Yu-Gi-Oh!: This isn't a duel!

After all, there's no banned card list in this world, and that frog isn't dead yet.

Although the opponent looks like a comical cook who can only swing a frying pan, this opening move is surprisingly orthodox and dangerous.

Since that's the case, then we can't let you unfold it comfortably.

You Yang's fingertips lightly traced across the cards in his hand, instantly locking onto the card that emitted a cherry blossom-colored glow.

He flashed it backhand without the slightest hesitation.

"Then, chain the effect of your Spell Card [One-to-One]."

"I activate the effect of my monster—[Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring]!"

You Yang's voice was calm and clear, piercing through the murky air of the alley:

"When the effect of a Spell, Trap, or Monster that includes any of the following effects is activated, you can discard this card from your hand to activate this effect. Negate that effect."

"●The effect of adding a card from the deck to the hand."

"●The effect of Special Summoning a monster from the Deck."

"●The effect of sending cards from the deck to the graveyard."

"I discard [Ash Blossom] from my hand, nullifying your [One-on-One] attack!"

call--

A refreshing spring breeze suddenly rose from nowhere, carrying with it a flurry of pink cherry blossom petals, instantly dispelling the stench in the alleyways.

Amidst the swirling rain of petals, a pink-haired loli spirit dressed in a red and white shrine maiden outfit and sporting adorable animal ears playfully appeared.

She twirled in the air with a playful laugh, then gently touched the pink lotus flower that was about to bloom with her little hand.

The once-glowing magic circle seemed to have been paused, and then with a "bang," it vanished into countless specks of light, along with the yet-to-appear [Princess Amber], all disappearing without a trace.

"what?!"

Seeing his carefully prepared initial move abruptly cut off, Gustav's fat face twitched violently, and he let out an angry click of his tongue.

"Tch... there's even a 'hand pit'?"

He glared angrily at You Yang, his eyes filled with both fear and disdain, muttering strange, inexplicable words:

"Hmph, someone who still uses such despicable methods in this day and age, where did you come from, an old relic?"

"Shouldn't duels these days just be about everyone flexing their muscles?!"

Despite his grumbling, Gustav's hands didn't stop moving. He suddenly swung his large hand holding the frying pan, pointing it towards the graveyard area of ​​his Duel Disk.

"Don't get too cocky! My offensive isn't going to end so easily!"

The cemetery area was instantly illuminated by a faint blue light, as if it were connected to the deep sea.

"I activate the effect of [Right Hand Shark], which was just sent to the graveyard as a price!"

Gustav roared at the top of his lungs, spittle flying everywhere:

"You can activate this effect if this card is in your Graveyard and you control no monsters!"

"Special Summon this card!!"

"Gurgle—"

The ground at Youyang's feet seemed to have turned into a transparent water surface. In the deep darkness, a long-bodied mechanical shark with an enlarged right fin was rapidly rising from the abyss, with a fierce momentum as it broke through the water.

"However, this card, which is Special Summoned by this effect, is excluded if it leaves the field."

"But none of that matters, as long as it comes up, I can..."

Gustav's plan was meticulously executed; as long as [Right Hand Shark] appeared, he could continue to dominate the game.

However, You Yang's indifferent voice was like a bucket of ice water, mercilessly extinguishing his illusions once again.

"Trying to climb out of the cemetery? Did you even ask her?"

You Yang's gaze was sharp as a knife. He drew another card from his hand and slammed it down heavily.

"Chain the effect of [Right Hand Shark] in your graveyard!"

"I activate the effect of the [Yashiki-warashi] in my hand!"

In that instant, the previously bright duel screen suddenly went dark, and a chilling aura spread out—a warning from the underworld.

When a Spell/Trap/Monster effect that includes any of the following effects is activated, you can discard this card from your hand to activate this effect. Negate that activation.

"●The effect of adding cards from the Graveyard to the hand, Deck, or Extra Deck!"

"●The effect of Special Summoning a monster from the Graveyard!"

"●The effect of banishing cards from the Graveyard!"

Amidst the eerie winds, the spirit of a silver-haired girl dressed in a dark gothic dress and holding a strange doll quietly emerged.

She stood expressionless in front of the shark that was about to break through the water, slowly raised her pale little hand, and made a "stop" gesture.

The [Right Hand Shark], which had been surging upwards, seemed to have crashed into an invisible wall of sighs, letting out a resentful roar before being forcefully pushed back into the dark abyss of the graveyard.

Chapter 267 The Slacker's Deck! True All Resistance! No. 59 The Rebellious Chef!

Two consecutive hand traps, two precise interceptions.

You Yang simply stood there, without even making any summons, and had already dismantled the opponent's deployment chain into pieces.

However, despite being forcibly interrupted twice in a row, Gustav's greasy face did not show the expected frustration or rage.

On the contrary, a sly and smug glint flashed in his small eyes, which were squeezed into slits by his fat.

He stuck out his tongue and licked his chapped lips, revealing a set of uneven, yellow teeth, like an old fox who had just fooled a hunter.

"Hehehe... Did you hand in two hand traps in a row?"

"Wow, that's quite a generous fellow, kid."

Gustav swung the frying pan in his hand, making a clanging sound, and his tone became unusually confident and arrogant:

"But as a duelist, this level of interference is already your limit, isn't it?"

"Right now, you probably don't have any 'ingredients' in your hand that can stop this master chef from cooking!"

In his opinion, You Yang was incredibly lucky to pull out both Ash Blossom and Yashiki-warashi in a row, since in this world, only a minority of people choose to carry hand traps.

Now that the obstacle has been cleared away by that reckless brat, then—

It's time for Gustav to "chef's time"!

"Now that the kitchen is clean, let me present you with a true feast of despair!"

Gustav suddenly drew a card from the Extra Deck and held it high above his head.

In an instant, a faint, sacred starlight emanated from between his grime-covered fingers, illuminating the dim alleyway.

"I activate the effect of the [Starlight Kuriboh] in my hand!"

You can activate this effect by revealing 1 "Number" Xyz Monster from your Extra Deck to your opponent.

Special Summon this card from your hand!

He flipped the extra card, which exuded an ominous aura, and showed it to You Yang:

"What I'm about to show you is the trump card that the three of us brothers are so proud of!"

"That one who can cook everything, and also burn everything—[No. 59, the Rebellious Chef]!"

As the card was displayed, the temperature in the air seemed to rise slightly.

"With this, I will Special Summon the Starlight Kuriboh in my hand!"

"Curry Curry~?"

Accompanied by a clear, melodious, and adorable cry that seemed out of place in the filthy environment, a small, transparent demon radiating soft blue starlight appeared beside Gustav's fleshy shoulder.

It was surrounded by a dazzling rainbow halo, like an angel who had strayed into a garbage dump.

【Starlight Kuriboh】【1 Star】【Light/Demon Race】【Attack: 0 / Defense: 0】

"It's not over yet! The follow-up effect of [Starlight Kuriboh] has activated!"

Gustav grinned maliciously and pointed his finger:

"This card's rank is now the same as the rank of the monster shown to the player!"

"The rank of [No. 59 The Rebellious Chef] that I just showed you is 4!"

"Therefore—Starlight Kuriboh's level will be upgraded to 4 stars!"

The Starlight Chestnut Ball flashed with light, and the originally faint starlight instantly expanded, with four stars symbolizing its rank neatly arranged above its head.

【Starlight Kuriboh】【1 star → 4 stars】

"Furthermore, as long as this card Special Summoned by this effect is face-up in the Monster Zone, you cannot Special Summon any monster other than a 'Number' Xyz Monster from the Extra Deck."

"But for me, this is not a limitation at all!"

Having laid the groundwork, Gustav didn't stop there, and played his last remaining monster card:

"Next, I usually summon the [Lantern Shark] in my hand!"

wow-

The once calm ground was once again shimmering with a deep blue light.

This time, it wasn't a giant shark from the deep sea, but a strange fish with a black and white body and a faintly glowing lantern on its head that swam out of the void.

[Lantern Shark] [4-Star] [Water/Fish] [Attack: 1500 / Defense: 900]

Seeing the two 4-star monsters gathered on the field, Gustav excitedly raised his arms, waving the huge frying pan with a whooshing sound, as if conducting a grand symphony.

"The ingredients from the starlight and the deep sea are all ready!"

"Now, ignite!!"

"I'm stacking the level 4 [Lantern Shark] and [Starlight Kuriboh] on the field!!"

With his roar, Starlight Kuriboh and Lantern Shark on the field simultaneously transformed into two streams of light—one a pure and dazzling starlight, and the other a deep and dark stream of water.

Two completely different forces intertwined and swirled, eventually plunging into the golden supercharge vortex that had suddenly opened in the center of the arena.