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Chapter 572: A Man's Fight! (Part 1)
Rex curled up, feeling his hands and feet turn cold. A fear of death occupied all the space in his heart, making him unable to think about anything.
It wasn't until Hayato and the others left that he barely regained his ability to think. He was annoyed at himself for being paralyzed by fear, for just letting the Paradox Brothers be killed while he merely watched from the side.
No, this isn't the time for regret. Maybe "being killed" was just his own illusion. After the Paradox Brothers were defeated by Hayato just now, what flew out from them might have just been images from the Virtual Projection System.
Comforting himself in this way, Rex emerged from his hiding place and hurried forward to check on the fallen Paradox Brothers.
Don't let Rex's age fool you; he actually knows quite a bit of basic physiology, at least enough to know blood is red. But when he bent down and used his knowledge to check the Paradox Brothers' condition, he found their state was truly unusual.
Their heartbeat and pulse were normal, their pupils showed no obvious change, their breathing and body temperature were normal, and they could even perform a knee-jerk reflex. All of this proved that the Paradox Brothers were still alive. However, no matter how Rex called out or shook them, he couldn't get a response. Yet, their current state didn't seem like they had simply fallen unconscious.
The Paradox Brothers' state... it was as if their souls had been Sealed?
Rex himself was slightly surprised by the conclusion he reached.
Although it was somewhat unbelievable, Rex was someone who had experienced many supernatural events. Having one's soul Sealed due to losing a duel sounded quite reasonable in this context.
First, he called an ambulance for the fallen Paradox Brothers. Thanks to their income as Professional Duelists, there was no need to worry about the high cost of medical care. Rex hung up the phone and cast his gaze towards the direction Hayato and the three other unfamiliar guys had just left.
Gritting his teeth, Rex resolutely followed them.
If he hadn't been mistaken just now, it seemed like Hayato had a card in his hand with the avatars of the Paradox Brothers printed on it. There was no way that was just a coincidence.
Although he wasn't completely certain, getting that card might be able to awaken the Paradox Brothers!
Holding onto this idea, and fearing that if he delayed any longer he might not find Hayato and the others, Rex quickly started running, chasing after the direction the four of them had left in. But as he ran towards that spot, Rex heard the heavy sound of hard-soled boots stepping on the ground.
"I've had the feeling of being watched since just now. Although Alister said I was being suspicious, I can't maintain infant-like sleep if I don't have peace of mind, so I specifically came back to take a look."
Valon, with his hands in his pockets, stood before Rex. "Well, look at that, my intuition was pretty accurate."
"You! You're one of the guys who was with Hayato just now!" Rex's eyes widened. He nervously looked at the man in the strange armor before him, recalling the conversation they had just had. Alister seemed to have mentioned the other person's name. "You're called Valon, aren't you!"
"Oh? Looks like you're not just passing by. You heard some things you shouldn't have, kid."
"Since you know my name, I have reason to suspect you saw more things, like the duel just now!"
Valon's gaze instantly sharpened, and he took a sudden step forward towards Rex!
"Bang!"
Accompanied by a gunshot, a bullet hole appeared on the ground near Valon's feet. Rex was seen holding a handgun in his left hand, breathing heavily and nervously saying, "Don't move! If you dare move, I'll shoot and attack you!"
As an Asian, Rex naturally knew about the deep-seated "discrimination" hidden beneath the surface — and sometimes not hidden at all — in the "capitalist and democratic" country of America. Discrimination based on capital, skin color, and so on. For these reasons, Rex had naturally learned that when going out alone, he must protect himself, especially since he was a boy.
Even the Paradox Brothers, although they appeared to be kung fu masters skilled in hand-to-hand combat, they also understood the principle that "outside seven steps, the gun is fast; within seven steps, the gun is both accurate and fast." They also carried guns on them, ready to perform a set of American traditional martial arts — American Iaido — at any moment.
As for how Rex, an underage foreigner, got a handgun? As a professional duelist, he had some capital behind him.
However, being equipped with a gun is one thing, carrying a gun for self-preservation is another, and actually firing a gun is yet another.
"You, you feel terrifyingly strange to me, don't come any closer!" Holding the gun with both hands defensively, Rex looked at Valon and said, "You have a feeling of being unaccountably dirty about you. Don't move! Stand right there and don't move!"
The shot just now was a warning shot Rex fired in his haste towards Valon. Because he knew that shot wouldn't hit anyone, Rex didn't have much of a psychological burden about pulling the trigger. But after that shot, aiming the gun at Valon, Rex truly lacked the courage to shoot and murder him as long as the other party didn't make any sudden moves. He could only warn Valon like this.
"My name is Valon, I'm 24 years old, and I'm a member of the 'Doma Three Swordsmen' in Organization Doma. I'm unmarried."
"Reaping the souls of losers in duels is my work, but even so, I usually want to go home by 8 PM at the latest."
"I don't smoke, and I only drink occasionally. I go to bed before 11 PM and sleep for eight hours. Staying up late these past few days has made my mood absolutely terrible."
"Before sleep, I drink a cup of hot milk, then do twenty minutes of stretching exercises to relax my body before going to bed. I sleep soundly until morning, enjoying infant-like sleep, not carrying fatigue over to the next day."
"My doctor also says I'm normal."
Valon, who had unaccountably started talking to himself, left Rex completely bewildered. "You, what exactly are you talking about? Who asked you about that?"
"I'm explaining to you that I'm someone who likes to live a peaceful life with peace of mind, 'Dinosaur' Rex." Valon extended a finger and pointed at himself. "Perhaps because of past experience, I don't insist on having to surpass others, nor do I actively create trouble. All of that makes it difficult for me to maintain composure and keeps me up at night. This is my attitude towards life, and it's my unique happiness."
"However, even if I have to fight, I have the confidence that I won't lose."
As Valon spoke, under Rex's gaze, he actually took another step forward, crossing over the bullet hole!
Subconsciously, Rex pulled the trigger. But what he didn't expect was that in the next instant, a card appeared in Valon's hand, and a ring on his finger emitted a green light. Large areas of armor actually appeared on Valon's body, blocking the bullet!
"Clang!"
The impact force of the bullet caused Valon's movement to pause slightly, but only slightly. He stepped forward again. "Because you use a deck centered around Dinosaur-Type monsters and are known as 'Dinosaur' Rex, you have a certain reputation in the circle of professional duelists. If you were to spread the existence of 'Doma' to others, I would no longer be able to have peace of mind."
"In other words, Rex, you are a trouble that hinders my sleep, you are my enemy!"
"Th-This is---!"
Rex was stunned by the armor that appeared on Valon before his eyes, nearly forgetting to breathe.
The situation before him... wasn't it the materialization of Duel Monsters? This strange guy actually had this kind of supernatural ability!
Because of his experience during the previous KC Cup, Rex's gaze became serious. He decisively put down the handgun in his hand, which had lost its use, and unfolded the Duel Disk he was always wearing.
A certain The Great Mage once said that only magic can counter magic. Similarly, only Duel Monsters can counter Duel Monsters.
"Not escaping but trying to resist? That saves me a certain amount of trouble, Rex." Seeing this, Valon also raised his left hand. The Doma Limited Edition Duel Disk on his left wrist unfolded. "Let's have a Shadow Duel where we gamble our souls. Before you tell anyone else everything you've seen, I'll take care of you first."
"Duel!" X2
[Rex: 4000LP]
[Valon: 4000LP]
"I don't want to be taken down! Draw a card!" Rex nervously drew a card, seizing the opportunity for the first turn.
This was somewhat unexpected for Rex. Because his draw action just now was a bit clumsy due to nervousness, he thought he wouldn't get the first turn. But Valon's movement was actually slower than his.
No, it wasn't just slower than his. As the duel began, Rex gradually calmed down and got into the zone. He looked at Valon, who had drawn five cards into his Hand, and started thinking.
This guy, is he deliberately giving me the first turn to take the second turn?
Choosing the second turn, which allows for proactive attack, over the first turn, which allows for Field setup? Could this guy possibly want to finish me in a single turn?!
"Seriously, I'm being underestimated." Rex felt annoyed at being looked down upon. He lowered his head and glanced at his Hand, then drew one of the cards. "First, I need to gather the Field suitable for my Monsters! Activate Magic Card, **Terraforming**! From my Deck, I add the Field Spell Card **Lost World** to my Hand! Then I activate **Lost World**!"
As Rex activated the Field Spell Card, the ground trembled. The environment around him and Valon was substituted from a City to a vast Wilderness Wetland. In the distance, towering Mountain Ranges rose, and dinosaur-like figures could be seen darting through the nearby Forest. It was clearly a scene from a primitive World.
"**Lost World** is the World where ancient Dinosaurs lived. In this land, there is only space for these ancient creatures to exist. Future Monsters cannot adapt to the environment at all." Rex explained the effect of the Field Spell Card **Lost World**. "Other Monsters on the Field besides Dinosaur-Type monsters have their ATK and DEF decreased by 500 points under the influence of **Lost World**."
"Then, if there are no Monsters on my Field, I activate the Magic Card **Unexpected Dai**! From my Deck, I special summon one Level 4 or lower Normal Monster!"
"Special Summon **Giant Rex** in Attack Position!"
In **Lost World**, water surged from a lake not far from the two of them. A water column shot up and fell towards Rex's Front Row. A creature resembling a dinosaur, covered in metal armor with faintly glowing stripes, appeared on Rex's Field.
The water flow also washed a strange egg onto Valon's Field.
[Giant Rex] [Level 4 / Water]
[Dinosaur-Type / Normal]
[2000/0]
[Jurra Egg Token] [Level 1 / EARTH]
[Dinosaur-Type / Token]
[0/0]
"Once per Turn, when a Dinosaur-Type Monster is summoned or special summoned, I activate the Effect of **Lost World**! I special summon one **Jurra Egg Token** in Defense Position on the Opponent's Field," Rex explained, pointing at the egg that appeared on Valon's Field.
However, this egg wasn't just given to Valon for free.
"As long as a Token exists on the Opponent's Field, due to the Effect of **Lost World**, the Opponent cannot target Monsters on the Field other than Tokens with Card Effects."
"Next, I summon **Gigant Spinosaurus** in Attack Position! Then I set two cards in my Spell/Trap Zone! End Turn!"
Another giant beast appeared next to **Giant Rex**. Also a Level 4 Monster with 2000 ATK, **Gigant Spinosaurus**'s aura was not inferior to **Giant Rex**'s. The two giant beasts stood side-by-side, glaring menacingly at Valon, who only had one egg on his Field.
[Rex: 4000LP, Hand 1]
[Giant Rex] [ATK 2000]
[Gigant Spinosaurus] [ATK 2000]
[Set card] X2
Field: **Lost World**
As a field setup for the First Turn, Rex's performance was quite good. While Monsters with 2000 ATK aren't necessarily an absolute suppression, they aren't something just any Monster can deal with, let alone having two of them.
Furthermore, the existence of **Lost World** grant the two Dinosaurs Resistance against being targeted by Card Effects. Even if the Opponent has cards with destruction Effects, they cannot target Rex's Monsters.
"My Turn! Draw a card!" However, Valon didn't feel any pressure at all. Instead, he casually drew a card. "I activate the Magic Card, **Armor Gravitation**! The effect of this card is to special summon up to four Level 4 or lower **Armor** Monsters from my Deck!"
"**Armor Gravitation**? **Armor** Monsters? And special summoned from the Deck?!" Rex was dumbfounded upon hearing the name of the card Valon activated.
Leaving aside the **Armor** Monsters he had never heard of, was the effect of special summoning from the Deck that common? Although **Unexpected Dai** could also special summon Level 4 or lower Monsters from the Deck, it was limited to only Normal Monsters that couldn't activate Effects.
You start right off with four **Armor** Monsters! Even if all the **Armor** Monsters were Normal Monsters, there are four of them, four!
Which damn bastard printed these fake cards?!
Amidst Rex's non-stop rant in his inner thoughts, four "Monsters" appeared before Valon.
[Active Guard Armor] [Level 4 / EARTH]
[Machine Type / Effect]
[0/1500]
[Overboost Armor] [Level 4 / EARTH]
[Machine Type / Effect]
[0/1000]
[Trap Burst Armor] [Level 3 / EARTH]
[Machine Type / Effect]
[0/0]
[Big Bang Punch Armor] [Level 4 / EARTH]
[Machine Type / Effect]
[0/1000]
Then, under Rex's astonishment gaze, the four Monsters actually recoiled violently, crashing into Valon behind them, and transformed into genuine "armor" worn on various parts of his body!?
Rex curled up, feeling his hands and feet turn cold. A fear of death occupied all the space in his heart, making him unable to think about anything.
It wasn't until Hayato and the others left that he barely regained his ability to think. He was annoyed at himself for being paralyzed by fear, for just letting the Paradox Brothers be killed while he merely watched from the side.
No, this isn't the time for regret. Maybe "being killed" was just his own illusion. After the Paradox Brothers were defeated by Hayato just now, what flew out from them might have just been images from the Virtual Projection System.
Comforting himself in this way, Rex emerged from his hiding place and hurried forward to check on the fallen Paradox Brothers.
Don't let Rex's age fool you; he actually knows quite a bit of basic physiology, at least enough to know blood is red. But when he bent down and used his knowledge to check the Paradox Brothers' condition, he found their state was truly unusual.
Their heartbeat and pulse were normal, their pupils showed no obvious change, their breathing and body temperature were normal, and they could even perform a knee-jerk reflex. All of this proved that the Paradox Brothers were still alive. However, no matter how Rex called out or shook them, he couldn't get a response. Yet, their current state didn't seem like they had simply fallen unconscious.
The Paradox Brothers' state... it was as if their souls had been Sealed?
Rex himself was slightly surprised by the conclusion he reached.
Although it was somewhat unbelievable, Rex was someone who had experienced many supernatural events. Having one's soul Sealed due to losing a duel sounded quite reasonable in this context.
First, he called an ambulance for the fallen Paradox Brothers. Thanks to their income as Professional Duelists, there was no need to worry about the high cost of medical care. Rex hung up the phone and cast his gaze towards the direction Hayato and the three other unfamiliar guys had just left.
Gritting his teeth, Rex resolutely followed them.
If he hadn't been mistaken just now, it seemed like Hayato had a card in his hand with the avatars of the Paradox Brothers printed on it. There was no way that was just a coincidence.
Although he wasn't completely certain, getting that card might be able to awaken the Paradox Brothers!
Holding onto this idea, and fearing that if he delayed any longer he might not find Hayato and the others, Rex quickly started running, chasing after the direction the four of them had left in. But as he ran towards that spot, Rex heard the heavy sound of hard-soled boots stepping on the ground.
"I've had the feeling of being watched since just now. Although Alister said I was being suspicious, I can't maintain infant-like sleep if I don't have peace of mind, so I specifically came back to take a look."
Valon, with his hands in his pockets, stood before Rex. "Well, look at that, my intuition was pretty accurate."
"You! You're one of the guys who was with Hayato just now!" Rex's eyes widened. He nervously looked at the man in the strange armor before him, recalling the conversation they had just had. Alister seemed to have mentioned the other person's name. "You're called Valon, aren't you!"
"Oh? Looks like you're not just passing by. You heard some things you shouldn't have, kid."
"Since you know my name, I have reason to suspect you saw more things, like the duel just now!"
Valon's gaze instantly sharpened, and he took a sudden step forward towards Rex!
"Bang!"
Accompanied by a gunshot, a bullet hole appeared on the ground near Valon's feet. Rex was seen holding a handgun in his left hand, breathing heavily and nervously saying, "Don't move! If you dare move, I'll shoot and attack you!"
As an Asian, Rex naturally knew about the deep-seated "discrimination" hidden beneath the surface — and sometimes not hidden at all — in the "capitalist and democratic" country of America. Discrimination based on capital, skin color, and so on. For these reasons, Rex had naturally learned that when going out alone, he must protect himself, especially since he was a boy.
Even the Paradox Brothers, although they appeared to be kung fu masters skilled in hand-to-hand combat, they also understood the principle that "outside seven steps, the gun is fast; within seven steps, the gun is both accurate and fast." They also carried guns on them, ready to perform a set of American traditional martial arts — American Iaido — at any moment.
As for how Rex, an underage foreigner, got a handgun? As a professional duelist, he had some capital behind him.
However, being equipped with a gun is one thing, carrying a gun for self-preservation is another, and actually firing a gun is yet another.
"You, you feel terrifyingly strange to me, don't come any closer!" Holding the gun with both hands defensively, Rex looked at Valon and said, "You have a feeling of being unaccountably dirty about you. Don't move! Stand right there and don't move!"
The shot just now was a warning shot Rex fired in his haste towards Valon. Because he knew that shot wouldn't hit anyone, Rex didn't have much of a psychological burden about pulling the trigger. But after that shot, aiming the gun at Valon, Rex truly lacked the courage to shoot and murder him as long as the other party didn't make any sudden moves. He could only warn Valon like this.
"My name is Valon, I'm 24 years old, and I'm a member of the 'Doma Three Swordsmen' in Organization Doma. I'm unmarried."
"Reaping the souls of losers in duels is my work, but even so, I usually want to go home by 8 PM at the latest."
"I don't smoke, and I only drink occasionally. I go to bed before 11 PM and sleep for eight hours. Staying up late these past few days has made my mood absolutely terrible."
"Before sleep, I drink a cup of hot milk, then do twenty minutes of stretching exercises to relax my body before going to bed. I sleep soundly until morning, enjoying infant-like sleep, not carrying fatigue over to the next day."
"My doctor also says I'm normal."
Valon, who had unaccountably started talking to himself, left Rex completely bewildered. "You, what exactly are you talking about? Who asked you about that?"
"I'm explaining to you that I'm someone who likes to live a peaceful life with peace of mind, 'Dinosaur' Rex." Valon extended a finger and pointed at himself. "Perhaps because of past experience, I don't insist on having to surpass others, nor do I actively create trouble. All of that makes it difficult for me to maintain composure and keeps me up at night. This is my attitude towards life, and it's my unique happiness."
"However, even if I have to fight, I have the confidence that I won't lose."
As Valon spoke, under Rex's gaze, he actually took another step forward, crossing over the bullet hole!
Subconsciously, Rex pulled the trigger. But what he didn't expect was that in the next instant, a card appeared in Valon's hand, and a ring on his finger emitted a green light. Large areas of armor actually appeared on Valon's body, blocking the bullet!
"Clang!"
The impact force of the bullet caused Valon's movement to pause slightly, but only slightly. He stepped forward again. "Because you use a deck centered around Dinosaur-Type monsters and are known as 'Dinosaur' Rex, you have a certain reputation in the circle of professional duelists. If you were to spread the existence of 'Doma' to others, I would no longer be able to have peace of mind."
"In other words, Rex, you are a trouble that hinders my sleep, you are my enemy!"
"Th-This is---!"
Rex was stunned by the armor that appeared on Valon before his eyes, nearly forgetting to breathe.
The situation before him... wasn't it the materialization of Duel Monsters? This strange guy actually had this kind of supernatural ability!
Because of his experience during the previous KC Cup, Rex's gaze became serious. He decisively put down the handgun in his hand, which had lost its use, and unfolded the Duel Disk he was always wearing.
A certain The Great Mage once said that only magic can counter magic. Similarly, only Duel Monsters can counter Duel Monsters.
"Not escaping but trying to resist? That saves me a certain amount of trouble, Rex." Seeing this, Valon also raised his left hand. The Doma Limited Edition Duel Disk on his left wrist unfolded. "Let's have a Shadow Duel where we gamble our souls. Before you tell anyone else everything you've seen, I'll take care of you first."
"Duel!" X2
[Rex: 4000LP]
[Valon: 4000LP]
"I don't want to be taken down! Draw a card!" Rex nervously drew a card, seizing the opportunity for the first turn.
This was somewhat unexpected for Rex. Because his draw action just now was a bit clumsy due to nervousness, he thought he wouldn't get the first turn. But Valon's movement was actually slower than his.
No, it wasn't just slower than his. As the duel began, Rex gradually calmed down and got into the zone. He looked at Valon, who had drawn five cards into his Hand, and started thinking.
This guy, is he deliberately giving me the first turn to take the second turn?
Choosing the second turn, which allows for proactive attack, over the first turn, which allows for Field setup? Could this guy possibly want to finish me in a single turn?!
"Seriously, I'm being underestimated." Rex felt annoyed at being looked down upon. He lowered his head and glanced at his Hand, then drew one of the cards. "First, I need to gather the Field suitable for my Monsters! Activate Magic Card, **Terraforming**! From my Deck, I add the Field Spell Card **Lost World** to my Hand! Then I activate **Lost World**!"
As Rex activated the Field Spell Card, the ground trembled. The environment around him and Valon was substituted from a City to a vast Wilderness Wetland. In the distance, towering Mountain Ranges rose, and dinosaur-like figures could be seen darting through the nearby Forest. It was clearly a scene from a primitive World.
"**Lost World** is the World where ancient Dinosaurs lived. In this land, there is only space for these ancient creatures to exist. Future Monsters cannot adapt to the environment at all." Rex explained the effect of the Field Spell Card **Lost World**. "Other Monsters on the Field besides Dinosaur-Type monsters have their ATK and DEF decreased by 500 points under the influence of **Lost World**."
"Then, if there are no Monsters on my Field, I activate the Magic Card **Unexpected Dai**! From my Deck, I special summon one Level 4 or lower Normal Monster!"
"Special Summon **Giant Rex** in Attack Position!"
In **Lost World**, water surged from a lake not far from the two of them. A water column shot up and fell towards Rex's Front Row. A creature resembling a dinosaur, covered in metal armor with faintly glowing stripes, appeared on Rex's Field.
The water flow also washed a strange egg onto Valon's Field.
[Giant Rex] [Level 4 / Water]
[Dinosaur-Type / Normal]
[2000/0]
[Jurra Egg Token] [Level 1 / EARTH]
[Dinosaur-Type / Token]
[0/0]
"Once per Turn, when a Dinosaur-Type Monster is summoned or special summoned, I activate the Effect of **Lost World**! I special summon one **Jurra Egg Token** in Defense Position on the Opponent's Field," Rex explained, pointing at the egg that appeared on Valon's Field.
However, this egg wasn't just given to Valon for free.
"As long as a Token exists on the Opponent's Field, due to the Effect of **Lost World**, the Opponent cannot target Monsters on the Field other than Tokens with Card Effects."
"Next, I summon **Gigant Spinosaurus** in Attack Position! Then I set two cards in my Spell/Trap Zone! End Turn!"
Another giant beast appeared next to **Giant Rex**. Also a Level 4 Monster with 2000 ATK, **Gigant Spinosaurus**'s aura was not inferior to **Giant Rex**'s. The two giant beasts stood side-by-side, glaring menacingly at Valon, who only had one egg on his Field.
[Rex: 4000LP, Hand 1]
[Giant Rex] [ATK 2000]
[Gigant Spinosaurus] [ATK 2000]
[Set card] X2
Field: **Lost World**
As a field setup for the First Turn, Rex's performance was quite good. While Monsters with 2000 ATK aren't necessarily an absolute suppression, they aren't something just any Monster can deal with, let alone having two of them.
Furthermore, the existence of **Lost World** grant the two Dinosaurs Resistance against being targeted by Card Effects. Even if the Opponent has cards with destruction Effects, they cannot target Rex's Monsters.
"My Turn! Draw a card!" However, Valon didn't feel any pressure at all. Instead, he casually drew a card. "I activate the Magic Card, **Armor Gravitation**! The effect of this card is to special summon up to four Level 4 or lower **Armor** Monsters from my Deck!"
"**Armor Gravitation**? **Armor** Monsters? And special summoned from the Deck?!" Rex was dumbfounded upon hearing the name of the card Valon activated.
Leaving aside the **Armor** Monsters he had never heard of, was the effect of special summoning from the Deck that common? Although **Unexpected Dai** could also special summon Level 4 or lower Monsters from the Deck, it was limited to only Normal Monsters that couldn't activate Effects.
You start right off with four **Armor** Monsters! Even if all the **Armor** Monsters were Normal Monsters, there are four of them, four!
Which damn bastard printed these fake cards?!
Amidst Rex's non-stop rant in his inner thoughts, four "Monsters" appeared before Valon.
[Active Guard Armor] [Level 4 / EARTH]
[Machine Type / Effect]
[0/1500]
[Overboost Armor] [Level 4 / EARTH]
[Machine Type / Effect]
[0/1000]
[Trap Burst Armor] [Level 3 / EARTH]
[Machine Type / Effect]
[0/0]
[Big Bang Punch Armor] [Level 4 / EARTH]
[Machine Type / Effect]
[0/1000]
Then, under Rex's astonishment gaze, the four Monsters actually recoiled violently, crashing into Valon behind them, and transformed into genuine "armor" worn on various parts of his body!?
