"Duel!" x2
[Jonouchi, LP 4000]
[Youyu, LP 4000]
"It's been a while since I've dueled with you, Youyu," Jonouchi said eagerly. "Since the Duel City battle, we haven't faced off like this for years."
The two of them stood on a large rock by the sea, behind a dense, empty forest. The waves rose and fell, crashing ceaselessly against the rocks on the shore.
Their only spectator, Muto Yugi, stood quietly on the side, hands in his pockets, witnessing the duel.
"It seems so," Youyu nodded.
"Hehe, I should tell you that I'm completely different from the past, Youyu, so you better watch out!" Jonouchi shouted, "I'll take the first move. Draw!
I'll set a monster on the field and then set a card face-down. Turn end!"
A simple and standard opening, also revealing no information or strategy about the card deck to the opponent.
However, based on Youyu's impression of Jonouchi, that face-down card in the back... likely involves rolling dice?
Youyu hates dice, and also dislikes Europeans...
...Oh, except for his cute apprentice, Yuki Judai.
"My turn." Youyu glanced at his hand. "I activate the Magic Card 'Card Destruction' from my hand! Both players must discard all cards in their hands and then draw the same number of cards."
Jonouchi discarded four cards to the graveyard, curious as he drew new ones. "A hand replacement right off the bat, huh..."
"Next, I activate the Magic Card 'Pantheism of the Monarchs'!" Youyu said. "Send one 'Monarch' Magic Trap Card from the hand to the graveyard, and draw two cards from the deck."
"Monarch?"
Jonouchi knew of this deck but hadn't seen Youyu use it before.
"Then, the effect of the Trap Card 'The Prime Monarch' that was just discarded to the graveyard." Youyu said, "When this card is in the graveyard, you can banish one 'Monarch' Magic Trap Card other than 'The Prime Monarch' from the graveyard to Special Summon 'The Prime Monarch' as a Normal Monster on the field!"
Youyu slipped the 'Pantheism of the Monarchs' that popped out of the graveyard, banishing it to the Monster Zone as a Trap Card acting as a monster.
[The Prime Monarch, Defense 2400]
"Then, I offer 'The Prime Monarch' as a Tribute!" Youyu placed a card from his hand, "To Summon the ruler of thunder and destruction——
——Zaborg the Thunder Monarch, Tribute Summon!"
Electric light crackled and burst across, and the white Thunder Giant descended like riding a lightning bolt. A massive electric arc formed a hemispherical force field, quickly expanding and covering Youyu's half of the field.
[Zaborg the Thunder Monarch, Attack 2400]
"The effect of 'Illusory Snatcher' in my hand." Youyu said, "When a monster is Tribute Summoned successfully, this card can be Special Summoned from the hand, and its level, attribute, and type become the same as the summoned monster!
Come forth, Illusory Snatcher!"
A misty, shapeless black fog spread across the field, gradually solidifying and copying Zaborg's sturdy and majestic form. Lightning danced around, resembling another Thunder Monarch.
[Illusory Snatcher, Attack 2400]
"The effect of Zaborg the Thunder Monarch! Upon Tribute Summon, destroy one monster on the opponent's field!" Youyu pointed to Jonouchi's field. "Destroy that face-down Monster Card!"
The Monarch raised its arm, electricity flew like a thunderous javelin! The face-down monster was shattered instantly, torn apart by countless electrical snakes.
"What you destroyed was 'Black Metal Dragon'!" Jonouchi said, "When Black Metal Dragon is sent from the field to the graveyard, it allows me to add one 'Red-Eyes' card from the deck to my hand."
He drew the ejected card from his deck.
"I'll add 'Gearfried the Red-Eyes Iron Knight' to my hand!"
"Now, time to battle." Youyu said, "Let Illusory Snatcher directly attack Jonouchi!"
The Illusory Snatcher, transformed into the Thunder Monarch, wielded the power of lightning. Electric charges raged like a torrent, exploding toward Jonouchi.
"Activate the Set Card! Trap 'Card Defense'!" Jonouchi cast aside a card from his hand to the graveyard, "By discarding one card, I negate one direct attack. Then, I can draw a card from my deck." (Anime Card)
Cards lined up neatly, forming a crisscrossed defense barrier to block the thunderous assault. Jonouchi immediately drew a card.
Youyu raised an eyebrow.
So it wasn't a coin or dice after all?
"Then I still have the attack of 'Zaborg the Thunder Monarch'." Youyu said, "Direct attack!"
A thunderous light sphere fell straightforwardly, and a brilliant orb of virtual imagery exploded theatrically beneath Jonouchi's feet, sending him sliding back half a step, leaving scorched traces on the ground.
[Jonouchi, LP 4000 → LP 1600]
He wobbled back a couple of steps, steadied himself, and grinned broadly.
"Wow, as expected from Youyu, dueling with you truly keeps one on constant edge."
"Then I'll set a card face-down, and my turn ends."
Youyu ended his move, lowering his arm, and chuckled, "Isn't it about time you showed some real skills?"
"Heh, then watch this!"
Jonouchi's momentum was surging.
"My turn, draw!" Jonouchi played the card he just drew, "Magic Card 'Pot of Greed', both players draw three cards from their decks.
Then I Summon 'Gearfried the Red-Eyes Iron Knight'!"
Gearfried the Iron Knight was originally one of Jonouchi's iconic monsters during the Duel City era. Now, this loyal knight fighting alongside his master for years donned the 'Red-Eyes' coat, becoming part of this deck's structure.
A crimson whirlwind spun up, black blades scraped fiery sparks through the air. The black-armored knight landed on the field, glowing with dark red patterns.
[Gearfried the Red-Eyes Iron Knight, Attack 1800]
"Then activate the effect of another 'Black Metal Dragon' in my hand!" Jonouchi said, "'Black Metal Dragon' can act as an Equip Card, equipping to my field's 'Red-Eyes' monster. The equipped monster's attack increases by 600!"
[Gearfried the Red-Eyes Iron Knight, Attack 1800 → Attack 2400]
"Next, activate the effect of the Iron Knight!" Jonouchi shouted, "Once per turn, Gearfried the Red-Eyes Iron Knight can send an equipped card on itself to the graveyard to Special Summon a Level 7 'Red-Eyes' monster from the graveyard!
I'll send the equipped 'Black Metal Dragon' to the graveyard to Special Summon, Level 4——
——Red-Eyes Wyvern!"
The dragon with crimson eyes emerged from the earth, like a mini Red-Eyes from the Netherworld beyond.
[Red-Eyes Wyvern, Attack 1800]
"Then, the effect of the sent 'Black Metal Dragon'! When it's sent to the graveyard, I can add a 'Red-Eyes' card from the deck to my hand." Jonouchi searched his deck again, "I'll add this card to my hand, 'Red-Eyes Darkness Metal Dragon'!
Next, I'll banish the Dragon-Type 'Red-Eyes Wyvern' from the field to Special Summon the Dragon-Type King covered in magical metal——
——Red-Eyes Darkness Metal Dragon, Summon!!!"