For Zero, it had been eighteen years since he'd seen the anime, and many memories had been dulled by time. But a move this classic was something he'd never forget. A "five-for-one"—discarding his entire hand for a single Tribute Summon. He remembered Jaden doing this to summon Elemental HERO Neos.
And now, a bounty hunter had replicated it perfectly.
"I end my turn."
Amidst the cheers, Rutz ended his turn with satisfaction. It was only because this world's rules allowed the first player to draw that he had any cards left in his hand at all!
"My turn, draw."
The turn shifted, and Zero's Duel Disk lit up as he drew his card. Now, here was the question. If the opponent did a legendary five-for-one, what would Zero do?
Well, Zero actually had no way to deal with this "Boss" monster. 2600 Attack was an "over-the-limit" value for duelists in the lower sectors—an insurmountable wall. So, Zero's turn was simple.
"I Set one monster in face-down Defense Position and Set one card. Turn end."
One in the front, one in the back. Turn end. Zero's turns were very efficient. Compared to Rutz's "stunning" opening, the crowd responded with a chorus of boos.
Meanwhile, in the top-tier VIP box with the best view, Karl Wynn was standing by the massive window, swirling a glass of wine as he watched the ring. The other person in the room was a "distinguished guest" Karl was hosting tonight.
The Vice-President of Kaiba Corporation—Kaiba Chihane.
"To think the second-in-command of the great Kaiba Corp would come all the way to the lower sectors just to watch such a low-level duel. You've truly fallen, Chihane."
"Don't waste my time with nonsense, Karl. You know I'm here because of the rumor."
Kaiba Chihane was the younger sister of the CEO, Kaiba Qianyi. Unlike her sister, who mirrored the "Ice Queen" Seto Kaiba style, Chihane had a more youthful, student-like look. She hadn't even taken off her black school uniform—the signature uniform of the Xyz Academy in the middle-sector Academy City.
While she lacked her sister's overpowering presence and had a much flatter, petite build, her beauty was unmistakably Kaiba—refined and cute. This had led Karl, a fellow elite, to take a slight liking to her when they met at the Academy.
However...
"Word is a Blue-Eyes White Dragon appeared in the lower sectors today. That is the card my sister has always been searching for. Naturally, I had to come."
"Always about your sister, isn't it?" Karl's eye twitched. "You really are a hopeless sis-con, Chihane."
After getting to know her, Karl had discovered a cruel truth: Chihane had zero interest in him or any other man. She was a 120% pure, unadulterated sis-con.
"My sister's business is my business!" Chihane patted her flat chest. "Karl, you have a sister too; surely you understand this burning passion?"
Though Karl and Chihane got along as friends, they had polar opposite views on sisters. "My older sister... if she were even half as sexy and beautiful as yours, maybe I wouldn't hate her so much."
Chihane glanced at him. "Beauty is the least of my sister's virtues."
Chihane had come to the lower sectors because of the rumor that someone had pulled a Blue-Eyes White Dragon in Sector 31 at noon. Even if it was just gossip, it was the first solid lead Qianyi had found in her long search for the fourth dragon.
"My sister is out exploring ancient ruins and won't be back until next month. If I can give her the fourth Blue-Eyes as a homecoming gift... she'll be so happy!"
Just thinking about her sister patting her head and praising her made Chihane shiver with excitement, her slender legs kicking the air as she sat on the plush sofa. She pulled up Zero's file on a virtual screen. "Amano Zero... a duelist from Sector 32, right next to Sector 31. Is it just a coincidence?"
"Chihane, I told you—the guy beat a Wynn duelist yesterday, but his deck is just junk. There's no way he has a legendary Blue-Eyes."
Because Karl had investigated the duelist his sister had recruited, he'd playfully bet 100,000 points that Zero would lose within six turns. Since Rutz had summoned Sanga of the Thunder on turn one, the idea of Zero lasting six turns with "junk" monsters seemed like a fairy tale.
"My turn, draw!"
Rutz, who had started with a five-for-one, drew to bring his hand back up to two cards. "Battle! Sanga of the Thunder, attack his Set monster! Face the lightning of judgment, weakling!"
The thunder boomed, and Zero's Set monster was instantly incinerated. The iron cage contained the physical shockwave, but it couldn't stop the mysterious, savory scent of grilled food from wafting through the arena.
[Mokey Mokey] destroyed.
"(´﹃｀) It smells so good..." everyone sighed simultaneously. No one could resist the aroma of grilled tofu, even if it was grilled by divine lightning.
"By the way... that monster was a spirit, wasn't it?"
Yubel, hidden within Wangchuan You's soul, finally spoke as a minor monster was destroyed.
"Indeed," You nodded proudly. "Zero has always been popular with spirits. Even a weak, nameless one like that is drawn to him."
"Hahaha! As expected of junk monsters fitting for a poor kid from Sector 32."
Karl couldn't smell the tofu in the VIP box, but the scene was hilarious to him. "In Eden, the strength of your monsters is the ultimate proof of your status." He wasn't looking at Zero when he said this; he was looking down at his sister, Finis. "Low-status weaklings don't deserve victory."
After destroying Zero's monster, Rutz Set one monster and one card. "Turn end!" The difference was that Rutz had a massive "Boss" on the field, while Zero was just stalling with junk.
"My turn, draw!"
Zero scanned his hand, his brow furrowing. No matter how lucky I am, I'm bound to have a bad hand eventually. Truth be told, he'd probably used up all his luck for the decade when he pulled the Blue-Eyes White Dragon.
I have to change my approach, Zero thought. Pure defense would just let Rutz build up an unbeatable board.
"I summon a monster in Attack Position!" Zero slammed the card onto his Duel Disk, striking a cool, one-handed summoning pose. This was the first time Zero had initiated an Attack Position summon.
Where he pointed, a pillar of fire erupted, and a fiery, sensual figure emerged from the flames.
"Elemental HERO Burstinatrix!"
Elemental HERO Burstinatrix [Level 3 / Fire] [Warrior / Normal] [ATK: 1200 / DEF: 800]
The HERO had arrived. Zero had given his first offensive summon to his "white moonlight" first love. Of course, Burstinatrix wasn't strong for a HERO—she was just a Normal Monster.
However, Zero's summon caused two people to freeze in shock: the Wynn siblings.
"A slum-dwelling peasant... actually has the right to use a HERO?!"
An uncontrollable surge of rage made Karl crush his wine glass. A red liquid—it wasn't clear if it was wine or blood—dripped from his palm.
"Karl, you're overreacting!" Chihane reminded him. "Your sister awakened her HERO bloodline before you, but maybe she just lent him that card. After all, in the history of Eden, no one outside the Wynn family has ever been a HERO user."
"You're right. I lost my composure, Chihane." Karl wiped his hand with a handkerchief. It was hard for him to accept that his "bastard" sister had awakened the HERO bloodline before him. If an outsider had summoned a HERO, it would be a slap to his face. "Did you do this just to humiliate me, Finis?!"
Had Finis lent him the card?
Quite the opposite. Finis's silver eyes reflected the flickering flames of the HERO on the field. She had forgotten to blink.
"Amano... you can use HEROes too?"
A system prompt chimed. [Finis Favorability +2] [Finis Favorability: 59]
That adds favor too? Well, yeah! Zero thought. I did look pretty cool just now.
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