Watching Johnson (Ooka Chikuzen) respectfully bend down, holding out a business card with both hands, Chumley, as if possessed, subconsciously took it and exchanged a pleasantry: "Oh, oh, oh, I've heard so much about you."
"That's not right, who cares about that!"
"Ahaha, my apologies, I'm just used to it."
After taking the business card, Chumley realized this was no time for pleasantries. He tossed the card aside and watched Johnson (Ooka Chikuzen), who was adjusting his glasses with a helpless expression, warily. "What are you trying to do, you bastard?"
"Don't be so tense, Mr. Hayato. Unlike the others, I am a civilized man, and I have always believed in justice."
"Believe in justice? But I recall Mokuba telling me that among The Big Five, your talent for distorting the truth is second to none?" Chumley said with a look of disdain. "When KaibaCorp was first established, many of Gozaburo's illicit gains were laundered with your help, weren't they?"
Hearing Chumley's words, Johnson (Ooka Chikuzen) smiled. "Doesn't that just prove the excellence of my abilities, Mr. Hayato? Besides, I am a lawyer. As a lawyer, believing in my client's innocence is a fundamental professional ethic, you know."
"As you said, my contribution to KaibaCorp becoming such a powerful international corporation today cannot be hidden." Johnson (Ooka Chikuzen) smiled and adjusted his glasses. "So, Mr. Hayato, may I ask you to hand over your body for my use? My great mind cannot simply vanish from this World."
As he spoke, the environment around them changed again. Johnson (Ooka Chikuzen)'s suit transformed into a black robe, and he donned a white curly wig worn by judges. Holding a wooden gavel, he sat on the Judge's Bench, which had suddenly risen.
Around Chumley, a railing appeared, encircling him, clearly designating the Defendant's Stand in a Courtroom.
"What boring eccentricity. Ultimately, you just want to Duel, don't you?"
Chumley helplessly raised his Duel Disk.
In the Yu-Gi-Oh! World, from saving the world or destroying planets, to pursuing the opposite sex or fighting over bread, all conflicts ultimately resolve into Duels that decide everything. This point was practically written into the fundamental rules when the World was first created.
Due to the original DM online game, The Big Five's physical bodies had fallen into a brain-dead vegetative state, but their spirits still wandered within the Virtual World. Even the Big Five that Chumley and the other six had seen when they first entered the Steel Fortress were merely five illusory Virtual Projections.
Unwilling to simply leave the World and desiring to live again, they were rescued by Kaiba Noah and given a chance to return to the Real World – by defeating the Duelists drawn into this Virtual World and seizing their bodies. It had to be said, Kaiba Noah understood things quite well; he didn't try to solve problems directly with force, making him far stronger than his biological father.
Kaiba Noah's father, Gozaburo, after founding the world's largest arms corporation, KaibaCorp, harbored the pipe dream of "ruling the world," but the methods he used were war and weaponry.
Want to rule the world without Dueling? Even a single pill of Cefazolin wouldn't make someone this drunk.
So, as expected, Gozaburo was soon usurped and even forced to his death by his "filial" son, Seto Kaiba, under the influence of the World's will. Seto Kaiba decisively changed KaibaCorp's main business from weaponry to Dueling, a remarkably wise choice.
Of course, while Gozaburo's physical body had indeed died, just like his biological son Kaiba Noah, who had died in an accident years ago, he too had transformed himself into an Electronic Ghost on the network, even keeping Kaiba Noah in the dark about it. Most likely, Kaiba Noah, and Gozaburo behind him, were currently monitoring everyone brought into the Virtual World, weren't they?
The truth was exactly as Chumley had surmised.
After waking up in the Virtual World, the separated individuals each faced one of The Big Five.
Yugi, in the forest, encountered Gansley (Oshita Konosuke), who had taken the form of (Deepsea Warrior).
The voluptuous Mai Valentine found herself right in the strike zone of the perverted penguin-lover Crump (Otaki Shuzo), who, transformed into (Nightmare Penguin), was fiercely battling her on an ice field.
Nezbitt (Ota Soichiro), who disdained female bodies, and missed out on a short-statured Yugi, or even Chumley, transformed into (Machine Sergeant) and confronted Joey, who was merely a backup in his eyes, inside a factory.
And Ishizu faced Leichter (Daimon Kogoro), who, cautious and playing it safe, specifically used a tailored Counter Card Deck, transforming into (Jinzo - Psychic Shocker).
Watching Chumley raise his Duel Disk, Johnson (Ooka Chikuzen) adjusted his glasses on the bridge of his nose and sneered, "While I am quite looking forward to obtaining your young and vigorous body, to ensure fairness, there's something I must inform you of in advance, Mr. Chumley."
"In this World, the only Cards we can use are those already recorded in KaibaCorp's database. Your (Gaia) and (Performapal) Monsters are not among them."
"Also, for fairness, Duels in the Virtual World follow a special 'Deck Master' Rule."
What is the "Deck Master" Rule?
It's actually quite simple: you choose one Card from your Deck to be your Deck Master. A Card chosen as the Deck Master, even if it was originally just a Vanilla Monster, will gain special abilities.
A Monster chosen as the Deck Master can also be Special Summoned, ignoring restrictions, and can be used for Special Summon methods like Fusion or Ritual Summon. Newly Summoned Monsters will also inherit the Deck Master's status. However, as a Cost, if the Deck Master is defeated, the Duelist instantly loses, regardless of their remaining Life Points.
"My Deck Master is (The Judge)." As Johnson (Ooka Chikuzen)'s finger pointed in the air before him, a Card appeared above his head, rapidly enlarging to cover his body. As the Card passed through Johnson (Ooka Chikuzen)'s body, his appearance transformed into that of the Duel Monster, (The Judge).
"Although I usually act as a defense lawyer, the most indispensable role in a Courtroom is that of the presiding judge. So, I'll take on that temporary role."
Transformed into (The Judge), Johnson (Ooka Chikuzen) habitually pushed up where his glasses would be.
Chumley frowned, looking at Johnson (Ooka Chikuzen) in his (The Judge) form. Although he wasn't entirely sure if his Memory was reliable, Chumley vaguely remembered that (The Judge)'s Deck Master ability was quite broken: for a Cost of 1000 Life Points, it could Banish all Monsters on the Opponent's Field, and each Banished Monster would inflict 500 Life Points of damage to the Opponent.
It was Untargetable, a Spell Speed 2 wipe for the entire Opponent's Field, for a mere 1000 Life Point Cost, plus a Burn Effect that recouped its Cost after just two Banished Monsters. More importantly, this guy's Effect didn't even have a Once per turn restriction.
Although in the original plot, this guy wielded such a broken Effect and even actually cheated, only to be taken down by Joey's brute-force Combo, Chumley felt it best to carefully consider the Cards he would use, just in case. It would be too embarrassing to screw up.
Before Chumley, a continuously scrolling Virtual Screen, like a conveyor belt sushi, appeared, displaying various Duel Monsters Cards. Just as Johnson (Ooka Chikuzen) had mentioned, while Chumley saw the appearance of Cards like (Dark Knight Gaia), (Curse of Dragon), and (Dragon Knight Gaia), none of the other (Gaia) support Cards were there.
The only exception was the (Rainbow Kuriboh) Card. The reason for its appearance was simple: before Battle City, Chumley had dueled Kaiba several times and helped him input information about some of his Cards to assist Kaiba in designing Duel Bots.
Then, the Duel Bots, which had consumed much of Mokuba, Chumley, and Kaiba's effort, were still undergoing testing when Kaiba, the "Duel Bot Prince" who was high on Dueling, smashed them with (Obelisk the Tormentor).
Chumley's fingers rapidly tapped on the scrolling Screen, and he quickly completed a new Deck, replacing the one in his Duel Disk. Chumley glanced at his original Deck; although the Cards looked completely normal, nothing could be read when they were placed on the Duel Disk. They were clearly just decorations with Card Art.
"I've completed my Deck."
Johnson (Ooka Chikuzen) looked at Chumley, who had finished his Deck, and nodded. "Very well, choose your Deck Master, Mr. Hayato. No, I should say, Defendant Hayato now."
Chumley placed his hand over his Deck, then directly Drew a Card and raised it. "The Monster I choose is this one."
As Chumley Drew the Card and displayed it to Johnson (Ooka Chikuzen), a green Monster appeared beside Chumley. A Plant Warrior covered in dangerous spikes: (Cactus Fighter)!
After choosing (Cactus Fighter) as his Deck Master, Chumley also saw the Deck Master version of (Cactus Fighter)'s Effect appear on the Card. Originally, Chumley had intended to use its inherent Effect, but the Deck Master version of (Cactus Fighter) seemed even more effective?
"Then, let the Duel begin!" Seeing Chumley select (Cactus Fighter) as his Deck Master, Johnson (Ooka Chikuzen) tapped his gavel and declared the start of the Duel. At the same time, having finished checking (Cactus Fighter)'s Effect, he thought dismissively:
'An Effect that Summons a (Needle Token) in Defense Position on the Opponent's Field after Destroying a Monster, its meaning is unclear. Even as a Deck Master, it only allows this Effect to be granted to other Monsters.'
'I thought he'd choose a Monster like (Ojama King), (Dragon Knight Gaia), or (Rainbow Kuriboh) as his Deck Master. If he chooses such a weak Monster as his Deck Master, then perish under my (The Judge), Duel King!'
"Duel!" x2
[Johnson: 4000 LP]
[Chumley: 4000 LP]
"I'll take the First Turn! My Turn, Draw!" Drawing a Card, Johnson (Ooka Chikuzen) sneered. "There are still too few people in this Courtroom. Let me get some more assistants. I Activate the Spell Card, (Polymerization)! I use (Armored Swordtail Warrior) and (One-Eyed Shield Dragon) from my Hand as Fusion Material! Fusion Summon (Dragoness the Wicked Knight)!"
Although its name was quite intimidating, and one might think Johnson (Ooka Chikuzen) had Summoned some incredible Monster if they didn't know better, what ultimately emerged from the (Polymerization) Vortex and appeared on Johnson's Field was merely a Level 3 Vanilla Fusion Monster with 1200 Attack and 900 Defense, not even as strong as a slightly powerful Normal Monster.
Watching (Dragoness the Wicked Knight) appear, Johnson played another Card. "It seems you're a bit disappointed with the Monster I Summoned, Defendant Hayato? Don't worry, I still have this Card to use."
"The Quick-Play Spell Card, (De-Fusion)! I will de-Fuse (Dragoness the Wicked Knight) on my Field, then Special Summon its Materials, (Armored Swordtail Warrior) and (One-Eyed Shield Dragon), from my Graveyard in Defense Position!"
(Dragoness the Wicked Knight), which had merely made a brief appearance, vanished from Johnson (Ooka Chikuzen)'s Field again. The two Monsters that had been its Fusion Material returned to Johnson's Field.
As Chumley was surprised that both of the Material Monsters were far more useful than the Fused (Dragoness the Wicked Knight), he also found Johnson's play somewhat familiar.
"Hmph hmph, although I didn't know much about Duel Monsters in the past, I am an elite graduate of Todai (Tokyo University). A game like Duel Monsters can be fully understood just by watching Videotapes." As if noticing the surprise on Chumley's face, Johnson (Ooka Chikuzen), in his (The Judge) form, chuckled smugly, revealing his sharp fangs and teeth.
"Are you very familiar with the situation on the Field? You'll be even more familiar with the Monster I'm about to Summon next." Johnson played a Card from his Hand and excitedly declared, "I Tribute (Armored Swordtail Warrior) and (One-Eyed Shield Dragon) on my Field for a Tribute Summon! Come forth, (Sword Hunter)!"
Despite Johnson (Ooka Chikuzen)'s classic, infamous Five-for-one play, (Sword Hunter), adorned with blades all over its body, appeared on his Field.
"With my help, KaibaCorp constantly transformed past crises into new Power. (Sword Hunter) is a Card that symbolizes my great mind. Each time it Destroys a Monster by Battle, it can Equip that Destroyed Card to itself to Increase ATK."
"Then I Activate the Spell Card, (Legendary Sword), to Increase (Sword Hunter)'s Attack and Defense by 300 points." Playing his last Card from Hand, Johnson (Ooka Chikuzen) instinctively adjusted his glasses, only to realize belatedly that he, in his (The Judge) form, didn't actually have any.
"Since it's the First Turn, I cannot Enter Battle Phase. Therefore, I End my Turn."
"Now it is your Turn to speak, Defendant Hayato."
[Johnson (Ooka Chikuzen): 4000 LP, Hand: 0]
[(Sword Hunter) (Equipped with (Legendary Sword)): ATK 2450 → 2750]
(Author's Note: This is today's only update, so I thought I'd post it later.)
(Author's Note: With the invincible (Cactus Fighter), you can probably guess the Combo, right?)
(end of chapter)