Chapter 58: The Duelist

“It’s my turn. Draw.”

You Xuan played a monster card.

“Special Summon ‘Candy Clown’!”

【Candy Clown, ATK 0】

“This card can be Special Summoned directly from the hand in attack position without conditions,” You Xuan said. “Now, tribute ‘Candy Clown’ for a Level-Up Summon!”

The king of psychic control, Level Six—

“—Cybernetic Mind Intimidator, Summon!”

The Cybernetic Mind Intimidator, retrieved to You Xuan’s hand via “Black Forest Witch” last turn, stepped onto the field amid the crackling hum of sparking electrical components.

【Cybernetic Mind Intimidator, ATK 2400】

“It’s out already? Annoying thing,” Thief Kees grunted.

With the Cybernetic Mind Intimidator’s arrival, an invisible psychic barrier instantly sealed off the back row, turning the battlefield into an absolute no-man’s-land for traps.

This would maximize suppression of the opponent’s back row. You Xuan pointed to his opponent’s field: “‘Silent Magician LV8,’ attack ‘Revolver Dragon’!”

The magic vortex lifted the magician’s robe as she rose above the array, her power manifesting as a white lightning bolt that struck the revolver dragon’s body. The black steel dragon screamed and exploded off the field.

【Thief Kees, LP 900 → LP 500】

Kees, his sturdy frame absorbing the magical backlash from the destroyed monster, staggered back half a step and said coldly: “But at this moment, the effect of my ‘Deadly Revolver Dragon’ activates.”

He flipped a card from his hand, its surface glowing with flowing golden light.

“When a Machine-type, Dark-attribute monster on my field is destroyed by battle or effect, ‘Deadly Revolver Dragon’ can be Special Summoned from my hand!”

The card slammed onto the dueling field; a hissing current surged through the system.

“Amid the symphony of metal and flame, the soul of death’s machinery awakens—

—Level Eight, Deadly Revolver Dragon!”

Massive steel feet sank into the ground; its long mechanical tail struck the earth like a steel whip. Its arms and head were revolver barrels, roaring with heavy metallic thunder.

【Deadly Revolver Dragon, ATK 2800】

“Hahahaha! This is my new Wangpai —the strongest form of Revolver Dragon!” Thief Kees roared. “And under the effect of ‘Orichalcos’ Barrier,’ Deadly Revolver Dragon’s ATK increases by 500!”

【Deadly Revolver Dragon, ATK 2800 → ATK 3300】

Kees continued: “And now, Deadly Revolver Dragon’s effect activates!”

The Spirit Elf, watching nervously beside him, gasped: “It can activate during the opponent’s turn?”

“Correct,” Kees grinned. “Once per turn, whether during your turn or mine, during the Battle Phase, it can activate.”

Kees smirked.

“Flip three coins. For each heads, destroy that many face-up monsters on the field.”

You Xuan frowned slightly.

Deadly Revolver Dragon was indeed a powerful monster in early meta environments—it possessed near “second-speed destruction” capability: the ability to destroy cards during the opponent’s turn, a rarity back then.

Even limited to the Battle Phase, it was already extremely troublesome.

Of course, in actual 3D Dueling, the coin flips were replaced by spinning revolver chambers. After three chambers spun rapidly, one of the three barrels completed its bullet load.

“Looks like I only hit one,” Thief Kees shouted. “But that’s enough. Go, Deadly Revolver Dragon! Destroy ‘Cybernetic Mind Intimidator’!”

The trigger pulled. The blast pierced the Cybernetic Mind Intimidator’s body, reducing it to ash in a burst of fire.

You Xuan raised his arm to shield his face from the smoke, yet felt puzzled.

He chose to destroy the Cybernetic Mind Intimidator instead of the Silent Magician.

His gaze fell to the back row.

Naturally, he realized: this was to neutralize Soga’s troublesome “Trap Lock” ability. That meant the back row card—

Sure enough, Thief Kees burst into another triumphant laugh and blurted: “Now that the Cybernetic Mind Intimidator is gone, Trap Lock is gone too!

So I activate my face-down card: Trap Card—‘Forced Exile’! Return one monster on the field to its owner’s hand!”

Thief Kees sneered.

“‘Silent Magician LV8’ is a Level monster—it can only be summoned via Level-Up. Once returned to the hand, it’s effectively destroyed. So, return here and vanish!”

“Then, Quick-Play Spell—‘Forbidden Holy Spear’!”

You Xuan responded instantly. Magical energy coalesced into a holy spear that landed in the Silent Magician’s hand, releasing a sacred wave that resisted the trap’s effect.

“‘Forbidden Holy Spear’ reduces the targeted monster’s ATK by 800 until the end of the turn, granting it immunity to spell and trap effects.”

“Therefore, ‘Forced Exile’’s effect is negated.”

【Silent Magician LV8, ATK 3500 → ATK 2700】

“Damn annoying guy,” Thief Kees grumbled.

“I’ll set one more card. End my turn,” You Xuan said. “At this moment, Silent Magician LV8’s ATK returns to normal.”

【Silent Magician LV8, ATK 2700 → ATK 3500】

“Then my turn. Draw!” Thief Kees said. “Activate Spell Card ‘Discount Shopping’! Discard a Level 8 monster from hand, draw two cards.

I discard my Level 8 ‘Metal Demon - Zoya,’ and draw two cards.”

After drawing two cards, he glanced once at them, then his cold gaze returned to the Silent Magician.

“Since you won’t return, then be destroyed!

Deadly Revolver Dragon, effect activate!

During the Battle Phase, flip three coins. Destroy that many face-up monsters on the field.”

The revolver’s chambers spun again. Each had a 50% chance—only one hit was needed to destroy the Silent Magician. Unless the opponent was Zaiwang or Cheng Daozi, a complete miss was nearly impossible.

“I flip my face-down card: Trap Card—‘Forgetfulness’!” You Xuan’s back row flipped open. “When a face-up attack-position monster on your field activates its effect, that activation is negated, and the monster is forced into defense position!”

“Negate ‘Deadly Revolver Dragon’’s effect!”

The spinning revolver chamber froze mid-turn, sparks crackling across the steel dragon’s body. It staggered, clutched its head, and collapsed to one knee, as if it had forgotten how to aim.

【Deadly Revolver Dragon, ATK 3300 → DEF 2200】

“You’re a damn cockroach,” Thief Kees muttered. “Fine. I’ll set two cards. End my turn.”

The Spirit Elf, watching beside them, had held her breath the entire time.

The monsters on the field were beyond anything she could imagine—such intense, rapid offense and defense made her feel that one misstep would tear her to shreds.

“So terrifying.”

The duelist’s world is truly terrifying.

Several comments before said the protagonist always plays “dark” decks and it’s boring. Yesterday, several more said it’s boring now that he doesn’t play “dark” decks (sobbing laugh).

Of course I’ll write “dark” strategies. So far, the protagonist has only played one relatively normal duel—I never said he’ll never use dirty tactics again…

From a character perspective, as a card enthusiast, it’s unreasonable for the protagonist to play nothing but “dark” decks. Even Yugi, though known for traps and “dark” plays, doesn’t rely solely on them…

From a story perspective, if the protagonist only uses self-contained tactics, he’ll be easily targeted and studied. Occasionally switching to other styles is necessary.

From a structural perspective, I hope this novel runs long—I don’t want readers to grow bored and fatigued after just two hundred chapters. Though there are many “dark” deck variations, the duel structure and reading experience inevitably repeat over time, and will eventually be criticized…

So I’ll keep the “dark” builds and the chaotic persona, but occasionally mix in other duel styles as contrast.

Of course, this is just my own thought—I’m also asking for your input.

Everyone knows changing a novel based on every reader’s comment is a big mistake. If only two people complain, I can’t please everyone—I’ll keep writing at my own pace.

But if all readers feel this arrangement is wrong, leave a comment. If everyone unanimously agrees it’s bad, I’ll find a way to adjust. After all, this book is written for you.

Thank you!



(End of Chapter)