Yugioh [390-391] (Patreon)

Chapter 390: The Obsession of Revenge

A white beam from the Chaos MAX Dragon’s destruction, so bright even heaven and earth seemed to lose their color.

As the one facing that destructive light directly, everything in Loren’s field of vision was swallowed by the radiance; his gaze grew hazy.

In that fleeting moment, everything vanished from his sight, even sound was drowned out by the roar. Within that pure white curtain, as if empowered by the might of a White Dragon God, he felt like he had traveled back in time.

"…"

"Going again?"

It was his mother from memory, in their old home, with a hint of complaint in her voice as she asked his father.

"Yeah, I’m so close to the truth. Just a little more," his father replied. "I can’t give up now."

Mother: "But in a couple of days, it’s the kid’s birthday. Last time you promised him—"

She stopped, both realizing their son was peeking through the bedroom door.

The man smiled dotingly and opened his arms toward the door: "Come here."

The boy hesitantly pushed open the door and ran into his father’s arms. The man picked him up and kissed his forehead.

"Dad, why do you have to go?" the boy asked, head down.

The man smiled and gently tapped his nose.

"Because there are things in this world that someone has to do."

"Because justice doesn’t uphold itself."

"…"

The scene faded, as if shattered by a White Dragon’s attack, pulling him back to reality.

Just an illusion.

Yes, the past is already gone. How could anyone really travel back in time?

Boom!

The white light obliterated the trap monster, surging like a tide across the field, leaving only thick black smoke.

"…"

[Loren, LP 4000]

"Hmph," Kaiba chuckled with arms crossed. "Not down so easily?"

"Trap card ‘Defense Draw’. One instance of battle damage becomes 0, then I draw a card," Loren said coolly. "But ‘Paleozoic Marrella’ is Special Summoned from the graveyard by its effect, and when it leaves the field, it’s banished."

"Heh, weaklings, but it’d be boring if you fell so easily.

I set a card face-down."

Kaiba played another card.

"Quick-Play Spell ‘Super Rejuvenation’. At the end of this turn, draw cards equal to the number of Dragon monsters discarded or tributed this turn.

‘Graceful Charity’ discarded two, ‘Trade-In’ discarded one. So I draw three cards.

Turn end."

Kaiba replenished his hand.

"My turn, draw."

Loren said darkly.

"Activate ‘Pot of Greed’, draw two cards."

He drew and immediately played one.

"I tribute ‘Babycerasaurus’ to Tribute Summon! Level 8—

—Super-Ancient Dinobeast, summon!"

[Super-Ancient Dinobeast, ATK 2700]

"Huh?" Koyo blurted out, "A Level 8 monster with just one tribute?"

"Super-Ancient Dinobeast is Level 8, but if you tribute a Dinosaur, you only need one tribute."

Loren then activated his backrow.

"Activate face-down, Continuous Trap ‘Limit Reverse’, revive a monster with 1000 or less ATK from the grave in attack position.

I Special Summon—"

He picked out a card from his graveyard.

"Revive Babycerasaurus."

[Babycerasaurus, ATK 500]

"Also, Super-Ancient Dinobeast’s effect," Loren said. "If a Dinosaur is Special Summoned from my grave while Dinobeast is on the field, I draw a card."

He drew.

"Next, Equip Spell ‘Premature Burial’. Pay 800 LP to Special Summon a monster from my graveyard."

[Loren, LP 4000→3200]

"I Special Summon the ‘Dark Driceratops’ I discarded last turn!"

[Dark Driceratops, ATK 2400]

"Again, a Dinosaur was Special Summoned from grave, so I draw another card thanks to Super-Ancient Dinobeast."

He drew and immediately played:

"Spell card ‘Giant Trunade’! All Spell and Trap cards on the field return to their owners’ hands!"

A tropical cyclone swept the field; Kaiba’s backrow and Loren’s own S/Ts were blown back to hands.

"I see," Midori adjusted her glasses. "‘Premature Burial’ destroys the equipped monster if destroyed, but if it’s returned to hand, the monster stays and you can reuse the equip spell."

Midori added, "Not just that, it clears the opponent’s backrow, making way for attack."

"A dangerous opponent," Koyo agreed.

Kaiba looked at his returned cards, then silently added them to his hand, expressionless.

"Of course, ‘Seal of Orichalcos’ can’t leave the field by any means, so it’s unaffected," Loren said. "But when ‘Limit Reverse’ leaves the field, the monster revived by it is destroyed.

So, Babycerasaurus is destroyed!"

Babycerasaurus exploded on Loren’s field.

"And that triggers Babycerasaurus’s effect," Kaiba said.

"Right. When Babycerasaurus is destroyed, I Special Summon a Level 4 or lower Dinosaur from my deck," Loren said. "I Special Summon another Babycerasaurus."

[Babycerasaurus, ATK 500]

"I activate ‘Premature Burial’ again to revive another Dinosaur!"

He only had Babycerasaurus in the grave.

"Pay 800 LP, revive another Babycerasaurus!"

[Loren, LP 3200→2400]

[Babycerasaurus, ATK 500]

"Super-Ancient Dinobeast’s effect, I Special Summon a Dino from grave, so I draw another card."

Loren kept drawing.

Kaiba commented, "Your board looks impressive, but trash is trash, no matter how much you pile up."

"Don’t rush, Kaiba," Loren said coldly. "The power of my rage is far from exhausted.

Because ‘Seal of Orichalcos’ is on the field, all my monsters gain 500 ATK."

[Super-Ancient Dinobeast, ATK 2700→3200]

[Babycerasaurus, ATK 500→1000] x2

[Dark Driceratops, ATK 2400→2900]

Mokuba: "Even so, it’s still nowhere near Chaos MAX Dragon!"

"What about this?" Loren’s eyes flashed.

"Activate ‘Brave Attack’! This turn, only one monster I control can attack, but it gains the combined ATK of all my attack position monsters!" (Anime card.)

Atem used this card in the show, more than once.

"I give Super-Ancient Dinobeast the combined ATK of all my attacking monsters!" Loren declared. "So Super-Ancient Dinobeast’s ATK becomes—"

[Super-Ancient Dinobeast, ATK 3200→8100]

Mokuba panicked: "Eight thousand one hundred ATK!?"

Chapter 391: So-called Fate?

8100 ATK!

"Super-Ancient Dinobeast, attack!"

Loren roared.

"Obliterate Kaiba’s Chaos MAX Dragon!"

All the dinosaurs’ energy converged on Super-Ancient Dinobeast. The massive power gathered in its mouth, then burst forth as a torrent of energy!

A thunderous roar, an explosion of light. Loren’s vision blurred, his mind hazy, and for a moment, the mighty beast merged with a memory.

"…"

"Loren’s birthday present."

A man handed a finely crafted toy dinosaur to a child.

The child beamed, adding it to his dinosaur collection.

He’d loved dinosaurs since he was little, with a box full of dinosaur toys. Every time his father returned from a trip, he’d bring back a new toy.

But little did the boy know, that would be the last gift he’d ever receive from his father.

"…"

For a moment, that little dinosaur overlapped with the Super-Ancient Dinobeast on the field, now a vengeful spirit unleashing all Loren’s rage.

"Then, the effect of ‘Juragedo’ in my hand: I can Special Summon it during the battle step," Kaiba said coolly. "And I gain 1000 LP."

[Juragedo, DEF 1300]

[Kaiba, LP 4000→5000]

"Next, Juragedo’s second effect: Tribute it to give one of my monsters +1000 ATK until end of turn. Can be used during your turn."

Kaiba targeted Chaos MAX Dragon.

"Tribute Juragedo, Chaos MAX Dragon gains 1000 ATK."

[Chaos MAX Dragon, ATK 4000→5000]

"Still, Super-Ancient Dinobeast is stronger!" Loren yelled. "Attack continues, smash the Chaos MAX Dragon!"

Even 5000 ATK would be top-tier for most monsters, but here, it wasn’t enough.

Chaos MAX Dragon’s armor couldn’t withstand the impact. The overwhelming strike pierced its body, and the dragon vanished into stardust. The hellish energy surged past Kaiba, hitting the green barrier behind him, causing ripples.

[Kaiba, LP 5000→1900]

"Big brother!"

Mokuba tried to rush forward.

Kaiba stumbled but regained his footing.

"Not bad," he said calmly.

Loren was engulfed in green flames, his eyes burning with fury.

"You held on? Good, very good! This isn’t enough to quell my anger!"

"But your ‘Brave Attack’ has a side effect," Kaiba reminded him. "After using it, all your attack position monsters are destroyed at the end of the battle phase."

"Heh, of course I know."

As Loren spoke, explosions echoed across his field: Dark Driceratops, both Babycerasaurus, and finally Super-Ancient Dinobeast, all shattered before him.

Just like his old collection, his past, all burned away.

"Babycerasaurus’s effect," Loren said grimly. "When destroyed by effect, Special Summon a Level 4 or lower Dino from deck.

Two Babycerasaurus were destroyed, so I Special Summon two Level 4 Dinosaurs."

He fetched two cards from his deck.

"I Special Summon ‘Megalosmasher X’ and ‘Hyper Hammerhead’!"

[Megalosmasher X, ATK 2000→2500]

[Hyper Hammerhead, ATK 1500→2000] (Orichalcos boost)

"After ‘Brave Attack’s’ side-effect, he still maintains board presence. He must have predicted Kaiba would have a response, so he used Babycerasaurus’s ability to keep monsters," Midori commented from the sidelines.

Otherwise, after his attack, all his monsters would self-destruct, and if he failed to win, he’d lose next turn.

"Megalosmasher X is the highest-ATK Level 4 Dino, and Hyper Hammerhead is even more troublesome—"

"If Hyper Hammerhead battles but doesn’t destroy the opponent’s monster, it bounces it back to the owner’s hand," Zane, now back in the audience, said.

"It’s the best Dino for clearing threats."

"Facing a monster like Chaos MAX Dragon, to turn the tables and still maintain presence—he’s strong," Jaden said, "I want to duel him myself…"

"I set a card, end turn," Loren said coldly. "No matter the result today, this is fate. I’ve lived for this moment since that day!"

"Fate?"

Kaiba seemed to laugh.

"You find that funny?" Loren demanded.

Kaiba didn’t answer.

"My turn, draw," Kaiba said. "Activate ‘Pot of Greed’, draw two."

He drew two.

"Next, Spell ‘Dark Factory of Mass Production’, return two Normal Monsters from grave to hand."

Gold light shone in his grave as two cards returned.

"I return two ‘Blue-Eyes White Dragons’ to my hand."

Loren frowned: "Sent by ‘Dictator of D.’ and ‘Graceful Charity’?"

"You’re a first-rate duelist, aren’t you?" Kaiba said. "At least let me use the absolute power of the strongest in history to finish you. You should be honored.

Activate ‘Polymerization’! Fuse three ‘Blue-Eyes White Dragons’ from my hand!"

Three dragons appeared behind him, roaring. They merged in a vortex of white light, forming a tangible storm, with the dragons at the center.

Time seemed to freeze—under dimmed skies, the ultimate three-headed dragon descended in endless light!

Neo Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon, summon!

[Neo Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon, ATK 4500]

Loren, amid the storm, squinted at the white dragon.

"Ultimate Dragon, symbol of Kaiba’s power," Loren said coldly. "Let me crush it too!

From my grave, activate the trap ‘Survival’s End’!

Banish this card from grave, destroy any card on opponent’s field and my Dinosaurs on my field.

I destroy ‘Megalosmasher X’ and ‘Neo Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon’!"

Loren’s expression contorted.

"Kaiba’s proudest monster, disappear here!"

The trap appeared, Megalosmasher X charged at the Ultimate Dragon like a suicide bomb!

Chapter 392: Obsession

Boom!

Megalosmasher X exploded on the Ultimate Dragon, a huge fireball.

But when the smoke cleared, the majestic dragon remained, standing tall.

"What?"

Loren was shocked.

"Why!?"

[Kaiba, LP 400]

"Quick-Play Spell ‘My Body as a Shield’. Pay 1500 LP to negate and destroy any effect that would destroy a card on the field," Kaiba said calmly. "So ‘Survival’s End’ is negated.

‘Megalosmasher X’ and ‘Neo Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon’ are both safe."

"Tch," Loren gritted his teeth. "You’d use yourself as a shield for the Ultimate Dragon…"

"Battle," Kaiba commanded. "‘Neo Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon’, attack ‘Megalosmasher X’!

Ultimate Burst Stream!"

All three heads unleashed blinding white blasts! Even with the barrier boost, Megalosmasher X couldn’t resist, and was torn apart by the white light.

"Argh!"

The massive energy knocked Loren into the air, flipping him before he crashed into the green barrier.

[Loren, LP 2400→400]

"Neo Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon’s effect," Kaiba continued. "Once per duel, it can attack three times in a turn!" (Anime effect)

He paused, eyes on Loren’s remaining ‘Hyper Hammerhead’.

"That monster can bounce after battle, but only after damage calculation!"

He raised his voice.

"Before that, I’ll defeat it with overwhelming power!

Continue, Ultimate Dragon’s second attack! Attack ‘Hyper Hammerhead’!

Ultimate Burst Stream, double attack!"

In the anime, Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon could attack three times per duel, but after using that effect, it self-destructs at the end of the Battle Phase.

So it’s an all-or-nothing OTK ability: kill in one turn or self-destruct. Even if Hammerhead doesn’t bounce it, if it fails, it’ll explode anyway.

"Shatter! Obliterate! Applause!" Kaiba shouted. "The future belongs only to those who look forward; the weak can wallow in their useless memories!"

More blinding light, the three dragon mouths like three blazing suns, converging on Loren.

Loren looked up at the light, dazed again.

"…"

A memory flashback—to that darkest day.

A hellish village, flames and black smoke everywhere, inhuman groans. The man, now twisted and crawling like a zombie, no longer had warmth in his eyes, only hunger.

The boy collapsed, frozen with fear, tears streaming.

The man crawled to him, reaching out a monstrous claw.

Then, gently—

Placed a card in front of him.

The hand fell limp, the man died right before the boy.

He sat there, motionless, stunned.

Until a zombie saw him, shrieked, and charged.

At that moment, the card in front of him shone gold. A phantom emerged, blasting the zombie away.

The boy stared at the card’s phantom, trembling.

"Dad…?"

"…"

"What a joke…"

Loren’s eyes turned blood-red.

"Calling them useless memories?" He looked up at the light, face twisted. "Kaiba!"

Boom—

Second strike, the white blast annihilated everything. Hyper Hammerhead was destroyed, Loren was knocked back again.

"Is it finally over?" Mokuba murmured.

But—

After two hits, Loren’s body twitched, then, still smoking, propped himself up and stood again.

Still smoking, shaky on his feet—Orichalcos’s real pain, two hits from Ultimate Dragon would destroy anyone ordinary, body and mind.

But he stood again, too stubborn to die.

[Loren, LP 1900]

"Huh?" Mokuba exclaimed, "Why?"

"At that moment, I activated the set trap ‘Nutrient Z’," Loren said. "If I take over 2000 battle damage this turn, before damage calculation I recover 4000 LP."

So, before the white dragon’s hit landed, his LP went to 4400. After Hyper Hammerhead was destroyed, he took 2500, so now he has 1900.

"Stubborn guy," Mokuba frowned. "But the Ultimate Dragon still has one more attack—"

"No," Kira patted him, "Hyper Hammerhead’s effect."

"Ah!" Mokuba realized.

"Right. After Hyper Hammerhead battles and fails to destroy the opposing monster, that monster returns to hand after damage calculation!"

A strong deathrattle effect—since Ultimate Dragon failed to OTK, Hammerhead’s effect triggers. Its phantom roared and slammed into the Ultimate Dragon.

The Ultimate Dragon became a ray of white light, returning to Kaiba’s extra deck.

"Fusion monsters can’t return to hand, so it goes back to the extra deck," Loren said grimly. "I won’t fall so easily, Kaiba.

If I fall here… what would become of all my hatred and rage!?"