A true Duelist should have the composure to remain unaffected even when faced with a collapsing mountain, remaining calm no matter the situation, and should avoid letting impulsiveness overtake rational judgment.
Sato Koji was closing his eyes, constantly taking deep breaths, repeatedly reminding himself of this point—
——Hitting someone is against the rules.
Because it's really hard to remember this when facing this brat in front of him.
With the remaining two cards in his hand doing nothing, Sato Koji could only grit his teeth and declare the end of his turn. Then it was Yugen's turn again, and the fun began once more.
"Draw card." Yugen drew a card from the Card Deck.
At this point, Sato Koji's front and back fields were clean, like a little girl tempting people to commit crimes. In this era of Yu-Gi-Oh! before the widespread plague of hand traps, an empty field was almost like streaking, a scenario where one could push you down with no psychological burden.
So Yugen didn't mince words, and directly placed down the recently drawn Monster Card.
"Summon in attack position 'Leader - Zarug'!"
The battle-scarred one-eyed warrior appeared on Yugen's front field, with one eye covered by an eyepatch.
[Leader - Zarug, Attack Power 1400]
"Direct battle." Yugen commanded, "Use Leader - Zarug to attack the player directly."
The warrior received the order, and directly pulled out two revolvers, transforming into a rapid-fire dove, letting loose. A string of projected bullets pierced through Koji, the intangible impact causing him to stagger back half a step.
In the latest duel system developed by Kaiba Company, the monsters summoned by the Duel Disc were more than just 3D projections; they also had a physical impact device. While they wouldn't cause actual damage to the Duelist, they were enough to simulate realistic impact and certain pain stimuli to enhance the immersive experience of the duel.
[Koji, LP 4000→LP 2600]
Taking the direct face attack, he took a deep breath.
Luckily, it was just a mere 1400 Attack Power trash fish, he could still withstand it...
But then he saw Yugen smiling: "The effect of 'Leader - Zarug' activates. When this card inflicts battle damage to the opponent, I can choose to activate one of two effects.
First, the opponent discards a random card from their hand.
Second, send the top two cards from the opponent's Card Deck to the graveyard."
Koji's eyelids twitched violently.
"Wait, don't tell me you're going to... you're going to..."
His face began to contort, expression turning increasingly horrified, his body retreating instinctively.
"That's right, I choose the first effect to activate." Yugen said, "Eradicate another of your hand cards."
As soon as he finished speaking, Zarug had already raised a revolver. With a bang, a bullet hole projection appeared on one of the two remaining cards in Koji's hand.
Koji gritted his teeth, sending yet another card to the graveyard, his eyes nearly bursting in anger.
Now he only had one card left...
This wasn't the only duel he'd lost in his life, nor was the opponent the strongest he'd faced.
But this was definitely the duel where he most felt like hitting someone...
Can you believe not a single card has been played until now?
"Set two more cards on the field, end the turn."
Yugen's back field had gained two more Covering Cards.
This time, when Koji saw the two new abyss-like Covering Cards, his previous contemptuous attitude completely changed, and his breathing almost stalled.
Again? Please, no?
I'm begging you, let me play a card...
By now, the duel's progression had clearly exceeded the onlookers' expectations. The students on both sides were looking at each other, all with expressions as if they'd been utterly confounded.
This duel... how to say it?
It feels very strange, extremely bizarre.
Want to see fast-paced offense, defense, and the clash of power? There isn't any; you'll only find underwater people messing with minds here.
Want to see high-speed summons and magnificent monsters? There isn't any; you'll only see satisfied underwater people after messing with minds here.
Anyway, so far in this duel, not a single card has been played by one side, so there's no strategy to analyze or evaluate. And the side that played, every move and every card seemed to be vaguely underpinned by two words—
——Revenge society.
That guy didn't summon a single monster, didn't attack the opponent's life points, as if silently declaring: I might not win, but you're definitely not playing Yu-Gi-Oh! today.
If that's not revenge society, what is?
"Junior, this way of dueling is not right..."
Koji struggled to maintain the image of a gentle senior, but the twitching facial muscles and trembling voice seemed barely held together.
Yugen smiled silently, politely gesturing with a "please," reminding him it was his turn to play Yu-Gi-Oh!.
That's what they say, but seasoned players know Yu-Gi-Oh! is a very cruel game, as long as one side can play, that's almost fine enough.
Koji reluctantly raised his Duel Disc again.
"Then it's... it's my turn..."
He clenched his teeth.
With only one card left in hand, and it's an Equipment Magic, clearly useless as he can't even summon a monster.
This is the draw that will determine fate.
But a true Duelist won't back down because of this. Just like the legendary Duel King Muto Yuugi said, believe in your Card Deck, and the deck will respond to you.
He believes in the bond between himself and his Card Deck!
Sato Koji placed his finger on the Card Deck, taking a deep breath while silently chanting in his heart.
Come on! A Four-Star Monster!
Then followed a card draw as if infused with soul, drawing a handsome arc.
As soon as he opened his eyes and glanced at that card, Sato Koji's pupils shook, almost laughing skyward.
It's here!
Not only did he draw a Monster that can be summoned, but it was "Demon Lizard Hero," Four-Star Attack Power 1850. Perfectly 50 points higher in mockery than those popular 1800 Attack Power hitters on the market, it is the strongest subordinate Monster in his deck.
Indeed, the Card Deck responded to his intentions!
But just as Koji's lips curved into a smile, as if the counterattack horn was about to start.
When he looked up and saw the opponent's backfield at some point had flipped over a Covering Card, the smile instantly froze.
Trap Card - Fallen, Number Two.
Activated during the opponent's card drawing phase, the drawn card goes directly to the graveyard.
Sato Koji: "......"
"According to the effect of Fallen," Yugen said politely, "Please discard that card as well."
Koji's lips were nearly bitten to blood. He angrily threw the turnaround key "Demon Lizard Hero" into the graveyard, and upon looking down, saw only the lone Equipment Magic left in his hand...
"Turn... turn ends," Koji declared gloomily.
"Then to my turn, draw card."
Yugen glanced at the drawn card, another Trap.
His hand was overflowing with Red Pit traps, but the opponent clearly had no cards to trap anyway. So, adding this card to his hand, he casually waved his hand: "Leader - Zargul, direct attack."
[Koji, LP 2600→LP 1200]
"Zarug's effect activates again. Naturally, it's the first effect again."
Yugen pointed at the last card in Koji's hand.
"Throw that one away too."
Sato Koji watched his last card enter the graveyard, suddenly realizing he probably should have covered it last turn. Although insignificant, at least it would have preserved the card...
His mindset collapsed, completely forgetting this.
Though it seemed not to affect the situation regardless.
"Turn ends."
"Then it's my turn... draw card."
This time Koji drew the card, but didn't bother looking at what he drew, instead staring straight at Yugen's backfield.
Like asking, any traps?
So I can draw? Really drew?
Yugen signaled with a smile that he could proceed.
Finally, after barely making it past the drawing phase, entering the preparation phase for this turn, Sato Koji nearly cried with relief.
In the past, he might never have dreamed that drawing cards... was such a luxurious happiness.
Upon seeing the drawn card in his hand, his spirits lifted.
Vengeful Killing Puppet, Four-Star, Attack Power 1600.
Ordinarily a mundane Monster, but in this moment its 1600 Attack Power is a lifesaver. Because Leader - Zargul, despite its annoying effect, only has 1400 Attack Power.
Finally able to take down the opponent's Sword Tomb that discards his hand cards every turn!
Sato Koji eagerly: "I summon Vengeful Killing Puppet in attack position, attacking Leader - Zargul! Hit him to death, go to hell..."
"Don't be hasty, don't be hasty buddy, stay calm, duels should be played with a smile."
Yugen laughed and reminded.
"And don't rush, it isn't the battle phase yet. Because at the precise moment, I activated a Trap Card."
He pointed at a Cover Card raised in the backfield.
"Trap Card - Forced Ejection Device. Forced return of a Monster on the field to the owner's hand.
I will return Vengeful Killing Puppet to your hand."
Trap activated, the Cursed Puppet wielding an axe barely touched the ground before it turned into a golden light and flew back to Sato Koji's hand.
Sato Koji: "......"
This was its only card.
And he used up the only Normal Summon opportunity this turn.
Clearly, he had no cards left to play.
The upcoming event was obvious. He could only end the turn, and then that damn Zargul would attack again, discarding his last hand card...
...Oh no, he's not even going to make it to that point. Because his LP is only left at 1200, another hit and he's done.
But Yugen ultimately didn't manage to reduce Sato Koji's LP to zero.
Because before the next turn arrived...
...Sato Koji was disqualified and judged a loss for attempting to directly attack the opponent Duelist during the duel, hastily pulled back by surrounding students.