Yugioh [690-695] (Patreon)

Chapter 690: The Prince Arrives

The plane cruised at an altitude of ten thousand meters. A woman in a pink business suit stood in the cabin, flanked on both sides by bodyguards in black suits.

A young man with a heroic air lounged in his seat, one leg crossed, squinting as he toyed with a Medallion engraved with the letters "GX."

"GeneX Duel Tournament, huh. Sounds like it could be pretty fun."

He put the Medallion down, picked up a deck, and fanned through it with a quick sweep of his gaze.

"They say top players from around the world will be competing. If that's the case, I'm sure there will be some interesting folks, right?"

The woman in pink smiled. "But no matter who they are, there's no one who can stand against His Highness Prince Ojin, First Prince of the Kingdom of Misgarth, the strongest duelist."

Prince Ojin burst into hearty laughter.

"Well, that's true enough. With the absolute power of a one-turn kill, even pros can be buried in an instant. Those mediocre duelists don't stand a chance."

He paused, narrowed his eyes, and thought for a moment.

"But speaking of which... Duel Academy—the legendary 'King' might show up too, right?"

The woman beside him froze for a second, then considered it.

"In theory, all Duel Academy students will participate, so the King shouldn't be an exception. But I heard the Duel King is currently swamped with affairs and very busy. He hasn't been participating much in the academy's internal activities lately, so I'm not sure..."

"I see."

Prince Ojin mused, then let out a small chuckle.

"Well, I actually hope he does enter. My one-turn kill versus the new King of the dueling world—which is stronger... Let me find out."

…

At that moment, on Duel Academy Island, the GX Tournament was in full swing.

Scenes like this could be seen all over the island.

Student A: "My turn, draw! I set three cards to my back row and end my turn!"

Student B: "NANI—you actually set three back row? Fine, then I'll use this card—Spell Card 'Delinquent Duo'! Pay 1000 Life Points, randomly discard one card from your opponent's hand, then your opponent chooses and discards another card!"

Student A, aghast: "You jerk, using such a filthy tactic!"

Student B: "You set three back row on turn one and you think you get to judge me?"

"..."

Elsewhere, with Misawa.

Student C: "I set five cards to my back row and end my turn!"

"Five set back row?" Bastion Misawa remained unruffled. "No problem. I attack directly with 'Litmus Doom Swordsman'! While there's a face-up Trap on the field, Litmus Doom Swordsman's ATK becomes 3000!"

"Attacking regardless of my set cards? Too reckless, Misawa!" Student C laughed smugly. "Activate Trap 'Sakuretsu Armor'! Destroy the attacking monster!"

"Unfortunately," Misawa smiled, "Litmus Doom Swordsman is unaffected by Trap effects."

"NANI!?" Student C's face paled.

What kind of underworld hitman is this!?

"Uwaaahhhh!!!"

Student C went down instantly. The doom swordsman's blade fell; a silver GX Medallion spun into the air and landed steadily in Misawa's hand.

Another Medallion won.

Misawa looked at the five Medallions he'd already collected so soon after the start of the tournament and couldn't help but smile at the pleasant heft of the silver.

What a delightful duel.

Just as his calculations predicted, Litmus Doom Swordsman—unaffected by Traps—was practically a divine weapon in the current Duel Academy meta. Nine out of ten opponents opened with half their hand as traps; Litmus was like a cat dropped into a mouse den.

With another Medallion added to his tally, Misawa headed back, and after a few steps he ran into Alexis, who looked anxious and was hurrying toward the docks.

"Alexis!"

Misawa called out.

"Misawa?" Alexis looked over.

"Where are you rushing off to? Got a scheduled duel?" Misawa smiled as he approached.

"No... haven't you heard?" Alexis said. "It's Kira!"

"Kira? What about him?" Misawa blinked.

"Kira is dueling—he arranged a match with the top duelist from the Kingdom of Misgarth, Prince Ojin!" Alexis said. "If we don't hurry, it might be over already!"

"Eh!?"

…

…

The docks were already packed with onlookers.

It was the Duel King's opening match in the GX Tournament. As their academy's strongest combatant, Kira was unquestionably the focus of everyone's attention.

Facing him was an opponent whose prestige and status gave him considerable weight in this tournament: Prince Ojin of the Kingdom of Misgarth.

"Duel King, I've long wanted to test myself against you."

Prince Ojin donned his duel disk with a soft smile.

"To be honest, a big part of why I agreed to come to this tournament was because of you."

"I'm flattered," Kira smiled. "I'll do my best not to disappoint Your Highness."

"Duel!" x2

[Kira, LP 4000]

[Ojin, LP 4000]

Both drew their starting hands. Then the indicator on Prince Ojin's duel disk lit up.

He couldn't help but tilt his head back and laugh.

"Sorry, King, but this rare duel may end quickly. It seems that even against you, Lady Luck has chosen me.

I'll take the first turn. Draw!"

Prince Ojin seized the initiative without hesitation.

"Activate the Spell Card 'Cost Down'! Discard one card; this turn, reduce the Level of all monsters in my hand by 2!"

He sent a card from his hand to the Graveyard, flashing it before it went.

"But the card I discard is the Spell 'Card of Compensation'. When this card is sent from the hand to the GY, I draw two cards!"

He drew two more, his smile broadening.

"Now watch closely, Mr. Kira. The signature technique of the man hailed as Misgarth's number one!

Thanks to 'Cost Down,' the Level 5 monster in my hand is now Level 3, allowing a Normal Summon from the hand.

So I Normal Summon the original Level 5 'Satellite Cannon'!"

As he raised the card, it was as if a rocket launched behind him, bursting midair to reveal the image of a massive satellite.

It hung high in Earth's orbit, gazing down from on high. The dangerous cannon barrel locked onto the surface from beyond the sky, a Damoclean blade poised overhead.

"Misgarth may be a small nation, but we command military technology that can reshape the global order," Prince Ojin said proudly. "And Satellite Cannon is the embodiment of my kingdom's technological might.

Now witness its true power!"

Chapter 691: Satellite OTK

"I remember! I heard about it on the news!"

Seeing the satellite ascend, Syrus exclaimed.

"Prince Ojin's country supposedly launched a satellite called 'SORA' recently, with the power to destroy the world. It caused huge international controversy—been a global hot topic..."

"That strong?"

Jaden, who never paid attention to anything outside dueling, was a little surprised, then tilted his head up at the satellite in the sky.

"But this satellite doesn't look that impressive..."

[Satellite Cannon, ATK 0]

Prince Ojin sneered and played another card: "I activate the Spell 'Charge'! It raises Satellite Cannon's ATK by 2000!" (anime card)

A torrent of blazing golden energy shot from the card into the sky, pouring into the satellite's barrel.

[Satellite Cannon, ATK 0 → 2000]

"Next, I activate the Spell 'Mischief of the Time Goddess' to skip an entire turn and jump straight to my next Battle Phase!"

The crowd was stunned.

Skipping to your next turn's Battle Phase on Turn 1 means you can attack on your first turn?

"Then the Quick-Play Spell 'Limiter Removal'! All Machine monsters I control have their ATK doubled until the end of the turn!" Prince Ojin shouted. "Double Satellite Cannon's ATK!"

[Satellite Cannon, ATK 2000 → 4000]

Now the crowd couldn't hold back anymore. Uproar.

An ATK 4000 monster, and it can attack on the very first turn!

No wonder he's called his country's number one duelist. No wonder he could stay so confident even against the King.

Who could beat that? If he goes first like this, isn't it just game over?

"Sorry, King, but it looks like it'll end before you can do anything."

Prince Ojin stood, hands on hips, smiling.

Even the academy crowd—usually confident in the Lord in Yellow—felt a bit uneasy.

They always hoped someone would punish that underworld-style player. But that was before. Now Kira was the Duel King, representing their academy's top strength. If he lost, everyone would lose face.

"Satellite Cannon, direct attack!"

A bombardment from orbit—the cannon's beam locked onto Kira's position and blasted down!

Boom!

An astonishing blast gouged a crater in the ground. Flames billowed, black smoke rolled—like a man-made divine punishment.

However—

[Kira, LP 4000]

"NANI!?"

This time, Prince Ojin's expression changed drastically.

Kira casually revealed a card in his hand. "Discard Kuriboh to make the battle damage 0."

Kuriboh's phantom flashed on the field: "Kuri-kuri!"

As if to scoff: flashy but futile.

All those fancy combos, undone by Kuriboh?

"Uh..."

Prince Ojin's mouth twitched.

A monster that blocks on the first turn from the hand...

His unbeatable OTK wasn't so reliable today.

But no matter.

"Heh, worthy of the Duel King—not easy to deal with." Prince Ojin said gravely. "At the end of the turn, the Satellite Cannon affected by 'Limiter Removal' must self-destruct.

But before that, I activate the Spell 'Monster Recovery'!

Shuffle all cards in my hand and on my field into the Deck, then draw five!" (anime effect)

The satellite in the sky disassembled and returned as beams of light into his Deck. He drew out the Deck, quickly shuffled and cut, and drew five new cards.

After glancing at the new hand, he promptly played one.

"I haven't conducted a Normal Summon this turn.

So I'll Summon 'Satellite Base' in Defense Position!" (anime card)

Another column of gold light shot up, forming a satellite. This one looked less like a cannon and more like a floating fortress.

[Satellite Base, DEF 0]

"Satellite Base cannot be destroyed by battle with Level 5 or lower monsters," Prince Ojin said. "And during each of my End Phases, its DEF increases by 1000!"

"My turn ends."

[Satellite Base, DEF 0 → 1000]

"My turn, draw," Kira said. "Let's try out this deck a bit.

First, this card: Spell 'Dragon Shrine'!

Send a Dragon from Deck to GY. If the sent monster is a Normal Dragon, send another Dragon afterward.

I'll send to the GY...

Blue-Eyes White Dragon!"

The crowd gasped; someone couldn't help shouting.

Blue-Eyes White Dragon!

This heavyweight monster, like a calling card, naturally brought to mind the president at the pinnacle of the dueling world.

But then someone remembered: among the world's four Blue-Eyes, one had been personally given to Kira by Seto Kaiba at the last Battle City tournament. That made Kira the only duelist besides Kaiba who could wield Blue-Eyes.

Even Prince Ojin was taken aback, but then looked delighted. "Oh? Today I not only get to duel the Duel King, but also face the legendary Blue-Eyes. Seems luck is truly on my side."

Kira continued: "Of course, Blue-Eyes White Dragon is a Normal Monster. So per Dragon Shrine's effect, I send another Dragon from my Deck—'Arkbrave Dragon'—to the GY."

He then placed a monster.

"Normal Summon 'Paladin of Felgrand'."

[Paladin of Felgrand, ATK 1700]

"When Paladin of Felgrand is Summoned, I can equip a Level 7 or 8 Dragon from my hand or Deck to it as an Equip Card.

I'll equip another 'Arkbrave Dragon' from my Deck to Paladin."

A glimmering dragon's spirit flashed and merged into the Paladin's body.

"Next, I activate the Continuous Spell 'Ruins of the Divine Dragon Lords,'" Kira said. "Once per turn, send a face-up card on the field other than this one to the GY to Special Summon a 'Dragon Lord Token.'

I'll send the equipped 'Arkbrave Dragon' to the GY and Special Summon a Dragon Lord Token!"

[Dragon Lord Token, ATK 0]

"Paladin of Felgrand's other effect: Tribute this card and another monster to Special Summon a Level 7 or 8 Dragon from the GY.

I Tribute Paladin and the Token to revive—

—Arkbrave Dragon, arise!"

Starlight gathered and surged like a waterfall. Massive skeletal wings spread as the shining dragon spiraled into being.

[Arkbrave Dragon, ATK 2400]

Chapter 692: The True Power of Blue-Eyes

Arkbrave Dragon, Summoned!

"Arkbrave Dragon, attack 'Satellite Base'!"

Starlight gathered in the dragon's maw and fired like a piercing javelin. Satellite Base was struck head-on and exploded against the backdrop of space.

"Satellite Base can't be destroyed by battle with Level 5 or lower monsters, but Arkbrave is Level 7," Kira said. "So Satellite Base is destroyed."

Prince Ojin scowled.

"Then I activate the Spell 'Magic Planter'—send a Continuous Spell on my field to the GY to draw two cards.

I send 'Ruins of the Divine Dragon Lords' to the GY to draw two."

Kira drew two, pondered, then—

"I set two cards and end my turn."

Prince Ojin: "My turn, draw!"

But before he could do anything, the vortex of Kira's GY opened.

"The other 'Arkbrave Dragon' in my GY: on the Standby Phase of the turn after this card was sent to the GY, Special Summon a Level 7 or 8 Dragon other than Arkbrave from the GY.

Naturally, I'll Special Summon—

—Blue-Eyes White Dragon!"

A holy white beam shot skyward; a dragon's roar pierced heaven and earth. The white dragon unfurled its broad skeletal wings, proclaiming its sovereignty like a king among dragons.

[Blue-Eyes White Dragon, ATK 3000]

"Blue-Eyes! It's really Blue-Eyes, Sy!"

Jaden shook Syrus in excitement.

"Kira can even command Blue-Eyes!"

Jaden had seen the White Dragon in competition, but most Duel Academy students hadn't. Seeing it descend now left them all stunned.

"Blue-Eyes... good. The perfect opponent," Prince Ojin said. "I activate the Equip Spell 'Future Fusion'!

Send Fusion Materials from the Deck to the GY to Fusion Summon a Fusion Monster!" (anime effect)

Fusion from the Deck!

"I'll send three 'Satellite Cannon' from the Deck—including the one I recycled last turn with 'Monster Recovery'—for a triple Fusion!

Behold the final form of satellite technology, a weapon of absolute destruction. Descend—

—Satellite Laser Balsam, Fusion Summon!!!" (anime card)

A satellite armed to the teeth rose into orbit through a triple fusion of Satellite Cannons. Every energy cannon and missile readied, all trained on Kira below.

[Satellite Laser Balsam, ATK 0]

"Whoa, a triple-fused satellite!" Jaden was thrilled. "Just looking at it, you can tell it's a monster."

Syrus: "But its ATK is still 0..."

"Satellite Laser Balsam's effect: during each of my End Phases, it gains 3000 ATK. Of course, that means it can't attack this turn.

Well, Future Fusion's summon can't attack this turn anyway. However..."

Prince Ojin smirked and revealed another card.

"With this, everything changes.

Activate Quick-Play Spell 'Turn Jump'!

Both players do nothing as time jumps forward three turns!" (anime card)

This was a card used by Yugi in the Ceremonial Battle and in the side story manga, often paired with Silent Magician/Swordsman LV to accelerate their growth.

Although his satellite wasn't an LV monster, the concept was similar.

A giant clock appeared; the hands whirled while everything else froze. The duel disks' displays spun like crazy: Main Phase, Battle, End Phase, Draw, Standby, Main...

So it cycled rapidly through three turns.

"Three End Phases passed," Prince Ojin said. "Satellite Laser Balsam gains 3000 ATK at each of my End Phases.

So its ATK is now—"

[Satellite Laser Balsam, ATK 9000]

"ATK nine thousand!"

The spectators were horrified.

"Indeed, this is the absolute destructive power of the ultimate satellite!" Prince Ojin laughed. "Go, Satellite Laser Balsam—attack 'Arkbrave Dragon'!"

With power charged to 9000, the overwhelming beam pierced the shining dragon with ease, and the raging energy surged toward Kira.

But Kira calmly revealed another card in his hand.

"Discard 'Kuriboh' from my hand to make the battle damage 0."

Prince Ojin: "..."

Kuriboh. Again.

What are you, a chestnut vendor!? (*Kuriboh translates to chestnut.)

Twice in one duel, his invincible OTK skidded on the same trash mob... Was this thing the hard counter to his satellite OTK?

"And I activate my set Trap, 'Soul Rope,'" Kira said. "When my monster is destroyed and sent to the GY, pay 1000 LP to Special Summon a Level 4 monster from my Deck." (anime effect)

[Kira, LP 4000 → 3000]

"I Special Summon—

'Royal Magical Library'!"

[Royal Magical Library, DEF 2000]

"What is that..."

Prince Ojin muttered, disgruntled.

"After Satellite Laser Balsam battles, it expends all accumulated ATK and returns to 0."

[Satellite Laser Balsam, ATK 9000 → 0]

It felt increasingly like this thing was hard-countered by Kuriboh.

"I set a card and end my turn," Prince Ojin said. "But in my End Phase, Satellite Laser Balsam gains 3000 ATK again!"

[Satellite Laser Balsam, ATK 0 → 3000]

Nine thousand not connecting was a pity, but three thousand was still fine—Blue-Eyes-level ATK.

Next turn, another OTK attempt. He didn't believe the opponent could pull a third Kuriboh from his pants...

"My turn, draw," Kira said. "I activate 'Pot of Greed' to draw two."

He drew, paused, and chuckled lightly.

"Looks like I'm ready."

Prince Ojin's heart skipped.

Ready? Ready for what?

"I Summon 'Gearfried the Iron Knight.'"

[Gearfried the Iron Knight, ATK 1800]

"Then I activate the Equip Spell 'Butterfly Dagger - Elma,' equipping it to Gearfried. The equipped monster gains 300 ATK."

Kira's voice was calm.

"I equip it to Gearfried—but Gearfried's effect destroys any Equip Cards equipped to it."

Prince Ojin: "Destroying your own Equip—what's the point?"

"However, Elma's other effect: when destroyed and sent to the GY, it returns to the hand."

Kira returned Elma to his hand.

"I see—every time it's destroyed, it comes back... But so what?" Prince Ojin asked. "It's just meaningless repetition."

"It's not meaningless."

Kira pointed to the monster he'd fetched last turn.

"Royal Magical Library: whenever a Spell is activated, place a Spell Counter on this card. Remove three counters to draw one card."

"Only one draw per three Spells—that hardly—"

Before he could finish, he realized the problem.

Wait, that's—!

"Exactly."

Kira smiled.

"Every time I activate Elma, RML gets a counter. Then Gearfried destroys Elma, Elma returns to my hand.

Then I activate Elma again, Library gains another counter..."

An infinite loop!

Prince Ojin began to sweat.

An infinite draw loop!

He forced himself to calm down, still bluffing. "Not infinite. Your Deck is finite. If you keep looping, you'll deck out and lose."

"True, but I don't need to deck out. I only need to draw the pieces I want—like now."

Kira pulled a fistful of cards from his hand, then stopped drawing, speaking mildly.

"Now, let me show you the true power of Blue-Eyes White Dragon."

Prince Ojin: "!"

The true power of Blue-Eyes!?

"Activate Quick-Play Spell 'Quick Summon.' Tribute 'Royal Magical Library' to Normal Summon—

—Catapult Turtle!"

[Catapult Turtle, ATK 1000]

A turtle shouldering an electromagnetic cannon plopped onto the field.

"Catapult Turtle: Tribute a monster to inflict damage to your opponent equal to half that monster's ATK," Kira said. "I Tribute 'Blue-Eyes White Dragon'—that's 1500 damage."

Blue-Eyes roared, mounted Catapult Turtle's back, and fired as a soul shell.

Prince Ojin shouted: "Then I activate my set Trap 'Energy-Absorbing Monolith'! Convert effect damage to LP gain!"

Blue-Eyes' selfless shot turned to energy and was absorbed into Prince Ojin.

[Prince Ojin, LP 4000 → 5500]

"This is the true power of Blue-Eyes?" Prince Ojin snorted. "Seems underwhelming."

"Is that so?"

Kira smiled.

"Then I activate the set Trap 'Soul Resurrection' to Special Summon a Normal Monster from my GY in Defense Position.

I revive Blue-Eyes White Dragon."

[Blue-Eyes White Dragon, DEF 2500]

"Catapult Turtle's effect—launch Blue-Eyes White Dragon."

Blue-Eyes mounted the cannon again; another soul shell fired.

"Ugh!"

[Prince Ojin, LP 5500 → 4000]

"Activate the Spell 'Return of the Dragon Lords'—Special Summon a Level 7 or 8 Dragon from my GY."

Kira spoke evenly.

"Revive Blue-Eyes White Dragon."

[Blue-Eyes White Dragon, ATK 3000]

"Again—load Blue-Eyes as ammunition; Catapult Turtle fires for 1500!"

Blue-Eyes loaded; Catapult Turtle fired again.

"Guh!"

[Prince Ojin, LP 4000 → 2500]

The prince's face was turning pale.

"Y-you don't mean the true power of Blue-Eyes is...!?"

"That's right."

Kira smiled.

"Blue-Eyes is the highest-ATK Normal Monster, and it's a Dragon. Guess how many Blue-Eyes revival cards are in the half-Deck I just drew?"

Prince Ojin: "..."

"Activate the Spell 'Swing of Memories' to revive a Normal Monster; it's destroyed during the End Phase.

I revive Blue-Eyes White Dragon."

[Blue-Eyes White Dragon, ATK 3000]

"Catapult Turtle fires."

Prince Ojin: "Uwooo!"

[Prince Ojin, LP 2500 → 1000]

"Activate the Spell 'Silent Doom' to Special Summon a Normal Monster from my GY in Defense Position," Kira said. "Special Summon 'Blue-Eyes White Dragon.'"

[Blue-Eyes White Dragon, DEF 2500]

"Catapult Turtle," Kira waved lazily, "launch Blue-Eyes."

Blue-Eyes hopped onto the launcher again, now quite practiced.

Prince Ojin: "..."

[Prince Ojin, LP 1000 → 0]

Chapter 693: What Is Respect

"Your Highness!"

The woman in pink who had accompanied Prince Ojin rushed forward to help him up.

But the prince waved her off. He took a deep breath and stared meaningfully at Kira for a long moment.

At last he squeezed out one word.

"Incredible."

Several seconds later, he added:

"I'm impressed."

How could he not be?

The legendary Blue-Eyes White Dragon—the symbol of power in the dueling world, Seto Kaiba's most trusted blade—had been bent into... this.

Before today, no one in the dueling world would've imagined Blue-Eyes appearing this way—endlessly reviving and diving, launched over and over on Catapult Turtle's railgun, chipping away at the opponent's LP and sanity alike.

Prince Ojin's entourage was dumbfounded. It seemed Misgarth was a forthright nation—a fact reflected in how their ruler and dueling representative so revered aggressive OTKs.

But these straightforward Misgarth folks had barely set foot on Duel Academy soil before witnessing the outside world's treachery. After years of honing satellite OTKs, Prince Ojin never imagined that duelists beyond his borders could be this... dirty.

"Well... that's Kira for you."

Of all people, Misawa knew Kira best. He struggled for a long time, then finally spoke.

"It's just that Blue-Eyes... uh..."

He shook his head. No comment.

To turn Blue-Eyes into a shut-in strategy—it's peak Lord-in-Yellow. Sometimes a duelist's style isn't dictated by the deck.

And lately, even the academy's poster boy for flashy OTKs—Cyber Dragon—seemed to be shifting in tone. Even Kaiser, the Cyber archetype's standard-bearer, had somehow taken on a darker hue...

Still, correspondingly, Kaiser's reputation in the pro scene was surging. After ending rookie king Aster Phoenix's 30-win streak, Kaiser kept steamrolling opponents with crushing dominance.

And Zane's style was now unpredictable. Saying he'd gone dark didn't mean he'd abandoned everything he'd built.

Sometimes he'd open with three or four set back row and pass without summoning. Other times he'd suddenly go old-school: Power Bond plus three Cyber Dragons, Cyber End Dragon at 8000 ATK pierces for lethal in one breath.

Sometimes Chimeratech Overdragon wipes the back row and triple swings for a kill; sometimes Chimeratech Fortress Dragon tilts the opponent into oblivion...

In an interview, Zane thanked someone at Duel Academy—calling him the most important benefactor of his life besides his first teacher.

Zane said he understood now.

He seeks victory, and respects his opponents. He's moved beyond chasing victory alone. He realized that respecting your opponent and pursuing victory are not in conflict.

Respecting your opponent means respecting all of their possibilities. Gathering data in advance, thinking through tactics, tailoring the best plan for that opponent—isn't that respect?

If I open five set back row and trap you so hard you can't play a single card—your ace never even hits the field—doesn't that prove how much I respect your ace, that I must prevent it at all costs?

What's respect? This is respect.

Seeing Kaiser—the academy's former paragon of fair play—fall to darkness, then watching Kira's Blue-Eyes Catapult Cannon today, Misawa finally understood.

Some people duel "dirty" not because of their cards, but because their minds are twisted. The deck is incidental.

Ahem, no one in particular—just sharing his insights.

"Prince Ojin?"

Kira stepped forward.

The prince waved his hand and exhaled, standing up.

"In Misgarth, I had no rivals. I thought my satellite OTK had no weaknesses—enough to stand against the world's best... It seems I was a frog at the bottom of a well."

"No, you're already very strong," Kira said sincerely.

In truth, Prince Ojin's deck wasn't a scientifically tuned OTK, but his dueling was famous for OTKs—same as early Kaiser: relying on godly opening hands every time.

Frankly, if you can consistently go first and make a 4000-ATK beater plus Time Goddess on Turn 1, who cares if your list is "optimal?" That's fate-power territory. Calling him top-tier isn't an exaggeration.

In the anime, Prince Ojin's losses were basically to greater fate power.

Sartorius manifested a zero-turn kill—without destiny hacks, that's pure plot armor.

Jaden beat him partly thanks to protagonist-level draws, but more importantly, Jaden went first and Ojin went second.

Otherwise, at that time Jaden didn't even have a hand trap like Kuriboh to block from hand on Turn 1. If he didn't win the die roll, avoiding an OTK would've required printing a new card out of thin air—well, he might've done that too.

Losing once to the protagonist and once to the big bad—he can't complain. For most opponents, this OTK is a brick wall. So calling him Misgarth's strongest has credibility—more than those "top-ranked pros" who duel like jobbers.

Kira glanced at the prince's attendants and noticed a case in one attendant's hands.

A finely crafted metal briefcase—looked custom explosion-proof, with a complex combination lock.

"Let me guess."

Kira looked at the case.

"Inside that is the key to the ultimate weapon 'SORA,' right?"

At that, nearby students paled.

SORA—the weapon of mass destruction from the news?

"SO...RA's key?" Even Misawa couldn't help blurting out.

Is it really okay to carry something like that around?

Prince Ojin was surprised that Kira even knew this, but he nodded, frank. "Yes."

If he was carrying it openly in such a conspicuous case, he clearly didn't consider it much of a secret.

"It's safest with me."

"I think so too."

Kira nodded, then spoke softly.

"But I've received intel—some ill-intentioned people may be targeting it. And those people, well... let's say they might be a bit difficult to deal with."

Prince Ojin frowned.

Before, he might have boasted: let them come, and taste my Satellite Cannon.

But now, having been defeated a minute ago, if this man said the enemy was tough, he had the authority to say so.

"Don't worry, Your Highness. I already have a plan."

Kira smiled slightly.

"I just need your cooperation."

Chapter 694: Good News

Sartorius slowly opened his eyes.

"Sarina," he said. "I hope it's good news this time."

He looked up and saw two round mirrors hanging in midair. Light flickered across their surfaces, and then the face of his younger sister, Sarina, appeared.

"It is," Sarina said. "But it may not be the kind you want."

She paused, then spoke before Sartorius could ask more.

"Revolver issue still isn't resolved. The Knights of Hanoi has been active lately, disrupting the Society's operations from multiple angles and causing significant impact."

Sartorius frowned, visibly irritable.

Sarina, Aster, everyone in the Society—it felt like, all of a sudden, no one around him was reliable and everything was working against him.

It made him uncomfortable. Ever since he possessed Sartorius, everything had gone his way, as if fate had always stood behind him.

But now, it was as if fate had gone elsewhere, standing with someone else, opposing him.

"So what's the good news?" Sartorius asked.

"The Prince you told me to watch," Sarina said. "My people have made contact. He's very interested in the 'Ultimate D' cards.

I told him you're someone connected to the 'Ultimate D' cards. He's agreed to meet you, and he's willing to communicate through a duel."

Sartorius's eyes lit up.

Finally, some good news.

Just like in the original anime, the ultimate satellite weapon "SORA" recently developed by the once-proud nation of Misgarth—ruled by Prince Ojin—had been targeted by Sartorius—or rather, by the Light of Destruction.

The fragment of the Light of Destruction inhabiting Sartorius's body didn't have the world-ending power of Zorc the Dark One or the Orichalcos's parasite serpent. It was merely a shard of a light that occasionally visited Earth—far from strong enough.

So the plan was to use the satellite SORA.

Relying on the Light of Destruction's mind-control property: as long as it wins a duel, the opponent's fate becomes a puppet under its control. Sartorius just had to take command of the person with launch authority for the SORA satellite, then he could use it to inflict devastating strikes on humanity, fulfilling the Light's "purify all" nature.

Yes, the Light of Destruction chose the most primitive and brutal method: physical "purification."

Obviously, the Prince Ojin was the key. Defeat him, brainwash him with the Light, seize the two keys needed to activate SORA, and the plan would succeed.

"Where is he?" Sartorius asked.

"He went to Duel Academy for the GX tournament," Sarina said. "As a national dignitary, the Prince Ojin has been given a standalone suite. Conveniently, there shouldn't be anyone to interfere—ideal for you to act.

I've already arranged things with them."

"Excellent, Sarina. You've done well."

Sartorius nodded in satisfaction and stood, predatory light flashing in his eyes.

"Then let me see with my own eyes whether this human prince truly has the strength to wield such a dangerous weapon."

…

That night, Sartorius personally arrived at Duel Academy.

Disembarking from the ship and stepping onto the pier, he raised his head toward the dark silhouette of the forested hills and the distant lights of buildings, falling silent for a moment.

At last, he had come to Duel Academy.

His divinations had shown this place as the land of destiny. His arrangements on Earth, the continuation of his fate—no matter how many readings he performed, they all pointed to this academy. Yet the outcome of the battle seemed shrouded in mist; no matter how many times he tried, he couldn't see through it.

That was normal. Divining for oneself was inevitably tinged with bias. Even he couldn't see his own future—only others'.

But it didn't matter. Even without foresight, Sartorius had absolute confidence in his own strength.

Not to mention, the deck he used possessed the absolute power to manipulate fate: "Arcana Force." Based on the tarot, each monster would randomly enter the field in "Right Side Up" or "Upside Down" position upon being summoned.

And with his absolute power over destiny, he could freely control that supposedly random outcome—Right Side Up or Upside Down—as easily as choosing heads or tails on a coin. It was proof that fate still stood with him.

Sartorius smiled dangerously.

After today, once he defeated the Prince Ojin and brought him under his control, the plan would be more than half complete.

This planet was destined to become an appendage of the Light.

Sartorius passed through the dense woods, heading for the coordinates Sarina had given him.

Though it was night, Duel Academy was unexpectedly lively. As Sartorius walked through the trees, he frequently heard booming explosions, saw bursts of fire shoot up among the trunks, and caught the sound of shouting and cursing.

It sounded like a lot of people were dueling.

"The GX tournament, huh…"

Sartorius muttered.

He had actually considered targeting this tournament as a good opportunity to infiltrate Duel Academy—sending Society members imbued with shards of the Light to proselytize through duels and gain more followers.

He shook his head.

It should have been a good idea. But now it was just a thought.

Ever since he sent in Lorenzo to infiltrate, only for some random woman off the street to stomp him so hard he couldn't function, Sartorius felt this academy ran deep.

He sensed as if the entire school were shrouded in an invisible darkness—a darkness that even his supreme cosmic Light could not penetrate. His intuition told him that sending more Society members would make no difference.

Well, none of it mattered now. As long as he obtained the keys to SORA—

With that thought, he had already arrived at the Prince's detached residence.

This matter was too important, and the person too critical, for Sartorius to trust anyone else. He had to act personally to bring the Prince Ojin to heel.

No one stood outside.

Sartorius frowned, puzzled. He had expected the prince to at least have guards at the door.

He put a hand to the door and gave a gentle push. It creaked open.

Not even locked. Even stranger.

Sartorius stepped inside.

"Your Highness?"

He called out.

"It's me, Sartorius. I have an appointment."

No reply. His voice echoed down the empty hallway.

The whole house was deathly silent, the only light coming from the living room, spilling into the corridor.

A strange premonition stirred in Sartorius's heart.

Even so, he followed the light and entered the living room.

There, in the center, sat a chair facing away from him. As if hearing his approach, the chair slowly turned.

Sartorius saw the person sitting there with legs crossed, and his pupils shrank.

Fujiki Kira?

Chapter 695: VS Sartorius

"Fujiki… Kira!?"

Sartorius's pupils contracted as he stared in surprise at the figure in the chair.

"It's me," Kira said.

"The Duel King?"

"A hollow title, hardly worth mentioning," Kira replied modestly.

Sartorius: "…"

This was a major reason he'd altered his plan and avoided Duel Academy all this time.

Not that he feared the Duel King. A "king" is only a king of this planet. His true self was the Light of Destruction from the depths of the cosmos—he naturally saw himself as superior.

He didn't avoid the Duel King out of fear.

He simply wasn't ready to fight yet.

In short: the time wasn't right, and he wasn't prepared.

But fate loved to play tricks. Before he was ready, all of a sudden, like turning a corner, they unexpectedly crossed paths, face to face, within a few steps.

Seeing Sartorius's startled expression, Kira found it amusing and smiled. "I heard Mr. Sartorius can calculate all under heaven and grasp the fate of all things. I thought you would have foreseen this meeting too."

Sartorius's face darkened. He didn't answer that, but said instead, "If I recall, this should be the residence of Prince Ojin. I came to see the prince."

He paused, then asked, "Mr. Kira, are you also here to see His Highness? If so, I'll take my leave and come back another day—"

Kira chuckled. Trying to run at the first sign of trouble?

Before he could speak, a woman's voice came from the darkness.

"Forget it, big brother, no need to act."

Hearing the familiar voice, Sartorius's heart jolted. He looked past Kira. From the shadows stepped a beautiful woman in a kimono, black hair like a waterfall—who else could it be but his sister?

But at this moment, Sarina was standing behind Kira, making it clear she was taking a stand with him against Sartorius.

Sartorius narrowed his eyes. "Sarina, what are you doing?"

"Big brother… or rather, the evil will parasitizing my brother's body," Sarina said coldly. "Your days of doing as you please in his body are over."

Sartorius's face went grim. "So you betrayed me, Sarina?"

"Betrayed? I saw through your true identity long ago. I've only been waiting for the right moment."

"And you think the time has come now? Just because of him? This guy?"

Sartorius glanced at Kira and sneered.

"This so-called Duel King—you think he can defeat me?"

"Don't be ridiculous!"

Sartorius roared, his facial expression twisting, muscles contorting to an inhuman degree, producing a terrifying, grotesque visage.

Even Sarina took a step back, frightened. She had been with her brother since childhood, but it was the first time she'd seen such a horrifying expression on his face, and she couldn't help feeling tense.

Kira remained calm. First, he'd already seen "darkened"—or rather "whitened"—Sartorius's face like this in the original story, so it was no surprise.

Second, grotesque mugging was a time-honored tradition for Yu-Gi-Oh! bosses.

"Duel King? A mere human? Dreaming of stopping the wheels of fate like a mantis blocking a chariot?"

Sartorius raged.

"Don't be absurd. Even a king is only a king among humans—countless ants jerked around by the strings of fate. Since you're so eager to die, fine…"

He strapped on his Duel Disk and snapped:

"I'll crush you here, eliminate the biggest obstacle first, then deal with the Prince Ojin and take the keys."

Sartorius narrowed his eyes.

"Tonight… the symphony of destiny reaches its finale!"

"Duel!" x2

[Kira, LP 4000]

[Sartorius, LP 4000]

"I'll go first. Draw!"

Sartorius glanced at his opening hand and quickly chose a card.

"I summon 'Arcana Force VII - The Chariot'!"

Summoning light rippled across the field like waves. The tarot Chariot emerged from the golden glow: a black chariot bristling with mechanical tentacles, a ring of eerie eyes encircling it, cannon-like barrels on the foremost limbs.

[Arcana Force VII - The Chariot, ATK 1700]

"When an Arcana Force monster is summoned, its card spins at random. Depending on Head or Tail, it gains different effects."

Sartorius raised his arm. The monster's own card image appeared above the Chariot's head and began to rotate.

"Like the turning of fate's gear—perfectly suited to me as I am now!" Sartorius shouted. "And though it seems random, fate has already decided!

STOP!"

The rotating card halted—Head.

"With that, 'Arcana Force – The Chariot' gains its Head effect!" Sartorius laughed. "As for what exactly it does… heh, I'll let the 'King' discover it slowly."

"Be careful," Sarina warned from the side.

"This 'Arcana Force' deck is a manifestation of the power my brother gained from the evil Light, fused with his own psychic ability—perfectly matched to him. Even I don't fully understand it—"

"It's fine," Kira said with a smile, unconcerned.

You don't know it, but I do.

"So that's the King's confidence? Let's see how long it lasts."

Sartorius sneered and set another card.

"I set one in the back row. Turn end."

"My turn. Draw."

Kira drew. Before he could act, Sartorius cut in.

"I activate my set card! Continuous Trap—'Tour of Doom'!"

A hooded reaper wielding a scythe appeared on the field, dark fog billowing around it.

The trap card, like Arcana Force, hovered over Sartorius's field, spinning.

"Another fate-manipulating card?"

Sarina said.

"Exactly! Tour of Doom, like Arcana Force, is the embodiment of destiny! And for me now, my fate is unstoppable!

STOP!"

At his command, the trap stopped.

Head again.

Sartorius threw his head back and laughed.

"Tour of Doom's effect: during the opponent's Standby Phase each turn, it must spin, and depending on Head or Tail, it gains different effects.

Head means your opponent cannot Normal Summon, Special Summon, or Flip Summon this turn!" (anime effect)

In the printed card, a similar effect was retained but slightly nerfed: even if Tour of Doom landed Head, the opponent could not Normal or Flip Summon, but Special Summons weren't restricted.

The anime version also blocked Special Summons; the suppression level isn't even in the same league.

"Can't perform any kind of monster summon!?"

Sarina's face changed.

Wasn't that basically sealing off the most basic actions right from the start?