The Protagonist of the Yu-Gi-Oh! World Might Be the Same Person

Although Yugi and the Pharaoh harbored suspicions about "Marik's" identity, the sight of the Millennium Rod couldn't help but make them worry.

Just as everyone was on guard, "Marik" put away the Millennium Rod, seemingly having only intended to scare Jonouchi.

"It seems you'll have to Duel me obediently..."

"..."

Rishid ignored Jonouchi.

Afterward, the two activated their Duel Disks.

"Duel!!" ×2

[Katsuya Jonouchi: LP4000]

["Marik Ishtar": LP4000]

At this moment, Jonouchi drew a card first.

"I'll go first, Draw!"

[Jonouchi's Hand: 5 → 6]

"Alright--!!"

Jonouchi glanced at his hand and drew two more cards.

"I'll summon [Captain of the Charge] from my hand."

A warrior clad in bronze armor was projected in front of Jonouchi.

[Captain of the Charge: ATK 1200]

An illustration is available here; check the updated version.

"Next, I activate [Captain of the Charge]'s effect."

This card can be activated when it is successfully Normal Summoned. You can Special Summon 1 Level 4 or lower monster from your hand.

"Come on, second [Captain of the Charge]!"

With this, Jonouchi now had two [Captain of the Charge] monsters on his field.

[Captain of the Charge: ATK 1200] ×2

[Jonouchi's Hand: 6 → 4]

"And according to [Captain of the Charge]'s effect."

As long as this card remains in the Monster Zone, your opponent cannot select other Warrior monsters as attack targets.

"With two [Captain of the Charge] monsters on my field, you can't choose either of them as an attack target. In other words, 'Marik,' your attacks are sealed by me! Hehe, how about that? This is the attack-locking combo I learned from Yugi!"

Jonouchi proudly said to "Marik."

"I see! Jonouchi thought of this move from his Duel against AIBO earlier!?"

The Pharaoh remembered the deadly Duel on the docks, where Yugi had used a combination of [Roadblock] and [Valkyrie].

"Probably, I just didn't expect Jonouchi-kun to still have some impression of it..."

Yugi was also a little surprised.

"Hmph! Even a commoner can think of simple tactics!"

President Kaiba scoffed from the side.

"I see, that's a beautiful combo!"

"Marik" couldn't help but praise.

"Heh heh, what's wrong? Are you scared?"

Jonouchi's expression grew even more smug.

"No, I'm not. Unfortunately, I don't need to attack you right now, so such a tactic is meaningless to me."

"Marik" shook his head slightly and denied it.

"What did you say!?"

Jonouchi felt belittled.

"Tch, fine then, I'll set one card and end my turn."

He unhappily flipped a card face down and ended his turn.

[Jonouchi's Hand: 4 → 3]

As Jonouchi declared the end of his turn, "Marik" immediately drew a card.

"My turn."

[Marik Ishtar Hand: 5 → 6]

After drawing a card, he drew another card into his hand, and at the same time, he opened the card slot in the field area on his Duel Disk and placed that card there.

"I activate the Field Spell Card, [Temple of the Kings]!"

As the Field Spell was activated, an ancient temple slowly rose behind Marik.

"A temple appeared in his field..."

Jonouchi felt uneasy.

"After I use this card, this place becomes a sacred area for sacrificing to the Pharaoh. Before this temple, no matter who or what comes, they will become intruders before this temple."

Marik said something incomprehensible.

"You call us intruders!?"

Jonouchi couldn't understand his nonsensical rambling at all.

"That's right, because of this card's effect, the number of cards you can set each turn is restricted."

Although he didn't explain it specifically, in simple terms, the opponent could only set one card per turn.

Afterward, Marik's back row gained four Set cards.

"This Trap Card is set to punish intruders who appear before the temple. I end my turn."

Marik ended his turn with four Set cards.

[Marik Ishtar Hand: 6 → 1]

Seeing the four dark, Set cards, Jonouchi's scalp tingled. He cautiously began his turn.

Chapter 28: Trap Monsters

"Jonouchi-kun is in trouble. He's up against a Heavy Trap Deck..."

Yugi said with some worry.

"A Heavy Trap Deck!? A Deck that focuses on Trap Cards. That's a fitting name. Jonouchi is indeed in danger."

King also said with concern.

"Alright, Jonouchi! Do you have the courage to step into the sacred area of this trap hell?"

Seeing Jonouchi hesitate, Marik said to him.

"Tch! Don't try to provoke me, it's my turn!"

[Katsuya Jonouchi Hand: 3 → 4]

Jonouchi grinned after looking at the card he drew.

"Yosh! I'll send you to the graveyard with this card!"

Saying that, he inserted the card into his Duel Disk.

"I activate the Spell Card [Mystical Space Typhoon]! All Spell and Trap Cards on the field return to their owner's hand!"

[Katsuya Jonouchi Hand: 4 → 3]

A tornado instantly swirled in front of him and blew towards the opponent. Just as it was about to clear the opponent's back row, the tornado stopped advancing and quickly disappeared.

"Nani!?"

Jonouchi was shocked.

"Jonouchi, you've fallen into my trap."

Marik said to Jonouchi with a calm expression.

"My [Mystical Space Typhoon]'s effect was negated..."

Jonouchi felt uneasy.

"It's a Set card!"

Yugi, who was watching from the sidelines, immediately reacted.

"It seems you firmly believed that a Trap Card on the field would activate when you launch an attack, but I was waiting for you to use a Spell Card."

After all, most Trap Cards are used during the Battle Phase.

"What did you say!?"

Jonouchi became even more uneasy.

"I knew you had [Mystical Space Typhoon] in your hand, so tactics like yours can't defeat me, Marik. The trap you activated is this card, [Anubis's Judgment]!"

Marik revealed the Trap Card he had activated earlier. A black mist appeared on his field and took the shape of a wolf's head.

"This is a Trap Card that activates when the opponent uses a Spell Card. Its effect negates the activation and destroys all monsters on the opponent's field, inflicting damage equal to half the total ATK of the destroyed monsters."

The wolf's head shot out two streams of mist, piercing Jonouchi's two monsters.

"Not good!!"

Jonouchi, unable to react in time, watched his two monsters shatter before his eyes.

"Your monsters' combined ATK is 2400, so as a penalty, 1200 points will be deducted from your Life Points!"

As Marik finished speaking, the counter on Jonouchi's Duel Disk rapidly decreased.

[Katsuya Jonouchi: LP 4000 → 2800]

"To wipe out all my monsters... you really dare to do that..."

Without thinking, Jonouchi tapped the button on his Duel Disk.

"I also activate the Trap Card [Soul Rope]! When a monster on my field is destroyed and sent to the graveyard, I pay 1000 Life Points and Special Summon one Level 4 monster from my Deck."

[Katsuya Jonouchi: LP 2800 → 1800]

He took his Deck, picked out a card, and slapped it onto his Duel Disk.

"I choose to Special Summon [Fuh-Raid the Iron Knight]."

A dark, steel knight was immediately projected onto Jonouchi's field.

[Fuh-Raid the Iron Knight: ATK 1800]

"Next, I summon [Flame Swordsman] from my hand."

A blue swordsman appeared beside the dark steel knight.

[Flame Swordsman: ATK 1800]

[Katsuya Jonouchi Hand: 3 → 2]

"I see, you intend to decide the duel in one turn..."

Upon seeing Jonouchi summon these two monsters, Marik understood his plan, and he flipped over three Set cards.

"But I won't let you do that. I activate two Continuous Trap Cards, [Avatar of Apophis]."

Can be activated during either player's Main Phase. After this card is activated, it is Special Summoned to the Monster Zone as a Normal Monster (Reptile-Type/EARTH/Level 4/ATK 1600/DEF 1800). This card is also treated as a Trap Card.