"Damn it, damn it, damn it!" Weevil furiously pounded the Duel Stage, glaring at Hayato's smug expression after his attack failed. "My Turn ends just like that!"
He still had a "Basic Insect" on his Field. Although it could attack, facing "Gaia the Dragon Champion" would only lead to its destruction, so he could only withdraw. If he had been able to defeat Hayato just now, his action of drawing and summoning "Basic Insect" would have been quite decisive and wise.
But the problem was that Weevil's "Great Moth" was blocked from attacking by that suddenly appearing annoying Rainbow Monster, while "Gaia the Dragon Champion" had survived. This meant that in his next Turn, he would have to face "Gaia the Dragon Champion"'s attack on "Basic Insect".
[Weevil: 1900 LP, Hand: 0]
["Great Moth" ("Rainbow Kuriboh") ATK 2600]
["Basic Insect" ATK 500]
"My Turn, Draw." Just as Hayato drew his card, before he even had a chance to look at it, he heard Weevil shouting:
"Don't get cocky too soon, Hayato!" Weevil said to Hayato, a frustrated expression on his face. "Your 'Gaia the Dragon Champion' only has 1900 Attack Points. Even if you destroy my 'Basic Insect,' you'll only deal me 1400 damage! I still have 1900 Life Points!"
"When it's my Turn, I'll definitely take you down!"
Hayato, however, laughed at his words: "Hmph, hm-hahahahaha! Then you're going to be disappointed, because you won't have another Turn, Weevil!"
"Because the card I drew is this one!"
Hayato flipped the card he had just drawn into his hand. It was a Spell Card, "Ascension to Nirvana".
"The effect of 'Ascension to Nirvana' is—"
"Destroy all monsters on the Field that are equipped with cards?!" Hayato said the first half, and Weevil automatically completed the second. "But I don't have any Spell Cards activated on my Field."
"Wait, could it be—!"
"Exactly! 'Great Moth' is now equipped with 'Rainbow Kuriboh,' so it will be destroyed by the effect of 'Ascension to Nirvana'!" Hayato extended his palm towards the "Great Moth" in the sky, then clenched his fist. "Moth soaring through the sky, perish now!"
The rainbow glow coiling around "Great Moth" tightened abruptly as Hayato played "Ascension to Nirvana," transforming into a deadly noose around "Great Moth"'s neck. The seemingly adorable "Rainbow Kuriboh" pulled on one end of the rainbow with continuous force. With a "snap," "Great Moth" was strangled by the rainbow glow, disintegrating into dust and vanishing along with "Rainbow Kuriboh".
"Because 'Great Moth' disappeared, the poisonous scale powder on the Field also dissipated, and 'Gaia the Dragon Champion"'s Attack Points were restored!"
["Gaia the Dragon Champion" ATK 1900→2600]
"N-no way!" Weevil stared at Hayato's "Gaia the Dragon Champion" and his own "Basic Insect" on the Field. "No, no! Don't!"
"Charge forth, unleash your full fury! 'Gaia the Dragon Champion' delivers the final blow to 'Basic Insect'!"
"O Sun, submit to death!"
"Curse of Dragon" spewed forth seemingly endless flames from its mouth. The fire transformed into a tornado, coiling entirely around the lance in "Gaia"'s hand, becoming a spiraling spear of fire. Aiming at the helpless "Basic Insect" on the ground, the lance in "Gaia"'s hand streaked forward, trailing waves of fire.
Watching the apocalyptic scene, Weevil couldn't accept the reality. He collapsed in despair before the Duel Stage, crying out loudly, "Don't come near me! Noooo!!!"
"BOOM!!!"
[Weevil: 1900 LP → 0]
[Winner: Hayato]
The waves of fire slowly dissipated as the duel ended. From the smoke simulated by the System, Hayato saw Weevil collapse in front of the Duel Stage, his face charred black, as his Life Points reached zero. His System, too, timely presented the duel's statistics:
[Congratulations on your victory in a duel!
This duel's rating: 3000 DP
Comeback Victory: 2500 DP
Used 3 Spell Cards: 100 DP
Used 3 Trap Cards: 100 DP
Futile Resistance (Dealing over 2000 damage in one attack declaration): 300 DP]
Hayato noted that with the change in rules, triggering the "Futile Resistance" evaluation in the 2000 LP era only required dealing 1000 damage, but now, with 4000 LP, it required 2000 damage to get the same evaluation.
Over the past month, Hayato had dueled many times, so his initial ten new player double-reward benefits had already been used up. Thus, even though he received a full 3000 DP this time, he couldn't double it again.
Watching his balance in the upper left corner finally break through to a full 10000 DP after adding this duel's reward, Hayato was content and about to step down from the Duel Stage when he noticed the System suddenly popped up another notification:
[Detected current duelist environment has changed. Detected loadable patch exists for the System (Note: This System upgrade will grant Spirit Power*1, Mind Barrier*1)]
'Mind Barrier? What's that?' Hayato wondered, stepping onto the slowly descending platform, preparing to return to the ground.
The System explained: [Detected Mind Scan ability user. The new System version will apply Mind Shielding to prevent their special ability from peering into the duelist's mind.]
Hayato couldn't help but glance at Pegasus on the balcony. 'In that case, System, upgrade. Oh, no need for formalities, just upgrade the System.'
[Authorization granted. Sai Q Duelist System upgrading. Remaining time: 60 seconds]
While Hayato rode the elevator down to the ground, waiting for the System upgrade to complete, Pegasus, who had served as the referee for this "Exhibition Match" on the balcony, began his concluding remarks: "Me very thank Hayato-boy and Weevil-boy for the Exhibition Match presented to everyone. Me declare, the winner is Hayato!"
"Though me want to encourage Weevil-boy to continue his efforts in the upcoming matches, unfortunately, he gambled all his Star Chips in his match with Hayato-boy. Such a pity, Weevil-boy has become Duelist Kingdom's first eliminated contestant."
"Industrial Illusions staff will escort Weevil-boy off this island, as will all players who lose all their chips in the upcoming matches. Therefore, Duelists, defend your right to stay on this island with the winner's glory as much as possible!"
"Go battle! In the next 48 hours, quickly acquire enough Star Chips to earn the right to enter the castle!"
With that, Pegasus did not linger, but walked into the castle, as two black-clad staff members behind him closed the balcony door.
Hayato came down from the Duel Stage. He didn't immediately go to find Yugi and the others, but instead went around to the other side of the Duel Stage to look for Weevil.
(end of chapter)