Yugioh [726-729] (Patreon)

Chapter 726: Blessing of Light

"Silent Burning!"

A sphere of magical light blasted from the staff, roaring straight toward The D.

The D. snorted heavily. "So you're attacking anyway. Hah, that's a king's confidence, I guess? The confidence that no matter what formation I set up, your power can simply steamroll it.

But it won't be that easy."

He raised his hand and shouted:

"Activate set card: Trap Card 'Mirror Force'! When an opponent's monster declares an attack, destroy all Attack Position monsters on your opponent's field!"

As his words fell, not only did power surge from the Mirror Force itself, but a shocking energy burst forth from his body as well.

Kira's brow knit slightly.

He recognized it: the power of light, and a remarkably strong light at that.

That was unexpected. In his memory, in the original storyline, the Light of Destruction had already left The D.'s body and the card "Destiny HERO – Plasma," possessing Sartorius instead.

The D. still had remnants of the Light of Destruction within him, which gave him a dark persona like Sartorius's and power beyond reason—the broadcast cut at the World Championship and the arena explosion were caused by that power—but what remained should have been minimal, not enough to worry about.

Yet now the light he felt was clearly abundant, nothing like a mere remnant after the Light of Destruction's departure.

So Kira thought a moment and asked directly, "So the Light of Destruction never left you?"

"Oh?"

The D. looked mildly surprised.

"You seem to know quite a bit, Duel King. Heh, indeed. Back then, I did gain the power of light. But afterward, the light left me for a time to seek a new host. What I had was only a remnant…"

He lowered his head, his eyes hidden again behind the glare on his lenses, but his laugh grew eerier.

"But now, I have regained the light's guidance! The light has chosen me once more, and I'm stronger than ever!"

"So it chose you again—did someone approach you and restore your light waves? Let me guess," Kira asked. "Mello, was it?"

"Well now, was it or wasn't it?"

The D. pushed his glasses and sneered.

"Worry about surviving the present crisis first.

Mirror Force's power—your entire lineup of aces is going to be wiped in one go!"

It was as if the violent light-wave within him gathered into a hemispherical shield of white light. The Silent Magician's full-powered strike slammed into that barrier and rebounded fiercely.

The rebounding white light converged midair into a massive demonic silhouette. It bared its fangs and let out an indistinct roar, claws of white light raised high, crashing down toward Kira's field like thunder.

But of course, Kira had prepared for traps.

"Activate Ryu Senshi's effect."

Kira commanded.

"As long as Ryu Senshi is on the field, by paying 1000 Life Points, negate the effect of a Trap."

[Kira, LP 4000 → LP 3000]

The D.'s face finally shifted, and his earlier doubts were resolved. "So that's it—a trap-countering method. No wonder you summoned that monster even at the cost of lowering your Attack."

"Ryu Senshi, negate the effect of 'Mirror Force.'"

At Kira's order, Ryu Senshi drew his sword. Two-handed on the hilt, he seemed to gather strength; a translucent dragon spirit wrapped around the blade, like the dragon's very soul.

With a single slash, the dragon spirit shot forth like an arrow, straight at the shattering white light in the sky.

"An attack the strongest shield can't block—worthy of a king's strike. However…"

The D. shouted:

"Back then I stood at the world's summit, and now that I've once again been blessed by the light, I have surpassed the summit!

Activate set card: Quick-Play Spell 'Effect Shut'! When an Effect Monster's effect activates, negate that activation and destroy that monster!" (Anime card)

The second set card flipped. A beam of magical energy, like a flying arrow, shot toward the dragon soul cleaved by Ryu Senshi.

"Ryu Senshi can only negate traps, and Effect Shut is a Spell—Ryu Senshi can't counter it!"

The D. barked.

"Ryu Senshi's effect is negated by Effect Shut, Mirror Force goes through, your monsters are still all getting wiped!"

He let out a sinister, triumphant chuckle.

"What a pity. Looks like the power of light wins out after all."

"Not necessarily," Kira said. "'Silent Magician,' effect activate.

Once per turn, when a Spell Card is activated, negate that activation."

"NANI?"

Startled, The D. turned sharply toward the Silent Magician.

There's another ace?

The Silent Magician silently incanted; the raised staff gained a magical aura. A white magic circle burst from her staff toward the field.

Mirror Force's white flash, Ryu Senshi's dragon soul, Effect Shut's beam, and Silent's anti-magic—four forces converged at center field, like Kira's light and The D.'s light dismantling each other's plays.

"Ryu Senshi to defend against traps, Silent Magician to restrict spells. I see—that's the point of this formation," The D. said.

"No wonder you bear the title of King. It's a terrifying lineup. Anyone else would get OTK'd before even getting through the first turn."

Anyone else.

Kira noted the phrasing. Clearly, he meant Kira wasn't "anyone else."

In other words, even now, The D. still had a counter.

The D.'s eyes flashed. "Blessed again by the light, I will never lose to anyone! Witness the true strength of me, who has surpassed the summit! Activate set card: Counter Trap 'Vanity's Call'!"

His last set card flipped—a noble Speed 3 Counter Trap!

"'Vanity's Call' can only be activated at Chain Link 4 or higher," The D. declared. "Pay half your Life Points; negate the activations and effects of all cards in that chain, and destroy them all!"

Kira frowned slightly. "So you had this up your sleeve."

Such an unruly trap—fitting for a man blessed by the light.

Ryu Senshi can only negate Normal Traps; Counter Traps are beyond his purview.

And even if Ryu Senshi didn't specify Normal Traps only, and were like Atem's 'Sorcerer of Dark Magic' type monsters that negate any traps, unless explicitly stated, they still can't negate the noble Counter Traps.

Because even effects you can activate in the opponent's turn are Speed 2 by default, and Counter Traps are Speed 3—Speed 2 can't chain to Speed 3. So even anti-trap experts like Sorcerer of Dark Magic can't chain to Counter Traps.

The D. laughed wildly. "Destroy! Destroy them all!"

Chapter 727: Van'Dalgyon

[The D., LP 4000 → LP 2000]

"'Vanity's Call': pay half your Life Points, negate and destroy all cards in the same chain," The D. said. "Your Silent Magician and Ryu Senshi—destroy them!"

As the four forces were about to collide, the sudden Counter Trap blanketed the field and seized control.

The mage's spell, the warrior's dragon soul, the holy reflective light—all dimmed in an instant. Endless nothingness devoured everything, swallowing those unleashed powers along with the monsters and the cards themselves.

"But your own 'Effect Shut' and 'Mirror Force' are negated too," Kira noted.

"Correct," The D. replied. "Mirror Force no longer resolves, so your 'The Tricky' doesn't have to be destroyed. But the Ryu Senshi and Silent Magician, which activated their effects, are destroyed."

Ryu Senshi and Silent Magician simultaneously exploded. Yet after Silent exploded, she didn't dissipate; the released white magic reconverged on the field, unfolding an even holier, brighter magic barrier.

The D. frowned. "What now?"

"When 'Silent Magician' is destroyed by an opponent's card effect and leaves the field, special summon 'Silent Magician LV8' from the Deck, ignoring its summoning conditions!"

Kira drew the next card ejected from his deck.

"From the nexus of chaos and order blooms the radiance of silence—Magician of Light, descend—

—Silent Magician LV8!"

Destruction was merely a transformation. The sacred mage reappeared in an advanced form amid gathering white light, taller and grander than before; long white legs faintly visible beneath her broad robes.

[Silent Magician LV8, ATK 3500]

"ATK 3500…"

The D.'s expression shifted.

His response had been beautiful—near perfect defense. Three layers of backrow, even the powerful finisher 'Vanity's Call' successfully resolved.

Yet even those layers still seemed to have been broken through.

He'd paid 2000 LP to activate 'Vanity's Call,' leaving him at 2000. On Kira's side, either Silent or The Tricky landing a single hit would still end him.

"So this is the Duel King. Different from any opponent I've met these past ten years. However…"

The D.'s eyes narrowed again.

"The current strength I wield frightens even me!"

As the final word fell, power exploded once more. A torrent of energy blasted from his body and fell upon his field—light stained with malice condensed into the physical form of a monster!

"When a card your opponent controls has its activation negated by your Counter Trap, you can Special Summon this card from your hand. Descend—

—Van'Dalgyon the Dark Dragon Lord!"

Like a god of the underworld, a black dragon traced with crimson lines, trampling thunder and lightning, crashed domineeringly onto The D.'s field.

[Van'Dalgyon the Dark Dragon Lord, ATK 2800]

"And based on the types of cards negated when it was Special Summoned, Van'Dalgyon the Dark Dragon Lord gains different effects," The D. declared.

"If the Counter Trap negated a Spell: inflict 1500 damage to the opponent.

If it negated a Trap: destroy one card on the opponent's field.

If it negated a monster effect: Special Summon any one monster from your GY!"

"You just activated 'Vanity's Call,'" Kira said. "It negates all cards on the same chain."

"Correct!" The D. laughed. "So my Counter Trap negated a Spell, a Trap, and a monster effect. Van'Dalgyon gains all three!

First, Spell: inflict 1500 damage!"

The Van'Dalgyon roared; a bolt of lightning struck Kira.

[Kira, LP 3000 → LP 1500]

"Then Trap: destroy 'Silent Magician LV8'!"

The dragon's claw tore the air; a black gouge slashed across Silent, and she exploded and left the field again.

"Finally, monster effect: Special Summon any monster from my GY!"

A white beam shot from The D.'s Duel Disk, forming a monster on the field.

A white-haired woman with a dark red half-mask, cracking a whip in hand, curvaceous body bound in dark red armor.

"Special Summon the 'Chaos Hunter' I discarded to the GY last turn!"

[Chaos Hunter, ATK 2500]

He'd reversed the situation in one fell swoop!

The D.'s pride swelled.

This was the unshackled, fully unleashed power of light—too strong. Even against the Duel King, he didn't come up short.

So strong it felt unbelievable even to himself.

And he still hadn't summoned the most crucial card…

The more he thought it, the more the corners of his mouth curled up.

He was growing eager to see how much stronger his "power" would become once the Ultimate D took the field.

"You managed to summon two powerful high-level monsters during my turn. Not bad," Kira said, setting another card.

"With Van'Dalgyon and Chaos Hunter both stronger than The Tricky, I won't attack.

I set one card and end my turn."

The D. grew even more smug.

The duel had shifted into his rhythm. Maintain it, keep pressing, and victory would be his.

This was the chance to topple the Duel King and prove himself the strongest—beyond world champion, the very pinnacle on this planet!

"My turn. Draw!" The D. declared. "Go, Van'Dalgyon the Dark Dragon Lord, attack 'The Tricky'!"

"Then I activate my set card," Kira said. "Trap Card 'Draining Shield.' Negate the attack and gain Life Points equal to that monster's ATK."

The dragon's strike crashed into a rainbow-hued aqueous shield. The energy was fully absorbed by the transparent barrier and flowed into Kira.

[Kira, LP 1500 → LP 4300]

"Tch… then Chaos Hunter, attack 'The Tricky.'"

Chaos Hunter cracked her whip. The Tricky clapped his palms to counter, but the whip came alive in her grasp, deftly avoiding his hands, twirling to bind his arms.

She yanked, pulling The Tricky off balance. Then the whip snapped; the tip slammed into his chest, shattering his ribcage. Even the question mark on his chest split into pieces.

[Kira, LP 4300 → LP 3800]

Chapter 728: Ultimate Hero

"My turn. Draw."

Kira glanced at the draw and revealed it at once.

"Activate Spell 'Card of Adversity.' If your opponent controls a monster and you control no monsters, draw two cards." (Anime card)

Kira drew two.

The D. masked his expression and watched cautiously.

Last turn's offense hadn't yielded all he wanted; the damage was modest, but the advantage remained his. The opponent had indeed swarmed high-level monsters in one turn to apply pressure, but The D. had defused it flawlessly.

He glanced at his hand, unconsciously clenching his fist, as if to feel the power surging within him now.

He now possessed the ultimate strength he once could not even imagine. Thanks to the man he'd met days ago—the man in a white suit with a cane—that encounter had freed him from years of shackles and let him embrace his true, perfect self.

Now, he was truly unbeatable.

"Activate Spell 'Trade-In,'" Kira said. "Discard a Level 8 monster from the hand; draw two cards from the Deck.

I discard the Level 8 'Black Luster Soldier' and draw two."

"Black Luster Soldier," The D. narrowed his eyes, then smiled with interest. "The strongest warrior in the Duel King's legend. Interesting… heh heh, the strongest warrior versus the ultimate hero—who's stronger, I wonder?"

"Well, I don't know," Kira smiled faintly. "But I imagine the duelist who pilots them better will be the stronger."

The D. laughed.

"On that point, I must agree," he said, feral. "And that duelist will be me."

Kira said nothing further and slid another Spell into his Disk.

"Ritual Spell—'Super Soldier Synthesis.'

Send from your hand a LIGHT or DARK monster, and from your Deck one monster of the opposite attribute, totaling up to Level 8, to the GY as Ritual materials; Ritual Summon 'Black Luster Soldier' from your hand or GY!"

"The Black Luster Soldier Ritual, is it?" The D. cackled. "Good. Do it! Summon the legendary warrior—only the strongest power will make this meaningful!"

Kira revealed the two dedicated Ritual pieces.

"From hand and Deck, send the LIGHT 'Beginning Knight' and DARK 'Evening Twilight Knight' to the GY as materials!"

A black and a white young knight appeared, both but boys, their faces like mirror images.

Each swung his sword; one became light, the other dark. Two beams intertwined and spiraled into a deep vortex. A storm of chaos burst across the field, as though a heavy door in the void was blown open.

"One soul guides light, one soul guides darkness—the gate of chaos opens! Ritual Summon—

—Black Luster Soldier!"

The chaos was cleaved by sword aura; the swordsman seemed to stride across the river of time, descending with overwhelming presence.

"When Ritual Summoned using Beginning Knight and Evening Twilight Knight, Black Luster Soldier gains special abilities from each," Kira said.

"Each material grants him 'once per turn, banish one monster on your opponent's field.'

Thus, with both materials, BLS can banish up to two of your opponent's monsters per turn."

"A frightening ability,"

The D. pushed his glasses again.

"I have heard of BLS's signature 'Dimension Slash'—sealing any foe in dimensional fissures. However…"

He paused, then grinned broadly.

"Too bad, 'Chaos Hunter' is the worst matchup for that!

Chaos Hunter's effect: while she's on the field, your opponent cannot banish cards by any means!"

Chaos Hunter flicked her whip; an invisible field blanketed the arena like an unseen cage. Any dimension-related skills were taboo within it—even BLS couldn't break through.

"I know. But BLS's repertoire is not limited to Dimension Slash."

Kira raised his hand.

"Black Luster Soldier, attack 'Van'Dalgyon the Dark Dragon Lord'!"

The legendary warrior's blade flashed; the black dragon was cleaved from crown to keel, a long scar appearing before it split in two with a muffled death-cry and left the field.

[The D., LP 2000 → LP 1800]

"At this moment, the other effect BLS inherits from Beginning Knight activates," Kira said. "If this card destroys an opponent's monster by battle and sends it to the GY, it can make a second attack this turn."

He turned his sights on the second monster.

"Attack 'Chaos Hunter'!"

BLS swung again; sword-light shattered into a storm of blades that rained upon the Hunter. She cried out and cracked her whip desperately, but the barrage was too dense. Most slipped through her guard—ten thousand blades through the heart. She shattered and left the field as well.

[The D., LP 1800 → LP 1300]

"With Chaos Hunter defeated, the banish lock is gone," Kira said. "Now I activate the other effect BLS gains from Evening Twilight Knight.

Once per turn, during my Main Phase, randomly banish one card from your hand face-down until the end of your next End Phase."

The young Evening Knight's phantom flickered and seemed to flow into BLS's blade. The thrusting sword-light pierced one of The D.'s hand cards; a dimensional vortex opened and sucked the card away.

"Wiping my monsters and even sniping my hand… tch, what a bastard of a knight."

The D. muttered.

"Lastly, I set one card and end my turn."

"My turn. Draw.

Activate 'Pot of Greed' to draw two cards."

The D. drew slowly and stared at his hand for a long time,

then slowly raised his head.

Behind the lenses, his pupils had somehow turned dark red, as if dyed in blood.

"Good. Very good… A legendary warrior, is it? Then perfect. This turn—the power of the Ultimate Hero will be unleashed!"

Chapter 729: The True Culprit

"This turn, I'll release the Ultimate Hero's power!"

The D. first slapped down a monster.

"Normal Summon 'Phantom Skyblaster' in Attack Position!"

A red-eyed little devil appeared, with small demonic wings. Small in stature, but vicious in mien.

[Phantom Skyblaster, ATK 1100]

"Phantom Skyblaster's effect: upon Summon, Special Summon up to the number of monsters you control in 'Skyblaster Token.'

I currently control one monster—Phantom Skyblaster—so I Special Summon one 'Skyblaster Token'!"

[Skyblaster Token, DEF 500]

"Next, from my hand, activate the Spell 'Fiend's Sanctuary,' Special Summoning a 'Metal Fiend Token' to my field."

A strange summoning seal spread across the ground, and a metal doll emerged within it, a mirror-smooth body reflecting the opponent duelist's image.

[Metal Fiend Token, ATK 0]

"The conditions are met. It's coming," Kira frowned.

"Correct!"

The D. shouted grandly.

"Now I release the ultimate power, and the mightiest hero descends!

I tribute 'Metal Fiend Token,' 'Skyblaster Token,' and 'Phantom Skyblaster' to bring bloodstained terror to this world and reduce all to nothing—

—Destiny HERO – Plasma, descend!!!"

The three tributed monsters corroded and melted into rolling blood, pooling into a sinister blood-pond.

From the churning crimson rose a terrifying being.

A warrior clad in a ghastly blood-red armor, bone-wings dripping gore, a right-hand component like a dragon's head. He wore a half-mask; his eyes were manic red, his mouth roaring in fury.

[Destiny HERO – Plasma, ATK 1900]

The fabled Ultimate D, once a vessel for the Light of Destruction—no, different from the original. Even now Kira could feel the surging light power boiling within this spirit.

Perhaps the Light of Destruction bonded to this card had transferred to Sartorius back then, but powerful light still clung to this spirit now. That was the source of The D.'s current strength.

Someone gasped in the darkness.

Both duelists glanced toward the sound. There, a silver-haired youth in a white suit stood, staring fixated at the freshly summoned Plasma.

It was Aster Phoenix.

He'd found The D.'s cruise ship and had been here for a while. Seeing Kira dueling his foster father—two of the absolute top players alive—he'd stayed hidden to witness it in silence.

Until Plasma appeared—he couldn't help but cry out.

"The D.—"

Shock and confusion were written across his face.

"The Ultimate D—why… why is it in your hands?"

"Aster."

Confronted outright, The D. spared him a glance, unruffled, pushing his glasses.

"Well, it's as you see. That's the truth."

"What!?"

Aster had guessed already, but instinct rejected belief.

The D. didn't shy away, nor showed an ounce of remorse. He said calmly, "Ten years ago, I killed your father and took Plasma.

The culprit you've been chasing for ten years—is me."

Aster felt a thunderbolt split his mind, his sky collapsing again.

The last time he'd felt this was ten years ago, the night his father died. Pain, despair, that abyssal helplessness—all returned, searing into his bones.

"Why?"

After a long time, he forced out the question.

"Why? Why else? For power. For victory," The D. said matter-of-factly. "Without this card, how would I have climbed to world champion so easily? How would I be this strong now?"

Aster clenched his fists, veins bulging. "Just for that?"

"For that?"

The D. laughed.

"I've watched you all these years, Aster. And I've seen no growth. Still so naive. This is a world of the strong devouring the weak. For a duelist, only those ruthless enough survive.

I saw an opening and took it. That's why I have everything now and will climb higher still. You, mired in the past, frozen on that night? You'll never be like me."

"The D.!" Aster's doubts and fragile hopes finally shattered, replaced by unbridled rage. "You scum!"

"Perhaps. But a scum with power."

The D. barked:

"Since you're here, watch closely, Aster—your late father's greatest masterpiece: the power of the Ultimate Hero!

Plasma's effect activates! Once per turn, absorb one monster on your opponent's field and equip it to Plasma as an Equip Card. Plasma gains ATK equal to half that monster's ATK, and gains its effects!" The D.'s eyes were blood-red, his laugh unhinged. "Legendary Black Luster Soldier—serve as the finest nourishment for Plasma!"

Plasma roared, bone-wings unfurled, and countless blood-red tendrils shot out, binding BLS's limbs. Irresistible force dragged the swordsman into Plasma's wings, as if becoming part of him.

[Destiny HERO – Plasma, ATK 1900 → ATK 3400]

"Thus Plasma gains BLS's abilities! He can banish monsters, attack multiple times, and randomly banish a hand card!"

"Sure," Kira shrugged. "But I have no monsters on the field and no cards left in hand."

"True, a pity I can't try the strongest power—yet it's enough."

The D. shouted:

"Plasma, direct attack! The Duel King's legend ends here!"

Plasma soared, bone-wings launching a storm of blood-arrows, a hail of scarlet darts sweeping toward Kira!

"Mr. Kira!" Aster couldn't help but cry out in concern.

"Counter Trap 'Negate Attack,'" Kira said. "Negate an attack and end the Battle Phase."

A transparent vortex gusted from the flipped trap. Plasma's assault was swallowed by the storm, and Plasma retreated to his position for now.

"You've survived for the moment, I see. No matter. Plasma is at peak power now—I've grasped victory for certain!"

The D. declared.

"I set one card and end my turn."