What Was Going On?

Honestly, Yu Ming felt like he was dreaming.

When he had been launched out of New Domino City aboard the shuttle earlier, the sight before him had still been a chaotic battlefield.

The scene of machinery, ghosts, and flesh grinding and crushing against one another had still left him rather shaken.

He had even had a somewhat inappropriate thought:

"Ah, this is what a fantasy otherworld ruled by the Demon King should look like."

But that thought had not lasted long before the deadlock, like a meat grinder, simply vanished into thin air.

There had been no additional reinforcements, nor had there been any organized corps of mages.

Just one person, one demon, a frontline commander, and an evil dragon under his control—this "sandbox game" had ended as though some self-destruct command had been activated.

It was just... how should he put it?

What exactly had these so-called armies come here for?

Yu Ming did not know. Even now, he did not know whether what Keith and he had done could still count as the "Decapitation Operation" they had planned before.

But it did not matter. He had come all the way here, and now that the so-called War Game was over, it was time to set everything back on track.

So...

"Want to play cards?"

As he said that, Yu Ming subconsciously turned to survey his surroundings.

Unfortunately, aside from the super robot, "Machine Motor Omega," summoned by Keith, which more or less suited his tastes, none of the others were much to look at.

Normally, Yu Ming felt that he quite liked the Undead Type. It was not as though he had never played an Undead deck before.

But now...

Creaaak.

When he saw a worm crawl out from the eye socket of a Mr. Zombie, Yu Ming's scalp immediately went numb.

The sound of something wriggling and squeezing through soft flesh became incomparably clear in that moment, nearly making goosebumps rise all over him.

Perhaps this was what people meant when they said distance created beauty?

"So, how about giving me an answer?"

Shifting his gaze back to the towering demon before him, Yu Ming could not help but speak.

"Let's settle all this messy business here once and for all. Looking at all this mess is really unpleasant."

At the same time, Hades finally turned his gaze toward the youth.

A rancid wind carrying the stench of blood swept past, and Yu Ming could see Hades's blackened, broken teeth.

"So, is that Holy Knight determined to keep hiding like a turtle?"

"Who are you talking about?"

"Even with an 'old friend' coming in person, he still refuses to meet me. What a pity."

"So, who are you talking about?"

"But it does not matter. Since he is willing to place his hopes on you, let me see whether you are truly worth it."

"...So none of you really like listening when people talk, huh?"

Staring at Hades's savage expression, so clearly filled with arrogance, Yu Ming sighed.

He had wanted to say something more, but an inexplicable sense of helplessness surged through his mind, leaving him utterly exhausted.

"Forget it. The main objective has more or less been achieved anyway."

He slowly raised his Duel Disk.

Under the flickering green light, he saw the demon raise his obviously withered arm high.

With Hades's movement, undead spirits and wails began to whirl madly, while visible blue flames spilled into the air.

But...

You have a new challenger!

"Duel!"

Once that sacred command rang out, both the zombies' howls and the motors' roars vanished completely.

On the silent battlefield, it was as though only the massive demon remained standing.

Yu Ming LP: 4000

Hades LP: 4000

Swish, swish, swish.

The moment Yu Ming drew from his deck, enormous tangible cards also appeared before the Demon King.

A wisp of dark blue demonic flame burned directly above him, seemingly without any apparent meaning.

But Yu Ming quickly realized what it was for.

Rumble.

"My turn, draw."

The instant the flames exploded, a spark flew from the fire and gathered into a card before the Demon King.

Then, the card transformed into a bloody glow.

"I summon my loyal servant. Come forth, loyal warrior of the Fiend Type."

From within a blood-colored vortex, a spear spiraled forth.

Accompanied by a shriek, a vicious cavalryman made his grand entrance.

"Demon Cavalry!"

"Demon Cavalry (lv4)"

"Attribute/Dark"

"Type/Fiend"

"atk/1900 def/0"

"So it really is a Demon Deck."

Yu Ming narrowed his eyes as he watched the somewhat familiar figure.

Although he had been complaining about the war conference all along, he had actually gotten some useful information from it—for instance, Hades's identity.

Unlike in his previous life, where he could only piece things together from a few card illustrations, the natives here had given him a far more complete account.

For example... Hades was a Red Magician!

Red Magic was the magic of blood, an evil art that controlled Fiend Type monsters and even transformed its caster into one. In other words, Hades's usual deck was this "Demon" deck.

And the "Demon" archetype... someone had demonstrated it to Yu Ming long ago.

Honestly, even with the few new cards Yu Ming remembered added in, it was still hard to stomach. As expected, Fiend Type monsters were better off sealed in coffins and used as weapons.

Isn't that right, unknown red-haired big brother who was a Level 6 LIGHT Fiend Type monster repeatedly jumping in and out of a toilet?

"Then, I will set two spells in my back row to await activation, and end my turn."

Yu Ming's eyes suddenly widened.

Leaving aside what was up with calling them "spells," in this situation...

"That's all?"

Under his astonished gaze, Hades's blue flames had already dimmed.

At the same time, the green glow lighting up on his Duel Disk showed that everything happening now was not an illusion.

Compared with his previous opponents, Hades's moves were simply that straightforward.

One monster summoned to the front row, two cards set in the back row!

Honestly, he had not seen this kind of duel style in a long time.

Thinking about it, Yu Ming even felt his eyes grow moist.

This was the kind of duel he wanted!

This was how duels in anime were supposed to be, wasn't it?

No endless combos, no countless things to worry about!

This way, he would not feel pressured. This way, he would have room to make plays!

"My turn, draw!"

Filled with intense joy, Yu Ming looked at the card in his hand.

Then his smile vanished.

"I... I summon 'Demon Soldier.'"

Without realizing it, as his lips stiffened, Yu Ming felt even his tongue tremble.

"I set two cards in my back row."

Then...

"I end my turn."

Sorry, after going out for lunch, I had to run around taking care of things, so this ended up being delayed until now. The second update will probably not happen because it is too late. I'll do three updates tomorrow, orz.