Yugioh [718-721] (Patreon)

Chapter 718: First Time Seeing Someone So Cooperative

Quaking Mirror Force!

A derivative trap of Holy Shield; the arena instantly turned into flying sand and rolling stones. Golden sand whipped into a storm, converging into something like Holy Shield's reflective barrier—only it was built from a whirling maelstrom of dust.

It didn't destroy so much as blanket the entire enemy field.

But even after stepping into such a deadly trap, Hayato Kuroda didn't panic. Instead, the corner of his mouth hooked up in a "just-as-planned" smile.

Heh, knew there'd be a pitfall. He knew it.

"Activate set card, trap: Trap Stun!"

Hayato barked.

"For this turn, all traps on the field except this card are negated!"

A specialized counter-trap: the moment it activated, an invisible force covered the arena, forming a field that forbade traps. The vortex of yellow sand collapsed at once, shattered by that blow.

"Ha ha ha! You think I don't know your love of traps?" Hayato laughed. "This is the perfect way to deal with you, Duel King!

Without traps, your fighting power drops sharply!

Beetron-1 Beetletop, keep attacking!"

Kira's set monster flipped up: a bespectacled girl clutching a book. Seeing the attack coming, she hurriedly raised the book to block, but to no avail. The beetle tore the book apart and slammed her to the ground. She groaned; her image fragmented.

[Learning Elf, DEF 1500]

"The monster you just destroyed is 'Learning Elf,'" Kira said. "When it's sent to the GY, I draw 1 card."

"But now your field is empty," Hayato shouted, "and my beetle assault isn't finished—"

"Don't rush. Activate set card, trap: Time Machine," Kira said. "Return a monster destroyed by battle to the field in the same battle position."

A bizarre machine appeared, exuding black smoke that seemed to twist space-time within it.

"So I'll revive the monster that was destroyed from my GY."

Kira retrieved the card just sent to the GY and slammed it back onto the field. The bespectacled Elf crouched back into defense.

"Special Summon 'Learning Elf'!"

[Learning Elf, DEF 1500]

"Tch. Beetron-2 Beetleturbo's ATK equals Learning Elf's DEF; the battle won't resolve. Attack canceled," Hayato snorted.

"Activate Spell Card: Magic Planter. By sending a Continuous Spell on the field to the GY, draw 2 cards.

"I send the Continuous Spell 'Frontline Base' to the GY and draw 2!"

Frontline Base burst into golden motes; Hayato drew two new cards.

"And just as you wish… fuse my three beetles into their final form!"

Hayato raised his arm and shouted:

"By banishing the assembled three beetles on the field, I can perform a direct combination summon. Come forth, the assault beetle armor whose unmatched firepower crushes all obstacles—

—Assault Cannon Beetle, Combination Summon!"

At his command, the three beetles transformed, magnetically drawing together. With the grind of metal, they combined: a red spider-legged base, a black iron beetle body, and a stag-beetle pincer tail.

[Assault Cannon Beetle, ATK 2400]

"Whoa, looks like a tough guy," Kira said.

"You'll find out how tough soon enough. Turn end," Hayato huffed.

"My turn, draw."

He first played a Spell.

"Activate Equip Spell 'Wonder Wand,' equip to a Spellcaster. Equipped monster gains 500 ATK.

I equip Wonder Wand to 'Learning Elf.'"

[Learning Elf, ATK 1400 → 1900]

Hayato: "Even with the boost, you're nowhere near Assault Cannon Beetle's power."

"I know. So I'll use Wonder Wand's second effect: send the equipped monster and this card to the GY to draw 2 cards."

Kira drew two, paused.

"Then Learning Elf's effect: when sent to the GY, I draw 1 more card."

Hayato: "Refilled three cards at once."

Kira calmly picked three from his hand.

"I set one monster and two backrow. Turn end."

Hayato frowned.

Still not attacking?

So he has no way yet to punch through my Assault Cannon Beetle.

But in any case—
"My turn, draw!"

He glanced at the draw and played it straight away.

"Activate Spell Card 'Card Destruction.' Both players discard their entire hands, then draw the same number."

But Kira, who'd been unruffled until now, looked momentarily stunned when he saw that card.

Then the surprise turned to amusement, as if he could barely keep from laughing.

Hayato: "?"

It's just Card Destruction—everyone runs it. What's so funny?

"Hahaha… Sorry, it's just…"

Kira chuckled.

"I was just thinking, I've pulled this combo quite a few times already. It's worked a fair bit… but this is the first time the opponent proactively cooperated to complete it."

Hayato: "?"

The hell?

He didn't get it, but the more he listened the more anxious he felt.

"This is it."

Kira snapped his fingers with a smile.

"Activate set card, trap: W Nebula Meteorite. Flip all face-down monsters on the field into face-up Defense Position."

"Face-down on the field?" Hayato said. "There's only your one—"

"Correct. And that monster is…"

Kira flipped the card.

"Protector of the Sanctuary."

[Protector of the Sanctuary, DEF 1900]

"While Protector of the Sanctuary is face-up on the field, your opponent cannot draw cards except during the Draw Phase," Kira said.

Hayato thought quickly.

Wait, let me piece this together.

Opponent can't draw outside the Draw Phase.

Card Destruction: both players discard entire hands, then draw the same number.

So I discard my entire hand… then I can't draw…
Hayato: "!!!!!!"

Huh?

"Looks like you noticed. Yes. You activated Card Destruction, but after you discard your hand, due to Protector of the Sanctuary, you cannot draw," Kira said.

"I, however, resolve Card Destruction, discard my entire hand, then draw the same number."

Kira discarded and redrew.

He even gave his opponent a polite smile after.

"Thanks."

Hayato: "…"

Chapter 719: Gifting You the Incarnation of Light

Right now Hayato Kuroda felt as if life had just done him dirty.

How many times had he played Card Destruction in his dueling career?
Fifty? A hundred?

He couldn't remember.

And he was certain he wasn't the only frequent user. As a non-rare staple shown later in Yugi Muto's deck during Duelist Kingdom era coverage, this card had enjoyed hefty adoption for years. Plenty of people used it.

So everyone runs it. Opening hand bad? Card Destruction. Want to fill the GY? Card Destruction. Why has nothing ever gone wrong for anyone else?
Why did mine blow up everything?

Kira nearly burst out laughing.

"Honestly, I've run this deck a long time, but someone as enthusiastic as you, charging headfirst into the trap on your own? That's a first."

Protector of the Sanctuary plus Card Destruction can nuke the opponent's entire hand in one go and immediately strip any ability to play—practically revoking their license to play Yu-Gi-Oh.

But it's not easy to assemble: while Protector of the Sanctuary is face-up, "opponent can't draw" means Card Destruction can't be activated. You have to activate Card Destruction first, then chain a separate effect to bring Protector of the Sanctuary onto the field before resolution.

So to pull this off with perfect "cooperation" from both sides… talk about bad luck.

"But anyway, don't you Society of Light folks say everything is fate? Every draw and every outcome preordained?"

Kira grinned.

"So are you telling me that the great Light fated you to blow up your own hand this turn?"

Hayato: "…"

He twitched, glared, and couldn't find words.

Soon he snorted heavily.

"Of course, everything is the best arrangement of fate. Even if you destroyed my hand, I still have 'Assault Cannon Beetle' on the field."

I still have the advantage!

"Assault Cannon Beetle, attack!" Hayato roared. "Crush Protector of the Sanctuary!"

Assault Cannon Beetle charged, as if carrying its master's fury.

"On your attack declaration, activate the GY effect of 'Kuribohrn,'" Kira said. "If it's in the GY when the opponent declares an attack, I can banish it to Special Summon any number of 'Kuriboh' from my GY."

"Kuriboh?" Hayato frowned.

"Special Summon 'Winged Kuriboh' and 'Kuriboh' from the GY."

[Winged Kuriboh, DEF 200]

[Kuriboh, DEF 200]

Seeing the fluffy balls fly out, Hayato furrowed his brow: "Cards you dumped off Card Destruction, huh."

But with 200 DEF walls, he wasn't too concerned.

Protector of the Sanctuary was cleaved and shattered into glittering fragments.

Breaking it now was more catharsis than utility—he had no hand anyway.

And besides attacking, he had nothing else he could do, since—again—no hand.

"My turn, draw."

Kira glanced at the card, smiled mysteriously.

"Since you're so devoted to the Light guiding your fate, let me show you this instead—the incarnation of your so-called Light!
I discard two cards to Special Summon the avatar of Light of Destruction—

—Candelato, the Beast of Light!!!"

Hayato: "???"

As the pillar of light crashed down and that mighty form emerged, Hayato's eyes went wide.

He could feel it. His soul, "purified by light," sensed it—the opponent wasn't lying.

This was the very incarnation of the Light that guided their fate!

[Candelato, the Beast of Light, ATK ?]

It was, of course, that alien's card Jaden had defeated before. After the alien was beaten, the deck was confiscated and studied by KaibaCorp. With sufficient data and testing, it eventually found its way to Kira.

By now it no longer housed Light of Destruction, just a faint residue. But since the monster itself was something not of Earth, a crystallization of that Light's power, a Light believer like Hayato was naturally shaken.

"H-how do you have a card like that!?"

He stared at Kira, an absurd thought bubbling up.

Could it be… the Duel King is one of us?

"Big reaction?" Kira smiled. "If you like it that much, I'll give it to you.

Activate Spell 'Creature Swap.' Each player chooses a monster they control; swap control."

Hayato froze.

What?

He's being this nice—handing over the glorious incarnation of Light…
He grew more suspicious.

Is he really one of us?

"Of course, you only have 'Assault Cannon Beetle,'" Kira said. "So that's your only choice. I'll give you 'Candelato, the Beast of Light.' Use it well."

The monsters swapped; Candelato went to Hayato, Assault Cannon Beetle to Kira.

"Oh right, forgot to mention," Kira squinted. "Candelato's ATK equals the controller's hand size x 1000.

Your hand size is 0. So Candelato's ATK is…"

[Candelato, the Beast of Light, ATK 0]

Hayato: "…"

He instantly realized how naïve he'd been to suspect the man might be "nice"…

"Gifting me a 0 ATK target?" Hayato said darkly.

"Is it, though?"

Kira smiled.

"Your Assault Cannon Beetle is quite the monster. You just don't seem to know how to use it. Let me demonstrate."

Snap.

"Assault Cannon Beetle, activate effect: tribute 1 monster you control; inflict 800 damage to the opponent.

I tribute 'Winged Kuriboh'—800 damage."

[Hayato, LP 4000 → 3200]

"Pathetic," Hayato grunted. "Only that much—"

"Next, tribute 'Kuriboh.' 800 damage."

[Hayato, LP 3200 → 2400]

Hayato's face went black. He said nothing.

That's the terror of Assault Cannon Beetle. At first glance, tributing a monster for only 800 damage looks weak—but the key is, it doesn't say "once per turn."

Across Yu-Gi-Oh history, any effect that tributes monsters to deal damage—whether 800 or a measly 100—tends to be heinous, made for the banlist waiting room.

Only two shots in, and Hayato was already at a dangerous 2400—exactly within his own beetle's kill range.

Kira had swapped away his beetle, gifting him a 0-ATK Gandora instead. If an attack went through, his fate would be sealed.

"Assault Cannon Beetle, attack 'Candelato, the Beast of Light.'"

"Not so fast!" Hayato shouted. "Counter Trap: Negate Attack! Negate that monster's attack and end the Battle Phase!"

It was a card he'd set on turn one.

But this was the first time Kira had gone on the offensive, so the first chance to use it.

"Fine," Kira said. "Turn end."

Hayato's turn. He took a deep breath, calming himself.

Stay cool.

As a member of the Society of Light, the most important thing is to always believe everything is arranged for the best. The Light has laid the path to victory. No matter what happens, remain composed.

Trust that the next draw will reveal the road to victory.

"My turn, draw!"

"Sorry, no," Kira smiled. "Candelato's other effect: while it's on the field, its controller cannot draw during the Draw Phase."

Hayato froze mid-motion.

Huh?
Can't draw?

He stared at the Light of Destruction's exalted avatar on his field. The dragon stared back, both heads blinking innocently.

Seconds ticked by.

Then he exploded.

No draw? What kind of self-nerfing abomination is this?

Why does this thing exist?

Candelato looked down at him—both heads lowered—blink blink, all innocence.

But Hayato had snapped. The awe he'd felt at sensing the Light's power evaporated, leaving one thought—

—Screw your destiny of Light.

Light of Destruction? What a joke!
Why would the Light's power incarnate into something so stupid?

His hand was gone by his own doing, now he couldn't draw, and he could do literally nothing.

All he could do was switch the stupid dragon to defense and wait to die.

Unless the opponent was kind enough to kill it for him in DEF.

But of course, Kira wasn't that kind.

"My turn, draw," Kira said casually. "Normal Summon 'Clear Kuriboh.'

Activate Assault Cannon Beetle: tribute Clear Kuriboh, 800 damage."

[Hayato, LP 2400 → 1600]

"Turn end."

Kira made a little "after you" gesture.

"Your turn again. You still can't draw. Please proceed."

Hayato: "…"

He still had LP left, but he knew.

He was already dead.

Chapter 720: Light of Destruction Is Wasting My Youth

For Hayato Kuroda, this wasn't just a loss.

No, it wasn't even a normal duel—it was an execution, a scourging of his soul. He felt shackled, his worldview and faith rattled like never before.

First, that damned Card Destruction. If not for that, nothing after would've happened. He wouldn't be empty-handed. He wouldn't have become a clown the instant that idiotic Candelato got shoved onto his field—just staring blankly while the opponent got to play Yu-Gi-Oh and he AFK'd…
Oh, and the thing that tortured him with 800 burn per turn, slicing him to death—was his own monster: Assault Cannon Beetle.

As the opponent put it, he didn't even understand how to use his own card.

Kira really did think that.

What's Assault Cannon Beetle's effect? Tribute a monster to deal 800, no once-per-turn. Historically, classics like Cannon Soldier and Catapult Turtle are notorious—none of them are "nice."

Sure, this beetle's summoning condition is more cumbersome—a Union three-way combine—tougher to get out than the other two. But the effect itself is loaded with potential.

Such a potent monster, reduced by Hayato to a 2400-ATK vanilla, like a Red-Eyes Black Dragon with no armor. He truly didn't understand his own card.

No wonder he had an existential crisis after.

As a Society of Light member, he was supposed to be favored by fate, whiter-luck than 99% of the world. Yet everyone else plays Card Destruction with no drama, and his explodes? That's "lucky"?

Where's the goddess of fate? A little help? AFK?

And that stupid Candelato… He was certain he felt Light from it—should be their monster, a crystallization of their power.

So why is the Light's incarnate so stupid!?

That "controller cannot draw" clause—this isn't a "mole," it's a declared enemy agent from the moment it hits the field, no?

Light of Destruction? This thing that will "guide the cosmos to the correct path"? Guide who?

Spare me.

Oh, and by the way, the traitor bug that got turned and used to torture him to death—was also a "gift" from the Society…

Hayato learned a bloody lesson.

"Guidance of fate," "Light of the cosmos"—all crap. Their cards are a pit of traps, useless against darkness, only good for getting you tortured.

Light of Destruction? Wasting my youth.

"How is it?"

Kira looked at the kneeling, slumped Hayato and asked.

"How do you feel?"

Hayato slowly raised his head, gave Kira a complicated look, took a long breath, and exhaled.

"Thank you, Mr. Kira. I'm awake now."

He stood, patted the dust from his legs.

"That blasted Light cult hijacked my soul and brainwashed me with that cosmic-emptiness nonsense.

But thanks to you, Mr. Kira, I'm clear-headed now."

Kira smiled and nodded.

He'd sensed it post-duel anyway—that the man seemed freed from the Light's influence.

In the anime, the Society of Light brainwashed via dueling; those who lost received the "Light's baptism," gained its power, and became Sartorius's zealots.

Conversely, members who lost to Jaden often recovered, with Chazz as a prime example.

It didn't always require a win per se; with Chazz, Jaden used the Ojama trio that Chazz had discarded during his "whitened" period to awaken his original personality's memories.

Sartorius claimed Jaden had mysterious power—one of the few who could defy his prophecies of fate. Also, Jaden carried the power of the "The Gentle Darkness," linked to the universe's dark waves, naturally opposing Sartorius's Light.

Kira achieved a similar effect—freeing a cadre member—but by a different process and principle.

Now Hayato wasn't just freed; he was considering quitting dueling altogether. After today, he seriously wondered if he was cut out for it—maybe retire after this match…

"The King's duel is utterly convincing," Hayato said meaningfully.

"Just lucky."

Kira smiled lightly.

"Today you were under cult control. It wasn't you. If we get the chance, let's duel again—and next time, I hope it's the real you."

Standard dueling pleasantry—didn't mean they'd actually fight again.

But hearing it, Hayato shivered, hair on end, and waved frantically.

"No, no, the King's dueling is number one in the world. I've experienced enough today. No need for another—ha… ha ha…"

As if. He got thrashed even with cult buffs. Next time with no buffs… he'd go mad.

Hayato quickly changed the subject.

"But this isn't over, Mr. Kira," he said seriously. "You may have beaten me, but I'm just a flunky. The Society sent a large force. Their purpose is unclear, but many members came.

I know you're strong, but you're only one person. With such numbers, you can't deal with them one by one. In fact, while we dueled, others surely found students to duel.

Who knows how many Academy students have been converted already…"

He shook his head.

"So their numbers will only grow. For every one you handle, more appear in the meantime. No matter how strong you are, you can't—"

"When did I ever say I'd do it alone?" Kira asked.

"Eh?"

Hayato blinked.

"How much do you remember from your time under control?" Kira asked. "The Society members who came to the Academy—who are they? Do you remember?"

Hayato thought.

"It's getting fuzzy now. Even the names of the ones I knew best are hard to recall…"

Normal. Those freed from the Society usually lose memories from under its control.

"But I was the field lead on this operation. I have a list," Hayato said. "If you want it—"

"Of course."

Kira smiled.

"Your assistance is much appreciated. This is critical."

Chapter 721: You Were Still Being Conservative

With the GX tournament officially underway, Duel Academy was plunged into a storm of battles.

Pros from the circuit, top talents invited by the Chancellor from around the world, even a little prince, plus the entire student bodies of the main and branch campuses.

The sharpest conflict now might be between the Academy students and the Society of Light.

The Society dispatched a large elite force. Their goal unknown, but they seemed intent on "converting" the Academy en masse via dueling—turning it white.

They arrived full of spirit, confident, sure of victory. They were the Light of the cosmos, favored by fate, bearing a mission to spread that Light to this filthy, dark Academy.

But when they stepped onto the Academy's grand stage, ready to shine…

…what awaited them was a darkness so deep even cosmic Light couldn't reach it.

Case in point: a certain member of the Society.

He was dumbfounded when he met his first Academy student—wondering if he'd found the wrong person.

The "student" was disheveled, hair wild, torso bare with beast-like muscles, wearing nothing but Hulk-style shorts…
Yet he kept claiming he was an Obelisk Blue student, leaving the Society member perplexed.

Are Academy students this feral now? Even mountain wildmen can enroll?

The "wildman" was Obelisk Blue's Damon, who had gone to the mountains to hone his "top-decking."

Since his loss to Kira, Damon had become more normal and returned to campus. But the mountain days left a mark.

Most notably: he'd developed the "must strip before dueling" condition.

He said clothes felt uncomfortable and interfered with his communion-with-heaven top-deck technique; he had to strip to perform at peak.

If not for the optics, he wouldn't even wear the shorts…

Damon: "After the King's guidance, I've shed my old self and ascended to a new realm!"

Society member: "Arrogant fool! Witness the vastness of cosmic Light!"

"Duel!" x2
"This is my newest, perfect deck crafted under the King's guidance! Behold!
My turn, draw!"

Damon declared.

"Activate Spell 'Card Destruction'—both players discard their entire hands and draw the same number!"

The Society member laughed: "Opening with a hand-fixer? Your 'perfect' deck bricks that hard?"

Damon: "Chain Quick-Play 'Quick Summon'—Normal Summon a monster from my hand. I Normal Summon 'Protector of the Sanctuary'!
While Protector of the Sanctuary is on the field, the opponent cannot draw from the Deck outside the Draw Phase!
So with Card Destruction, we both discard our entire hands; then I draw three cards and you draw none!"

The Society member's grin froze.

Nani!?

"…"

Meanwhile, elsewhere—

Yellow dorm student Yamamoto Yuuichi—now famed as "the first to thrash by the King after enrollment"—stepped up to another Society member.

"Normal Summon 'Submarineroid,' then activate Field Spell 'A Legendary Ocean,' giving WATER monsters +200 ATK!"

Yamamoto shouted.

"Submarineroid direct attack!"

The Society member ate the face hit, grunting.

"Only 1000 damage. This trash will be crushed on my next turn—"

"After attacking, Submarineroid switches to DEF," Yamamoto said. "Then I activate Continuous Trap 'Gravity Bind'! Level 4 or higher monsters cannot attack!"

"Nani?" The member flinched.

Level 4+ can't attack?

Submarineroid's DEF is 1800—hard to beat with Level 3 or lower.

"Damn… But then your Submarineroid can't attack either!"

"Heh, not necessarily."

Yamamoto sneered.

"Legendary Ocean's other effect reduces all WATER monsters' Level by 1. My Submarineroid is Level 3 now!"

"Nani!?" Now the member was sweating.

So only I can't attack?

He realized this thing not only gets a field boost but also dips a level to dodge Gravity Bind.

And the Submarineroid can direct attack anyway; walls are pointless. With Gravity Bind up, he'd need to summon a Level 3 or lower with 1800+ ATK to beat it…
What the hell do I do?

After getting his face ridden repeatedly, the Society member donned the pain mask: "Uwaaaa—"

"…"

Elsewhere again—

Chazz: "Activate trap 'Ojama Trio'—Special Summon three Ojama Tokens to your field!"

"Then activate Spell 'Ground Collapse'—seal two of your Monster Zones."

"All right, now you have no Monster Zones. Your turn."

Society member: "…"

"…"

Within just the first day, the Society of Light quickly realized things were not as simple as they'd thought.

This wasn't "Duel Academy."

It was not a greenhouse of fragile students shielded from the cruel world.

It was an isolated island—a steel cage.

Inside the cage were the most dark and vicious beasts in the world!
The cage wasn't protecting the students from society; it was protecting society from them.

They even shuddered to imagine: if this cage were ever opened, and its denizens swarmed out…
The pro scene would be overturned; the dueling world would change; a bloody storm would follow.

That night, after reviewing the day's battles and the Society's members left in tatters, the school nurse, Meanae, pondered for a long time before looking at Kira.

She hesitated, then finally spoke.

"When you first named that 'Underworld Project,' honestly, I thought the name was a bit much. Exaggerated."

"Now I realize, you were actually being conservative…"