Yugioh [552-557] (Patreon)

Chapter 552: Event Invitation

Kira: "."

Right, almost forgot again. Fraulein is a vampire and hates the sun.

In the dimension she was in before, it was eternal night, with a blood-red moon hanging in the sky—naturally an excellent habitat for a vampire. But this world has daylight. She hates the sun, so she normally wouldn't come out and wander around.

In fact, vampires in this world aren't as afraid of sunlight as in traditional stories—at least not to the "instant death upon exposure" extent. The blazing sun merely makes them uncomfortable; it won't kill them on contact.

Still, it's better to avoid it when possible.

Kira's thoughts became more active.

His current spirits are helpful, but still quite limited. First, their active time is restricted. Second, since the spirit cards are in his possession, they can't stray too far from him to act independently.

But spirits like the Dark Scorpion Burglars, whose bodies have come into reality, are different. Their activity time is practically unrestricted, and they can go out and carry out missions alone. Such monster spirits can do much more.

"By the way."

Kira remembered something and looked at the group.

"Do you know how to transform?"

"Huh?"

The Burglars stared wide-eyed.

"I mean change into someone else's appearance," Kira said. "Or hypnosis? Mind control?"

Because he remembered that in the last season of the anime, the spirit Honest who entered reality could do it. He transformed into his former master's appearance, mingled among students, and used mental manipulation and hypnotic suggestion to blend in without arousing suspicion.

Only later, when he tried that trick on Jaden, he hit a wall. His usually foolproof move didn't work on maxed-out Jaden.

So Kira figured these might be basic skills among spirits.

However, the few dim-witted Burglars just shook their heads like rattles, indicating they didn't know.

Kira nodded.

Makes sense—if they could transform, those clownish infiltration attempts wouldn't have failed so badly.

"I can."

Fraulein puffed out her small chest a little, somewhat proud.

Kira's eyes lit up. "You can disguise and transform?"

"Mm, not that... But hypnosis and mental influence, that's what our blood clan is good at."

"Oh?"

Kira gave Fraulein another look, apparently reassessing her.

Being looked at like that made Fraulein a bit embarrassed. Her small hands tugged unconsciously at her skirt as she looked down at her toes.

"Not bad, not bad."

Kira thought this trick would indeed be useful and could make many things easier in the future.

Though, as expected, this sort of move probably works best on ordinary people. Those with extraordinary abilities mostly have resistance. Like when Honest tried to use not even strong control, just a minor hypnotic suggestion to nudge identity recognition on Jaden—it not only failed but exposed him.

As he was thinking, he suddenly felt someone tugging at the hem of his clothes from behind.

Kira turned his head to see that Silent had appeared at some point, pouting, a little displeased.

Strangely, she didn't speak, but Kira understood her meaning—

—Hey, I can do that too.

Come to think of it, of course. She's a bona fide mage; she should have the most miscellaneous arcane spells and skills. Things like transformation and disguise, mental influence magic—she should have at least some of that.

Even if she didn't, she could probably learn. He'd seen her hugging books, training hard every day.

It's just that in the spirits' world, she likely has her own life, unlike the Burglars who've come to reality and can act freely here. Her activities in this world are still restricted, making many things less convenient.

That thought crossed Kira's mind, but he still smiled. "True, you're the strongest."

He said that, and Silent let go without speaking, yet it was unclear whether she'd guessed what he was thinking.

Silent glanced at him, said nothing, and retreated into the deck.

But that look made Kira inexplicably feel he'd received a message—

—She's going back today to pack up and set out.

Kira: "."

…

The next morning, Kira took a helicopter off Academy Island. By late morning, the aircraft landed on the KaibaCorp rooftop.

By now, he was as familiar with this building as his own home; he came by every so often. Only lately he'd been busy and hadn't come much.

When he arrived at the office downstairs, Mokuba was in the middle of an animated phone call. Noticing Kira enter, he gestured for him to wait.

"I said, our Blue-Eyes Park has a water park—we don't need any swimming machines."

"Say no more, that's final."

Hanging up, Mokuba turned around.

"Swimming machine?" Kira smiled.

Mokuba shrugged helplessly. "There are always some weirdos with bizarre ideas... anyway, forget it."

He grinned.

"You're quite the celebrity now. Not easy to get a meeting."

"I do have a lot going on lately... I might need your help in a couple of days—some technical support."

"The Shadow Riders thing? I heard."

Mokuba motioned for him to sit.

"A bunch of people coveting the power of the Sacred Beasts? The duelists' world is really something... Back then it was the Egyptian Gods, now it's the Sacred Beasts. Who can resist power that transcends mundane rules?"

That made him think of how his brother Kaiba Seto hosted Battle City to collect the three God Cards.

"But whoever they are, being targeted by Duel King Kira is unfortunate." Mokuba smiled. "Sure. We've been monitoring the Sacred Beasts' sealing array at Duel Academy anyway.

Our tech team will fully support your operation."

"Thanks. So, I assume there's something else you called me here for?"

"Yeah, a little thing—not a big deal.

There's an event. Not directly hosted by us, but the organizer is under the KaibaCorp umbrella."

Mokuba swiped the floating projection on the desk and slid it to Kira.

Kira took it and glanced at the event details on screen.

"A speech at the tournament opening?" he asked.

"Yep." Mokuba smiled. "Having the King of Duels show up will really boost the hype."

"I don't have to duel?"

"No. We can't let just anyone have the right to challenge the King—that'd make it too cheap, wouldn't it?"

Mokuba chuckled.

"Hm, I'm not sure. It's been busy; I'll see if I can make time..."

"The organizer is offering ten million."

"Deal." Kira looked up. "Since it's a subsidiary event, showing up to show support is only proper."

"I knew you'd say that." Mokuba laughed. "I'll give them the answer."

"Alright."

Kira casually scrolled through the event info.

"Hmm, the venue's a bit far from the Academy..."

"Don't worry."

Mokuba smiled.

"I discussed this with my brother. You often have to shuttle between the Academy and HQ, and there are quite a few events we want to invite you to.

So we decided to assign you a private jet. How about it?"

Kira: "???"

You're giving me... what?

Chapter 553: Everyone's an Undercover

A jet.

Kira was sure he heard right. The Kaiba brothers really seemed to have decided to give him a jet.

"A new model developed in-house by KaibaCorp, equipped with an autopilot system," Mokuba said. "It's easy to operate. You just input the destination and the built-in AI will navigate to the target.

It uses the same AI as the Blue-Eyes White Dragon Jet—there's no consumer version yet."

Kira nodded. He knew the President's Blue-Eyes Jet had AI capable of autonomous flight, hovering, and even 360-degree pivots—Kaiba's black tech.

But the fact that a card-game company has such advanced tech didn't strike him as odd. Before Kaiba researched card games, they were a military-industrial company, and even before pivoting into cards, they had world-class black tech.

The most outrageous example is the Noah arc. According to the AI Noah's calculations, KaibaCorp had the technological and military might to conquer the world on its own. Of course, that was Noah and Gozaburo's claim, and the plot never actually played that out, so who knows. But that Kaiba's military tech is cutting-edge is certain.

"Of course, AI control isn't that precise. Autopilot can't land just anywhere, but hovering above your specified coordinates is fine."

"So I have to jump down myself, huh?"

Kira quickly thought of the President's routine superhero landings from planes. Sometimes the President wore a jet-powered glider pack while free-falling—full-on rich-superhero vibes.

What else could he say?

 Just thank the President for swiping a plane for him—truly generous.

 A plane in the most literal sense.

…

Two days later.

A black sedan cruised through the city and arrived at an ancient manor outside town.

An oak-carved gate, its surface mottled with moss and the marks of time, iron knockers with a simple, archaic design.

The car stopped at the gate. The door opened, and Don Zaloog stepped out first, with his four ever-present underlings right behind.

The five Burglars stood outside, facing the massive estate, looking around.

"This... is the place?"

Chick muttered.

"These meeting locations keep getting weirder."

"How much is this manor worth?" Meanae's eyes gleamed with envy.

"Keep it together. Be professional," Don Zaloog scolded. "We're here on a mission today—don't embarrass the Burglars."

"Yes, boss!"

Don Zaloog took a deep breath and stepped forward. The seemingly old gate was actually automatic and slowly opened as he approached. A cobblestone path wound forward, flanked by neatly trimmed hedges.

Just then, Kira's voice came through his concealed earpiece: "Can you hear me?"

"Loud and clear, boss," Don Zaloog whispered.

"Good. Now look to your three o'clock."

"Hm?"

Don Zaloog hesitated.

He gestured and counted "one, two, three," and found that direction—there, a dark-skinned, muscular woman was also walking their way.

"That's Tania—your teammate on this run," Kira said. "I asked her to give you a wave."

At the same time, the woman also put a hand to her ear, as if listening to her earpiece. After that, she looked up, searched around, quickly spotted them, and lazily waved.

The Burglars waved back in greeting.

Kira continued: "First corner after the entrance, take the left turn—also one of ours. Say hi."

By now Tania had joined the Dark Scorpion group. They pushed open the door and entered the mansion, and sure enough, at the turn Kira mentioned, they encountered someone. The person's clothes were archaic yet splendid, a golden mask on his face, arms folded in arrogant poise.

He, too, seemed to hear something, then turned and nodded at them to confirm.

The Burglars were surprised as they returned the nod.

Could this be the rumored undefeated war god—the Pharaoh?

Even someone like that, a legend of dueling, had been turned—no wonder the man is called "Duel King."

They reached the designated meeting room. The Shadow Riders members didn't speak; after exchanging looks and confirming who was on their side, they each found a seat.

The room looked like it had once been designed as a dining room, with a long table and six chairs lining the sides.

At the far end sat a seventh chair, empty. But behind it was a huge screen on the wall.

They sat. After a short wait, another person entered.

Hooded and masked, his eyes under the shadow seemed dangerously dark red.

Don Zaloog and the others immediately grew alert.

They didn't know his identity, only that he was one of the rare alchemy masters of the age. Even within the organization, he was only referred to as "Amnael."

They also knew he was the right-hand of the Shadow Riders' leader, and his status was nothing like the other executives.

The Shadow Riders' leader never showed up, and many instructions came through this man. He was like the leader's arm.

But unexpectedly, Kira said over the earpiece again, "He's one of us."

The Burglars: "?"

Huh?

 Even he's ours?

Don Zaloog was still stunned when Amnael seemed to hear something as well. He turned toward them and gave a small nod, as if to confirm identities.

Don Zaloog: "."

Amnael then pulled out a chair, sat down, and said nothing for now, taking out a thick tome on alchemy to read.

Eight people in the room, and no one spoke. The atmosphere grew a bit stifling.

Now four of the Shadow Riders' executives were gathered here—eight people total—eight undercover operatives.

After a short wait, the door opened again. Another person entered.

Broad-shouldered and burly, his frame was hidden in a long black coat. He wore a black hat and a metal mask, his look somewhat intimidating under the cold light.

His duel disk was especially conspicuous—like Professor Crowler's model, mounted on the chest rather than on the arm.

His codename was Titan.

He'd actually met Kira once before, a self-styled dark duelist who turned out to be a fraud. Back then at the abandoned dorm, he fainted after Silent Magician spooked him and was taken away by the Academy.

Later, the Shadow Riders' leader pulled him out and granted him dark power, turning him into a true dark duelist; now he was one of the Shadow Riders.

"Be advised—that one's the enemy."

Almost everyone else received Kira's reminder.

Don Zaloog looked at the burly, fierce-looking man and couldn't help but feel a twinge of pity.

In a room of nine, he was the only actual Shadow Riders loyalist left.

He suddenly felt sorry for the guy...

Chapter 554: The Mole Is Exposed

The one and only bona fide Shadow Rider, Titan, entered with his head held high, walking past a roomful of undercover agents watching him. He came around the table to this end and happened to sit right beside Don Zaloog.

A brief silence.

Don Zaloog couldn't help sneaking a couple of glances.

Sensing the odd, slightly pitying look, Titan turned and frowned.

"What?"

"N-nothing."

Don Zaloog paused, feeling the air grow a bit awkward.

He tried to make small talk: "How's it going lately?"

Titan gave him a strange look.

"Same old," Titan rumbled.

"Tough business, huh?"

"Mm," Titan grunted.

And then there was nothing to say.

Fortunately, the awkward silence didn't last.

Soon, the electronic screen behind the far-end chair lit up. Everyone looked up, their eyes focusing on the giant display.

The image, as always, was a blurry silhouette. The background looked like underwater, with bubbles occasionally rising. Within that water was a massive dark shape, not human—more like some deep-sea creature with long tentacles and a huge body, evoking certain unnameable sea monsters.

But only Lyman in the room knew it wasn't water, but a life-support tank. Those weren't tentacles but a tangle of life-support cables.

On the other end of the screen was a mortally ill old man, yet he projected a mysterious, hazy authority.

The old man swept his gaze across them. His indistinct, low voice said, "Is everyone here?"

Tania's gaze swept the room.

"There should be seven," Tania said. "I only count five."

"That is all."

The old man spoke lightly.

"Nightshroud and Camula failed. They're dead."

The room's aura grew heavy.

After a moment, Don Zaloog took a deep breath, as if steeling himself.

To hell with it.

He slapped the table with a bang and shot to his feet.

The old man on screen looked at him coldly.

"You have a question?"

"Damn right."

Don Zaloog had been intimidated at the thought of confronting the mysterious boss, but remembering that most of the room was on his side, he grew bolder.

"We've been risking life and limb for you, doing jobs where death's around every corner. Now two of our comrades are down, and to this day we still haven't even seen your face."

Don Zaloog shook his head.

"I don't know how you people do things, but in our Burglars, trust between brothers is everything," Don Zaloog said. "They trust me, and I'm willing to risk my life for them.

If we can't even manage that basic level of trust, how do we accomplish anything big?"

The old man in the image only looked at him coolly.

"So, have your Burglars accomplished anything big?"

Don Zaloog was momentarily at a loss.

"I think he has a point, though."

Tania spoke up at just the right time to back him.

She crossed her arms and looked up at the old man on the screen.

"We each have our reasons to fight, but it's not to the point where we'll sell our lives unconditionally for you."

"We're risking our lives to fight for you, to seize the Sacred Beasts' cards for you. That's what we agreed to—no problem there. But at the very least, we should know who we're selling our lives for, right?"

"Agreed."

The Pharaoh, who had been largely silent thus far, rarely spoke up as well.

He lifted his head, sharp gaze piercing through the golden mask toward the blurry figure on the screen.

"If one is too cowardly to show his true face, he is unworthy of my hand."

The old man was silent for a few seconds, his gaze slowly sweeping over them.

Then, suddenly, he laughed.

That murky, underwater-like, low voice sounded only more unsettling when laughing.

"You all want to know who I am?"

"You think I've said too little?"

"Heh heh heh, is that so?"

He narrowed his eyes, which suddenly sharpened like a hawk's.

"I believe some of you do sincerely think so. At the same time, there are those trying to fish in troubled waters, hoping to use this chance to probe my identity... The one I'm speaking of should know who he is, no?"

At that, everyone felt a jolt.

Tania said in a low voice, "Are you... suspecting us?"

"Correct."

The old man's tone was cold.

"I fear we have a mole."

The words made everyone start.

Huh?

 Only one?

They all began eyeing each other warily.

Only Titan was genuinely shocked, scanning and wondering who the shameless mole could be.

The others were thinking: Who slipped up and got exposed?

Was it me?

"A few days ago, a batch of live alchemical materials went missing," the old man said coolly. "Fine materials, rich in nutrients.

But they were lost.

Only Shadow Riders executives have access to them."

As he spoke, the old man scrutinized them.

"Tell me—where might the leak have come from?"

Silence fell again.

But only for a few seconds.

Then Amnael—Lyman—spoke first.

He pointed straight at Titan and said gravely, "Come to think of it, I noticed it last meeting... After Titan left, he skulked in a shadowy alley and made a call, saying things like 'observe a while longer' and 'I'll probe further'—who were you talking to?"

Titan: "?"

Huh? Did that happen?

"Oh, I think I heard something once too."

Chick, Don Zaloog's underling, chimed in.

"One time I went to the bathroom, and when I came out I heard someone inside say, like, 'We agreed on three months—after three months, another three months,' and 'I'm about to become a Shadow Riders boss'... Now that I think about it, it sounded like Titan."

Titan: "???"

Huh? That happened too?

At that moment, the old tiger that had been dozing in the corner by Tania let out a roar.

Tania said, "Oh? He says he's smelled something off about this guy for a while now—reek of a turncoat."

Meanae: "I've been undercover as the Duel Academy nurse for years. I think I've seen this guy there. I saw him chatting merrily with the Academy's chancellor, coming out of the chancellor's office together. I wondered then how they knew each other..."

"N-no, I didn't!"

Titan was stunned.

"That didn't happen!"

Even the Pharaoh slowly opened his eyes and, for once, spoke.

"A geomancer in my retinue says this man is suspicious."

Titan was dumbfounded. "Even the Pharaoh..."

Then he jerked his head up and met the unfriendly gaze of the Shadow Riders' leader on the screen.

"Titan," the leader asked icily, "anything you wish to explain?"

Titan: "."

Chapter 555: Kagemaru's Deck

"No... I didn't! Boss, you have to believe me!"

Titan's eyes bulged.

For a moment he was completely bewildered.

Wait, who are you all talking about? Do I even know that person?

 Why haven't I heard of any of these things you're saying?

The worst part was that everyone present spoke with such conviction it nearly convinced Titan himself—

—Could I really be the mole?

The old man on the screen began to breathe heavily.

The room's temperature seemed to drop. Outside, darkness boiled, as though the night swallowed all light, not even the faintest starlight visible.

Everyone present, even the weakest, were at least dark duelists—sensitive to the supernatural. Feeling the change, they understood what was happening.

A Shadow Game.

The boss had initiated a Shadow Game across space, through the screen.

Not impossible. Back in Duelist Kingdom, Pegasus had mailed a videotape to invite Yugi and used the Millennium Eye's power on the tape to start a Shadow Duel.

Kagemaru couldn't compare to the Millennium Eye, but doing it via real-time video is far easier than Pegasus's prerecorded trick. Just like in GX, Zane and Jesse could duel across dimensions.

"Tch... fine, a duel it is."

Titan's voice hardened.

"I'm no longer the outsider you dragged into the organization."

His chest-mounted duel disk activated, auto-shuffling before ejecting five cards into his hand.

Titan narrowed his eyes. "If I win, I'll take the seat of Shadow Riders' leader. Heh... sounds good."

On the other side, Kagemaru also deployed a duel disk. The silhouette on-screen remained indistinct; only metallic servos and mechanisms could be heard. Only Lyman knew that was the life-support rig's robotic arm moving.

Kagemaru's body was immobile in the vitals tank; even dueling required a mechanical arm to wear and operate the disk.

This development was outside Kira's plan.

Kagemaru had mentioned missing "live alchemical materials," which he hadn't personally tracked, but he suspected Lyman. Since everyone present had coordinated beforehand, they unanimously shoved the only non-insider—Titan—under the bus.

Still, it was a good chance to see how Kagemaru duels.

In the anime, Kagemaru debuted by seizing the three Sacred Beasts and only fought once with a deck specialized around them. Before he got the Beasts, nobody knew what he ran.

Now's a good time to find out.

"I'll go first. Draw."

Kagemaru's voice was murky.

"Spell: Pot of Greed—draw two cards."

Metallic sounds accompanied the mechanical arm drawing cards, making Titan vaguely uneasy.

"Set one monster in face-down defense."

"And set two cards. Turn end."

A set monster and backrow—no read on his deck yet.

"My turn. Draw!"

Titan glanced at his card, smirked.

"Since joining the Shadow Riders, I haven't been idle. Let me show you my upgraded Fiend deck!

 I summon 'Archfiend Cavalry'!"

[Archfiend Cavalry, ATK 1900]

"Archfiend Cavalry attacks the set monster!"

The skeletal steed shrieked and charged; the lance pierced through the set monster, flipping it up.

To Kira's surprise, it was the opposite of what he expected stylistically—

A small, even cute, avian beast, tiny wings tucked inside a transparent airflow shield.

[Air Sphere, DEF 300]

A Sphere deck?

This is the "Sphere" theme used by manga Aster Phoenix's counterpart—well, in the manga, Atticus is a totally different beast from the anime's jobbing legend. Manga Atticus actually deserves the title of king, on par with Zane as DA's ceiling.

Manga Jaden and Chazz weren't in the same league. Chazz was nearly OTK'd by Zane, and Jaden was helplessly crushed by Atticus—though Atticus was under Tragoedia's control then.

The Sphere cards did get printed—but only three; most still aren't.

Kagemaru using this theme was unexpected, not at all the impression Kira had of him. But he recalled Lyman said Kagemaru now was a different man entirely.

All of Kira's understanding came from the anime boss; he knew nothing of the man before.

"Trap activate," Kagemaru said coolly. "Wind Pressure Compensation. When your monster destroys a monster by battle, that attacker changes to Defense Position." (manga card)

 A gale swept past Titan's field; Archfiend Cavalry was forced to defense.

[Archfiend Cavalry, ATK 1900 → DEF 0]

"Tch, targeting my fiends' low DEF, huh?"

Titan grunted, eyeing a card in hand.

But breaking his line wouldn't be so easy.

"I set one card. Turn end."

"My turn. Draw."

The mechanical arm placed another card. A projection appeared on the screen's field.

"Spell: Graceful Charity—draw three, discard two."

The draw-discard motions were quick and practiced—no slower than a human's.

"Then I Normal Summon 'Transforming Sphere'!"

[Transforming Sphere, ATK 100]

One of the three Sphere cards that actually got printed.

"Transforming Sphere: discard 1 card; target an opponent's Defense Position monster.

 Equip that monster to this card!"

Titan: "!"

Absorb a Defense-position monster—so that trap was the setup?

"I see—bait the attack, flip the trap to force Defense, then Transforming Sphere equips it," Tania narrated like a ringside commentator.

"A nasty combo."

Archfiend Cavalry was now stuffed into a transparent bubble, bound beneath the Transforming Sphere and unable to move.

"Transforming Sphere gains ATK equal to the equipped monster's ATK."

[Transforming Sphere, ATK 100 → 2000]

"Direct attack, Transforming Sphere!"

Chapter 556: Sphere

Archfiend Cavalry—absorbed!

 Transforming Sphere's effect is faithfully adapted from the manga. The printed card added a single line:

"Once per turn."

Yes—printed versions slap "once per turn" on many old, broken designs. In the manga, Transforming Sphere lacked that clause: with enough discard fodder and a Defense target, it could absorb multiple times per turn.

"Direct attack, Transforming Sphere!"

As it dove with the absorbed Soldier, Titan stayed calm and barked: "Activate set card!

 Trap, Sakuretsu Armor—destroy the attacking monster!"

"Futile struggle," Kagemaru said coldly. "Trap: Air Barrier.

While 'Sphere' is on my field, this turn your monsters can't declare attacks, and no card effect can destroy my monsters." (manga card)

 A transparent gale vortex flared like a shield before the Transforming Sphere. The trap's beam crashed into it and dissipated.

"NANI?!" Titan's face stiffened. "The trap didn't work..."

"Transforming Sphere—continue your attack!"

"Ungh!"

Compelled by the wind, his own Archfiend Cavalry's lance pierced his chest. Titan grunted, clutching his heart and dropping to a knee.

[Titan LP 4000 → 2000]

"So this is the Shadow Riders' leader—seamless offense and defense," Tania murmured. "Impressive."

"Sphere..."

Lyman was familiar with the theme; seeing Kagemaru run it stirred old memories in his eyes.

Kira found the duel entertaining.

Sphere that can steal monsters... looks fun.

"At the end of the Battle Phase in which it attacked, Transforming Sphere changes to Defense Position," Kagemaru said.

[Transforming Sphere, ATK 2000 → DEF 100]

"I set three and end."

His voice stayed dull.

"At the end phase, the monster equipped to Transforming Sphere returns to its owner's field. Your Archfiend Cavalry goes back."

[Archfiend Cavalry, DEF 0]

Titan caught his breath and stood.

"My turn. Draw!"

He took the ejected card and squinted at it.

"Let me try out this new power here.

Ritual Spell—'Ritual of the Matador'!" (anime card)

 Black miasma pooled at his feet and swirled into a vortex.

"This Ritual is for 'Matador Fiend.' From hand and/or field, tribute monsters totaling Level 6 or more to Ritual Summon 'Matador Fiend!'"

Titan's original deck was pure Fiends. The Matador line came with his embrace of darkness—his new power as a true dark duelist.

"I tribute from hand the Level 6 'Legendary Fiend' to Ritual Summon!

 Appear—

Warrior of the abyss, dark champion—

—Matador Fiend, Ritual Summon!!"

The tribute vanished into the maelstrom; claws tore the dark! An evil aura fiend emerged, shrieking.

[Matador Fiend, ATK 0]

Even fellow executives hadn't seen this; it was his ace. Yet ATK/DEF 0 surprised everyone.

"ATK 0?" Meanae blinked. "So much cost for a Ritual and..."

"Don't underestimate it," Don Zaloog said. "The lower the ATK, the more dangerous some of these are."

"Ritual is a Special Summon, and I haven't Normal Summoned yet."

Titan smirked and flashed another card.

"I tribute Archfiend Cavalry to Advance Summon!

 Wielder of dark lightning—

—Summoned Skull descends!"

Black clouds gathered; golden lightning speared down. The fiend rode the thunder and crashed onto the field.

[Summoned Skull, ATK 2500]

"Ooh, two bosses in one turn," Chick said. "Not bad."

"It is the Shadow Riders, after all," Meanae nodded. "Anything less wouldn't be worthy colleagues."

"Indeed," Don Zaloog agreed.

On comms, Kira silently chuckled.

These Burglars aren't that strong, but their confidence is. Among the Shadow Riders, they're the weakest bunch.

"Battle!" Titan shouted. "Now I'll unleash the darkness!

Matador Fiend attacks! Strike Transforming Sphere!"

The Matador dashed—swift yet eerily silent.

"Attacking with ATK 0?" Chick frowned.

"Matador's effect," Titan sneered. "Matador Fiend can't be destroyed by battle and you take no battle damage from its battles.

But any monster that battles it is destroyed!"

Chick jolted. "That strong!?"

The Matador reached the Transforming Sphere. Wind blades cut at it, but they vanished into its form. A slash—and the Transforming Sphere detonated into fragments.

Chapter 557: Fated With This Deck

Transforming Sphere—destroyed!

"Can't be destroyed in battle, takes no damage, and kills by contact," Tania said. "Matador Fiend is a real problem."

In the current pace, a unit that both holds the line and clears by battle is potent.

Titan grinned. "Your field is empty!"

Kagemaru remained calm. "Then I activate a set card.

Trap—Atmospheric Regeneration!" (manga card)

 Another transparent spiral rose, like a vortex linked to the underworld.

"Atmospheric Regeneration can only activate when an 'Sphere' is destroyed."

The mechanical arm retrieved a card from the GY and placed it.

"Special Summon a Level 4 or lower 'Sphere' from the GY.

From the GY—

Synthesize Sphere, Special Summon!"

A new Transforming Sphere flew out of the vortex and landed with wings spread.

[Synthesize Sphere, DEF 1000]

"Synthesize Sphere? When did..."

Titan realized—"Graceful Charity" discards.

"Hah, just another wall!"

"Effect of Synthesize Sphere," Kagemaru said. "When this card is Normal or Special Summoned, Special Summon a Level 4 or lower 'Sphere' from your GY."

Titan scowled. "Another revive?"

"This time, the one destroyed earlier in the turn..."

He retrieved again.

"Special Summon 'Air Sphere!'"

A tiny, harmless-looking Transforming Sphere curled within its air shield.

[Air Sphere, DEF 300]

"Tch, more small fry," Titan said. "No matter how many, trash is trash..."

"Chain: set card."

Before he finished, another backrow flipped.

"Trap—Atmospheric Transference!" (manga card)

 The vortices on both birds linked and pooled into a new spiral on the ground.

"Atmospheric Transference can activate when an 'Sphere' is Special Summoned to my field."

"Special Summon a Level 4 or lower 'Sphere' from the Deck."

His mechanical arm spread the deck, then picked one by intent.

"Special Summon 'Transforming Sphere!'"

[Transforming Sphere, DEF 100]

Titan: "!"

That sphere again!

He grit his teeth.

The monster-stealing bird...

Kira grew more intrigued.

This manga-only theme runs fast: deck access, GY recursion, and NTR mechanics. Looks fun.

Have to chat with Chairman Kagemaru about it later.

"Then I'll smash that nuisance first!"

Titan barked.

"Summoned Skull, destroy Transforming Sphere!"

Thunder rolled as black clouds hurled lightning javelins.

But the tiny Air Sphere shrieked and fanned its wings; its airflow formed a transparent barrier. The thunder shattered against it.

"What?" Titan gasped. "Summoned Skull can't beat this pipsqueak..."

"Air Sphere's effect," Kagemaru said. "While Air Sphere exists and there is another 'Sphere' on the field, your monsters can't declare attacks."

Titan's pupils shrank.

That unimpressive little bird also locks attacks...

Sweat beaded on his forehead.

So strong...

 This is the Shadow Riders' leader?

He destroyed one Transforming Sphere and triggered a chain reaction—more and more Birds swarmed out.

After a dizzying flurry, suddenly he couldn't attack, and his monsters were prime NTR targets...

No—Transform Sphere can only absorb Defense-position monsters.

Right now his monsters are in Attack. And he has the undying Matador...

"My turn. Draw," Kagemaru said. "Spell: Pot of Greed—draw two."

The grinning jar appeared, then shattered as two cards were drawn.

He glanced once and immediately flipped the last set.

"Spell—Earthquake. All monsters on the field change to Defense Position."

Titan: "!!!"

All to Defense—bad!

The ground rumbled. Monsters staggered and crouched, switching to defense.

[Summoned Skull, ATK 2500 → DEF 1200]

 [Matador Fiend, ATK 0 → DEF 0]

"Of course, none of my monsters were summoned this turn and none switched position manually; they can change battle position."

Kagemaru continued calmly.

"I switch all my Transforming Spheres to Attack Position."

Titan gritted his teeth.

Summoned Skull, like many fiends, is high ATK, low DEF—Defense is a weak point. But the real problem...

That damned Transforming Sphere.

"Discard 1 card—Transforming Sphere effect: equip a Defense-position monster," Kagemaru intoned. "Equip 'Matador Fiend.'"

Titan's embodiment of darkness, the invincible Matador, was simply absorbed—no head-on clash. It was sealed under the Sphere.

"Then discard another card—Transforming Sphere's effect," Kagemaru said, tossing a second.

"Equip 'Summoned Skull.'"

Titan: "!!!"

No once per turn!?

He watched, wide-eyed, as his second ace was also sealed beneath the Transforming Sphere—two cells, two fiends.

[Transforming Sphere, ATK 100 → 2600]

"This ends now," Kagemaru ordered. "Transforming Sphere, direct attack."

Titan stared as the Bird flew—not at him, but hovered midair. It was the two imprisoned demons—his soul, his dark power—rushing him instead.

"Uwaaaaah!"

[Titan LP 2000 → 0]

Kira narrowed his eyes.

Sphere, this deck...

It really feels like I'm fated with it.