Don't You Dare Question the Power of the Gods! / Ten Custom Cards in a Row! ...

Chapter 9: Do Not Question the Power of the Gods!

"You won the duel." Zhuxiu handed his deck to Hara Shichi. "As agreed, you can choose one card from this deck."

"What about admission?" Hara Shichi asked instinctively.

"Of course that won't be a problem. Not only that, but your meals and lodging will be free as well," Zhuxiu said.

"I understand."

Hara Shichi brought Zhuxiu's deck before his eyes and began picking through it. He first ruled out the Cyber Dragon cards. Though they had high attack power and could be Special Summoned quickly, a single copy would not mean much. Skill Drain was ruled out as well. It was powerful, but it did not fit his deck's style. Then he saw it—the card said to be capable of devouring any monster: Gama the Kaiju.

Its effect allowed its user to Tribute one monster on the opponent's field, then Special Summon it from their hand to the opponent's field in Attack Position. Duelists often used it to deal with monsters that had powerful effects or high resistance.

"Teacher, was that the card you had in your hand back then?" Hara Shichi suddenly asked. Without Book of Moon, if Tiramisu of the Tiara had attacked Azure, then on the next turn, his Tiramisu of the Tiara would probably have been Tributed by the Turtle Kaiju.

"That's right. Kaiju monsters can deal with monsters on the opponent's field that have higher attack power than mine, so I included six of them: three Turtle Kaijus and three Kaiju Monster Powders." Zhuxiu asked, "Your deck needs two Level 4 monsters to summon that powerful monster. You could consider adding a Kaiju to deal with monsters that interfere with your plays during your turn. Do you want the Turtle Kaiju?"

"No. I have Forbidden Chalice in my deck, so I'll choose Mystical Space Typhoon." Under Zhuxiu's strange gaze, Hara Shichi pulled out a Mystical Space Typhoon and returned the deck to him.

"Mystical Space Typhoon... How about this? I'll give you this Monster Reborn too, as an enrollment gift." As Zhuxiu spoke, he placed a Monster Reborn in Hara Shichi's hand.

"Here's your dorm key. The room number is on it. As for your uniform and the related supplies, I'll have someone deliver them tonight," Zhuxiu said. "Welcome to Duelist Academy."

"..."

After the duel, Zhuxiu led Hara Shichi and the others out of the practice room. Only after Zhuxiu and Nafili had gone far away did Yukikaze sneak over and say, "That's great! Starting today, we're classmates!"

"This is all thanks to you." Hara Shichi returned Book of Moon to Yukikaze. "Without this card, I probably would have been crushed by the Head Teacher next turn."

"Ahem." Yukikaze scratched her fair cheek in embarrassment and pushed Hara Shichi's hand back. "It wasn't that dramatic~ As for Book of Moon, you can have it."

"Huh?" Hara Shichi asked in confusion. "Isn't this your rarest card?"

"It's fine. I got another rare card today!" Under Hara Shichi's somewhat complicated gaze, Yukikaze took out the Mystical Space Typhoon Nafili had given her. "Look, I have Mystical Space Typhoon too."

Hara Shichi recalled the Head Teacher's odd expression and suddenly felt that something was off.

Hey, wait... Mystical Space Typhoon isn't actually some especially rare card, is it?

Hara Shichi could not help complaining inwardly.

"By the way, Hara Shichi, what did the Head Teacher pull you aside to say just now?" Yukikaze asked curiously. When they had parted, the Head Teacher had suddenly pulled Hara Shichi aside and said something to him, looking extremely solemn.

Hara Shichi froze for a moment, then smiled. "He just warned me not to get too arrogant or complacent. He was worried that, being young and hot-blooded, I'd get carried away."

"But Teacher Nafili just told me that duelists should remain arrogant?" Yukikaze scratched her head. "Which one of them is right?"

"They're both right," Hara Shichi said with a smile.

"You have to be arrogant, but you can't be arrogant and complacent? Isn't that a contradiction?" Yukikaze asked.

"Teacher Nafili's arrogance probably means having the conviction that you will win against any opponent in a duel. The Head Teacher's warning against arrogance and complacency means not losing yourself in victory after a duel," Hara Shichi explained. "They sound contradictory, but they aren't talking about the same thing, so there isn't actually any contradiction."

"Duelists should be arrogant, yet humble."

"I see, I get it." Yukikaze frowned, sounding as though she only half understood.

Yeah, she probably, maybe, perhaps, should have understood.

"Enough of that. I'll take you to your dorm. Let me tell you, all the dorms at our school are single rooms, and every dorm has its own bathroom too!"

With that, the girl eagerly walked ahead to lead the way.

"Why didn't you tell her the truth?" Ai suddenly appeared and asked.

Hara Shichi looked at the girl's back. "I think idiots are better off living carefree lives."

"But... I never expected something like this to be happening inside Duelist Academy." Remembering the Head Teacher's warning, Hara Shichi muttered to himself.

"Yeah. Because the board lost last year's National Higher Academy Tournament to another academy, they actually encouraged the students to hold Card Gambling Duels. They called it an iron-blooded educational method. Anyone who refused would be cursed at by others as a coward, unworthy of being called a duelist. Anyone who lost their deck would even be expelled... Isn't that just raising poisonous insects in a jar?" Ai said indignantly, hands on her hips.

"And they even support a club called the Crimson Lotus Society, having them specifically seize other students' decks and stir up conflicts." Hara Shichi sneered. "Did the board get kicked in the head by a donkey?"

"Who knows?" Ai sighed. "I thought Duelist Academy had a good atmosphere, which was why I brought you here. I never expected this sort of thing to exist."

"I'm more curious about how many sharks will smell blood and come looking for me." Hara Shichi gently rubbed Tiramisu of the Tiara in his hand.

"You want to be an orca?" Ai asked curiously.

"I want to be an agent of justice and give them a punch that fixes their personalities." Hara Shichi said, "Anyone obsessed with taking other people's decks is probably no good."

"Well said. I support you!" Ai nodded.

"Then could you support me with actions instead?" Hara Shichi expressionlessly held out his hand. "Including the Book of Moon Yukikaze gave me, I got three cards today. Meanwhile, you keep calling yourself my cheat, yet you haven't given me a single rare card."

"W-What do you mean by that?!" Ai's little face reddened. "Didn't I say I'd print cards for you today? Why are you rushing me? Just wait. I'll print them for you tonight. I'll print cards stronger than Mystical Space Typhoon, Monster Reborn, and Book of Moon!"

"You said it."

"Hmph. Are you questioning the power of a god?!" Ai turned her head away disdainfully.

"No, I trust you completely."

"That's more like it."

"..."

Chapter 10: Ten Card Prints in a Row!

Duel Cards were a gift bestowed upon humanity by the Goddess of Duels.

They represented both the nothingness of 0 and the infinite possibilities of ∞.

Starting from the original white Duel Cards, humanity developed yellow monster Duel Cards, green Spell Duel Cards, red Trap Duel Cards, and even purple Fusion Monster Duel Cards and silver Synchro Monster Duel Cards.

Duelists could choose different Duel Cards according to their needs, infusing them with their Duel Power to print cards.

The stronger one's Duel Power, the stronger the cards one could print.

"Hara Shichi, Battle Power: Third Stage! Rank: Low!" Ai shouted, pointing at Hara Shichi's forehead.

"Can you stop suddenly messing around while you're explaining?" Hara Shichi complained.

The two were currently in a dorm at Duelist Academy. Just as Yukikaze had said, every dorm at Duelist Academy was a single room with its own bathroom, and moreover...

"This bed is so soft." After bathing, Hara Shichi sat on the bed and sighed.

"I was worried that a straightforward explanation would be too boring." Ai sat beside Hara Shichi in a sky-blue dress, her silver hair scattered loosely over the clean sheets. Yet upon closer inspection, one could see something like an invisible wall of air between the girl and the bed.

"So you really are like a ghost. I couldn't really tell during the day, but now that it's night... what are those faint lights around you?" Hara Shichi asked, looking at the subtle glow surrounding Ai.

"It is the radiance of a god. A god shines upon every one of her people." Ai spread her tiny arms wide and put on what she considered a loving expression. But to Hara Shichi, she simply looked like a strange little girl making a strange pose. It was utterly ridiculous.

"Alright, alright, stop changing the subject. Let's print cards," Hara Shichi said.

"You're the one changing the subject!" Ai tucked her fair legs beneath her and sat across from Hara Shichi. "Anyway, card printing is the act of a duelist pouring their Duel Power into a Duel Card. Since you're a human from another world, you have no Duel Power in your body. Therefore, all the Duel Power generated by your duels will be absorbed by me, and I'll print cards for you. Understand?"

"Question." Hara Shichi raised his hand.

"Ask," Ai said.

"Can Duel Power increase? How do you increase it?" Hara Shichi asked.

"As the name suggests, Duel Power is energy generated through duels. It can increase as long as you keep dueling. In theory, you gain Duel Power regardless of victory or defeat, but Duel Power generally favors the winner. Strictly speaking, the winner usually gets seventy percent, the loser gets twenty percent, and the remaining ten percent is very likely to dissipate," Ai explained.

"Question two. Since ordinary duelists can do what you do, what is the difference between you and ordinary duelists?" Before Hara Shichi had even finished speaking, he noticed Ai's gaze turn dangerous.

"Are you comparing me, a god, to ordinary duelists?" Ai gritted her teeth.

"I wasn't, I didn't, don't make things up," Hara Shichi hurriedly denied.

"Hmph! Let me tell you. First, there's the absorption rate." Ai raised one finger. "Humans are still merely humans. They cannot fully absorb Duel Power. Depending on their constitution, their absorption rate is generally between fifty and eighty percent. But as a god, my absorption rate is one hundred percent!"

"Furthermore, it isn't as though you can use however much Duel Power you absorb. Part of it is absorbed by your body, part of it automatically raises your Duelist Level, and only the remaining portion becomes Duel Power that you can use once you have mastered it."

"The higher your Duelist Level, the purer the Duel Power in your body, and the stronger the cards you can print."

"And as a god, my Duelist Level is the highest, and my Duel Power is the purest. In other words, with the same amount of Duel Power, an ordinary duelist can only print ten cards after absorbing it, while I can print a hundred cards, and their quality will be the highest too!"

"Also, I can precisely print cards according to my wishes. Unlike ordinary duelists, who print cards based on luck, as long as I have enough Duel Power, I can print whatever card I want!" Once Ai finished speaking, she closed her mouth and stared directly at Hara Shichi, signaling for him to say something.

"I understand. As expected of the Goddess of Duels. Your power leaves me in awe," Hara Shichi recited flatly.

"It's good that you understand." Ai nodded.

"Then what cards can our current Duel Power print?" Hara Shichi asked.

"Because you've only had two duels, you haven't gained much Duel Power. Adding the Duel Power I had left over from printing Marincess, we can print at most ten cards, or... precisely print one N-rarity card."

"Choose," Ai said. "Do you want ten prints in a row, or one ordinary N-rarity card?"

"Of course... ten prints!" Hara Shichi answered without hesitation. Ten cards versus one card—was there even a choice?

"That's what I thought too!" Ai waved her little hand, and ten white Duel Cards appeared between them.

"They're all white Duel Cards?" Hara Shichi asked.

"I created these Duel Cards myself. Yellow, green, and other Duel Cards are products of humanity's innovations based on this kind of Duel Card. If you want those... you have to spend money to buy them. Do you have money?" Ai glared at Hara Shichi irritably.

"No. Sorry, go on." Hara Shichi indicated that his pockets were empty.

"Then... let's begin." Ai's slender finger touched the white Duel Card at the far right. Colored light immediately flowed from her fingertip, slowly enveloping the card. Then the card itself emitted a somewhat dazzling glow, and a yellow card image gradually appeared.

"That color... it's an Effect Monster!" Hara Shichi held his breath as he stared. Soon, the name, Level, and card text appeared before him:

Rescue Cat: Level 4, Attribute/EARTH, Type/Beast, ATK 300/DEF 100. You can only use the effect of this card's name once per turn. ①: You can send this card from the field to the GY; Special Summon 2 Level 3 or lower Beast monsters from your Deck. The effects of monsters Special Summoned by this effect are negated, and they are destroyed during the End Phase.

"How is it? I told you I'm amazing! The very first card printed was already a rare monster like Rescue Cat!" Ai said excitedly.

"..."

"Say something. Why are you being so quiet?" Ai tilted her head in confusion.

"I'm regretting it," Hara Shichi said dejectedly.

"Why? Isn't Rescue Cat great?" Ai held Rescue Cat up and waved it before Hara Shichi's eyes. "Look, look! It's cute and powerful, and one card can Special Summon two monsters!"

"But this card is useless in my current build." Hara Shichi held his forehead. "I was careless. No matter how rare a card is, if I can't include it, then it's only artwork to look at. I shouldn't have chosen ten prints in a row. Printing one usable N-rarity card would have been the right choice."

"Is it still too late to choose to print one N-rarity card?"

"Too late." Ai pointed at the second Duel Card. "While you were talking just now, I had already printed the second card."

Hara Shichi looked at the completed card, and his vision immediately went dark.

Spell Card: Fire Formation - Tenki

You can only activate 1 card with this card's name per turn. ①: When this card is activated: You can add 1 Level 4 or lower Beast-Warrior monster from your Deck to your hand. ②: Beast-Warrior monsters you control gain 100 ATK while this card is in your Spell & Trap Zone.

Chapter 11: Nero Arisa

"Fusion is the noblest method of summoning!" Nafili declared passionately from the podium. "With just one simple Polymerization Spell Card, you can skip the cumbersome setup process and summon a powerful boss monster! What summoning method could possibly be more wonderful than that?!"

"Is he always like this?" Hara Shichi complained from his seat below.

"Teacher Nafili's classes have always been very... lively," Yukikaze whispered beside him.

"This is so boring. I'm the great Goddess of Duels, yet I have to accompany you through such a basic class." Ai placed both hands on Hara Shichi's chest and lay across his back.

Incidentally, because she was a spirit body, Hara Shichi could not feel any weight.

"If you're bored, then don't stay out here." Hara Shichi glanced at Yukikaze beside him and spoke quietly.

"If I don't stay out here, where am I supposed to go?" Ai yawned.

"Hm? As my cheat, aren't you supposed to live inside my body according to the usual setup?" Hara Shichi asked strangely.

Ai gave Hara Shichi a faint glance and said disdainfully, "Heh. How could a mortal body contain the soul of a god?"

"I merely linked my soul to yours to prevent my spirit body from collapsing due to lacking a host."

"Hohoho, the soul of a god, huh?" Hara Shichi sneered. "A god who can print trash cards like White Rabbit... are you perhaps the Goddess of White Rabbits?"

Aside from Rescue Cat and Fire Formation - Tenki, yesterday's remaining cards had been Reinforcement of the Army, two Rank-Up-Magics, one Scrap-Iron Scarecrow, and the rest had all been trash cards like White Rabbit.

"What do you mean? Didn't I print powerful cards like Rank-Up-Magic and Scarecrow too? What exactly are you dissatisfied with?!" Ai frowned. Then, as if she suddenly understood something, she revealed a sly smile. "Ah~ I know!"

"What do you know?" Hara Shichi suddenly had a bad feeling.