[Heart Flying with the Wind, LP 1200]
The character controlled by this player staggered backward under the impact of the Black Dragon Burst, barely remaining standing.
Although Youyu hadn't completely gone all out, not even using his main Card Deck, he was still experiencing the underlying power of the Gladiator Beast as a former champion.
Standing directly across the field, Youyu could clearly feel the strength of this Card Deck—different from the feeling when facing strong NPCs in the past. Previously, the pressure mostly came from the Duelist themselves, but now he could feel all the pressure was from the opponent's Card Deck.
In his past life, he had a chance to duel once against Heart Flying with the Wind, who wielded a Gladiator Beast Card Deck. Back then, as the environment changed, Gladiator Beast no longer had the overwhelming dominance of its earliest days. Yet, Youyu still struggled in that match.
However, at that time, Heart Flying with the Wind treated Youyu fairly well. Despite having higher skills among players, Heart Flying with the Wind did not exhibit the arrogance of other elite players, at least not when dealing with Youyu back then.
Unlike certain people in the game, who were quick-tempered over a card game. They would boast to no end if they won by chance, calling others "noobs," and heavily insulting others after just one or two losses...
Additionally, due to special circumstances, they teamed up briefly for a mission. Back then, Youyu was like a small pendant hanging on the broad shoulders of an elite, receiving considerable favor from Heart Flying with the Wind.
Overall, even though the fact that Heart Flying with the Wind didn't recognize Youyu, the national idol, made Youyu feel a bit awkward, he didn't intentionally try to upset Heart Flying with the Wind because his impression of the opponent was good.
"My Battle Phase ends." Youyu said. "Main Phase 2. I activate Continuous Magic - Mirage of Nightmare. This card allows me to draw until I have four cards in hand during the opponent's Standby Phase, but I must discard them all in my following turn."
Then, a card popped out of the graveyard zone of his Duel Disc.
"Using 'Soul Servant' was the cost to send 'Dark Magician Girl the Dragon Knight' to the graveyard. Its effect activates," Youyu said. "By banishing this card, I can draw cards from my Card Deck equal to the number of different types of 'Dark Magician' and 'Dark Magician Girl' present on the field and in my graveyard.
Currently, I have both 'Dark Magician' and 'Dark Magician Girl' in my graveyard, so I draw two cards."
Youyu drew two cards and immediately set one into his Duel Disc.
"Set one card, ending my turn."
Heart Flying with the Wind took a deep breath, temporarily ignoring the identity of the NPC across and the encouraged bystanders.
For him, playing cards had never been as fun since he began playing this game!
In the past, he didn't have many good cards, resulting in limited combinations and variations for his Card Deck.
After obtaining the Gladiator Beast, dueling against ordinary NPCs was akin to domination. From then on, daily quests felt like mowing the lawn, just mechanically running through the maps.
It felt like playing a martial arts RPG online game, where the character's gear and skills were all maxed out, leaving no challenge.
But of course, this was only within his region. He had only faced small roles, never meeting any truly challenging NPCs.
Let alone, he hadn't dueled with other players yet.
"My turn, draw!"
"At this moment, according to 'Mirage of Nightmare's effect," Youyu said, "I refill my hand up to four cards."
Youyu's Life Points remained at 600. Glancing at his hand, he felt he had a chance this turn!
"Summon 'Gladiator Beast Bestiari'!"
A cyclone rose, and the avian Gladiator Beast, clad in green armor, spread its wings once more, soaring momentarily before landing in front of its master.
[Gladiator Beast Bestiari, ATK 1500]
Youyu furrowed his brow slightly.
Now, Heart Flying with the Wind's field once again had Gladiator Beast Bestiari, along with Gladiator Beast Vespasius. By returning these two Gladiator Beasts to the Card Deck, he could Fusion Summon Gladiator Beast Caesar as he did last turn, using Caesar's powerful effect to destroy Youyu's two cards on the field.
He must stop Caesar from appearing!
"Dark Magician Girl the Dragon Knight's effect activates!" Youyu discarded another card from his hand to the graveyard. "Once per turn, destroy one face-up card on the field! This effect can also be activated during the opponent's turn!
I choose to destroy 'Gladiator Beast Bestiari'!"
Gladiator Beast Bestiari was the key to summoning Caesar; naturally, it was Youyu's primary target.
The Dark Magician Girl raised her longsword, a silver arc flashing as crescent-shaped sword light slashed through the air. The unfortunate bird-like Gladiator Beast couldn't even stabilize its stance before the sword light cleaved it in half, exploding with a boom.
Heart Flying with the Wind raised his arm to block out the simulated smokescreen created by the holographic projection.
Just as he expected, the opponent would undoubtedly try to prevent Caesar's appearance.
However, he still had a chance: "Magic Card - Gladiator Return activates! Return three 'Gladiator Beast' cards from the graveyard to the Card Deck, then draw one card."
Three cards sprang out from his graveyard.
"I return 'Gladiator Beast Bestiari', 'Gladiator Beast Andal', and 'Gladiator Beast Sagittarii' to the Card Deck, then draw one card!"
Youyu glanced at the three cards he returned to the Card Deck.
Gladiator Beast Sagittarii... was discarded earlier by "Card Destruction"?
Shuffling completed, Heart Flying with the Wind slotted the Card Deck back into the Duel Disc and drew a card.
"Then comes the Magic Card - Gladiator Beast's Respite!" Heart Flying with the Wind played the next card. "Shuffle two 'Gladiator Beast' cards from the hand back into the Card Deck, then draw three cards."
He picked two cards back to the Card Deck, shuffled, and drew anew.
Rapidly cycling through and accelerating his deck, after this draw, his eyes lit up, seemingly having finally drawn the most crucial card.
"Magic Card – Gladiator Proving Ground activates." Heart Flying with the Wind played a Magic Card. "Add a Level 4 or lower 'Gladiator Beast' from the Card Deck to the hand.
I add 'Gladiator Beast Bestiari' to my hand."
He opened his Card Deck, fetched the "Gladiator Beast Bestiari" he had just shuffled back into the Card Deck and added it to his hand once more.
Youyu watched him shuffle without comment.
Even though he retrieved "Gladiator Beast Bestiari" to his hand, Heart Flying with the Wind had no more chances for a Normal Summon this turn. Logically, he shouldn't be able to summon "Gladiator Beast Caesar"...
"Battle!"
Unexpectedly, Heart Flying with the Wind directly entered the Battle Phase. But he didn't issue an immediate attack order; instead, he played a card he had just drawn.
"Quick-Play Magic - United Gladiator Beasts!" the card appeared in front of Heart Flying with the Wind. "This card can only be activated during the Battle Phase. Return Gladiator Beast Monsters used as Fusion Material from your hand, graveyard, and field to the Card Deck, then Special Summon the corresponding Fusion Monster, ignoring its summoning conditions!"
He revealed the "Gladiator Beast Bestiari" he just added back to his hand.
"I return 'Gladiator Beast Bestiari' from my hand and 'Gladiator Beast Vespasius' from the field to the Card Deck!
The Fusion Materials are 'Gladiator Beast Bestiari' and any other Gladiator Beast! Fusion Summon—
—Gladiator Beast Caesar!!!"
The storm was sliced open by blades of sharp green wings, a king of Ancient Rome with crimson eyes and clad in green armor descended once more!
[Gladiator Beast Caesar, ATK 2400]
"Gladiator Beast Caesar's effect!" Heart Flying with the Wind declared. "Upon successful Special Summon, destroy up to two cards on the field! I will destroy 'Dark Magician Girl the Dragon Knight' and that Set Card!"
Once the effect resolves, Youyu's field will be wiped clean once again. With only six hundred Life Points left, there's no way he can withstand Caesar's subsequent strike!
Heart Flying with the Wind's pupils dilated as he subconsciously held his breath.
Checkmate!