Yugioh [738-741] (Patreon)

Chapter 738: The King's Monster

"We can't enter the Battle Phase? I see." Kira nodded.

The Doctor's only monster last turn had been tunneled away to the next turn for burn damage, leaving no monster defense on the field. Having backrow protection was only natural.

"Then I activate this Field Spell."

Kira played another card from his hand.

"Field Spell: Catapult Zone."

In this era's rules only one Field Spell can exist on the field between both players, not like later times when each player could have their own. Activating a new Field Spell forces the old one off the field.

The cosmic space vanished, replaced by an ancient, primitive catapult testing ground beneath a starless sky.

"Next I activate the Spell Card 'Monster Gate,'" Kira said. "Tribute a monster I control; then excavate cards from the top of my Deck until I reveal a monster that can be Normal Summoned. Special Summon that monster, and send the rest of the excavated cards to the GY.

I'll Tribute 'Machina Fortress,' whose ATK has been reduced to 1000, and start excavating."

Kira kept flipping. Nine in a row again, then revealed the hit.

"I Special Summon 'Sentry Soldier of Stone' in Defense Position."

[Sentry Soldier of Stone, DEF 2000]

"Then I set two cards and end my turn."

Behind his glasses, Dr. Eisenstein's eyes narrowed to slits.

It was definitely odd. He could see Kira's Deck shrinking at a visible pace—half the Deck piled into the GY in just two turns—yet Kira showed no desire to press an attack.

What is he doing?

"My turn," Dr. Eisenstein said.

Kira: "Due to 'Draw Paradox,' you don't draw this turn. Instead, I draw one."

"Indeed." Dr. Eisenstein nodded. "But in my Standby Phase, 'Laplace the Fiend Mathematician' returns to my field."

[Laplace the Fiend Mathematician, ATK 1000]

He didn't understand the opponent's aim, but he had a very bad feeling.

Time to speed up and end this with his true trump.

"Once more I activate 'Pot of Greed' to draw two." He glanced at the cards. "But thanks to 'Schrödinger's Cat,' I can shuffle them back and redraw two."

The Doctor redrew two.

"Next I activate the Spell 'Battle Constant'!"

A storm rose with the Spell's activation, and within the whirlwind a translucent divine dragon's silhouette loomed!

"Battle Constant is the epitome of my grand quantum theory of dueling! Behold—this doesn't show up every day!" Dr. Eisenstein declared. "Banish from play one Continuous Spell, one Continuous Trap, and one monster I control! Then Special Summon 'Brain Dragon' from hand or Deck!"

His Schrödinger Cat, Draw Paradox, and Laplace the Fiend Mathematician vanished together, merging into the sky-piercing storm, and the divine dragon's shadow took solid form and descended!

[Brain Dragon, ATK 2800]

"That's the Doctor's ace!" Misawa said, eyes shining. "A dragon that represents the pinnacle of duel-physics!"

"When Brain Dragon is on the field, during my Draw Phase I draw two additional cards besides my normal draw, then place two cards from my hand on top of my Deck in any order," Dr. Eisenstein declared.

"But my offense doesn't end with summoning Brain Dragon.

At the moment of being banished, the Laplace the Fiend Mathematician's effect also triggers again!"

Misawa jolted. "When the Laplace leaves the field, it deals damage based on the number of cards on the field!"

"300 times the number of cards," Alexis said. "Depending on the field state, that's big damage!"

"Counter Trap: 'Damage Polarizer,'" Kira said. "Negate that damage effect; then both players draw one card from their Deck."

"So you evaded the Laplace's strike."

Dr. Eisenstein pressed on. "But I still have Brain Dragon's attack!

And I activate the Spell 'Wonder Clover': Discard a Level 4 Plant monster from my hand; one monster I control can attack twice this turn.

I discard 'Mystic Tomato.' Brain Dragon can attack twice!"

Misawa said, "With two attacks, break through Sentry Soldier of Stone and then a direct hit—Doctor wins."

Alexis pondered. "Mm, assuming the attacks go through."

Given the opponent is Kira, though…

"Brain Dragon, attack 'Sentry Soldier of Stone'!"

Dr. Eisenstein held his breath.

Two hits would surely be enough.

"Field Spell 'Catapult Zone' effect," Kira explained calmly. "If a monster on the field would be destroyed by battle, I can send a Rock monster from my Deck to the GY instead."

A card popped out of Kira's Deck.

"I send 'Tackle Crusader' to the GY to prevent 'Sentry Soldier of Stone' from being destroyed."

"A field effect?" Dr. Eisenstein sneered. "Looks like the OTK failed. But at least the second attack will destroy Sentry Soldier of Stone."

"Sorry, that won't happen either," Kira smiled. "When Tackle Crusader is sent to the GY, it flips one monster your opponent controls face-down into Defense Position."

As he spoke, Brain Dragon had already lowered its banners, turning into a face-down card.

"See?" Alexis said.

In an I-knew-it tone.

Misawa sighed lightly.

"Well, I personally admire the Doctor and consider him a rare genius. But when your opponent is Kira…"

He didn't finish, only shook his head with a "what a shame" look.

As if to say: Doctor, you could have done anything else—why challenge this guy?

If you'd just avoided him, you'd still be the respected Doctor with a bright future…

"All right, preparations are about done," Kira patted the dust from his clothes.

"Dr. Eisenstein came all this way, and we've seen a very interesting duel. In return, let me show you something we've been researching lately."

He paused, then narrowed his eyes and smiled.

"You know our lab recently joined Industrial Illusion and KaibaCorp to form a special task force on Yugi Muto. Taking this chance, I've… let's say, unearthed a tiny tip of the iceberg of what made the great Yugi so strong."

And, though most people in this world don't grasp the distinction, Kira meant the later-era world's-strongest Yugi (Post-Duelist), not the Pharaoh from the DM anime period.

Dr. Eisenstein's heart jolted.

"That legendary Yugi Muto's…!?"

"Correct. One of Mr. Muto's strongest monsters."

Dr. Eisenstein was even more shocked.

Wouldn't that be the Egyptian Gods?

No surprise—most people, when asked about the Duel King's strongest monsters, immediately say the three Gods without dispute.

But since he said "one of the strongest"…

Maybe Black Luster Soldier?

"I activate my set card: Continuous Trap 'Limit Reverse' to revive a monster with 1000 or less ATK from my GY," Kira said. "Among the five cards 'Take Over 5' sent to the GY, I revive—

—Catapult Turtle!"

[Catapult Turtle, ATK 1000]

Misawa: "…"

If someone told him this before, he'd have scoffed. But now, if someone said Catapult Turtle is one of Yugi's strongest monsters, he felt… that might not even be wrong.

Though the turtle is important, that's not today's feature.

"Time to bring it out. The card in my GY can't be Normal Summoned, so when 'Reasoning' flipped it, it went straight to the GY.

But if it's in my hand or GY, I can Special Summon it by banishing three EARTH monsters from my hand/GY.

So from my GY I banish the EARTH 'Valkyrion the Magna Warrior,' 'Megarock Dragon,' and 'Gigantes' to Special Summon—

—Block Dragon!"

[Block Dragon, ATK 2500]

Valkyrion, Megarock Dragon, and Gigantes share a summoning restriction: they can't be Normal Summoned. So whether Reasoning or Monster Gate flips them, they go directly to the GY.

Everyone: "?"

Seeing this child's toy of a creature—called a dragon yet lacking any shred of majesty—left them baffled.

That's one of Yugi Muto's strongest?

You serious?

Kira was absolutely serious.

How strong is Block Dragon?

Even without reading the effect: as an ancient card that is simultaneously banned in Master Duel and the TCG, and limited in the OCG—sent to the multi-list jail deluxe—you can imagine its status.

And yes, it's Yugi's card—and specifically "Atem-less" Yugi's, not the Pharaoh's. Its building-block toy look screams its owner's style.

As for why it's strong…

"Catapult Turtle's effect: Tribute a monster on my field to inflict damage to the opponent equal to half of that monster's ATK," Kira said. "I Tribute Block Dragon to deal damage equal to half its ATK."

Block Dragon, freshly landed, turned into a cannonball and was fired down Catapult Turtle's rails.

[Dr. Eisenstein, LP 4000 → 2750]

Misawa's face changed: "Masaka (don't tell me)…!?"

"Block Dragon's other effect: once per turn, if this card is sent to the GY, add up to three Rock monsters from Deck to hand whose total Levels equal 8."

Kira pulled three Rocks from his Deck.

"I add the Level 4 Rock 'The Rock Spirit' and another Level 4 Rock 'Gigantes' to hand."

"Then I activate Block Dragon's GY effect: banish three EARTH monsters from hand/GY to Special Summon this card from the GY.

I banish Titan and Gigantes from my hand, and Sentry Soldier of Stone from my GY, to Special Summon 'Block Dragon.'"

[Block Dragon, ATK 2500]

Dr. Eisenstein's face went white.

Being a Duel Physics, he immediately recognized the severity.

This busted thing's revival isn't once per turn!

As long as you can banish three EARTHs from hand/GY, it revives from the GY infinitely.

In other words, every EARTH monster in the GY is Catapult Turtle ammo!

Now he understood why Kira had milled half his Deck. He began to sweat.

"Catapult Turtle effect: fire Block Dragon," Kira said.

[Dr. Eisenstein, LP 2750 → 1500]

"Y-you… how can…"

The Doctor tried to speak, but Kira didn't give him time.

"From my GY I banish EARTH 'Gigastone Omega,' 'Doom Dozer,' and 'Machina Megaform' to Special Summon 'Block Dragon.'"

[Block Dragon, ATK 2500]

"Catapult Turtle: fire."

[Dr. Eisenstein, LP 1500 → 250]

The Doctor: "…"

He fully got it now.

Aside from Megaform being binned via Fortress earlier, Gigastone Omega and Doom Dozer share a trait with Valkyrion and the like: they're EARTH and cannot be Normal Summoned.

All perfect for Reasoning and Monster Gate to dump.

The Doctor's logic clicked into place.

It clicked, but…

What kind of abyssal mindset uses this to duel!?

"Banish EARTH 'Machina Fortress,' 'Tackle Crusader,' and 'Machina Cannon.'"

Kira, a machine, repeated mercilessly.

"Block Dragon, revive."

[Block Dragon, ATK 2500]

"Catapult Turtle, fire."

Doctor: "…"

[Dr. Eisenstein, LP 250 → 0]

Chapter 739: No Return

"I—I actually lost…?"

Dr. Eisenstein stared dazedly at his hands and at his cards, unable to believe it.

"The Doctor lost," Misawa repeated, voice flat.

No, perhaps: as expected.

Hardly surprising. Genius or not, the Doctor is still merely a talented duel researcher—a human genius.

How can a human beat a dog?

That said, Misawa knew the lab had recently taken on a new project. He was an old hand there; the lab had grown larger with more projects, but as an elder he still had status.

He'd heard they formed a special team to study the Duel King Yugi Muto's Deck. He'd also heard it wasn't like the usual "study the champ's Deck" projects—but didn't know how.

His strongest impressions of the legendary Yugi were the Egyptian Gods, Dark Magician, Buster Blader, Black Luster Soldier—famous powerhouses.

What Kira showcased today—Catapult Turtle with Block Dragon—could be called a Duel King combo, sure…

But are you sure Mr. Yugi's duels looked like this?

Misawa and Alexis wore awkward looks, wanting to retort but not knowing where to begin.

Then again… forget it. If even Blue-Eyes, the emblem of dueling might, can be turned into a nether abomination by Kira, nothing else is surprising.

If they said that aloud, Kira would sneer.

What? You say Yugi's duels weren't like this?

Frogs in a well.

Clearly you don't know how the Pharaoh got sent back to the afterlife…

They think Kira bent Yugi's cards to his own style—he'd swear on his pitch-black conscience that's not true.

The Duel King' duels were always like this. He's like this; the previous Duel King was like this. Perhaps the elder sealed his cards for years and disliked the limelight, and his early fame was mostly the Pharaoh's proxy work, so people lack the concept.

If you get a chance to see how Mr. Yugi duels now, you'll understand…

He only thought it—didn't say it.

"Doctor, are you okay?"

Misawa approached with concern.

He truly worried about his idol's well-being. In his experience, few leave a duel with Kira "just fine."

"What? Huh?"

The Doctor snapped out of it, his empty eyes glancing at Misawa, like a half-senile elder.

"Oh, haha, I'm fine. Just got turned into a sieve by Catapult Turtle and Block Dragon. What could happen to an old man like me? Great. Fantastic."

Misawa: "…"

He did not look fine.

"Please don't take it to heart, Doctor. Kira… is like this. You can't take duels with him too seriously. Your grand quantum theory of dueling is still brilliant. I'm waiting to read your new monograph."

"Quantum theory? Ah… right, I had such a theory." Dr. Eisenstein muttered.

"Huh?"

Misawa was dumbfounded.

Isn't that your life's work?

It's over. Kira broke him.

"Just now, I think I had an epiphany," the Doctor said earnestly. "I joined the Society of Light believing I'd found the right path.

I thought my life's theory, the truth of dueling, the truth of the universe, must lie in that path of light. But just now it felt like a blow to the head woke me up.

Why must truth be in the light and not in the darkness?"

"Uh?" Misawa grew more confused.

"There is light in the universe, yes, but far more darkness. The stars can't pierce the abyss; darkness is the universe's main theme and ought to align with dueling's truth."

He slapped his forehead.

"I was blinded by those cultists' nonsense. How strange…"

Misawa: "…"

He didn't know what to say—should he pull the Doctor back from a rabbit hole or just go with it?

The Society of Light—Misawa knew them; he'd fought some of them in the "Underworld Project."

So the Doctor was perhaps brainwashed and dispatched as the next enforcer. But through Kira's duel, the cult brainwashing seems forcibly overwritten…

Whether it's "removed" is debatable.

To Misawa, it felt like new brainwashing overwrote the old—with side effects—and it's stronger than the Light's.

The Society of Light at least flattered his theory, making him believe the universe's light aligned with his grand unification of dueling.

Kira not only overwrote it but also toppled the Doctor's life's work, with the Doctor now seemingly eager to join their "underworld cult"…

"Good duel. Your cards are interesting," Kira even said kindly.

"If you don't mind, Doctor, would you like to join our lab?"

"Hmm?"

Dr. Eisenstein froze.

Join them?

Thinking on it—not a bad idea, especially now that he doubted his own theory. If you can't beat them…

Misawa hesitated.

His idol joining their side—should he be happy?

Why did it feel… complicated?

Alexis was silent too.

She wondered how the Society of Light would feel sending Dr. Eisenstein to snipe Kira…

Society of Light member: I'll never forget that day. The Doctor said, "Capture the king first—cut off the enemy's Duel King from behind."

The Doctor then never returned. Next time we saw him, he was on the other side…

Chapter 740: The Supreme King's Castle

"Elemental HERO Flame Wingman attacks!"

"Flame Wingman's effect—deal damage equal to the destroyed monster's ATK!"

"Won! What a fun duel!"

Jaden struck a pose at his opponent.

He looked back—legendary gambler Joey was also brutalizing an armored demon mook.

"Flip Monster 'Dice Jar' effect: both players roll a die; the lower roll takes damage equal to the opponent's roll × 1000!"

"Ahahaha! I rolled a 6—Dice Jar deals 6000 damage!"

The demon mook got one-shot from full by a die roll, cursing in demonic language as he disintegrated—likely something like "what the f— kind of duel is this?!"

Hard to blame him. Anyone getting domed for 6000 by a die would react the same.

"Ah~ dueling is the best. That felt great," Jaden stretched.

"Yeah, yeah," Joey slung an arm around him. During the extradimensional campaign they clicked and became duel buddies.

They were in the 12th dimension's center—the realm of the Supreme King's Castle.

After a long journey, Kira and the two projected their consciousness through dimensions like heroes seeking the Demon King. They cut through obstacles and finally reached the final world.

The legendary Supreme King was here.

They'd seen the misery of peoples under his rule—the Supreme King's army dominated nearly all twelve dimensions, the natives suffering under their yoke.

The closer they came to the Supreme King's realm, the worse the chaos. Their resolve hardened: they would bring him down.

"Honestly, I've seen many duelists," Joey said.

"But there aren't many like you."

"Me? What about me?" Jaden asked.

"Mm… hard to put into words. It's… full of passion?" Joey searched for words. "Your duels feel like they contain something ineffable—infectious."

"Really?" Jaden scratched his head. "Ahaha, I'm nothing special. If anyone, Kira's more special…"

"That's true," Joey glanced at Kira.

"Not many like you either."

Kira spread his hands innocently.

They passed another war-ravaged town, now a ruin. Looking from the ruins, they could make out a dark mountain with a looming castle like a demon. Lightning traced the sky, the jagged silhouette sneering at all below.

"Hey, that's…"

"Mm," Kira nodded. "The Supreme King's Castle?"

The three stared in silence at the dark fortress, its skyline piercing the clouds, exuding regal authority even from afar.

"That's… the Supreme King's Castle," Jaden murmured, clenching his fist.

He had seen too much on the way: chaos under the Supreme King, oppressed people, massacred resistance. He'd befriended some of them.

Through Kira he also learned the Supreme King had a special connection to him.

Though Kira told him the Supreme King was his dark side—an opposing split whose deeds were not his—Jaden still felt awful.

And the nearer they drew, the more he felt a link between himself and this place.

He sensed a presence in that castle connected to him beyond space. That convinced him Kira was right, and he felt instinctively this was his duty, his mission.

Like the old stories: a hero summoned to another world, tasked with slaying the Demon King. This was his responsibility—and his alone.

He couldn't say why—he just knew.

"Okay—let's rush it in one go!"

"Tomorrow," Joey said after a beat.

"It's the last day of the weekend. We've been fighting for twelve straight hours. Rest might be wise."

"I'm not tired," Jaden protested.

"Joey's right," Kira added. "Continuous duels drain mind and body; it affects performance. We won't face the Supreme King right away inside; there'll be consecutive battles.

We've come so far. No need to rush this last step. Rest, tune decks, reach peak form, then go."

With Kira agreeing, Jaden relented. "Fine."

He looked again at the castle, reached toward its jagged silhouette, and clenched his fist.

"I'll be back tomorrow."

They logged off for the day.

…

Meanwhile, in the Supreme King's Castle—

Deep in the keep, on a throne ringed by ferocious fiends, the black sovereign slowly opened his eyes.

Twin golden irises flared like blades in the dark. That gaze held such authority that a glance could freeze a man—yet was hollow, as if missing a piece of soul.

"Supreme King," a demon knelt on one knee, head bowed. "Your orders?"

"The invaders from another world," the Supreme King said coldly. "Found them?"

"Er… the scouting parties haven't reported back. We haven't—"

"They're already here," the Supreme King cut him off.

The demon blinked. "S-say what?"

"They're here—nearby. I can feel them."

He paused, then waved a hand. "Leave."

The demon scrambled away, as if even speaking to the Supreme King was crushing.

The Supreme King closed his eyes again.

They were close. He could sense the invaders.

Or at least one of them.

Chapter 741: Descending Darkness

Half-asleep in bed, Kira felt someone calling him. He opened his eyes to see a delicate face leaning over the bed, silver hair draping down, eyes open and head tilted.

Silent Magician.

She said nothing, just poked him with a finger.

Kira grabbed his student terminal. 2:30 a.m. He yawned long.

"What is it?"

Silent pointed out the window and gestured.

Kira snapped awake. "Intruders?"

Silent nodded and slid the window open. Kira thought a moment, threw on a jacket, and vaulted from the second floor onto the lawn.

Yes—second-floor height was basically flat ground to him now.

In school uniform, Silent led the way through the grove. Kira soon noticed the direction.

"Red Dorm?"

He tried to recall what could happen at the Slifer Red Dorm from the original. Early GX had tons of monster-of-the-week episodes—supernatural intruders popping out of nowhere. Most were low-impact, and he couldn't recall specifics.

But nearing Red Dorm's perimeter, he realized it wasn't any random one-off.

This wasn't that level of power.

Darkness shrouded the Slifer Red Dorm. Ordinary eyes might not see it, only feel a suffocating pressure drawing near—hard to breathe, hard to move. In Kira's sight, the entire dorm was a mass of black fog.

He was sure: even in this world at large, such powerful darkness was rare.

He raised his guard and followed the sensation forward. Unsurprisingly, the source lay in Jaden's room.

As expected. In the Red Dorm—or even all Duel Academy—few could stir trouble like Jaden…

Kira himself also qualified.

At the door, Silent Magician put an arm out to stop Kira, then pushed the door open herself.

The old Red Dorm door creaked—like opening Pandora's Box. Darkness peaked and rushed out from within.

A figure stood in the center.

Red Dorm uniform, back to the door, staring out the window. That jellyfish of hair—who else but Jaden?

His roommate Syrus slept soundly, oblivious.

Kira knew ordinary people couldn't wake under such oppression.

"Jaden?"

He paused, frowned.

"No—you're not Jaden… are you?"

He already had a guess.

When "Jaden" turned, Kira met those chilling golden eyes, and his guess was confirmed.

"Supreme King," he said low. "Why are you here?"

In the original, this shouldn't happen. Jaden succumbed only after great trauma in the other dimension—betrayed and broken, the Supreme King seized him.

Now he shouldn't be in that state.

Was it proximity to the Supreme King's Castle tightening the link?

Then, while Jaden slept, the Supreme King used his body as a medium to enter reality.

That seemed the only explanation.

If so, his control shouldn't be as firm as in the anime—the boy was only asleep, not fallen. He might wake at any moment.

"The duelists of this world—are you the ones who would assault my castle?"

The Supreme King's face was blank as he unfolded his Duel Disk.

"If so, I will see for myself whether you have that qualification."

"Meeting the Supreme King early, huh? A bit ahead of schedule," Kira said, opening his own Disk.

"But just as well—we won't need to storm your castle."

They stepped out to the open ground outside Red Dorm.

"Duel!" x2

[Kira, LP 4000]

[Supreme King, LP 4000]

"I'll go first—draw," Kira said.

He gauged this Supreme King as weaker than the anime debut. Jaden hadn't fallen into darkness, and in the anime the Supreme King's ace, Super Polymerization, was earned with massive sacrifice—likely not in play now.

Here the Supreme King merely possessed Jaden's body, golden eyes, Red Dorm uniform—no signature armor. And this wasn't his realm—no home-field buff.

"I activate 'Graceful Charity' to draw three, then discard two.

Then Quick-Play 'Spellbook Organization': look at the top three cards of my Deck and return them in any order."

He drew three, checked, and stacked the top.

"I set one and end."

"My turn—draw."

The Supreme King drew and immediately revealed a card.

"'Pot of Greed'—draw two."

He refilled, then spoke icily.

"Duelists from another world—let me see your world's strength.

I Normal Summon 'Elemental HERO Stratos.'"

Transparent white currents coiled; a turbine's whine filled the air. The skyborne hero landed with arms crossed and confidence.

[Elemental HERO Stratos, ATK 1800]

"Stratos's effect: on summon, add one 'HERO' monster from Deck to hand."

Kira frowned.

Wait—he remembered manga Stratos could halve ATK to attack directly. This is the printed effect…

Did the Supreme King's power evolve it?

Not impossible. His tier could imprint cards, and Jaden's power-ups had evolved Absolute Zero before.

"Stratos's effect: I add another HERO from Deck to hand."

He revealed the search target.

"I add 'Elemental HERO Wildheart' to my hand."

Then he slowly raised another card. As it lifted—before activation—dark winds already whirled around him.

"I activate the Spell—

—Dark Fusion!"