Animated-Style Duel

Keith Howard, also known as Bandit Keith or Plunderer Keith.

A former American champion and a top-four finalist in Duelist Kingdom, he was a stepping stone whom Joey Wheeler gleefully sent packing after Keith tried to cheat.

While he doesn't have a meme as iconic as Weevil Underwood's, one that's been passed down and even twisted to include the protagonist, thanks to his iconic bandana symbolizing freedom and his stereotypical character design, Keith still left a rather deep impression on Yu Ming, who watched the anime back then.

Of course, that's as far as it went.

If he had a choice, Yu Ming really wouldn't want to interact with someone like that.

"Hey, kid, I'm talking to you. You gone mute or something?"

Even through the dark sunglasses, Yu Ming could clearly discern a hint of genuine old American flavor.

"Rude, barbaric, arrogant."

"Didn't your parents teach you that silence isn't the right way to deal with problems?"

Yu Ming simply shook his head at the man's arrogant domineering attitude.

"Before we discuss all this nonsense, don't you think you owe me an apology?"

Slowly, he unequipped Absorb Shield from his Duel Disk and returned it to his deck, then stood up.

"That explosion earlier almost involved me too."

"So what? You're in a place like this; do you really expect to find any upright gentlemen here?"

Keith sneered.

"Anyway, are you going to hand over the stuff here yourself, or...?"

He pulled out the handgun from his waist.

Yu Ming subtly raised an eyebrow, staring at the dark muzzle of the gun.

But before he could even think of a countermeasure, the bandit directly inserted the short gun into a device worn on his left hand.

Click

The device slowly unfolded, forming a metal Duel Disk.

"Or do you need a little 'education' before you'll listen obediently to adults?"

Ah, now this felt right.

Yu Ming desperately tried to keep a straight face, watching Keith's "draw a card if you don't obey" demeanor.

If you thought about it, this was basically the equivalent of pulling out a high-powered weapon for a show of force in other scenarios.

Thinking about it that way, the situation seemed quite dangerous?

But it didn't matter. The original story was even worse.

Smashing, looting, stealing.

In Duelist Kingdom, the arc where he debuted, Keith did not do a single normal thing, from stowing away onto the island to beating up his own subordinates to steal their entry passes, all the way to making it into the top four.

Even compared to his act of pulling cards from his crotch, Arkana's act of cutting cards might have been more in line with the rules.

From a certain perspective, the fact that he could now pull out a Duel Disk and willingly duel might even be considered progress.

Thinking about it, it was quite inspiring, wasn't it?

"What kind of look is that? Am I that funny?"

Perhaps the subtle emotions that inadvertently showed on Yu Ming's face stung the former champion, because when Yu Ming broke free from his convoluted thoughts, he was met with Keith's angry expression.

Arrogant, selfish, yet with strong self-esteem.

Seto Kaiba, who also possessed these traits and acted as a villain in the early stages, only truly got his redemption after he and his brother were put through various Shadow Games, and their bond, along with Kaiba Land, emerged in the Duelist Kingdom arc.

As for Mr. Keith...

"Yes, indeed."

Yu Ming nodded very honestly, facing the undisguised, oncoming rage.

"A former American champion reduced to bullying a simple 'little boy' like me, trying to find your lost self-esteem in me, is indeed a bit comical."

He wasn't a masochist; he wouldn't foolishly offer his face if the other person wanted to slap him.

"Who are you working for now? The Ghouls? Or are you still wandering, doing shady underground dealings, while drowning your sorrows in bars?"

A direct slap back would be more to his liking than this kind of nonsense.

Of course, it had to be elegant!

"Or are you willing to work for Industrial Illusions?"

Although he didn't consider himself particularly skilled in the art of conversation, he was a transmigrator.

While many people focused more on so-called foresight, this identity was also an unparalleled tool when digging up dirt.

"Enough!!"

See? Although there wasn't a single curse word, Yu Ming could clearly see that the former champion was gasping for air, as if having trouble breathing, because his sore spot had been hit.

The reason for his downfall was that when he challenged Maximillion Pegasus, the Father of Duel Monsters defeated him in a mocking manner. Pegasus didn't even face him directly but wrote his strategy on a piece of paper, having a child act as a proxy to thoroughly defeat him, the then-rising American champion.

If he could truly let it go, he wouldn't have fallen from champion to vagrant overnight.

"Enough talk. Let's see what you've got."

You have a new challenger!

He strode over, his demeanor aggressive... as he offered his deck.

In turn, Yu Ming handed his own cards to him.

After all, there was no other way.

The automatic shuffling feature, which many card players dreamed of, only became available in the 5D's era, and checking the graveyard and opponent's monster effects only appeared in Arc-V.

As for DM, where it all started, even GX later on still involved players shuffling and cutting each other's decks.

And so, this subtle situation arose.

"You sharp-tongued brat, I swear you'll regret that unfiltered mouth of yours."

"Heh, if you can make me, then try. I'm quite curious how much a person like you values their oaths."

Beneath their seemingly antagonistic words, neither of them made any further moves, simply continuing to shuffle their cards.

Only after cutting each other's decks did they finally pull apart.

At this moment, the sacred ritual truly began:

"Duel!"

Yu Ming LP: 4000

Keith Howard LP: 4000

4000 Life Points. While different from the real card game rules, he was more familiar with this rule than the earlier 2000 LP.

"So, do you want to flip a coin or play rock-paper-scissors..."

"I'll take the first turn! Draw!"

"..."

As Yu Ming was asking, he saw Keith already holding six cards.

Referee, this guy isn't following the rules! Can't you just declare him the loser?

Of course, there was no referee here, and no one would pay attention to Yu Ming's inner complaints.

As his opponent, Keith wouldn't think there was anything wrong with his actions.

"Hmph, it seems even the goddess of victory is on my side, kid!"

Watching the opponent's provoking, punchable expression, and then glancing at his own hand full of red, green, and blue cards, Yu Ming suddenly felt a little tired.

Whatever, that's how the anime is. It's just about who can yell the loudest.

As for whether drawing first in the first turn, especially in the early stages, could truly provide an advantage, Yu Ming honestly wasn't too concerned.

After all, it was an anime. It would probably just be a normal summon of a monster as a friendly gesture. Given the DM environment, it might even be a 4-star Normal Monster.

So...

"Magic Card – 'Graceful Charity'! Draw three cards from your deck, then send two cards from your hand to the Graveyard."

"?"

When he snapped back to reality, Yu Ming only saw a smiling angel appear before him.

Holy crap, an unrestricted draw spell, a forbidden card!

But before he could be surprised, a giant hand had already begun to absorb the light of souls from the graveyard.

"Next is the Magic Card – 'Silent Doom'!"

Within that radiance, a massive war machine slowly emerged, its weapons radiating a chilling gleam.

"One of the cards I discarded was a Normal Monster – 'Machine Hunter'! By the card's effect, I Special Summon 'Machine Hunter' from the Graveyard in Defense Position!"

Machine Hunter (LV4)

Attribute/DARK

Type/Machine

ATK/1850 DEF/800

Watching the mechanical monster, its weapons retracted as if in a defensive stance, Yu Ming's heart sank.

Damn it, he's making a move.