the most powerful: [The New Magic Chef's Butter-Fried Baranil]!"

"Then choose, Mr. Ameruda! Will you let my [Super Transport Robot - Invisible Fusion] steal your monster as equipment, or will you now upgrade your [New Chef] monster by freeing your own monster?"

However, what Marufuji Sho didn't know was that the actual situation deviated slightly from his expectations, mainly concerning [New-Style Magic Chef's Butter-Fried Baranir], who was currently being targeted by [Super Transportation Robot - Invisible Combination].

在他的理解中，1☆·2☆的【新式魔厨】的效果是在自身被取对象时发动的、3☆·4☆的【新式魔厨】是在场上怪兽被取对象时发动的，虽然5☆的【新式魔厨的黄油香煎之巴拉尼尔】的效果尚且未知、但大概也是这样的被动触发的效果。

However, the effects of the 5-star or 6-star [New-Style Chef] monster are completely different from what he imagined; instead, they have changed from being passively triggered to being actively triggered.

类比的话大概就是隼人的【狱火机】们所共有的除外墓地“刨坟”效果，除【狱火机·十进管】外的等级1☆到等级4☆的下级【狱火机】们只能在对方回合使用这个效果，等级5☆到等级8☆的中级【狱火机】们的效果变成在双方回合都能发动，而等级9☆·10☆的上级【狱火机】的效果则是满足条件即可发动。

Normally, this effect upgrade is considered a strengthening, but there are exceptions. For example, if the opponent doesn't activate the monster's effect but instead tries to destroy "Inferno Lilith" with a Spell Card, then its effect cannot be chained. It's better to use a lower-level "Inferno" to at least destroy a card in the opponent's graveyard by releasing itself.

And right now, it's a similar situation—the effect of [Butter-Fried Baranil of the New Chef] is that, under the premise that it is Special Summoned by the effect of a [New Chef] monster, it can Tribute one Attack Position monster on the opponent's field at Speed ​​2 to Special Summon a Level 6 Supreme [New Chef] Ritual Monster from the hand or Deck. But unfortunately, the cautious Marufuji Sho doesn't have even half an Attack Position monster on his field at this moment!

On the other side, the level 2☆ [New-Style Chef's Oil-Sealed Confilas] goes without saying. Not being a 3☆ or 4☆ [New-Style Chef], he can only activate his effect when he is selected as the target of the effect, and cannot be chained to [Super Transport Robot - Invisible Fusion] to activate the effect!

In other words, the two monsters on Amelda's field cannot actually chain together the targeting effect of [Super Transporter - Invisible Fusion] to activate their respective effects—unless Amelda uses other cards to support them!

"Hmph, rather than let you take my card, I'd rather release it myself." Amelda's expression wasn't good, because he recalled how Hayato often used cards like [Change of Heart] or [Requiem] to take away his monsters when they played cards in the past. Without hesitation, he pointed to his field, "The effect of the Continuous Trap Card [Recette-de-Personnel ~Recipe of Meals~] is linked to [Super Transport Robot - Invisible Fusion]!"

"Target one Ritual Monster on my field and Special Summon one [New Chef Token] to my field. This time, I choose my Level 2 [New Chef's Oil-Sealed Comfilas] on my field. The Level of the [New Chef Token] Special Summoned by this effect will also become the same as the Level of [New Chef's Oil-Sealed Comfilas]."

"When I am selected as the target of the effect, I will chain the effect of [New Chef's Oil-Sealed Comfilas]! C1 [Super Transport Robot - Invisible Combination] C2 [Recette-de-Personnel ~The Recipe of Meals~] C3 [New Chef's Oil-Sealed Comfilas]!"

With no more cards added to the chain, Amelda began to process the effect of "New Chef's Oil-Sealed Comfilas": "The chain comes first, starting with the effect of 'New Chef's Oil-Sealed Comfilas,' which Tributes both the monster on my field and 'New Chef's Butter-Fried Baranil,' which is targeted by the effect of 'Super Transporter - Stealth Fusion,' and Special Summons a Level 3/4 'New Chef' monster from my hand and Deck."

"I chose this card—cardamom, pepper, sugar, and salt. The seasonings are sprinkled on the halved foie gras for marinating, complemented by brandy. Then it's seared over a high flame and pressed flat on both sides with a heavy object. The hot foie gras is then transferred to ice and snow to freeze, and finally paired with truffles!"

Although using Level 2☆ and Level 5☆ to cook a Level 4☆ dish seemed like a waste to Ameruda, this was the limit of the effect of [New-Style Magic Chef's Oil-Sealed Confilas]. However, the aroma released during the cooking process was worthy of the two monsters he had released.

Even before the dishes were served on the no-longer-existing table, the demonic power that resided within them manifested, transforming into a red-haired demon with enormous black wings and a spoon in hand.

"Dish upgrade—Level 4☆!" Ameruda's tone was slightly reluctant when he said "upgrade," but he still placed a card from his deck onto the Duel Disk, saying, "A delicacy presented—[The New Magic Chef's Foie Gras with Sauce, Fogresia]!"

【The New Magic Chef's Foie Gras Sauce: Fogrecia】【4☆/Dark】

[Warrior Race/Ritual/Effect]

[1600/1850]

Marufuji Sho discovered that his guess seemed to be correct. The even-numbered [New-Style Chef's Foie Gras with Sauce - Fogresia] was indeed a "white meat" dish, just like [New-Style Chef's Confit of Comphiras], and the race was also warrior. Although this discovery was useless.

Meanwhile, after the special summoning effect of [New Chef's Sealed Confilas], the Continuous Trap Card [Recette-de-Personnel ~Recipe for Meals~] was dealt with, and another [New Chef Token] appeared on Ameruda's field in Attack Position. However, the effect of [Super Transporter - Stealth Fusion] was nullified because the target disappeared.

[New Style Magic Chef Derivative] [1☆/Dark]

[Demon Race/Derivatives]

[50/50]

Chapter 1478 Do you dare to defy me, who possesses Baye's power?

This time, before Marufuji Sho could even learn from Judai which of the Seventy-Two Demon Gods had resided in the food again, Ameruda revealed it herself: "The demon god residing in [Forgresia, the Foie Gras of the New-Style Demon Chef] is based on the twenty-fifth of the Seventy-Two Demon Gods of Solomon, the demon god of the Giant Winged Demon Hound—Glassia Lapos."

"It also has three names: Casimoral, Grassya, and Gracia Labora. In addition to the power to make people invisible, it also has the ability to impart knowledge. Therefore, the effect of [Forgrecia, the Foie Gras of the New Magic Chef] is that if it is Special Summoned, it can be activated by targeting up to three cards in both players' graveyards and returning the targeted cards to their owners' decks."

Although apart from "3", Marufuji Sho couldn't see any connection between the effects of [New Style Magic Chef's Foie Gras with Sauce - Fogresia] and his demon prototype, he still praised him, saying, "I see, I completely understand now."

After glancing at Marufuji Sho, Ameluda thought about the cards in Marufuji Sho's graveyard, but couldn't think of any cards that would be necessary to put him back into the deck.

If it's Kaiba, Amelda can immediately think of countering Blue-Eyes White Dragon or Blue-Eyes Jet Dragon. If it's Jonouchi, the focus should be on dealing with the recurring resurrections of Red-Eyes Black Dragon. Yugi Muto's Dark Magician is also quite adept at jumping out of the graveyard. And as for Hayato Kobayashi, who knows where his Horus deck came from? Every turn, four big guys can jump out of the graveyard—who can stand that?

But Marufuji Sho... might as well just collect the cards from his own graveyard.

Thinking this, Ameruda took out three cards from his grave and said, "The cards I choose are the three cards in my grave: [A-Table], [A-Table Bouillabaisse Bouillabaisse], and [Angel's Charity]."