Chapter 65. Childhood Bootleg Card Series Explained! The Millennium Items Cards Make the Old Guard Cry
While the two Synchro-era worlds were still hotly debating Tenyi–Swordsoul, the short video's final segment kept rolling.
MD Longfist: "There are more 2-card combos!"
MD Longfist: "For example, this Quick-Play Spell from the main theme! [Heavenly Dragon Circle]!"
"This card's first effect lets you Tribute 1 Wyrm monster on your field to activate it, then add 1 Wyrm from your Deck to your hand."
"If you Tributed a non-Effect Monster to activate it, you can Special Summon that monster instead, with its effects negated."
"The second effect is, if you control a face-up non-Effect Monster, during your Main Phase you can banish this card from the Graveyard to add 1 'Tenyi' card from your Deck to your hand."
"So as long as you have this Spell in hand…"
"A 2-card combo is formed."
"Line 1: [Tenyi Spirit – Adhara] + [Heavenly Dragon Circle] = [Swordsoul Grandmaster – Chixiao] + [Monk of the Tenyi] + [Swordsoul Supreme Sovereign – Chengying] or [Swordsoul Strategist Longyuan]."
"Line 2: [Swordsoul of Mo Ye] or [Swordsoul of Taia] + [Heavenly Dragon Circle] = [Swordsoul Grandmaster – Chixiao] + a Level 10 Synchro, or you can search the Trap [Swordsoul Blackout]!"
"And then we have 3-card combos!"
"Line 1: Any 2-card line + [Swordsoul Emergence] or Longyuan = [Swordsoul Grandmaster – Chixiao] + a Level 10 Synchro + [Denglong, First of the Yang Zing]!"
"Line 2: [Tenyi Spirit – Adhara] + [Tenyi Spirit – Vishuda] or [Tenyi Spirit – Ashuna] + Taia = [Swordsoul Grandmaster – Chixiao] + [Draco Berserker of the Tenyi] + [Monk of the Tenyi] + [Swordsoul Strategist Longyuan] or [Swordsoul Supreme Sovereign – Chengying]!"
"Line 3: Longyuan + [Heavenly Dragon Circle] + Longyuan's discard cost = [Swordsoul Grandmaster – Chixiao] + [Swordsoul Supreme Sovereign – Chengying], or [Swordsoul Strategist Longyuan] + [Monk of the Tenyi], or [Swordsoul Grandmaster – Chixiao] + [Baronne de Fleur]!"
"Line 4...…"
As the last of the 3-card—and even 4-card—lines were laid out, the faces of Duelists across the six Duel Worlds were all plastered with question marks.
At first.
The 1-card lines.
They laughed at how simple they were.
Single-track thinking.
By the 2-card lines.
They gradually calmed down.
Started taking it seriously.
Then it climbed to 3- and even 4-card lines.
Every Duelist twitched at the corner of the mouth, teetering on collapse.
No way!?
This engine!
Just these cards!
They can actually put together that many end boards and lines of play?
How is this even Dueling?
Why does it feel harder to parse than math class!
MD Longfist: "Looks complicated, right?"
MD Longfist: "But the core never changes."
"The total set of workable lines is basically fixed."
"How it actually plays out, you need to play more and practice."
"The more you play, the more you'll master the combos."
"Then you'll know how to build your board."
"A formula is a formula, but since deck matchups are ever-changing, you must use the formula flexibly."
"That's the essence of playing Tenyi–Swordsoul."
"Okay, that's it for this episode."
"Thanks for watching, card players—see you next time."
"......"
With that last sign-off, the entire Tenyi–Swordsoul short-video guide was done.
A newcomer's on-ramp guide to the deck also concluded.
In the main world.
Sei Yuki looked wistful.
Back then, to learn how to squeeze maximum boards out of Tenyi–Swordsoul's resource lines, he watched who-knows-how-many Tenyi–Swordsoul tutorial videos.
And Tenyi–Swordsoul was also his very first Master Duel deck.
He bridged formats leaning on Tenyi–Swordsoul.
He saved up a good pile of Gems every month.
Most importantly.
The Swordsoul main core wasn't too expensive.
Of course.
All that is in the past now.
"Whew, let's first check how the chats in the various worlds are reacting."
"Tenyi–Swordsoul should land a small shock, right?"
Back to his senses, Sei Yuki quickly opened the chat groups for the different Duel Worlds to check messages.
As expected.
In the DM world, Tenyi–Swordsoul immediately drew a big crowd of fans.
Rex Raptor: "Hahaha! Told you Tenyi–Swordsoul isn't simple! If you have Tenyi–Swordsoul, who's still playing trash Dinosaurs!"
Weevil Underwood: "Heh heh heh! What if I put Tenyi–Swordsoul into my Bugs? That'd be really fun, right?"
Marik Ishtar: "So kimoji! With Tenyi–Swordsoul looking like this, slotting in my Lava Golem baby isn't bad either! Toss in more 'underworld' cards, it'll be fun for sure!"
Mai Valentine: "Mm-hmm, how to put it… it still feels a bit lacking. If they get interrupted it's hard to develop, right?"
The DM chat scroll was a nonstop barrage.
Sei Yuki read it and smiled to himself.
True enough.
Tenyi–Swordsoul does stumble after eating a trap, and the follow-up can get awkward.
But you can still compromise and make a smaller board.
Worst case.
You can try to bait out the negates.
Over in the GX world.
The chat focused mainly on the future development of Tenyi–Swordsoul.
Jaden Yuki: "If Tenyi–Swordsoul could gain Fusion power, that'd be insane."
Aster Phoenix: "Agreed. Like HERO's Extra Deck construction—so many options—and that opens more ace link-ups."
Dr. Crowler: "Mamma mia! So cool! I love the power level of Tenyi–Swordsoul! Especially those final combos! Very worth studying!"
Atticus Rhodes: "The main theme is already quite solid. The two axes are pulling plenty of weight. I wonder if it'll branch into Xyz or Fusion down the line?"
Xyz or Fusion, huh?
As for Tenyi–Swordsoul's future—how K-Snake will reinforce it with new cards—
Sei Yuki truly had no idea.
If they actually release it.
He's buying.
Both in Master Duel and in paper.
He's buying the boxes.
"Okay, time to look for the next video."
"Right—speaking of nostalgia."
"What if I showed them those bootleg cards from childhood?"
"I wonder how they'd react?"
A sudden spark—Sei Yuki recalled the bootleg cards he saw as a kid.
Orichalcos bootlegs.
Seven Millennium Items bootlegs.
Priest-class "Egyptian" fake effects.
Sacred Beasts and Egyptian God fusions as bootlegs.
The more he thought about it.
The brighter Sei Yuki's eyes burned.
Yes, start with a bootleg-card series and see how the old guard takes it.
Target set.
Sei Yuki casually searched the Master Duel app.
And sure enough.
He found plenty of short videos on childhood bootlegs.
He tapped one at random.
The title:
"Bootleg Cards of the Seven Millennium Items! Do You Still Remember Your Childhood?"
Seven Millennium Items?
Bootlegs?
Childhood?
What even is this?
When the title of this new short video appeared to all six Duel Worlds.
The DM world was dumbfounded, and the Pharaoh nearly drifted out of the Millennium Puzzle.
The Millennium Items were made into cards?
The GX world was stunned.
Bootlegs?
The higher world actually has Duel Monsters cards of the Millennium Items?
Quit joking.
The 5D's world was confused.
Seven Millennium Items?
Do they have anything to do with the Crimson Dragon?
The remaining worlds understood even less what these were supposed to represent.
After all, in their worldviews.
There were no "Millennium Items."
And the short began to play.
Bootleg Curator: "Welcome, Duelists, to the Childhood Nostalgia Hall."
Bootleg Curator: "I'm sure lots of card players messed around with bootlegs as kids, right?"
Bootleg Curator: "The most famous, I believe, are those Orichalcos bootlegs."
"But today we aren't doing Orichalcos.
We're doing the Seven Millennium Items."
"That's right, you heard me."
"The Millennium Items got printed as cards! (Not really)!"
"Hahaha! Just kidding, just kidding."
"In childhood, many non-official bootlegs were made.
And 'bootleg' here isn't only made-up effects."
"The key point is, these cards can't be used in Dueling at all."
"So just enjoy the laughs!"
"First up!
Our Millennium Item—[Millennium Puzzle]!!!"
[Continuous Spell: Millennium Puzzle]
[Effect: This card can be put directly into the battle zone and resolves immediately.]
[As long as this card remains on the field, you can release your other soul.
During this time, all damage is taken by the soul.
When the total exceeds 5000, send this card to the Graveyard.]
Front and center.
The bootleg [Millennium Puzzle].
And the moment this card appeared.
Every old guard in the DM world instantly tilted.
Yes.
Every old guard's eyes bulged as they rubbed them over and over.
Afraid they were seeing things.
This kind of card actually exists?
Activate and you just freeload 5000 Life Points?
But the point isn't even the effect.
It's the Millennium Items.
In Sei Yuki's higher world, they really did make them into cards.
Even if it's unofficial, the person who made this card—
what a "genius."
Isn't this just a straight-up showcase of Yugi Muto and Pharaoh Atem?
At that moment.
As for Yugi Muto.
He stared blankly at his Millennium Puzzle.
"Partner? Th-this Millennium Puzzle???"
"The other me, I—I didn't expect this either!
This card, I—I don't get it."
Yugi and Atem were both floored by this card.
Their conversation froze on the spot.
They never imagined.
This card would exist, and be right in front of them now.
And that.
Wasn't all.
Bootleg Curator: "Hahaha! Such nostalgia!
This bootleg Puzzle gives us 5000 LP!"
Bootleg Curator: "But compared to what's coming, this hardly counts as a bootleg."
Bootleg Curator: "In today's metagame, a single 'wind' backrow pop would handle it."
"Let's look at the next bootleg Items!"
"[Millennium Necklace]"
[Continuous Spell: Millennium Necklace]
[Effect: This card can be put directly into the battle zone and resolves immediately.]
[As long as this card remains on the field, you can look at the top 10 cards of your opponent's Deck, then return them to the top of the Deck after looking.
After this card is destroyed twice, send it to the Graveyard.]
"And then [Millennium Rod]!"
[Continuous Spell: Millennium Rod]
[Effect: This card can be put directly into the battle zone and resolves immediately.]
[As long as this card remains on the field, you can look at your opponent's hand.
No matter what they draw, they must reveal it for our confirmation, then return it to the Deck after confirming.
After this card is destroyed twice, send it to the Graveyard.]
Two Millennium Item bootlegs in one breath.
And the DM world's Duelists were silent again.
Ishizu Ishtar and Marik Ishtar traded wide-eyed stares.
What is this?
As the holders of those two Items.
Even they were losing it.
No wonder these are called bootlegs.
These effects.
Are just way too fake.
Ishizu: "Wait—so the Millennium Necklace lets me use foresight, and the bootleg just straight-up lets you look at the top 10 cards of the opponent's Deck?
I mean… that kind of tracks?"
Marik: "Sister, that's nothing!
My Millennium Rod is more outrageous!
Whatever the opponent draws must be put back in the Deck!
How do you even play!"
Indeed.
Comparing these two bootleg Items.
The nasty one is the Millennium Rod.
And it even has a "destroy me twice" clause.
If the opponent can't pop it twice.
Then starting next turn, they basically don't get to draw.
Bootleg Curator: "Hahaha, these two are very interesting as well."
Bootleg Curator: "Of course, the absurdly strong one is the Millennium Rod."
"But the drawback is obvious, too—just banish it and it's handled, so it looks strong at first glance."
"But in practice, that's about it."
"Next up, let's look at the Millennium Items that Shadi held!"
First card.
[Continuous Spell: Millennium Scales]
[Effect: This card can be put directly into the battle zone and resolves immediately.]
[As long as this card remains on the field, your monsters on the field can Fusion Summon.
Once per turn your opponent must guess the top 5 cards of their Deck.
For each correct guess, your LP increases by 1000.
For each wrong guess, your opponent's LP decreases by 1000.
After this card is destroyed twice, send it to the Graveyard.]
Second card.
[Continuous Spell: Millennium Key]
[Effect: This card can be put directly into the battle zone and resolves immediately.]
[As long as this card remains on the field, time can rewind to the previous turn's game state, once per turn.
After this card is destroyed twice, send it to the Graveyard.]
When these two bootleg Millennium Items were shown.
The DM world was completely numb.
The Millennium Item effects were getting more and more ridiculous.
So the Millennium Puzzle earlier.
Turns out it was the weakest of the bootleg effects.
And these two—each more busted than the last.
"Absurd!
Utterly absurd!"
"All of these cards are absurd!"
"Good thing your higher world knows bootlegs can't be used."
"Otherwise, who knows what would happen to the metagame!"
Seto Kaiba ranted right away after watching.
And he wasn't wrong.
If these bootlegs were legal.
Even ignoring how easy they are to answer.
If you fail to answer them.
The metagame would turn into a cesspool in an instant.
Of course.
Sei Yuki couldn't really judge what would happen if these bootlegs were dumped into a Duel environment.
Right now, it's all hypothetical.
They might warp the format, or barely make a ripple.
But one thing is 100% certain.
If the Orichalcos bootlegs were legal, the environment would absolutely be flipped on its head.
Bootleg Curator: "That leaves the last two bootleg cards."
Bootleg Curator: "One is [Millennium Eye], the other is [Millennium Ring]."
"Millennium Eye's effect makes the opponent declare their attack plan for the turn; they must carry it out next turn."
"Millennium Eye is rather limited—not as crazy as the earlier ones."
"But the Millennium Ring is pretty strong."
"As long as the Millennium Ring remains on the field, you can use your opponent's monsters to attack your opponent, and any damage to yourself is borne by the opponent!"
"And that's it!
Our childhood bootleg series for the Millennium Items!"
"I trust that after watching this, pieces of deep memory are starting to reassemble, right?"
"….."
Sure enough.
Even the Millennium Eye and Millennium Ring didn't escape being made into bootlegs.
After hearing these effects.
In the DM world.
Maximillion Pegasus twitched at the lips; his first thought was—
Some of the other Items are at least a little strong.
But Millennium Eye's bootleg is too weak.
Forcing the opponent this turn to state next turn's attack line.
Then they must execute it.
But if, on your turn, you clear those monsters.
Then they don't have to do anything, right?
It's nowhere near as fun as the Eye's real ability to peer into minds.
As for Ryo Bakura, his eyes gleamed.
With the Millennium Ring on the field, that's the strongest.
All damage gets bounced to the opponent.
And you can even sic the opponent's monsters on them.
Isn't that pure psychological warfare?
Ten out of ten!
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