Chapter 275: A World Where Disagreements Lead to Duels
Just then, Odion suddenly heard the crisp sound of an aluminum can dropping to the ground from outside the alley.
Turning his head, he saw Hayato appear at the entrance of the alley, leaning against the wall, pinching his nose with one hand, and waving the other to disperse the foul smell in the air. "These conditions are really terrible, I must say. Am I really supposed to complete my puzzle card collection in a place like this?"
"You are, Hayato?" Odion called out Hayato's name, looking at him warily.
Hayato seemed not to notice Odion's guard and greeted him cordially: "Yo, I remember your name is Odion, right? The bald guy who follows that three-year-old Marik."
"Don't be so nervous, don't be so nervous. I can tell you're different from the other Rare Hunters. I'm not some Demon who Duels everyone I see. The reason I've been retaliating against you Rare Hunters is simply because Marik pissed me off." Seeing Odion's wary expression, Hayato calmly waved his hand, indicating that he had no intention of Dueling him.
Hayato would never admit that whenever he saw Odion, he would always remember how, in a certain Yu-Gi-Oh Mobile Game in his past life, he was often defeated by Heavy Trap Deck players who used Odion as a character, indirectly leading to him feeling inexplicably annoyed just thinking about Dueling Odion.
The same situation also happened with Téa, but Téa only occasionally played a few Duel Monsters Duels with Yugi, so the situation was a bit better.
As he spoke, Hayato looked down at the Black-robed Figure lying on the ground. "Is this guy one of your Rare Hunters? But from the looks of it, he's probably a traitor or a double-crosser. Is it really okay to just let him bleed to death like this?"
"...Do you think it's appropriate for me to call an ambulance for him?" Odion said quietly after a long silence.
Hayato shrugged: "Fair point. But what about this wound on his wrist?"
"I don't think an ordinary blade could make such a clean cut. Plus the inexplicable loss of Life Points from this guy's body, and that thing behind you." Hayato, with a flick of his finger, made a Card appear in his hand. "Don't tell me you also have a Sacred Beasts Card?"
Odion, who had just begun to relax his guard, seeing Hayato's action, tensed up again and sternly demanded: "What are you doing, Hayato!"
"I'd like to ask what you're doing, Odion?" Hayato said coldly. "How long have you had the Sacred Beasts Card? Even if you just got it, you should have realized what the Sacred Beasts truly are, right? Unlike the Egyptian God Cards, they are Demons."
Odion was silent for a moment, then spoke: "I don't care what they are. All I know is, Lord Marik's command to me is to Duel as much as possible using the Sacred Beasts Card."
Hayato frowned: "You really are foolishly loyal, aren't you? Even if Marik told you to die, would you obey? Don't you have your own thoughts?"
Odion's solemn face was his answer to Hayato: "If that is Lord Marik's demand, I will do it."
"Tch, you idiot." Hayato said, flipping over the Card in his hand, revealing its true form. "I can't be bothered to keep talking to you. (The Winged Dragon of Ra), tear apart that Sacred Beast behind Odion!"
"Don't get in my way, Odion, I'm trying to save you!"
Accompanied by a piercing eagle's cry, an (Immortal Phoenix) like a Solar Disc swooped out from the Card in Hayato's hand, crashing directly into the hidden blue Phantom Image behind Odion, forcing it out. Although not projected through a Duel Disk's Virtual Projection device, both Duel Monster Spirits manifested simultaneously and began to fight in this secluded place.
The strongest of the Sacred Beasts — Raviel, Lord of Phantasms — faced the Attack of the strongest of the Egyptian God Cards — (The Winged Dragon of Ra) — and refused to back down, actively striking back with its fist. However, upon hitting, it realized that (The Winged Dragon of Ra) was currently in its (Immortal Phoenix) state, its entire body composed of solar flames, making it impossible to strike. Instead, (The Winged Dragon of Ra)'s sharp beak and claws were continuously tearing flesh from Raviel, Lord of Phantasms' body.
Seeing Raviel, Lord of Phantasms's Spirit falling into a disadvantage and about to be beaten to death, Odion, who didn't want to betray Lord Marik's command, quickly inserted his Deck containing the Raviel, Lord of Phantasms Card into his Duel Disk and Activated it, shouting: "I won't let you Destroy this Card, Hayato!"
"I told you I'm saving you, you idiot!" Hayato said unhappily, seeing (The Winged Dragon of Ra) miss. He reluctantly raised the Card and recalled it, then put the Card into his Deck, and also Activated his Duel Disk. "You should know you can't beat me."
"Victory or defeat is irrelevant. As long as I draw breath, Lord Marik's command must be carried out." Odion said, Drawing five Cards. "Even though I know the Sacred Beasts Cards harvest the Life Points of innocent people, and that guy named Bakura is using Lord Marik under the guise of a trade."
"Don't you clearly understand the situation?" Hayato also Drew five Cards. "Forget it. I'll finish you quickly. Don't think you can protect that Card with a Duel."
Each Drawing five Cards, Hayato and Odion faced off against each other in this deserted place.
This was a Duel that could have been completely avoided.
If Odion continued to use the Raviel, Lord of Phantasms Card, even if he subjectively didn't want to use this Card to harm others, because the Sacred Beasts Cards couldn't be Control-led, more and more people would be affected by its Power and be stripped of their Duel Monster Power.
For this reason, Hayato wanted to stop Odion. It was both to protect Domino City and because he didn't want Bakura, who was constantly trying to Recycle the Sacred Beasts Cards, to succeed.
However, "Duel as much as possible using Raviel, Lord of Phantasms" was the command Marik had given Odion, so Odion refused to let Hayato have his way.
"Duel!" "Duel!"
[Hayato: 4000 LP, Hand 5]
[Odion: 4000 LP, Hand 5]
"I'll take the First Turn, Draw!" Odion claimed the right to the First Turn, keeping the Card he just Drew from his Deck in his hand, while the other five Cards were inserted into his Duel Disk's Spell & Trap Zone. "I Set five Cards, I end my Turn!"
[Odion: 4000 LP, Hand 1]
[Set Card] x5
The overly absurd opening made Hayato complain: "So, are all of you Tomb Keepers Shadow Realm dwellers? One plays Gravekeeper's Strategy, one gives away rare treasures, and you're a Heavy Trap Deck user?"
However, Hayato noticed before the Duel began that Odion had inadvertently revealed information: the Sacred Beasts Cards distributed to the Rare Hunters members were obtained from Bakura through a trade. This piqued Hayato's curiosity: Bakura wasn't someone who just gave away treasures; what exactly did he trade with Marik?
"Then, My Turn, Draw." After Drawing a Card, Hayato didn't rush to Summon a Monster, but Activated a Card. "Your Set Cards are too troublesome. I Activate the Spell Card (Harpie's Feather Duster), Destroying all Spell/Trap Cards on your Field!"
The giant feather duster whipped up a gale sweeping towards Odion's Field. Just as his Backrow's Set Cards were about to be Flipped, Odion calmly Activated one of his Cards. "In response to your (Harpie's Feather Duster), I Chain to Activate a Set Card, the Counter Trap Card (Dark Bribe)."
"When your Opponent Activates a Spell/Trap Card, Negate its activation, then your Opponent Draws one Card."
Corresponding to the howling gale, above the Duel Field, two voices suddenly sounded:
"What do you mean by giving me money?!"
"It means nothing."
"You're a truly interesting person, but saying it like that makes it meaningless."
"That's not what I meant; it's just a small token."
Listening to the Level 10 listening comprehension challenge that would stump 99% of foreigners, Hayato helplessly Drew a Card. "I knew it wouldn't be that easy to break through your Trap."
"Then, I Activate this: the Spell Card (Unexpected Dai). When there are no Monsters on my Field, I can Special Summon one Level 4 or lower Normal Monster from my Deck."
"Come forth, (X-Head Cannon)!"
After the howling gale dissipated due to "Money Power," a ball of Lightning appeared on Hayato's Field. Within the gradually dissipating Lightning, the blue (Machine-Type) soldier — (X-Head Cannon) — revealed itself.
However, Odion once again Activated a Set Card.
"I Activate the Trap Card (Mirror of Oaths)," Odion Flipped a Set Card. "This Card can only be Activated when your Opponent Special Summons a Monster from their Deck. Destroy all those Monsters, then I can Draw one Card from my Deck."
As soon as the Lightning enveloping (X-Head Cannon) dissipated, several prisms of equal height suddenly rose around it. Powerful Magical Energy reflected from the mirrors, instantly blasting (X-Head Cannon) to pieces, and allowing Odion to Draw a Card from his Deck.
Hayato frowned: "Then, I Normal Summon (Goblin Attack Force). I don't believe you have another Summon Trap Card."
A group of Goblin Monsters dressed like special forces soldiers appeared in formation on Hayato's Field. What made Hayato slightly relieved was that this time Odion did not Activate a Set Card to Counterattack Hayato as he had before.
[(Goblin Attack Force)][Level 4/DARK Attribute]
[Warrior-Type/Effect]
[1000 ATK/0 DEF]
"I Equip the Spell Card (Sword of Dragon's Soul) to (Goblin Attack Force), then I Enter Battle Phase." Hayato waved his hand forward. "I declare a Direct Attack on the Opponent Duelist!"
"Then, I Activate a Set Card." Seeing (Goblin Attack Force) begin its movement, Odion once again Activated a Set Card.
(end of chapter)