The shop was silent, save for the low hum of the duel disks powering on. Cards were shuffled with slow, deliberate care. Across the wooden counter of the Turtle Game Shop, time itself seemed to hold its breath.
Solomon Muto, once a champion in his own era, stood straight-backed behind the register, his sharp eyes narrowing behind rectangular glasses. His fingers, though aged, moved with a precision born of decades. Each card he handled, he knew like an old friend.
Across from him stood the Duelist Exterminator, a specter wrapped in a black trench coat and shadow. His mouth curled with satisfaction as he slid his deck into place. The black, rune-marked deck box glowed with an eerie red pulse, vibrating with malicious intent.
The duel disks synchronized.
[LP: Solomon 4000 | Exterminator 4000]
A mechanical voice buzzed.
"DUEL."
Turn 1 – Duelist Exterminator
He drew his first hand, the motion crisp, practiced.
A flicker of something—not joy, but certainty—moved behind his eyes. The corner of his mouth curled upward with surgical satisfaction.
"I set two cards face-down," he said with calculated ease. The traps slid onto the board with quiet clicks. "Then I summon Banisher of the Radiance."
A radiant golden warrior rose from a pillar of light, armor gleaming with divine fire.
[Banisher of the Radiance – ATK 1600]
Solomon's eyes narrowed behind his glasses. "You're sealing off my graveyard from turn one..."
"As long as Banisher is face-up, any card sent to the Graveyard is banished instead," the Exterminator replied emotionlessly.
He crossed his arms. "End turn."
Turn 2 – Solomon Muto
Solomon drew with a practiced hand, keeping his features calm. "A strong opening. But let's see how well it holds."
"I summon Breaker the Magical Warrior!"
A crimson-robed sorcerer emerged, swirling arcane power gathering at his staff.
[Breaker – ATK 1600 → 1900](gains 1 Spell Counter)
"When summoned, Breaker gains a spell counter. I'll remove it to destroy one of your face-down cards."
A pulse of light exploded from Breaker's staff, shattering the leftmost trap.
"Next, I equip him with Black Pendant."
The pendant shimmered and latched onto Breaker's armor, energy humming around him.
[Breaker – ATK 1900 → 2400]
"Breaker, destroy Banisher!"
Breaker swung his staff with a flash of violet flame. Banisher shattered into motes of radiant light.
[Exterminator LP: 4000 → 3500]
Solomon's jaw tightened, lips drawn into a firm line.
"I set one card and end my turn."
Across the field, the Exterminator's eyes didn't flinch. His mouth twitched. Not pain—calculation.
Turn 3 – Duelist Exterminator
"I activate Dimensional Fissure."
The shop floor quaked faintly as a swirling vortex opened in the air above the table, a sucking noise tearing through the silence.
"Now any monster sent to the Graveyard is banished instead."
Solomon grimaced.
"I summon Kycoo the Ghost Destroyer."
A spectral warrior emerged, armored in tattered robes and glowing eyes.
[Kycoo – ATK 1800]
"I activate Fissure—your Breaker is the only monster you control."
A lance of energy tore through Breaker's chest. He shattered in a burst of shards—banished instantly due to the Fissure.
[Exterminator LP: 3500 → 3000](due to Black Pendant burn)
"Kycoo attacks directly."
Solomon's face tightened. He braced as Kycoo's ghostly blade slashed across his side of the field.
[Solomon LP: 4000 → 2200]
"I also banish Breaker from play. End turn."
Turn 4 – Solomon Muto
He drew with a small breath. "You've studied me well. But I've adapted, too."
He activated Pot of Duality, revealing:
Magician's Valkyria
Fissure
Mystical Space Typhoon
"I add MST."
He set one monster and one back row. Then flipped MST.
"I destroy your Dimensional Fissure."
The void shattered in a whip of winds, collapsing inward.
Solomon watched him closely. "You're trying to erase my options. But I'm still here."
Turn 5 – Duelist Exterminator
He drew with stillness. No flourish. No comment.
"I summon D.D. Warrior Lady."
[ATK 1500]
"Kycoo, attack your set monster."
A robed figure appeared—Old Vindictive Magician. Its effect flared, destroying Kycoo.
"D.D. Warrior Lady attacks directly."
The old duelist winced. The blast hit him square.
[Solomon LP: 2200 → 700]
He clenched his teeth. "Tch…"
"End turn."
Turn 6 – Solomon Muto
Solomon exhaled through his nose.
"I summon Magician's Valkyria!"
A purple vortex flared beside him, and from it emerged a graceful sorceress, staff glowing with arcane protection.
[Magician's Valkyria – ATK 1600]
"While she's on the field, you can't target other Spellcasters for attacks."
The Exterminator tilted his head, expression unreadable beneath the shadow of his cap. "Cute."
Solomon's hand lifted. "Battle phase! Valkyria—attack D.D. Warrior Lady!"
The sorceress lunged forward with a graceful sweep of her wand.
A smirk broke across the Exterminator's lips. "Too bad she's not immune to banishment."
The two monsters clashed—only for D.D. Warrior Lady to activate her effect after damage calculation.
Solomon's eyes widened. "No—!"
A burst of light consumed both monsters. Valkyria was banished.
[Exterminator LP: 3000 → 2900]
Solomon grit his teeth. "Then I activate Swords of Revealing Light!"
Three golden blades of light dropped from the air, encasing the Exterminator's field in a glowing wall.
"You have three turns that you cannot attack me. That's all I need."
The Exterminator let out a slow, low chuckle. His eyes sparkled behind the shade.
"You think so?"
Turn 7 – Duelist Exterminator
He drew. The card hissed against his gloves.
"Exactly what I needed."
His fingers moved like clockwork.
"I set one monster in face-down defense mode."
The card materialized between the blades of light like a silent sentinel.
"End turn."
Turn 8 – Solomon Muto
Solomon narrowed his eyes, pulling his next card.
"I summon Skilled Dark Magician."
A dark-clad mage burst onto the field, energy swirling in the gems set in his armor.
[Skilled Dark Magician – ATK 1900]
"If I can collect three spell counters on him, I can summon the Dark Magician directly."
He pointed forward. "Attack the face-down!"
Skilled Dark Magician lashed his staff forward—and the hidden monster flipped up:
Banisher of the Light – DEF 2000
"While Banisher is face-up," the Exterminator intoned, "all cards that would go to the graveyard are banished instead."
The attack landed but failed to pierce its high defense.
[Solomon LP: 700] -[LP:600]
Solomon clenched his fists. "Still standing…"
Turn 9 – Duelist Exterminator
Swords of Revealing Light: 2 Turns Remaining
He drew silently and set another card.
Then another monster.
"End turn."
Turn 10 – Solomon Muto
The old duelist stared at his hand. His brow furrowed deeply as he drew another card.
"Still can't break through."
His grip tightened on his deck.
"I set one card and end my turn."
His voice was low—laced with weariness, but never defeat.
Turn 11 – Duelist Exterminator
Swords of Revealing Light: 1 Turn Remaining
He drew.
His expression didn't change.
"I set one monster face-down."
That was all.
But the confidence in his posture said more than his silence.
Turn 12 – Solomon Muto
Solomon's fingers twitched as he drew.
"'**Dark Magic Attack...'" he whispered, eyeing the powerful card in his hand. "But I still can't play it... not without my Dark Magician."
He set a monster and lowered his head slightly.
"I end my turn."
Turn 13 – Duelist Exterminator
The swords of light flickered—
—and shattered.
"Time's up," the Exterminator said with something like satisfaction.
He drew.
"I activate Pot of Greed."
Two cards slipped into his hand.
A glowing energy orb floated over Skilled Dark Magician.
[Spell Counters: 1]
"I set one card. And one monster."
His tone didn't change.
But his eyes gleamed.
Turn 14 – Solomon Muto
He looked down at his deck—at the wear in its edges, at the countless memories etched in every draw.
His breath caught.
"I believe…"
He drew.
And smiled.
The light returned to his eyes.
"I activate Pot of Greed—to draw two cards!"
Another spell counter floated to his magician.
[Spell Counters: 2]
"Then I play Wonder Wand! It equips to a Spellcaster and increases their ATK by 500!"
The wand floated to Skilled Dark Magician, glowing brightly.
[Skilled Dark Magician – ATK 1900 → 2400]
[Spell Counters: 3]
Solomon raised his hand.
"I remove the counters. And I summon…"
He slammed a card onto the disk.
"Dark Magician!"
A beam of light exploded from the disk, and the legendary Spellcaster took the field in a flash of dark energy.
[Dark Magician – ATK 2500]
"Then I activate Sage's Stone—since I control Dark Magician, I Special Summon Dark Magician Girl from my hand!"
She twirled into existence, smiling, staff ready.
[Dark Magician Girl – ATK 2000 → 2300](gains 300 ATK per Dark Magician)
"I activate a second Sage's Stone!"
Another wave of magical light surged across the field—another Dark Magician Girl appeared!
[Dark Magician Girl #2 – ATK 2000 → 2300]
Solomon's hand trembled. He hadn't summoned this formation in years. His voice cracked with emotion.
"This is the strength you tried to erase... and it's stronger than ever!"
"Now I activate my Spell Card—Dark Magic Attack! Since I control Dark Magician, it destroys every Spell and Trap card on your side of the field!"
"Battle Phase!"
"Dark Magician Girl #1, destroy Banisher of the Light!"
Her staff gleamed—light blasted the warrior into sparks.
"Dark Magician Girl #2, attack his face-down!"
The second spellcaster rushed forward, flipping the monster:
Marshmallon.
The attack stopped dead.
"You triggered its effect," the Duelist Exterminator said coldly, eyes narrowing. "When Marshmallon is attacked while face-down, you take 1000 points of damage—no exceptions."
A ripple of light burst from the little blob.
A flare of pain seared across Solomon's chest.
He staggered.
[Solomon LP: 700 → 0]
The light dimmed.
His duel disk powered down.
Solomon dropped to one knee, clutching his chest.
The Exterminator walked forward, leaned down, and pulled out a small black device. He held it in Solomon's hand and pressed a button.
A phone signal.
"Call him. otherwise I go hunt down Wheeler"
Solomon, gasping, pressed the number he'd memorized a thousand times.
The line connected.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
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