Chapter 21: Just Who Is Your Soul Card, Anyway?!
"My Turn, Draw!"
Drawing a card with a flourish, Hayato drew two more cards from his Hand and arranged them on the Duel Stage, just as he had done in his Duel against Yugi the day before.
"I Summon (Judgment Hand), and then I Activate (Soul-Eating Demon Blade), targeting it!"
The "Guardian Winged Dragon" curiously observed the card that had appeared on the adjacent Field, wanting to see what its new comrade-in-arms looked like. But only a flash of light emanated from the Card Art. In the dazzling glare, the "Guardian Winged Dragon" couldn't help but turn its head away, but a long blade suddenly pierced its back from behind.
With an expression mimicking Tokiomi Tohsaka's, the "Guardian Winged Dragon" twisted its head around in disbelief, only to see an arm flying out of the Card Art behind it. The arm wielded a long, sinister blade, and it was this very blade that had pierced through the "Guardian Winged Dragon's" chest.
(Judgment Hand) [Level 3/Earth] [Warrior-Type/Normal] [1400/700]
Bearing unwilling resentment, the "Guardian Winged Dragon" was Destroyed and Sent to the Graveyard, that resentment flowing into the long blade held by the arm.
"He actually destroyed his own Monster? What kind of card with an unknown effect is this?" Shoji didn't really understand the Effect of (Soul-Eating Demon Blade). In fact, aside from Yugi, who was familiar with Duel Monsters cards and their effects, even Joey would need an explanation to understand the Effect of Hayato's card.
Therefore, he was thoroughly perplexed by Hayato's decision to send the "Guardian Winged Dragon" he had only just managed to save back to the Graveyard.
"Rest in peace, 'Guardian Winged Dragon.' We will avenge you," Hayato said, his face a mask of grief (which he was faking). He Set another card in his Back Row and turned to Shoji. "I'll use (Judgment Hand) to Attack your (Gemini Elf)—"
"Idiot, are you a fool?" A mocking smile spread across Shoji's face. "(Judgment Hand) is only a Monster with 1400 Attack. My (Gemini Elf) has a full 500 more Attack than yours. Are you seeking your own demise?"
Hayato didn't answer Shoji's question; instead, he pondered seriously, "Let me think of a name for the move... Got it! Go, (Judgment Hand)! Light Still Remains!"
Even though he used the name of a certain "supreme" LIGHT Attribute holy sword's ultimate move, the (Judgment Hand) wielding the (Soul-Eating Demon Blade) radiated a sinister, dark aura. (Gemini Elf) defiantly retaliated with a magical Energy Orb, but (Judgment Hand) swung its demonic blade, slicing both the Energy Orb and (Gemini Elf) in two.
"How is that possible!" Shoji's eyes widened in utter disbelief. "That was clearly just a Fodder Monster with 1400 Attack!"
[Shoji: 2000 LP -> 1500 LP]
"A lone (Judgment Hand) certainly has 1400 Attack." Hayato, truly summoning his fists in Attack Position, raised a finger, pointing to the (Soul-Eating Demon Blade) held in (Judgment Hand)'s grasp on the Field. "But you forgot about the (Soul-Eating Demon Blade) I just Activated!"
"Its Effect is to Tribute all Normal Monsters on my Field, except the equipped Monster. Then, for each Tributed monster it absorbs, the equipped Monster's Attack increases by 1000 points."
"In other words, (Judgment Hand)'s current Attack is 2400!"
[(Judgment Hand) ATK 1400 -> 2400]
"Such a powerful Spell Card!" Shoji's face was a picture of shock.
"Save your amazement for when you're muttering to yourself alone after you lose. I End Turn. Hurry up and start yours." Hayato rearranged his Hand and rubbed his stomach. He had only eaten a few slices of bread at home this morning and was getting a little hungry.
[Hayato: 1500 LP, Hand 4 -> 5 -> 2] [(Judgment Hand) ATK 2400]
"Damn it! My Turn!"
Shoji drew a card, looked down at it, and after a brief pause, began to laugh. "Hahaha, it seems even the heavens have decided that I should be the victor! I'll get rid of that annoying Monster of yours right now, Hayato!"
"I Summon this Monster, and then Activate a Spell Card!"
A massive, dark sword suddenly appeared in the sky above the Duel Field, the evil intent radiating from it almost matching the (Soul-Eating Demon Blade). The greatsword plummeted towards the Field, landing perfectly in front of the Monster Shoji had just Summoned.
The Monster emerged from its card and firmly gripped the giant blade before it. In an instant, the Monster was enveloped in black-purple malevolence, with only two eyes faintly visible within the darkness.
"(Sword of Obsession) increases my Monster's Attack and DEF by 500 points! And when it's Sent to the Graveyard, it returns to the top of my Deck! My obsession is eternal!" Shoji glared viciously at (Judgment Hand), as if the hand were Hayato's own, which he'd placed on Miho Nosaka's shoulder. "The (Necro-Count) I Summoned already has 2000 Attack. Now, dual-wielding,"
"Its Attack is 2500!"
[(Necro-Count)] [Level 5/DARK] [Fiend-Type/Normal] [2000 -> 2500/700]
"Chop that disgusting hand to pieces and burn it to ash! Dark Sword Slash!"
The silent specter's face twisted into a savage grin. It threw the rapier in its left hand, pinning (Judgment Hand) to the spot, then leaped forward with (Sword of Obsession) in its right hand for a jumping slash. After a magnificent display of swordsmanship, (Judgment Hand) was hacked to bits and then incinerated by Demonic Fire.
[Hayato: 1500 LP -> 1400 LP]
Even after taking damage to his Life Points, Hayato wasn't nervous. Instead, he looked at (Necro-Count) with great interest. "I didn't expect you to have a 'powerful Monster' like this. It's a bit unsightly, though."
At least by the standards of the time, 2000 Attack was already quite impressive.
However, Shoji, who had just used (Necro-Count) to defeat (Judgment Hand), looked at the victorious monster with deep dissatisfaction. He had told his subordinates to collect "elegant" or "noble" monsters. Which idiot had slipped this aesthetically displeasing card into the collection?
"Damn it, after I deal with Hayato, I'm definitely going to find out who that person was!"
"I end my turn!" Shoji declared his turn's end, deliberately pausing to watch Hayato, fearing he would activate his Set Card.
[Shoji: 1500 LP, Hand 5 -> 6 -> 4]
"Then it's My Turn."
Hayato drew a card, but didn't Summon a Monster. Instead, he activated his Set Card. "You've got a few tricks up your sleeve, I see. In that case, I'll Activate this card and Summon my Soul Card!"
"Huh? Is Hayato going to Summon (Skull Stalker)?" Joey, watching from the sidelines, couldn't help but ask when he heard Hayato's words. "But doesn't (Skull Stalker) only have 900 Attack, right? Even with (Soul-Eating Demon Blade), it's no match for (Necro-Count)."
"I think Hayato has a plan of his own."
Hayato had previously said during his Duel with Yugi that his Soul Card was (Skull Stalker), so upon hearing his declaration now, they all assumed he was about to Summon (Skull Stalker).
But when Hayato's Set Card flipped over, it depicted three ugly monsters dancing.
"I Activate (Ojama Trio)! And I'm bestowing these three powerful monsters upon you!"
Three monsters flew out from the Card Art—the very (Ojama Yellow), (Ojama Black), and (Ojama Green) that Hayato had bought from the Kame Game Shop just a few days ago. However, they didn't appear on Hayato's Field. Instead, they flew directly to Shoji's Field, casually found a spot to lie down, and magically produced beach loungers, sun umbrellas, and sunscreen, looking for all the world like they were on a leisurely vacation.
"What are these disgusting monsters, and why are they on my Field?!"
Echoing Shoji's roar, Joey couldn't help but exclaim, "Hayato, who the hell is your Soul Card?!"
"You fool. Who made the rule that a person can only have one Soul Card? Is a Soul Card such an inconvenient thing?"
(end of chapter)