"I remember one of them seemed to be `(Goblin Thief)`, right? So what? Even if I give you a meager 500 more Life Points, you're nothing but cannon fodder in front of my Machine Monster." Bandit Keith, after all, was a professional duelist who specialized in Gambling Cards. His memory was no worse than a casino dealer's like Mai Valentine, so naturally, he hadn't forgotten the `(Goblin Thief)` he had seen in Hayato's Hand earlier.
But the first Card Hayato Activated wasn't `(Goblin Thief)`. It was the card he had even Set `(Goblin Thief)` to protect as a shield: "The card I Activate is this one, `(Reckless Greed)`!"
"Due to its Effect, I can Draw two cards." Hayato Drew two cards from his Deck and continued, "And then, with the Effect of `*(Pot of Greed)*`, I Draw two more cards."
Looking at the three cards now in his Hand, Hayato saw that a path to victory had already been revealed before his eyes.
"Powerful cards often come with high risks. Because of the Effect of `(Reckless Greed)`, I will skip my next two Draw Phases."
"But it doesn't matter, because I'm going to end this battle this very Turn!"
"Mortgaging your next two turns to take me out in a single turn? Heh, you're dreaming!" Bandit Keith's face was full of disdain. "I have a `(*Barrel Dragon*)` with 2600 Attack on my Field. With your `(Armed Dragon LV7)` already Destroyed by me, what stronger Monster could you possibly Draw?"
"Is it your `(Gaia The Fierce Knight)`? Or its Fusion with `(Curse of Dragon)`, `(Gaia the Dragon Champion)`?" It seemed Bandit Keith had done a considerable amount of homework on Hayato's Deck. He quickly ran through the monsters Hayato possessed in his mind; even `(Gaia the Dragon Champion)` only had Attack equal to `(*Barrel Dragon*)`.
This set his mind at ease. "Even if you did Draw that Monster, so what? You can't even Summon it. The only outcome of this Duel is my victory!"
"Don't look down on me. Who says I don't have a Monster that can defeat `(*Barrel Dragon*)`?" Hayato knew that any intelligence Bandit Keith had on him was definitely outdated. He probably had no idea about monsters like the `(Earth Spirit God)` or `(V-to-Z)`. "It's just that, for the grudge of this guy getting taken out, it's best to let him settle it himself."
"I Activate the Spell Card, `(Level Modulation)`!" As he played the card he had drawn, several Dice appeared on Hayato's Field. "The Effect of this card lets the Opponent Player Draw two cards, and then I can Special Summon one Monster with 'LV' in its name from my Graveyard."
The Dice were rolled and came to a stop on the Duel Field, the total of the numbers upon them adding up to 7.
"Revive, `(Armed Dragon LV7)`!"
The majestic Dragon appeared once again. Only this time, Revived from the Graveyard, it saw the `(*Barrel Dragon*)` on the opposite Field that had killed it before. When enemies meet, their eyes burn with exceptional hatred.
However, while it had the will to destroy its opponent, it lacked the strength.
"A Monster Revived by `(Level Modulation)` cannot Activate its Effect or Attack this Turn."
Startled by the revival of `(Armed Dragon LV7)`, Bandit Keith couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief when he heard Hayato state the final Effect of `(Level Modulation)`. `(Armed Dragon LV7)` had 2800 Attack. If its Attack went through, and then Hayato Activated `(Goblin Thief)`, his Life Points, while not completely depleted, would drop to a mere 800.
But, it can't Attack? Heh, in that case, there's nothing to be afraid of.
Unaware that he had just set up a major flag, Bandit Keith thought to himself that it didn't matter what card he drew next turn. Hidden in the cuff he wore on his wrist were three `(7 Completed)` cards—Equip Spell Cards exclusive to Machine-Type monsters, meant for cheating in situations just like this to secure victory.
Next Turn, I'll destroy `(Armed Dragon)`, and victory will be within my grasp! After that, it's Pegasus's turn—
"Hey, `(Armed Dragon)`!" A shout from Hayato brought Bandit Keith back to his senses. But to his surprise, Hayato wasn't speaking to him, but to the `(Armed Dragon)` on his Field. "Right now, do you really, really want to destroy that `(*Barrel Dragon*)`?"
"Hmph, has he finally lost his mind? Actually talking to a Duel Monster." Bandit Keith wanted to laugh out loud—no, he was already laughing out loud. "Hmphahahahaha, you idiot! The Virtual Projection images of Duel Monsters are all pre-designed. How could they possibly communicate with you?"
But what he didn't expect was that the `(Armed Dragon LV7)` on Hayato's Field, after shooting a vicious glare at `(*Barrel Dragon*)`, actually lowered its head. Its gaze met Hayato's, and it gave a solemn nod.
"Killed so dishonorably by a little toy you looked down upon. Even after being Revived, you can only watch as your opponent flaunts their power, unable to even move a muscle. Burn this vexation and fury into your very being." Hayato raised the last card in his Hand high above his head. "And then, turn that anger into fuel, and step into your final Evolution!"
Final evolution? Bandit Keith was stunned. "Hey, you don't mean—!"
"I Tribute `(Armed Dragon LV7)`! The years temper the body, time forges the armor. The invincible weapon of slaughter, the ultimate and strongest Dragon!"
"Come forth, `(Armed Dragon LV10)`!!!"
The light of evolution once again enveloped `(Armed Dragon)`. Unlike the transition from LV3 to LV5, or LV5 to LV7, the light of evolution that appeared around `(Armed Dragon)` this time was more dazzling and brilliant than ever before, almost becoming a small sun.
Before the light had even faded, Bandit Keith felt a terrifyingly strong gust of wind rush over him. The wind carried a thick scent of death, as if some ancient, demonic god had descended.
"ROAR!!!" A massive Dragon Roar tore through the light of evolution, and an overwhelming pressure emanated from within the dust and smoke. What appeared before Bandit Keith was a gigantic dragon head, its sheer size even greater than the previous `(Armed Dragon LV7)`.
Although the armor on `(Armed Dragon)` grows with its evolution, it also places an increasingly heavy burden on the monster. At LV3, it retained some ability to fly. By LV5, it could only stand on the ground. And at LV7, even the tenacious body of `(Armed Dragon)` could only manage to crawl on all fours, a point reflected in `(Armed Dragon LV7)`'s DEF dropping from 1700 at LV5 to only 1000.
But `(Armed Dragon LV10)`, it stood up! Bearing armor even heavier than at LV7, the `(Armed Dragon LV10)` that had evolved into its true "final form" stood tall upon the earth!
`(Armed Dragon LV10)` [Level 10 / Wind]
[Dragon-Type / Effect]
[3000 / 2000]
"Its Attack is equal to the legendary `(*Blue-Eyes White Dragon*)`!" Mai Valentine exclaimed from the Audience Seating. Her `(Harpie Lady)` Deck didn't excel at high-Attack power plays. The appearance of `(Armed Dragon LV10)` not only shocked her but also cast a slight shadow in her heart—'That Hayato guy... it seems he wasn't using his full strength when he dueled me.'
"Battle Phase! Unleash all your rage, LV10!" Hayato glanced at the `(Armed Dragon)` that now stood towering behind him and smiled. "The wind today is quite boisterous~"
"Then, for my sake, use the Eight-Fold Light Wheel on `(*Barrel Dragon*)`!"
[Hayato: 1000 LP → 500 LP]
From the abdominal armor of `(Armed Dragon LV10)`, several high-speed rotating cutting rings shot out, locking onto Bandit Keith's `(*Barrel Dragon*)` from three different angles simultaneously. In the blink of an eye, the three barrels of `(*Barrel Dragon*)` were severed at once, and its entire body instantly exploded.
Watching the Destroyed `(*Barrel Dragon*)`, `(Armed Dragon LV10)` swished its long tail in satisfaction and snorted a puff of hot air from its nostrils, as if to say, "Sir, the era hasn't changed."
[Bandit Keith: 1900 LP → 1500 LP]
"And now, the long-sealed `(Goblin Thief)`!"
[Bandit Keith: 1500 LP → 1000 LP]
[Hayato: 500 LP → 1000 LP]
"Hah... hah... hah..." Taking two consecutive hits to his Life Points, combined with his LP having been on the brink multiple times, the simulated impacts placed a tremendous strain on Bandit Keith's body. Panting heavily, a smile appeared on his face. "Damn you, kid, now you're out of moves, aren't you? To think you'd treat me like this again and again."
"And you said you'd end the Duel this Turn, but you still failed."
Hayato looked at Bandit Keith and shook his head. "No, the law of victory has already been established. The equation leading to my victory is far more perfect than you can imagine."
"I Activate the Spell Card, `(Psychic Ectoplasm)`, and then End my Turn." Hayato played the last card from his Hand. This card, along with `(Goblin Zombie)`, `(Morphing Jar)`, and `Change of Heart`, was one of the cards he had swiped from Bakura. Its Effect is—
"Once during each player's End Phase, they have one opportunity to Tribute one of their own monsters to Activate the Effect of `(Psychic Ectoplasm)`." Sending `(Armed Dragon LV10)` on his Field to the Graveyard, Hayato looked up. "Half of that Monster's original Attack is inflicted as damage to the Opponent Player."
"Go, `(Armed Dragon)`, execute the final Attack on the Opponent duelist!"
`(Armed Dragon LV10)` [ATK 3000]
Watching the massive `(Armed Dragon LV10)` begin to run, charging towards his Duel Arena, an expression of despair appeared on Bandit Keith's face. "Y-You, stay away from me!!!"
[Bandit Keith: 1000 LP → 0]
Just as the Duel Arena where Bandit Keith stood was engulfed by `(Armed Dragon LV10)`'s suicide Attack and the numbers on his Life Points panel hit zero, Croquet made a timely appearance:
"I declare that the winner of the second match of the Duelist Kingdom Top 8 qualifiers is Hayato!"
***
A bit of irrelevant knowledge from this chapter——
- The CV for Calamity in Saber is Uchiyama Kouki.
- He also voiced Kite in Yu-Gi-Oh! ZEXAL, Amakusa Shirou Tokisada in Fate/Apocrypha, and my favorite, Rean from Trails of Cold Steel. They're all characters I like.
- No wonder I had such a strong, complicated feeling for him, and why it was so heartbreaking when he died, especially after watching episode 45.
- Also—is a reader group needed? I don't personally chat much in groups, but if a lot of people want one, I'll set one up.
(end of chapter)