Duels should be played with a smile.

"I hope this incident is just a false alarm; my round-the-world trip is only halfway through."

The source network was deployed in a very short time, but the real show was just beginning.

"The effect of the Field Spell Card [Number Network]: During your Main Phase, you can send 1 [Number] Normal Spell Card that meets the activation conditions from your Deck to the Graveyard to activate this effect. This effect becomes the same as the effect of that Spell Card when it was activated."

"I send [Source Lineage] from my deck to the graveyard and activate the same effect!"

Upon hearing the keyword, Yusei wanted to react, but he noticed that Jaden next to him was also making a move, so he stopped what he was doing.

No one responded to Mr. Phantom Thief's actions, and the effects of the Source Network were activated normally.

The source network surrounding this area shimmered with a purplish-red light. Several lines of the network extended all the way to connect with Mr. Phantom Thief's Duel Disk, drawing upon it to copy the power of a card.

Then, a door, seemingly capable of swallowing everything and resembling a black hole, quietly opened.

"The effect of 【Number Lineage】 can only be activated if there is a 【Number Network】 in your Field Zone and you control no monsters. You can Special Summon up to one 【Number Gate】Xyz Monster from your Extra Deck, for a maximum of four 【Number Gate】Xyz Monsters!"

"The power of the source number will open the door to reality!"

"What?! Xyz Monsters, and four at once?!" Having seen all sorts of powerful Xyz Monsters, the Pharaoh immediately thought of a ridiculously powerful monster when he heard this effect.

Energy surged within the door, and soon something would emerge from it.

"In this instant, I'm linking the effects of your source network!"

Jaden smiled as he revealed a card from his hand and sent it to the graveyard.

"【G of Multiplication】, once per turn, send this card from your hand to the Graveyard to activate this effect. Each time you successfully Special Summon a monster this turn, I draw one card from my Deck."

"So? Do you have any more chains? Like Crypt Lord, or Ash Blossom?"

Mr. Phantom Thief paused slightly, and without much thought, shook his head in acknowledgment.

The most outrageous thing about this 1v3 situation is that the opponent's second-speed effects are universal among all three players! At least in the original work, there was an instance where, during Yusei's turn, Jaden activated his face-down card, allowing Yugi to retrieve a Kuriboh from his deck to block a fatal blow.

Therefore, this kind of one-against-three situation is really inhuman, especially in an era where the number of hand traps has increased dramatically. With one more person, the chance of getting hand traps doubles!

"So, the chain reverses, the [G of Proliferation] effect takes effect, then you use Special Summon, and I draw a card."

Countless tiny blue cockroaches—no, cockroaches—peeked out from the graveyard, ready to absorb energy and multiply in response to their opponent's movements.

"Monsters Special Summoned through the Direct Source Effect are banished during the End Phase, and after this effect is activated, I can only Normal or Special Summon a monster once until the end of the turn." Mr. Phantom Thief calmly explained the side effects of the Direct Source Effect.

What can you do if the other side throws a G? That's how it is when you're fighting three against one. If you follow up with a finger, Yusei might throw out a Yashiki-warashi.

"Your efforts are in vain. Before the power of the source number, two extra cards in hand cannot change anything."

"That's not necessarily true. There are endless possibilities hidden within those two cards!"

"At least for now, you have absolutely no chance!"

Mr. Phantom Thief abruptly interrupted the three people opposite him, raised his hands, and began to call for the arrival of the Gate of Truth.

"The origin of numbers begins with chaos, with 0. All things come from nothing, which is the beginning of the transition from 0 to 1!"

"This is the ultimate source number! Appear, No.1! Sky-high gates of hell, when the sturdy doors open, abandon even the sliver of hope! Gate of Source Number - One!"

A door gleaming with metallic luster flew out of the black hole, guarding Mr. Thief; its sturdy structure could block any harm.

[Light - Tier 1 - Machine Race - Attack Power 1000 - Defense Power 100]

"It begins with 0, and is initiated with 1! Then one begets two, two begets three, and three begets all things!"

"Let all the gates that reflect reality descend! Gate of Source Number - II! Gate of Source Number - III! Gate of Source Number - IV!"

The next three gates, which contained the Gate of Numbers but seemed unrelated to the gates, flew out of the black hole. They combined with the first gate to form a huge, complete Gate of Numbers.

The four Gates of Origin are identical in all aspects except for their appearance.

"No. 1, 2, 3, 4, could it be that this is also a series of monsters?" Examining the names of these monsters, the Pharaoh couldn't help but ask.

“That’s right, from No.1 to No.100, these are 100 numbered cards. These numbered cards are all Xyz Monsters, with all sorts of different characteristics,” Jaden explained casually, while a slight doubt arose in his heart.

There's no reason why the Pharaoh wouldn't recognize these numbered cards. After all, he even knows about Xyz Monsters.

Could it be that the Pharaoh's timeline is different from what I expected again? Just how messed up is this timeline?

Four gates have been slapped in the face, and it should be time to advance to the battle rank. Just as Jaden and Yusei were thinking this, the Phantom Thief played another card.

"The Spell Card [Memory of Hope], once per turn, allows you to draw the number of [Number] Xyz Monsters you control from your Deck. I currently have 4 Gates on the field, so I can draw 4 cards."

"So, is there a chain?"

"Of course! I'll chain-activate [Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring] to negate your card draw!"

Looking in the direction of the sound, it was none other than Fudo Yusei, who had just held back his attack.

At that moment, the broad-foreheaded, dog-eared old woman in his hand appeared so arrogant.

Chapter 109 Perhaps, this is the Joker

The wide-browed old lady, whom everyone both loves and hates, flew swiftly toward the magic card in Mr. Phantom Thief's hand.

This opportunity to draw four cards at once is extremely rare, considering that Pot of Greed only allows you to draw two.

Yusei was secretly pleased; his earlier restraint had been the right thing to do.

"It's a good thing you didn't use it just now." Jaden smiled and gave Yusei an approving look.

Yusei smiled and replied, "Of course, you should save the key cards for the crucial moment!"

"You're right! We should save our key cards for the crucial moment!"

A smug smile appeared on the face beneath the mask of the Phantom Thief. He flipped a card in his hand to meet Ash Blossom, which was flying towards him.

"I didn't point out that you just dropped a G, that's exactly what I was waiting for!"

With a snap, the dog-eared old lady bumped into a green finger, which pointed at Gray Flowing Beauty. The green finger then grabbed her and pulled her back into the ground.

"Chain Ash Blossom & Joyous Springs, activate the Quick-Play Spell Card [Called from the Graveyard]! Banish all Ash Blossom & Joyous Springs in your Graveyard, and negate the effects of cards with the same name until the end of your next turn!"

"The cricket's ash is beautiful; the weak shall retreat!"

That's how the game Yu-Gi-Oh! works; when one side is laughing happily, the other side is usually not.

Just like now, the smiles on the faces of the three main characters have all vanished, except for Mr. Phantom Thief, who still maintains a smile under his mask.

I got to show off in front of these three people, that felt great!

With Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring excluded and no one else continuing the chain, and with no one stopping him, Mr. Phantom Thief happily drew out four cards, replenishing his hand to six. This abundant resource was enough to support him in continuing today's Yu-Gi-Oh! segment.

Furthermore, one of these cards could potentially end the battle immediately.

Although the probability is almost zero, at least there is still hope. People should always have dreams!

"War has begun! Today, you will all perish here!"

With a wave of his hand, a slightly somber atmosphere instantly filled the air.

"All the monsters on his field only have 1000 attack power, but now they're attacking on their own. There must be some special effect, right?" None of the monsters on his field had less than 1000 attack power. Seeing this guy holding a hand full of cards but suddenly going into battle, Yugi became suspicious.

At the same time, he thought of another possibility: "Or is he planning to retire to the next battle rank after the fight, and then summon that powerful monster to clear the field? But he doesn't have enough materials, right?"

Jaden immediately thought of another possibility: "He must have just drawn that card. We might be in some danger."

"I also think it should be that card, but with Yugi-san here, we shouldn't have to worry." After Yusei finished speaking, he checked his own graveyard and then felt relieved.

After all, it was the original Yu-Gi-Oh!, so it wasn't easy to defeat. Moreover, the Number Gate strategy was just a speculative approach in its time. Unless you added some weird and wonderful things to it, it was really just for fun.

"You are going out to travel through the four gates, this is one of them. You ignorant people will suffer the hardships of 'life'!"

Mr. Phantom Thief commanded the Gate of Numbers to launch an attack on the weakest magical warrior, Destroyer. The massive gate slowly advanced, as if to crush all obstacles in its path.

The four gates of origin symbolize the four kinds of suffering: birth, old age, sickness, and death. Legend has it that the being named Shakyamuni traveled through the four gates and witnessed the impermanence of the human world, which strengthened his resolve. He then renounced his position as the crown prince of a country and abandoned his family to cultivate the Tao.

Now, the purpose of the four gates going on a journey is not to let people witness suffering, but to inflict suffering on the enemy.

Faced with the enormous gate, the magic warrior appeared so small, but behind him was his master. No matter how powerful the enemy was, he would not retreat a single step.

As the door slowly opened, signaling the imminent battle with the magical warrior, the Phantom Thief slapped another card onto the Duel Disk.

"Quick-Play Spell Card [Restriction Removed]!"

"All Machine-Type monsters on your field gain double ATK until the end of this turn. Monsters affected by this effect are destroyed during the End Phase of this turn, but it doesn't matter anymore, as long as you destroy them all before they are destroyed!"

"Unleash the true power! Gate of Numbers!"

With a series of mechanical clicks, the four gates of source numbers expanded slightly.

[Gate of Origin Attack Power: 1000 → 2000]

A mage warrior with only 1600 attack power is naturally no match. If the Gate of Source continues its slow advance, without a doubt...

But just as the magical warriors risk their lives to protect their masters, their masters will also help them in their own way when needed, enabling them to return victorious.

"At this very moment!" Yugi shouted, his call seemingly carrying a magical power that invigorated even the weaker magic warriors.

"【Apprentice Magician of Fantasy】Effect: When a battle occurs between one of your Spellcaster-Type DARK monsters other than this card and an opponent's monster, send this card from your hand or field to the Graveyard to activate this effect. That monster's ATK and DEF increase by 2000 only during that damage calculation."

"Apprentice Archmage, entrust your power to your companions and bring me victory!"

Although it sounds awkward, the apprentice mage, who does resemble a female version of Malik, nodded in response to the game's command, waved his wand, and transferred his power to the mage warrior.

[Magic Warrior Destroyer Attack Power: 1600 → 3600]

With the power of his companions, the magic warrior unleashed tremendous strength. At this moment, he was like a hero fighting against the Demon King, wielding his sword to strike at the Demon King who exuded a suffocating sense of oppression.

With your companions by your side, you will naturally be invincible!

[Ren Amamiya LP: 8000→6400]

As the aftershocks of the battle gradually subsided, the defeated Gate of Numbers still stood tall.

"The gates that opened the heavens and the earth are indestructible!"

In other words, it won't be destroyed in battle.

Jaden and Yusei were not surprised by the result; they both knew about these effects. Yugi, the only one who did not know about the effects, had also anticipated it.

"The common effect of [Gate of Numbers]: At the end of the Damage Step when this card battles an opponent's monster, you can detach 2 Xyz Material, and all [Number] monsters you control gain double ATK until the end of this turn."

"The more we fight, the stronger we become! The more we are defeated, the more resolute we become! This monumental undertaking will not be halted by the obstruction of ants!"

“But none of the monsters you summoned by special have any Xyz Materials.” Yugi’s gaze fell on the source network that covered the surrounding area. Although he asked the question, his intuition told him that the strange guy on the other side had not made a mistake.

"Yugi Muto, no, it should be ***... Interesting. I didn't expect that I couldn't reveal your true name at this time. Nameless Pharaoh, you will soon witness the greatness of the power of the source number!"