"Battle. Use Typhoon Eye to attack the 'Rose Derivative'!"
The single eye of Yugen's Cloud Monster opened, and the violent tornado swept out magnificently!
Ammon shouted, "The effect of the Temporary Truce — I won't take any damage!"
"I know, but you remember the effect of Typhoon Eye, don't you?" Yugen smiled.
Ammon frowned, "All monsters on the field must change their battle positions during the attack declaration... so what?"
"The effect of the 'Demon's Wisdom' I just sent to your field," Yugen said with a grin. "When Demon's Wisdom changes from attack position to defense position, the controller must shuffle their card deck."
Ammon: "???????"
What kind of meaningless effect is this? Are you crazy?
[Demon's Wisdom, Attack Power 1250 → Defense Power 800]
"Alright, because of Typhoon Eye's attack, Demon's Wisdom has switched to defense mode."
Yugen gestured politely.
"Shuffle your deck."
Ammon frowned.
He remembered Yugen saying earlier that his Duel Disc was too old to shuffle automatically and how troublesome it was...
Suddenly, a ridiculous thought crossed Ammon's mind.
Could this guy really be trying to make him shuffle nonstop until his wrist cramps and he questions his life choices, just to prove the necessity of a new Duel Disc?
However, Ammon quickly dismissed the thought.
No, there's no way anyone could be that bored...
So he had no choice but to draw out his card deck and shuffle.
As he shuffled the deck, he suddenly felt a shock, as if electrocuted.
The world spun before him, as if an invisible force from the deck was pulling him in. He felt himself spinning, falling, his body weightless, then countless images, along with an overwhelming flood of emotions washed over him relentlessly, almost drowning him.
Ammon realized it immediately.
It was his life.
His birth, his abandonment, left thirsty and starving under the scorching sun, powerless to do anything but watch the clouds in the sky, day after day, waiting for death to arrive...
The past that had long left him came rushing back as if it was happening again. All the torment and despair, everything had returned to how it once was.
Then came the chance for change.
Like a stroke of luck, he was chosen by the Galem Financial Group to be adopted. Although his life remained far from smooth afterward, plagued by devil-like training and studies to become the elite of the elite, at least there was direction, a goal he was willing to give anything for.
Until that goal and direction were taken away again.
The birth of his brother changed everything. The corporation no longer needed him as the heir; he fell from the position of highly expected scion, becoming a shadowy figure. He served the group as a killer, a spy, doing all the dirty work that needed doing.
Through it all, what lingered most in his mind was when his brother fell critically ill.
He had countless chances to take out his brother, reclaim his place, and regain everything he needed.
But he couldn't do it.
No, it wasn't just that he couldn't. In his brother's most critical moments, he tirelessly searched for medical help, even putting aside his pride to kneel, ultimately saving his brother.
Looking back now, if it wasn't for him, his critically ill brother might not have survived.
He, himself, had buried his path to becoming the King.
"Ugh ah ah!"
A dizzying sensation overtook him, and Ammon snapped back to reality, finding himself kneeling on the ground, drenched in sweat and struggling to breathe.
"What... what's happening?"
He looked at the card deck in his hand, then at the field, taking a long moment to remember what he was doing.
"What's wrong, young master?" Yugen smiled, "The intensity of your life's memories a bit too much?"
Ammon gritted his teeth.
This guy...
He seemed to have a hint of understanding of what Yugen meant when he said this game's card deck represented his life.
Most of his life consisted of moments too painful to look back on. He had always numbed himself, refusing to think about or remember them, focusing instead solely on what he was doing.
Yet now, he was being forced to confront those past memories, those he would never want to recall — the darkest parts of his life.
"My 'Regenerating Slime' was summoned in defense mode," Yugen drawled, "but since Typhoon Eye's attack, all monsters on the field had their battle positions changed, so the Slime switched to attack mode.
And due to the effect of 'Black Garden,' the Attack Power of the Slime was halved, leaving it at only 750 points."
[Regenerating Slime, Attack Power 750]
"Use Regenerating Slime to attack 'Cloud Monster - Cloud Rain Man.'
[Cloud Monster - Cloud Rain Man, Attack Power 1500]
Ammon: "!"
A suicide attack?
Sure enough, the torrent expelled by Cloud Rain Man effortlessly pulverized the Slime. However, the Slime immediately regenerated, soon returning to its original form.
[Regenerating Slime, Defense Power 500]
"Because of your 'Temporary Truce,' I, too, won't take any battle damage this turn," Yugen said calmly. "When Regenerating Slime is destroyed, it immediately resurrects on the field.
Additionally, since another monster was summoned on my field, 'Black Garden' will Special Summon a 'Rose Derivative' on your field."
[Rose Derivative, Attack Power 800]
Yugen chuckled softly, "My 'Cloud Monster - Typhoon Eye' can attack each monster on the field once per turn, remember?"
Ammon: "!"
He was already starting to realize.
This is...
"Typhoon Eye, attack the newly summoned 'Rose Derivative'!" Yugen declared, "And in the moment that Typhoon Eye attacks, all monsters on the field, except Cloud Monsters, will change their battle positions.
The 'Demon's Wisdom,' previously switched to defense mode, will revert to attack mode!"
[Demon's Wisdom, Defense Power 800 → Attack Power 1250]
"And since my 'Regenerating Slime' was just revived during the battle phase, its attack count has also reset.
Regenerating Slime, attack 'Cloud Monster - Cloud Rain Man' again!"
Predictably, Slime was once again instantly annihilated by Cloud Rain Man, but the dispersed slime quickly re-congealed back into its original form.
"Regenerating Slime is Special Summoned once more," Yugen declared, "The effect of 'Black Garden' Special Summons a new 'Rose Derivative' on your field."
"Typhoon Eye can attack all monsters on the opponent's field once, so Typhoon Eye will attack the newly summoned 'Rose Derivative' once more."
"At this moment, Typhoon Eye's effect changes the battle position of all non-Cloud Monsters on the field. 'Demon's Wisdom' shifts from attack position to defense position again."
Yugen paused briefly, then laughed lightly.
"Each time Demon's Wisdom changes its battle position, the controller must shuffle their card deck. Well then, come on, shuffle your deck again."
Ammon's face began to twitch.
This damn...
Infinite LOOP!