Chapter 236: Suicidal Attack
"Rare Hunter, Hert, your name really is perfectly suited for this line of work," Hayato remarked.
Unexpectedly, after he had wiped out one of the Rare Hunters' strongholds, the butterfly effect meant that while the Rare Hunters still came for their group, their target had shifted from Joey to himself.
But it made sense when he thought about it. Although Red-Eyes Black Dragon was indeed a rare card, it still paled in comparison to something like the four copies of Blue-Eyes White Dragon. While scarce, it could still ultimately be bought with money. Not to mention, as far as Hayato knew, Kaiba actually also had a Red-Eyes Black Dragon.
However, that arrogant guy had said something along the lines of, "The same Tribute, why wouldn't I Summon a Blue-Eyes monster? Only a Mediocre Duelist would consider that card an Ace Card," refusing to include it in his Deck.
Comparing a valuable but not unique Rare Card with an enemy who had offended their organization and even destroyed an important stronghold, the Rare Hunters naturally chose to pick a fight with the latter.
With a cold chuckle, Hayato walked out, bypassing Joey who was blocking his way, raising the Duel Disk in his hand: "You rotten potatoes and stinky bird eggs, you actually think you can challenge me? Then let it be as you wish."
As he said this, Hayato's hand reached for the card case at his waist. The moment he touched his Deck, dozens of cards briefly vanished for an instant, then reappeared. Using the System's functions, Hayato switched the Deck he had used previously in his Duel with Chazz Princeton to another one.
There was a Card he hadn't had a chance to use since obtaining it. Both because ordinary opponents didn't necessitate its use, and because that kind of Card wasn't suitable for Duels against ordinary people.
However, now was a pretty good time. Anyway, his Opponent was a member of the Rare Hunters, an antagonist organization that used fake cards. Against such evil, Hayato didn't need to pretend to be a gentleman anymore. "I'll lay my cards on the table, I'm playing a Trap-heavy Strategy."
"Be careful, Hayato," Tristan warned. He and Joey wanted to take care of the other two Black-robed Figures while Hayato Dueled the Rare Hunter Hert, but the two Black-robed Figures seemed to have been prepared, pulling out two small knives from their bodies, and constantly maintained their distance, giving them no chance to resist.
"These guys, if they lose the Duel, they might resort to dirty tricks." Because of what happened at the Egypt Cultural Relics Touring Exhibition Hall, Yugi had a very bad impression of the Rare Hunters. After all, that time, if Hayato hadn't forcefully activated the Shadow Game, the Rare Hunters would have already directly used force.
Hayato chuckled coldly: "I actually hope these guys use some dirty tricks, otherwise, how can I justify going all out on them?"
"Duel!" x2
[Hayato: 4000 LP, Hand 5]
[Hert: 4000 LP, Hand 5]
The moment he drew his Hand, Hert's eyebrows lifted in delight, but because of the obstruction of his hood, the smile on his face was not exposed. He was so happy simply because in his Hand, there were clearly two (Exodia) Cards, specifically (Left Arm of the Forbidden One) and (Left Leg of the Forbidden One).
Seeing that Hayato had no intention of taking the First Turn, Hert didn't stand on ceremony, directly drawing a Card from his Deck: "Then the First Turn is mine. My Turn, Draw!"
"Activate the Effect of the Spell Card, (Graceful Charity)! I can Draw three more Cards from my Deck, then Discard two Cards from my Hand."
"Then Summon a monster in face-down Defense Position. End Turn."
Hert quickly ended his turn, a move that drew disdain from Joey and the others: "What the heck? He talked so arrogantly, but in the end, it's just a stall strategy."
[Hert: 4000 LP, Hand 5]
[Face-down Defense Position Monster]
Hearing Joey's mockery, Hert gave a cold glance at Joey, who was guarding his companions nearby, thinking to himself: 'I'll remember this grudge for now. Once I've taken care of the King of Duels, you're next, Joey Wheeler!'
But on the surface, he put on a nonchalant front: "Heh heh. So, are you going to Attack, King of Duels?"
"What do you think I gave up the First Turn for?" Hayato said with a cold laugh, "My Turn, Draw!"
"Normal Summon (Mystic Tomato)! Then Activate the Field Spell Card, [Shrine of the Mind's Eye]."
Accompanied by the rumbling of the ground, the scene where the group stood transformed from the original alleyway into a rather solemn Shrine. In the center of the Shrine, a [Spear of the Mind's Eye] was enshrined.
"As long as [Shrine of the Mind's Eye] exists on the Field, each time both Duelists take Battle Damage, no matter how much or little, it will be forcibly converted to 1000 points of Damage," Hayato explained the Card's Rule. "In other words, both sides have four chances to be attacked."
"Then, I Activate the Spell Card, (Defense Seal), converting one Defense Position Monster on the Field to Attack Position!" Hayato said, pointing at the Monster on Hert's Field. "Reveal your true form before me!"
The card flipped, a huge metal robot appeared in Hert's Monster Zone. Its metal plating looked incredibly sturdy. However, due to the Effect of (Defense Seal), it was forced into Attack Position, revealing its most vulnerable gear joints.
[(Gear Golem the Moving Fortress)][Level 4/Earth Attribute]
[Machine-Type/Effect]
[800/2200]
[(Mystic Tomato)][1400/1200]
"Hmph, so that's your plan? Just by inflicting Damage, I'll lose a full 1000 Life Points. Successfully attacking 4 times will secure victory." Hert looked at the eager (Mystic Tomato) on Hayato's Field, couldn't help but feel that it was troublesome. He still only had two (Exodia) Cards in his Hand. The recent (Graceful Charity) hadn't brought him new pieces.
However, he had actually been wearing special contact lenses, allowing him to see the special markings he left on the back of his Cards. And the Card on top of his Deck was (Right Arm of the Forbidden One).
So next, it would come down to whether Hayato could clear his Life Points faster or if he could draw all five (Exodia) pieces the fastest.
Just as Hert had finished predicting everything, he found Hayato on the opposite side looking quite troubled: "Seriously, it's a Monster with only 800 Attack? This is really troublesome."
"I originally thought this Card wouldn't be necessary to use, but it actually came in handy." As Hayato spoke, he revealed a Spell Card from his Hand, "I Activate this Card, the Quick-Play Spell (Rush Recklessly)! Target one Monster on the Field, and increase its Attack by 700 points until the End Phase!"
This move by Hayato, let alone Hert, even Joey and Yugi on the sidelines couldn't quite understand.
"Why would Hayato Activate (Rush Recklessly) at this moment? Clearly, due to the Effect of [Shrine of the Mind's Eye], no matter how high the Attack, it can only inflict 1000 points of Damage to that guy. Activating (Rush Recklessly) at a time like this is just a waste."
Joey said to Yugi in confusion. Yugi then analyzed, following Joey's words: "Every Card Hayato Activates should have its own meaning. He wouldn't carelessly waste a Card on (Mystic Tomato), which is already strong enough to defeat the Opponent's Monster. Unless, the Target of (Rush Recklessly), isn't (Mystic Tomato) at all?"
Yugi suddenly remembered (Mystic Tomato)'s Effect.
"What?" Hert also heard Yugi's analysis, looking at Hayato with some surprise, discovering that he truly did as Yugi said, designating (Gear Golem the Moving Fortress) as the Target for (Rush Recklessly).
[(Gear Golem the Moving Fortress)][ATK800→1500]
Exactly, after (Gear Golem the Moving Fortress)'s Attack was boosted by (Rush Recklessly), it was exactly 100 points higher than Hayato's own (Mystic Tomato)?
"What are you trying to do, you bastard?"
Facing the bewildered Hert, Hayato scoffed, and pointed a finger at (Gear Golem the Moving Fortress) on Hert's Field, which was ready to counterattack: "Just watch, you're about to witness the descent of a god."
"Sacrifice yourself for the greater good, go, (Mystic Tomato)! Attack (Gear Golem the Moving Fortress)!"
"God? Idiot! In the World of Duel Monsters, 'God' is not a title any Monster is worthy of!" Hert couldn't help but recall the past, a punishment Ritual he had witnessed, where Marik, the leader of the Rare Hunters, inflicted upon a member who had betrayed the organization: a Duel.
If that traitor lost, they would be eternally Controlled by Marik's (Millennium Rod). But if they could win, the traitor would be acquitted. Under the pressure of their Life Points, the Rare Hunters' traitor accepted the gamble of this Game.
And in that Duel, an Ultimate Monster that Hert would never forget appeared on Marik's Field. Its brilliant form, like a sun disk high in the sky, and divine flames that seemed to burn everything, even the Soul. That was the Duel Monster Hert believed truly deserved to be called a "God".
"Counterattack, (Gear Golem the Moving Fortress)!" Facing (Mystic Tomato), which had launched a suicidal attack, Hert scoffed, commanding his Monster to strike back. Since the King of Duels himself decided to launch a self-destructive attack, how could he possibly disappoint him?
The 1400 ATK (Mystic Tomato) reluctantly and unenthusiastically crashed into (Gear Golem the Moving Fortress)'s fist, the rapidly spinning metal gears shredded it to pieces. At the same time, the overflowing 100 points of Battle Damage also passed to Hayato, but due to the Effect of the Field Spell Card [Shrine of the Mind's Eye], Hayato's Life Points decreased by a full 1000 points.
[Hayato: 4000 → 3000 LP]
(end of chapter)