Youyu: "?"
He still wasn't quite sure what was going on, what's up with Grandpa Makoto today?
Fast forward straight to dueling?
Grandpa Makoto huffed, "Since you're a Duel King now, you should be ready to accept challenges at any time!"
Youyu: "Ahem, dueling is no problem, but today..."
"What, you want to refuse? You think I'll lose to you?" Grandpa Makoto raised an eyebrow, "Hmph, don't think just because you're the Duel King you can look down on me!
Let me tell you, back when I was with the Industrial Illusions Society..."
Chinai chimed in smoothly, "...you also fantasized about becoming a Duel King?"
"That's right, that's right... Pfft!" Grandpa realized his granddaughter had led him astray again, "Back when I worked, I was known as 'Dueling Devil Makoto' by my colleagues!"
Youyu: "..."
Why does this sound so unconvincing?
"So let's duel, think of it as a challenge to the Duel King," Grandpa Makoto grinned, "Of course, there are conditions. The condition is..."
Grandpa Makoto paused, then suddenly turned and pointed directly at the expressionless Chinai beside him.
"...If you lose, you must obediently go on a date with my granddaughter!"
Youyu: "..."
Chinai: "!!??"
The girl was startled, and her usually expressionless face visibly turned red, "Grandpa... Grandpa, what are you talking about..."
Youyu... didn't know what expression to use at this moment.
Is it best to just keep smiling in moments like this?
Or... maybe he should take a page from that neighboring Pokémon set's Ash and energetically reply, "Alright! Then I certainly won't lose this duel!"
But it feels a bit mean to Chinai...
Of course, in the world of Yu-Gi-Oh, no matter how small or big the matter, not dueling is impossible.
No matter the process, you can always fast forward straight to dueling.
Thus, Youyu and Grandpa Makoto were now on the street outside, donned their Duel Discs, and stood apart from each other.
The Duel City Tournament's conclusion and the fact that Youyu and Yugi both took the Duel King title had already spread. Over the past few days, crowds had gathered inside and outside the store wanting to catch a glimpse of the Duel King's persona.
Now seeing the Duel King personally step into action, a large group of enthusiastic fans naturally gathered around quickly.
Grandpa Makoto glanced sideways and noticed there were so many pretty young girls watching!
So he quickly tidied his hair, straightened his collar, stretched his muscles with a dashing smile, "It's been a while since I last dueled, let me see what you're made of..."
Spectator Girl A: "Wow, is that the Duel King? No one ever told me the Duel King was this handsome!"
Spectator Girl B: "I'm a fan, such a handsome profile!"
Spectator Girl C: "By the way, who's that sketchy old man opposite the Duel King?"
Spectator Girl D: "I dunno, maybe just a passerby. Probably gonna get KO'd soon..."
Grandpa Ito Makoto: "..."
I'm so furious!
Grandpa Makoto glared at Youyu angrily, activating his Duel Disc, "Alright, brat, you're tough! I'm going to take this seriously!"
Youyu innocently signaled, I didn't say or do anything at all...
"Duel!" x2
[Youyu, LP 4000]
[Ito Makoto, LP 4000]
"I'll go first, draw a card!" This time, surprisingly, it was Youyu's turn to go first.
Technically speaking, this match wasn't a system mission, not betting lives or cards, winning had no rewards, and losing had no penalties, so Youyu wasn't under much pressure and was quite casual about it.
If anything, losing casually might disgrace the Duel King title, affect his reputation, causing indirect consequences...
...Oh right, and if he lost, he'd have to go on a date with Chinai (regardless of her own wishes).
"I summon Elemental Hero Sparkman."
Elemental Hero Sparkman, who usually only appeared as Fusion Material, made its debut again, letting out a clear shout, releasing electricity vigorously from its body.
After all, this might be its only chance to show off, so it definitely had to strike a pose before getting taken down...
"I'll set a card, ending the turn."
"Then it's my turn!" Grandpa Makoto struck a flamboyant (shameful) pose, "Draw a card!"
He glanced at his hand and chuckled, "Let me show you the prowess of the former 'Dueling Devil Makoto' from the International Fantasy Society!
Summon 'Opticlops'!"
A muscular and sturdy cyclops appeared on Grandpa Makoto's field, feet apart, standing like a sumo wrestler ready to pounce.
[Opticlops, ATK 1800]
Level 4 with 1800 ATK, it's quite a rare card.
"Ha! I've got plenty more where that came from! Battle, attack Sparkman!"
Opticlops roared exaggeratedly, charging forward, delivering a punch to Sparkman's abdomen, exploding it into fragments with a bang.
[Youyu, LP 4000 → LP 3800]
"Then I'll set one card, ending my turn."
"My turn!"
Youyu drew a card, eyed it cryptically, then revealed the drawn card and another card from his hand at the same time.
"Summon 'Elemental Hero Solidman'!"
A hero clad in solid armor emerged from underground, punching the air and guarding in front of Youyu.
[Elemental Hero Solidman, ATK 1300]
"Solidman's effect, on summon Special Summon a Level 4 or lower Hero Monster from hand! Summon 'Elemental Hero Blazeman'!"
The ground beside Solidman cracked, flame burst out, and a hero in a red suit with gold goggles, controlling flames, made a dashing appearance.
[Elemental Hero Blazeman, ATK 1200]
(Solid Flame Duo: Recently working overtime more and more often seems like not a good thing ==)
"Blazeman's effect! On summon, add the 'Polymerization' Magic Card to hand from the deck." Youyu picked a card from his deck, "Then, activate Magic Card - Polymerization!
Fuse 'Solidman' and 'Blazeman' on the field!
Fusion condition is Elemental Hero plus any Fire Attribute Monster! Fusion Summon——
——Elemental Hero Nova Master!"
Swirling flames and golden beams intertwined, diving into the magical vortex one after another. Blinding light burst alongside flames, and a hero with a fiery red cloak made a dominating entrance amid lava-like flames, its golden armor scorchingly red.
[Elemental Hero Nova Master, ATK 2600]
The onlookers began to stir.
"Here it comes, here it comes!"
"It appeared! The Duel King's iconic 'Elemental Hero'!"
"That monster is so cool, totally friends-less level cool!"
"The person is handsome, and the card is also handsome!"
"..."
However, at this moment, Grandpa Ito Makoto curved his lips, suddenly revealing a 'my-plan-worked' expression as he burst into laughter.
"I knew it!" He chuckled, "I've long studied that your 'Elemental Heroes' focus on Fusion, quickly summoning high-level monsters for suppression!
Against this tactic, I'm well-prepared!"
He raised his hand, elevating his tone, "Flip Cover Card, Quick-Play Magic - De-Fusion! Dispel the Fusion of 'Nova Master'!"
Youyu: "..."