It's a Dog, Right?

[Kira, LP 4000]

[Kajiki Makoto, LP 4000]

Kajiki had good luck today, starting first. He drew his card, and when he looked at his six-card starting Hand, his eyes lit up.

A perfect starting Hand.

While most opponents Kira had faced before might underestimate him due to his poor record, Kajiki Makoto wouldn't.

He had watched Kira's previous matches, especially the one against Manjoume in the Top 8. After reviewing it, he felt that while Kira shouldn't be underestimated, in his eyes, he was more of an opportunistic opponent who relied on tricks. He wasn't without skill, but he didn't have much either.

"Hmph, as long as I know your strategy beforehand and take precautions, there's nothing to fear," Kajiki roared. "My turn!"

Kajiki's morale was high. Without a word, he slammed down a card, indicating an immediate Fusion Summon. He used "Mechanical Sergeant" and "Mechanical King" from his Hand to perform a Hand Fusion, directly bringing out a Level 8 monster, Perfect Mechanical King.

After this card was made into a physical card, its type was changed to Effect Monster, but in the anime, it was originally a Fusion Monster. Its original anime effect was that its ATK increased by 500 for each Machine-Type monster on the field. Since it itself is a Machine-Type monster, it would have a base ATK of 3200 upon summoning.

[Perfect Mechanical King, ATK 2700 → ATK 3200]

Having brought out his Deck's ace monster right from the start, Kajiki felt the Duel was halfway won. Starting off with something equivalent to a Blue-Eyes White Dragon with an extra 200 ATK bearing down on him, how could he possibly lose?

Then it was Kira's turn.

Kira wasn't in a hurry. First, he Normal Summoned Giant Rat. A furry giant rat that looked like it had mutated after taking drugs hopped onto the field, grimacing at the opponent and letting out a fierce growl from its throat.

[Giant Rat, ATK 1400]

Then Kira waved his hand and gave a direct order: "Giant Rat, attack 'Perfect Mechanical King'!"

Giant Rat: "?"

Its confused little eyes seemed to be saying, Bro, are you serious? Its ATK is more than double mine!

Why don't you ask me to do something impossible?

But a master's command was a command. The big rat could only grit its teeth and charge at the Mechanical King. As expected, it was instantly blasted into smithereens.

[Kira, LP 4000 → LP 2200]

Performing a suicide attack right from the start stunned his opponent.

What was the meaning of this? Were Duelists this polite nowadays? Just handing out free wins at the start of a match?

Could he be an actor secretly paid by the Dojo?

However, he immediately understood. The big rat that performed the suicide attack had a death effect. When Giant Rat is destroyed by battle and sent to the Graveyard, it can Special Summon one EARTH Attribute monster with 1500 or less ATK from the Deck.

Upon hearing this effect, Kajiki just chuckled inwardly.

1500 ATK or less? Aren't those all just small fry?

"I Special Summon this card from the Deck," Kira revealed the card he searched. "'Magical Crusader'!"

[Magical Crusader, ATK 600]

A little guy that looked like it jumped out of a chibi cartoon hopped onto the field, waving a tiny scepter in its hand. Its art style and small body made it look like it was just there to be cute.

"Magical Crusader's effect lets it attack the opponent directly," Kira waved his hand. "Direct Attack!"

[Kajiki Makoto, LP 4000 → LP 3400]

Kajiki Makoto, who took six hundred points of damage, didn't care at all. "Heh, all that for just this much damage? It didn't hurt a bit."

Clearly, this guy hadn't realized the seriousness of the situation yet.

Kira smiled. "My Battle Phase is over. Next, I activate the Equip Spell 'Power of the Guardians' from my Hand, and equip it to 'Magical Crusader'.

Then I end my turn."

Watching a layer of golden glow envelop Magical Crusader, yet its ATK didn't change at all, Kajiki Makoto couldn't help but mutter.

Did he just equip it for nothing?

Duels in this world aren't like in Kira's previous life; players can't check their opponent's card effects in real-time. Only cards they recognize and remember the effects of can be understood and reacted to immediately.

"It's my turn!"

Kajiki Makoto drew a card, then declared, "I Normal Summon 'Mechanical Sergeant' in Attack Position!"

[Mechanical Sergeant, ATK 1600]

"Since the number of Machine-Type monsters on the field has increased, 'Perfect Mechanical King's' ATK increases by another 500."

[Perfect Mechanical King, ATK 3200 → ATK 3700]

Kajiki Makoto waved his hand. "Use 'Mechanical Sergeant' to attack 'Magical Crusader'!"

Mechanical Sergeant stepped forward, but before it could make a move, the golden glow around Magical Crusader already began to flicker.

"At this moment, 'Power of the Guardians'' effect activates," Kira said. "When a monster equipped with 'Power of the Guardians' is attacked, at the declaration of the attack, you can place a Magic Counter on this card.

Also, for each counter on 'Power of the Guardians', the equipped monster gains 500 ATK."

[Power of the Guardians, Magic Counters 0 → 1]

[Magical Crusader, ATK 600 → ATK 1100]

"Heh, adding this much ATK is completely useless!" Kajiki Makoto roared. "Continue the battle! Mechanical Sergeant, destroy that small fry monster!"

However, the metal fist slammed into it, only producing a faint ripple of golden light. As the ripple dissipated, Magical Crusader still stood firm, completely unharmed.

Kajiki Makoto: "!"

Why?!

"That's 'Power of the Guardians'' other effect," Kira said. "When the equipped monster would be destroyed, you can remove Magic Counters from the field to negate the monster's Battle or Effect Destruction."

[Power of the Guardians, Magic Counters 1 → 0]
[Magical Crusader, ATK 1100 → ATK 600]

Kajiki Makoto: "?"

Wait a minute.

"You just said 'Power of the Guardians' only places counters when the equipped monster declares an attack, right!" Kajiki felt like he'd found a blind spot. "But I was the one who attacked just now; your monster didn't declare an attack at all. How could it still gain them—"

He started to suspect Kira was just making up rules (Kouhu).

"Is this your first day Dueling?" Kira looked at him with narrowed eyes, explaining patiently as if to a beginner in the card game club. "The description for 'Power of the Guardians' isn't 'place a Magic Counter when the equipped monster declares an attack,' it's 'place one during the Attack Declaration Step when the equipped monster battles.'"

Kajiki: "?"

What's the difference?

"Whether you attack or I attack, as long as monsters battle, there's an 'Attack Declaration Step.' So, as long as monsters battle on either side, the effect to place a counter is triggered."

Kira continued patiently explaining the profound intricacies of the K Language to his opponent.

Kajiki: "!"

What?! Doesn't that make it invincible?

It gains counters just by being attacked, and then it can negate destruction by removing the counters...

Doesn't that make the monster equipped with this thing immortal?

"Wait a minute…"

Kajiki furrowed his brow, realizing things still weren't simple.

"But Battle Damage should still be calculated, right?" he said suspiciously.

"Oh, that's Magical Crusader's own effect," Kira said. "When Magical Crusader battles, any damage taken by its controller is 0."

Kajiki: "!?"

Battle Damage is 0… Wait, something's not right, something's very not right.

Because it's equipped with 'Power of the Guardians,' Magical Crusader is immortal no matter how it's attacked.

And because of Magical Crusader's own effect, the opponent doesn't take Battle Damage.

And then Magical Crusader can attack the opponent directly… No, not just that, because of 'Power of the Guardians'' effect, the more times it attacks, the higher its ATK gets.

Gasp~

Kajiki sucked in a cold breath, his face paling in shock.

The kind of guy who could come up with such a netherworld-like strategy…

He must be a dog, right?!