Chapter 266 Hesiod
After a brief exchange of information, and after Hayato and Kaiba showed off the (Obelisk the Tormentor) and (The Winged Dragon of Ra) Cards they had obtained, the three parted ways again, with Kaiba delivering a harsh parting shot: "The most delicious main course should be saved for last. I'll defeat you in the final Match."
Looking at the two Puzzle Cards in his hand, Hayato sighed helplessly: "I hope there are fewer duplicate Cards next time."
As he walked, he opened the System's [Shop] to see if he should open a Card pack to test his luck.
Just then, he noticed a group of people gathered not far from him, seemingly watching something.
In the center of the crowd, two Monsters Hayato was quite familiar with were roaring with their heads held high: "Meow~"
"Shut up, you two rascals!"
"(Chimera the Flying Mythical Beast)?" Hayato walked curiously towards the crowd. "Although this Card wasn't as rare as (Blue-Eyes), its Rarity was still quite high. After all, it was a Level 8 Monster with 2800 Attack Points, and its Effect was quite practical."
Coincidentally, Hayato also knew a guy who used (Chimera the Flying Mythical Beast) and also had a Duel Disk, making him eligible for the Battle City Match.
"Hmph hmph, right now I have two (Chimera the Flying Mythical Beast) on my Field, and next Turn, the two Tribute Monsters I used for a Tribute Summon will also return to my Field."
Sure enough, Hayato squeezed into the crowd and saw Chazz Princeton, looking quite smug, dueling with someone, wearing a Duel Disk. Because he had Summoned two (Chimera the Flying Mythical Beast) on his Field, he was proudly boasting to his Opponent.
Standing opposite Chazz Princeton was a short man, but he wasn't short because of his age like Weevil or Rex. Looking at the beard on his chin, full enough to be used as a towel, he couldn't be young unless he was naturally extremely hairy.
With a stooped back, the short bearded man looked at the two (Chimera the Flying Mythical Beast) on Chazz Princeton's Field and showed a surprised expression, even clapping his hands: "Using the Monsters Tributed last Turn as Tribute again to Summon a second (Chimera the Flying Mythical Beast)? As expected of Chazz Princeton, truly strong."
"It's good that you know how awesome I am. Also, it's Mr. Chazz Princeton!" Chazz Princeton listened to the flattery, smugly narrowed his eyes, and imperiously commanded, "That Warrior-Type on your Field is much weaker than that Hayato's. Be crushed!"
"(Chimera the Flying Mythical Beast) No. 1, Attack (Warrior Lady of the Wasteland)!"
In front of the colossal beast, the short man's Warrior-Type Monster, dressed like a wasteland wanderer, was Destroyed and Sent to the Graveyard. Just then, the bearded man revealed a triumphant smile: "(Warrior Lady of the Wasteland)'s Effect can be Activated when it's Destroyed by Battle. From my Deck, I can Special Summon one Earth Attribute Warrior-Type Monster with 1500 or less Attack in Attack Position."
"At the same time, I Activate my Set Card in the Back Row, (Fellow Traveler)! Because (Warrior Lady of the Wasteland) was Destroyed, (Chimera the Flying Mythical Beast) will also be Sent to the Graveyard with it!"
The (Chimera the Flying Mythical Beast) on Chazz Princeton's Field that hadn't yet Attacked was suddenly grabbed by the feet by several hands emerging from underground. The hands looked rotten, yet their strength was terrifying, managing to drag the enormous (Chimera the Flying Mythical Beast) into the Graveyard.
"My (Chimera the Flying Mythical Beast)!"
Chazz Princeton cried out anxiously. Seeing its Master so worried, the (Chimera the Flying Mythical Beast) couldn't help but look back at Chazz Princeton with a pitiful gaze:
"Meow~"
"Go ahead and die in peace."
"Meow?!"
While (Fellow Traveler) Sent (Chimera the Flying Mythical Beast) to the Graveyard, on the short man's Field, in the spot where (Warrior Lady of the Wasteland) had disappeared, a purple-haired lady elegantly sat on a chair.
"Hmph, it's just a Monster with 1350 Attack Points. What powerful Effect could it possibly have? Not to mention my (Chimera the Flying Mythical Beast) has a whopping 2800 Attack Points." Chazz Princeton ended his Turn unhappily, as all his Monsters had already Attacked. "My Turn ends."
[Chazz Princeton: 2000 LP, Hand 0]
[(Chimera the Flying Mythical Beast) ATK 2800]
[(Cost of Blood)]
Hayato briefly analyzed the situation on the Field. Chazz Princeton's current Strategy seemed to be using (Cost of Blood) to pay Life Points for multiple Normal Summons, then quickly Tribute Summoning (Chimera the Flying Mythical Beast), and then using revived Monsters to constantly accumulate advantage, a snowballing playstyle.
As for the short man's Field.
[Short Man: 500 LP, Hand 0]
[(Invader of the Throne) ATK 1350]
[Set Card]
Hayato felt he couldn't discern much yet, as he had only been watching this Duel for a few minutes. However, if Hayato were to analyze it, he wouldn't think Chazz Princeton, with his higher Attack Monsters, had an overwhelming chance of victory. On the contrary, Hayato felt the Duelists' chances were about even.
The main reason was the short man's Back Row still held an unknown Set Card, and Hayato clearly remembered the Effect of (Invader of the Throne).
"Oh dear, such a terrifying Defense has been set on the Field. My Monsters alone won't be able to defeat (Chimera the Flying Mythical Beast)."
Hearing the short man's "yielding" words, Chazz Princeton couldn't help but say somewhat smugly, "Hmph hmph, of course! I spent a huge amount of my savings on these two Cards. I thought one would be enough for my revenge, who knew that Hayato was such a... cough cough... Anyway, hurry up and start your Turn!"
"Next Turn, the Monsters I Tributed earlier to Summon (Chimera the Flying Mythical Beast) will Revive, and then the combined Attack of three Monsters will easily take you down!"
"Oh my, how scary. But how does that saying go? 'A true Duelist never chooses to Forfeit.'" The short man glanced at the top Card of his Deck, raised his right hand, and Drew it. "Although (Invader of the Throne) on my Field has quite weak Attack Points, couldn't I just Equip a Spell Card to Enhance the Monster?"
"My Turn, Draw!"
"Then I Activate the Equip Spell Card, (Axe of Despair)! This Card increases the equipped Monster's Attack by 1000 points!"
Chazz Princeton couldn't help but frown: "But even then, (Invader of the Throne)'s Attack would only be 2350."
"No, no, Chazz Princeton, the Monster that (Axe of Despair) will Equip to is not my (Invader of the Throne)." The smile on the short man's face abruptly vanished, and with a deadpan expression, he said word by word, "The Monster whose Attack will be increased is your (Chimera the Flying Mythical Beast) on the Field!"
[(Chimera the Flying Mythical Beast) ATK 2800 → 3800]
Watching his own (Chimera the Flying Mythical Beast), which was clearly a lion, pick up the (Axe of Despair) that flew from the short man's Field like a dog, Chazz Princeton's frown deepened: "You chose to Enhance my Monster? What strange plan do you have, you guy?"
"Chazz Princeton, Duelist Level LV5, barely qualified to purchase a Duel Disk. The Deck used was constructed with a large sum of money, the most valuable Cards being two (Chimera the Flying Mythical Beast)."
"This boring Game ends here. Now my offensive will accelerate." As if reciting scriptures, the short man recited Chazz Princeton's data expressionlessly. At the same time, he pointed a hand at his (Invader of the Throne) on the Field and Activated the Set Card in his Back Row. "Quick-Play Spell Card, (Book of Moon), changes my Face-up Attack Position (Invader of the Throne) on the Field to Face-down Defense Position."
"Wait, that Monster is!" Hayato heard a little boy not far behind Chazz Princeton ponder within the crowd, then suddenly realized, and anxiously said to Shoji, "Brother, I remember! That (Invader of the Throne) is a Flip Monster!"
"Its Effect is—"
"Then, I Flip Summon (Invader of the Throne), Triggering its Flip Effect." Before Chazz Princeton could open his mouth to warn Shoji, the short man had already completed his operation. "Target 1 Monster on your Opponent's Field; that Monster and this Card switch Control."
"What?!"
(Invader of the Throne) sat gracefully on her chair, disappearing as her Card was Flipped, and when the Card Flipped back to its Face-up side, it was (Chimera the Flying Mythical Beast) that was now lounging on the Throne, which should have been on Chazz Princeton's Field!
[Chazz Princeton: 2000 LP]
[(Invader of the Throne) ATK 1350]
[Short Man: 500 LP]
[(Chimera the Flying Mythical Beast) (Axe of Despair) ATK 3800]
"What a pity, you were so close to defeating me, but you were ultimately one step behind."
"It's over, accept the fate of defeat, Chazz Princeton!"
"(Chimera the Flying Mythical Beast), Attack (Invader of the Throne)!"
The (Chimera the Flying Mythical Beast), betraying Chazz Princeton and holding the (Axe of Despair), swung at (Invader of the Throne), and Chazz Princeton's Life Points were reduced to 0.
[Chazz Princeton: 2000 LP → 0]
"The victor is clear. Then, I'll take the (Chimera the Flying Mythical Beast) Card." The short man glanced at Chazz Princeton, who had fallen to the ground from the final blow, bent down and picked up the (Chimera the Flying Mythical Beast) that had fallen from his Duel Disk, and then pulled out his entire Deck. However, he showed no interest in Chazz Princeton's Puzzle Cards that had also fallen beside him.
"Brother!" Chazz Princeton ran to Shoji's side, full of worry, and helped him up. "Are you alright, Brother?"
"Hmm, Chazz Princeton? Hmph hmph, unexpectedly found an interesting fellow." With the Duel victory, the expressionless short man returned to the unreliable appearance Hayato had seen at the beginning. "Chazz Princeton, Duelist Level LV3, but only because he lost to a stronger Opponent in a Match; his actual strength is around LV5."
"The Deck used mimics one of the Duel Kings, Hayato, mainly composed of Warrior-Type and Machine-Type Normal Monsters. His known Ace Monster is (Tyrant Dragon). Quite an excellent prey."
As he spoke, the short man raised his left hand, where his Duel Disk was still active, and said with interest, "Come on, Chazz Princeton, pick up your brother's Duel Disk, gamble the Cards in your Deck, and Duel me – Lord Hesiod!"
Chazz Princeton was somewhat scared by the expression on the short man — Hesiod's face, and involuntarily took a step back, but subconsciously retorted, "It's Mr. Chazz Princeton!"
"And, and who wants to Duel a guy like you?!"
"That's not up to you." Hesiod sneered, shaking the Deck he had just pulled from Chazz Princeton's Duel Disk in his right hand. "You wouldn't want to see your brother's treasured Deck torn up by me, would you?"
But just as he raised it and before he could shake it a few times, Hesiod's right wrist was suddenly struck by a flying Card. His hand went empty, and in an instant, the Deck that had just been in his hand had vanished?!
"Threatening others with their own belongings, isn't that a bit too low-handed?"
Chazz Princeton heard a familiar voice from behind him. Just as he was about to look up, he saw a hand holding a Deck extended towards him.
"Here you go, little Mr. Chazz Princeton. Take your brother and step back a bit." Hayato didn't look at the shocked Chazz Princeton who took the Deck, his gaze fixed on Hesiod. "I say, are the Rare Hunters' recruitment standards really that low? Can just any riff-raff join?"
"Mr. Hayato?!"
With Chazz Princeton's voice, the fallen Shoji also opened his eyes, looking at Hayato, whose face was obscured by the sunlight blocking him: "Hayato? Why is it you, of all people..."
"Yo, Shoji-san, you look a bit disheveled."
"It's Mr. Chazz Princeton... cough cough... and who asked you to help, you guy..." For some reason, even though he had only lost a Duel, Chazz Princeton felt his body was quite weak, and just speaking loudly almost made him choke.
"You can save that tough talk for Tristan. Speaking of which, you'd better hurry up; he's recently found a new target and is hotly pursuing it."
"So move aside, you're so weak, don't get in my way."
"You...!" His words weren't very pleasant, but Shoji could sense that Hayato was concerned about him. Under his younger brother Chazz Princeton's worried gaze, he took his Deck and was helped away from the "battlefield" where a Duel was about to unfold.
With his back to Chazz Princeton, Hayato's tone was light, but his eyes towards Hesiod were quite cold.
"Oh my, the Duel King's gaze is so scary," Hesiod said flippantly, looking at Hayato. "Is it necessary to be like this towards an ordinary Duelist passing by? As for the Rare Hunters, I know absolutely nothing about them~"
"Heh heh, if you say it seriously, I'll take it seriously." Hayato looked at the invisible magic shrouding Hesiod's back, which ordinary people couldn't see.
Just at the moment Chazz Princeton lost his Duel, Hayato clearly saw several strands of invisible essence being absorbed from Shoji's body by the thing behind Hesiod.
"Then how about a different reason I heard from someone else? 'When eyes meet, it's a signal for battle.'"
"I like that reason." Hesiod's eyes narrowed into a smile. "Then I'll gamble my Rare Cards, oh right, and Puzzle Cards too, right?"
"Same here, I'm gambling the Rare Cards in my Deck, and my Puzzle Cards."
Hayato and Hesiod stood opposite each other, and at the moment the virtual projection equipment deployed the Duel Field, they both simultaneously said:
"Duel!"
(end of chapter)