Yugioh [906-908] (Patreon)

Chapter 906 – The Evolving Queen

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

Brron, Mad King of Dark World was one of the more famous cards from the Dark World series. Not because of its overwhelming utility or top-tier stats, but largely thanks to the anime.

Because this was the card that massively pushed the GX plot forward, becoming the most important turning point monster in Jaden's life.

In the anime, Brron kidnapped Jaden's friends and dueled him. During that duel, Jaden's companions were sacrificed one by one as offerings to the "Super Polymerization". Under the influence of Super Polymerization, each of them was consumed by various negative emotions, and Jaden himself fell into endless guilt and despair.

Although Brron was ultimately defeated and vanished at Jaden's hands, he had already fulfilled his purpose before his death. Because of that duel, Jaden awakened as Supreme King Jaden, and the card that represented the deepest darkness in his heart—bearing an unprecedented, terrifying dark power—"Super Polymerization" was born.

Of course, in this timeline, things had changed. On this branch of the world line, Jaden had never run into Brron at all. During the period when Kira swept through the Supreme King's dimension and subjugated the Dark World deck, this so-called Mad King had already been brought under Kira's control.

The Queen's royal guards shouted loudly, raising their swords to meet the attack. They looked many in number, but their total attack power was only 1700. Even if they all attacked together, in the end they still could only fall in regret before the Mad King's blade.

[Queen, LP 3300 → LP 3200]

"At this moment, Brron, Mad King of Dark World's effect also activates," Kira said calmly. "When Brron inflicts battle damage to the opponent, I discard one card from my hand."

Kira revealed a card from his hand and discarded it.

"I discard 'Goldd, Wu-Lord of Dark World' from my hand."

"And now, at this moment, Goldd's effect activates as well!

When Goldd is discarded from hand to the Graveyard by a card effect, he Special Summons himself to the field!"

Kira raised his Duel Disk. Dark light burst out from the Graveyard, taking form as a huge, burly Dark World demon descending onto the field!

Pitch-black lightning churned, and cold air roared out continuously from the Gate of the Dark World. The Dark World Weapon God stood wrapped in black clouds and thunder. His body seemed to be covered in golden armor, his gaze filled with brutal, tyrannical light.

[Goldd, Wu-Lord of Dark World, ATK 2300]

"He summoned another high-level monster…"

The Queen suddenly felt her pressure multiply.

"So this guy's deck revolves around discarding his own hand to operate at high speed?"

"Lucent, Netherlord of Dark World, attack 'Allure Queen LV5'!"

On the other side of the field, three great Dark World monsters appeared in an instant, two of them high-level. Even the Queen felt her heart tighten at such a formation.

She immediately flipped a backrow card. "Then I activate my set card, Trap Card 'Pinpoint Guard'!

When the opponent declares an attack, I choose one Level 4 or lower monster in my Graveyard and Special Summon it in face-up Defense Position!"

The Royal Guard unit that had just retreated to the Graveyard immediately crawled back out of their tombs, each of them covered in dust and looking quite bedraggled, but still drawing their swords with ragged breaths, firmly standing between the Queen and danger.

"We won't allow you to harm a single hair on the Queen!"

Sure enough, the full-force blow of Netherlord of Dark Worldd was completely blocked by them. The guards roared hoarsely, stubbornly using their bodies to withstand the destructive impact.

"As long as the Royal Guard is on the field, my opponent cannot choose Allure Queen as an attack target," the Queen declared. "And monsters Special Summoned by the effect of 'Pinpoint Guard' cannot be destroyed by battle or card effects this turn!"

"An absolute defense formed by a monster effect combined with a Trap, hm." Kira smiled. "That's at least something, I'll give you that."

The Queen took a deep breath.

What a punchable attitude.

As a Duel Spirit, she prided herself on having considerable experience in Dueling. She'd met powerful Duelists before and had fought them as well, but someone who could, with just a few words, make one desperately want to punch his face—this man was one of a kind.

"Then I set one card and end my turn," Kira said.

The Queen: "My turn. Draw!"

She paused, glancing at the Allure Queen on her field.

"During the Standby Phase, if she has a monster equipped to her, Allure Queen LV5 can evolve into LV7.

Of course, the monster equipped to the Queen last turn was sent to the Graveyard as a substitute for her destruction in battle, so during this Standby Phase, I can't evolve."

She closed her eyes for a moment, her tone calm.

"As much as I don't want to admit it, that really is my weakness. From LV3 to LV5, and from LV5 to LV7, in both cases I can only auto-evolve if I have an equipped monster absorbed on my body. Compared with other LV series Spirits, that's a disadvantage for me.

And even if I do charm a monster, the only function it has is to substitute itself when I'd be destroyed. I get no bonus attack power at all from the absorbed enemy."

Her voice shifted abruptly as she snapped her eyes open. A surge of power exploded from her body, and an invisible shockwave whipped up her long hair.

"But that ends now!"

The Queen raised her voice proudly.

"After joining the Advent Church and receiving the Evil God's blessing, I have evolved!

And this is the proof—"

She lifted the card in her hand with exaggerated flair. The Spell Card erupted with a sky-piercing brilliance.

"I activate Continuous Spell 'Allure Dance'!"

A green Spell Card appeared in her backrow. At the same time, a faint golden light seemed to coat the Allure Queen on her field, as if she had received some intangible blessing.

"When 'Allure Dance' is activated, I can add one Field Spell 'Allure Palace' from my Deck to my hand."

The Queen revealed the Field Spell she had searched.

"Then I activate the Field Spell 'Allure Palace'!"

The dark domain shattered, and the Gate of the Dark World collapsed with a roar. Replacing that dark territory was a magnificent, splendid palace, glittering like a royal castle. Golden radiance coiled around the Allure Queen, making her the focal point of the scene.

"While in this palace, Allure Queen gains 500 ATK!"

[Allure Queen LV5, ATK 1000 → ATK 1500]

"And now Allure Queen LV5's effect activates! Once per turn, she can charm and absorb a Level 5 or lower monster!"

The Queen laughed wildly, waving her hand as she shouted:

"Charm and absorb the Level 5 'Goldd, Wu-Lord of Dark World'!"

A red gleam flashed in Goldd's pupils. He was immediately captured by that bewitching golden light, then rose into the air and flew behind the Queen, turning into an equipped monster in her backrow.

"The effect of the Field Spell 'Allure Palace' allows my Allure Queen, who could only evolve during the Standby Phase, to also evolve during my Main Phase!"

The Queen shouted at the top of her lungs.

"So, I send 'Allure Queen LV5'—who currently has a monster equipped—to the Graveyard once more, and evolve her into my most perfect form—

—Allure Queen LV7!"

…

Chapter 907 – The Allure Palace

The Queen's final evolution. Her body grew rapidly under a halo of transparent light, her looks and figure becoming increasingly regal. Her attire and jewelry also became more luxurious and dazzling.

Allure Queen LV7, Summon!

[Allure Queen LV7, ATK 1500]

"Field Spell 'Allure Palace' also increases Allure Queen's ATK by 500!"

[Allure Queen LV7, ATK 1500 → ATK 2000]

"And now, Allure Queen LV7's effect! Once per turn, during my Main Phase, I can charm one monster on the opponent's field!"

The Queen announced proudly:

"And now that I've evolved to LV7, my charm has been fully unleashed! I can now absorb monsters regardless of their Level—I can charm and absorb any monster at all!

Charm and absorb 'Lucent, Netherlord of Dark World' as well!"

The LV7 Queen blinked those expressive, speaking eyes of hers, and arcs of lightning shot out—literally. That electric pulse struck Netherlord of Dark World. The burly demon shuddered, then as if possessed, his gaze turned vacant as he staggered toward the Queen's side, coming to a stop behind her like a puppet.

"And now, the effect of the Continuous Spell 'Allure Dance'!" the Queen continued. "As long as this card remains on the field, whenever my Allure Queen equips an opponent's monster by her own effect, she gains ATK equal to that monster's attack value!"

Kira: "So you've finally given the Queen the ability to gain attack from her equipped monsters."

For a low-ATK boss monster like the Queen, this was indeed a rather important boost.

"That's right. Therefore, Allure Queen gains ATK equal to the 2400 of 'Lucent, Netherlord of Dark World' that she's absorbed!"

[Allure Queen LV7, ATK 2000 → ATK 4400]

In an instant, her power shot past Obelisk and approached Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon levels. Even the Queen herself felt her chest lift higher, as if her whole being had become a lot more confident.

The two powerful high-Level monsters her opponent had summoned this turn were instantly all absorbed. Flush with success, the Queen felt like the world belonged to her alone. She shouted and waved her arm: "First, switch 'Queen's Bodyguard' back to Attack Position."

"The battle phase!

'Allure Queen LV7', attack 'Brron, Mad King of Dark World'!"

Dark World Mad King's face twisted slightly as he cast a questioning look at his master.

As if saying, You're not seriously sending me to fight that, right?

Kira chuckled, not letting him go to his death. Instead, he calmly slipped a card from his hand into the Graveyard.

"At the moment of attack declaration, I discard 'Sphere Kuriboh' from my hand. Monster effect activates.

The attacking monster is forced to change to Defense Position."

Kuriboh was tossed into the Graveyard. A round golden Kuriboh-like ball with tiny hands popped out onto the field, unleashing a domineering golden shockwave. The force pressed down onto the Queen, and she immediately held her breath, shifting from offense to defense and crouching low into a guarding stance.

[Allure Queen LV7, ATK 4400 → DEF 2000]

Allure Queen LV7's original DEF was 2000. "Allure Dance" only allowed the Queen to gain ATK from her equipped monsters, not DEF. However, the Field Spell "Allure Palace" increased both ATK and DEF by 500, so at this moment, her DEF was 2000.

"Tch, to think you blocked it with such a trash monster." The Queen spat, annoyed. "The Royal Guard's attack is still too weak to break through Brron, so I'll skip their attack for now."

She drew another card from her hand.

"I activate the Spell Card 'One Day of Peace'!

Both players draw one card, and until the end of the opponent's next turn, all damage both players take becomes 0!"

Kira nodded slightly and drew a card. A transparent barrier spread out from the Spell Card in the Queen's backrow, covering the entire field in a faint golden protective film.

Within this barrier, monster battles and destruction could still occur, but all forms of damage were nullified, granting both sides what looked like a rare turn of truce and respite.

Or at least, that's what the Queen thought.

"My turn. Draw."

Kira glanced at the card he'd drawn. After a pause, he suddenly smiled slightly and looked up.

For some reason, when the Queen met those clearly smiling eyes, a chill ran down her spine.

"You don't really think that, since neither of us can inflict any damage this turn, this is going to be a rare chance to rest and catch our breath, do you?"

The Queen froze.

She didn't answer, but a seed of doubt had taken root in her heart.

Is it not?
Are you going to somehow kill me through One Day of Peace?

"A Duel is a battlefield. On a battlefield, there is never a real ceasefire, and there is no such thing as absolute safety. If you can't even grasp that much, then it seems, Queen, that you're not a very qualified leader."

Rage flared in her chest. "What did you say?"

His disdain and provocation infuriated her, yet at the same time, a deep, gnawing unease grew in her heart.

What is he going to do?

"The effect of 'Genta, Gateman of Dark World' in my hand."

Kira revealed the monster in his hand.

"I discard this card from my hand to the Graveyard, and add one 'The Gates of Dark World' from my Deck to my hand."

He sent the monster to the Graveyard. An image of a Dark World demon holding a huge shield flickered briefly on the field.

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

The dark domain reopened. A new Field Spell was activated, shattering the old one. Dark, evil energy swept across what remained of the Queen's palace in an instant. The erupting darkness corroded the walls; the magnificent pillars crumbled as if weathered by centuries.

The dome slammed to the ground with a thunderous crash, scattering into rubble. In its place, a pitch-black realm unfolded again. A towering, imposing gate rose up from the earth as the world once again sank into darkness.

"Since your Field Spell was destroyed, the Queen's ATK and DEF drop accordingly," Kira said.

[Allure Queen LV7, ATK 4400 → ATK 3900]
[Allure Queen LV7, DEF 2000 → DEF 1500]

The Queen snorted coldly and held her tongue.

"'The Gates of Dark World' effect: I banish 'Beiige, Vanguard of Dark World', a Fiend-Type monster, from my Graveyard, then discard a Fiend from my hand to draw one card."

Kira cycled his hand.

The Queen said in a low voice, "The Fiend you discard from your hand is going to trigger a monster effect again, isn't it?"

"Haha, you're starting to get the hang of it." He smiled. "Exactly. I just discarded 'Ceruli, Guru of Dark World'.

When this card is discarded to the Graveyard by a card effect of a 'Dark World' card, it Special Summons itself to the opponent's field in Defense Position."

The Queen: "?"

For a moment, she thought she'd heard wrong.

But when she saw that clump of dark energy fly from his Graveyard to her field and materialize as a short, hunched little demon squatting on her side, a string of question marks popped up in her head.

Huh? On my field?
What in the world?

…

Chapter 908 – Even a God Draw Can't Save This

[Ceruli, Guru of Dark World, DEF 300]

The Queen stared blankly at the Guru that had suddenly appeared on her side, utterly confused.

She did indeed enjoy charming her opponent's monsters to fight for her. But when the opponent voluntarily shoved one over, something just felt very wrong.

"Effect of Ceruli, Guru of Dark World," Kira continued. "When this card is Special Summoned by the effect of a 'Dark World' card, the opponent chooses one card in their own hand and discards it."

The Queen frowned. "So the point is to discard one of my cards?"

"No, no, no. The text says 'the opponent chooses one of their own cards to discard.'"

Kira added with a squinting smile.

The Queen froze for half a second, then suddenly understood.

Right. Now that Ceruli is on my field, from his perspective, 'the opponent' is actually Kira.

At first glance this card seemed utterly nonsensical. It handed the opponent a free monster, then forced its own controller to discard a card. If you looked at it in isolation and not within the archetype, it seemed like pure self-sabotage garbage. Most people would scratch their heads raw and still not understand why such a traitor card even existed.

But even the Queen instantly realized that, within the Dark World system, this seemingly pointless card suddenly became extremely useful.

Dark World monsters all wanted to be discarded by card effects to trigger their abilities.

And if the discard came from the opponent's effect, they would unlock even stronger, hidden effects.

Dark World Guru not only created a way for you to discard your own card, it even "defected" to the opponent's side before doing so, pivoting itself into an "opponent's effect". Any Dark World card triggered by Ceruli's effect would then have its power greatly amplified.

"Exactly. Now that Guru is on your field, I'm the one who discards a card from my hand," said Kira.

He revealed a card in his hand.

"I discard 'Sillva, Warlord of Dark World' from my hand."

The Queen's eyes tightened. "Another effect that triggers when discarded?"

"Haha, as expected of Your Majesty. Astute as ever." Kira chuckled. "Congratulations, you're correct. Your prize is this—

—When Sillva is discarded from hand by a card effect, he Special Summons himself!"

[Sillva, Warlord of Dark World, ATK 2300]

"And if he was discarded by the opponent's card effect, he gains an additional effect." Kira's eyes narrowed. "The opponent chooses two cards in their hand and places them on the bottom of their Deck in any order."

The Queen: "!"

Her expression darkened as she glanced at her hand.

I have to pick two cards to return…
So that was his objective all along?

By forcing Dark World Guru onto her field, he'd turned Guru into an "opponent effect." Since he couldn't deal damage this turn due to One Day of Peace, he'd simply turned his sights on her hand instead.

"Next, I activate the Spell Card 'Dark World Dealings'. Both players draw one card, then each discards one card from their hand."

The Queen frowned, drawing a card, then discarding another. Kira did the same.

As soon as he discarded his card, a mighty force erupted from his Graveyard. A massive pitch-black silhouette flashed over his field, accompanied by a deep dragon's roar.

"The card I just discarded was 'Grapha, Dragon Lord of Dark World'," Kira said solemnly. "When Grapha is discarded by a card effect, I can destroy one card on the opponent's field."

He crooked his finger.

"Destroy 'Allure Queen LV7'."

The Queen shrieked as she was engulfed in the Dragon Lord's breath and obliterated within the darkness. The Royal Guard grit their teeth, but they could only shield the Queen from battle destruction. Against destruction by card effect, they were helpless.

Allure Queen was the core of her entire deck. All her other cards existed to support the Queen. Once the Queen fell, the Royal Guard, "Allure Dance," all of it—lost their purpose and became mere blank cardboard.

"And then there's the other effect of Grapha, Dragon Lord of Dark World," Kira went on. "While this card is in the Graveyard, I can return any one 'Dark World' monster I control, other than Grapha, to my hand to Special Summon Grapha from the Graveyard.

I return 'Sillva, Warlord of Dark World', who was just Special Summoned by his own effect, to my hand, and revive—

—Grapha, Dragon Lord of Dark World!"

Surging darkness exploded. The giant shadow seemed to push open the Gate of the Dark World and step through into reality. The demon dragon descended with regal might!

[Grapha, Dragon Lord of Dark World, ATK 2700]

Kira: "Then I activate the Spell Card 'Dark Corridor', adding one 'Dark World' monster from my Deck to my hand, then discarding one card."

This card had only received a real physical printing much later, but it had shown up in the anime quite early.

"I add 'Ceruli, Guru of Dark World' from my Deck to my hand," Kira said lazily. "Then I discard that same 'Ceruli, Guru of Dark World'."

The Queen: "!"

Search it and discard it immediately…
Right, that Guru's effect is—

"Correct. When Guru is discarded, he Special Summons himself to the opponent's field," Kira said with a small smile.

So the Queen had to watch, teeth grinding, as yet another punchable little demon geezer appeared on her side.

[Ceruli, Guru of Dark World, ATK 100]

"And now Guru's effect triggers again: since he was Special Summoned by the effect of a 'Dark World' card, the opponent must choose a card in their own hand to discard."

The Queen's pupils shrank.

Even before he showed his choice, she already knew exactly which card he would discard.

Just earlier, in order to Special Summon Grapha from the Graveyard, he had returned a certain "Dark World" monster from his field to his hand…

"Of course, I discard 'Sillva, Warlord of Dark World' from my hand," Kira announced with a smile.

"When Sillva is discarded by a card effect, he Special Summons himself."

[Sillva, Warlord of Dark World, ATK 2300]

"And if he was discarded by the opponent's card effect, he forces the opponent to choose another two cards from their hand and return them to the bottom of their Deck."

Kira beckoned again.

"Come now, pick two more to bottom-deck."

He paused, then added with a grin:

"You can even choose the order you like. Very user-friendly, right?"

The Queen: "…"

I swear to—

Her face flushed red with fury, her generous chest heaving all the more violently. But after clenching her teeth in anger for quite some time, she realized there was absolutely nothing she could do. In the end, she could only, sullenly, place two cards—her last two cards—on the bottom of her Deck.

She now had no hand at all.

"Battle phase," Kira declared. "Grapha, Dragon Lord of Dark World, Sillva, Warlord of Dark World, Brron, Mad King of Dark World.

Attack the two monsters remaining on your field: 'Ceruli, Guru of Dark World' and 'Queen's Bodyguard'!"

The Dark World forces launched a sweeping assault that completely wiped out everything on the Queen's field.

Her once snow-white face was now iron-blue tinged with a faint blush—purely from rage.

Last turn, she had proudly summoned her strongest form, absorbed two of his most powerful high-Level monsters, and established a dominant position on the board. Yet in a single turn, that advantage had been utterly annihilated. No, not just her board—the very foundation of her resources had been shattered. Even her hand had not been spared!

In one turn, her entire field was cleared and every last card in her hand was stripped away, literally driving her into a desperate corner where she had no bullets left. The only reason she was still alive was because of the temporary protection offered by "One Day of Peace".

But once this turn ended, that protection would also vanish.

The Queen lowered her gaze to her Deck, her face grave.

No matter what, this final draw would decide everything.

Was she really going to lose here?

She clenched her teeth.

Don't be ridiculous.

She was the Allure Queen, one of the Evil God's most trusted believers. She had already resolved to bring back the Duel Spirit her Evil God desired, no matter the cost.

How could she possibly lose here of all places—and in such a pathetic manner?

She would use this final draw to create the most magnificent turnaround!

"Activate my set card," Kira said unhurriedly. "Trap Card 'Time Seal'. Skip your next Draw Phase."

The Queen froze.

…What?

Her mind stalled for a few seconds, then she slowly lowered her head and saw a circular, clock-like magical seal appear over the Deck slot on her Duel Disk.

Her Deck had been sealed.

"Alright, my turn is over." Kira gestured politely. "It's your turn. You just can't draw this turn.

Aside from that, nothing special. Do as you please."

The Queen bit her lip.

Nothing special, my ass.

Do as I please?
Do what, exactly?
Stare at you?

Only now did she realize that it had all been an illusion.

There was never any "last chance".
There was never any "God-tier draw to create a miracle".

Her field was empty. Her hand was wiped out. On top of that, even the chance to top-deck had been taken from her.

Even if some god of destiny descended to play the rest of this Duel for her, there would be nothing left to salvage.

Even if you were some legendary "God Draw" player who could draw cards that didn't even exist in your deck, you'd still need to at least draw, right?

Even if you were a legendary "Printer God" who could reprint cards on the spot in front of your opponent, you'd still need to have cards in hand to print from, right?

The Queen stared at her field with a bitter face, completely motionless for a long time like a wooden puppet.

Kira, on the other hand, displayed impeccable gentlemanly patience. He didn't rush her at all, just watched her with that mild smile.

Until the time limit was up.

"If you're not going to make a move, then I suppose it's my turn again."

Kira drew a card and waved his hand.

"Sillva, Warlord of Dark World, Grapha, Dragon Lord of Dark World, attack directly."

[Queen, LP 0]