Chapter 864: As Punishment for Opposing Me, I Will Sever Your Hope
"Activate my Set Card, 'Sakuretsu Armor'!"
On Zane Truesdale's back row, in response to 'Despair God - Anti-Hope's' attack declaration, he flipped up his Trap Card. "Activate when an opponent's monster declares an attack; destroy that attacking monster!"
Although 'Despair God - Anti-Hope's' ATK did surprise Zane Truesdale, 5000 ATK was not yet an insurmountable challenge for the Cyber Style.
Although he hadn't drawn cards like 'Limiter Removal' — if he had, he would've used it last turn to boost 'Cyber End Dragon' and instantly defeat Syrus in one turn — as long as he could survive until his own turn, he had countless ways to counterattack and defeat 'Despair God - Anti-Hope'.
Zane Truesdale considered this a form of confidence. Although Hayato said that 'Sakuretsu Armor' was cursed and couldn't be used, how could such a thing be true? He must have been fooling him. Zane refused to believe it; he *had* to use 'Sakuretsu Armor' to destroy this monster, and then on his next turn, give his younger brother a small taste of Cyber Style shock.
However—
"'Sakuretsu Armor'? Muda muda!" Syrus raised his Duel Disk, and a card was ejected from his Graveyard. "Once during the Battle Step when 'Despair God - Anti-Hope' conducts a battle, I can banish one Level 1 monster from my Graveyard to activate its effect!"
"'A Level 1 monster?' Zane Truesdale was taken aback when he saw the Level 1 monster Syrus retrieved from his Graveyard — 'Kiteroid'. 'That card... was that the card that was sent to the Graveyard back when 'Megaroid City' was used?'"
"'Until the end of the Damage Step, 'Despair God - Anti-Hope' is unaffected by other card effects and cannot be destroyed by battle!' Putting 'Kiteroid' into his pocket, Syrus said proudly, 'It's not a monster, it's a god!'"
Zane Truesdale's eyes widened as he watched the power of his activated 'Sakuretsu Armor' wrap around 'Despair God - Anti-Hope', yet completely fail to affect his opponent. 'Despair God - Anti-Hope' simply raised a hand casually, dispelling 'Sakuretsu Armor', and launched an attack on 'Cyber End Dragon'!
'This card, it really *does* have a curse?!' Even though it failed, '1000 points of damage is manageable.'
Watching 'Cyber End Dragon's' resistance instantly crumble, with the aftershocks of the attack about to hit him, Zane Truesdale crossed his arms in front of him in a defensive posture. However, what he hadn't expected was that with the appearance of 'Despair God - Anti-Hope', this duel had imperceptibly transformed into a Dark Game. Even just 1000 points of battle damage was more than he could bear.
"'Hmph, hmph, ugh-aaaaah!' 'Despair God - Anti-Hope's' attack engulfed and annihilated 'Cyber End Dragon', and at the same time, it enveloped Zane Truesdale's entire body. Under the soul-deep pain, Zane Truesdale couldn't bear it and let out a wail."
"Boom!"
'Cyber End Dragon' exploded with a roar under 'Despair God - Anti-Hope's' attack, kicking up a cloud of dust. Just then, 'Despair God - Anti-Hope's' attack stopped, and it returned behind Syrus, looking down at Zane Truesdale's silent field.
"'Yatta zo! I did it, I destroyed 'Cyber End Dragon', I defeated Zane Truesdale!' Syrus's face, hearing Zane Truesdale's wail, showed no other emotion, only genuine joy. Triumphantly, he looked at Zane Truesdale's field, covered in dust. 'I did it, with the power of a god, I did it, yeah!'"
"'Surpassed by me, even your strongest ace card defeated. Zane Truesdale, how do you feel now, how do you feel?'"
"Hahahaha!"
Clutching the last card in his hand, Syrus burst into frantic laughter.
Just then, a voice rang out from within the dust, answering him, "'Specific feeling? Hmm, what a weak god.'"
Syrus's laughter froze, because he could tell that voice was not Zane Truesdale's.
In the gradually dispersing dust, Zane Truesdale's figure slowly emerged, but he was unconscious, being supported by someone to prevent him from collapsing, and his Duel Disk was being removed from his wrist. The person taking off Zane Truesdale's Duel Disk, putting it on his own wrist, and answering Syrus, was none other than Hayato, who had suddenly appeared on the Duel Field at some unknown moment?
"'Huh? When did Hayato get over there? Wasn't he just standing here?' The moment he saw what was happening on the field, Tristan was also stunned. He looked at the empty spot next to him where Hayato had been standing and asked Marik, 'Did you see when your brother-in-law ran in?'"
"'I wouldn't know~'"
"'Don't ask; if you ask, it's our Kobayashi family's once-in-a-lifetime teleportation, a skill passed down through generations of gentlemen,' Hayato casually said, glancing at Zane Truesdale, whom he was supporting. 'Sorry, kid, I need to figure out what that guy on the other side is exactly. There's no time left for you to discipline your brother. You can continue lecturing him after I take that card from him.'"
"'But, did he pass out from the shock of his first Dark Game and can't hear me?' Hayato put Zane Truesdale's Deck back into his Deck Box at his waist, then called out to Marik in the distance, 'Three-year-old, come here and help me take him away!'"
"'Who are you calling a three-year-old!' Marik had reason to suspect Hayato was retaliating for calling him 'brother-in-law' every day. While muttering, 'At least I'm six years old,' he still obediently jogged over and pulled the unconscious Zane Truesdale away.
"'You are, Hayato?' Even though Hayato was still using the 'Millennium Rod' to misdirect others' thoughts, making it impossible for ordinary people to connect him with 'Duel King Hayato', Syrus recognized him instantly upon seeing him. 'You, are you trying to stop this important duel!?'"
"'Damn it, unforgivable!'"
"'When you say "unforgivable," adding Pegasus's name afterward should be common sense, right?' Hayato calmly watched the furious Syrus, taking his Deck from his Deck Box at his waist and placing it into his Duel Disk, then continued, 'Besides, isn't my intention quite obvious? I'm just taking over this duel on behalf of Zane Truesdale.'"
"'Why should I duel you?' Syrus asked, eyeing Hayato warily. Although he had just surpassed his long-standing target, the towering mountain that blocked all his glory—Zane Truesdale—which made Syrus feel somewhat conceited, he didn't delude himself into thinking he could be Hayato's opponent. 'As an adult, you use powerful cards like the Egyptian God Cards; how could I possibly be your opponent!'"
"'You're the Duel King, yet you're bullying a junior! You're truly despicable!'"
"'Powerful cards? I see, so you actually think that Duel Monsters is a game where powerful cards alone decide the outcome? If that's the case, don't you also have a powerful monster on your field?' Hayato raised an eyebrow and said casually, 'But don't worry, even though I've swapped Decks, I'm using a 'Pure Cyber Style' Deck. It's not much different from Zane Truesdale's Deck.'"
"'Also 'Cyber Style'?' Syrus heard Hayato's words. Not understanding what 'Pure Cyber Style' meant, he naively believed it and turned to glance at 'Despair God - Anti-Hope' behind him. With the invincible 'Despair God - Anti-Hope' present, and since Hayato was using the same 'Cyber Style' Deck, even the Duel King couldn't possibly be his opponent.
Although the duel wasn't over, his recent battle had fully proven that with the power of 'Despair God - Anti-Hope', he had far surpassed Zane Truesdale, whom he had always regarded as his target. Now was his chance to climb to even greater heights. If he defeated Duel King Hayato here, wouldn't he become the next Duel King?
"'In that case, I accept. But as the cost for inheriting Zane Truesdale's field, you must accept the rule of deducting 2000 Life Points when interrupting a duel.'"
Hayato shrugged. "'Life Points? As long as they're not reduced to zero, they're infinite.'"
[Zane Truesdale → Hayato: 4000 → 3000 → 1000LP]
Seeing the numbers change on the Duel Disk Hayato put on, Syrus also set the last card in his hand. "'Because of 'Despair God - Anti-Hope's' effect, all monsters on my field except it cannot attack, so you got a free pass, Hayato. I set one card, and my turn ends.'"
[Syrus: 500LP, Hand 0]
['Despair God - Anti-Hope'] [ATK5000]
['Super Vehicroid - Stealth Union'] [ATK3600]
[Set Card]
'As long as 'Despair God - Anti-Hope' is here, even Duel King Hayato, without legendary cards like the Egyptian God Cards, can't possibly damage me. And when my turn comes, 'Despair God - Anti-Hope' will once again display its invincible power and secure my victory!'
"'Although it seems like you've reached the end of your rope, it's alright, because as long as you believe in your Deck, your Deck will surely produce a powerful card to answer you.' Hayato said with a smile, lightly raising an eyebrow as he placed his finger on his newly shuffled Deck, looking at Syrus. 'Hehe, I can feel it. A good card is right on top of my Deck.'"
Hayato's expression made Syrus frown. He couldn't help but think: 'He saw the invincible 'Despair God - Anti-Hope' and can still show such a relaxed expression? Does he think he can draw a powerful monster like a 'god' card? Damn it, just because he has some powerful cards, what's so great about that? Even if he draws a 'god', can he even Summon it?'
'But what if, just what if, Hayato could really Summon a 'god' with the one hand card Zane Truesdale left behind?' Syrus gritted his teeth, looking at Hayato's confident smile. 'Although I believe 'Despair God - Anti-Hope' is invincible, but, but...'
'I won't let such a good opportunity slip by. Don't blame me, Hayato! Blame yourself for naively speaking with such confidence before even drawing a card!'
Hayato placed his hand on top of his Deck, about to draw a card. "'My turn, draw—'"
"'At this instant, I activate the card I set at the end of my last turn!' Syrus, seeing Hayato about to draw, immediately pressed the button to activate his Set card and declared, 'Even if you say you're using a Cyber Style Deck and aren't carrying powerful cards like the Egyptian God Cards, I don't believe anyone can refuse the temptation of such powerful cards!'"
"'As punishment for opposing me, I will sever your hope and nullify your draw! Activate Trap Card 'Drop Off'!'"
Hayato was just about to draw the card, but at that moment, a red light flew out from the card Syrus had activated on his backrow, rushing towards the card in Hayato's hand, forcibly sending the card he had just drawn to the Graveyard!?
"''Drop Off' is a card that can only be activated during your opponent's Draw Phase, when your opponent conducts a Normal Draw. Its effect is to directly discard the card your opponent draws to the Graveyard!' Syrus said, looking at Hayato. 'If you can't replenish your hand, even you, the Duel King, can't pull out cards to create miracles. All you can rely on is that one card you got from Zane Truesdale, which should be useless.'"
"'But I'm also a little curious, what powerful card did the Duel King draw in that last draw?'"
As he spoke, Syrus shifted his gaze to the card that hadn't yet been sent to the Graveyard, and was stunned when he clearly saw it. "'Ojama Magic'? Is that a 'Cyber Style' card?'"
"'Huh? Cyber Style?' 'What's that trash, can it compare to us?' 'You're totally looking down on us, nya!'"
As 'Ojama Magic' was sent to the Graveyard by 'Drop Off', Syrus discovered that three cards actually appeared from beneath the card that was sent to the Graveyard, arriving in Hayato's hand?
"'Oh~Young-Man!' To the sound of rousing music, the three monsters revealed their true forms—they were three barely-clothed fodder monsters!"
"'When 'Ojama Magic' is sent to the Graveyard from the hand or field, I can add 'Ojama Yellow', 'Ojama Green', and 'Ojama Black' from my Deck to my hand. Yare yare, I was a bit troubled on how to send it to the Graveyard when I first drew it, but it turns out I tricked you so easily. Now I almost don't even feel a sense of accomplishment.'"
Hearing Hayato's words, Syrus immediately understood. Hayato seemed to have known about his Set card on the back row and the card on top of his Deck for a long time. But how could that be?!
"'Your next line is—"Was this all part of your plan too, Hayato! How did you know what my cards and your cards were?"'"
"'Was this all part of your plan too, Hayato! How did you know what my cards and your cards w-wha, Nani!?'"
Almost perfectly synchronized, Syrus and Hayato said the exact same words, with Hayato even finishing a step before Syrus. This instantly gave Syrus goosebumps, and he stared at Hayato in terror.
"'It's not mind reading, you brat; you're just too easy to read. Even from over ten meters away, I could tell from that sinister smirk on your face what card you were planning to use to trick someone else. As for the card I drew, haven't you heard the saying?' As he added the searched cards to his hand, Hayato uttered a phrase that made 'Despair God - Anti-Hope', standing behind Syrus, suddenly tremble:"
"'A true Duelist can even create their own future draws.'"
(end of chapter)