Yugioh [757-759] (Patreon)

Chapter 757: Infiltration

At the same time, in another world.

A dimension where even time seemed swallowed by an eternal night. There was no day, only an abyssal, icy, endless darkness. The world was wrapped tight in a veil of shadow, and the occasional flickers of ghostly light were like the whispers of resentful spirits.

At the center of that darkness stood a castle that made the heart quail—Supreme King Castle—perched atop a towering mountain, like a demon god birthed by darkness itself.

At the outskirts of Supreme King Castle.

A demon grunt on duty yawned, listlessly swinging the blade in his hand, and wandered into a secluded, shadowy corner.

He looked left and right, seemed to confirm no one was around, propped the blade against the wall, and pulled down his pants.

The tinkling of water began.

"Phew~"

The grunt let out a long breath. Damn, standing guard for that long, he was about to burst.

Just as he was getting comfortable, a chill shot down his spine, and a terrible sense of foreboding rose in his heart.

He stiffly turned on instinct—and his pupils contracted sharply.

He saw three big guys.

Three big guys, six eyes all glaring at him with ill intent, their faces practically spelling "up to no good."

His pupils shrank; he was so scared the stream cut off. He opened his mouth to shout.

But then—thump—he felt a heavy blow to the back of his neck, as if someone had struck with force. His vision went black; he didn't manage a sound before he lost consciousness and fell face-first to the ground with a thud.

Years later, when the grunt thought back to this day, he still couldn't help but feel deep regret.

At the instant he discovered the intruders back then—

he really should've pulled his pants up first.

"."

Kira, Jaden, and Joey slipped into Supreme King Castle without a hitch.

They even found a chance to strip three sets of armor and put them on. The three of them were clad in heavy black plate; the massive helmets covered their faces almost entirely, making them unrecognizable.

They also grabbed a demon to serve as their guide.

"Alright, we're in."

Kira grabbed the short demon—barely a meter tall—like a chick and asked:

"The Supreme King's room. Unless you want to be the Shadow Monarch's side dish…"

As he spoke, the Shadow Monarch's phantom already loomed behind him, waves of darkness radiating outward. The crimson glow in its eyes was like a starving wolf that hadn't eaten in ten days.

The little demon trembled, thoroughly spooked, and hurried to demonstrate the professionalism expected of a guide.

"O-of course! It's just ahead! Past the main hall, up the stairs inside—that's Lord Supreme King's room!"

The three exchanged glances.

"Good. Lead the way."

The little demon hunched and scurried ahead.

There weren't many people in the hall. The three followed the demon, nearly at the stairs—when someone descended them.

Kira raised an eyebrow.

Well now—an acquaintance of sorts.

Chaos Sorcerer, one of Kira's usual chaos trump cards.

In the anime, Chaos Sorcerer was also one of the Supreme King's trusted aides, ranked among the five strongest under the Supreme King—colloquially called the Duelists of Death.

Chaos Sorcerer approached head-on.

Joey held his breath and clenched his fist beneath the armor, instinctively bracing in case the other attacked suddenly.

It wasn't that they feared one of the Duelists of Death, but why make trouble needlessly? The Supreme King's room was right ahead—no reason to stir up a mess now.

They passed shoulder to shoulder.

Seeing that the other didn't seem suspicious, Joey was just about to sigh in relief—when the Chaos Sorcerer, who had already passed, suddenly stopped and turned.

"You three. Wait."

They halted in unison and slowly turned around.

"The entire army is assembling for the upcoming battle drill," Chaos Sorcerer said coldly, casting a glance over them. "What are you doing here?"

The little demon instinctively wanted to cry for help, but before he could open his mouth, he felt a chill at the back of his neck and remembered the Shadow Monarch's look just now—like he was eyeing a delicious luncheon meat. He shuddered.

Head lowered, he murmured, "Uh, it's Skull Knight! Skull Knight sent a message for Lord Supreme King—we were just going to—"

"I see. In that case, carry on."

Chaos Sorcerer smiled, waved his hand, and turned to leave.

But he'd only taken a few steps when he suddenly whirled back and thrust out a palm. A vortex of chaos burst from his hand across the distance, striking the little demon square in the back. The demon screamed, tumbling like a cut kite, and slammed into the corner wall.

"Wh-why…?"

The little demon howled.

"Traitor," Chaos Sorcerer snorted. "Skull Knight always reports directly to me. You think the likes of you can plot against Lord Supreme King? Don't make me laugh."

"H-how could this…"

The little demon let out a wail, then dissolved into golden motes of light and vanished.

"Really, I thought I could save myself some trouble."

Joey sighed long, unbuckled his armor, and let the heavy plates crash to the ground.

"Well, fine. This clunky stuff is suffocating—I've been itching to ditch it."

Joey rolled his shoulders.

"You two go on ahead. I, the great Joey, will handle this guy."

Jaden looked worried. "You sure?"

"No problem, no problem."

Joey gave him a thumbs-up.

Jaden thought a moment and nodded. Fair enough—this was the legendary King of Gamblers. Probably nothing to worry about.

Kira patted Jaden's shoulder. "Let's go."

Jaden nodded, and the two moved on.

Chaos Sorcerer glanced their way but didn't pursue. He just snorted, "Go if you like. If you think you can threaten Lord Supreme King, that's laughable."

"Shut up and cut the crap," Joey said, unfurling his Duel Disk.

"Fine," Chaos Sorcerer sneered. "Then behold the invincible power of my Perfectly Ultimate Great Moth !"

Joey: "?"

Wait, your what?

His expression turned odd.

Perfectly Ultimate Great Moth —that was Weevil Underwood's ace, and Joey did have some history with that.

But you're a Chaos Sorcerer—why ignore your own theme and run Great Moth?

"."

Kira and Jaden dashed up the stairs. Another figure stepped into the corridor.

"Who goes there? You think Supreme King Castle is a place you can trespass!?"

It was none other than Guardian Baouuu—one of the Supreme King's Duelists of Death.

"Damn, we're so close…"

Jaden raised his hand, readying his Duel Disk.

But Kira stopped him.

"It's fine. I'll handle this one," Kira said. "You go do what you need to do."

Chapter 758: Isn't 'Rain Conducts Electricity' Common Sense?

"Hahahaha! You're finished, human!"

Chaos Sorcerer threw his head back and laughed.

"The most ultimate insect is complete! Show yourself—

—Perfectly Ultimate Great Moth !!!"

A summoning storm rose; pollen seemed to drift in the air. A massive green insect spread its moth wings and let out a terrible screech from its grotesque mandibles.

[Perfectly Ultimate Great Moth , ATK 3500]

Joey: "."

"What's wrong? So shocked you're speechless?" Chaos Sorcerer stood hands on hips, grinning. "This is my trump card—the upper echelon of duel monsters—Perfectly Ultimate Great Moth !

To be felled by such a powerful monster is an honor for you, human! Hahaha—"

Joey really was speechless.

Not from shock, of course, but from that "memories of the dead suddenly attack me" feeling. What a nostalgic monster…

Back in Battle City, that was Weevil's pride and joy. Duel Monsters had only just reawakened in the modern era; even the rules weren't fully solidified, and the card pool was nothing like today.

So back then, Perfectly Ultimate Great Moth was pretty rare. With an ATK of 3500—higher even than the so-called strongest, Blue-Eyes White Dragon—it was terrifying. At the time, aside from Fusion monsters, it had the highest ATK of any Main Deck monster.

Of course, it's obsolete now.

Joey even remembered the tricks Yugi used against Weevil back then.

Like this—

"I tribute Gearfried the Iron Knight for a Tribute Summon," Joey said. "Come forth—Summoned Skull!"

[Summoned Skull, ATK 2500]

"Attack position?" Chaos Sorcerer smirked. "That ATK can't even scratch Great Moth—"

"Oh?" Joey said. "I activate the Spell Card 'Makiu, the Magical Mist'!"

Rain began to fall, pattering across the field.

Chaos Sorcerer frowned. "And that does what, exactly?"

"Haven't noticed?" Joey grinned. "Summoned Skull specializes in lightning attacks. Now look at your Great Moth under this misty rain—what's it become?"

"What?"

Chaos Sorcerer looked at his moth, still baffled.

"You still don't get it? After getting drenched, your Great Moth is now… a Soaked Great Moth!" Joey declared. "In soaked state, it'll conduct Summoned Skull's lightning far better!"

Chaos Sorcerer: "???"

Since when is that a thing?

"Go, Summoned Skull—attack Great Moth!"

[Summoned Skull, ATK 2500 → ATK 4000]

Summoned Skull's ATK spiked to 4000 in an instant, and sure enough, one lightning blast blew the Great Moth to pieces. Chaos Sorcerer was blasted back, mouth forming an O.

What kind of backwater dimension house rule is this? Since when does rain buff conductivity… You can play cards like this?

This was exactly how "Mouthpiece King" Yugi beat Weevil in the original anime.

Weevil said his Great Moth scattered scales that continually lowered the opponent's ATK, so Yugi played "Makiu, the Magical Mist" to say the rain washed the scales away. And the rain enhanced conductivity, so Summoned Skull zapped Weevil into a ZZ.

In the actual OCG/TCG printing, the card was later changed to pay homage to that scene—turning it into a dedicated card for Thunder-types and Summoned Skull, destroying opponent's monsters whose DEF is lower than Summoned Skull's ATK. A fitting tribute, but it didn't recreate the anime logic.

So fans attempted to reverse-engineer the anime effect.

In Battle City, the first time Yugi fought Weevil, it nullified Poisonous Scales and gave Summoned Skull +1000 ATK. The second time, against Joey, the rain nullified Thousand Dragon's attack. Later against Bandit Keith, it was used again to boost Summoned Skull, but only by 700.

From this, card nerds hypothesized the original anime effect: when "Makiu, the Magical Mist" resolves, negate effects of cards already on the field, and monsters cannot declare attacks.

Additionally, while in the GY, it boosts your on-field "Summoned Skull" by 100 ATK per card in your GY other than itself.

Just now, Joey had 15 cards in his GY, so Summoned Skull went up to 4000.

Of course, he didn't explain any of that to the opponent. So Chaos Sorcerer died uncomprehending, glaring at Joey in disbelief, wondering what insane dueling meta this dimension had—where "rain increases conductivity" is a legitimate line…

…

Meanwhile, deeper inside Supreme King Castle.

"Duel!" x2

[Kira, LP 4000]

[Guardian Baouu, LP 4000]

"I'll go first. Draw."

Guardian Baouu snorted.

"I don't know where your confidence comes from, but even if you reach Lord Supreme King, you'll only be offering yourselves as nourishment.

I summon 'Fiend Slime Mold'!" (Anime card)

A mass of purple sludge appeared on his field, quickly gathering and writhing, rising into a slime-like shape. Its disgusting exterior seemed to reek of mold.

[Fiend Slime Mold, ATK 500]

Baou's an anime card user with unprinted monsters.

"Then I set a card and end my turn!" Baou said confidently. "You'll learn that even compared to us, the Duelists of Death, you 'outsiders' are on a completely different level—never mind Lord Supreme King himself.

That kid you just sent in to find Lord Supreme King is probably being trampled to death by now…"

Kira ignored him. "My turn. Draw."

He slid the drawn card into his hand, then calmly summoned another monster.

"I summon 'Giant Rat.'"

Another nasty creature: an oversized rat with a vicious look, gripping what looked like a half-eaten skull.

[Giant Rat, ATK 1400]

"Giant Rat attacks 'Fiend Slime Mold.'"

Guardian Baouu laughed.

"Predictable. But this attack won't work!

I activate my set card, the Continuous Trap 'Gravity Gain'!

This card increases the gravity on the field; weak monsters can't even move under it! While this card remains, all Level 4 or lower monsters on both sides cannot attack!"

Chapter 759: Guardian Baouu

Gravity lockdown!

A massive black energy sphere appeared overhead, crackling with lightning. A powerful gravitational wave blanketed the field. Giant Rat, charging in, was crushed to the ground mid-sprint, screeching as it struggled to move.

"Level 4 and below, bound by gravity?" Kira looked intrigued. "Interesting."

Naturally, this anime card card brings to mind the once-notorious "Lockdown" card: Gravity Bind.

Gravity Bind stops Level 4 and higher from attacking, whereas this card hits Level 4 and below. As everyone knows in rulings, "4 or higher" and "4 or lower" both include Level 4, so theoretically, if both cards are on the field, no monster of any Level can attack.

"Feeling fear already?" Guardian Baouu sneered. "This is just the tip of the iceberg."

"Is that so? I'm looking forward to it," Kira smiled.

He meant it. He hoped these Supreme King lieutenants would pull out more anime cards—who knows what new hijinks they might inspire.

"I set a card. Turn end."

"My turn, draw!" Guardian Baouu said. "During my Standby Phase, if 'Fiend Slime Mold' is on my field in Attack Position, I can pay 500 Life Points to Special Summon another 'Fiend Slime Mold' from my Deck!"

[Guardian Baouu, LP 4000 → 3500]

"I pay 500 LP to divide the slime!"

The purple goop split into two nearly identical halves.

[Fiend Slime Mold, ATK 500]

"This effect isn't once per turn. As long as I have LP left and more Slime Molds in the Deck, I can activate it repeatedly during the Standby Phase."

Baou barked, "Again! I pay 500 LP to Special Summon another 'Fiend Slime Mold'!"

[Guardian Baouu, LP 3500 → 3000]

"And here's the maintenance cost of 'Gravity Gain.' During my Standby Phase, I must Tribute one of my monsters.

If I don't, this card is destroyed."

He pointed at his three slimes.

"I Tribute one 'Fiend Slime Mold' to maintain the Gravity Gain!"

The freshly called slime collapsed into a puddle and dissolved, its released energy feeding the Continuous Trap.

Kira let out a quiet "oh," frowning slightly.

A Tribute every turn to maintain it, huh…

For that cost, only stopping Level 4 and lower from attacking is… kind of mid.

Kira gave him a look of mild disappointment.

Couldn't you bring something stronger?

"Then I Tribute another 'Fiend Slime Mold' to Tribute Summon!" Baou clenched his fist. "Appear—

—Level 6, Twinheaded Beast!"

A half-man, half-beast body wreathed in hellish flames, with a lion-like head engulfed in fire.

[Twinheaded Beast, ATK 1700]

Kira's frown lingered.

That one's from Baou's anime lineup too, but it's printed—nothing special.

"Spell Card 'Double Summon.' This turn I can Tribute Summon again," Baou said. "So I Tribute the last 'Fiend Slime Mold' to Tribute Summon!

Level 6, Archfiend Giant!!!"

A great darkness blotted out the sky. A crimson-eyed demon in black armor loomed like a sinister mountain.

[Archfiend Giant, ATK 2400]

"Feel the power of a member of the Duelists of Death!

Archfiend Giant, attack 'Giant Rat'!"

The massive demon thrust out its hand. Its bulk made the motion seem ponderous, yet that palm's shadow fell like Mount Everest, smothering every avenue of escape. Under its oppressive might, the rat could only tremble, even the thought of dodging snuffed out.

[Kira, LP 4000 → 3000]

"Giant Rat's effect activates," Kira said. "When destroyed by battle and sent to the GY, I can Special Summon a EARTH monster with 1500 or less ATK from my Deck in Attack Position."

He paused and revealed the card the Deck offered up.

"Giant Rat itself is EARTH with 1500 or less ATK.

So I Special Summon a second Giant Rat."

[Giant Rat, ATK 1400]

"My attacks aren't over!" Baou said. "Twinheaded Beast, attack Giant Rat!"

The left lion head slammed its palm through the air; a fireball erupted and struck home, igniting the rat. It burned into a fireball and crumbled to ash.

[Kira, LP 3000 → 2700]

"Then the second Giant Rat's effect," Kira said. "I Special Summon a third 'Giant Rat' from my Deck."

[Giant Rat, ATK 1400]

With the remains of its two brothers still smoldering, the third rat spawned, immediately crouched and covered its head, rump stuck up, as if saying, "If you're gonna do it, do it quick."

"Twinheaded Beast's effect—this monster can attack twice each Battle Phase," Baou barked. "And you're out of Giant Rats in your Deck.

Twinheaded Beast, continue! Pulverize it!"

The right lion head mirrored the strike, blasting the third rat into another ball of flame that soon turned to ash.

[Kira, LP 2700 → 2400]

"But the last Giant Rat still triggers. I Special Summon a EARTH monster with 1500 or less ATK…"

Kira drew out the searched card.

"I Special Summon 'Stone Statue of the Aztecs.'"

A green boulder crashed down onto Kira's field with a dull thud. The statue had a puckered mouth and held up both palms in a very "don't do that" gesture.

[Stone Statue of the Aztecs, ATK 300]

"More and more nonsensical," Baou scoffed. "Whatever. As long as 'Gravity Gain' is up, Level 4 and under can't attack.

I don't know how it is in your dimension, but here only the strong survive. Trash should live like trash!"

He tossed down another card with a flourish.

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