Chapter 292: Oh no, the Original Wife and the Mistress are Teaming Up on the Scumbag!
[Mai Valentine: 2500→1700 LP]
Seeing that Mai Valentine still hadn't activated her Set Card even after [Time Wizard]'s Attack hit, Joey couldn't help but feel a bit smug: "Hehe, seen how strong I am now, Mai? I told you before, compared to back in Duelist Kingdom, this big shot has gotten a lot stronger!"
"End Turn."
[Joey: 3950 LP, Hand 0]
[Time Wizard] (Equipped with [Book of Secret Arts]) [ATK 800]
What left Joey somewhat puzzled was that Mai Valentine, whose Life Points were less than half of his, instead smiled: "You're celebrating too early, Joey. To deal me only 800 Damage, you left [Time Wizard] in Attack Position. In that case, I'll shamelessly seize this opportunity to make an Aggressive Play."
"Darn it!" It was only after Mai Valentine's reminder that Joey belatedly remembered this point. Looking at his [Time Wizard] on the Field in Attack Position, he still stubbornly said, "Even, even if that's the case, I still have a full 3950 Life Points! It's completely fine!"
"Is that so?" While speaking, Mai Valentine drew a Card from her Deck, then placed the Card she had been holding into her Duel Disk to Activate it. "My Turn, Draw! Then, I Activate the Spell Card [Monster Reborn]. This Card allows me to Target one Monster from either player's Graveyard and Special Summon it to my Field."
To Joey's surprised expression, Mai Valentine reached out and pointed at him:
"The Monster I Target is your [Red-Eyes Black Dragon] in the Graveyard, Joey!"
"What?!"
Joey instinctively raised his hand to cover the Graveyard zone of his Duel Disk. However, the Rule of Duel Monsters wouldn't change because of his resistance. As Mai Valentine Activated [Monster Reborn], before Joey, the Black Dragon that had helped him defeat many powerful enemies fell into another's hands.
"Red-Eyes!"
Joey cried out with deep emotion. Although [Red-Eyes Black Dragon] was originally won by him from "Dinosaur" Rex, having fought side-by-side for so long, [Red-Eyes Black Dragon] had long become one of his closest partners in Joey's mind. "My [Red-Eyes Black Dragon]!"
[Red-Eyes Black Dragon] [ATK 2400]
"Honestly, you idiot, you're too loud," Mai Valentine said impatiently. She had hinted so many times, yet this dense man Joey showed no reaction. But it's just his Monster temporarily Special Summoned to my Field, why are you so agitated?!
"I Normal Summon [Harpie Lady 2]. She is the same as [Harpie Lady 1], and her Card name can be used as [Harpie Lady]. Then, because a [Harpie Lady] was Summoned, I Activate the Effect of [Harpie's Hunting Ground], Destroying [Book of Secret Arts] equipped to [Time Wizard]!"
A strange, enchanting Wind swept past. The [Book of Secret Arts] in [Time Wizard]'s hand was torn into countless fragments in the blink of an eye, scattering into the air. [Harpie Lady 2], having performed this act, smugly landed atop [Red-Eyes Black Dragon] on Mai Valentine's Field.
[Harpie Lady 2] [ATK 1300→1500]
[Time Wizard] [ATK 800→500]
"Enter my Battle Phase! Since you want Red-Eyes so much, I'll use it to Attack you!" Mai Valentine ordered mercilessly. "[Red-Eyes Black Dragon], Attack your original owner!"
Considering that Mai Valentine might not remember [Red-Eyes Black Dragon]'s Attack name, Joey spoke up to remind her: "Um, [Red-Eyes Black Dragon]'s Attack is Black Flame—"
"Who cares what you say?! [Red-Eyes Black Dragon], use Mai Valentine Queen Beam!" It seemed she was being stubborn; even though Joey had spoken, Mai Valentine simply wouldn't listen, defiantly coming up with an Attack name that didn't sound like something [Red-Eyes Black Dragon] could possibly use.
However, facts once again proved that the Attack names in Duel Monsters were actually useless.
Just as Hayato's Monsters could still Attack even when he shouted random names every day, although Mai Valentine ordered [Red-Eyes Black Dragon] to use "Mai Valentine Queen Beam," it still obediently spat out a Black Flame, easily Destroying [Time Wizard], whose Attack had returned to 500 after losing [Book of Secret Arts].
At the same time, because [Time Wizard] was in Attack Position, Joey took Damage from [Red-Eyes Black Dragon]'s Attack.
[Joey: 3950→2050 LP]
It was at this moment that Mokuba, who was constantly monitoring the footage captured by the camera, was instructed by Hayato to save a separate clip of "Mai Valentine commanding [Red-Eyes Black Dragon] to Attack Joey."
"What good is this, Big Bro Hayato?" Mokuba asked, confused.
Hayato smiled cunningly: "You wouldn't understand this. This video will definitely be extremely useful later on. For example, when those two on the Field get married, we can project this onto a screen. I've even thought of a title: "Shocking! The Original Wife and the Mistress Team Up to Beat Up the Scumbag.""
On the Duel Field, the Battle continued.
The successful Attack by [Red-Eyes Black Dragon] didn't fully satisfy Mai Valentine. She waved her hand again and ordered, "This is the second Attack, prepare yourself, Joey!"
"Direct Attack from [Harpie Lady 2]!"
Compared to [Red-Eyes Black Dragon]'s Attack, which seemed fierce but felt like a gentle breeze when it hit him, [Harpie Lady]'s Attack was much more forceful. With one claw swipe, it made Joey involuntarily take a step back.
"Ugh!"
[Joey: 2050→550 LP]
"Hmph, are you still so confidently declaring that you've won now, Joey?" Mai Valentine said proudly, lifting her chin. "My Turn Ends."
However, she hadn't realized one thing—when dealing with a top-decking duelist like Joey, who was exceptionally skilled at turning the tide in desperate situations, you either leave him with some Life Points, or you finish him off in one blow. You absolutely must not attack him, fail to defeat him, and leave him with even a small amount of Life Points.
[Mai Valentine: 1700 LP, Hand 0]
[Red-Eyes Black Dragon] [ATK 2400]
[Harpie Lady 2] [ATK 1500]
[Alluring Mirror Split]
Field: [Harpie's Hunting Ground]
"Inhale~ Exhale~" When his Turn came, Joey placed his fingers on his Deck, but instead of drawing a Card immediately, he took a deep breath.
"What's wrong, Joey? You're not nervous or scared, are you?" Mai Valentine said with a smile.
"Of course not! I just suddenly remembered something," Joey retorted, turning his head to look in the direction of the camera.
Meanwhile, in the infirmary aboard the S.S. St. Ann, watching the broadcast on the television, Serenity Wheeler murmured with a mix of anticipation and worry, "Brother..."
(end of chapter)