Chapter 36: The Cage of Fate

In later generations, Company K created numerous upgraded versions of the original cards as disguises to make money.

Such as Seto's 【Blue-Eyes White Dragon】 and 【Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon】 disguises—【Blue-Eyes Sub-White Dragon】, 【True Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon】; Yugi's 【The Dark Magician】 disguise—【The Dark Magician - The Dark Magician】; Jonouchi's 【The Red-Eyes Black Dragon】 disguise—【The Red-Eyes Sub-Black Dragon】, and so on.

Among them, Isis's five weak monsters from the Original Plot—【Akido】, 【Zolga】, 【Kelbek】, 【Mudora】, 【Keldo】—also received new disguises: 【Ancient Guard Akido】, 【Foreseer Zolga】, 【Ancient Spear Kelbek】, 【Sword Priest Mudora】, 【Celtic Guardian Keldo】, collectively known in later generations as the infamous Earth Angel series.

Among them, except for 【Foreseer Zolga】, whose effect was somewhat mediocre, the other four cards' effects could only be described as defying heaven.

Thanks to their powerful graveyard manipulation and control effects, these four cards were instantly wildly adopted by card players upon release.

At that time, the Earth Angel series coincidentally met another absurd series—Tears of the Pearl Lament. Thus, the strongest deck in history was born!

Can you imagine the terror of your own turn, where you move once, and your opponent moves ten times?

Of course, even without considering the synergy between Tears of the珠淚哀歌 and Earth Angel, Earth Angel's own Card Destruction capability was already extremely powerful. Tiantian reads novels with many books, 𝓣𝓣𝓚𝓢. 𝓣𝓦任你讀

According to incomplete statistics, during its peak, the Earth Angel deck had a probability of over 70% to strip the opponent's entire deck in the first turn, achieving pseudo-FTK. It was truly an environment-destroying force.

However, festivities are always brief. Soon after, Company K likely realized the overwhelming power of these four cards and immediately enacted a restriction measure—the Forbidden & Limited List.

To this day, these four Earth Angel cards still maintain the prestige of two Forbidden and two Limited-1.

In addition, Isis's card 【Reversal of the Living and the Underworld】 was also a legendary monster card.

This card was first released in 2002, and its original effect only required "your Graveyard contains 15 or more cards" to activate.

After research, card players successfully achieved FTK in the ancient meta using 【Hand Destruction】 and other draw-filtering cards to activate 【Reversal of the Living and the Underworld】.

Later, after more than a decade of cycling on and off the Forbidden & Limited List, 【Reversal of the Living and the Underworld】 was ultimately nerfed to require "both players' Graveyards contain 15 or more cards" before it could be legally used.

Of course, the effect adjustment of 【Reversal of the Living and the Underworld】 occurred in 2015, while Earth Angel's release was in 2023.

Generally speaking, it would be impossible for anyone to encounter the original 【Reversal of the Living and the Underworld】 combined with the later Earth Angel deck.

But today, You Tian encountered it!

My god, "the heaviest cage of the future"! Are you even human? You're openly printing cards right here?!

You Tian's eyes twitched as he stared at Isis's Set Card of the original 【Reversal of the Living and the Underworld】, then at his own empty Graveyard.

He looked again at Isis's refined face.

Ah, such a nice girl—why is she such a monster?

No wonder she said "please let me defeat you in one turn"—it sounds like you think I'll even get a next turn! Thank goodness Malik didn't give you 【Executioner Makyura】, or even the Pharaoh would've been FTK'd!

Isis seemed not to notice You Tian's strange expression and continued her move.

"Mr. You Tian, my turn isn't over yet!"

You Tian: Heh, do whatever you want. I don't want to play anymore.

Isis drew another card from her hand.

"I activate a Magic Card from my hand, 【Monster Reborn】, and I will Special Summon 【Gravekeeper's High Priest】 from my Graveyard to my field."

【Gravekeeper's High Priest】 【Original Attack Power: 2000】

"【Gravekeeper's High Priest】's Special Effect: Its Attack Power increases by 200 for each monster in my Graveyard with 'Gravekeeper's' in its name!"

"Currently, there are eleven monsters in my Graveyard with 'Gravekeeper's' in their names, so 【Gravekeeper's High Priest】's Attack Power increases by 2200!"

【Gravekeeper's High Priest】 【Attack Power: 4200】!!!

You Tian: …

"Next, I Set one card from my hand. End turn!"

You Tian looked at her field, then at his own Graveyard.

"To be honest, Ms. Isis…"

"Hmm?" Isis raised her head in confusion.

"Didn't you ever intend to save your brother?"

Isis's expression grew sorrowful.

"Mr. You Tian, as I said before, the cage imprisoning our clan is too strong."

"Without someone who can still walk toward the future even in despair, I believe my brother cannot be saved!"

Saying this, Isis gently wiped a tear from her eye and bowed deeply.

"I know the cards summoned by the Millennium Pendant are terrifying. Please forgive me for subjecting you to such a cruel trial—but I have no other choice."

"But with you… there may still be hope."

"Please, you must defeat me!"

You Tian: Heh.

I've felt despair, but as for walking toward the future—I don't want to take a single step right now!

You Tian frowned helplessly, staring at Isis's field.

"Ms. Isis, forgive me for saying this, but with your strength, you could rescue Malik yourself—you don't need me at all!"

Isis's expression turned slightly disappointed.

"Mr. You Tian, you don't understand. Fate is a heartless thing. We are merely its playthings—it will never allow such… playthings to challenge it."

Here, Isis lifted her head again.

"Only you—only a traveler from another world—possesses the right to challenge Fate!"

"Please, Mr. You Tian, you must defeat me, and then rescue Malik!"

You Tian's expression grew cold.

"My turn. Draw Phase."

Seeing You Tian finally begin his turn, Isis felt both joy and sorrow.

"I activate my Set Card, 【Reversal of the Living and the Underworld】."

【Isis LP: 4000 → 3000】

Shhhhhhh!

With Isis's trap activated, You Tian's entire deck went to the Graveyard.

【You Tian's Deck: 0】

"Saa, Mr. You Tian, please defeat me!" Isis said with hopeful anticipation.

"Ms. Isis…"

You Tian lowered his head.

"I refuse!"

"What!!" Isis was stunned.

"Mr. You Tian, what are you saying! You…"

"I say—I refuse! I refuse to break the fate of the Ishtar Clan for you!" You Tian stared at Isis with icy eyes.

"What kind of damn cage is this fate? I don't accept it!"

"Fate has always been bullshit! The Ishtar Clan has nothing to do with me!"

"I don't deny that some people are born unlucky."

"Some are born into terrible families, endure terrible things."

"Parents dead early, relatives cold and indifferent! Left alone to live in this world!"

"These terrible things have nothing to do with them, yet they must bear the injustice they bring!"

Here, You Tian's voice choked slightly.

"But if fate treats you unfairly, then fight! Seize it!! Take back what belongs to you!"

"Don't sit in the corner begging strangers for a copper coin!"

Isis stared at You Tian in shock, her pupils trembling slightly.

"What do you mean, beg me to defeat you?"

"Why hand your own fate over to someone else?"

"Ms. Isis!"

Isis's eyes locked tightly onto You Tian.

You Tian: "Now I ask you—do you still want me to defeat you?!"

Seize it yourself? Fight for it?

Isis's heart churned with conflicting emotions—hadn't she wanted that too?

Mr. You Tian might not know, but the moment she put on the Millennium Pendant, she saw fate laughing at her.

I'm just a mere mortal—how can I fight fate?

"Mr. You Tian…"

Suddenly, Isis's words of explanation caught in her throat.

The Ishtar Clan had been bound by fate too long. Over time, she had become its watchdog.

Screaming to break free from its chains, yet biting those who tried to free her.

Was it fair to leave Malik's fate to a stranger like You Tian?

Yes! To hell with fate!

Why should my own responsibility be dumped on someone else?

Thinking this, Isis slowly lifted her head, her gaze sharpening.

"Mr. You Tian! I will defeat you right here!"

"I will rescue Malik with my own strength!"

"I won't rely on anyone else anymore!"

Watching Isis's expression, You Tian nodded with a smile.

"Ms. Isis."

"Hm?"

You Tian absentmindedly wiped away his running snot.

"You got one thing wrong!"

Isis: "What?"

Here, You Tian pointed directly at Isis.

"You! Have no chance of winning!"