Yugioh [666-671] (Patreon)

Chapter 666: Hitting the Jackpot

"My turn. I draw."

Kira said lazily.

"Alright, then at the moment we enter the Standby Phase, the effect of 'The Deep Grave' Special Summons 'Granmarg the Rock Monarch' from your Graveyard to my field.

Come on, hand over your Rock Monarch to me."

T-Bone's expression twitched again.

But there was nothing he could do. A golden light shot out from his Deck to Kira's field, materializing as that awe-inspiring golden monarch.

[Granmarg the Rock Monarch, ATK 2400]

"Then let me immediately test the Rock Monarch's power," Kira said. "Granmarg the Rock Monarch, direct attack T-Bone!"

A golden heavy punch, like a meteor slamming down. As that crushing pressure surged in like Mount Everest collapsing from above, T-Bone's expression darkened further.

"Activate face-down," T-Bone said in a low voice. "Continuous Trap 'Limit Reverse.' Special Summon from the Graveyard an Attack Position monster with 1000 or less ATK."

"1000 or less ATK," Kira mused. "The Mine Golem, then?"

Up to this point, that seemed to be the only valid target in T-Bone's Graveyard.

"No, I'll revive this guy from the Graveyard. I only had one chance to discard this card via 'Graceful Charity.'"

He slapped a monster card onto the Duel Disk.

"Revive 'Obsidian Dragon' from the Graveyard!"

[Obsidian Dragon, ATK 800]

The Rock Monarch's fist pierced Obsidian Dragon's body straight through. Its chest was blown open, yet its form did not shatter. Instead, it weirdly released a mass of dark red virus that rapidly spread toward the Rock Monarch's body.

Just like the scene when the Crush Card Virus erupted last turn.

"Oh?" Kira squinted, intrigued.

"Hahahaha!" T-Bone laughed. "Taste this damned virus yourself!

In that instant just now, I activated the Trap 'Graverobber'!"

"Hm?"

Kira raised an eyebrow.

The Gambler's card?

"Graverobber can steal any one card from the opponent's Graveyard to use!" (Anime effect)

This is a famous card that was heavily nerfed from manga to OCG/TCG. The real card can only steal Spell Cards and you must take 2000 damage to use it.

The original had no LP cost and wasn't limited to Spells—any card could be stolen.

From how it plays, if you steal a Spell/Trap, you can activate it as Graverobber's effect if its conditions are met. If it's a Monster, that monster is Special Summoned to your field.

"The card I want from your Graveyard is, of course, 'Crush Card Virus'!" T-Bone said. "When my DARK monster with 1000 or less ATK is destroyed, the virus triggers!"

[T-Bone, LP 3600 → 2000]

"Destroy all monsters with 1500 or more ATK in your hand, on your field, and in your Deck!"

The virus immediately rebounded, swallowing the Rock Monarch on Kira's field, and then continued surging through his Deck.

"Impressive—using the opponent's own weapon against them." Kira smiled. "Now that all 1500+ ATK monsters on both sides have been blown away, things are about to become the Paralympics."

"I will not lose," T-Bone said gravely. "I now bear the power of the Four Monarchs, and the expectations of Lady Sarina and the Society. I will not betray them. No matter what, I will defeat you here!"

"Is that so? Then good luck."

Kira smiled.

"I still haven't conducted my Normal Summon this turn. So I'll set a monster in face-down Defense, then set a card, and end my turn."

"Then my turn—draw!"

A glance at the drawn card made T-Bone's eyes light up.

It was exactly what he needed.

"Spell Card, 'Pot of Avarice'!" T-Bone declared. "Return five monsters from your Graveyard to your Deck, then draw two cards!"

"I see," Kira smiled. "Recycling the Monarchs the virus destroyed."

"I'll return the Four Great Monarchs, 'Mobius the Frost Monarch,' 'Granmarg the Rock Monarch,' 'Zaborg the Thunder Monarch,' 'Thestalos the Firestorm Monarch,' plus one 'Mine Golem'—five cards—to my Deck."

The five cards slid out of the Graveyard and were shuffled back into the Deck.

"Then I draw two!"

The Monarchs were back in the Deck, but drawing them now depended on bonds and fate.

Of course, T-Bone currently had quite a bit of fate on his side—the Monarchs were his power source—so the odds weren't bad.

"However, Pot of Avarice is also 'drawing outside the Draw Phase,'" Kira reminded him. "Continuous Trap 'Appropriate.' Whenever the opponent draws outside their Draw Phase, I draw two cards as well."

Kira also drew.

T-Bone drew two; seeing one of them, he smirked.

As expected of the power granted by Lady Sarina—the most fitting cards arrived.

"Your 'Appropriate' that piggybacks on my draws to farm resources is certainly a nuisance," T-Bone said. "So let it disappear here!

First I set a card.

Then I activate the Spell 'Heavy Storm'!

Destroy all Spells and Traps on both sides!"

A raging gale howled, as if to overturn the entire arena. Even the huge mine at T-Bone's back row collapsed with a thunderous crash, turning into rubble.

Kira's Appropriate and his set card were swept up and shredded.

But just before the set card dissipated, a giant golden slot machine appeared, topped with the smirking face of Pot of Greed.

"What?" T-Bone was taken aback.

"One of the set cards you just destroyed with Heavy Storm was 'Jackpot 7.'"

Kira showed the card with a smile, then flicked it into the air. It vanished in a flutter of gold light.

"When 'Jackpot Pot 7' is sent to the Graveyard by an opponent's card effect, it is banished. If three copies of 'Jackpot Pot 7' are banished by this effect, you immediately win the Duel."

T-Bone: "!"

What jackpot nonsense did he just hit?

It was the same alternate win condition as Exodia the Forbidden One...

He was stunned for a moment by the alt-win, then calmed down quickly.

Stay cool—nothing to fear. You need three copies, and they all must be destroyed by the opponent's effects. Now that he knows of their existence, he can play around it. For the opponent to collect all three would practically require his cooperation—almost impossible.

Just a gag card. Nothing scary.

Chapter 667: We Dark Scorpions Are Just Too Strong

"But the card you destroyed on your side should also have an effect, right?" Kira said.

T-Bone had deliberately set a card before activating Heavy Storm; he wasn't being charitable and just giving his opponent a plus-one.

"Correct," T-Bone said. "The card I destroyed on my side was the Trap 'Dormant Volcano'!

When this card is sent to the Graveyard by a card effect, inflict 300 damage to the opponent." (Anime card)

A volcano roared up behind T-Bone, spewing molten lava. A fireball arced out and exploded against Kira.

[Kira, LP 2200 → 1900]

"And there's a follow-up effect: during the next Standby Phase, both players can add one FIRE monster from their Deck to their hand!"

"Search a FIRE from the Deck?"

Kira raised an eyebrow.

His instinct was to say, then I'll add Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring...

Oh, right, that's not printed yet. Sorry. Never mind.

"I don't have any FIRE monsters in today's Deck," Kira shrugged.

"Heh, then I won't be polite," T-Bone said. "Next Standby, I'll add 'Thestalos the Firestorm Monarch' from my Deck."

It was also the only other card in his Deck harboring a spirit's power.

The Rock and Fire Monarchs—precisely the two monarch spirits Kira still lacked.

"Next, I Normal Summon 'Invasion of Flames.'"

A mass of fire surged up, forming a ferocious visage on T-Bone's field.

[Invasion of Flames, ATK 1300]

"Attack the face-down monster!"

Flames shot forth toward Kira's field. The set monster flipped—it was a green bone-winged Dragon.

[Troop Dragon, DEF 800]

"When Troop Dragon is destroyed by battle and sent to the Graveyard, Special Summon another 'Troop Dragon' from the Deck."

Golden light shimmered where Troop Dragon fell; a second Troop Dragon stepped over its comrade's corpse.

"A last-breath monster, huh—stubborn as a wall."

T-Bone grunted.

"I set a card and end my turn."

"My turn. I draw." Kira immediately revealed the card. "I activate the Spell 'Spell Book From The Pot'—both players draw three cards."

"Then I Normal Summon 'Dark Scorpion Burglars.'"

He slapped down a monster card, and five figures leapt out at once. The burly, door-god-sized Gorg stood in the back, Meanae cracked a thorn whip, Cliff pushed up his glasses with a sinister smirk, Chick eyed the field like a weasel, and in front their one-eyed leader, Don Zaloog, narrowed his eye with authority.

The five-man squad made its group entrance.

"Gorg, you're crowding me," Chick complained, glancing back. "Move a little behind."

Gorg muttered, "Any further and I'll be out of the zone. That's a foul."

"Just a little out is fine!"

Cliff coughed. "Bear with it—five people in one monster zone is what it is..."

"No helping it. We five are of one heart and body," Meanae said.

"Quiet, all of you!" Don Zaloog glared. "It's rare we get stage time—don't embarrass the boss!"

"Yes, sir!"

They stiffened to attention.

T-Bone: "..."

He kind of wanted to say, your monster troupe's stage play is pretty unique...

"I activate the Spell 'Shien's Spy,' giving control of one of my monsters to the opponent until the end of the turn."

T-Bone: "?"

Huh?

But the guys on the field were old hands. The moment they saw that card, they immediately understood.

"So it's 'that move,'" Chick nodded.

"The boss has given the order—move it!" Don Zaloog barked. "Hold formation! Advance!"

"Yes, sir!"

They spoke in unison.

Then the whole Dark Scorpion crew rushed over in a swarm... to the opponent's field.

T-Bone: "???"

Why are these monsters so eager?

Why does everything feel so off...

"Battle Phase," Kira said. "Troop Dragon, attack 'Dark Scorpion Burglars.'"

T-Bone was even more baffled. "You hand me control of your monster, then use your own monster to suicide into it?"

What kind of line is this?

As Troop Dragon took flight, Don Zaloog shouted, "All units ready—first delivery incoming!"

"Yes, sir!"

The burglars braced.

Troop Dragon dove in, only to be piled on and beaten down by the thieves in a flurry.

[Troop Dragon, ATK 700]

[Kira, LP 1900 → 1600]

"Effect of Dark Scorpion Burglars," Kira said. "When this card inflicts battle damage to the opponent, it must activate: the opponent sends one Spell Card from their Deck to the Graveyard."

"The opponent..."

T-Bone's brain lagged for a moment.

"Right, since you control the Dark Scorpions now, from that card's perspective 'opponent' means me.

So you can send a Spell Card from your Deck..."

In that instant, a thought struck T-Bone; his face went white.

Sh—!?

That Jackpot Pot just now...

"Exactly. The Spell 'Jackpot Pot 7' is banished when sent to the Graveyard by an opponent's card effect."

Kira smiled and pulled a card that automatically presented itself from his Deck.

"The card I'll banish, of course, is 'Jackpot Pot 7.'"

"You—"

T-Bone watched as another Jackpot Pot 7 shimmered from Kira's hand and vanished, dumbfounded.

This... actually works?

But it makes sense—since the Dark Scorpions were handed to him, they count as "opponent's effect"...

Still, to think up a tactic like this—does this guy have a few screws loose?

"The second 'Jackpot Pot 7' is banished—just one more to go."

Kira continued.

"And you didn't forget Troop Dragon's effect, did you? When Troop Dragon is destroyed by battle, Special Summon another 'Troop Dragon' from the Deck."

[Troop Dragon, ATK 700]

What happens next was obvious.

Troop Dragon would suicide again into the Dark Scorpions. Their effect would trigger, Kira would send a third Jackpot Pot 7 from his Deck to the Graveyard, it would be banished, and the Duel would end immediately.

T-Bone would lose.

The Dark Scorpions were already high-fiving and popping champagne at mid-field.

"This is what happens when you cross the Dark Scorpions!"

"That's right—let these bumpkins witness our crew's might!"

Ever since they found the right boss, even their lines had gotten cocky.

"...No."

A glint flashed in T-Bone's eyes as he barked:

"It's not over!"

"Oh?"

"Activate face-down—Trap Card—

—'Mirror of Oaths'!!!"

Chapter 668: The Fate of the Next Draw

"Trap Card 'Mirror of Oaths'!"

T-Bone raised his hand.

"Mirror of Oaths can be activated when your opponent Special Summons a monster(s) from their Deck. Destroy those monsters, then you draw one card!"

"Special Summoned from the Deck..."

Kira understood.

"'Troop Dragon' is Special Summoned from the Deck."

"Correct," T-Bone said. "Therefore, Mirror of Oaths destroys Troop Dragon!"

A jet-black mirror surfaced, reflecting Troop Dragon's image. A blood-red vortex opened at its center, dragging the dragon into it and shredding it to pieces.

"With Troop Dragon destroyed, you no longer have a monster to suicide into the Dark Scorpions," T-Bone said. "Your combo is broken!"

"Seems so."

Kira shrugged.

"Impressive. You even cracked this one... It used to always work."

The Dark Scorpion crew froze mid-high-five and victory pose, looked at each other, and fell silent.

This is bad.

We popped the champagne too early.

"What now?"

Chick looked to the others.

"How should I know?" Meanae muttered. "Didn't this always work before?"

"Yeah, the boss used this on us once—it worked great."

"Maybe we're the weak ones. This opponent might actually be strong this time..."

Having defused the would-be checkmate at the last second, T-Bone stood hands on hips, head thrown back, feeling a rush of pride. He laughed loudly.

"A very creative combo—deadly, too. You scared me; I'll admit it."

He narrowed his eyes at Kira.

"But you still failed. I'm still standing. Do you know why?"

Kira found his confidence amusing. "Oh? And why is that?"

"The reason is simple: I am stronger now—stronger than you, stronger than anyone! I'll never again be that weak self who's tossed about by fate!"

T-Bone glanced at his hands and clenched them tight.

"Once, I was a nobody," he murmured. "I loved Dueling, but I lacked the talent to walk that path.

I wanted to apply to Duel Academy, but I couldn't even pass the entrance exam. Someone like me... was just trash no one would ever notice."

He lifted his head, a firm light in his eyes.

"But even so, Lady Sarina accepted me."

"She gave me power—power to bid farewell to my past self. Now I understand: whether in the Duel or in life, everything is guided by a torrent called 'fate.'

Only those on the correct path deserve victory, deserve happiness. That's why you cannot win.

No matter how astonishing your tactics, how flashy your attacks—you cannot win!"

"Oh? Is that so?"

Kira kept his calm smile.

"So you're saying you're on the correct side. The path you're being led down right now... is the fate of victory?"

"Exactly," T-Bone said. "The path illuminated by light is the right path."

"I see... That's a shame," Kira sighed. "I, by nature, am ill-suited to the path of light. I'm more inclined to... let's say, the shady side."

He paused, then smiled slightly.

"But sometimes, taking an unorthodox route is more interesting, no? Fate is fickle."

Kira casually played another card: "Spell Card 'Foolish Burial Goods'—send one Spell/Trap from your Deck to the Graveyard.

From my Deck, I'll send..."

He showed the card he searched.

"The third 'Jackpot Pot 7' to the Graveyard."

T-Bone: "?"

That's the last Jackpot Pot 7. If it goes like the first two, he loses. But Jackpot Pot 7 only works when the opponent sends it by effect—sending it yourself does nothing.

The opponent should know that.

"Next I activate the Spell 'A Feather of the Phoenix'—discard a card, target a card in your Graveyard, and place it on top of your Deck.

I discard a card to return 'Jackpot Pot 7' from my Graveyard to the top of my Deck."

T-Bone: "?"

So you put Jackpot Pot 7 on top. And then?

Even if you draw it, so what?

"I set two cards and end my turn," Kira said. "Of course, during the End Phase, Shien's Spy wears off, and the Dark Scorpion crew returns to my field."

T-Bone frowned.

He couldn't figure out what this guy was plotting... but whatever.

"My turn—draw!" T-Bone said. "In this Standby Phase, the Trap 'Dormant Volcano' takes effect: both players can add one FIRE monster from the Deck.

I add 'Thestalos the Firestorm Monarch' to my hand!"

"Then I'll activate my set card," Kira said. "Trap Card 'Reverse Reuse.'

Select up to two Flip monsters in your Graveyard and Special Summon them to your opponent's field in face-up Defense or face-down Defense."

T-Bone: "?"

Sending me more monsters? What is this supposed to be?

"This time, the card that got sent by Take Over 5 earlier..."

Kira grinned and revealed a monster.

"I'll give you 'Hiro's Shadow Scout.'"

A face-down monster appeared on T-Bone's field. Before it set, a small blue demon flashed briefly—one huge eye, a design somewhere between creepy and clownish.

[Hiro's Shadow Scout, DEF 500]

T-Bone frowned. "So even if you Summon monsters to my side—"

"Don't rush," Kira raised a hand. "Lastly, this card—

—Trap Card 'W Nebula Meteorite'!

Flip all face-down monsters on the field to face-up Defense Position!"

The face-down monster on T-Bone's field flipped— the little blue demon crouched in defense.

"At this moment, 'Hiro's Shadow Scout's' Flip effect activates," Kira said. "Hiro's Shadow Scout's Flip: the opponent draws three cards from their Deck.

Reveal those cards to both players; if any are Spells, all Spells among them must be sent to the Graveyard."

T-Bone thought for two seconds.

Draw three; all Spells must be...

T-Bone: "..."

T-Bone: "... ..."

T-Bone: "... ... ..."

You've gotta be ki—

"Accepting Hiro's Shadow Scout's effect, I draw three from my Deck."

Kira placed his fingers on his Deck, chuckling softly.

"Well then, Mr. T-Bone who stands on the correct side of fate—can you tell me where the destiny represented by the three cards I'm about to draw will lead me?"

T-Bone clenched his teeth hard, but couldn't utter a word.

Kira drew three, then feigned surprise.

"Well now, isn't this a coincidence. It seems the destiny of my next card is... this."

Kira revealed the top card of his Deck.

"Spell Card 'Jackpot Pot 7.' Per Hiro's Shadow Scout's effect, it must be sent to the Graveyard.

And right now, Hiro's Shadow Scout is your monster, so this counts as 'sent by an opponent's card effect.' Therefore, the third Jackpot Pot 7 is also banished."

As he spoke, three Jackpot Pot 7s emerged above Kira's field, like reapers delivering a verdict.

Kira narrowed his eyes.

"It seems the destiny awaiting you... is 'annihilation.'"

Chapter 669: That's Your Destiny?

T-Bone looked at the Thestalos that had just reached his hand—he hadn't even had time to Summon it, hadn't even warmed it—and then at the LP display on his Duel Disk, and he felt lost.

This might be the most bewildering moment a duelist can experience.

He still had cards, still had LP, but he was already... gone.

But this shouldn't be.

What about the power of the Four Monarchs? Wasn't he supposed to be invincible once he obtained their power?

He was supposed to be on the correct path of destiny after receiving the baptism of light, right?

Then losing here today—getting one-shot by a bunch of Dark Scorpion gagsters plus Jackpot—was this also his fate?

"No, I don't understand..."

T-Bone fell to his knees, staring blankly at his hands.

"My destiny, why is it like this?"

"I think I said this recently, but..."

Kira walked forward.

"When you hand victory and defeat over to fate, you've already lost."

"This duel may have looked like you were dueling me, but I could feel your true opponent was someone else. That power wasn't yours, and even the flow of the duel wasn't truly guided by your will.

It only looked like you were at the wheel, but the car was on autopilot from the moment you sat down."

T-Bone was silent.

"A true duelist carves out their own destiny. A duelist who steps into the arena without even their own fighting will—from the start—is only ever going to be this much."

T-Bone: "..."

Well, that sounds convincing. The opponent won, after all—hard to argue.

But even if you build the mood, speak those lofty words... he couldn't help roaring inside—

—What the hell is Jackpot 7, anyway!?

Is that your path of carved-out destiny? Your path is seriously shady, isn't it?

Can't you win like a normal person, so your speech doesn't feel so out of place?

In fact, it wasn't just him raging inside— even the watching Knights of Hanoi were thinking their leader must not be human.

Good thing this kind of person is their leader, not their enemy. Just look at this duel: his main monsters were the bargain-bin Dark Scorpion gang, yet when the fighting started it was Deck Devastation Virus or Jackpot 7 every time.

Imagine it— even without a Shadow Game, dueling a guy like this probably shortens your lifespan.

Even Ryuya Saito—who used to be a leader—wiped sweat from his brow, suddenly certain that when Revolver fixed him back then, he must've been going easy. This guy probably has ten thousand ways to make you never want to touch cards again.

"Alright, you came a long way; it couldn't have been easy."

Kira waved a hand.

"I won't keep you. Go. Give Sarina a message for me: I'll be paying her a visit in the next couple of days."

The newly spared T-Bone didn't leave. He looked at Kira with a crying face—

Mainly at the Deck Kira casually slipped into his pocket.

Seriously, my Deck got plundered. I just lost four Monarchs and two spirits. I've also lost the light's power and turned back into a scrub. If I return to my boss like this, will I live?

But he didn't have to worry long.

At that moment, white light bloomed in the air. Within it, something round took shape—like a mirror.

From the mirror came a clear, melodious woman's voice.

"No need to send that message. I've already heard."

T-Bone shuddered and looked up in terror as if electrocuted. "La—Lady Sarina..."

Her image had not yet appeared, but her voice continued from within the mirror. "You're truly disappointing, T-Bone... Well, it was expected.

I told you not to pin hopes on them. In the end you were all ordinary people to begin with. Even if my brother and I intervene in your plain destinies, this is all you amount to... Enough. You've done plenty.

Rest now, T-Bone. Leave the rest to me."

A beam of light shot out of the mirror, striking T-Bone.

"Lady Sarina!"

T-Bone cried out one last time as he vanished, transformed into a beam of light that was absorbed into the floating mirror. An image flickered briefly within—a card bearing T-Bone sealed inside—but it vanished in an instant.

Everyone present at the club was a dark duelist; turning people into cards should have been nothing new, but even they gasped.

The ability to turn people into cards is already something only relatively powerful figures in the dark dueling world can do. But to do it remotely through a mirror from god-knows-how-far away—most of them had never seen anything like it in their careers.

The deeper your brush with darkness, the better you grasp how terrifying that scene was. The mysterious woman behind the mirror was undoubtedly a heavyweight in the underworld—how strong was unclear, but at least a regional overlord.

Kira had long known the siblings were unusual, so he wasn't surprised.

Those two were unlike most dark duelists; they were born psychics, with the ability to foresee the future.

Yes—Yu-Gi-Oh!'s world is vast and strange. Psychics aren't that rare. The siblings could see the future from childhood; once they learned Dueling, they naturally became formidable duelists.

Perhaps for that reason, Sarina's brother drew the gaze of the Light of Destruction. Vessels with such exceptional talent aren't exactly common.

The mirror soon showed an image: a pale-skinned woman in kimono, rather pretty.

"Revolver," Sarina smiled. "The duelist who surpassed the fate my brother foresaw—extraordinary indeed.

From what you just told T-Bone, it seems you've discovered my base, haven't you?"

"I thought you would've predicted that future," Kira smiled.

Sarina shook her head.

"Predicting your own future isn't so easy, even for my brother and me. When you try to peer into your own fate, subjective emotions inevitably interfere.

But don't worry—I won't run. I'm not going anywhere. I've long wanted to meet you as well—just not yet. It isn't time."

She smiled.

"Because before that, there's a special event today. Two other youths at Duel Academy have a pivotal duel today. My mirror scrying suggests it may be a turning point of destiny—I wouldn't miss it.

Also, there's someone I want to see at Duel Academy. But no rush—if things go smoothly, I'll come find you afterward."

Kira narrowed his eyes.

"Duel Academy?"

Chapter 670: The Mole Strikes!

Kira realized he really had been away from the Academy a bit too much lately—he didn't even know about the big news on campus.

Aster Phoenix was coming to Duel Academy.

At first glance that didn't sound surprising, since Aster had registered as a first-year student here at the start of the term.

But in reality, he hadn't shown his face even once since the semester began. He skipped the opening ceremony, cut every class, and even bailed on the midterm evaluations.

Of course, the Academy had been giving him a pass on all that, because Acting Chancellor Crowler valued this pro duelist student highly. Aster's joining had indeed brought positive attention to the school, and it was arguably Crowler's biggest achievement during his interim tenure.

Not to mention the large donation Aster had made to the Academy.

So in fact, Aster's situation was a bit like Kira's. No one doubted that even if the two of them never showed up until the very end, they'd still wrap up the semester with excellent results without causing any ripples.

But now Aster Phoenix had taken the initiative to appear—and he stated his reason for attending.

For one person. A student of Duel Academy.

Jaden Yuki.

In fact, when Aster said he wanted to challenge a student from Duel Academy, everyone—including Acting Chancellor Crowler—assumed he would call out Kira. After all, Kira was the current Duel King, and dozens, if not hundreds, of people wanted to challenge him every day.

As you can imagine, if he accepted every random challenger, he wouldn't have a life—he'd be busy dueling all day. So getting a shot at him wasn't easy now. Even some high-level tournaments outside used "the champion earns a right to challenge the Duel King" as a selling point.

Like the very first KC Cup Kaiba hosted back then.

But to everyone's surprise, the person Aster named was Jaden Yuki, a Slifer Red student.

Which, naturally, posed no difficulty. Jaden's a duel-brain by nature—if there's a duel, he never says no, especially not against a rarity like a pro duelist.

So Jaden cheerfully grabbed his Duel Disk and headed to the Academy arena for a Hero vs. Hero royal showdown with Aster.

Kira himself didn't return to the Academy, but he was interested and watched the duel remotely.

In the original story, this was indeed a turning point in Jaden's fate. Facing Aster should've been his most crushing loss early on. After losing to Aster's Destiny Heroes, Jaden not only lost the ability to talk to spirits—he couldn't even see normal cards anymore, becoming a complete wreck who couldn't duel.

Later, the arrival of the Neo-Spacians gave him new strength, letting him win the rematch against Aster—and even reverse-brainwash him into becoming an ally.

Now that time and space had shifted, Kira was very curious how this duel would play out today.

Well, he could more or less guess the result.

…

"Aster!"

Jaden jumped onto the stage, waving enthusiastically.

"Your Heroes and mine—whose are stronger? I'm super pumped! Let's have the ultimate Hero showdown!"

Aster ignored him and curled his lip.

How could such a shallow guy be the one Sartorius said might change my destiny?

Of course, Sartorius had long since foretold this duel with Jaden as well. The result was the same card as always: The Chariot—absolute victory.

But with everything that's happened recently, Aster's long-held trust in Sartorius had begun to waver.

"Come on, Jaden Yuki!" Aster barked as he unfurled his Duel Disk. "I'll show you what a true Hero is!"

"Okay!"

Jaden answered, thrilled.

"."

Moments later.

Aster: "I activate the Trap 'Eternal Dread'—to place two Clock Counters on my Field Spell, 'Clock Tower Prison'!"

"With that, my 'Clock Tower Prison' now has four Clock Counters!" Aster shouted. "I flip my set card: the Trap 'Dust Tornado'! I destroy one Spell/Trap on the field.

I destroy my own 'Clock Tower Prison'!"

"When Clock Tower Prison with four or more counters is destroyed, I Special Summon my ace from the Deck! Come on—

—Destiny HERO – Dreadmaster!"

"When Dreadmaster is Special Summoned, I Special Summon two other Destiny HEROes from my GY. And Dreadmaster's ATK becomes the total ATK of all other Destiny HEROes I control!

Also, during the turn it's Summoned, all my Destiny HEROes can't be destroyed by card effects, and I take no battle damage—basically absolute invincibility!"

"Whoa, so these are Aster's Destiny HEROes? So strong—crazy strong!"

Jaden was excited.

"Then I Normal Summon 'Neo-Spacian Grand Mole' and declare an attack on 'Destiny HERO – Dreadmaster.'

Grand Mole's effect: when this card battles an opponent's monster, at the start of the Damage Step, return both monsters to the hand without damage calculation!"

Aster: "NANI!?"

He watched, eyes wide, as the Dreadmaster he'd spent forever charging counters for and paid a hefty resource bill to bring out got bumped back to his hand by that damn mole the instant it hit the field.

"So this is the power of Neo-Spacians…" Aster grit his teeth. "Don't get cocky too soon!"

And then, a little later—

"."

"The effect 'Destiny HERO – Fear Monger'! When this card is destroyed by battle and sent to the GY, during my next Standby Phase—this turn—I can Special Summon a 'Destiny HERO' from my GY.

Come on, Destiny HERO - Captain Tenacious!"

"Then I activate the Spell 'Over Destiny,' targetting Captain Tenacious in my GY to Special Summon a Destiny HERO from my Deck with half its Level."

"Then I banish Captain Tenacious from my GY to Special Summon another Captain Tenacious from my Deck!"

"Tribute my three Destiny HEROes—behold my other ace!

Destiny HERO – Dogma!!!"

Jaden got even more hyped. "Whoa, a three-tribute summon—another incredible Hero shows up!"

"Dogma, attack!" Aster commanded.

But Jaden wouldn't be outdone. "I activate my set Trap, 'Intruder Alarm - Yellow Alert!' From my hand, I Special Summon a monster and force it to battle the attacking monster.

I Special Summon the 'Neo-Spacian Grand Mole' you bounced to my hand, and force it to battle Dogma.

Then Grand Mole's effect: both monsters return to the hand."

Aster: "."

You've got to be—

Again.

Once more, after he went stacking setup and burning through piles of resources to land a big boss, the opponent just casually slapped down that damn mole, and with one little drill sent his boss packing so hard even its mother wouldn't recognize it.

And that damn mole was even a spirit—in spirit terms—who, after drilling away his Dogma, had the nerve to wipe its brow and mutter to itself, "Destiny HEROs sure are tough—good thing I outplayed him."

Aster nearly coughed blood.

"So this is your so-called Neo-Spacian Hero power?" Aster snarled. "All you do is keep summoning that busted mole?"

"Of course not."

Grinning, Jaden obliged Aster's wish to see more cosmic heroes on the very next turn.

"I Normal Summon 'Neo-Spacian Aqua Dolphin.'"

"Aqua Dolphin's effect: discard a card, look at your opponent's hand, and choose a monster—"

"Then I use Aqua Dolphin again, discard another card, and pick another monster—"

Aster: "."

Chapter 671: A Shaken Destiny

By the end of this duel, Aster was practically out of his mind.

No—not just this duel. Lately, nothing felt normal.

Sartorius's prophecies had been broken again—something that hadn't happened in all these years, but had now occurred three times in a row.

First, the duel with the Revolver. Sartorius foretold a complete victory, yet in hindsight it felt more like a complete defeat. That Chariot card seemed far more fitting for the opponent.

Next, the Pro League duel against Zane Truesdale. He believed Sartorius's nonsense again, about how victory was guaranteed by destiny. In the end, he didn't even get to use his real deck before being pinned down, losing like a clown.

Then there was today's match at Duel Academy against Jaden. Another total disaster. Sartorius's prophecy was once again hot air—he foretold nothing; reality didn't match his words at all.

By this point, Aster's long-standing trust in Sartorius—and in "destiny"—had completely collapsed.

Destiny? Destiny my ass.

And it wasn't just that he lost—it was how bizarrely he lost.

First the duel with the Revolver was a festival of ritual, dark gas, bird cages, and NTR—utter nonsense. Then against Zane, the guy laser-focused on countering his Elemental HEROes with Future Fusion and De-Fusion and Warrior Elimination, culminating in Cyber Dragons eating his Shining Phoenix Enforcer alive...

And now today's duel with Jaden, a pure disaster. Every time he made a big boss, the opponent just tossed down Grand Mole to bop it back to hand. And then out of nowhere Jaden whipped out a dumb Aqua Dolphin that wiped his hand clean; by the end he literally had no plays...

For the first time since he became who he is, Aster felt lost.

Times have changed? Am I the one who's fallen behind?

Is this what dueling is like now? (PS: It's the new Duel King era. Of course, the Meta will change. Hehe!)

"I won!" Jaden chirped. "That was a really fun duel!"

The finishing blow was inspired—a hammer to Aster's chest. He nearly spat blood.

Something's wrong. Definitely wrong!

My destiny is cursed!

Kira, however, thought the outcome was entirely expected.

After all, Jaden had already obtained Neo-Spacian power. From a deckbuilding perspective, Jaden's deck used to be a pile of Elemental "trash" HEROes plus a bunch of bespoke spells and traps. Now he'd also mixed in a whole system that had nothing to do with the rest—and more bespoke spells and traps—pushing the piloting difficulty from "hell" to something inhuman. Normally, that should be a nerf.

But you can't judge the anime world by common sense. By mixing in a whole unrelated system, Jaden's deck actually became more versatile. Plus, a bunch of cosmic spirits joined him, elevating his "destiny power" to a level incomparable to before.

Not to mention Jaden had been around Kira long-term, soaking up his influence. The moment he got the new cards he immediately spotted the Neo-Spacian dynamic duo with the most firepower—Mole Bro and Dolphin Bro.

Dolphin Bro needs no introduction—he was heavily nerfed on the real card. In the anime, he has no "once per turn" on his discard-and-peek, and the fused Aqua Neos can nuke two from the opponent's hand—enough to make even the sunny Mr. M. from back in the day give a big thumbs-up.

Mole Bro's reputation is even bigger. Even in the real card meta he earned honors on the banlist. From the moment he saw play he was a staple across many decks; at his peak, practically everyone jammed one copy of Grand Mole.

No mystery: you slam it down, bounce the opponent's boss to hand, and effortlessly recoup all the resource investment they made to summon it. It doesn't get destroyed by battle, returns to your hand, and you can reuse it next turn. Before the game sped up, it was an obviously strong, anti-fun beater with zero reason not to include.

Aster might be a little anti-fun himself for a while...

But it didn't matter. The shard of Light lodged in Aster's deck had already been shattered by Kira's own hand, severing his direct connection to the Light of Destruction. On top of that, his faith was now shaken. As Sartorius's strongest enforcer, this chess piece was basically out of play.

Over at the Academy, the students led by Jaden were clearly seasoned enough to handle Sartorius's offensive.

What surprised Kira was that, later that same day, Sartorius's sister, Sarina, reached out.

Not the Revolver, but the Duel King, Fujiki Kira himself. And not in the real world either, but via his Link System.

She wanted to meet Kira in the Link System's virtual world.

Though it looked like an enemy officer's invitation, Kira actually knew that while Sarina seemed like another powerful pawn of Sartorius, she wasn't, not really. He knew from the original story that she was already aware something had gone wrong with her brother.

After all, both siblings weren't ordinary—Sarina was born with special abilities too. She had sensed that an evil force had taken over her brother, but also realized her own power couldn't oppose it. So she'd continued to feign loyalty to Sartorius while secretly looking for allies who could free him.

That's why, in the original, she sought duels with Jaden and Aster—merely to test their strength.

Kira figured she was seeking him now for the same reason.

So, the person she told the Revolver she was going to find at the Academy turned out to be him...

Kira didn't waste words. At the agreed time, he logged into the Link System and, unsurprisingly, met Sarina.

No ambush. No one else. Just her alone, in a kimono, like she'd stepped from a painting, calmly waiting.

"You've come."

Sarina stood, Duel Disk already on her arm.

"I'm here."

Kira nodded and revealed his Duel Disk.

"You want to use a duel to observe my destiny, don't you?"

Sarina looked a bit surprised, then smiled faintly.

"You really are as the rumors say—an extraordinary man, Duel King... Yes. That makes things simple."

Both Duel Disks unfolded.

"Duel!" x2

[Kira, LP 4000]

[Sarina, LP 4000]

"I'll take the first move. Draw."

Sarina drew and immediately summoned the monster she'd drawn.

"I summon 'Silver Spirit Ukyo' in Attack Position."

A transparent whirlwind rose on Sarina's field. From the storm, a masked, ninja-like shikigami appeared and landed lightly.

[Silver Spirit Ukyo, ATK 800]

It was a monster Sarina used in the original: Level 3, with middling stats and effects. But Kira vaguely remembered it was part of some original-series archetype, with plenty of dedicated support—one of those lines like Dark Magician or Blue-Eyes where the base body looks weak but the derivative power is vast.

"Next, I activate the Continuous Spell 'Full Moon Mirror'!"

Her second card hit the zone. A strange green sphere appeared on her field, covered in tightly shut eyes; above it floated a black, ghostly cloak holding a bright, reflective circular mirror.

The art was eerie—obviously some trickiness involved. But Sarina didn't explain; after activating it, she set two more cards.

"Finally, I set two cards and end my turn."