Yugioh [903-905] (Patreon)

Chapter 903: The Queen

"Someone's here."

Kira said calmly.

The moment his words fell, Eye drifted out, glaring around with exaggerated vigilance.

But after staring for a while, her lids drooped. "You're overthinking it, right? I don't feel anything at all."

Kira narrowed his eyes, observed a bit longer, then gave a slight nod.

"Mm, seems they've withdrawn for now. Looks like they don't intend to confront us yet."

"For real?"

Eye was skeptical.

"Even a spirit as amazing as me didn't sense anything. How did you—"

Kira didn't answer. Vampire Fraulein skipped past with a smile and tossed back, "Probably because you don't have a brain."

Eye was furious, big eye puffing with anger. But after stewing for two seconds, she deflated.

"Damn it, that's kind of hard to refute…"

After all, in her current state she's just an eye—literally no brain. She was only stating facts.

But if it's true, why does it still make me mad?

"…"

A moment after Kira ended his consciousness projection and left the spirit world, a figure appeared atop that mountain.

"What a cautious one," the person murmured to themselves. "The Evil God's target is in this man's hands."

A low voice asked by their ear, "Can you handle it?"

The shadowy figure chuckled.

"Don't worry. No matter how exceptional he is, he's a man in the end."

She licked her lips, a dangerous gleam flashing in her eyes.

…

The next night, Kira sat in the Yellow Dorm cafeteria, reading the latest search report from KaibaCorp's reconnaissance team stationed on the island while eating a simple dinner.

"That Yubel really knows how to hide," Kira muttered.

He believed they hadn't left the island, but the search had been underway for two days and there was still no progress.

He was starting to question the recon team's professionalism.

As he read, a tray was set down across from him.

"Mind if I sit here?"

Kira looked up to see a girl whose features were breathtakingly delicate, with striking contours and skin smooth as jade.

A girl with that level of beauty approaching on her own would make many boys at the age of budding feelings tense up—maybe even feel flattered.

But Kira's face was blank. "I mind."

The girl seemed choked for a beat.

She forced a laugh and sat down anyway. "Kira-sama sure likes to joke."

Kira raised an eyebrow but said nothing.

Whether intentionally or not, when she sat down, it was like she'd placed her bossom right on the table—there was a definite sense of flaunting her natural endowments, and the visual impact was… substantial.

"You need something?" Kira asked blandly.

"Not really, I just wanted to get to know you," the girl's eyes rippled as if with affection. "You know, everyone wants to."

"Mm. I don't want to get to know you," Kira said.

The girl seemed choked again.

She let out two embarrassed yet polite chuckles.

"Ahaha… then let's change the topic."

She blinked, her bright eyes seeming to speak on their own.

"Do you like seafood, Kira-sama?"

This time, Kira hadn't even responded when someone else's patience ran out.

The Silent Magician in silver hair and school uniform silently appeared behind the girl. With a flick of her hand, white light gathered into a staff.

She brought it down on the girl's forehead.

The girl screamed, and a surge of demonic aura exploded off her body. Purple, smoke-like light gathered midair into a human shape—a tall, slender queen adorned in gold and jewels.

She clutched her head and snapped, "How rude!"

Silent Magician glared, staff horizontal before her chest, shielding Kira.

It was late enough that the cafeteria was nearly empty, but the few passing students all turned with stunned expressions.

"Sorry, but spirits disguising themselves to approach me isn't a great plan," Kira chuckled. "I've met quite a few spirits. I've got some experience now."

Silent Magician nodded repeatedly in agreement.

"So… what are you here for?"

She snorted haughtily.

"For that nameless spirit," she said coldly. "Evil God-sama requires it."

"Me?" Eye popped out, surprised. "Am I that popular?"

Kira frowned. "You're with the Advent Church? The Advent Church has spirit members?"

That was unexpected. He'd thought they were just a bunch of cultists.

"Evil God-sama's believers are everywhere. Since you've seen through my disguise, there's no point in talking. Let's settle this the traditional way."

She stretched out her hand. Golden motes gathered along her arm and formed a Duel Disk.

"Speak with cards?" Kira smiled and nodded. "Indeed, the proper way for duelists. Fine."

He rose from his seat.

"Duel!" x2

[Kira, LP 4000]

[The Queen, LP 4000]

"I'll take the first turn. Draw!"

The Queen drew, then immediately revealed her true identity.

"I summon 'Allure Queen LV3'!"

The monster she summoned looked exactly like her—fair-skinned and beautiful—only younger than the duelist herself, and significantly less… over-endowed.

[Allure Queen LV3, ATK 500]

"So you're the Allure Queen," Kira said, enlightened.

The Queen thrust out her chest proudly. "The very same."

Kira nodded.

He remembered this series. The archetype had been in the cards very early, but was obscure and quite weak at first.

He remembered it because years later, it appeared in the anime and got a huge buff.

In Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS, the SOL Technology executive Queen used this deck. She had support spells that didn't exist in the real cards back then, and even got the archetype some modern Link monsters.

"I set one card and end my turn," the Queen said.

"So you're a Queen spirit. No wonder you tried to allure me—that's your innate ability, isn't it?" Kira smiled.

The Queen snorted heavily, seemingly frustrated that her proud ability had failed.

Could it be this man's brain is so full of cards that he's immune to seduction?

"My turn. Draw," Kira said.

"Let's start with this card—

 Spell Card 'Dark World Dealings.'"

…

Chapter 904- Turn Jump

"Dark World?" The Queen's eyes narrowed. "As in the Dark World under the Supreme King?"

"Oh? You even know the Supreme King," Kira said casually, pausing mid-motion. "You're a spirit from the dimension ruled by the Supreme King?"

The Queen snorted haughtily. "I am Evil God-sama's most faithful subordinate. I will not be ruled by anyone else."

Kira propped his chin and nodded. "So, you're from another dimension. Can I ask—what does your Evil God-sama look like?

 And why do you want this useless, good-for-nothing spirit?"

Eye bulged. "Hey! Who are you calling useless? I'm right here!"

The Queen scoffed. "I have no obligation to answer."

Kira nodded. "Got it. Your rank isn't high enough to have seen your so-called Evil God-sama, nor to be told why you need this spirit."

Bullseye. The Queen's temper flared instantly.

"Who are you calling unqualified?

I'll have you know, I'm one of the highest-ranking Queens in the entire Advent Church! There are less than three people in the church I truly respect.

The only reason I don't know is because I don't need to. Trivial information won't affect the mission, nor our loyalty to Evil God-sama!"

Eye half-lidded her gaze, pondered for two seconds, then said airily, "Suddenly feels like being an Evil God's simp is a pretty rough gig…"

"Truly," Kira agreed. "Not even knowing what your crush looks like—can't think of many worse."

Master and spirit bantered in sync, making the Queen's tumultuous waves heave with fury. She scowled. "Are you dueling or gossiping?"

Kira shrugged with a smile. "Anyway, Dark World Dealings' effect—both players draw one card from their deck, then each discards one card."

They both drew, then each pitched a card.

"But the monster I just discarded is this."

He revealed his hand.

"Beiige, Vanguard of Dark World. When this card is discarded to the GY by a card effect, Special Summon it."

He slapped the monster onto the disk. The projection activated, a translucent dark soldier in bone-like armor, brandishing a war spear, appeared on the field.

[Beiige, Vanguard of Dark World, ATK 1600]

"Next, Normal Summon 'Broww, Huntsman of Dark World.'"

A Dark World warrior in silver-white armor appeared, wielding a bow and arrow a bit small for his frame.

[Broww, Huntsman of Dark World, ATK 1400]

"Two monsters at once," the Queen said. "Planning to launch a sudden assault?"

"Beiige, attack 'Allure Queen LV3,'" Kira declared.

Beiige thrust his spear, the silver point lunging straight for the LV3 Queen—too petite to withstand such a fierce strike.

"I activate my set card, Trap Card 'A Rival Appears!'"

The Queen's backrow flipped.

"Select one face-up monster your opponent controls; Special Summon from your hand a monster with the same Level!"

Kira: "My Dark World monsters are Level 3 and Level 4."

"I choose the Level 4 'Beiige, Vanguard of Dark World!'" the Queen said. "From my hand, I Special Summon my Level 4 'Queen's Bodyguard!'"

True to the name, a unit of royal guards in uniform appeared, each with a longsword, interposing their bodies before The Queen, glowering at the charging Beiige.

Beiige actually balked at the formation, drawing back half a step.

"The Queen's Bodyguard's effect," the Queen said smugly. "While this card is on the field, monsters with 'Allure Queen' in their names on your field cannot be chosen as attack targets."

She paused, then smiled.

"My guards will never allow their noble Queen to be attacked."

As if to prove their loyalty, the guards all took a step forward, heads high, blades drawn.

"The Queen's dignity shall not be defied!"

Eye squinted. "Such dogged loyalty—just like you and that Evil God."

"Run your mouth while you can," the Queen said icily. "You won't have the chance for long."

"If I can't attack the Queen, I'll roll back combat," Kira said. "I won't attack for now."

He slid out a card.

"I set one card to the backrow. Turn end."

"My turn. Draw," the Queen said.

She revealed the card she drew. "Spell Card 'Spell Books from the Pot'—both players draw three." (Manga Card)

They both refilled violently. The Queen looked up after drawing, a dangerous smile in her eyes.

"Allure Queen LV3, effect activate!" she called. "Once per turn, target one Level 3 or lower monster your opponent controls; absorb it and equip it to Allure Queen!"

On Kira's side, Broww's face changed. He pointed at himself instinctively.

Level 3 or lower—so me, huh?

"Absorb 'Broww, Huntsman of Dark World'!"

Broww was sucked up by golden light, ranting all the way, becoming an Equip Card behind the Queen in her backrow.

"Next I activate the Spell 'Turn Jump'!"

The spell projected into her backrow. In that instant, the whole field seemed frozen. A giant clock face appeared behind, its hands spinning madly.

"Turn Jump negates all effects on the same chain as its activation, keeps the current field state, and fast-forwards the turn count by three!" (Manga Card)

An absurd effect—clearly anime-only. In DM, Yugi used it with LV monsters to fast-forward into higher forms of Silent Swordsman.

"A card that accelerates LV growth," Kira said.

"Exactly," the Queen smiled. "As long as Allure Queen LV3 is equipped with a card, she can evolve during my Standby Phase!

Therefore, send LV3 to the GY and level up to LV5!"

Her figure grew rapidly, more tall and imperious, cold face exuding innate authority.

[Allure Queen LV5, ATK 1000]

…

Chapter 905: The Guards Switch Sides

Allure Queen LV5, summoned!

"With the evolution to LV5, my Queen's allure has leveled up as well!"

The Queen laughed.

"Now Allure Queen can charm any Level 5 or lower monster to my side!

 Once per turn, absorb one Level 5 or lower monster your opponent controls as an Equip.

Absorb 'Beiige, Vanguard of Dark World'!"

The remaining Dark World soldier on Kira's field was likewise bewitched by golden light, his gaze going hazy. Staggering like a drunk, he wandered into the opponent's field and settled behind the Queen as an Equip.

"So you turned all my Dark World to your side," Kira sighed. "How cruel."

Lately, why do I feel like NTR deck are multiplying too…

But Allure Queen's effect only removes the opponent's monsters by absorbing them as Equips; she can't take their ATK or effects.

Which is why, despite being an old archetype, it never caught on in the real card meta.

"Battle!" the Queen commanded. "Allure Queen LV5, direct attack!"

Red light flashed in her eyes. She hefted her golden staff, a beam of light blasting straight into Kira. The realistic impact made him stagger back two steps, smoke churning where he stood.

[Kira, LP 4000 → 3000]

"Eh!? You just let that through?" Eye yelped. "Isn't that bad? At this rate, I'm going to get snatched by the other side!"

"Seems so," Kira nodded. "You'd better start packing."

Eye: "…"

The Queen laughed. "At least you know your place. Continue the attack!"

She flicked her arm like a queen cracking a whip.

"Queen's Bodyguard, direct attack as well!"

At her order, the guards shouted in unison and drew their swords, cold edges flashing as they slashed toward Kira.

But just as the blades were about to land, the corner of Kira's mouth curved into a strange arc.

A dangerous smile.

The Queen: "!?"

The next instant, she watched in disbelief as her loyal guards—the lickspittles she was so proud of—suddenly turned with ferocious glares, bloodshot eyes, roaring as they charged at her.

The Queen blanched. "What are you doing? Rebelling?"

"I activated the Trap Card 'Confusion Chaff,'" Kira said, pointing at his backrow with a smile. "This can only be activated when a second direct attack is declared in the same Battle Phase.

It makes the second attacking monster battle the first attacking monster."

The Queen: "!"

The first attacker was her Allure Queen LV5, the second was the Queen's Bodyguard—

 So now the battle becomes the Royal Guard attacking their own Queen?

The guards' chaotic blades had already cleaved into the Queen. She let out a sharp scream.

[The Queen, LP 4000 → 3300]

"Bastards… using my own guards against me…"

The Queen's voice went cold and low.

"But a Queen with Equips doesn't die! If Allure Queen would be destroyed by battle, you can destroy one of her equipped monsters instead.

So the one destroyed is your 'Beiige, Vanguard of Dark World!'"

In the backrow, Beiige exploded with a boom, destroyed in the Queen's place.

Even if your monster is immortal, battle damage still applies. The Queen had to take the damage herself.

Of course, the physical shock wasn't the main thing.

The main thing was—she was cut down by her own lickspittle squad!

 Such humiliation—if she didn't avenge it, wouldn't the name of Allure Queen be tarnished?

"Your Majesty!"

The guards dropped their swords in panic, faces stricken.

"Are you alright?"

By the look of it, they were ready to commit seppuku at a word.

The Queen snorted heavily and waved them back, unwilling to speak.

"I set one card and end my turn."

"My turn. Draw."

Kira glanced at the draw, then revealed it.

"Spell Card 'Graceful Charity'—draw three, then discard two."

Graceful Charity was an early Dark World godsend. While it was a near-universal staple back then, if you had to say who suffered most after its ban, Dark World would be high on the list.

Kira discarded two. As expected, one of the cards he'd just sent to the GY immediately reacted.

"Snoww, Unlight of Dark World," Kira said. "If this card is discarded to the GY by a card effect: add one 'Dark World' card from your Deck to your hand.

I'll add this card—"

He revealed a Spell.

"The Field Spell 'The Gates of Dark World.'"

"Then I activate the Field Spell 'The Gates of Dark World!'"

He slid the field card in. Darkness burst outward from him, swallowing the field. The arena seemed to drop into a black abyss, and in the center stood a towering door, as if sealing some horror.

"Gates of Dark World: all Fiend monsters on the field gain 300 ATK/DEF," Kira said.

"And once per turn: banish one Fiend in your GY; discard one Fiend from your hand; then draw one card."

He revealed a Fiend in the GY.

"I banish 'Broww, Huntsman of Dark World' from my GY to activate the effect.

I discard one card, then draw one."

Immediately, the discarded card stirred. Black miasma boiled up from the disk, gathering on the field and forming a hulking figure.

"The card I discarded is 'Beiige, Vanguard of Dark World,'" Kira said. "When it's discarded by a card effect, Special Summon it. Come—

—Beiige, Vanguard of Dark World!"

[Beiige, Vanguard of Dark World, ATK 2400]

"Next, Normal Summon 'Brron, Mad King of Dark World.'"

[Brron, Mad King of Dark World, ATK 1800]

"Let's go straight to battle," Kira said. "Since I can't attack Allure Queen while the Guard is out, I'll start with the Guard.

Brron, Mad King of Dark World—attack 'Queen's Bodyguard!'"