Chapter 318: Cactus Fighter Infinite Combo
"In other words, all monsters that appear on your field from now on due to Special Summon will be in Attack Position and are forced to attack my (X-Head Cannon)!"
Johnson (Ooka Chikuzen) frowned, looking somewhat puzzled, "It's just a card that prevents me from Special Summoning monsters in Defense Position. It's nothing to fear."
Johnson (Ooka Chikuzen), at this moment, had not yet grasped what kind of existence he was about to face.
"Is that so? Indeed. Because only by knowing the full picture of the opponent will one feel fear. Humans fear elephants, but mites do not fear humans," Hayato smiled, activating the second to last card in his Back Row. "The perfect puzzle pieces for my path to victory are now complete! Activate the Trap Card, (Erroneous Revival)!"
"Choose one monster from your opponent's Graveyard, and Special Summon it to your opponent's Field in Face-up Defense Position!"
"Don't be shy, accept this gift I'm giving you! I choose to revive (One-Eyed Shield Dragon)!"
(One-Eyed Shield Dragon) [700/1300]
On Johnson (Ooka Chikuzen)'s Field, the (One-Eyed Shield Dragon) that had been Tributed in the previous turn to Tribute Summon (Sword Hunter) was Special Summoned in Defense Position. Just as he was about to call Hayato an idiot for foolishly sending cards to his own field, Johnson (Ooka Chikuzen) seemed to notice something, and the face of The Judge suddenly turned quite grim.
"That look on your face is just like mocking a friend for forgetting toilet paper, only to realize you forgot it yourself. What? Have you already discovered the truth of my Combo?"
"But it's a shame, it's too late. My Combo is complete, and you're a step behind!"
As Hayato taunted, the (One-Eyed Shield Dragon) that had just been revived onto Johnson (Ooka Chikuzen)'s Field suddenly went berserk, discarding its sturdy defense and recklessly charging towards (X-Head Cannon) on Hayato's Field, whose ATK had been slightly reduced due to its joints being covered by vines, but was still higher than (One-Eyed Shield Dragon)'s.
"BOOM!"
"First hit!"
"Gah!"
[Johnson: 4000→3800 LP]
Following Hayato's shout, (X-Head Cannon)'s cannon easily annihilated (One-Eyed Shield Dragon), and at the spot where (One-Eyed Shield Dragon) vanished, a Plant-Type monster covered in thorns was Special Summoned in Defense Position.
"Because a monster was destroyed by battle, (X-Head Cannon), having gained the effect of (Cactus Fighter), Special Summoned a (Needle Token) in Defense Position onto my Field. Then, (Summoning Restriction - Fierce Charge Monster) makes the Special Summoned (Needle Token) change to Attack Position and forcibly attack (X-Head Cannon)?!"
Hayato didn't even need to explain; Johnson (Ooka Chikuzen) already understood the attack Hayato was about to unleash. Just as Hayato had said, his completed puzzle led to 'victory', and it was so perfect that Johnson (Ooka Chikuzen) could barely find any flaws!
Watching the (Needle Token) on his field switch to Attack Position and use its 500 ATK to charge at the 900 ATK (X-Head Cannon), Johnson (Ooka Chikuzen), transformed into The Judge, hastily dropped the gavel in his hand!
"Don't think you've already secured victory, Hayato! A courtroom is full of twists and turns!" A white light erupted from the gavel dropped by Johnson (Ooka Chikuzen) and surged towards (X-Head Cannon) on Hayato's field. "You're not the only one who possesses a Deck Master!"
"By paying 1000 Life Points, I activate The Judge's effect: I can Banish all monsters on your Field and inflict 500 damage for each one!"
[Johnson: 3800→2800 LP]
Johnson (Ooka Chikuzen) raised his hand to adjust his glasses, but missed, and said irritably, "I must admit, I made the wrong choice earlier after weighing the benefits and losses, but I understand now. To defeat you with the fantasy of 'no losses' is simply wishful thinking. I have now found my resolve!"
"Heh, for a villain character like you to utter such protagonist lines, something must be wrong." Watching The Judge's effect hit (X-Head Cannon) on his field, as (X-Head Cannon) was enveloped in a white light and about to be Banished from the game, Hayato calmly said,
"And it seems you've gotten some premises wrong, Johnson (Ooka Chikuzen)."
"Whether an ant chooses to flee or to fight with resolve, it ultimately cannot defeat an anteater. An unbeatable enemy cannot be defeated simply by having 'resolve' or 'belief'; these things only give you more dignity in defeat."
The white light binding (X-Head Cannon) suddenly shattered, revealing an unharmed (X-Head Cannon). Its shoulder cannons adjusted their aim, fired fiercely at the approaching (Needle Token), shattering it!
"BOOM!"
[Johnson: 2800→2400 LP]
"Heh heh, second hit."
"H-how is this possible?!"
"The Judge's ability isn't even working!"
In his surprise, Johnson (Ooka Chikuzen) finally noticed that the last Set card in Hayato's Back Row had somehow been activated at some point.
"That card, when was it activated!?"
"And when did you get the illusion that I hadn't activated this card?" Hayato smiled, watching the (Needle Token) reappear on Johnson's field to launch a suicidal attack on (X-Head Cannon). "The Trap Card (Magnet Force) makes monsters whose original Type was Rock-Type or Machine Type unaffected by the effects of opponent's monsters other than themselves, but only for this turn that it was activated."
"Even as a Deck Master, The Judge is still just a monster, and his effects will not work on the Machine Type (X-Head Cannon). Now, for the third strike!"
"BOOM!"
[Johnson: 2400→2000 LP]
The (Needle Token) was destroyed time and time again by (X-Head Cannon). Although it was only 400 battle damage each time, the damage dealt by dueling in this Virtual World felt like a Shadow Game directly affecting the soul, as countless 400-point damages, like a thousand cuts, reduced Johnson (Ooka Chikuzen)'s Life Points to zero in one go.
After the last (Needle Token) was destroyed, like the final straw that broke the camel's back, the environment around Hayato shattered with a roar, and Johnson (Ooka Chikuzen), who had transformed into The Judge, also fell from the Judge's Bench, returning to his original form.
[You Win!]
Before Hayato, a screen appeared as if he had cleared an electronic game. A chibi figure of green-haired Seto Kaiba—which meant Noah—appeared in the bottom right corner of the screen, holding up a sign to congratulate him.
Having lost the Duel, Johnson (Ooka Chikuzen) sat up from the ground, with an expression of disbelief, and angrily roared at Hayato, "Why? How did you do it!"
"I'm an elite! My talent is second to none in the legal world; I'm a genius graduate of Tokyo University. Why should someone as great as me lose to a mere high school student!"
"Why is every card you draw useful, even though I've also learned Duel Monsters!"
Hayato picked at his ear and contemptuously glanced at the furiously raging Johnson (Ooka Chikuzen). Clearly, the opportunity to "gain a physical body and return to the Real World," which was within his grasp, slipping away before his eyes made it impossible for him to accept reality.
"Rules like Deck Master are childish to the extreme. Only you, the Big Five, and that Noah would like such rules. Creating extra conditions that benefit oneself outside of Duel Monsters; even third-rate Duelists who can't get by wouldn't like such boring rules."
"What's most important in Duel Monsters has never been powerful monsters or useful Combos. The bond between a Duelist and their Deck is what matters most." Bending down, Hayato's hand swept over his chest, and the Millennium Puzzle materialized out of thin air. "Everything about a true Duelist is inevitable; they can even decide their own draws. This is something you electronic ghosts will never understand."
"Return to the afterlife!"
Hayato held the Millennium Puzzle in his hand. The golden disc tapped Johnson (Ooka Chikuzen) on the forehead, repelling and dissipating his soul, which lingered in the world out of resentment.
"With this, the Big Five is now missing one member, and the (Five-Headed Dragon) cannot appear." Hayato glanced at the gleaming Millennium Puzzle, snapped his fingers, and was about to dismiss it.
Although this was ostensibly a Virtual World, Hayato, having been here once before, knew that this world was anything but ordinary. For one thing, in the previous DM online game world, Hayato obtained an (Earthbound God) card, and Yugi also had his gains; such bizarre occurrences were not something a mere Virtual World could easily explain.
Although theoretically merely an AI, 'Kaiba Noah' possessed his own thoughts and emotions, and even Duel Monster Spirits would manifest directly in this world; all these phenomena pointed unequivocally to the uniqueness of this world.
Just then, a voice rang out, interrupting Hayato's thoughts.
This voice did not come from Hayato's surroundings after the environment shattered, nor from (Rainbow Kuriboh) or (Ojama Yellow). The source of the voice was actually Hayato's Millennium Puzzle on his chest?
"Where am I?"
Although the voice sounded quite weak, Hayato instantly recognized the owner of the voice; it was unmistakably Marik's voice!
"Yo, you're awake, three-year-old." Holding the Millennium Puzzle before his eyes, Hayato looked through the central 'Eye of Udjat' and saw Marik awakening from within it—or rather, Light Marik.
"You're, Hayato?!" As if from an abyss, Marik, being stared at, also noticed Hayato's presence and said in surprise, "Where am I?!"
"Even if you ask me like that, I'm also looking for the answer to that question." Hayato looked around and held up the Millennium Puzzle in his hand. "Accompany me to find the answer to this question, Millennium Puzzle; the distance to the truth should not be far."
(end of chapter)