"Witness my dazzling duplicates! I activate the Spell Card—[Elegant Egotist]!"
Mai raised the card high.
"Using [Harpie Lady] as the medium, I call forth her sisters!"
The Spell's light flared. Harpie Lady's form blurred, wavered—then two nearly identical figures, differing only in hairstyle and color, appeared beside her in a brilliant shimmer!
"W-what?!"
From below, Yugi gasped at the three Harpie Ladies, each with 2190 ATK, lined up together.
"Too bad I can't attack the turn I use this card."
Mai spread her hands with mock regret.
"So, turn end!"
Joey's turn. He drew with confidence.
"Hmph! I activate [Graceful Charity]! Draw three, then discard two!"
He swiftly drew three, glanced, discarded two to the Graveyard, and kept one.
"Next, I summon [Panther Warrior] in Attack Position!"
The cloaked, sword-wielding beast-warrior growled onto the Plains.
"Don't forget, this is my home turf—Plains!"
"As a Beast-Warrior, Panther Warrior's ATK rises by 30%!"
Its 2000 ATK soared to 2600!
"I tribute [Tiger Axe] to Panther Warrior!"
The warrior struck down the tiger, eyes blazing.
"Attack! Strike down Harpie Lady!"
The panther blurred into a black flash, blade gleaming—one Harpie was cut to dust!
[Mai, LP: 1690 → 1280]
"Finally, I Set one card! Turn end!"
Joey's momentum surged.
"Tch, draw!"
Though surprised by a sudden 2600 ATK monster, Mai didn't flinch.
"It's not hopeless yet! I activate [Aero Nail]! Boost one Harpie Lady's ATK by 300!"
Then another card.
"And [Rose Whip]! Another 300 boost!"
The Harpie gained claws and a thorned whip, ATK rising from 2190 to 2790!
"Attack! Harpie Lady, crush that panther!"
"At this moment!"
Joey shouted, flipping his Set.
"I activate [Skull Dice]!"
"What?!"
A laughing imp appeared, tossing a spinning red die!
"This lowers your monster's ATK by 100 times the result!"
Joey fixed his eyes on it. A 2 or higher would turn the tide.
The die clattered… and stopped—on 6!
"Six!!"
Joey roared. "Your Harpie Lady loses 600 ATK!"
Crimson energy chains bound the Harpie, slowing her movements.
'Now!'
The panther warrior struck, blade flashing, severing the Harpie's head into light.
[Mai, LP: 1280 → 870]
"Shoot!"
Mai snarled, but instantly salvaged.
"But [Aero Nail]¹ isn't destroyed—it reequips to my other Harpie!"
"Hmph, pointless struggle! Your turn's done!"
Unfazed, Joey drew—[Wild Nature's Release]! His grin split wide.
"Ha ha ha! Mai!"
He slammed it down.
"I activate [Wild Nature's Release]! My Panther Warrior gains ATK equal to its DEF!"
Roar!!
The black panther howled, cloaked in savage black flames. Muscles bulged, power surging—ATK skyrocketed to 4200!
"And I'm not done! I activate [Scapegoat]—Special Summon four Sheep Tokens in Defense Position!"
Four fluffy sheep bleated onto the field.
"I tribute one Sheep Token! Now, Panther Warrior—finish this duel with your unleashed fury!!"
Wreathed in destructive force, the 4200-ATK beast thundered forward, obliterating Mai's remaining Harpies. The shockwave slammed into her with unstoppable might.
Boom!!!
Her Life Points hit zero in an instant.
"YEAH—!!!"
Joey whooped, fists pumping, almost leaping with joy.
"I won!! I did it!!"
Mai staggered from the arena, hand pressed to her chest, muttering.
"I… lost… to someone like him…?"
Joey ignored her, swaggering up and snatching the wagered Star Chip from her hand. Snap—he slammed it into his glove slot.
"Ha ha! Now I've got two Star Chips!"
He raised his hand high, the new chip gleaming in the noon sun, grinning ear to ear.
"Wow, I'm strong, huh? Heh heh!"
His foolish bragging went on for half an hour…
The others sighed in unison.
"Hopeless…" Yuto facepalmed.
"My stomach's growling, Yuto~"
Téa tugged at his sleeve pitifully, eyes wide.
"Here."
He handed her a ration bar and a small bottle of water. He passed the same to Yugi, Tristan, and still-giddy Joey.
"Eat for now… huh?"
Yuto sniffed.
"That smell… delicious…"
"Oh! Roast meat! From over there!"
Joey's nose was sharper—he dashed off before finishing.
"Hey! Joey! Wait up!" Yugi shouted, chasing.
They followed the aroma to a campfire, where golden, sizzling fish roasted unattended.
"Grilled fish! Mine!"
Joey lunged, snatching the biggest fish and chomping greedily.
"Hey! Joey! Leave some! Don't hog it all!"
Tristan jumped in too, abandoning restraint.
Yugi, Téa, and Yuto stood aside, staring at the lone remaining fish.
"Sigh…"
Yuto shook his head.
"Let's just apologize when the owner returns…"
"I guess that's all we can do…" Téa murmured.
Then—a furious roar cracked the air.
"Bastards! How dare you touch someone else's food—!!"
***
¹ Aero Nail: An anime card with no OCG/TCG counterpart. Used by Mai Valentine. (Rose Whip is an Anim-only card used by Mai too.)
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