At this time, right before dinner, it's the peak of rush hour in the city, the time when the streets are the most crowded with pedestrians.
Jonouchi temporarily borrowed his good friend Yugi's newly unpacked Duel Disc and assembled it, then headed outside the shop with Youyu. The two of them stood in the open area, which attracted an increasing number of passersby to stop and watch.
"Mark my words upfront."
Jonouchi slotted his Card Deck into the Duel Disc, activating and expanding the device, his face full of confidence.
"I'm really strong."
Youyu smiled faintly, saying nothing, but also expanded his Duel Disc.
"Jonouchi, go for it!" Including Yugi, the friends began to cheer.
Ito Chinai stood quietly in the aisle opposite, curiously observing Youyu who was exchanging shuffles with the opponent.
This guy, is he really alright...
"Duel!" x2
[Youyu, LP 4000]
[Jonouchi Katsuya, LP 4000]
"I have the first move, draw!" Jonouchi quickly got into the rhythm, "I summon 'Masaki the Legendary Swordsman', Attack Position!"
The ground shimmered with light effects and circular currents swelled. A holographic Monster Card appeared in front of Jonouchi, revealing a warrior in green armor with a helmet, visible to the crowd. He hung his head low, half his face hidden in shadows, hand on the sword hilt poised to strike, like a battle-hardened samurai.
[Masaki the Legendary Swordsman, Attack 1100]
"Then I will set a card," Jonouchi continued, "I can't attack on the first turn, my turn is over!"
Youyu glanced at the warrior in green armor before him.
As expected, starting off with a low attack Normal Monster...
...truly a harmonious gaming environment.
"My turn now. I'm going to summon this..."
Youyu drew a card from his hand.
"Elemental Hero Sparkman!"
The blue warrior flew out surrounded by sparks, even striking a heroic pose upon entering.
[Elemental Hero Sparkman, Attack 1600]
"Next is Equip Magic - Legendary Sword, equip Sparkman!" Youyu played a Magic Card, "The attack of Warrior-Type Monsters is boosted by 300 points!"
[Elemental Hero Sparkman, Attack 1600→Attack 1900]
"Sparkman, attack Masaki the Legendary Swordsman!"
The blue warrior wrapped in electric currents shot forward, cutting arcs in the air with his electrified blade. The seasoned swordsman stood helpless against the overwhelming force of the modern Hero, his sword and self easily sliced into halves by the electric blade.
Clap!
The swordsman's hologram shattered, disintegrating into countless fragments that sank into the graveyard.
[Jonouchi Katsuya, LP 4000→LP 3200]
Jonouchi raised his arm to shield himself, smiling through gritted teeth: "You're really something."
Passerby A: "Wow, that Duelist is strong, even suppressing the runner-up of Duelist Kingdom in the first move!"
Passerby B: "Indeed, being able to execute such a combo of Monster and Magic Card on the starting turn, he's certainly an impressive character."
"Hey Jonouchi, what are you doing? Get serious!" This came from Jonouchi's loyal friend Honda.
"That Duelist named Youyu gives me a very special feeling," Yugi also wore a serious expression, "I think he might actually be very strong."
Standing silently on the side, Ito Chinai refrained from speaking.
"..."
[Affection +6]
Youyu: "..."
The over-praise from the passersby didn't inflate Youyu's ego; instead, he felt slightly embarrassed...
Enough already!
I just summoned a Monster and attached a Magic Card! Why are your reactions as if I pulled off three Cosmic Blazar Dragons and two Shooting Quasar Dragons in a single turn?
(Cosmic Blazar Dragon, Shooting Quasar Dragon, are Synchro Monsters infamous for their harsh summoning conditions)
This shower of acclaim even made Sparkman start to feel almost inflated, gripping his sword hilt, head held high, truly giving off the aura of "I am the ACE Monster".
"You're certainly strong," Jonouchi chuckled, then his expression turned solemn, "If that's the case, I can't afford to lose! At this moment, I reveal my set card, Magic Card - Scapegoat!"
The emerald Magic Card flipped, a red and a white harm-free lamb instantly appeared on the field.
[Scapegoat Token, Defense 0] x2
"This card can summon two Scapegoat Tokens onto my field!" Jonouchi explained.
Although this is a Normal Magic Card, Youyu was gradually becoming indifferent to such "activating Magic Cards during the opponent's turn" tactics.
However, he's resolved to eventually consult Kaiba Pegasus or someone about modifying the game rules. Not saying the rules need to be as strict as physical cards, at least a bit more presentable.
"Then it's my turn, draw a card!"
Jonouchi's eyes lit up as he saw the next card he drew.
Great, with this card I can attack!
"I summon Panther Warrior, attack position!"
The black panther warrior holding a blade shouted as it leaped out from the intertwining shadows and light. Its whole body was as black as a Wakandan, adorned with a flowing cape, exuding a heroic aura.
[Panther Warrior, Attack 2000]
"Although Panther Warrior is a 4-star monster with 2000 attack points, it must use one monster on its field as a tribute to attack."
While explaining, Jonouchi pointed to a nearby Scapegoat: "I use a 'Silent Scapegoat' as a tribute to attack Sparkman with Panther Warrior!"
The white Scapegoat vanished from the field accompanied by a swirl of blue ascension light. The Panther Warrior, receiving the tribute, roared upwards as it dashed forward with its blade, cutting down Sparkman and its Equip Card in one strike.
[Youyu, LP 4000 → LP 3900]
Youyu saw that his Sparkman along with an Equip Card was cut down, which was admittedly a bit of a loss, but it was expected. Although Jonouchi wasn't yet at his high-level stage, failing to deal with a Sparkman with 1900 attack would have been too low of a standard.
(Sparkman: Nani? So I'm not the ace?)
The turn then passed back to Youyu.
"My turn! I summon Elemental Hero Clayman in defense mode, and end my turn."
[Elemental Hero Clayman, Defense 2000]
"Hey, Youyu, you might think that Clayman's defense is 2000, and Panther Warrior's attack is also 2000, so it can't be beaten for now." Jonouchi gave a confident smile, "If you think so, you are wrong because Panther Warrior is not my ace!"
Youyu thought to himself, I never thought that Black Panther was your ace...
"My turn, draw a card!" Jonouchi theatrically drew a card from his hand, "Now I summon my true ace, the strongest dragon—Red-Eyes Black Dragon!!!"
(Blue-Eyes White Dragon: What? What did you just say? The wind was too loud, I didn't hear you clearly...)
The remaining Scapegoat and Panther Warrior disappeared from the field one after the other, and a black vortex swirled on the ground as a crimson beam erupted skywards.
The center of the storm unfolded its black wings, the beating wings dispersed the airflow. The black silhouette emerged in the red light, its entire body akin to being armored with metal. It elongated its neck and raised its head, its roar seemingly causing the street buildings to tremble.
[Red-Eyes Black Dragon, Attack 2400]
The crowd erupted in excitement!
Red-Eyes Black Dragon!
It's said to be second only to Blue-Eyes White Dragon in the Duel Monsters realm, a rare card among rare cards!
"The White Dragon brings victory, and the Red Dragon brings potential."
This is a phrase widely spread among the duelists in this world, describing the Blue-Eyes White Dragon and the Red-Eyes Black Dragon, highlighting this dragon's status in the minds of duelists.
With the successful summoning of his ace, Jonouchi's fighting spirit soared to its peak. He couldn't help clenching his fist, excitedly shouting, "Red-Eyes Black Dragon attack! Black Flame Bullet!"
The black dragon opened its mouth, the dark red energy brewing within like lava. The red-black orb shot out with the high-pitched roar of the dragon, swallowing Elemental Hero Clayman's robust form, piercing its 2000 defense instantly, its entire body consumed in the flames.
Although Youyu didn't take any damage since the monster was in defense mode, the aftershock of the flames and the gusts of wind caused Youyu to instinctively raise his arm.
He began to understand slightly.
Even though the Red-Eyes Black Dragon before him seemed like a regular monster with 2400 attack without any effects, its overwhelming presence upon arrival, its momentum and pressure during attack were unmatched by most monsters.
Even just a virtual image could convey an intense feeling of oppression to the opponent.
Feeling that his ace monster had already secured him a major advantage, Jonouchi swelled with pride. He chuckled, rubbed his nose with his finger, and said, "I place two cards face-down, and end my turn."
Youyu took a deep breath.
Red-Eyes... if it had been a week ago, with his starting deck where Sparkman was quite literally the ace, he might have lost.
Because, laughably enough, that starting deck really didn't have a way to handle a normal monster with 2400 attack...
But things were different now; his deck already had countermeasures.
All he needed now was a lucky draw.
Youyu placed his fingers on the card deck, silently thinking—
—Can I get a Fusion!
"Draw!"
Youyu glanced at the card he drew, eyes lighting up instantly.
Yatta! (Success)
"I activate the Magic Card, Fusion!" Youyu decisively played the freshly drawn card from his pack.
Jonouchi was shocked: "What? A Fusion!?"
"Fuse Elemental Hero Featherman and Elemental Hero Burstinatrix from my hand!" Youyu tossed two Hero cards from his hand.
Come forth, my favorite Hero—Elemental Hero Flame Wingman!
...Oh, sorry, my mistake, I don't have that card.
"Fusion Summon!" Youyu placed the Fusion Card onto the Duel Disc, "Elemental Hero Nova Master!"