Chapter 41: Fear

Cold wind howled.

On the Airship's Duel Stage, You Tian stood straight.

Opposite him, Malik had already taken his position.

The third draw result: No. 1 You Tian versus No. 7 True Malik.

Is it true that "even travelers from the Other World cannot shake the cage of fate"?

You Tian unconsciously recalled Isis's words again.

Necroface: Master, why do you feel a bit nervous?

You Tian: Maybe. So much has happened today.

Kaiba, Yugi, and the others had all gathered beneath the stage.

Isono checked his watch; seeing the time was nearly up, he no longer delayed.

"Third Duel: Malik Ishtar versus You Tian. Begin!"

Hss~

As Isono uttered "Begin," darkness instantly flooded the Duel Stage.

"Hehehehe, You Tian, the Original Master seems to despise you too."

The opposite Malik spoke coldly.

"Then let us immediately begin the Dark Game! Now, the entire stage shall be shrouded in darkness."

"When your Life Points are damaged, you will feel the corresponding pain!"

"The loser shall become a tribute to the darkness! Ahahahaha!"

You Tian frowned.

"Bring it on!"

"Duel!" ×2.

Malik: "I'll go first! Draw Phase!"

Looking at the card he drew, Malik licked his lips.

"Let me start with this card to greet you."

"I Summon 【Crossbow Bowman】 in Attack Position!"

【Attack Power: 1300】

"Hehehehe, this card lets me deal you 600 points of Effect Damage during my Standby Phase!"

Yugi and the others frowned slightly.

A card that drains Life Points right off the bat?

"I also activate the Continuous Spell, 【Nightmare's Torture Chamber】!"

"While this card remains on the field, every time you take Effect Damage, an additional 300 points are added!"

You Tian frowned slightly.

"I'll Set two cards face-down. End my turn."

"Alright, your turn!"

You Tian: "My turn. Draw Phase."

He looked at his hand and exhaled softly.

Watching You Tian, Kaiba below grew slightly puzzled.

What's going on? When You Tian fought me, he wasn't like this.

Yugi also sensed something odd.

Yugi: Why does it feel like You Tian has been distracted ever since he disappeared earlier?

Onstage, You Tian studied Malik's field.

Now, I've entered the Dark Game.

This Dark Malik, in the Original Plot, was someone who loved to torture. When fighting him, I must be careful—try not to reduce my Life Points.

Thinking this, You Tian played decisively.

"I Summon 【Tsukuyomi】 in Attack Position."

As he spoke, a girl with blue hair appeared on the field.

【Tsukuyomi】【Attack Power: 1100】

"The effect of 【Tsukuyomi】 activates: When this card is Summoned, I may Set one monster on the field!"

"I'll Set your 【Crossbow Bowman】!"

Malik's gaze grew distant.

"Oh~ Trying to avoid 【Crossbow Bowman】's effect by Setting it?"

You Tian: "Hmph! My dueling style isn't that shallow!"

"I also activate the Magic Card 【Forced Transfer】 from my hand."

"Malik, you must exchange control of one monster on the field with me!"

Jonouchi below: "There it is! You Tian's trump card!"

Everyone turned to look.

Yugi: "Uh… trump card?"

Jonouchi nodded.

Yugi was baffled. Then he saw Kaiba beside him, his expression complex—and he became even more confused.

You Tian: "I'm exchanging 【Tsukuyomi】. You only have 【Crossbow Bowman】 on the field—you have no choice!"

Malik frowned.

"Hmph! A cheap trick from the Niu Tounren."

Both sides exchanged monsters.

You Tian: "It's not over yet—I'll flip my 【Crossbow Bowman】 face-down, so when my next turn comes, it'll be you who takes the Effect Damage!"

"I'll set two cards face-down, end my turn!"

"At this moment, the effect of 【Tsukuyomi】 activates—this card returns to its owner's hand during the turn it was Summoned."

"So, return to me! 【Tsukuyomi】!"

Jonouchi: "Amazing, You Tian! You forcibly stole a monster this way!"

The Game, seeing You Tian's dueling style for the first time, wore a strange expression.

"You Tian's dueling style... is rather unusual."

Malik frowned again.

"No wonder the Original Master disliked you!"

"You think you can avoid damage with such tricks? How naive!"

"Activate my trap card—【Torture Wheel】!"

You Tian: "What!"

Suddenly, a massive, bizarre device bound You Tian's 【Crossbow Bowman】.

"This card seals your 【Crossbow Bowman】's Attack Power, and at every one of my Standby Phases, it deals you 500 points of damage! Hahaha!"

"My turn, Draw Phase."

No sooner had he spoken than intense pain surged through You Tian—pain as if ten thousand needles pierced his body.

"Aaaah!!!"

You Tian screamed in agony.

【You Tian LP: 4000→3500】

Everyone: "You Tian!"

N-Sacrifice Demon, Death Guardian: "Master!!"

"Ahahahahaha!"

"Not done yet—【Nightmare's Torture Chamber】 activates! You take another 300 points of damage!"

【You Tian LP: 3500→3200】

"Aah!!"

Watching You Tian's suffering, Malik felt a surge of delight.

He placed his hand beside his ear, tilting toward You Tian.

"Kimoji~ Let me listen to your screams again~"

But the scream he expected did not last long.

Huh~ This guy's pain tolerance is pretty high!

Good—this makes the Game even more fun!

Malik glanced again at You Tian's 【Crossbow Bowman】.

"Use my monster against me? Clever—but no!"

"Hehehehehe! I Summon 【Restrict Arm】 in Attack Position."

【Attack Power: 500】

"【Restrict Arm】's effect activates!"

As Malik spoke, the 【Restrict Arm】 transformed into handcuffs, clamping directly onto You Tian's 【Crossbow Bowman】.

"When this card is Summoned or Special Summoned, it negates the effect of one monster on your field and prevents it from attacking!"

You Tian clicked his tongue.

Malik: "Not done yet—I know you still have 【Tsukuyomi】 in your hand, which could negate my 【Restrict Arm】. So I'll activate this card!"

As he spoke, Malik inserted a Magic Card into his Duel Disk.

"【Hand Destruction】!"

【Effect: The player with cards in hand discards them all. Afterward, that player draws the same number of cards they discarded.】

Malik pointed at You Tian. "Discard your 【Tsukuyomi】 to the Graveyard! Hahaha!"

You Tian had no choice but to discard his three hand cards to the Graveyard; Malik also discarded one. Then both drew cards.

"Not done yet!"

"Hmph! I activate a Magic Card from my hand—【Desire's Urn】—draw two cards."

Malik's hand +1

"End my turn!"

You Tian exhaled heavily.

The Dark Game truly was extraordinary. He hadn't expected to suffer this much even with two Duel Spirits.

A few beads of sweat formed on You Tian's temple.

As long as 【Torture Wheel】 remains on the field, I'll feel that pain again.

Death Guardian: "Master, let me take over!"

You Tian nodded.

"My turn, Draw Phase."

"I Summon 【Four-Faced Beast Melchido】 in Attack Position!"

【Attack Power: 1500】

Malik: "Oh~ Is that a card from Light and Dark Mask?"

You Tian drew another card from his hand.

"I tribute the 【Four-Faced Beast Melchido】 and the 【Crossbow Bowman】 to perform a Special Summon: 【Masked Beast Death Guardian】!!"

【Attack Power: 3300】

The audience below: "Good! Malik just summoned a powerful monster!"

A massive beast descended onto the field, its gaze hostile as it fixed on Malik across from it.

Malik: "So scary~"

You Tian pointed with his hand.

"The 【Crossbow Bowman】 is gone, so 【Torture Wheel】 will be destroyed!"

Boom!

Malik blocked with his hand, a smile on his lips.

You Tian: "Malik, it's my turn to attack now."

"Go, 【Masked Beast Death Guardian】—attack his 【Restrict Arm】!"

The Game below frowned slightly.

Malik: "Fallen for it! Trap card activated! 【Monster Swap】!"

You Tian: "What?!"

"This card lets me return one of my monsters to my hand, then Summon a Level 4 or lower monster from my hand!"

"I'll return the 【Restrict Arm】 to my hand, and then—I'll Summon 【Restrict Arm】 again!"

"【Restrict Arm】's effect activates: when it is Summoned or Special Summoned, it can bind one of your monsters!"

Click, click!

The massive body of the Masked Beast was instantly shackled by the 【Restrict Arm】.

"Don't rush~ The Game has only just begun. Ahahahahaha!"