Reading settings
Chapter 621: My Lance Will Pierce the Heavens
Guardian Grarl swung its axe, instantly destroying Dark Magician Girl, who couldn't move, and sending her to the Graveyard. At the same time, Yugi took 1000 battle damage, the difference in ATK.
"Ugh!"
[Yugi: 3800→2800LP]
At the same time, Rafael's voice came, explaining to Yugi what had just happened.
"Using Desert Sunlight to change a monster in Attack Position to Defense Position to avoid damage is a decent move, but unfortunately, with Gravity Axe - Grarl present, your monster cannot change its battle position."
Watching Guardian Grarl return to his Field, Rafael showed it a subtle smile, then looked at Yugi, who had suffered a minor setback, with a serious expression. "Ultimately, that act of tributing monsters to protect yourself is clumsy and poor."
"You cannot imagine the strong bond that connects me and my Guardians."
Yugi frowned at this. Just like the trash talk tactics from before esports became formalized, trash talk is a characteristic of Duel Monsters that must be experienced. Rafael's words made Yugi unable to resist retorting, "What nonsense are you talking about, Rafael? Isn't it natural for a Duelist to trust their servant cards and Deck?"
"No, that's fundamentally different, Nameless Pharaoh." Rafael looked at Yugi, whose face showed an annoyed expression, and shook his head. "If it were you, you would do many things for victory that I cannot accept, but I can tell you beforehand, even if I were to be defeated, I will not use Seal of Orichalcos in this duel to influence my monsters."
"Also, the Set Card in my Spell/Trap Zone is not a destructive card; it is merely a Set Card that can protect monsters at the cost of my Life Points."
To Yugi's surprised gaze, Rafael not only promised not to use Seal of Orichalcos, the card Organization Doma needed to harvest Duelist souls. He even told him what the Set Card in his Spell/Trap Zone was!?
Yugi's face was full of disbelief, and he couldn't help but suspect if Rafael's words were a lie he told to lure him into attacking.
'The Other Me,' Yugi Mutou within the Millennium Puzzle exchanged opinions with Dark Yugi. 'Rafael said the Set Card in his Spell/Trap Zone is a card that protects monsters at the cost of his Life Points, what could that possibly...'
'I don't know either, Aibo, but my duelist's intuition tells me that what Rafael said might indeed be the truth. His gaze is clear and pure, and a True Duelist shouldn't resort to verbal misdirection.'
'Probably, right?' Yugi Mutou recalled the duels with Hayato, where under Hayato's continuous trash talk and nonsense, there were often parts where he had to guess if the five Set Cards in the Spell/Trap Zone included cards like Backup Gardna that activate their effect when destroyed. He responded uncertainly.
Unaware that his Aibo was recalling those duels from the past that felt worse than being in prison, Dark Yugi couldn't understand why Rafael would tell him about the Set Card in his Spell/Trap Zone and chose to ask directly.
"Why, Rafael? Why tell me the Set Card in your Spell/Trap Zone? What benefit is there for you?"
Deep down, Yugi already believed that Rafael wouldn't lie, and that the Set Card in his Spell/Trap Zone was surely some kind of card that protected his monsters at the cost of his Life Points, as he said. But Yugi wanted to understand this action itself.
Hearing Yugi's confusion, Rafael didn't keep him in suspense but spoke very frankly, "Just because of 'fairness', Nameless Pharaoh. Too much of your duel data is exposed before my eyes, while you know very little about me when I'm serious. To make this duel a little more 'fair', I told you what the Set Card in my Spell/Trap Zone is."
"I think a 'fair' duel to the death can allow a person's personality to grow, and acts of murder originating from one's own will without any wickedness can elevate me, who is still immature, to a more sacred realm, approaching new humans."
"While completing Lord Dartz's quests, I am also seeking such growth, because people always have to face some destiny that is difficult to cross, and this sacred realm can only be arrived at through 'training'."
"Therefore, whether it's the 'goal' or the 'means', I will tell you without any concealment, without a trace of lie, Nameless Pharaoh, because this is my method of 'training'."
As he spoke, Rafael looked down at the cards on his Duel Disk, a hint of nostalgia flowing in his gaze. He said as if talking to himself, "Nameless Pharaoh, no, 'Mutou Yuugi', since I knew of your existence, I've had a special feeling about you, because you and I are both favored by spirits and toyed by destiny."
"Toyed by destiny?"
Yugi could understand "favored by spirits". Judging by Rafael's performance, he was also a Spirit User who could see Card Spirits, and the quantity of awakened Card Spirits was definitely more than one or two. Yugi also had several awakened Card Spirits accompanying him. But, what did "toyed by destiny" mean? He didn't understand.
"Once upon a time, I also had a complete family, but on a day of immense joy, a shipwreck occurred. It was too sudden; destiny took everything from me in an instant. Only the Guardian Cards, the gift received from my family, stayed by my side."
As he spoke, Rafael picked up the Backup Gardna and Guardian Grarl Cards from his Duel Disk and showed them to Yugi. His two monsters on the Field, however, didn't disappear when the cards left, confirming Yugi's previous conjecture that there were spirits within those cards.
At the same time, Rafael also showed the card backs of the two cards. Both were completely clean and new card backs; clearly, they had been re-sleeved. Although using worn-out cards, Rafael had the dignity of a Duelist and wouldn't use this to memorize cards.
"I see. Because they were gifts received from your family, that's why you never replaced cards?" Hearing Rafael's explanation, Yugi finally understood why Rafael refused to replace these cards that were already severely worn. After all, even if the replaced cards wouldn't change in effect, what's important is the meaning the cards represent.
Just like the Blue-Eyes White Dragon that Kaiba tore up, the gift of bond between Professor Hopkins and Solomon Muto.
'But, if you want to protect cards, you could also put on card sleeves.' This idea appeared in Yugi Mutou's inner thoughts within the Millennium Puzzle. However, looking at Rafael and Dark Yugi in the atmosphere, he didn't say it out loud to ruin the atmosphere.
Putting the two cards back on the Duel Disk, Rafael continued speaking, "In that joke of destiny, I lost my family, and at the same time understood a principle: that there exists destiny in the World that humans cannot resist no matter what."
"I, who returned from the shipwreck by a miracle, also saw the wickedness of humans from another perspective. It was from that moment that I found a goal, which is to elevate humans to a higher sacred realm, to grow strong enough to resist that kind of misfortune destiny."
"Nameless Pharaoh, why did your soul, which died three thousand years ago, return to This World? Why did my family have to die so unfortunately? This unfair destiny is the target I must resist!"
Fighting spirit ignited within him, Rafael reached out and pointed at Yugi. "We Doma Three Swordsmen pledge allegiance to Lord Dartz. That Individual's goal is to cleanse the humans on the World whose hearts are full of darkness and then reshape new world. The new humans born in that new world will step into a more sacred realm, understand each other and surpass destiny."
"The Legendary Dragon you hold in your hand is an obstruction to Lord Dartz's plan, but at the same time, I also believe you can become the material that promotes my growth, Nameless Pharaoh!"
While showing an excited expression, Rafael put away his smile and said with a disappointed expression, "But, I was wrong, because I found that the present you fundamentally lacks enough will to allow me to achieve growth, because you are merely a 'responder'."
"Even, even though I have revealed everything before you, but Nameless Pharaoh, you still don't have enough will, enough 'pitch-black' will to drive you to actively attack me."
"Change Master Kotetsu to Defense Position. My turn end."
[Rafael: 4000LP, Hand 0]
[Master Kotetsu] [ATK500→DEF500]
[Backup Gardna] [DEF2200]
[Guardian Grarl] (Gravity Axe - Grarl) [ATK3000]
[Set Card]
It was Yugi's turn again. His finger rested on the Deck, about to draw a card. "My turn..."
Although full of presence as always, no one noticed that Yugi's confidence when drawing was slightly less than before.
He really wanted to regard everything Rafael had said from the start of the duel until now as nonsense meant to deceive him, but deep down Yugi knew that everything Rafael had said so far was completely correct.
If the card drawn this turn wasn't a card that destroys back row, without the certainty of creating victory, Yugi would indeed choose the safer option of not attacking but instead accumulate power and wait for the opportunity to counterattack. After all, blindly using power that might be useful later prematurely could very likely result in being powerless later.
In the past, many people had described him in various ways, but Yugi felt that all the evaluations he had received before couldn't compare to the evaluation of "responder" Rafael had given him at this moment.
Just as Dark Yugi's inner thoughts were somewhat shaken, he heard Yugi Mutou's voice: 'The Other Me, believe in yourself.'
'Aibo?'
Yugi Mutou from the Millennium Puzzle appeared as a phantom before Dark Yugi. His face bore a smile: 'The Other Me I know is a very strong person, always standing in front of me helping me block danger, that strength of confidence has always been my role model.'
'Even if everything Rafael said is true, but The Other Me, I still believe in yourself that you are walking on the correct path, there's no need for any change because of this.'
Looking at Yugi Mutou who appeared by his side to cheer him on because of the shaking of his inner thoughts, Dark Yugi's face first froze, then showed a smile. He shook his head and said, "You are, Aibo, you are my role model."
"Compared to my so-called strength of confidence, rather, your gentleness is stronger. It is precisely because of your existence that I can achieve victory time after time."
His line of sight shifted away from Yugi Mutou and looked back at Rafael. Dark Yugi recovered his past confidence. "Thanks to Aibo, I was almost influenced by you, Rafael. From now on, your rhetoric will no longer have any use on me."
"Even if, as you said, I am just a 'responder', but I will also uphold my conviction and defeat you!" Saying this, Yugi drew a card. "My turn, draw a card!"
"Then, activate the Spell Card Polymerization! I will perform Fusion using Dark Magician on my Field and Gaia the Fierce Knight from my Hand!"
From his Hand, Yugi revealed the card he had kept in his Hand from the previous turn. It was none other than Gaia the Fierce Knight, a Normal Monster with 2300 ATK that requires two monsters as Tribute to Summon!
As the duel environment changed, even the quantity of Normal Monsters in Yugi's Deck had significantly decreased. Although Yugi originally possessed the Gaia the Fierce Knight Card, it had long since been replaced with Swift Gaia the Fierce Knight, which has an effect. But this Gaia that appeared in Yugi's Hand at this moment was something he had unexpectedly obtained from Hayato in Conflict Town not long ago.
Although he didn't understand why Hayato would lose this Gaia the Fierce Knight, one of his countless Tamashii, Yugi brought this card with him to Industrial Illusions and at this moment, fused it together with Dark Magician.
"I will defeat you together with Aibo, Rafael, using this Fusion Monster that combines my power and Hayato's!" A Fusion Monster Card appeared in Yugi's Hand, which he slammed onto his Duel Disk. "Combine the magic power and spiral power, and pierce the heavens with the lance!"
"Fusion Summon! Dark Magician Knight!"
The power of Polymerization drew the two monsters into a vortex. A bright red lance extended from the spiral. Dark Magician, riding the Gaia War Horse, appeared with high fighting spirit!
[Dark Magician Knight] [8☆/Dark]
[Magician Type/Fusion/Effect]
[2800/2300]
"Dark Magician Knight has the power to absorb the power of Spell/Trap Cards in Both Fields and Graveyards, increasing its ATK by 100 points for each card," Yugi reached out and pointed at Rafael. "Next, enter battle phase! I use Dark Magician Knight to declare an attack on your Guardian Grarl, Rafael!"
"Dark Magician Knight Spin!"
Guardian Grarl swung its axe, instantly destroying Dark Magician Girl, who couldn't move, and sending her to the Graveyard. At the same time, Yugi took 1000 battle damage, the difference in ATK.
"Ugh!"
[Yugi: 3800→2800LP]
At the same time, Rafael's voice came, explaining to Yugi what had just happened.
"Using Desert Sunlight to change a monster in Attack Position to Defense Position to avoid damage is a decent move, but unfortunately, with Gravity Axe - Grarl present, your monster cannot change its battle position."
Watching Guardian Grarl return to his Field, Rafael showed it a subtle smile, then looked at Yugi, who had suffered a minor setback, with a serious expression. "Ultimately, that act of tributing monsters to protect yourself is clumsy and poor."
"You cannot imagine the strong bond that connects me and my Guardians."
Yugi frowned at this. Just like the trash talk tactics from before esports became formalized, trash talk is a characteristic of Duel Monsters that must be experienced. Rafael's words made Yugi unable to resist retorting, "What nonsense are you talking about, Rafael? Isn't it natural for a Duelist to trust their servant cards and Deck?"
"No, that's fundamentally different, Nameless Pharaoh." Rafael looked at Yugi, whose face showed an annoyed expression, and shook his head. "If it were you, you would do many things for victory that I cannot accept, but I can tell you beforehand, even if I were to be defeated, I will not use Seal of Orichalcos in this duel to influence my monsters."
"Also, the Set Card in my Spell/Trap Zone is not a destructive card; it is merely a Set Card that can protect monsters at the cost of my Life Points."
To Yugi's surprised gaze, Rafael not only promised not to use Seal of Orichalcos, the card Organization Doma needed to harvest Duelist souls. He even told him what the Set Card in his Spell/Trap Zone was!?
Yugi's face was full of disbelief, and he couldn't help but suspect if Rafael's words were a lie he told to lure him into attacking.
'The Other Me,' Yugi Mutou within the Millennium Puzzle exchanged opinions with Dark Yugi. 'Rafael said the Set Card in his Spell/Trap Zone is a card that protects monsters at the cost of his Life Points, what could that possibly...'
'I don't know either, Aibo, but my duelist's intuition tells me that what Rafael said might indeed be the truth. His gaze is clear and pure, and a True Duelist shouldn't resort to verbal misdirection.'
'Probably, right?' Yugi Mutou recalled the duels with Hayato, where under Hayato's continuous trash talk and nonsense, there were often parts where he had to guess if the five Set Cards in the Spell/Trap Zone included cards like Backup Gardna that activate their effect when destroyed. He responded uncertainly.
Unaware that his Aibo was recalling those duels from the past that felt worse than being in prison, Dark Yugi couldn't understand why Rafael would tell him about the Set Card in his Spell/Trap Zone and chose to ask directly.
"Why, Rafael? Why tell me the Set Card in your Spell/Trap Zone? What benefit is there for you?"
Deep down, Yugi already believed that Rafael wouldn't lie, and that the Set Card in his Spell/Trap Zone was surely some kind of card that protected his monsters at the cost of his Life Points, as he said. But Yugi wanted to understand this action itself.
Hearing Yugi's confusion, Rafael didn't keep him in suspense but spoke very frankly, "Just because of 'fairness', Nameless Pharaoh. Too much of your duel data is exposed before my eyes, while you know very little about me when I'm serious. To make this duel a little more 'fair', I told you what the Set Card in my Spell/Trap Zone is."
"I think a 'fair' duel to the death can allow a person's personality to grow, and acts of murder originating from one's own will without any wickedness can elevate me, who is still immature, to a more sacred realm, approaching new humans."
"While completing Lord Dartz's quests, I am also seeking such growth, because people always have to face some destiny that is difficult to cross, and this sacred realm can only be arrived at through 'training'."
"Therefore, whether it's the 'goal' or the 'means', I will tell you without any concealment, without a trace of lie, Nameless Pharaoh, because this is my method of 'training'."
As he spoke, Rafael looked down at the cards on his Duel Disk, a hint of nostalgia flowing in his gaze. He said as if talking to himself, "Nameless Pharaoh, no, 'Mutou Yuugi', since I knew of your existence, I've had a special feeling about you, because you and I are both favored by spirits and toyed by destiny."
"Toyed by destiny?"
Yugi could understand "favored by spirits". Judging by Rafael's performance, he was also a Spirit User who could see Card Spirits, and the quantity of awakened Card Spirits was definitely more than one or two. Yugi also had several awakened Card Spirits accompanying him. But, what did "toyed by destiny" mean? He didn't understand.
"Once upon a time, I also had a complete family, but on a day of immense joy, a shipwreck occurred. It was too sudden; destiny took everything from me in an instant. Only the Guardian Cards, the gift received from my family, stayed by my side."
As he spoke, Rafael picked up the Backup Gardna and Guardian Grarl Cards from his Duel Disk and showed them to Yugi. His two monsters on the Field, however, didn't disappear when the cards left, confirming Yugi's previous conjecture that there were spirits within those cards.
At the same time, Rafael also showed the card backs of the two cards. Both were completely clean and new card backs; clearly, they had been re-sleeved. Although using worn-out cards, Rafael had the dignity of a Duelist and wouldn't use this to memorize cards.
"I see. Because they were gifts received from your family, that's why you never replaced cards?" Hearing Rafael's explanation, Yugi finally understood why Rafael refused to replace these cards that were already severely worn. After all, even if the replaced cards wouldn't change in effect, what's important is the meaning the cards represent.
Just like the Blue-Eyes White Dragon that Kaiba tore up, the gift of bond between Professor Hopkins and Solomon Muto.
'But, if you want to protect cards, you could also put on card sleeves.' This idea appeared in Yugi Mutou's inner thoughts within the Millennium Puzzle. However, looking at Rafael and Dark Yugi in the atmosphere, he didn't say it out loud to ruin the atmosphere.
Putting the two cards back on the Duel Disk, Rafael continued speaking, "In that joke of destiny, I lost my family, and at the same time understood a principle: that there exists destiny in the World that humans cannot resist no matter what."
"I, who returned from the shipwreck by a miracle, also saw the wickedness of humans from another perspective. It was from that moment that I found a goal, which is to elevate humans to a higher sacred realm, to grow strong enough to resist that kind of misfortune destiny."
"Nameless Pharaoh, why did your soul, which died three thousand years ago, return to This World? Why did my family have to die so unfortunately? This unfair destiny is the target I must resist!"
Fighting spirit ignited within him, Rafael reached out and pointed at Yugi. "We Doma Three Swordsmen pledge allegiance to Lord Dartz. That Individual's goal is to cleanse the humans on the World whose hearts are full of darkness and then reshape new world. The new humans born in that new world will step into a more sacred realm, understand each other and surpass destiny."
"The Legendary Dragon you hold in your hand is an obstruction to Lord Dartz's plan, but at the same time, I also believe you can become the material that promotes my growth, Nameless Pharaoh!"
While showing an excited expression, Rafael put away his smile and said with a disappointed expression, "But, I was wrong, because I found that the present you fundamentally lacks enough will to allow me to achieve growth, because you are merely a 'responder'."
"Even, even though I have revealed everything before you, but Nameless Pharaoh, you still don't have enough will, enough 'pitch-black' will to drive you to actively attack me."
"Change Master Kotetsu to Defense Position. My turn end."
[Rafael: 4000LP, Hand 0]
[Master Kotetsu] [ATK500→DEF500]
[Backup Gardna] [DEF2200]
[Guardian Grarl] (Gravity Axe - Grarl) [ATK3000]
[Set Card]
It was Yugi's turn again. His finger rested on the Deck, about to draw a card. "My turn..."
Although full of presence as always, no one noticed that Yugi's confidence when drawing was slightly less than before.
He really wanted to regard everything Rafael had said from the start of the duel until now as nonsense meant to deceive him, but deep down Yugi knew that everything Rafael had said so far was completely correct.
If the card drawn this turn wasn't a card that destroys back row, without the certainty of creating victory, Yugi would indeed choose the safer option of not attacking but instead accumulate power and wait for the opportunity to counterattack. After all, blindly using power that might be useful later prematurely could very likely result in being powerless later.
In the past, many people had described him in various ways, but Yugi felt that all the evaluations he had received before couldn't compare to the evaluation of "responder" Rafael had given him at this moment.
Just as Dark Yugi's inner thoughts were somewhat shaken, he heard Yugi Mutou's voice: 'The Other Me, believe in yourself.'
'Aibo?'
Yugi Mutou from the Millennium Puzzle appeared as a phantom before Dark Yugi. His face bore a smile: 'The Other Me I know is a very strong person, always standing in front of me helping me block danger, that strength of confidence has always been my role model.'
'Even if everything Rafael said is true, but The Other Me, I still believe in yourself that you are walking on the correct path, there's no need for any change because of this.'
Looking at Yugi Mutou who appeared by his side to cheer him on because of the shaking of his inner thoughts, Dark Yugi's face first froze, then showed a smile. He shook his head and said, "You are, Aibo, you are my role model."
"Compared to my so-called strength of confidence, rather, your gentleness is stronger. It is precisely because of your existence that I can achieve victory time after time."
His line of sight shifted away from Yugi Mutou and looked back at Rafael. Dark Yugi recovered his past confidence. "Thanks to Aibo, I was almost influenced by you, Rafael. From now on, your rhetoric will no longer have any use on me."
"Even if, as you said, I am just a 'responder', but I will also uphold my conviction and defeat you!" Saying this, Yugi drew a card. "My turn, draw a card!"
"Then, activate the Spell Card Polymerization! I will perform Fusion using Dark Magician on my Field and Gaia the Fierce Knight from my Hand!"
From his Hand, Yugi revealed the card he had kept in his Hand from the previous turn. It was none other than Gaia the Fierce Knight, a Normal Monster with 2300 ATK that requires two monsters as Tribute to Summon!
As the duel environment changed, even the quantity of Normal Monsters in Yugi's Deck had significantly decreased. Although Yugi originally possessed the Gaia the Fierce Knight Card, it had long since been replaced with Swift Gaia the Fierce Knight, which has an effect. But this Gaia that appeared in Yugi's Hand at this moment was something he had unexpectedly obtained from Hayato in Conflict Town not long ago.
Although he didn't understand why Hayato would lose this Gaia the Fierce Knight, one of his countless Tamashii, Yugi brought this card with him to Industrial Illusions and at this moment, fused it together with Dark Magician.
"I will defeat you together with Aibo, Rafael, using this Fusion Monster that combines my power and Hayato's!" A Fusion Monster Card appeared in Yugi's Hand, which he slammed onto his Duel Disk. "Combine the magic power and spiral power, and pierce the heavens with the lance!"
"Fusion Summon! Dark Magician Knight!"
The power of Polymerization drew the two monsters into a vortex. A bright red lance extended from the spiral. Dark Magician, riding the Gaia War Horse, appeared with high fighting spirit!
[Dark Magician Knight] [8☆/Dark]
[Magician Type/Fusion/Effect]
[2800/2300]
"Dark Magician Knight has the power to absorb the power of Spell/Trap Cards in Both Fields and Graveyards, increasing its ATK by 100 points for each card," Yugi reached out and pointed at Rafael. "Next, enter battle phase! I use Dark Magician Knight to declare an attack on your Guardian Grarl, Rafael!"
"Dark Magician Knight Spin!"
