Yugioh [863-866] (Patreon)

Chapter 863: A Cruel Truth

"So… we actually knew long ago that the guy named Viper wasn't a good person?"

Big Eye widened it eyes and asked curiously.

"Yeah, we knew," Kira nodded while walking.

"He's planning to host a duel tournament involving the entire student body here at the academy, and use duels to steal the students' life energy. The goal is to resurrect an evil spirit that returned from space."

"Oh right, and he's targeting Jaden because that evil spirit is intricately connected to him. But I think aside from Jaden, to reach his goal, he wouldn't mind anyone else becoming a sacrifice."

Big Eye blinked several times, trying to digest the information.

Then its face changed drastically.

"Nani? That sounds pretty serious!"

"Small-time stuff, don't always overreact," Vampire Fraulein said nonchalantly. "If you'd seen what Master has been through before, you'd know how trivial this is."

Big Eye narrowed its eyes. "Why do I feel like I'm being looked down on…"

"Haha, Vampire Fraulein isn't wrong. Compared to the past, this really doesn't count for much. Still, we can't let our guard down.

After all, we've weathered major storms. If we get outmaneuvered by an opponent at this level and capsize in a ditch, that'd be laughable."

About three to five hundred meters from the Yellow Dorm, Kira suddenly stopped and looked over his shoulder.

"Isn't that right, Mr. Stein?"

Moments later, a figure in a blue uniform appeared behind him. The man was pale and sickly, looking quite weak.

"Sharp as the rumors say, Fujiki Kira… cough, cough."

He coughed twice, forcing a faint smile onto his pallid face.

"But the Duel King is really hard to meet," he said, clearing his throat and smiling at Kira. "For a small, unremarkable professor like me to meet the King—shouldn't I feel honored?"

Kira knew him—or at least had noticed him since early in his first year. This was Mr. Stein, a Duel Academy professor.

There are a lot of professors at the academy, but most are background extras—basically scenery in the anime. Mr. Stein, however, left a deep impression on Kira back when he watched as a viewer.

Not because he was some hidden boss like Professor Lyman, with shocking strength. It's that from the moment Mr. Stein appeared, the entire tone of GX seemed to shift. The early, cheerful school-comedy vibe suddenly dove headlong into a darker route, and stayed dark all the way to the finale.

"Haha, professor, I'm the honored one," Kira said. "I'm just a student at Duel Academy."

"Right, but you're a student with the title of King," Mr. Stein said calmly.

"Your light shines too brightly. Even if you merely exist over there, everyone is naturally drawn to you like moths to a flame.

"Or perhaps I should say your darkness is too deep—so deep that everyone is pulled into a hellish abyss by the gravity of a black hole."

Kira: "…"

He pondered for two seconds. "Professor, the way you say it makes me sound like a villain."

Stein ignored that and continued on his own: "If you were merely excellent, it'd be one thing. But as a King, everyone unconsciously gravitates toward you and imitates you.

"They all want to walk the same path as you, to become dazzling like you. But what they obtain is nothing but endless darkness."

Kira was speechless for a moment. "So you mean I'm misleading the students—leading them astray?"

He suddenly realized he'd unintentionally stolen Jaden's plot again.

Mr. Stein is a key turning point in Jaden's late-story transformation. He accuses Jaden, the academy's hero who defeated the Sacred Beasts and saved the world, of skipping class, not listening, sleeping during lectures, and failing exams.

So all the students followed his example, the atmosphere worsened, and students strayed off the right path.

But the reason he dumped all of this on Jaden was based on the premise that Jaden was the academy's role model the whole school idolized.

So now that the role model has been replaced, all his dissatisfaction seems to have naturally shifted onto the one who took that spot…

"But my grades in every subject are basically perfect," Kira said helplessly. "And I've never skipped class. The school allows me—"

"—allows you to take only the courses you deem useful, right?"

Mr. Stein sighed softly.

"That's the problem. You're excellent. You're a dueling prodigy—no, that's putting it too mildly. You're a monster of the dueling world.

"But when you decide which courses are useful and which are useless, you're simultaneously setting an example for everyone.

"Do you know what the result is?"

He took a deep breath and sighed.

"I used to be a professional duelist… a very talented one. I bore countless expectations—expectations heavy enough to feel like shackles.

"But my body could no longer withstand such grueling battles, nor support me moving forward in the pro scene. So I had to quit.

"Still, I believed my battle-hardened experience could be put to great use in teaching. I could guide young duelists, cultivate them, pass on everything I've learned in my life, and still accomplish something."

He narrowed his eyes. The reflection on his lenses made his gaze seem a bit sinister.

"But do you know how it is now?

"No one comes to my classes anymore."

His tone grew heavy, sounding almost accusatory.

"All those students—they're not interested in these precious experiences, the essence I distilled over half a lifetime. They don't want to know, don't want to attend, don't want to learn or absorb.

"All of this is because of one person. All because of you, Fujiki Kira.

"Because you are the noble King. You privately decided my course has no value, so everyone decided it has no value.

"You denied me, thus everyone denied me along with you—without a second of hesitation, and without a shred of their own thought.

"All because you are the supreme King!"

By now he was emotional and somewhat out of breath.

And Kira simply listened quietly.

After a long moment, he spoke slowly.

"Alright, I think I understand. You're so angry because you feel I denied you—shutting down your chance to prove your worth in the second half of your life.

"You feel I made everything you struggled for seem worthless."

He sighed, looking a bit regretful.

Mr. Stein frowned. "What?"

"No, nothing. It's just… a bit cruel."

Mr. Stein snorted heavily, adjusted his glasses, and said coldly:

"What's done is done. What can regret or guilt change? I won't accept that…"

"No, professor, you misunderstand. I don't mean I feel it's cruel to have made those choices or caused you any disadvantage."

Kira corrected him.

"I mean it's cruel… that I have to tell you what comes next."

Stein was taken aback, confused.

Kira lifted his head with a sunny smile.

"What I want to tell you is: professor, your class really is garbage."

Chapter 864: A Righteous Gang Beating

"What did you say!?"

Mr. Stein, who had maintained a calm demeanor until now, instantly erupted in rage, eyes spitting fire.

But Kira met his gaze without a hint of fear, and repeated clearly and calmly:

"I said, no offense, but your class really is garbage."

A vein bulged on Stein's forehead.

Since leaving the pro scene—since he could no longer fight on the dueling stage—teaching at Duel Academy has been his everything. It means that much to him, which is why in the original story he so resented Jaden for it.

And all Jaden did was fail to be a good role model and lead other students astray.

But this guy in front of him just called it garbage to his face!

Tolerate it?

How could he possibly tolerate that!?

Stein's face darkened. "You'd better know what you're saying, Fujiki Kira."

"I do," Kira said coolly. "I didn't choose your class because I find it worthless. Maybe it's the essence you distilled from years in the pro scene, but for me, your experience is hidebound, with no ideas worth referencing and no training method that actually improves anything."

He paused, smiled lightly, and added:

"Also, while you blame your failure on me, the truth is no one would have attended your class to begin with. Want to know why?

"Because your class is boring and useless. Even without me setting an example, the students would naturally make the same choice.

"And by the way, your course isn't the only one I skipped—there are plenty of others I'm not interested in. But did those professors end up with literally no one attending, like you?"

Stein: "…"

"And take Professor Lyman, who's no longer with us," Kira sighed. "He was the professor I respected and liked most at the academy. I didn't miss a single lesson in his Alchemy class—never late, never left early.

"But look, even though I attended every one, his class still had low attendance. So why didn't my Duel King title work there?"

Stein gritted his teeth and said nothing.

"Face reality, professor. The truth is: you're weak," Kira said coldly. "You were a pro—you should understand. In the professional world, being weak is the original sin.

"In the world of education, failure is the same.

"I don't question your passion or the effort you poured into teaching. I respect that. But to be blunt, you're just bad at it. You're not suited for this job.

"In fact…"

He paused, and smiled.

"I've been considering suggesting to the Chancellor that you be reassigned to a non-instructor position. Honestly, you're not suited for this—maybe not even for Duel Academy."

Stein was trembling all over, about to explode.

He glared icily at Kira. "Do you really think Duel Academy is yours, Fujiki Kira?"

"I'm just making reasonable suggestions as a student who cares about the academy's development. Besides…"

Kira tilted his head curiously.

"Isn't it?"

"Wrrrrrrrry!"

Stein's rage boiled over; he could no longer hold back and snapped his Duel Disk open.

"As expected, we'll settle this by dueling—just as I foresaw," Kira smiled and opened his Duel Disk as well.

He'd seen the unusual dark influence on Stein from the start.

If he wasn't mistaken, it was Yubel's aura.

Yubel excels at amplifying the darkness in people's hearts—bringing latent dark thoughts to the surface, twisting them into anger so they do things they'd normally only contemplate.

Stein had been influenced that way. Maybe Yubel lent some power to Professor Viper, who then inflamed the darkness in Stein's heart to probe Kira.

Talking someone down with words alone is protagonist-with-armor stuff. Purging that influence is more reliably done with a duel.

"Duel!" x2

[Kira, LP 4000]

[Stein, LP 4000]

"I'll go first. Draw!"

Stein's eyes were bloodshot—he started the duel already in the red.

"I Normal Summon 'Scabbed Scar Knight'!"

The moment the monster was summoned, a sinister atmosphere settled over the field; even the air felt heavier.

In swirling smoke, a heavily armored knight rose, his armor covered in scars like a veteran's medals. Some cracks were so severe that fragments occasionally broke off and fell.

[Scabbed Scar Knight, ATK 0]

Kira immediately saw a spirit dwelled within this monster. Years of battles had left it damaged; it had been steeped in a darkened heart—giving off a baleful aura.

This is an anime-only card with no real print, a symbol of Mr. Stein's heart as a duelist, and his ace.

"I set one card and end my turn."

"Scar Knight—the ace that fought by your side in the pro scene, right?"

Kira said.

"In that case, I should bring out a monster worthy of that opponent…

My turn. Draw!"

He drew, then solemnly summoned a monster from his hand.

"I Normal Summon these guys. Come on out—

—The Dark Scorpion Burglars!"

One card slapped onto the disk, and several monsters sprang out at once. A handful of thieves tumbled onto the field, chattering noisily.

"Watch it, we count as one monster right now, one zone to share!" Don Zaloog's rough voice barked. "Chick, I mean you—watch your step! You're out of the zone!"

Chick scrambled back. "S-Sorry, boss!"

Meanae made a face. "Boss, could you move a little? Your revolver is poking me…"

Zaloog's old face reddened. "Sorry, it's cramped…"

[Dark Scorpion Burglars, ATK 1000]

Stein's eyes widened.

These jokers are worthy opponents for me?

He suddenly felt like the other guy was deliberately insulting him again…

"Battle," Kira ordered. "Dark Scorpion Burglars, attack 'Scabbed Scar Knight'!"

"You heard the boss!" Zaloog bellowed.

"Charge!" Gorg bellowed.

The Scorpions charged, guns blazing, hammers swinging, whips cracking. They surrounded the ATK 0 knight and pinned him to the ground for a righteous group beatdown.

Righteous_Gang_Beating.JPG.

Chapter 865: Who Told You To Hijack Stuff So Casually?

The Scorpions pummeled Scar Knight—no discipline, no finesse; their whole tactic was strength in numbers.

Looking at their attack pattern, you could understand why, despite their members usually having over 1000 ATK individually, they combined into a single monster with only 1000 ATK when grouped.

That's what you call a rabble.

[Stein, LP 4000 → 3000]

But as they kept beating, the Scorpions realized something was wrong.

"Wait, boss, this feels off…"

Meanae looked at her hands in horror. She saw greenish fragments smeared on her fists—like flakes falling off the knight's armor.

"What is this!?"

Zaloog: "Quit fussing over—what!?"

He noticed the same fragments clinging all over him—like broken armor pieces stuck to him that he couldn't peel off.

Stein sneered.

"The battles Scar Knight and I have been through are beyond your imagination," he said calmly. "Scabbed Scar Knight cannot be destroyed by battle.

"And any monster that battled Scar Knight gets a Scab Counter placed on it."

Chick was digging frantically at the fragments on him. "A Scab Counter? Feels awful…"

"The Dark Scorpion Burglars' effect: when they inflict battle damage, the opponent must send a Spell Card from their Deck to the GY," Kira said.

"A Spell?"

Stein frowned, thought for a moment, and sent a Spell from his Deck to the GY.

"At the end of the Battle Phase, if the opponent controls any monsters with Scab Counters," Stein said icily, "I take control of those monsters."

The Scorpions froze, glanced at each other…

And then realized it.

"Nani!?"

In an instant, the armor flakes tugged them like gravity, yanking them over to the opponent's Monster Zone whether they liked it or not.

"Boss~"

Meanae reached toward Kira as she was pulled farther away, like a tragic parting, seemingly unwilling.

But Kira just smiled and waved.

"Do your best over there, too."

Meanae: "…"

Is that what you say when your subordinate just got NTR'd in a duel?

Stein also felt like he'd punched air at the weird reaction. Normally, when someone's monster—especially a spirit monster—gets stolen, the duelist would fly into a rage, even try to throw hands.

But considering he's the Duel King—he's usually the one making others want to throw hands—having strong mental composure isn't surprising…

"You stole my monster, leaving my field empty. That's dangerous,"

Kira said.

"So I'll set one card and end my turn."

"My turn. Draw!"

Stein said.

"I Summon 'Demand Man'!"

[Demand Man, ATK 800]

Another anime-original Stein card. Its effect: during the opponent's Main Phase, once per turn, you can change 1 of their Defense Position monsters to Attack Position.

And Scar Knight has a hidden effect: every turn, all of the opponent's Attack Position monsters must attack a face-up Attack Position Scar Knight.

Put together, this locks the opponent out of turtling, forcing them to attack Scar Knight every turn so their monsters keep getting hijacked.

"Battle. Dark Scorpion Burglars, attack!"

The stolen Scorpions attacked unwillingly. Meanae still shouted, "Boss, look out!"

"Activate set card," Kira said. "Quick-Play Spell 'Scapegoat'—Special Summon four Sheep Tokens to my field."

[Sheep Token, DEF 0] x4

Even though there are five Scorpions, they count as a single monster and can only attack one token. One token was destroyed; three remained.

Stein: "Demand Man, attack!"

Its ATK was low, but more than enough to pop a sheep. Down to two.

Scar Knight still hadn't attacked, but at 0 ATK, it didn't matter.

"I set one card and end my turn," Stein said coldly. "It seems the mighty King looks down on my course and my strategies, yet he's helpless now that I've stolen his spirit monster.

"What's wrong? Can't handle this outdated, boring old man?"

"Well… how to put it,"

Kira shrugged.

"My turn. Draw."

He revealed the card he drew.

"Spell Card 'Pot of Greed'—I draw two."

He drew two and immediately played one of them.

"I Summon 'Relinkuriboh.'"

[Relinkuriboh, ATK 300]

Stein frowned. "Such a weak monster…"

"Then I activate Spell 'Block Attack,'" Kira said. "Change a face-up Attack Position monster to Defense Position.

"I'll switch 'Scabbed Scar Knight' to Defense."

[Scabbed Scar Knight, ATK 0 → DEF 0]

Stein's expression shifted.

"You… know Scar Knight's weakness?"

Kira smiled. "I said I study seriously. When Scar Knight is in Attack Position, all my monsters that can attack must attack it, right?

"But if it's in Defense Position, that effect doesn't apply."

Stein snorted. "True enough."

"Next, Continuous Spell 'Damage Off Zone'—while this is on the field, all battle damage both players take is halved." (anime card)

Stein frowned. "What are you trying to do?"

Kira only smiled and continued: "Then I switch two Sheep Tokens to Attack Position."

Stein: "???"

What, you plan to attack with those sheep?

Sure enough, Kira said, "Battle. Sheep Token attacks 'Dark Scorpion Burglars'!"

The brave sheep charged to their doom and were instantly shot down by the Burglars.

"By Damage Off Zone's effect, my battle damage is halved," Kira said.

[Kira, LP 4000 → 3500]

"The Dark Scorpion Burglars' effect: when they inflict battle damage, the opponent must send a Spell from their Deck to the GY.

"I'll send…"

He leisurely revealed a Spell.

"'Jackpot 7' to the GY."

"Jackpot 7's effect: if it's sent to the GY by an opponent's card effect, it is banished instead.

"And if three copies of Jackpot 7 are banished by this effect… I win the duel unconditionally!"

Stein: "!?"

His pupils shrank. He looked at the remaining Sheep Token and the Relinkuriboh, and realized it.

If those two crash into the Burglars next, since Stein currently controls them, then "the opponent" for the effect is Kira—so Kira can dump the remaining two copies from his Deck…

Stein's eyes snapped to the hijacked Dark Scorpions beside him.

They were all making faces at him—some sticking out their tongues.

Zaloog: "Ha, feel dumb yet? We're moles."

Who told you to hijack anything so casually?

Chapter 866: You Dare Misuse the Boss's Cards?

Stein's mouth twitched.

Right—Kira used Block Attack to force Scar Knight to Defense, proving he knew that while it's attacking you can't attack anything else. That means he also obviously knew that anything that battles Scar Knight gets hijacked.

If he knew, yet still "recklessly" sent the Dark Scorpions in, that could only mean one thing:

Those five punks were undercover from the start.

Stein's face was like ice. "You knew Scar Knight's effect and turned it to your advantage—weaponizing it to stuff the Dark Scorpions onto my field and set up this instant-win combo?"

"Well, who can say?"

Kira waggled a finger with a cheerful grin.

"Let's just say, be cautious when using someone else's monsters. If you steal my monsters, you should be mentally prepared to use my cards."

He waved his hand.

"Next, Sheep Token attacks 'Dark Scorpion Burglars'!"

The last sheep also headbutted to its doom. The Scorpions' effect triggered; Kira's Deck auto-searched and sent the second Jackpot 7 to the GY.

"Damage Off Zone halves my damage again."

[Kira, LP 3500 → 3000]

Only the Relinkuriboh remained. One last attack.

If it went through, that would be game.

"Relinkuriboh, attack 'Dark Scorpion Burglars'!"

The Kuriboh charged. The Scorpions shouted in unison, seemingly already celebrating another clean win—opening the champagne a bit early.

Stein suddenly sneered.

"Did you think you had this in the bag?"

He took a deep breath and barked:

"I told you—I've experienced all kinds of battles. Being tricked by a stolen monster? I already went through things like that in pro matches.

"If you want to outplay me, you'll have to try harder!"

He waved to his backrow.

"Activate set card! Trap 'Victim Barrier'!

When the opponent declares an attack, you can force a change of target!" (anime card)

The Scorpions' faces changed.

"Nani? A forced target change?" Meanae gasped.

Zaloog looked at Scar Knight. "Damn, the target will be…"

"Right. Redirect Relinkuriboh's attack to Scar Knight!"

Kuriboh struck Scar Knight. The knight's DEF was 0, but he had unbreakable tenacity; the attack seemed to have no effect.

No—that wasn't quite true. The Kuriboh was quickly covered by those shattered armor flakes, as if possessed.

Zaloog gaped. "Wait, wasn't Scar Knight's effect only when it's in Attack Position…"

"Correct, but the Trap 'Victim Barrier' has a follow-up," Stein sneered. "If the original attack target had a Scab Counter, then after that battle, the attacking monster also gets a Scab Counter."

"I see," Kira nodded. "The Dark Scorpions have Scab Counters, so now the Kuriboh has one too.

"And at the end of the Battle Phase, with Scar Knight on the field, control of all monsters with Scab Counters shifts to you."

He sighed. "You're even going to steal my Kuriboh, huh."

Stein smirked in silence.

"Fine," Kira said. "But my Battle Phase isn't over.

"Quick-Play Spell 'Quick Summon': tribute monsters on the field to Normal Summon from my hand.

"I tribute 'Relinkuriboh' to Tribute Summon! Appear—

—Storm Caller!"

[Storm Caller, ATK 2300]

"You didn't want to hand your monster over, so you tributed it first?" Stein said.

"And Relinkuriboh's effect: when this card is tributed, I draw one card," Kira said.

He drew.

"Storm Caller attacks 'Demand Man'!"

[Demand Man, ATK 800]

Stein adjusted his glasses.

"Demand Man only has 800 ATK. Without Scar Knight's protection, it's easy to pick off…"

His voice turned cold.

"You think after all those years on the pro stage I wouldn't see that coming?"

Kira's brow creased slightly.

"Continuous Trap 'Final Attack Orders'!" Stein barked. "All monsters on the field become Attack Position, and their battle positions cannot be changed!"

[Scabbed Scar Knight, DEF 0 → ATK 0]

Zaloog yelped. "That damned knight is back to Attack—doesn't that mean…"

"Exactly! When Scar Knight is in Attack Position, every monster your opponent controls that can attack must attack Scar Knight!"

Stein clenched his fist.

"Bear the heavy shackles of a veteran—the pain and scars of countless battles. Taste them well!

Scar Knight, take the hit from Storm Caller!"

Storm Caller unleashed a blast; the howling wind nearly blew Stein off his feet.

Stein gritted his teeth. "With your Damage Off Zone, I also take half battle damage."

[Stein, LP 3000 → 1850]

"Then place a Scab Counter on Storm Caller!"

Stein sneered.

"End of the Battle Phase, I take control of Storm Caller!"

The armor fragments clung to Storm Caller. The mighty magician could not resist and was dragged to Stein's field.

"How is it? Your trusted monsters betray you one after another—how does that feel?"

Stein sneered.

"Do you still dare to boast that my dueling is outdated, that I'm unworthy to teach the King?"

Kira pondered for a few seconds and fell silent.

Then he slowly set a card.

"I set one and end my turn."

Stein laughed loudly.

"Is that your answer?

"Helpless and speechless? How ridiculous.

"My turn. Draw!"

Stein stepped forward and said icily:

"You never understood, Fujiki Kira. You may have talent and power, but as a duelist, you bear nothing and have no conviction—you're just an arrogant brat.

"And now I—the outdated old man you look down on—will make you understand that!"

He raised his arm.

"Be buried by your own monster!

Battle! Storm Caller, direct attack!"

Storm Caller began to gather power; the emerald storm swelled into a vortex like the eye of death. With Kira's field empty, the blow would land unobstructed. He faced it without expression.

After a pause, he spoke evenly.

"Yes, I said your course is hidebound, old-fashioned, and worthless to me. And after this duel, I haven't seen anything to change my mind."

Stein: "!"

His eyes bulged with rage.

"At this point, when you're about to lose, you're still saying that…"

"You're the one not seeing things clearly, professor," Kira sighed. "I said earlier: if you use your opponent's cards recklessly, be prepared. I do it often myself, so I don't have much standing to say this.

"But what I mean is…"

He looked at Stein calmly.

"I said no one attends your class not because I denied you, but because you failed to prove yourself.

"Likewise, you couldn't continue in the pro scene because of your body—I'm sorry for that. But even without that factor, you wouldn't have reached the top or become champion. Because your strength is only so much."

"You—you—"

Stein pointed at him, shaking with fury.

"Not convinced?"

Kira smiled.

"But that's the truth. You're too weak, professor. That's why you keep losing—just as you can't change the outcome of this duel."

He snapped his fingers; the set backrow flipped up.

As the card turned, the artwork seemed to erupt with holy azure light, tearing the darkness to shreds.

Stein's pupils contracted. "That's—"

"Trap Card: Mirror Force!" Kira raised his hand. "When an opponent's monster declares an attack: destroy all Attack Position monsters they control!"

Stein: "Tch, so you were hiding the ultimate shield…"

"Not just that."

Kira smiled.

"The effect of 'Storm Caller' you just stole from me: if this card is destroyed by a card effect, its controller takes damage equal to its ATK."

Stein's face went blank.

What did you say?

Bathed in sacred light, he slowly turned to look at the Summoner on his own field being swallowed by the radiance.

Following his gaze, he also saw… the Dark Scorpion gang each showing off—pulling faces and sticking out their tongues at him.

Zaloog: "Ha, didn't learn your lesson."

Meanae: "You dare use the boss's cards so casually."

Chick: "Undercover op, great success!"

The thieves high-fived, flashing a big "Yay."

Stein spat blood on the spot.

"You… you little—!"

Boom—

[Stein, LP 1850 → 0]