Yugioh [510-515] (Patreon)

Chapter 510: The Duel-Addiction Cured

Tania shut down.

She'd finally gotten to activate her soul card "Amazoness Arena," and never in her life had she wanted so badly to use its effect.

Just once. Even once would have been enough.

Winning or losing the duel no longer mattered. She just wanted to trigger Amazoness Arena once—give her that one chance to plant a fist into that infuriatingly punchable face.

For a moment, she felt that if she could just throw that one punch, this duel—her whole life—would be complete.

But this guy wouldn't even give her that one punch.

The spectators below, eager for drama, who by now included no small number of duelists that Tania had hammered in the past, broke into cheers seeing her eat humble pie.

Others, though, felt a stab of sympathy.

Slip for a moment into Tania's viewpoint and you can't help feeling your own fists clench.

Especially since most here were underground "Dark Duelists." Imagine being in a life-or-death Shadow Duel against an opponent like this—an entire game without either side's monsters even touching, just getting bounced back, back, and back again until you're dead before you know it.

All that strength with nowhere to use it—no wonder you'd go to hell with your eyes open, unwilling to rest.

Kira stowed his Duel Disk and walked forward at an easy pace.

He didn't think he'd gone too far. He only felt this Shadow Riders executive wasn't much to write home about.

This isn't how you play Amazoness.

 This isn't how you fight with it.

A deck that can be so much fun, and she'd forced it into some hot-blooded slugfest build that lives to trade punches. You can't expect every opponent to be as cooperative as Jaden, happily calling out fists to slug it out with you.

Honestly, Kira felt he hadn't even gotten started.

He hadn't used the final full-field bounce on Pharaonic Guardian yet. And he hadn't even used its other hidden effect—if Pharaonic Guardian Sphinx is destroyed by the opponent, you can drop a 5-star Rock-Type monster from your deck in face-down Defense Position.

A 5-star Rock-Type? Obviously the original "Guardian Sphinx."

So even if the opponent finally, after great effort, removed Pharaonic Guardian, they'd just stare wide-eyed to find that after killing one, there's another, and they still can't escape next turn's full-field bounce—prompting a deep crisis of faith.

Though it looked like Tania didn't last that long before she was simply done.

Kira felt he hadn't even flexed, and the other side was already lying down.

"Looks like I won."

He glanced around at the crowd off the stage.

"About that wager we mentioned—shall we find somewhere private to discuss it?"

Propping herself up on a knee, Tania stood and gave a dull nod.

They hopped off the stage and slipped out of sight to a quiet spot.

The white-furred Amazoness tiger followed behind them, padding along.

"Your friend?"

Kira flicked a glance at the tiger.

The tiger bared its fangs and let out a warning roar.

But a white radiance flared as a surge of magic rippled out from Kira. The Silent Magician didn't appear, but her presence flowed through Kira as a medium, an invisible pressure settling over the tiger.

A smart tiger knows when not to take a loss. Realizing it was outmatched, the white tiger shrank its head, lowered its voice, and gave another little rumble.

As if to say: just saying hello—what are you getting so fierce about?

Fine, I'll lie down then.

"Quiet."

Tania ordered. The white tiger grumbled, shut its eyes, and pretended to nap, keeping silent.

"You won. I concede."

Tania glared coldly at Kira.

"But I've thought about it, and I'm not going to marry you. I admit you're a very strong duelist, but if I had to duel someone like you every day, I'm afraid it would shorten my lifespan."

It was strange. Tania had suffered from duel addiction for years. It was always flaring up, as if she'd been born to duel and nothing else. Yet she had no capable man around her; she burned with that itch day and night, ravenous.

That was why she had left the Spirit Dimension she came from for this world—the Duelist Dimension.

An organization called "Shadow Riders" approached her and saw her potential. Their leader offered simple terms: join them, fight for them, and she would meet the powerful duelists she'd dreamed of facing.

Dueling was the meaning of her life; the battle itself was the best reward.

Strangely, Tania felt she may actually have found the kind of strong man she'd been searching for all along.

Found him—and suddenly, she didn't feel like dueling anymore.

The gnawing addiction that had tormented her for so many years seemed… cured.

So when she looked at the man in front of her now, her expression was complicated.

She didn't know whether to resent him or be grateful.

"The Shadow Riders' master?"

Tania frowned.

"If you're looking for him, you'll probably be disappointed. I can't help much."

"Oh?" Kira asked. "How so?"

"The master of the Shadow Riders never shows up in person."

She shook her head.

"Even the other Shadow Riders members aren't very familiar with each other.

We each do our own thing. Even when the organization assigns missions, we usually act alone.

We only get together occasionally when the master calls a meeting. Even then, there isn't much communication. We don't really know each other."

"Have you ever seen this master?"

"Yes… and no," Tania said.

"What do you mean?"

"He never shows himself."

"Even at full assemblies, the leader only participates as a hologram," she said. "He looks strange—a huge silhouette with dark red eyes, and whenever he speaks, it's like he's talking through a curtain of water.

We all suspect he might not be human."

Kira understood.

He knew that was most likely Kagemaru's life-support system.

Earlier on, Kagemaru's every appearance was a hazy silhouette as if seen through a veil of water—mysterious and dramatic. Later, you realize it's not that deep.

It was because the old man was on death's door; leaving the life-support pod would mean keeling over fast.

"So if you're looking for him, sorry—I probably can't help. But I might have a lead on another of the Shadow Riders.

I know a guy who calls himself a pharaoh… I don't know if it's true. He's always putting on airs. I might know where you can find him."

Chapter 511: The Undefeated Pharaoh

"A pharaoh?"

Kira blinked.

In the world of Duel Monsters, the first "pharaoh" that comes to mind is, of course, that starfish-haired king who commands the three Egyptian Gods. But he immediately realized this wasn't Atem.

"Yeah, he calls himself a pharaoh—and he seems the part. Whether it's true or not, who knows," Tania said. "Whenever he appears, he has attendants and looks down on everyone like we're all his subjects.

Who knows, though, hehe… He claims he's never been defeated, sounds pretty tough. I'd thought about challenging him myself if I ever got the chance."

Never been defeated.

Kira knew exactly who she meant. This "pharaoh" wasn't some poser; he really was a pharaoh dragged back from the underworld. Just not the one everyone knows—Atem—but another pharaoh of ancient Egypt.

His name was Abidos the Third, recorded as a zero-loss, prodigy duelist pharaoh. And to be fair, the rumor wasn't baseless; it was true—on paper.

He really had never lost. In a way, he became a Dark Duelist because of duel addiction too. He sought defeat his entire life and never found it, only hoping that three thousand years later he could meet a worthy opponent.

But his dream wasn't actually that hard to achieve. Because in truth, as a Dark Duelist he was… fine, but nothing like an undefeated war god.

The reason he never lost was simply because he was the pharaoh. Everyone who dueled him bent over backward to please him, throwing matches in increasingly creative ways, acting believably so the pharaoh wouldn't notice and get angry.

So the record of a lifetime of zero losses wasn't a lie—just… not exactly high in gold content.

"Well, I did recently pick up something," Tania said. "That kingly gentleman was apparently awakened directly from his tomb by the Shadow Riders' master.

He's been revived by dark power fused with alchemy, and moving around consumes life energy. To conserve it, he sleeps in his coffin most of the time. He prepared a special temple for himself, and he rests there until the master assigns him an opponent."

"And where is this temple?" Kira asked.

Tania smiled.

"Lucky you. I just had someone scout it a few days ago," she said. "Besides the leader and that creepy masked hooded guy at his side, I'm probably the only one who knows."

At that moment, the white tiger lying nearby gave a low rumble.

Tania had sent someone to scout—apparently, this was the someone.

"I was planning to visit the tomb in a few days to see for myself if that king is really as strong as the legend says. But now… forget it."

She glanced at Kira again.

Thanks to this guy, she wasn't so obsessed with finding strong opponents anymore.

"If you want to go, I'll give you the address. But I have one condition."

"A condition?" Kira narrowed his eyes, smiling.

Only then did Tania quickly realize she'd lost the duel. In her position, she wasn't really in a place to demand conditions.

She amended, sulkily: "Uh, let's call it a request."

"No problem," Kira said with an easy smile. "Go on."

"Take me with you."

Tania's smile had a touch of schadenfreude.

No hidden meaning—she was just pretty sure that when Kira reached the tomb, he'd come into conflict with the legendary pharaoh, and they would fight.

She wanted to watch.

She suddenly felt excited to see how that legendary pharaoh would react to the treatment she'd just received.

Or maybe to see how that supposedly undefeated king would use his miraculous dueling to crush this shut-in-inducing guy. Either way, it would be worth seeing—too good to miss.

"Sure."

Kira agreed without thinking. "Lead the way."

"Eh?"

Tania was taken aback, hesitated.

"R-right now?"

"Yeah."

Kira looked puzzled.

"Do we need to prep something?"

"No…"

Tania gave him a strange look.

Even if it's a legend, that's still an undefeated war god of ancient Egypt, and you're heading out this casually?

 Is this what they call boldness born of mastery?

She didn't dwell on it and nodded. "Okay."

There's a saying: spectators never mind a bigger spectacle. Tania certainly had no real team bond with those so-called Shadow Riders colleagues, so she readily agreed.

…

Under a hazy moon, nearly transparent white mist clung to the hillside. Golden sand shifted in the wind, a curtain draped over the ancient golden hall.

At the entrance, the massive stone doors were shut tight.

Soldiers in ornate armor and golden guards, all in the robust style of ancient Egypt, stood in neat ranks on both sides, each holding a torch.

The torches seemed almost alive—igniting one after another in sequence, from the doors all the way toward the deepest part of the hall. Flames leapt until the great hall shone as bright as day.

At the center, the light converged like a spotlight upon an ancient, resplendent sarcophagus.

Gem-studded, engraved with elegant motifs, mysterious sigils, and ancient totems, the lid carved to resemble a king at rest.

Then the lid slid open.

All the attendants around hurriedly prostrated themselves, bowing their heads in utmost humility. The king in the golden mask slowly sat up within the coffin and looked around.

"Who summons me from my long sleep?"

All fell prone; none dared speak. A golden glow flickered at the horizon, star-like, answering his question.

"The one they call the god of dueling—the legendary pharaoh."

The pharaoh rose from the coffin. The Eye of Horus on his golden mask flashed. He picked up the Duel Disk lying within and strapped it on.

"So the time of battle has come," the pharaoh's voice boomed. "Then where is my opponent?"

"Over here."

The voice came from beyond the doors.

The kneeling warriors all flinched and looked up instinctively.

With a thunderous crash, the heavy golden doors burst inward. As they slammed to the floor, dust billowed.

A white-clad man with a dark, half-dome visor stood in the doorway, his coat tails whipping like a battle flag in the swirling dust.

Kira lifted his Duel Disk slightly and smiled.

"How about a tense, thrilling duel, Pharaoh?"

Chapter 512: Times Have Changed

"Impudent!"

"Insolence!"

No sooner had Kira stepped in—dressed in his Revolver limited skin—than the Egyptian soldiers inside the hall began shouting.

"You dare trespass in the sacred hall and disturb the pharaoh's rest!"

"Judgment! He must be judged!"

Hearing this chorus of ancient Egyptian foot soldiers, Kira couldn't help but find it funny. He even wanted to say—

—Come on. Your great Egypt is long gone.

Judgment for what, exactly?

The soldiers leveled their spears and rushed forward, glaring. But Kira could feel it: though these pharaoh's guards had revived in the modern era alongside their lord, the dark power within them was feeble—nothing special.

Surrounded by spearpoints, he neither flinched nor stepped back, as if none of them existed in his eyes. He addressed only the awakened pharaoh, Abidos the Third.

"I've heard the undefeated pharaoh spanned three thousand years to awaken in search of a true warrior. Now that a challenger has come to your doorstep, you won't shy away, will you?"

A minister bristled at this man speaking past them directly to the pharaoh: "How dare you! Do you think just anyone can address the pharaoh—"

Before he could finish, the pharaoh cut him off sharply: "Stand down."

"Yes, my pharaoh."

The minister fell silent and withdrew.

The pharaoh raised a hand. The remaining soldiers also backed off in a hurry, not daring to speak.

"Indeed, I awoke to seek a powerful warrior."

He stepped forward and lifted his Duel Disk, golden as if cast in sunlight, gleaming brilliantly.

"But only the strong may face me," the pharaoh declared. "If you cannot satisfy me, then stay and slumber forever in my tomb."

"Buried with the pharaoh, huh? Fine."

Kira smiled and unfolded his Duel Disk.

"But Shadow Game rules: if I win, Pharaoh will have to do me a small favor."

The soldiers grew restless again: "You dare threaten the pharaoh—"

Abidos the Third waved them to silence.

"Very well. I accept," he said with a nod. "I am the pharaoh, but above all, a duelist. A duel must have rules. Come."

"Duel!" ×2

[Kira, LP 4000]

[Pharaoh, LP 4000]

Tania didn't follow into the depths of the hall, but watched from the doorway.

"The pharaoh they call the god of dueling."

She looked at Kira's back.

"Heh… can you perform as freely as you did earlier, against a god?"

"My turn. Draw."

The pharaoh took the first move.

"I activate the Spell Card 'Pot of Greed' to draw two cards."

He drew two.

"Then I set a monster in face-down Defense."

Simple moves. But the pharaoh slowly raised his head; it felt like a cold light shone from within the golden mask.

"From this moment, your countdown to annihilation begins," he said icily, sliding two cards forward. "This card will mark the start of your defeat.

I set two cards face-down. I end my turn."

Two cards appeared in his back row.

"Is that so? I guess I should start getting nervous. My turn. Draw."

Kira drew.

He could pretty much guess what Abidos the Third had set.

Nineteen times out of twenty, it was the Continuous Trap "The First Sarcophagus."

From what the pharaoh had said when dueling Jaden, and from his flashbacks, you could tell—he had one game plan and never changed it in his life.

Activate the Continuous Trap "The First Sarcophagus," then at the end of the opponent's turn, you can activate the Continuous Spell "The Second Sarcophagus" from your deck; at the end of the next opponent's turn, you can activate the Continuous Spell "The Third Sarcophagus."

Once the three Sarcophagus are assembled, you Special Summon his ace from the deck, the "Spirit of the Pharaoh," ATK 2500.

At a glance, it's a deck that bricks like crazy, operates at glacial speed, and works hard to summon a finisher that… isn't all that.

But His Majesty pharaoh believed his tactic was unbeatable all his life—because no opponent of his ever escaped being smashed by the invincible Spirit of the Pharaoh.

And yet, to be fair, he wasn't necessarily bad.

With a deck that bricks like that, he played his whole life without ever missing the First Sarcophagus when he needed it, or drawing the Sarcophagus in the wrong order. Without serious destiny draw chops, most people couldn't pilot it.

Well, knowing his three-thousand-years-unchanged three-axe routine, things got much easier.

"I activate the Spell Card 'Spider Web' to retrieve a card your opponent sent to the GY one turn earlier. I take 'Pot of Greed.'" Kira said. "Then I activate 'Pot of Greed' to draw two."

"Next, I Normal Summon 'Jinzo – Jector.'"

[Jinzo – Jector, DEF 2000]

"Jector's effect—tribute itself to add a 'Jinzo' monster from the deck to my hand."

A card popped from his deck; Kira took it.

"I add 'Jinzo' from my deck to my hand.

Then I scan all your set Spell/Trap cards."

"You wish to peer into my back row?" the pharaoh growled.

Cables like tangled hair whipped behind the android as it offered itself up. Its phantom-like form hovered over the field, eyes flashing beams that swept the pharaoh's back row.

As expected—one of the two set cards was the Continuous Trap "The First Sarcophagus."

The other was the Trap Card "Mirror Force."

"Oh, you even have Mirror Force," Kira quipped with a smile. "Pharaohs sure do have similar tastes in cards."

After all, that card first gained its legend in Atem's hands.

"To pry into my back row is to trespass upon the sacred, inviolable royal sanctum," the pharaoh said darkly. "There will be a price."

"I'll be waiting," Kira said. "Jector's follow-up effect: if the scan confirms traps among your set cards, I can Special Summon up to that many 'Jinzo' monsters from my hand."

"You claim both my back row cards are traps…"

"Right. That means I can Special Summon up to two 'Jinzo' from my hand. I only have one, though.

So I'll call this guy."

Kira swept his arm.

"Come—Jinzo!"

Electric arcs flared. Red light flashed in the mech's eyes. The android folded its arms and descended with authority, landing in Kira's monster zone.

[Jinzo, ATK 2400]

"Attack the face-down monster."

Back on the field again, the android seized the chance to shine. Its right palm thrust forward, a telekinetic orb blasting toward the set monster.

Creatures that looked like products of modern industry—like this one—were something a three-thousand-year-old king had never seen. Abidos was instantly amazed.

"You saw my Mirror Force and still attacked?"

He sensed a trap, but in a split second decided there was no other choice.

"Very well. I accept your challenge!" the pharaoh cried. "I activate the Trap 'Mirror Force'!

 When an opponent declares an attack, destroy all Attack Position monsters they control!"

"Sorry, Pharaoh—no, you won't."

Kira smiled.

"While Jinzo is on the field, neither player can activate Trap Cards, and all Trap effects are negated."

The pharaoh: "!"

Modern technology, sir.

Times have changed.

Chapter 513: The God of Dueling

"NANDATO (what did you say)?!"

The pharaoh's face changed. Looking again at the android, he couldn't help but suck in a breath.

A monster that completely seals Traps?

He seemed to realize at once how serious this was.

It wasn't just a matter of locking his Mirror Force. His Continuous Trap "The First Sarcophagus" couldn't activate either—meaning the Second and Third couldn't hit the field, and there'd be no summoning his ace, "Spirit of the Pharaoh."

His three-thousand-year, three-axe combo—this might be the first time in the so-called God of Dueling's life that before the fight even began, his Spirit of the Pharaoh was nailed under the coffin lid, sentenced to death before it could appear.

"Jinzo continues its attack," Kira said. "Psychic wave."

Maybe because it so rarely gets the spotlight, Jinzo finally got to puff its chest out. It thrust a palm; the telekinetic blast wrapped in lightning ripped into the set monster.

The raging wave flipped the card: a two-winged angel with a halo, arms crossed defensively before it.

"The destroyed monster is 'Shining Angel,'" the pharaoh said gravely. "When Shining Angel is destroyed by battle, Special Summon from the Deck a LIGHT monster with 1500 or less ATK in Attack Position.

I Special Summon a second Shining Angel!"

[Shining Angel, ATK 1400]

"A floater," Kira nodded.

"I activate the Equip Spell 'Amplifier,' equipping it to 'Jinzo.' While this card is equipped, my own Trap restriction is lifted—Jinzo's Trap lock applies only to you."

The pharaoh: "…"

Kira slowly fanned out three more cards.

"Then I set three. Turn end."

Staring at Jinzo's domineering, Trap-suppressing field, the pharaoh brooded.

The gall—locking down my Traps.

But once the Traps were sealed, his three-axe routine was dead. Under the golden mask, the God of Dueling's eyes grew heavy; facing Jinzo, he felt he'd never encountered such danger.

If this draw didn't open things up, he might actually get crushed under a single card. For a man dubbed the God of Dueling, that'd be a joke of a death.

"My turn. Draw!"

He drew—and a sharp light flashed in his eyes.

There it is.

"I activate the Spell Card 'Tribute to the Doomed,'" the pharaoh declared. "Discard 1 card; destroy 1 monster on the field!

Vanish—Jinzo!"

He pitched a card; spectral bindings shot from the Spell, wrapping Jinzo head to toe, mummifying it—then boom, it burst apart.

Jinzo: "…"

Couldn't escape being cannon fodder after all.

As the dejected Jinzo faded out, his buddy Caius drifted up behind, needling him: "Yo, back so soon?"

Jinzo: "Urusai~!."

"With that, the Trap lock is gone!" the pharaoh clenched a fist. "That monster gave me some trouble—I will commend you for that—but if you think that alone can halt my duel, you are naïve!

 I activate the Continuous Trap 'The First Sarcophagus'—"

Then he felt the hitch.

The First Sarcophagus still didn't activate.

"Why?!"

He stared at his field.

The Trap-sealing Jinzo was definitely gone—so why can't I—hm?

He noticed faint, transparent phantasms hovering over his two set cards—like pot lids sealing them shut, pinning them in place so they couldn't move.

"Oh—chaining to Pharaoh's 'Tribute to the Doomed,' I activated this," Kira said, pointing at his back row. "The Continuous Trap 'Xing Zhen Hu.'

While it remains on the field, I select two face-down Spell/Trap cards on the field; those two cannot be activated."

The pharaoh: "…"

So, having just wriggled free of Jinzo's seal, the First Sarcophagus was sealed again by this jar.

From one lock to another—seamless handoff.

"You," the pharaoh said coldly, "refuse to fight me head-on, and instead seal my coffins?"

"Rather than fight your ace head-on, it's more efficient to make sure you never summon it," Kira said earnestly. "That's modern dueling. Times have changed, sir."

Tania was silent.

I don't duel that much, but don't lie to me—modern dueling is really like this?

 Hustling a three-thousand-year-old, are we?

But the pharaoh actually sank into thought.

"So this is what dueling has become," he murmured.

"Yep," Kira nodded briskly.

Dueling has always been like this.

"I see… then it seems my understanding is outdated. But if you think this is enough to bind me, you underestimate me."

He spoke evenly.

"I Normal Summon 'Qardan the Clear-Sighted.'"

[Qardan the Clear-Sighted, ATK 1400]

"Qardan the Clear-Sighted—effect activates. When this card is Normal Summoned, set 1 Continuous Trap from your hand or your GY to your field."

Kira guessed it quickly: "You discarded a card for 'Tribute to the Doomed'…"

"Correct," said the pharaoh. "What I discarded was my second 'The First Sarcophagus'!

 Therefore, I set another 'The First Sarcophagus' from my GY!"

He swept his arm; a Trap slid from the GY and set itself.

"And a Trap set by this effect can be activated the turn it's set," the pharaoh declared. "Activate!

Continuous Trap—The First Sarcophagus!"

An opulent golden coffin slowly rose from the ground in his back row.

Thwarted and sealed and thwarted again—yet he still forced the coffin open. Whatever his overall strength, at least his devotion to that coffin lid was palpable.

Frankly, in all his life, Abidos the Third had never found opening his coffin so satisfying—it had never been this hard.

He even felt his spine straighten a little.

"And your field is empty," the pharaoh said. "Shining Angel, Qardan the Clear-Sighted—direct attacks!"

Per his command, the angel went first, wings beating as it dove straight for Kira—

"As expected of the God of Dueling—to pull off a coffin activation through all that and even swing in. Strong. Taking both hits wouldn't be great."

Kira was unruffled.

"I activate the Trap 'Quaking Mirror Force.'

When an opponent's monster declares an attack: change all monsters your opponent controls to face-down Defense Position. Monsters changed to face-down by this effect cannot change their battle position."

The pharaoh's pupils tightened again.

What did you just say?!

Chapter 514: "Urusai~"

Quaking Mirror Force—activate!

 A sandstorm roared; a yellow, dust-formed barrier domed over Kira's field. Shining Angel's strike triggered a thousandfold backlash; endless sand surged like a tide, sweeping over the pharaoh's field.

His angel and vizier were swallowed and flipped face-down—two black, featureless set cards.

"Tch. Won't let me use Traps; won't let me attack, either… Fine. I set one and end."

The pharaoh took a deep breath, and his gaze toward the white-clad man only grew stranger.

Why?

 All his life, his coffins-into-Pharaoh routine had never faltered. He'd never even imagined a duel could be this suffocating—you sweat and struggle just to barely break through and open the first coffin. 

Unheard of.

When had a pharaoh ever been made to eat this kind of humiliation?

Still, whatever the case, the coffin was active now. His duel was finally approaching the proper track—next the Second and Third Sarcophagus, then when his spirit—his very essence—descended, that would seal the win—

"Draw," Kira said. "I Normal Summon 'Jinzo – Returner.'"

[Jinzo – Returner, ATK 600]

"Battle," Kira said. "Returner attacks."

"You're attacking?" The pharaoh was startled. "Have you lost it? With only 600 ATK, and my set monsters—either one—"

"Returner's effect: it can attack directly."

"I see," the pharaoh nodded. "But a mere 600—"

"Quick-Play Spell 'Limiter Removal,'" Kira said. "This turn, all Machine monsters I control have their ATK doubled."

[Jinzo – Returner, ATK 600 → 1200]

"A doubled direct attack!?"

The pharaoh's face finally shifted. The little android crackled, output spiking to double, skimming over the set front row—and planted a punch right into the golden mask's faceplate.

[Pharaoh, LP 4000 → 2800]

"Pharaoh!" the soldiers cried out.

"You're curting death, I mean—how dare you!—"

"Shut up. Be silent!"

The pharaoh staggered back two steps, then straightened, cold as ever.

"You… are no ordinary duelist."

"End Phase: a Machine monster affected by Limiter Removal is destroyed," Kira said. "Jinzo – Returner is destroyed."

Arcs built up until Returner overloaded and exploded into fragments.

"But at that moment, Returner's other effect triggers," Kira continued. "When this card is sent to the GY: Special Summon 'Jinzo' from the GY.

Return—Jinzo!"

Having just been sulking in spirit form with Caius, Jinzo squared his shoulders, shot Caius a smug glare, then swaggered back onto the field in a beam of gold, emerging once more from the GY's vortex.

Caius clicked his tongue. "What are you so proud of? You'll be cannon fodder again in a sec—"

[Jinzo, ATK 2400]

The pharaoh: "!"

Damn—that monster—

 He grasped instantly how dire this was.

Jinzo, the field-wide Trap seal. With it back on the field, his back-row coffins were blank text again!?

Only now did His Majesty realize his misplay. In the window between Returner's effect resolving and Jinzo hitting the field, he'd had a moment to use The First Sarcophagus to fetch the Second—but seeing that damned android reappear had made him so angry, he missed the timing—

Though in fact, it might not have helped.

Even if Second and Third are Continuous Spells and ignore Trap negation, only the First Sarcophagus can pull the others from the Deck. And the latter two both say "this card can only be placed by the effect of The First Sarcophagus," so even if he drew them, he couldn't activate them.

With Jinzo back, the First was a blank again. Even if he'd rushed to place the Second, he couldn't ever reach the Third; he'd only clog his S/T zones.

"Damn you—daring to toy with me like this…"

The pharaoh felt a surge of pointless fury—and powerlessness.

"I set one. Turn end," Kira said.

Outside, Tania could hardly believe her eyes.

This Revolver guy had actually suppressed the legendary God of Dueling…

 No—more than suppressed. He had him playing in the palm of his hand. The supposedly undefeated pharaoh was being led around by the nose, and looked like he was starting to tilt.

He's breaking the God of Dueling's mental game—can you believe it?

Tania eyed Kira, expression odd.

If the God of Dueling is getting broken… then what kind of god is he?

The God of Making-Headlines?

"You will pay for this sacrilege," the pharaoh barked. "My turn. Draw!

I activate the Spell 'Spell Books from the Pot'—both players draw three."

He drew three, and his eyes lit—he'd found a new path to counterattack.

"I tribute my Qardan," he intoned. "Blasphemer—face the pharaoh's wrath! Descend—

—Pharaonic Advent!!!"

Heavenly light seemed to spear down; a king in golden regalia descended, like a chosen pharaoh, to pass judgment.

[Pharaonic Advent, ATK 2000]

"A single Tribute to Special Summon an 8-star?" Tania gasped.

"Pharaonic Advent can be Special Summoned from the hand by tributing 1 monster on the field," the pharaoh said. "And this card's ATK increases by 300 for each Continuous Trap on both fields and in both GYs."

Kira nodded. "Right now there are no Continuous Traps in the GYs. On the field, the only face-up Continuous Traps that count are Xing Zhen Hu and your active 'First Sarcophagus.'"

"Correct," the pharaoh said. "Therefore, Pharaonic Advent gains 600 ATK!"

[Pharaonic Advent, ATK 2000 → 2600]

Tania's heart skipped. "It surpasses Jinzo."

"Then I activate the Spell 'Confiscation,'" the pharaoh said. "I pay 1000 LP to look at your hand and choose 1 card to discard."

[Pharaoh, LP 2800 → 1800]

Kira's hand fanned open. The pharaoh's eyes narrowed, settling on "Monster Reborn."

"So you had Monster Reborn. Even if I destroyed that android, next turn you'd revive it easily… dangerous.

Then discard it. Now."

He pointed; the Monster Reborn shattered into golden light.

"Battle," the pharaoh said. "Pharaonic Advent attacks 'Jinzo'! Shatter the monster that dares to profane the domain of the gods!"

The regal pharaoh rose, splaying his right hand to issue judgment from on high. Jinzo crossed its arms, struggling to hold—but under the king's pressure, it was crushed to scrap.

[Kira, LP 4000 → 3800]

One second later, Jinzo, back in spirit form, drifted over to his buddy Caius, scowling.

Caius slanted him a look and smirk.

"Urusai! Urusai! Urusai," Jinzo muttered calmly.

"I didn't say anything," Caius smiled.

"URUSAI! URUSAI!"

Chapter 515: Jinzo's Counterattack

Jinzo was depressed.

It shouldn't be like this.

When he'd first joined his master, he'd been full of ambition, determined to make his mark. Watching his master's repeated, superhuman feats only deepened his admiration—he felt destined to climb with him to the summit, to be remembered like Dark Magician or Blue-Eyes White Dragon.

Yet so far, much as he hated to admit it, his appearances were… mostly cannon fodder.

That can't be right.

 Something must be off.

"Pharaoh truly is formidable," Kira praised. "Even with your plan sealed, you still found a way to crack the board."

The pharaoh frowned.

He didn't know this opponent well yet, but somehow, his praise felt… off. Not pleasant.

Still, he had broken a dire position—fact.

"With this, the seal is lifted," the pharaoh said. "First, I activate my set Trap, the Continuous Trap 'Dark Factory of More Production.'

Once per turn, I can send 1 monster from my hand or face-up field to the GY; draw 1 card—"

"A draw engine, huh. That's not great for me."

Kira snapped his fingers.

"I activate the Continuous Trap 'Royal Decree.'

While this card is face-up, all Trap effects… are negated!"

The pharaoh: "…"

The genius duelist of ancient Egypt, the God of Dueling, the undefeated pharaoh—fell silent at the sight of that Trap.

This duel was a new experience for him in too many ways.

First time his infallible three-axe routine required everything just to activate the first coffin.

First time a duel felt less like hot-blooded combat or a battle of wits and more like doing time.

First time he felt…

 Less like commanding monsters, and more like rolling up his sleeves to throw hands himself.

He exhaled a long breath.

So this is how twisted the minds of duellists are three millennia hence—so obsessed with victory it's terrifying?

No—I just want to open one coffin. Is that so much to ask…

 "Then I activate the Spell—

Heavy Storm!"

"Oh?" Kira arched a brow. "You've got that, too."

"Heavy Storm—destroy all Spell/Trap cards on the field."

A typhoon howled; a tornado ripped skyward. The Xing Zhen Hu shattering over his back row, along with the long-sealed Mirror Force and coffin lids, were blown away.

"Impressive," Kira smiled. "But… is that really wise?"

"By doing that, you destroyed both of your 'First Sarcophagus' with your own hand, didn't you? Weren't those your most important coffins?"

"Spare me."

Cold as ice.

It was a bad trade, yes, but he had no choice.

In fact, Qardan the Clear-Sighted also has "if it leaves the field, your face-up Continuous Traps can't be destroyed by your opponent's card effects"—but only against the opponent's effects. Heavy Storm, his own card, was irresistible.

Which made the trade worse.

Furious…

"However, compared to a moment ago, counting field and GY, there are now three more Continuous Traps—'Royal Decree,' a new 'First Sarcophagus,' and 'Dark Factory of More Production.' Three more Traps means Pharaonic Advent gains another 900 ATK."

[Pharaonic Advent, ATK 2600 → 3500]

"But Pharaonic Advent has another effect.

By tributing a Fairy monster I control, I can add 1 Continuous Trap from my Deck to my hand."

He pointed at his face-down angel.

"This effect applies even if the Fairy is face-down. I tribute 'Shining Angel' and add a Continuous Trap from my Deck."

"Fetching any Continuous Trap, huh," Kira said, intrigued.

That's pretty good.

From time immemorial, floodgates—seals—have been the core of stun players. And among those seals, Continuous Traps take half the pie—"stickers," as players lovingly call them.

Plenty of old, degenerate stickers still aren't outdated; many have ruinous pressure on modern decks. Their main weakness is consistency—hard to find when you need them.

Being able to search any Continuous Trap—that's a solid effect.

Kira narrowed his eyes.

Pharaoh, I think this card and I are destined…

 "Off that effect, I add my third 'The First Sarcophagus' to my hand!" the pharaoh declared.

Kira: "…"

Any Continuous Trap in the game—and he chose… another coffin.

 Right. His Majesty's devotion to his coffins had been made abundantly clear.

"I set two and end my turn!"

One was obviously The First Sarcophagus.

Pharaoh narrowed his eyes.

The other was "Trap of Darkness." With LP 3000 or less, by paying 1000 LP you copy the effect of a Normal Trap in your GY.

With that, he could snag the effect of "Mirror Force" in his GY to blow away the opponent's whole field—his strongest shield.

Plus, since he tributed "Qardan the Clear-Sighted" last turn, until the end of the next turn his face-up Traps couldn't be destroyed by the opponent's effects.

Which meant this time, his First Sarcophagus even had destruction protection.

With a mighty Pharaonic Advent up front and the strongest shield in the back, the tide had turned. His beloved coffin engine could finally operate. Things were looking up…

"My turn. Draw," Kira said, revealing a card with unhurried grace. "I activate the Spell 'Giant Trunade.' Return all Spells/Traps on the field to their owners' hands."

The pharaoh: "…"

You couldn't see it—but somehow, Kira felt the face under the golden mask twist.

Na… nani!?!

 Not destruction—bounce to hand?

That meant Qardan the Clear-Sighted's protection was irrelevant. Even if he chained the First Sarcophagus now, it would still get scooped back to hand…

The gale surged; the low-pressure front swept his two back-row Traps up and away, depositing them in his hand.

He glanced at the two new cards in hand—and his face twitched again under the mask.

Apparently, the coffin that should've progressed at his opponent's End Phase… wouldn't.

Don't tell me… is it really this hard to open my coffin?

 He took a deep breath.

No rush.

Though the back row was broken, he still had Pharaonic Advent up front.

His coffin was at least in hand; he could still activate it next turn.

"The effect of 'Jinzo the Machine Menace' in my hand," Kira said. "If there's any Trap on the field or in either GY, Special Summon this card from my hand."

[Jinzo the Machine Menace, ATK 2400]

A new Jinzo skin—another product of Kira's lab.

But though it wears Jinzo's skin, this one doesn't have the Trap lock.

"Jinzo the Machine Menace's follow-up: during the Main Phase, by tributing this card, I can Special Summon 'Jinzo' from my hand or GY."

Kira reached toward the GY.

"I tribute Jinzo the Machine Menace. From the GY—rise again—

—Jinzo!"

Summoned yet again, Jinzo puffed out his chest, thumped it at Caius, full of swagger as he hit the field.

[Jinzo, ATK 2400]

The pharaoh froze.

Again.

This thing—again—

 Seriously.

Can't you just stay in your grave and stop popping back up!?

 Which meant… Traps were sealed once more.

But fine.

"Even if you re-summon that android, its ATK is no match for Pharaonic Advent," he said evenly. "Next turn, I'll smash it, and my First Sarcophagus—"

"Assuming there is a next turn," Kira smiled.

The pharaoh: "!"

"I tribute 'Jinzo' to evolve—upgrade!"

Kira raised his arm high.

"The crystallization of technology evolved over ages—the manufactured king—

—Jinzo - Lord, come forth!"

[Jinzo - Lord, ATK 2600]

"It evolved!?" 

A worse feeling pressed in on the pharaoh.

"The evolved Jinzo - Lord inherits Jinzo's effect: all Traps cannot be activated, and all Trap effects on the field are negated.

Battle."

He went straight to the Battle Phase.

"Jinzo - Lord attacks 'Pharaonic Advent.'"

"A weaker monster? Courting death!?"

"During battle, from my hand—Quick-Play Spell 'Limiter Removal,'" Kira said. "All Machines I control have their ATK doubled!"

[Jinzo - Lord, ATK 2600 → 5200]

"Fifty-two hundred!?"

The pharaoh reeled.

[Pharaonic Advent, ATK 3500]

Lord spiked in power, roaring as it briefly surpassed even gods. The pharaoh could no longer resist—he was pierced by a tyrannical psychic beam.

"Graaah!"

[Pharaoh, LP 1800 → 100]

He staggered, dropping to one knee.

Waving his attendants back once more, he kept his chin up: "That effect lasts only until the end of the turn. Next turn, its ATK returns to normal…"

"True. But like I said,"

Kira's smile was gentle.

"If there is a next turn."

The pharaoh's pupils shrank.

"Jinzo - Lord—its further effect.

Once per turn: reveal all cards in your opponent's hand and their Spell/Trap Zone; destroy all Trap Cards among them. This card inflicts 300 damage to your opponent for each card destroyed by this effect." (original effect)

"NANDATO( what did you say?!)"

The pharaoh finally lost his composure.

Sealing Traps on the field is one thing—but you won't even spare the ones in my hand?

This guy…

 "Jinzo - Lord's effect: Trap scan," Kira crooked a finger. "Come, Pharaoh—show me your hand."

The pharaoh: "…"

"Heh—two Traps, just so. Lucky me," Kira said. "Destroy both. Three hundred each—six hundred damage total!"

Lord thrust both palms; telekinetic currents crackled forth. Two Trap projections rose and shattered in lightning.

[Pharaoh, LP 100 → LP 0]