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Chapter 859: The Battle of the Thousand-Eyed

No sooner had the Relinquished appeared and devoured the Maiden in Love than it transformed again. A denser darkness wrapped that hideous body; shrouded in black mist, it seemed to rapidly level up and evolve. In mere moments its mass swelled, becoming a form several times more terrifying than before.

Thousand-Eyes Restrict, summoned!

[Thousand-Eyes Restrict, ATK 0]

Anime is anime, after all—the 3D version of Thousand-Eyes Restrict would be a final boss fit to carry an entire horror film. Being brought out via holographic projection only made it more grotesque and dreadful.

The girl stumbled back two steps, too scared to look straight at the monster.

“Thousand-Eyes Restrict’s effect: once per turn, absorb one opposing monster as an Equip to gain its ATK and DEF,” Kira said evenly.

“Let’s start by taking back ‘Alchemist of Black Spells,’ shall we?”

Countless horrifying eyes opened at once, as if a thousand pupils flashed together.

Terrifying magic rode the darkness and swallowed the Magic Refiner without debate.

[Thousand-Eyes Restrict, ATK 0 → ATK 1200]

Blair herself was the one running a NTR control deck, yet within a single turn all the monsters on her field had been NTR clean by the opponent. Blair’s feelings were complicated.

“Battle,” Kira said. “Thousand-Eyes Restrict, direct attack.”

Despite the crushing fear and pressure, Blair steadied herself. “Then I activate my set card! Trap Card—Intruder Alarm - Yellow Alert! When the opponent declares an attack, Special Summon a monster from my hand and force that attacking monster to attack the summoned monster instead!” (Anime effect)

Blair revealed the monster in her hand.

“I Special Summon another ‘Maiden in Love’ from my hand!”

[Maiden in Love, ATK 400]

“And at this moment I also flip my other set card! Quick-Play Spell—Inferno Reckless Summon!” Blair said. “When a monster with 1500 or less ATK is Special Summoned, Special Summon as many copies of the same name as possible from Deck, hand, and GY in Attack Position.

“So I summon all three copies of ‘Maiden in Love!’”

[Maiden in Love, ATK 400] x2

The crowd hissed in unison.

Good grief—three Maidens, all cockroach-tough and hard to kill. And every time you attack one, you risk your own monster getting NTR into her control. What kind of NTR defensive line is this?

The pure-love warriors were about to cry.

“But Reckless Summon has a drawback,” Kira said. “Since you summoned three Maidens, I can also choose one of my own monsters and Special Summon as many copies of that name as possible.”

“Yes.”

Blair held her breath.

Her heart was pounding. She thought, surely he doesn’t have three copies of that Thousand-Eyes, right?

If Kira pulled out three Thousand-Eyes Restricts here, it would be a kill shot.

“How could I have three of such a rare card?”

Kira laughed.

“But I do have three copies of another monster on my field. I Special Summon two more ‘Magical Exemplars.’”

[Magical Exemplar, ATK 1700] x3

Kira: “Intruder Alarm - Yellow Alert also forces the attacking monster to attack the summoned monster.

“So Thousand-Eyes Restrict attacks ‘Maiden in Love.’”

The Thousand-Eyes’ strike swerved; the remotely-controlled Alchemist of Black Spells clubbed the Maiden again.

The onlookers caught on quickly.

Though Blair had three Maidens, their 400 ATK was a fatal flaw. Reckless Summon also handed Kira three 1700-ATK Magical Exemplars. With so many monsters taking turns grinding the Maidens into the dirt, even if they can’t be destroyed by battle, those tiny bodies can’t hold up…

“I activate the Continuous Trap ‘Spirit Barrier’!” Blair triggered another backrow. “As long as I control a monster, all battle damage I take becomes 0!”

The Spirit Barrier flared, shielding her from harm.

“Oh? That patches the Maidens’ low ATK weakness,” Kira smiled. “So now, our battles can’t destroy your monsters and can’t deal damage. Only my monsters will get Maiden Counters placed, and then their control will slowly be stolen by you.”

“Exactly!”

Blair beamed. “I told you, a girl in love is very strong!”

Syrus on the bleachers pondered a few seconds. “From a formation standpoint, it’s a kind of attack lockdown. Can’t destroy, keep stealing the opponent’s monsters—feels a bit like Kira’s style…”

Misawa mused, “A bit, yeah. Not surprising if she’s said to be a fan of that guy.”

He wore a peculiar expression.

Even the freshly enrolled newbies are dueling like this already. Ever since Kira became the Duel king, has the entire dueling scene’s meta been steered into something… strange?

Blair: “Maiden in Love’s effect—place a Maiden Counter on ‘Thousand-Eyes Restrict!’”

By now the spectators understood her deck.

Clearly she was setting up to seize the Thousand-Eyes later.

“This is a battle over monster control rights,” Syrus pushed up his glasses.

In other words, a NTR war. Both sides running NTR decks—see who can NTR harder.

“But Reckless Summon also placed new Spell Counters on the Magical Exemplars,” Kira added. “Also, the monster Special Summoned by Intruder Alarm - Yellow Alert returns to the hand at the end of the Battle Phase.”

One of Blair’s three Maidens returned to her hand.

“My turn is over.”

Blair exhaled long, as if only upon hearing “end turn” did her taut nerves relax a bit.

“I survived… Kira-sama’s pressure is too much,” she wiped sweat. “Seriously, your opponent is a lady, and you summon something that over-the-top? Won’t even let me breathe.”

Kira smiled. “Exactly because you’re a girl, I should go even harder, no?”

The crowd: “…”

Is that even human speech?

Kira put away his smile and spoke solemnly.

“You said before you came to Duel Academy with all your might just to get close to me, right?”

“Y-Yes!”

Being asked so directly made Blair blush, but she nodded.

“No. That’s not it.”

Kira shook his head.

“Eh?” Blair blinked.

“Though I appreciate you thinking so highly of me, as your senior at the same academy, I have to be responsible and say this.”

He paused and looked at her calmly.

“The reason we duelists stand here, the reason we duel, isn’t for someone else. It’s for ourselves.”

Chapter 860: As a Duelist

Blair froze.

For herself?

“Not just about coming to Duel Academy, and not just talking about you. All freshmen—no, all duelists should be like this.

“Since you chose this path, you should respect dueling itself. You don’t duel for someone else. You duel for yourself,” Kira said.

“I remember you came here before. To see Zane Truesdale, right?”

“Y-Yes,” Blair said, embarrassed.

“See? You hadn’t even met Zane back then. You didn’t know him. Just like you hadn’t met me either.” Kira smiled.

Blair blushed. “I hadn’t. But… I’ve watched your duels, and all your public talks…”

Kira shook his head, smiling.

It sounded like a crazed fan telling a singer, “I’ve listened to all your songs, so I know you.”

“You’re still young. You have a lot to learn and a long road ahead.”

She might be called love-brained, but in the anime—whether about Zane or Jaden—it’s more like idol worship. She first appears as an elementary schooler and is only middle-school age by the end, a clueless little kid. She just can’t distinguish between idol fantasy and genuine feelings.

“But even if you’re young, you’ve stepped onto this path and are already a duelist,” Kira said calmly. “Once you’re on this stage, age and gender don’t matter. We’re all the same—duelists.”

“If I go easy on you because you’re a girl or change my usual playstyle, that would be disrespectful to my opponent and to dueling itself, right?”

The students suddenly understood.

Blair stared blankly for a moment, then something stirred in her heart.

“Kira-sama… you did this to tell me that?”

Faculty and students began to chime in.

“Indeed. Once you enter the arena, whoever you are, you’re just a duelist. You should give it your all.”

Even the chancellor nodded in satisfaction.

Kira didn’t forget to pass on something important to the newbies while dueling—truly the face of the academy.

Hmm… something feels off…

Only Misawa and Alexis, who knew Kira best, looked a bit odd.

Sure, the logic holds. You shouldn’t take a duel lightly just because the opponent’s a little girl.

But with all his decks to choose from, he just had to bring a terrifying Relinquished lineup. Hard to argue it wasn’t on purpose…

“I—I understand!”

Blair gathered herself.

“Then I’ll also go all out! My turn—draw!”

She drew.

“I activate the Spell Card ‘Pot of Greed’ to draw two cards.”

“Then I Normal Summon ‘Maiden in Love!’”

[Maiden in Love, ATK 800]

It was, of course, the one that bounced to her hand last turn.

“I also activate the Equip Spell ‘Cupid’s Kiss,’ equipping it to one of my ‘Maiden in Love!’”

The blonde little love god descended again with her Cupid’s Arrow, glaring at Kira’s field.

Blair took a deep breath.

Good—last turn I placed a Maiden Counter on Thousand-Eyes. This turn, I’ll take that top win condition…

Eh?

She froze.

She noticed the abyssal dark energy constantly pouring from Thousand-Eyes, now blanketing her entire field without her knowing.

All three Maidens were shivering under the cold shadow, too scared to move.

“Seems you noticed,” Kira chuckled. “Thousand-Eyes Restrict’s other effect: while it’s face-up, all monsters on your opponent’s field cannot declare attacks.” (Anime effect)

In the real card, it’s “all monsters except Thousand-Eyes can’t attack,” not just the opponent’s.

Blair: “!”

What? Even attacking is prohibited?

If she can’t battle, she can’t steal opposing monsters…

“A pity—one move short,” Kira smiled.

The crowd: “…”

Misawa coughed. “The newbie learned a bit of the LOrd in Yellow’s style, but… the demon is still a step ahead.”

Alexis sighed. “I suddenly feel a little sorry for this girl.”

“I set two and end my turn,” Blair said helplessly.

“Then, if you’re done, it’s my turn again,” Kira said slowly.

“My turn—draw.”

Blair breathed, over and over.

Things had gone off script, but she wasn’t dead yet.

No matter what, she still had three Maidens on the field. They can’t be destroyed by battle. Add Spirit Barrier and she takes no battle damage. Even if her attacks are sealed and she can’t take his monsters yet, she should be able to stall for quite a while.

She also had set cards.

With an unbreakable front line and backrow support…

At least this turn should be safe.

She’d look for a counterattack later…

“Thousand-Eyes Restrict’s effect,” Kira said. “Once per turn, absorb one of your monsters and gain its ATK.

“I absorb one ‘Maiden in Love.’”

Darkness surged again from the Thousand-Eyes, that ghastly holo performance unfolding. The overwhelming dark swallowed the helpless girl.

Blair: “!”

This thing can equip more than one absorbed monster…

In the real card, it can only have one, but in the anime there’s no cap stated for how many it can absorb as Equips—only that it can activate the absorb effect once per turn.

Of course, modern cards would likely say “You can only use this card name’s effect once per turn.”

In the ancient era of Yu-Gi-Oh!, “once per turn per card name” didn’t exist.

Newcomers may struggle with “once per turn” versus “once per turn per card name,” but no worries—

Kira was about to demonstrate exactly why “once per turn per card name” needed to be invented.

“I activate a set card!” Blair flipped her backrow. “Quick-Play Spell ‘Effect Shut!’ When a monster effect activates, negate that activation and destroy that monster!” (Anime card)

Even the mighty Thousand-Eyes couldn’t withstand it; it shattered under Effect Shut.

“Oh? Not only an absolute front-line defense, but also strong effect negation in the back. Impressive,” Kira nodded approvingly.

Then he narrowed his eyes and smiled. “So… how about the next one?”

Chapter 861: Endless Sacrifice Hell

Blair: “!?”

The next one?

The next what?

But Thousand-Eyes was destroyed…

“Magical Exemplar’s effect,” Kira said lazily. “Once per turn, remove Spell Counters from itself to Special Summon a Spellcaster from hand or GY whose Level equals the number removed.”

He pointed at the first Exemplar.

“Exemplar No. 1 has four counters thanks to your ‘Pot of Greed’ and ‘Cupid’s Kiss’ last turn.

“I remove one to revive a Level 1 Spellcaster from my GY.

“Arise—

—Thousand-Eyes Restrict!”

The green-robed sorceress closed her eyes and chanted. Ancient characters floated, weaving a ring of mystic light.

Darkness welled up at its center, polluting the holy array into a marshlike abyss.

From that abyss, innumerable eyes opened! A colossal mass steeped in darkness rose, a thousand pupils swiveling, its horrific aura dominating the arena.

Thousand-Eyes Restrict, revived!

[Thousand-Eyes Restrict, ATK 0]

Blair: “???”

Beyond the terror of the grotesque performance, her head filled with question marks.

Huh?

This thing is a Spellcaster?

“Thousand-Eyes Restrict’s effect,” Kira snapped his fingers, smiling. “Once per turn, absorb an opponent’s monster as an Equip.”

This is the power of no “once per turn per card name.”

It looks like Thousand-Eyes can only activate once per turn—but if you summon another copy, or send and revive it, the usage resets.

In other words, if you can make it repeatedly in a single turn, you can ignore its usage limit. Absorb as many monsters as you can revive it.

That’s why modern Yu-Gi-Oh! slaps “You can only use this card name’s effect once per turn” on monsters. If it’s per card name, reviving doesn’t reset it.

The Maiden in Love struggled, but the dark tentacles swallowed her with a sob, corrupting her into part of the darkness.

Blair bit her lip.

Even so, it only absorbs one. She still had two Maidens. As long as one remains, she’s invincible.

“Magical Exemplar No. 2’s effect,” Kira continued. “Remove one counter to revive a Level 1 Spellcaster from the GY.

“I remove one to revive this Level 1 Spellcaster. Return to the field—

—Relinquished!”

The dark mire erupted again, a cyclopean eye opening in the abyss. That unspeakable horror rose, its swiveling eyeball cursing the world.

Blair was almost in tears.

No way… This thing is a Spellcaster too?

What about it looks like a Spellcaster?

She now deeply distrusted the Duel Monsters creator who printed these two abyssal creatures…

“Relinquished’s effect: once per turn, absorb an opponent’s monster as an Equip,” Kira said, smiling.

“Absorb a second Maiden in Love.”

The cyclopean eye bulged wide, darkness burst again into tendrils that wrapped the girl. Another beautiful maiden wept and thrashed, then was devoured and absorbed.

Blair turned her head, unable to watch, pressing a hand to her chest to steady her breath.

Calm down. Don’t be afraid.

Now both Relinquished and Thousand-Eyes have absorbed. She still had her last Maiden, the lone survivor.

As long as one remains, the absolute defense holds. Maiden can’t be destroyed by battle, and Spirit Barrier negates damage—

“I activate the Equip Spell ‘Wonder Wand,’” Kira said calmly. “Equip to a Spellcaster; it gains 500 ATK.

“I equip Wonder Wand to ‘Relinquished,’ increasing it by 500.”

Blair’s pupils shrank; many in the crowd sucked in air.

Everyone knew the key part of Wonder Wand isn’t the +500.

They all realized the Lord in Yellow’s next cruel move…

“Wonder Wand’s other effect: send this card and the equipped monster to the GY; draw two cards.”

Kira gestured casually at Relinquished.

“I send this and Relinquished to the GY. Draw two.”

Blair: “!”

She immediately understood.

Kira had three Magical Exemplars. They remove Spell Counters to revive a Spellcaster of the same Level from the GY.

Relinquished is Level 1, so a single counter revives it.

And the counters on those Exemplars are practically inexhaustible…

Meaning Relinquished has three extra lives each turn!

And since Relinquished is “once per turn,” but going to GY and returning resets the state, it can absorb again.

In other words, Wonder Wand sends Relinquished to the GY; Exemplar No. 3 revives it; then it can eat the last Maiden—

No, I mustn’t let that happen!

“I activate my set Trap—Dust Tornado! Destroy one Spell/Trap on the field!”

Blair shouted.

“Before Wonder Wand resolves, I destroy the Equip!”

The Wand was caught in a whirlwind and shredded midair.

“Nice response,” Misawa nodded. “Even if Relinquished can revive endlessly, if it can’t be sent to the GY, its state won’t reset, so it can’t take the last Maiden.”

He paused, then sighed.

“Well… that’s as far as it goes.”

The newbie did her best.

But the opponent isn’t playing fair.

“Impressive,” Kira applauded Blair’s line.

Then he smiled. “But did you forget I still have this?”

He pointed to a face-up Spell.

“The Continuous Spell ‘Arcane Barrier.’ It already had three counters, and it gains one each time a Spellcaster is destroyed.

“When ‘Thousand-Eyes Restrict’ was destroyed this turn, it went to four—the maximum.”

Blair blinked.

“Then I activate Arcane Barrier: send this card and one Spellcaster on my field to the GY to draw cards equal to the counters—four.”

Blair turned to stone.

Send a Spellcaster to the GY…

Huh?

“I send ‘Relinquished’ and Arcane Barrier to the GY to draw four.”

Kira drew four, then said evenly:

“Then Magical Exemplar No. 3: remove one counter to revive a Level 1 Spellcaster from the GY. Return once more—

—Relinquished!”

In the spot Relinquished had just left, darkness surged; the cyclopean eye snapped open, the pupil spinning.

As if saying, heh—miss me? I left, and now I’m back.

[Relinquished, ATK 0]

Blair: “…”

She was out of plays.

And out of words.

“As I said, I won’t hold back or go easy. So… sorry, Blair-chan.”

Kira smiled.

“Relinquished’s effect: once per turn, absorb an opponent’s monster. I absorb the last ‘Maiden in Love.’”

“Once per turn”—now those words sounded like mockery.

The cyclopean eye opened, and darkness unfurled into tendrils, binding the helpless girl and yanking her into the abyss.

The arena fell silent, save for the maiden’s helpless cries echoing.

Even Chancellor Sheppard’s mouth twitched.

I must report this to President Pegasus later.

Have him tweak Relinquished’s holo animation—this is way too grim…

“Battle,” Kira said. “The two ‘Magical Exemplars’ attack directly.”

[Blair, LP 1800 → LP 0]

Chapter 862: The Final Opponent

Professors and students: “…”

An almost awkward quiet.

As a freshman representative challenging the academy’s symbol and everyone’s idol, the Duel King, the duel was more an exhibition than a contest.

No one thought Blair could win. Even if she’s a prodigy who skipped grades into Duel Academy, no way.

A brand-new freshman knocking out the Duel King?

Even wish-fulfillment novels wouldn’t dare.

The result was foregone, but the process and finishing blow opened the newbies’ eyes.

Not necessarily in a good way.

As their first duel to watch after enrollment, this might leave a shadow in their tender hearts…

Upperclassmen were calm.

Relax—small scene.

We’ve seen worse these last two years. Some of the victims are even sitting in the stands, happily watching newbies suffer what they already endured under the King in Yellow.

At most, they sighed, “As expected of him—even to such a cute little loli, he’s this cruel.”

But also—girl, why this deck?

Of all things, you play NTR-control in front of the King in Yellow?

To challenge him with such brazen door-showing, getting reverse-NTR into oblivion feels only natural.

On day one, the newbies saw the darkness of the dueling world.

To be fair, Blair did well.

Take her final board: three undying Maidens as shields, Spirit Barrier nullifying damage—the vast majority of freshmen would be stumped.

Plus backrow like “Effect Shut” to counter monsters and “Dust Tornado” to handle Spells/Traps.

Not an impregnable fortress, but very hard to crack and OTK.

The Duel King’s solution?

“—Get over here.”

In one turn, two Relinquishedsters danced in and out of the graveyard, NTRing that iron turtle clean.

Beyond the fearsome strength, the psychological pressure was maxed.

The poor girl—her maiden’s heart likely shattered; she’ll see Relinquished in her nightmares all week…

“Thank you very much, Kira-sama!”

Blair suddenly bowed at a perfect ninety degrees, her long hair cascading like a waterfall.

The crowd: “?”

Huh?

Is she a masochist or just silly? After getting wrecked like that, she says thank you?

Blair then said earnestly, “I understand what you wanted to teach me this way… It’s true.

“When I came to this academy, subconsciously I felt I’m younger than everyone, and a girl, so… I was a bit… not confident.

“But not anymore!”

She slapped her flat chest proudly.

“Age and gender don’t matter. Now that I’m at Duel Academy, I’m a proud duelist! Even if I lose, I’ll stand tall on this stage—as a duelist!”

Silence for a moment.

Then Chancellor Sheppard stood, his shiny head reflecting the lights, and raised his hands.

Clap clap clap—

Thunderous applause.

With the chancellor leading, more students stood to applaud. The clapping swelled into a wave, soon mixed with cheers.

Some shouted Kira’s name; others praised Blair’s performance.

The chancellor narrowed his eyes and nodded slightly.

Yes—what a positive entrance atmosphere.

Though Kira’s demo duel warped the freshmen again, likely sending them further down the path of darkness…

But whatever.

At first, the chancellor and professors struggled.

When students’ styles drifted further under Kira’s influence, the old guard couldn’t accept it. Deck-building and tactics strayed from traditional textbooks; they shook their heads.

But as the King in Yellow’s radiance grew and his record shone brighter, his influence became unstoppable.

The professors gave up resisting.

Even some traditionalists had a thought—“Maybe… we should try it?”

Just try—try new possibilities in dueling.

Having tasted the forbidden fruit, they also gave up.

Fine. So be it.

The students’ practical skills improved; in the GX circuit they gave pros headaches.

Magazines covered it, boosting the academy’s fame.

So now the chancellor just smiled, excited for Duel Academy’s bright future—

—or dark future?

Doesn’t matter.

After shaking Blair’s hand, Kira descended amid the juniors’ cheers, leaving only a wave.

As he left, Kira glanced around.

Professor Viper must be watching, right?

But it doesn’t matter. Viper needs students wearing his energy-absorbing bracelets to siphon duel energy to awaken Yubel.

Without the bracelets, he can’t absorb anything.

…

Viper indeed watched from a makeshift base, looking grave.

“The Duel King is truly unfathomable,” he murmured.

“Facing a top freshman, he revealed nothing… did he?”

To the Duel King, this was just recreation—using the duel to teach freshmen a lesson.

From such a duel, you learn nothing.

“As expected, we need professionals.”

Viper paused, glancing into the shadows.

“Your past record is impressive, though you’ve been off the pro circuit for years. Is that a problem?”

“No problem—cough, cough.”

A man in an oversized blue uniform stepped from the darkness, adjusting his glasses.

“Thank you, Professor Viper, for this opportunity,” he said softly, pushing up his glasses.

“Having the Duel King as my final opponent… is not bad.”