Chapter 103 - 103

[Rank system login complete: Duelist Hoshino Chiyuki, Rank King] Hoshino hadn't expected Kaiba Corporation's ranking system to be so accommodating, immediately placing her in the King Rank. Despite this high ranking, the shop wrecker Hakutaku, with his Rank 9 status, clearly wasn't to be underestimated. Hakutaku, expecting to dominate with his revealed rank, was visibly annoyed. "So you're the Duelist King? Interesting! My goal today is to defeat you and take your place as the King!" "Even if you beat me, you wouldn't become the King of Games…" Hoshino thought this burly man was naïve to believe that defeating her in an obscure toy shop would earn him worldwide recognition. Besides, "You won't defeat me!" "Don't be so sure of yourself, King of Games," Hakutaku said, scanning the decks inside his coat as a sly smile formed. "With a counter deck, I can make you lose completely." "Counter deck?" Yugi felt a twinge of unease at the term. "Enough talk, let's duel!" Hakutaku quickly pulled a deck from his coat and slapped it on the duel table. "My thoughts exactly!" [Rank 9 Hakutaku versus Rank King Hoshino Chiyuki!] [Duel!] "I'll go first!" After numerous duels, Hoshino had learned that in this world, turn order was determined by who shouted first. It was essentially a race to go first. Hoshino quickly drew a card from her deck, securing the first move. "I summon the monster card [Heroic Spirit - Spartacus] in attack mode!" After a brief moment of thought, Hoshino placed her Spartacus on the mini duel table. "Then I activate the equip card [Fou of The Sun], which increases Spartacus's attack power by 500." [Heroic Spirit - Spartacus★★★ (3 stars) Earth] [Warrior/Effect][ATK1500→2000/DEF1500] "Spartacus, back in action!" As the duel table projected a mini hologram, Spartacus's figure appeared, miniature like a typical figurine. The Fou perched on Spartacus's shoulder looked even more adorable. "Impressive, summoning a monster with 2000 attack points in the first turn!" With the duel underway, more children gathered, filling the already crowded Kame Game Shop. "I'll set one card face-down and end my turn!" "Wow, setting a card on the first turn, so strong!" Though Hoshino didn't dislike children, their chatter during a duel that required concentration was irritating. More importantly… "How weak are your dueling skills that you think setting one card is impressive?!" Hoshino silently fumed, trying to maintain her composure. "Just as I expected, King of Games." Hakutaku, clearly more experienced, wasn't surprised by such a common move. "From what my subordinates told me, your deck mainly consists of Warrior-type monsters." "So what?" Hoshino had long been aware that her Heroic cards were predominantly Warrior-type, reflecting the nature of most heroes. "You'll see soon enough. My turn, draw!" Laughing, Hakutaku slapped his monster card onto the table. "I summon [Kinetic Soldier] in attack mode!" [Kinetic Soldier★★★ Earth] [Machine/Effect][ATK1350/DEF1800] The mechanical swordsman looked like a toy in the mini hologram projection. "Attack Spartacus, Kinetic Soldier!" Unexpectedly, Hakutaku attacked with a monster that had only 1350 attack points against Spartacus 2000 attack points. "This shop wrecker isn't as tough as the rumors say," Jounouchi scoffed at such a reckless move, something even he wouldn't do. "No, Jounouchi, there's something about this card!" Yugi, ever cautious, sensed something off in Hakutaku's confident play. "Haha, the famous duelist Yugi Mutou is indeed skilled!" Hakutaku's grin widened as he activated his monster's effect. "[Kinetic Soldier]'s special effect activates!" [When this card battles a Warrior-type monster, its ATK and DEF increase by 2000 during damage calculation.] [Kinetic Soldier][ATK1350→3350] "A monster specifically targeting Warrior-types!" Watching the attack power surge, Hoshino realized why Hakutaku was so confident. "Go, Kinetic Soldier, Kinetic Blast!" With its attack power skyrocketing, the swordsman's toy-like cannon barrel expanded dramatically, now stronger than Blue-Eyes White Dragon's, and engulfed Spartacus. [Hoshino Chiyuki LP4000→2650] "Hoshino is being overwhelmed!" Her friends couldn't believe the point difference widening so dramatically in just one turn. "Activating the special effect of the equip card [Sun of The Fou], I send it to the graveyard instead of destroying the equipped monster." As the blast subsided, Hoshino moved the card from her field to the graveyard. "Saved by a strange equipment card, huh?" Hakutaku, now confident in his huge advantage, let his tone grow more arrogant. "Now you understand the terror of a counter deck! I'll set one card and end my turn." "How infuriating, claiming it's a counter deck. It's just a cheap trick targeting specific cards." Quickly scanning her hand, Hoshino grew tense. "I'm in trouble; all I have are Warrior-type heroes. I'll have to rely on my next draw." "My turn, draw!" Hoshino's constipated expression made it clear that she didn't draw a card that could improve her situation. "I summon [Heroic Spirit – Mash Kyrielight] in defense mode and end my turn." With a short turn, Hoshino had no choice but to switch to a defensive strategy, relying on Mash's excellent defensive abilities to buy some time. [Heroic Spirit – Mash Kyrielight★★★★ (4 stars) Light][Warrior/Effect][ATK1000/DEF2000] "Senpai, things are looking bad!" Mash, who stepped forward with her shield, also understood the opponent's strategy against Warrior-types. "It's so despicable of them to try to win by targeting us. If only I wasn't a Warrior-type, I could be more helpful to you." "Mash, you're a Fairy! They must have labeled you as Warrior-type by mistake; you're definitely a Fairy-type." Hoshino felt genuine gratitude towards Mash, who always thought of her. "Huh? Just one card this turn? Maybe the King of Games isn't that great after all." Kids, easily influenced by the atmosphere, quickly changed their opinions. "And getting suppressed in the first turn, that's so lame!" "These brats!" Hoshino was infuriated by the children's criticism, feeling it was just bad luck this turn. "Once this is over, I'll make sure to grind you into the ground and take every Saint Quartz you have!" "Hahaha, even the King of Games is powerless in this situation." Seeing Hoshino only summoning one monster and ending her turn made Hakutaku more convinced of his flawless strategy. "If I were in the Duelist Kingdom tournament, I would be the King. No, as the King, I wouldn't even step foot in such a filthy little shop." "My grandpa's toy shop isn't dirty!" Yugi couldn't stand Hakutaku's arrogant attitude any longer. "The Duelist Kingdom is where everyone gives their all to achieve victory! You won't win with such despicable tactics, targeting specific decks!" "The famous duelist who defeated Seto Kaiba, Yugi Mutou, right? Don't worry, your turn will come soon." Hakutaku grinned, fishing through his coat. "Your spellcaster deck won't stand a chance against me either. But first, I need to take care of this King of Games!" "My turn, draw!" Hakutaku trembled with excitement upon seeing his drawn card. "It's over, Duelist King! I'll end you with this card!" "I activate the spell card [Warrior Elimination]!" [Warrior Elimination Spell Card Effect: Destroy all face-up Warrior-type monsters on the field.] "How despicable, using a card like that!" Even the kids could see that this card, which no one would usually include in their deck, was meant to target specific known decks. Even in kids' duels, no one would use this card against friends who also played Warrior-types. "What's despicable? This is called strategy, you little brats!" Hakutaku wasn't angry at their insults; instead, he felt a twisted pride. "Because of [Warrior Elimination]'s effect, your two Warrior-type monsters are destroyed. You have no defenses left!" "Oh? Is that so…" Hoshino looked at him with disdain. As [Warrior Elimination] activated, a sniper's lens targeted Spartacus and Mash on Hoshino's field. A massive bullet instantly pierced through Spartacus's head. As another bullet flew toward Mash. "Obscurant Wall of Chalk!" The bullet left only a faint trace of smoke on Mash's shield. "Because of Mash's special effect, she can't be destroyed by battle or card effects in defense mode!" Mash once again protected Hoshino from a lethal attack. "And since Spartacus was destroyed!" S~eaʀᴄh the ηovёlFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Hoshino Chiyuki LP 2650 → 3150] [Hakutaku LP 4000→3500] "Haha, I've heard that your monsters have troublesome effects, and now I've experienced it firsthand." The card he thought would secure his victory only managed to destroy Spartacus, leaving Hakutaku feeling awkward. "And since Mash can't be destroyed by battle, even if I attack, the effect would be minimal. Your simple setup makes it hard for opponents to deal with. You do have some skill." "This is the bond Mash and I have built over the years, right?" Hoshino and Mash shared a knowing glance, proud of their teamwork. "It seems you trust your monsters a lot." Hakutaku's sly smile returned as he drew another card. "Although your tactics might trouble others, they won't work on me." "I discard [Puppet Plant] from my hand to activate its special effect." "!!" Puppet Plant's thorny tendrils suddenly emerged from the graveyard, wrapping around Mash. "Ah~ Senpai, this… isn't good!" Mash, bound tightly by the tendrils, struggled as the thorns cut into her exposed skin, drawing blood. "Indeed, this is not good," Hoshino said, blushing as she rubbed her nose. "This feels too indecent with all these kids watching." "Senpai! This isn't the time to be thinking about such things!" Mash said, giving up resistance as she lowered her head. [Puppet Plant: Discard this card to the graveyard to take control of one Warrior or Spellcaster-type monster on your opponent's field until the end phase.] "Hahaha, your trusted monster is now under my control!" Hakutaku laughed triumphantly as he gazed at Hoshino's now empty field. "Without your most trusted monster, you have no protection!" Without resistance, Mash was dragged silently by the tendrils to Hakutaku's field. "Mash, no…" Hoshino couldn't believe Mash would ever stand on the opponent's side. "I thought only Cu Chulainn could do something like this." (*****) If you'd like to read 20 chapters ahead, please consider joining my Patreon: patreon.com/ANeet. Your support means a lot. Thank you!