The Reason for Your Defeat Is Singular

After everything collapsed, Keith crumpled to the ground as if his bones had been removed.

In the flickering candlelight, Keith seemed to have completely lost his strength and will. He just stared at the sole card remaining in his hand, "TM-1 Launcher Spider," muttering to himself repeatedly, as if he had gone insane.

"It shouldn't be like this, it shouldn't be like this at all!"

However, upon closer thought, it was understandable. After all, he had finally drawn a single card from a deck of dozens that could turn the tide, only for it to bring deeper despair.

"Card of Demise" had instantly replenished his hand with five cards, but before they could even warm up, four of them went straight to the graveyard.

Putting himself in Keith's shoes, Yu Ming felt he might not be able to accept such a result either.

"That was clearly a card that could have turned things around!"

Facing Keith's ferocious, almost man-eating gaze, Yu Ming couldn't help but nod.

"Indeed."

Disregarding the cause and effect, that statement alone was actually correct.

Yu Ming remembered that in his previous life, cards like "Graceful Charity" and "Pot of Greed," which allowed drawing and deck thinning without cost, were successively banned. Meanwhile, various "Treasure" cards in the anime were either nerfed into uselessness or never became real cards.

For a game where the deck itself had a ceiling, excessive drawing was truly overpowered.

Drawing five cards at once—that kind of effect would be a powerful turning point in any deck.

So, the question remained...

"Why did it still turn out like this?!"

"Don't you know the answer to that best, Champion?"

"I..."

Keith was speechless for a moment.

At this moment, Yu Ming could even see his face gradually reddening, and his breathing becoming short and heavy. One might have thought he was being corroded by a virus card himself.

But to be honest, Yu Ming's words weren't meant as mockery.

"You're the American champion of 'Magic & Wizards,' an old player who came up through the Duelist Kingdom rules. So you can't escape your past 'experience.'"

In his previous life, although many anime fans might not have been familiar with the "Magic & Wizards" rules before and after Duelist Kingdom, Yu Ming had specifically looked into it.

Aside from things everyone knew, like 2000 Life Points, no tribute summoning, and the RPG-like improvisational dialogue, there were a few other important rules:

First, direct attacks on players were not allowed.

Second, if the opponent had five monsters on their field, and you had no monsters and couldn't summon any more, you would lose.

Third, if an attack position monster was destroyed by a spell or trap, half of its attack points would damage the monster's controller.

The existence of these rules directly determined the core deck composition during the Kingdom era:

"Monsters," Yu Ming said.

"During the Magic & Wizards era, monsters weren't just spears to attack the enemy; they were also shields to protect oneself. Players relied on their monsters like summoners, and the outcome of battles was determined by monster combat. That's why players who came from the Magic & Wizards era inevitably had a large number of monsters in their decks. And to accommodate these monsters, the rest of the deck would also revolve around the monsters themselves."

To put it simply, if you ignored the RPG elements of on-the-fly improvisation, the basic strategy was this:

Summon monsters, keep monsters on the field.

On this basis, you had to find ways to prevent the opponent's attacks while launching fierce attacks of your own and destroying their monsters.

At the same time, you also needed deck-thinning methods for drawing cards.

"And to maximize the utility of the cards in the deck, there were certain restrictions on type and attribute."

This was why, in the Duel City era before archetypes were born, the many strong players and so-called Japanese champions or runner-ups were known by titles related to controlling certain monster types.

"Keith, as a champion, your deck must have had this kind of composition, right?"

Instantly, Keith's expression turned pale.

"You're not someone who likes to play defensively, so your low-level monsters either have extremely high attack power or outstanding special effects."

"Sphere Time Bomb"

"Motor Shell"

"Cannon Soldier"

Some effects might seem ordinary to experienced players, but in the early anime's 2000 Life Point environment, and now 4000 Life Point environment, they posed a significant threat.

"But at the same time, they all share one characteristic—their defense is almost impossible to get past 1500. Which means none of your low-level monsters exceed that line."

So, the outcome was already decided.

"Because I'm the Magic & Wizards American champion, 'Crush Card Virus' can directly lock down my deck?!"

Clutching the card tightly in his hand, Keith practically gritted his teeth as he squeezed out the question.

"Yes."

While there wasn't no way to break out of it, it would essentially enter the realm of what's ridiculed as a 'god draw,' perhaps like the state Yami Yugi and Yugi were in during the Ceremonial Battle arc.

And Keith was clearly a normal person. Normal people cared about deck construction.

So...

"You lost precisely because you were once a strong champion. If you want to think of it that way, that's fine."

After all, in the anime, there were plenty of duelists who clung to old-fashioned strategies and failed to adapt to new rules.

For example, those two characters who were once the Japanese champion and runner-up didn't amount to anything in Duel City. And the original anime arcs were abstract beyond belief.

"Heh, you've got a way with words, kid."

Keith seemed to want to laugh, but his stiff lips only made his expression more twisted.

However, he finally laid down the only card left in his hand.

"Then come on, you brat, go claim your victory!"

Clutching the "TM-1 Launcher Spider" tightly, he roared, "I end my turn like this!"

"...My turn, draw."

Yu Ming watched Keith's frantic yet bitter expression for a moment in silence.

He instinctively glanced at the cards in his hand but didn't play one on the Duel Disk or set it face down.

At this point, what was in his hand no longer mattered.

"I don't think I'll ever forget you, Keith Howard."

"..."

"I'm actually very grateful to you—though it was a bit sudden, you truly taught me how to approach this kind of situation with the right attitude."

So...

"I will bring this duel to a close out of respect for you."

Yu Ming slowly raised his hand and issued the final command.

"Dark Blade, direct attack."

The demon warrior, axe in hand, leaped high. A crimson, bloodthirsty gleam flashed beneath its rare silver helmet as the demon's axe carved a final arc.

Zzzzzzt

Keith Howard LP: 2700→0

Congratulations, Host, on defeating the duelist 'Bandit Keith'. You have gained 200 points from this duel. An additional 150 points are awarded for your first victory.

The duel was over.

When the Shadow Game ended and Keith's body collapsed like a heap of mud, Yu Ming let out a long sigh of relief.

A warm current gradually flowed through his entire body, making him feel warm and cozy. His previous fatigue slowly receded, and even his burning internal organs gradually stabilized.

Of course, this wasn't merely a subjective feeling.

He could even see the high-temperature burns on his body repairing themselves at a visible rate!

"It seems the winner of a Shadow Game can heal their injuries."

For him now, this was undoubtedly good news. At least he wouldn't have to drag his injured body around and could leave this dreadful place in a relatively complete state.

However...

"What's the principle behind it?"

Yu Ming's thoughts couldn't help but wander.

But before he could delve deeper, a faint voice reached his ear:

"Because you absorbed my 'Soul Power.' That's just how the rules of this world work."

Is there some Martial Soul here?

Are you from some continent?

A jumble of thoughts ran wild in his mind, but Yu Ming knew this wasn't the time to complain about such things.

Looking in the direction of the voice, he saw only a man.

Though he lay on the ground like a pile of mud, riddled with injuries, a pair of eyes beneath his sunglasses stared back at him.

"...How are you still alive?"