Yugioh [594-599] (Patreon)

Chapter 594: Sacrifice Escape

"Draw five cards!"

Zigfried drew cards in one go, and Kira couldn’t help but click his tongue.

Impressive, truly impressive.

Nibelung's Treasure: by equipping the "Nibelung's Ring" from the deck to an opponent’s monster, you get to draw five cards yourself. A card-drawing engine worthy of the DM era.

So, as the cost for using this obviously broken fake card that lets you draw five at once, there must be some corresponding side effect for this "Nibelung's Ring," right?

Wouldn’t it be reasonable if it doubled the opponent monster’s attack and gave it immunity to everything?

But then Zigfried continued explaining.

"The effect of 'Nibelung's Ring' equipped to a monster on your field is: the monster equipped with this card cannot attack, cannot change its battle position, and its effects are negated!"

Kira contemplated.

Hmm, that’s quite a side effect.

"But," Zigfried added, "the controller of the equipped monster can draw two cards during each of their Draw Phases. However, if any of the drawn cards are monsters, they must discard one monster card from among them."

That’s the only part that sounds like a real side effect.

Letting the opponent draw an extra card each turn seems like a big concession. But having to discard a monster card actually helps them load their graveyard, which nowadays is more of a resource anyway.

But back in the DM anime days, things were different. Monster cards in the graveyard were only useful if revived, otherwise, holding them in hand was more reliable.

So, in the DM era, this overpowered Nibelung combo’s benefits all went to the user, and the side effects were all eaten by the opponent. Even looking at all of DM, it’s hard to find a faker card than this.

"Next, I tribute 'Valkyrie Dritte' on the field for a Tribute Summon!"

Zigfried raised a card in his hand.

"Level five, Valkyrie Zweite!"

It was the Zweite that had been shuffled back earlier.

[Valkyrie Zweite, ATK 1600]

"You haven’t forgotten Zweite’s effect, have you?" Zigfried said. "When this card is successfully summoned, destroy one monster on your opponent’s field.

Destroy 'Catapult Turtle' for me!"

Zweite’s sword energy slashed, the sword light cutting across the electromagnetic cannon on the turtle’s shell, and the old turtle instantly exploded in a fireball.

"Now your field is clear again."

Mokuba murmured, "But Kira still has Drowning Mirror Force in his back row."

Of course, their opponent couldn’t possibly not know that.

But even knowing, Zigfried didn’t hesitate and shouted, "Battle! Valkyrie Zweite, direct attack!"

"Eh?" Mokuba was surprised. "You’re attacking even though you know there’s a trap?"

"Oh? Even knowing, you don’t retreat and still charge into my Drowning Mirror Force?" Kira smiled. "Alright, I accept your challenge."

He pressed a button on his duel disk and waved his hand casually.

"Then I activate the trap 'Drowning Mirror Force'!

When a direct attack is declared, all opponent monsters on the field are shuffled back into their owner’s deck!"

The Water Shield activated again. The Valkyrie’s sword slashed into endless waves, swallowed up just like before, and was returned to Zigfried’s deck.

"As expected."

Zigfried shouted.

"Then, Battle Phase ends, entering Main Phase 2.

I activate the Spell Card 'Swan Maiden.' Special Summon a Valkyrie monster from my hand.

Appear, level 7!

Valkyrie Brunhilde!"

Level 7, currently the highest-level Valkyrie to appear. Brunhilde had blue hair and armor, a silver longsword reflecting cold light, and rode a snow-white steed.

[Valkyrie Brunhilde, ATK 1800]

"Then I use the Spell Card 'Card of Heaven and Earth.' In a turn you performed an Advance Summon, draw two cards from your deck. But cards drawn can’t be used this turn, and you must set at least one card before the end of the turn." (Manga card.)

"I see, you purposely triggered the trap to summon your ace." Mokuba said, "But that means the Battle Phase is over."

"Is that really so?" Zigfried sneered, showing off some style points.

Mokuba: "NANI?"

"I’ll show you now, the Valkyries are warriors blessed by the gods and not bound by such mundane rules!" Zigfried shouted. "I activate the Spell Card 'Mischief of the Time Goddess!'

Skip an entire turn and go straight to my next Battle Phase!" (Anime effect.)

There it was, the Valkyrie deck’s "never-to-be-printed" broken card twin to Nibelung. Except this thing betrayed its peers and made it into the TCG in an extremely nerfed form, while Nibelung remains forgotten.

The playful twin-tailed Time Goddess appeared on the field, winked, and with a wave of her staff, an entire turn was skipped, bringing Zigfried straight to his Battle Phase again.

"Go! Brunhilde, direct attack!"

The Valkyrie’s steed charged, the sword light pierced straight through Kira. He staggered back half a step but stayed standing.

[Kira, LP 4000 → LP 2200]

Zigfried was invigorated.

Good, finally dealt some damage.

Hold steady and I can win!

"Set two cards, end turn."

"Used both Nibelung and Mischief in a single turn, you’re really going all out."

Kira patted the dust off himself.

"Then I’ll get a little serious on my side, too.

My turn, draw."

But before he could make any move, Zigfried shouted,

"Activate Set card, Trap Card 'Thunder of Ruler'!

This card can only be activated during your opponent's Standby Phase. Your opponent cannot attack this turn!"

"Ah, so you sealed my attacks too." Kira nodded. "So cautious."

He casually revealed a card from his hand.

"Activate Spell Card 'Card of Adversity.' If your opponent controls a Special Summoned monster and you control no monsters, draw two cards from your deck." (Anime card.)

Kira drew two cards.

Then he sent one to the graveyard.

"'Machina Fortress' in the graveyard activates. By sending Machine monsters in my hand whose total levels equal 8 or more to the grave, I can Special Summon this card from the grave.

I send the level 8 'Machina Megaform' from my hand to the grave to revive 'Machina Fortress.'"

[Machina Fortress, ATK 2500]

Zigfried frowned.

Why did the whole vibe just shift to machines?

But it didn’t matter. Even if a high-level monster was summoned, the effect of Thunder of Ruler prevented attacks.

At least he was safe this turn.

"Activate Set card, Continuous Trap 'Limit Reverse.'" Kira said, "Revive a monster with 1000 or less ATK from the grave.

I Special Summon this card from the grave—

—Catapult Turtle!"

[Catapult Turtle, ATK 1000]

Zigfried couldn’t take it anymore.

Why

Why is it still you!?

How obsessed are you with this dumb turtle?

Just a moment ago, he was still wondering why his opponent’s deck had such a sudden art style change, and now he understood.

It wasn’t about machines. The point was the turtle’s cannon. Machina Fortress was included simply because it could revive itself, was a Machine-type, and could use Limiter Removal for massive ATK boosts—a high-quality, self-regenerating shell for the turtle.

The opponent was clearly playing a Catapult Turtle specialist deck. Everything revolved around the turtle.

Zigfried only had 1000 LP left. The opponent could just launch Machina Fortress with Catapult Turtle and blow him away in one shot.

That can’t happen!

"Continuous Trap 'Fiendish Chain,' bind a monster on the field with demonic chains, its effects are negated.

Bind 'Catapult Turtle'!"

Fiendish chains shot out from the trap, binding the turtle tightly with dark energy.

Zigfried breathed a long sigh of relief.

Serves you right, dumb turtle. Try firing again now, I dare you!

But Kira wasn’t fazed at all.

"Is that so? Then I activate Spell Card 'Gift of the Martyr.' Send a monster on your field to the grave; that monster’s ATK is added to another monster on your field until the end of the turn."

Zigfried was taken aback.

What’s that for?

Are you giving Catapult Turtle's ATK to Machina Fortress?

"But you can’t attack this turn." Zigfried frowned. "Thunder of Ruler is in effect, so you can’t even enter the Battle Phase."

So what if you stack ATK?

"I know." Kira smiled and nodded. "I’ll add Machina Fortress's ATK to Catapult Turtle."

Machina Fortress turned into golden light and merged into Catapult Turtle.

[Catapult Turtle, ATK 1000 → ATK 3500]

Zigfried: "?"

Okay, your turtle is now stronger than Blue-Eyes White Dragon, so what? What difference does it make?

"Catapult Turtle activates its effect." Kira said calmly. "Tribute a monster on your field; inflict damage to your opponent equal to half that monster’s ATK."

Zigfried panicked, thinking his opponent was trying to make stuff up, and quickly interrupted: "Wait! Your Catapult Turtle’s effect has already been negated by Fiendish Chain!"

"Yes, its effect is negated, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be activated." Kira replied serenely. "Catapult Turtle’s activation cost is 'tribute a monster on your field,' and I still have to pay that cost.

So, I tribute Catapult Turtle itself as the cost to activate its effect."

Catapult Turtle entered a ghostly state, as if burning its own soul for one final shot.

"Huh?"

Zigfried was stunned.

"Fine, activate it if you want. But even if you activate it, your Catapult Turtle’s effect has been negated by Fiendish Chain, so it can’t resolve."

"It will." Kira reminded him, smiling. "Fiendish Chain can only bind a face-up monster on the field and negate its effect.

But look, is my Catapult Turtle still on the field?"

Zigfried froze for two seconds, then his eyes slowly widened.

Crap. Crap!

He just realized.

Catapult Turtle activated its effect and was tributed as a cost, so during effect resolution, it was no longer on the field. Fiendish Chain couldn’t bind it anymore.

Using its own effect cost to sacrifice-escape!

Such skill, such strength...

"You... you..."

Zigfried stared, speechless.

"Catapult Turtle's ATK at the time of self-sacrifice was 3500, so it inflicts 1750 damage."

Kira lazily raised his hand.

"Load."

"Fire."

Catapult Turtle’s ghostly image became an electromagnetic cannon, as if piercing through space!

[Zigfried, LP 1000 → LP 0]

Chapter 595: Avenged for Nothing?

Night fell like a heavy curtain, merciless clouds shrouded the entire forest. Exquisite, luxurious furniture was toppled everywhere, the finely decorated living room bore traces of destruction. A cold wind swept through, carrying a biting chill.

Yet, outside, the thunder and lightning had stopped at some point.

The clouds slowly drifted away, gradually revealing the moon buried beneath them. Moonlight shone through the window, casting onto the gentleman kneeling in the living room, stretching his shadow long and thin.

Zigfried Lloyd was in a bad state.

He was someone who had suffered a crushing defeat before. Precisely because he couldn’t accept that loss, he came back from hell for revenge.

The last time he lost, his two greatest rivals were Seto Kaiba and Yugi Muto.

He lost, but couldn’t accept it, so he gave up everything for revenge.

But in the end, this revenge was for nothing.

If someone asked how he felt now, just one word: regret. Deep, deep regret.

He should have used his remaining assets to buy a coffin and bury himself. Instead, he started this so-called revenge. Now look at what happened—though he lost badly before, at least he lost with dignity.

Seto Kaiba had to use all his trump cards to win, with XYZ-Dragon Cannon and Blue-Eyes taking turns, and even the now-banned Chaos Emperor Dragon made its one anime appearance, earning this guy a place in history.

To have such treatment, as the only one in Yu-Gi-Oh! anime to face the full, uncensored Chaos Emperor Dragon, he definitely deserves to be remembered.

But now, after today’s defeat, his mind was filled with nothing but Catapult Turtles.

Even if he closed his eyes, all he saw were turtles.

Zigfried sighed deeply.

They say that when people are dying, they see their life flash before their eyes. But for him, his resentment before death was so strong that, even in his dying moments, all he saw was a swarm of turtles, squeezing out even the life-flash.

He felt that the most tragic thing in life was this.

"You, cough, cough—"

Kneeling on the ground, he might have wanted to curse, but was too weak, forcing a bitter smile.

"Seto Kaiba’s subordinates... to think you’re this strong and unorthodox a duelist. I really shouldn’t have come back. I was destined to lose."

Mokuba felt soft, even knowing this was an enemy, he couldn’t help but feel a little sorry seeing him like this.

"Uh, actually, there’s something you should know..."

"Hmm?" Zigfried looked up with difficulty.

"About Kira."

Mokuba stepped forward, motioning to Kira, a little embarrassed.

"Actually, Kira isn’t my brother’s subordinate, nor does he work for KaibaCorp."

"What?"

Zigfried blinked, confused.

"Kira is this year’s new Duel King. He beat my brother in Duel City, saved the world from the God of Orichalcos, and is the first new Duel King since Yugi retired."

Mokuba explained.

"My brother is out of the country right now, and we happen to be friends, so I asked him to help."

"Duel King!?"

Zigfried stared wide-eyed, as if learning the village just got internet, looking at Kira in shock.

So he hadn’t lost to some KaibaCorp lackey?

But to the Duel King...

Zigfried pondered for a few seconds.

Then suddenly raised his head and laughed. His long pink hair hung loose, his face pale as a corpse, looking even more ghastly in the moonlight.

"Duel King, good, good, another Duel King.

There’ve only ever been two Duel Kings, and both stood with Kaiba against me. Hahaha, good, very good..."

But as he laughed, his laughter suddenly turned to sobbing. Tears streamed down his face, making him look terrifying and strange.

Finally, all his words turned into one sentence.

"You damn well should’ve said you’re not with Kaiba!"

"Otherwise, why would I fight you so hard???"

His voice cut off.

Zigfried Lloyd fell to his knees, head lolling to one side.

Then his body was covered by a faint haze, parts turning into black mist, parts dissolving into light, bit by bit fading away.

Until his whole body became transparent, disappearing completely.

Kira: "..."

Mokuba: "..."

After a few seconds, Mokuba couldn’t help asking Kira, "Did you finish him off with a Shadow Duel?"

Kira thought for a moment, then shook his head.

"I had no intention of taking his life."

Kira knew the rules of Shadow Duels. Even if the other side started it, he could often, as the winner, spare them by altering the stakes.

But not always. Even the Pharaoh, with the Millennium Puzzle, could only change the stakes against weaker opponents; when facing other Millennium Item holders, or trying to undo the Orichalcos shadow game, he failed.

"So he was killed by his own Shadow Duel powers?" Mokuba asked.

Kira frowned and thought, but didn’t answer.

He sensed things weren’t that simple.

Instead, Kira walked to the end of the living room and pushed open a closed door.

A rush of damp, moldy, ancient air came out, almost suffocating. Moonlight barely shone in, unable to dispel the villa’s chill and darkness.

A long corridor lay ahead.

Walking down the dusty, cobweb-filled corridor was like stepping on the dust of ages. Occasionally, you’d spot spiders fleeing; their webs covered every corner, as if they ruled the place.

"What’s that stench?"

A few steps in, Mokuba couldn’t help pinching his nose.

The stench of rot grew stronger as they advanced.

Kira kicked open a door into the bedroom. The smell was overpowering.

It was the scent of death.

On the old, faded, dusty bed lay a corpse, badly deformed, skin an unnatural green, eyes wide open, staring blankly at the ceiling.

It was Zigfried Lloyd.

Chapter 596: Zigfried Is Dead

Ten minutes later, a KaibaCorp field team had arrived at the villa.

"It’s definitely Zigfried Lloyd."

A team member came out, carrying a laptop, to Mokuba outside. The smell inside was too much, so Kira and Mokuba had already gone outside.

"He’s dead?" Mokuba asked. "Because of a Shadow Duel?"

"No, I think it was illness."

The team member reported.

"And it wasn’t recent. The exact time is hard to determine, but judging from the body, he’s been dead for at least three months."

Mokuba was stunned.

Three months?

But they had just seen Zigfried Lloyd, talked to him, even played a duel.

If the real Zigfried Lloyd had died three months ago, then who did they see?

Who did they duel against?

Thinking of this, Mokuba broke into a cold sweat. Instinctively, he glanced back at the villa, which now seemed even more ominous.

Zigfried's resentment before death, his twisted expression, his deathly pale face—all flashed back, making Mokuba shiver.

It was as if the vengeful spirit still lingered, glaring at them from the shadows.

"Kira..."

Mokuba looked at Kira.

"Did we just..."

"See a ghost? Probably." Kira said.

Mokuba: "..."

Could you not say something so scary in such a calm tone?

"What’s wrong?" Kira said casually. "Didn’t we just discuss how ghosts aren’t that rare?"

Mokuba was speechless.

True. Before the duel, they had just been talking about how the previous Duel King was a 3,000-year-old ghost.

So what Kira meant was, ghost or not, it’s already been beaten—nothing too scary.

"But what I’m wondering is, why?" Kira thought, stroking his chin. "Why did he end up like this?"

In this world, people have souls, but it’s not easy for them to become vengeful ghosts. Normally, the dead return to the afterlife, and someone like the Pharaoh only hung around for 3,000 years due to extraordinary circumstances and supernatural power.

Zigfried Lloyd was a genius and a capitalist, but hadn’t dealt with the supernatural. His words and actions in the duel suggest someone helped him.

Someone gave him the power to persist as a soul after death and to start a Shadow Duel with Kira.

Kira, having read many ancient texts, especially on dark powers, understood: for a soul to persist and gain Shadow Duel powers is not something just any dark duelist can grant.

Whoever did this must be very powerful.

In short, taking care of Zigfried was only the first step. The real mastermind behind him hasn’t even shown up and probably won’t let this go.

Looks like KaibaCorp still has a lot of trouble ahead.

But that’s Kaiba’s problem.

Kira had been paid well by Kaiba, with a warehouse of cards and even a jet plane, so he didn’t mind helping out when Kaiba was away, or when he had time.

Sometimes, there’s even extra cash to be made.

Like today, with Zigfried’s Valkyrie deck.

The Valkyries may not be that strong, but their rarity is top-tier. There’s only one because Zigfried printed them himself; it’s his exclusive deck.

And while their power is average, the Valkyries’ advantages go beyond skimpy costumes. The two broken god cards Zigfried just used—draw-five-with-a-side-of-opponent-monster-silence Nibelung's Treasure, and the turn-skipping Mischief of the Time Goddess—are both rule-breaking fake cards.

Now Zigfried is dead, and the poor Valkyries are masterless, so Kira reluctantly takes them in, giving them a new home.

"What’s your plan now?" Kira asked Mokuba.

Mokuba understood that there was more to the Zigfried incident, that someone else was behind it.

He thought for a moment. "I’ll ask Leon if he knows anything."

"Leon?" Kira didn’t recall the name.

"Oh, Leon Wilson. Real name Leon von Schroeder."

The surname jogged Kira’s memory. Zigfried’s biological younger brother, who in the original KC arc used a Fairy Tale deck and dueled Yugi in the KC Cup finals, gaining Yugi’s recognition. Zigfried said his brother’s talent and skill far surpassed his own.

Back then, Leon was just a child but made it to the finals. Now, so many years later, he’s a pro, active in the European circuit, often topping the leaderboards and winning championships, now considered Europe’s number one duelist.

The Schroeder family fell on hard times, and after the KC Cup, Zigfried went to jail and never recovered. But his brother, thanks to his talent, became a star in the dueling world.

This character only briefly appeared in the KC arc, but is beloved by fans—especially those with a foot fetish. In his duel with Yugi, even though he lost, he did something no one else has done:

He took off Dark Magician Girl’s little boots.

"Well, good luck with your investigation. If there’s nothing else, I’ll head back to the Academy."

As he spoke, Kira remotely called his jet plane through his duel disk system. The jet from Kaiba could auto-pilot to his position.

"Let me know if you need anything."

"Alright." Mokuba nodded. "Thanks again, I’ll let my brother know."

Just then, another subordinate hurried over.

"Sorry to interrupt, sir, but we found a clue." He said. "The surveillance system at the house entrance was still running. We pulled the footage and found someone visited five days ago."

"Oh? Who?" Mokuba asked.

Zigfried had been dead for three months, so anyone entering the villa during that time was suspicious.

"Facial recognition says his name is... Ryuya Saito? Just a local thug from a nearby town."

"A thug?" Mokuba was surprised. "A Shadow Duelist?"

"No, just a normal thug."

"That’s odd." Mokuba muttered.

"Looks like I’ll be getting back to the dorm late tonight," Kira said. "Do you have an address? I can go check it out, and politely ask Mr. Saito what he knows."

Chapter 597: The Card Professor

Saito Ryuya was the leader of the local gang, the Shadow Dragon Group.

The Shadow Dragon Group made their living off the railways, controlling town rail lines for smuggling operations, and were one of three major underworld groups along the tracks.

At this moment, Saito Ryuya was drinking and boasting with his subordinates.

“…And then? Then I just smashed my fist into that cop’s face. One of his front teeth flew out. He looked at me in disbelief.”

Saito Ryuya, in the heat of his excitement, was practically spitting as he spoke, full of pride.

“I told him, ‘If you know what’s good for you, stay the hell away from me in the future.’ Hah, you guys should’ve seen the look on his face!”

His underlings showered him with praise.

After a round of food and drinks, one of the younger members said, “Our Shadow Dragon Group is expanding fast, boss. We’re taking over more and more of the rail territory. At this rate, swallowing up the Polar Night and Ghost Wolf gangs is only a matter of time. Shadow Dragon’s domination of the rail lines is just around the corner. Boss Ryuya, you’re unstoppable!”

Ryuya laughed loudly at this.

The railways had always been jointly controlled by three gangs, each managing their own section. Of them, Polar Night was the strongest, infamous for their brutality, and the other two always had to give way.

But those days were over.

“It’s all thanks to this gentleman here.”

Ryuya smiled and toasted a man sitting at the table.

The man had blond, afro-styled hair—a duelist’s look if ever there was one. He simply smiled, nodded at Ryuya, but said nothing.

He wore a Duel Disk on his arm.

Not long ago, this man had appeared in their town and demonstrated an unbelievable power before the Shadow Dragon Group. For the first time, these small-town thugs realized that Duel Monsters could possess such supernatural power.

Thanks to this man’s abilities, the Shadow Dragon Group had risen rapidly, now with the momentum to swallow the other two gangs.

“But what I still don’t understand,” Ryuya said, “is why sir is so interested in that dead man in the villa?”

The blond man only smiled.

“Sometimes, the less you know, the better,” he replied quietly.

But just as he finished speaking, there was a dull thud, as if something heavy had hit the floor. All the lights suddenly went out, plunging the room into darkness.

The gangsters were startled.

“What the hell? Power outage?”

But then a voice rang out behind them, sudden and unexpected.

“I’d like to know, too—why is the top card professor under Maximillion J. Pegasus so interested in someone who’s been dead for three months?”

The unexpected voice shocked everyone in the room.

“Who’s there?!”

Their eyes adjusted, and they turned to see someone who had appeared in the room without a sound—Kira.

He stood at the far end of the table, calmly facing the blond man.

“I’m not wrong, am I? Card Professor, Ted Banias?”

Ryuya slammed the table, about to get up. “Who do you think you are? Do you know where you are?”

But before he could move, the man called Ted simply lifted his hand and waved gently.

“You’re no match for him.”

Ryuya paused, and then noticed that Kira, too, was wearing a Duel Disk. Suddenly, he seemed to understand.

This guy and the blond man were the same kind of people.

These duelists had powers beyond the ordinary. They weren’t from the same world as the rest of them.

“Duel King, Fujiki Kira, I presume?”

Ted sneered.

“Interesting. I had a chance to challenge the Duel King once, but it slipped away. Let me make up for that regret this time, and see if you’re all you’re cracked up to be.”

This card professor was a character from the Yu-Gi-Oh! manga side stories, originally sent by Pegasus to stop Yugi. But that duel was intercepted by Pegasus’s brother, leaving Ted with the only missed chance at a Duel King out of all the professors—a sore spot to this day.

“Why aren’t you still working for Pegasus, instead of meddling here?” Kira frowned. “Or is Pegasus after KaibaCorp again?”

“Hmph, beat me and you’ll find out.”

Ted smirked and activated his Duel Disk.

“All right, let’s go.”

Kira did the same, used to solving everything by card battle.

“Duel!” x2

[Kira, LP 4000]

[Ted, LP 4000]

“I’ll go first. Draw!”

Kira glanced at his card and played it immediately.

“I summon ‘Amazoness Swords Woman.’”

[Amazoness Swords Woman, ATK 1500]

“Amazoness?”

Ted raised an eyebrow.

“That’s not the deck you used in Duel City… Hmph, don’t think you need to take me seriously?”

“Who knows? Maybe I just feel like using this deck today.”

Kira smiled, then set four cards to the back row in one go.

“One monster out front, four set cards. End of turn.”

Any duelist who’d ever faced Kira’s Amazoness deck would probably be sweating by now.

But Professor Ted Banias clearly lacked that experience.

“My turn, draw!”

Ted said.

“I normal summon ‘Botanical Lion’ from my hand!”

A monster with a lion’s face appeared on Ted’s field. Its head was surrounded by colorful petals, and its legs were plant roots.

[Botanical Lion, ATK 1600]

“Botanical Lion’s effect: it gains 300 ATK for every face-up Plant monster I control. It’s a Plant itself, so it gains 300.”

[Botanical Lion, ATK 1600 → ATK 1900]

“Botanical Lion attacks Amazoness Swords Woman!”

“I activate my set card—Trap Card, ‘Zero Gardna!’”

Kira flipped a card.

“Make one of your monsters’ ATK become 0 until the end of the turn. This turn, that monster can’t be destroyed by battle.”

Ted was surprised.

“You’d reduce your own monster’s ATK to protect it?”

So you’re using your own LP to shield a very average 4-star, 1500 ATK Warrior? Is it worth it?

But the next moment, he understood why.

“Using Zero Gardna, Amazoness Swords Woman’s ATK becomes 0.”

[Amazoness Swords Woman, ATK 1500 → ATK 0]

Kira: “Then, Amazoness Swords Woman’s effect: Any battle damage I would take from battles involving this card, my opponent takes instead.”

Ted: “!!!”

Chapter 598: Full Thorns

In an instant, Ted Banias’s earlier doubts vanished.

Is it worth spending LP to protect a 1500 ATK monster?

Absolutely—when it’s the opponent losing the LP, and the monster is a walking counter-damage bomb.

“Ugh!”

Amazoness Swords Woman was pushed back, but the impact rebounded onto Ted. The card professor staggered, gritting his teeth.

[Ted, LP 4000 → LP 2100]

“Then I activate my set card, Trap Card ‘Card of Sacrifice.’ If the combined ATK of my Attack Position monsters is lower than the lowest ATK of my opponent’s monsters, I draw two cards from my deck. But this turn, I cannot summon or change positions in any way.” (Anime effect.)

(In the real card, you need at least two monsters, but in the anime, as long as Amazoness Swords Woman’s ATK is 0, it basically always triggers.)

“I draw two cards.” Kira drew.

This turn, Ted had taken a hard hit, but could only grunt in frustration.

“I set two cards, end my turn.”

“Then, at the end of the turn, Zero Gardna’s effect ends. Amazoness Swords Woman’s ATK returns to normal.”

[Amazoness Swords Woman, ATK 0 → ATK 1500]

Ted looked grim.

As expected, this guy could not be underestimated.

Fujiki Kira was indeed a Duel King, the kind that’s impossible to guard against. If you let your guard down, you’d be an idiot.

His underhandedness wouldn’t change, no matter what deck he played.

“My turn, draw.” Kira revealed his card, “Spell Card ‘Pot of Greed’. Draw two more cards.”

He chose two cards from his hand—one to the graveyard, one revealed.

“Discard a card to activate Equip Spell ‘Twin Swords of Flashing Light - Tryce,’ and equip it to Amazoness Swords Woman.”

A pair of lightning-charged swords appeared, gripped by the Amazoness.

“Twin Swords of Flashing Light - Tryce can be activated by discarding a card. The equipped monster loses 500 ATK, but can attack twice per turn.” Kira explained.

[Amazoness Swords Woman, ATK 1500 → ATK 1000]

Ted’s face twitched.

Again, lowering the Swordswoman’s ATK, and giving her double attacks on top of that.

No doubt, his hand or back row must have cards making Swordswoman immune to destruction.

Ted nearly laughed out of exasperation.

Everyone said this new Duel King was a rising sun in the east—his reputation was deserved. Coming right out with suicide tactics, lowering his own monster’s ATK for counterattacks—who thinks of this stuff?

“Battle.” Kira declared. “Amazoness Swords Woman attacks Botanical Lion.”

The 1000 ATK Swordswoman charged fearlessly, sword drawn.

Ted dared not let the attack go through. “I activate my Trap, ‘Wall of Thorns!’

When a Plant monster is targeted for attack, destroy all Attack Position monsters your opponent controls!”

A wall of thorns shot up before Ted. Amazoness Swords Woman’s attack struck the thorns, and she was entangled and destroyed.

“Hahaha, too bad! Creative, but it didn’t work!” Ted crowed. “Let that Swordswoman stay in the afterlife.”

“Then I activate my set card, Trap Card ‘Impenetrable Attack.’

This card can only be activated during the Battle Phase.

Select one monster you control; it cannot be destroyed by battle or card effects during this Battle Phase.”

“Eh?”

Ted’s smile froze.

The revived Swordswoman cut through the thorns—nothing could stop her. The monsters clashed, but the damage rebounded right back at Ted.

“Ugh!”

[Ted, LP 2100 → LP 1200]

“Of course, thanks to ‘Impenetrable Attack,’ Amazoness Swords Woman can’t be destroyed this turn,” Kira said. “And because of ‘Twin Swords of Flashing Light - Tryce,’ she can attack twice.

Amazoness Swords Woman attacks again.”

She charged out once more. Botanical Lion could only take the hit. Swordswoman’s blade flicked, and the damage rebounded onto Ted again.

[Ted, LP 1200 → LP 300]

“Battle Phase ends.” Kira said calmly. “I set two more cards.

Then I activate Continuous Spell ‘Mirage of Nightmare.’ During the opponent’s Standby Phase, I can draw until I have four cards in hand.

Turn end.”

Ted staggered to his feet, taking a deep breath.

This was insane.

Though he’d never played Yugi face-to-face, he’d watched his fellow card professors duel the King.

But this—this was on another level.

Same Duel King, but why was this one so… dirty?

Ted: “My turn, draw!”

“At this moment, Mirage of Nightmare’s effect activates,” Kira said. “I draw until I have four cards in hand.”

Main Phase. Ted quickly summoned more monsters.

“Spell Card ‘Spell Books from the Pot’—both players draw three cards!” (Manga card.)

“Then I normal summon ‘Fierce Tiger Monghu’!”

[Fierce Tiger Monghu, ATK 1700]

“Then Spell Card ‘Double Summon’, allowing me to Normal Summon again this turn!”

Ted grabbed two monsters from his Duel Disk.

“I tribute Botanical Lion and Fierce Tiger Monghu to Tribute Summon!”

His LP was hanging by a thread, and he knew there was no room for error. His earlier confidence was gone.

“Appear, my ace—King of Beasts—

—Assault Lion, summon!” (Manga card.)

A giant beast appeared, like a living mountain, with hard, black scales and a majestic lion’s head, its mane blazing and fangs bared.

[Assault Lion, ATK 2600]

Ted was fired up.

“With this power, I’ll finally get rid of that underhanded Swordswoman!”

Chapter 599: Medicine Eater

The duel was so intense, even the gangsters watching were sweating.

They weren’t shadow duelists and knew little of the supernatural, but in this world, it was rare for anyone not to understand dueling.

Even these outsiders could see Ted’s predicament.

He’d been counter-damaged down to a mere 300 LP, and was being completely played. His opponent still had that low-ATK Swordswoman, able to attack twice per turn.

Ted couldn’t attack or defend; any monster he summoned would get him killed.

Summon a high-ATK monster? Swordswoman attacks, and another counter-damage finishes him.

Summon a low-DEF monster as a wall? Swordswoman can attack twice, the first attack breaks the wall, the second hits him directly.

In this desperate situation, Ted’s answer as a Card Professor was: attack.

Assault Lion, summon!

The beast looked fiercely powerful, but the gangsters couldn’t feel happy.

What’s the point of high ATK if your opponent has full counter-damage?

But Ted had a plan.

“I activate Spell Card ‘Medicine Eater!’” Ted shouted. “Select a Tribute Summoned monster on your field.

Choose one tribute monster used for its tribute. The Tribute Summoned monster gains half that monster’s ATK/DEF and its effects!” (Manga card.)

Assault Lion was his ace in the manga, but this spell was the real key. The lion itself was just a big normal monster—its value lay in gaining tribute effects.

“I’ll gain Fierce Tiger Monghu’s ATK and effect!” Ted declared. “Fierce Tiger Monghu’s ATK is 1700, so Assault Lion gains 850!”

[Assault Lion, ATK 2600 → ATK 3450]

“And gains Fierce Tiger Monghu’s effect: while this card is on the field, all other monsters lose 500 ATK!”

[Amazoness Swords Woman, ATK 1000 → ATK 500]

“Huh? Wouldn’t lowering Swordswoman’s ATK make things worse?”

The crowd murmured.

The lower her ATK, the more damage gets reflected!

But Ted smiled coldly.

“Hmph, what I gain from Fierce Tiger Monghu isn’t just that. Once per turn, destroy all monsters on the field with less ATK than this card!”

Ted raised his hand and shouted.

“That troublesome Swordswoman disappears! Tiger’s Roar!”

Assault Lion let out a terrifying roar. The Swordswoman was shattered by the soundwave.

“Nice! If it’s destroyed directly, there’s no rebound damage!”

“Amazing, Professor!”

The gangsters cheered.

Ted stepped forward. “Go, Assault Lion, direct attack!”

Assault Lion charged. Kira remained calm: “I activate my set card, Continuous Trap ‘Amazoness Onslaught.’

Once per turn, during the Battle Phase, I can Special Summon an ‘Amazoness’ monster from my hand.”

“As expected!” Ted shouted. “From my hand, Quick-Play Spell ‘Hand-to-Hand Combat’—can only be activated in the Battle Phase. All Spells and Traps activated this phase are negated!” (Manga card.)

Also a spell Ted used against the Tenma brothers in the manga.

“Then I chain Trap Card ‘A Hero Emerges.’

When the opponent declares an attack, they randomly select one card from my hand. If it’s a monster, I can Special Summon it immediately.”

He paused, “This card is chained to ‘Hand-to-Hand Combat,’ so its effect resolves first and won’t be negated.”

“Tch.” Ted frowned, hesitating. “Then… the second card from the right.”

Kira smiled slightly.

“Excellent choice.”

He revealed his hand.

“Special Summon ‘Amazoness Swords Woman’ in Attack Position.”

[Amazoness Swords Woman, ATK 1500]

Ted almost coughed up blood.

Seriously? Not again!?

“Of course, you can continue your attack.” Kira smiled. “Come on, if you dare?”

Hell no, Ted thought.

“Battle reverts, I cancel the attack.”

But he still had a backup.

“I activate Trap ‘Back to the Front’—revive a monster from the graveyard in Defense Position.

I revive ‘Fierce Tiger Monghu’!”

[Fierce Tiger Monghu, DEF 1000]

“With Fierce Tiger Monghu on the field, all monsters lose 500 ATK,” Kira said. “So your Fierce Tiger Monghu and Assault Lion both lose 500 ATK, and my Swordswoman loses 1000.”

“Right, but Swordswoman’s ATK is still lower than Fierce Tiger Monghu’s,” Ted said. “Fierce Tiger Monghu’s effect: Once per turn, destroy all monsters with less ATK than it.

Disappear, ‘Amazoness Swords Woman!’”

Fierce Tiger Monghu roared, and Swordswoman was destroyed again.

Ted breathed a little easier.

He’d survived the crisis—for now. But he could tell, this Duel King’s whole deck revolved around the Swordswoman popping back up. Next turn, he’d probably see her again.

He only had 300 LP left. He couldn’t survive another hit.

Just to be safe…

He glanced at his last hope: Trap Card—Sakuretsu Armor.

With that, if Swordswoman attacked next turn, he could destroy her instantly. The turn after, he’d go all out for the win.

Perfect plan!

“I set one card, end turn.”

“My turn, draw.” Kira said. “First, Quick-Play Spell ‘Emergency Provisions.’ Send ‘Mirage of Nightmare’ to the graveyard, gain 1000 LP.”

[Kira, LP 4000 → LP 5000]

Ted narrowed his eyes.

Go ahead, revive that Swordswoman one more time.

But things didn’t go as he expected.

“I summon ‘Magical Scientist.’”

[Magical Scientist, ATK 300]

“Magical Scientist’s effect: Pay 1000 LP to Special Summon a Level 6 or lower Fusion Monster.”

[Kira, LP 5000 → LP 4000]

“I Special Summon ‘Ryu Senshi.’”

[Ryu Senshi, ATK 2000]

Ted: “?”

No Amazoness Swords Woman?

But those two can’t get past my invincible Assault Lion!

“I activate Spell ‘Spider Web’—take a card sent to the graveyard last turn from your side.” (Anime Card)

A white thread shot out from Kira’s Duel Disk, grabbing a card.

“Spell ‘Medicine Eater.’”

Ted: “!”

He took my spell from the graveyard!?

“Quick-Play Spell ‘Quick Summon’—Normal Summon a monster from my hand.

I tribute ‘Magical Scientist’ and ‘Ryu Senshi’ to summon Level 10—

—Yubel!!!”

Both monsters vanished, replaced by the fiend opening wide bone wings, the third eye on its forehead opening, glaring coldly.

[Yubel, ATK 0]

“A Level 10 monster?!” Ted was shocked.

“Then I use Mr. Banias’s own ‘Medicine Eater,’” Kira said. “Yubel gains half of Ryu Senshi’s ATK and effect.

So Yubel’s ATK becomes 1000.”

[Yubel, ATK 0 → ATK 1000]

“Still only 1000…”

Ted said, but he had a bad feeling.

He felt like he was about to lose.

“Yubel attacks Assault Lion.” Kira declared.

He’s really attacking! Ted’s heart skipped.

“Yubel’s effect: No battle damage is taken from battles involving this card, and your opponent takes that amount as damage instead.”

Ted: “!!!”

His bad feeling was right.

This is Amazoness Swords Woman—PLUS edition!

“I activate my set card!” Ted shouted, “Trap Card—Sakuretsu Armor! Destroy the attacking monster!”

“Useless.”

Kira said calmly.

“Yubel now has Ryu Senshi’s effect. By paying 1000 LP, I negate the activation of a Trap.”

[Kira, LP 4000 → LP 3000]

Ted’s eyes widened.

Even his Trap was useless.

Assault Lion’s eyes turned red, and it struck at Yubel. Yubel took the blow, shuddered, then spread its arms. Thorns erupted, carrying the rebounded damage through Ted’s chest.

[Ted, LP 300 → LP 0]