"Hahahaha! And here I thought a brat like you might actually pull something off!"
After getting a clear look at the monster on the field, the Hooded Man froze for a moment, then burst into derisive laughter.
"All that fuss, and it turns out you're playing Elemental HERO, a trash deck the times left behind ages ago!"
"A measly eighteen hundred ATK? Against Mad Dog of Darkness with its three thousand ATK, that's not even enough to get stuck between its teeth!"
Hearing the Hooded Man belittle HEROs so brazenly, Jaden Yuki, who stood behind Yūki, immediately took offense.
Jaden knitted his brows tightly, stepped forward, and retorted loudly:
"Hey! Don't just spout nonsense! HEROs aren't trash! They're the best, most trustworthy partners in the world!"
"Tch. A sheltered little fool talking nonsense."
The Hooded Man let out a disdainful breath.
"Jaden, there's no need to waste words on someone who doesn't understand cards."
Yūki raised a hand, signaling for Jaden to step back.
He turned and smiled at Jaden, his tone calm yet filled with unquestionable confidence.
"Only by smacking him hard in the face with a HERO Deck can we make him remember just how strong HEROs are."
Jaden parted his lips. Looking at Yūki's composed gaze, his heated emotions miraculously settled down, and he nodded firmly.
"Yeah! Yūki, beat him up!"
Yūki turned back toward the Hooded Man, his gaze instantly sharpening.
"I activate the effect of [Elemental HERO Stratos] on my field!"
"If this card is Normal or Special Summoned, I can activate this effect to add one 'HERO' monster from my Deck to my hand!"
Yūki swiftly swept his fingers across the Deck as it presented the searchable cards, drew one out, and displayed it to the Hooded Man.
"I add [Miracle Exclusionist] to my