Is this the world of card dealers? Yada thieves!

"The effect of [Space Gift] is that for each [N] monster I control, I can draw one card from my Deck." The effect, spoken by Jaden, sounded so simple yet powerful, and the cards he drew from his deck in one go were so astonishing. "Because I have four [N] monsters on my field: [N] Flame Beetle, [N] Earth Mole, [N] Sky Hummingbird, and [N] Water Dolphin—"

"—So I can draw four cards from my deck at once!"

"What kind of overpowered fake card is this? If you put five different monsters on the field, wouldn't you be able to draw five cards at once?" Keith mentally ranted about the absurdity of "Space Gift." He could clearly see that the effect of "Space Gift" was only written in two short lines, without any messy side effects or tedious restrictions.

In other words, if Jaden had three copies of "Space Gift" and his field was full of "N" monsters, he could activate all three in one turn and draw fifteen cards without any problem. Unlike "Treasure Card of Life-Slaying," which has the side effect of discarding all cards after five turns, Jaden's "Space Gift" doesn't even bother to pretend to have a negative effect.

Jaden's hand swelled to five cards in the blink of an eye. He drew a card and glanced at his field: "Although the [N] cards Special Summoned by [Spatial Expansion] can't use their effects when they're single, I can just make them show a new form, right?"

"I activate the Spell Card [NEX]. This card can send my face-up [N. Water Wave Dolphin] to the Graveyard, and then Special Summon a Level 4 monster from my Fusion Deck that is treated as the same as the card sent to the Graveyard!"

Jaden removed [N-Swiss Dolphin] from his Duel Disk, took out another card, and looked at [N-Swiss Dolphin] on the field, saying, "Here we go, [N-Swiss Dolphin]!"

"Oh! Shout my name out loud, Judai!" Nodding to Judai, [N·Water Wave Dolphin] leaped up and jumped into the rainbow light unfolded by [NEX] in Judai's backcourt, and a huge wave surged out from it.

"Os!" Jaden shouted, holding up the card. "Hero from the new space from the other side of the universe, reveal your original form, free from the shackles of gravity!"

"Return to the Primitive! [N·Ocean Dolphin]!"

Chapter 1486 You Know Nothing About the Power of the Dark Side

"Return to the Primitive! [N·Ocean Dolphin]!"

【N·Ocean Dolphin】【4☆/Water】

[Warrior Race/Fusion/Effect]

[900/1100]

Having returned from [NEX], transformed into a completely new form, or rather, reverted to its original form before arriving on Earth, [N Ocean Dolphin] has become noticeably more humanoid, while abandoning some of the dolphin characteristics acquired to adapt to Earth's gravity. Even its rank has risen from 3☆ to 4☆.

Although in this world, [E·hero Neo Bubble Man] existed as an earlier predecessor, and Jaden's deck already had the power of [M·hero], in another world, because [E·hero Neo Bubble Man] existed as a Special Summoned Monster in the main deck instead of as a Fusion Monster, [N·Ocean Dolphin] became the first Fusion Monster in history that did not possess Fusion Materials, and also the first monster to have two names at the same time.

"Phew, I've gotten stronger. Is it because I've broken free from gravity? Damn gravity." Clenching his fist, [N·Ocean Dolphin] felt his power return and turned to Judai, saying, "If you need me, I'm ready anytime, Judai!"

“Oh, then let’s do it now, right here!” Jaden nodded, tossing a card from his hand and looking at Keith, “The [N·Ocean Dolphin], now freed from the shackles of gravity, can use its effect normally. Once per turn, I discard one card from my hand to activate its effect—”

"Echoes - Act 1!"

The effect move name changed from the original "Echo Positioning" to pure "Echo". As Jaden discarded his hand, [N Ocean Dolphin] brought his palms together and pointed them directly at Keith's hand, then pushed them forward sharply!

Keith watched in disbelief as the card in his hand was struck by the sonic waves released from the palms of [N·Ocean Dolphin] and suddenly emitted a sound, as if it were a shout into an empty valley that echoed back!

"The roast chicken is almost gone..."

"The roast chicken is almost gone..."

"The roast chicken is almost gone!"

Keith's hand shouted "Look here!" and then the originally invisible sound actually took shape. The sound emitted by each of Keith's cards revealed the original appearance of the card in front of Jaden!

"Under the effect of [N·Ocean Dolphin], the opponent's hand will have no secrets from me. Now, take a look at the hand?" Looking at Keith's hand as it appeared in the voice text, Jaden looked at each card one by one, then pointed to one and said, "Although they are all cards I don't recognize very well, at least I can understand the card values."

"Echoes-Act 2! After checking my opponent's hand, I can choose one monster card from it. If I control a monster with ATK equal to or greater than the target monster's ATK, I can further destroy the target monster!"

Addressing one of the materialized voices, Jaden's [E·Hero Neos] stood up, raised his hand, and unleashed a powerful chop, destroying the image of a monster in Keith's hand that appeared in the voice. Simultaneously, the corresponding card in Keith's hand also shattered!

Jaden said again, "It's not over yet! Echoes-Act 3! Add 500 points of effect damage to the opponent's duelist!"

A loud popping sound suddenly appeared from Keith's shattered card. The strong airflow from the sound made it difficult for Keith, who was wearing sunglasses, to open his eyes, and the noise even caused him to experience tinnitus.

Keith Howard: 4000→3500LP, Hand 5→4

"Wow! You're really putting up a good fight, Jaden!" Fubuki cheered for Jaden from the sidelines. "Although it's a card disadvantage, it's much better than using Fusion directly."

"Although everyone knows that Fusion Summoning is a card-inefficient summoning method, Fubuki-senpai, you're just competing to see who's worse," Marufuji Sho retorted, glancing at the [N Ocean Dolphin] on the field. "However, although it has lost the ability to activate unlimited times per turn, at least [N Ocean Dolphin] doesn't have the risk of taking damage itself, compared to [N Water Wave Dolphin]."

"Ugh! Using such tricks in a duel, you annoying brat!" Keith complained, covering his ears. He paused, then looked at Jaden's remaining three cards and sneered, "But you used up two cards just for this?"

"While you did manage to reduce my base score, let me tell you something—about not messing up other people's hands!"

As Keith finished speaking, a light suddenly shone in his graveyard, and a huge land-based weapon that looked like a spider appeared behind Keith!

"If this card is destroyed by battle or card effect and sent to the Graveyard, its effect is activated!" Keith triumphantly drew a card from his deck. "Special Summon one Level 5 or lower [Omni-Tales] monster from my deck!"

"Black Lord, Western Witch, let science fiction and fantasy intertwine here, and reenact an epic adventure in the universe!" Keith shouted, placing the card horizontally on the duel disk. "Don your golden hats and masks, summon your beasts and command your lightsabers, descend!"

Special Summon, Level 5!

"The Dark Side of the Force and Magic—[Oz the Great and Powerful - Dark Evabar]!"

【Starry Night - Dark Evaba】【5☆/Dark】

[Psychic Clan/Effect]

[2200/1800]

Even though it was Jaden's turn, Keith summoned a monster that didn't look weak at all. Dressed in a long black dress, wearing a pointed hat, with a mask on his face and carrying a lightsaber, [StarCraft - Dark Evaba] gave Jaden a strong sense of déjà vu. Recalling the giant spider-like walking machine from earlier, Jaden guessed, "Is this from 'The Wizard of Oz'?"

“Hmm? I thought a kid your age would guess Star Wars first.” Keith raised an eyebrow, slightly surprised, but still nodded and said, “That’s right, the deck I’m using, ‘Wizard of Oz,’ is a deck created based on both The Wizard of Oz and Star Wars.”

"Its field name, 'Kozmo,' is a combination of the original title of 'The Wizard of Oz,' 'The Witch of Oz,' and 'Cosmos.' Furthermore, based on whether the prototype is a creature or an item, 'Kozmo' monsters are divided into Machine-type monsters such as 'Kozmo - Land Walker,' and Psychic-type monsters such as 'Kozmo - Dark Evaba' on my field."

"Be glad, kid. You're the first person besides the card designer, Hayato Kobayashi, and me to see this deck."

Listening to Keith's introduction, Sho Marufuji, who was sitting in the audience, was completely confused: "The Wizard of Oz just had a performance on Broadway, and the famous actress Kyoko Masaki was in it. I've seen the videotape that my brother found; I've also seen Star Wars. The last movie in the prequel trilogy, Revenge of the Sith, was just released last year."

"But you actually managed to combine these two works to create a Duel Monsters deck? You're really something, International Illusion Publishing."

"Duel Monsters, isn't that amazing? No, it's more accurate to say that the designers of the Duel Monsters cards have an incredibly wild imagination." Fubuki whistled. "The prototype for [Oz the Great and Powerful - Land Walker] seems to be the giant spider that bullies small animals and is killed by the lion in The Wizard of Oz, as well as the AT-AT walker from Star Wars. Not to mention [Oz the Great and Powerful - Dark Evaba], the prototype is obviously Darth Vader from Star Wars and the Wicked Witch of the West from The Wizard of Oz."

"To find characters from two completely different works who share a common backstory and then stitch them together to create a new card, the card designer is quite something. But, I feel like they're likely to get a cease and desist letter?"

“This worry is unnecessary. Didn’t the International Illusion Society and the Seahorse Group acquire Disney two years ago? The two companies divided up Mr. Mi’s entire estate. One took all the copyrights and the other took all the real estate. Seahorse didn’t even leave Disneyland to them; they turned it all into their own Seahorse Park.” After a pause, Ameruda said disdainfully, “That’s really the style of that arrogant guy.”

"So that's why I couldn't find Disneyland when I was on a date during the holidays." Fubuki, who only regained her senses last year, wasn't very clear about what had happened during the year she was missing. She only realized what had happened after hearing Ameruda's words.

Turning his attention back to the field, [N·Ocean Dolphin] felt somewhat embarrassed to see that he had disrupted his opponent's hand, only to have the opponent use the opportunity to summon a monster instead: "Although [E·Hero Neos]'s 2500 attack power is higher than [Starry Sky - Land Walker]'s 2400, the opponent still managed to seize the opportunity to summon a monster... Sorry, Jaden."

"No, the decision was made by me, it has nothing to do with you, [N·Ocean Dolphin]." Jaden didn't seem to care much, waving his hand and looking at Keith's field with considerable excitement, "In fact, isn't this even more exciting?"

"My 'new spaces' are a new power born in the universe, a combination of my childhood fantasies and the technology of Haima Group. And 'Interstellar Wonderland' is an epic and romantic cosmic story that combines magic and science fiction. It's just so cool!"

"You're absolutely right. What Hayato-sensei said is that gravity brings people together. Meeting Mr. Keith, who also uses a 'space' themed deck, on the island is practically a destiny guided by gravity!"

Watching Jaden talk to himself while looking at the cards, Keith wasn't someone who was unaware of the truth of the world—after all, he had experienced having his soul sealed once, and not everyone was as stubborn and superstitious as Kaiba. Although he couldn't see the Pokémon, he knew they existed and understood that Jaden was communicating with his cards.

"I don't know about gravity, but I do know that duelists do attract each other, especially between similar duelists." Keith pushed up his sunglasses. "However, whether your [N] is similar to my [Starry Night] is still unknown."

“Well, just you wait and see, Mr. Keith. My [N]s aren’t even unleashing their full power yet.” Jaden said, waving his hand. “The [N]s from the ‘New Dimension’ have adapted to Earth’s gravity and acquired forms for movement on Earth, but besides returning to their original forms, there’s another way to unleash their original power—”

"[N·Earth Mole] and [E·Hero Neocosmos], lend me your power... and then, let's fight side by side and eat mud together (now, here, we are one!)!"

Without Jaden playing a card, as he raised his palm, his [N-Earth Mole] and [E-Hero Neos] stood up and exchanged punches. At the moment of contact, the light of fusion actually bloomed without a [Fusion] spell card!

"Return my [N-Earth Mole] and [E-Hero Neos] to my Deck, and Special Summon this monster from my Fusion Deck without needing a Fusion Spell Card!"

Seeing Jaden remove the cards from the field and take out a Fusion Monster card to play, Amelda's expression was somewhat surprised, and she couldn't help but say, "This is... Kobayashi Hayato's 'Contact Fusion'?!"

Because Hayato started calling Fusion Monsters like [XYZ-Dragon Cannon] "Contact Fusion" as early as six or seven years ago, "Contact Fusion" has been redefined by Hayato. In the public's eyes, any monster on the field that can be Special Summoned into a Fusion Monster on its own without the additional control of [Fusion] cards can be called "Contact Fusion".

Even before that, Manjoume had named the fusion summoning of his [Dragon King of Light and Darkness] using the effects of [Darkness and Annihilation Dragon] "Chaos Contact Fusion," making Judai, the first person in another world to use "Contact Fusion," seem like a latecomer.

However, the fusion of Jaden's [N·Earth Mole] and [E·Hero Neos] was still somewhat surprising. Sho Marufuji, who was watching from the sidelines, even complained: "It was one thing that their appearances and names were similar before, but now they can actually make contact and transform? Doesn't this completely turn them into Ultraman?"

"It's already good enough that there's no additional three-minute battle time limit." Fubuki casually remarked, unaware that she was actually "foreseeing the future."

"Let the resolute life that digs through the rock and the life form of light from beyond the heavens unite here and become the guardians of the earth!" Jaden shouted, clasping his hands together. "Contact and Fusion, Level 7☆!"

"Plowing a path with a drill bit—[E·hero: New Earth Universe]!"

【E·hero Earth Neo-Universe】【7☆/Land】

[Warrior Race/Fusion/Effect]

[2500/2000]

"Although the ATK, DEF, and Level of [E-Hero Neos] remain unchanged after fusion with [N-Earth Mole], it gains the effect borrowed from [N-Earth Mole]: once per turn, it can select one monster on the opponent's field and return it to its owner's hand without battle."

Pointing to the field, Jaden declared, "I will immediately activate the effect of [E·hero Earth Neos] and return [Star Trek - Dark Evaba] from my opponent's field to their hand!"

"Nebula Void!"

Jaden's idea was simple: although he had accidentally helped Keith Special Summon a monster from his deck, "Starry Night - Dark Evaba" was a Level 5 ☆ high-level monster, so all he had to do was put it back into Keith's hand, right?

Because it's the first round and can't enter the battle phase, and [N·Earth Mole]'s effect is nullified due to the previous [New Space Expansion], but [E·Hero Earth Neocosm] formed through contact fusion doesn't have this restriction and can activate its effect freely!

The giant drill in his hand began to spin as [E·hero Earth Neos] locked onto [Star Trek - Dark Evaba] on the field, leaped up and thrust the spinning drill out!

However, just as [StarCraft - Dark Evaba] was about to be hit by the effect of [E·Hero Earth Neos], Keith calmly raised his hand and said casually to the charging [E·Hero Earth Neos], "Before, I was the only one who destroyed the opponent's cards with monster effects, and then Kobayashi Hayato and the others would arrogantly say that to me. It's true what they say, the tables have turned."

"I don't understand the effects of putting monsters back into your hand, so..." Keith's eyes sharpened behind his sunglasses, "I don't understand, damn it!"

As Keith and his fellow player, [Star Trek - Dark Evaba], simultaneously made a clenched fist gesture, [E·hero Earth Neos] suddenly stopped moving, clutching his throat but unable to grasp anything, as if someone had choked him!?

Chapter 1487 Skilled at helping others improve themselves

"You know nothing of the power of [Oz the Star], kid!" Keith continued, maintaining his stance. "Once per turn, when the effect of a monster other than [Oz the Star - Dark Evaba] is activated on my field, I can pay 1000 Life Points to activate its effect! Negate the activation of that monster's effect and destroy it!"

"Force Throat Lock!"

Although two prototypes were used in the card design, at least when Keith used it, the "Darth Vader" component of "Oz the Great and Powerful" was more prominent. Even the name of the move that Keith shouted when she activated the effect was the most classic scene in the movie where he "helps others improve themselves".

Keith Howard: 3500 → 2500 LP, 4 cards in hand

Seeing his [E·Hero Earth Neos] destroyed by the chokehold of [Star Trek - Dark Evaba], Jaden drew a card and placed it in his Spell & Trap Zone: "As expected, it's not that easy to take down Mr. Keith's monster. But with [E·Hero Earth Neos] destroyed, I'll chain-activate this Quick-Play Spell Card in my hand!"

"Quick-Play Spell Card [Neuromancer's Reversal]! It can only be activated when a face-up Fusion Monster with 'Neuromancer' in its name on my field is destroyed." Jaden paused, then retrieved a card from his deck and showed it to Keith. "I Special Summon one [E-Hero Neomancer] from my deck in Attack Position. While this [E-Hero Neomancer] is face-up on the field, it gains 1000 ATK, but it is destroyed during the End Phase of this turn."

"Light is the bond; let us carry on this light!"

"Tuo!"

With Jaden's call, [E·hero Neos] let out a rather Showa-era cry and returned to Jaden's field, its attack power soaring by a full 1000 points, even surpassing the legendary [Blue-Eyes White Dragon].

【E·hero New Universe】【ATK2500→3500】

"Heh, it's pointless. Even if it increases attack power, it can't attack on the first turn, and besides, it will destroy at the end of the turn." Looking at Jaden's [E·Hero Neos] on the field, Keith was unconcerned. "You can't exactly summon [E-Hero Neos] and then use that monster as a cannonball, can you?"

"No, I'm not Hayato-sensei. Unless it's a truly necessary sacrifice, I wouldn't be having fun releasing monsters," Jaden retorted, taking out a card from his hand. "But Mr. Keith, do you remember that this duel was meant to familiarize us both with our new decks? I'm going to start trying to combine them with my existing cards!"

"Send this [Cross Watchman] card from my hand to the graveyard to activate its effect."

Jaden placed a card in his Graveyard and took one out of his own Graveyard, saying, "Special Summon one [E-hero] monster or [N] monster from my hand or Graveyard. I choose this [E-hero Shadow Mist Lady] from my Graveyard."