"Turn end!"
Yuto declared calmly, utterly composed.
"All right, big guy, let's see what tricks you have left!"
The Duelist Hunter's face darkened like a storm cloud. Clenching his teeth, he drew a card with trembling fingers.
'It's over... my hand is full of garbage! No card here can take down that white monster... This draw is my last chance!'
He stared at the drawn card in desperation—
[Reaper of the Cards]
A final, crazed spark flared in the hunter's deadened eyes!
'There's hope!'
'As long as he attacks my face-down!'
The Flip Effect of [Reaper of the Cards] can destroy one of his cards!
'That damned Psycommu System!'
'Without it, that Gundam is just an 1800-point target!'
This faint hope wrapped around his heart like a poisonous vine.
"I... I Set a monster face-down!"
He all but roared as he slammed [Reaper of the Cards] onto the field, back down, in a desperate gamble.
"Turn end!"
He fixed a wild stare on Yuto, screaming inwardly.
'Come on!'
'Attack!'
'Attack my set card, Yuto Tenshou!'
'Let your arrogance be your downfall!'
"My turn, draw!"
Yuto's voice was steady, his hawk-like eyes sweeping over the lone set card on his opponent's field.
'A set monster? In this kind of desperation, it can only be something with a Flip Effect…'
'Trying to trick me?'
A cold, all-seeing smile tugged at his lips.
Instead of ordering [GQuuuuuuX Gundam] to attack as the hunter hoped, Yuto extended a finger toward the softly glowing [Unlock Psycommu System] on his field.
"I activate the third effect of [Unlock Psycommu System]! I banish the Spell Card [ACE!] from my hand! Then—"
His finger pointed like a death sentence at the hunter's set card.
"Destroy your face-down monster!"
Vrrrmmm—Zzap!
A precise force pulse from the Psycommu System crossed the field in an instant, striking the set card dead-on!
[GQuuuuuuX Gundam] immediately raised its beam rifle and fired a single shot clean through the card.
CRACK!
[Reaper of the Cards], unable to flip, couldn't activate any effect.
With a short, pitiful wail, it disintegrated to dust under the pure destructive power!
The hunter's last hope of a comeback was obliterated along with the card!
"Wh—?!"
The snarl on the hunter's face froze, replaced by stunned, incredulous despair!
'No!'
'My [Reaper of the Cards]!'
'It never even activated…'
Yuto didn't pause, as if he'd done something trivial.
He smoothly placed the card he had just drawn into his Duel Disk.
"Next, I activate the Spell Card—[Drop Operation]! Its effect Special Summons all three [H.L.V.] from my Deck in Defense Position!"
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Three massive [H.L.V.] landed heavily on Yuto's field, engines roaring and smoke billowing!
"Turn end."
His voice was calm, yet it heralded the hunter's approaching doom.
Looking at the three colossal landing craft and the menacing white Gundam, the hunter swallowed hard, bitter despair flooding in.
'There's... no hope left…'
Like a walking corpse, he mechanically set a meaningless monster card, his voice dry and cracked.
"Set... a monster... turn... end..."
That declaration dripped with hopeless finality.
"My turn, draw!"
Yuto didn't even glance at his draw, moving straight into the Standby Phase.
"In this Standby Phase, I activate the effects of all three [H.L.V.]! I send them to the Graveyard, then Special Summon three [MS-06 Zaku II] from my Deck in Attack Position!"
Hiss—!
All three landing craft's hatches burst open!
With the hiss of pressure release and grinding metal, three dark-green [MS-06 Zaku II], mono-eyes glowing red, stepped out wielding machine guns, their heavy steps shaking the ground.
The field transformed into a showcase of overwhelming steel might!
"After that..."
Yuto set a Trap Card face-down.
"I set another card and end my turn."
His gaze fell on the hunter like that of a predator on caged prey—everything under control.
"M... my turn..."
The hunter's hand trembled as he reached to draw, this meaningless action perhaps his last.
Abruptly, just as his fingertips brushed the Deck—
"At the very start of your turn!"
Yuto's icy voice thundered like a storm!
He swept his hand up, flipping the set Trap Card!
"I activate the Trap Card—[Colony Drop]!!!"
The Trap erupted in blinding light, and a colossal, burning space colony phantom materialized in the sky above the hunter!
"According to its effect!"
Yuto's voice carried the weight of annihilation.
"I tribute all monsters on my field—the three [MS-06 Zaku II] and [GQuuuuuuX Gundam]! Using them as the trigger, I deal damage equal to half their combined Attack!!"
"No—!!!"
The hunter let out a soul-rending scream!
RUMBLERUMBLERUMBLE—!!!
The colony phantom slammed down with apocalyptic force!
A devastating shockwave swallowed the hunter's small figure!
[Duelist Hunter, LP: 2000 → 0]
"Uwaaaaahhh!!!"
This one-sided hunt ended with the hunter's complete annihilation.
[Congratulations, Host. This duel triggers a double reward!]
[Two booster packs acquired. Please specify keywords to have them delivered to your quarters.]
"Impossible... how could I lose?"
The Duelist Hunter smashed the console before him with a furious punch.
"I won't accept this result! Damn it!"
In response, Yuto chose to summon his own fist in Attack Position.
He vaulted the hunter's side of the arena and punched him off the platform.
"Last time someone tried to skip out on the rules. Not happening again!"
Yuto picked up the eight Star Chips from the table, then stepped down and walked over to Mai.
"Your Star Chips."
Mai looked quietly at the chips in his hand, conflicted.
She hated accepting charity.
"Take them. I told you before, this is repayment for that dinner."
"But..."
Mai hesitated, unwilling to leave like this.
Joey finally couldn't stand it, stepping to Yuto's side and reaching for the chips.
"You're both so stubborn! If you don't want them, I'll take them!"
Mai's eyes widened. She had never seen someone so shameless!
"Wait! Absolutely not!"
"But didn't you say you didn't want them?"
Mai hurried forward, trying to snatch the chips from Joey's hand.
"Give them to me!"
Joey raised the chips high, and Mai stepped closer, reaching up to grab them.
However, Joey only chuckled and smoothly placed the chips into her hand.
"Take them. You're just not being honest."
Mai stared blankly at the Star Chips in her palm.
"If you really think it hurts your pride, toss them into the sea later. Still, when a friend gives you something, I wouldn't recommend it."
Joey stretched and yawned.
"All right, let's get some sleep! I'm exhausted..."
...
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