Bro, I Agreed Last Time… Please Don't Run Again
As expected, different archetypes have different card distribution strength.
Besides wanting the full card pool, Yuye also confirmed another fact.
Tearlaments cards must be obtained slowly.
There might be more missions later.
As for Runick, once your bond level with the field spirits is high enough, they'll give you a significant amount of cards.
Each archetype's card distribution depends on its spirit's bond and its overall power level.
For weaker field spirits, they could basically decide on their own when to give you cards.
Understanding this, Yuye began thinking about how to obtain the full Runick card pool.
"Hugi was right.
The rules trust us to act as gatekeepers.
If the rules let us decide, then we should protect the rules properly.
Giving humans too many cards early… that kind of overwhelming power only makes duelists lose their drive."
Just as Yuye was about to ask how to obtain the rest of the cards, an old, ancient voice echoed—like a deep mountain hermit speaking.
As it spoke, the sound of flowing spring water filled the area.
Yuye and all the Runick spirits turned to look.
A colossal spirit—over a thousand meters tall—appeared.
Its upper body was like a demonic statue carved from stone.
Its lower body was a vast circular spring pool, with a glowing white stone at the center where countless streams of water poured down endlessly.
This was Runick Fountain.
"You're saying I would lose my drive?"
Yuye looked at it strangely.
"No.
You wouldn't.
But the ones after you… would."
"Once a precedent is set, those who come later will follow it.
This is human nature."
Runick Fountain clarified.
After being "properly educated" by the water fairy earlier, it now understood that, for Yuye, the Runick field was only a stepping stone.
It wanted to uphold the rules—not let future duelists walk the wrong path.
"Even if that's true, I am me, and the people after me are the people after me."
Yuye countered.
"Let me ask you—before I came here, did Runick help me… or hold me back?"
"Hold you back," Fountain replied honestly.
"You had only one Fountain, and only one copy of many important Runick Spells.
Our archetype's incomplete setup already lowered your ceiling.
That's why Hugi gave you a second Fountain.
From the rule perspective, I disapprove.
But personally, I fully support it."
Hearing this, Yuye finally understood.
Fountain was exactly what Hugi and the others said—a stubborn old relic.
He agreed that giving cards was helpful, but in his mind, rules always came first.
"What about the third Fountain, then?
Heavenly Rank is too long a wait.
If I want a third Fountain now, what should I do?" Yuye asked.
"If you truly insist…
Then use a duel to prove your strength.
Defeat me—
and I will have nothing left to say."
Runick Fountain answered solemnly.
Just as Yuye was about to agree—
Muning protested loudly:
"Fountain, isn't that too much?
If you go first with double Fountain in hand, plus at least two copies of all key Runick Spells…
You'd mill over fifteen cards minimum.
How is Night supposed to fight that?!"
"Yeah!
Winning that way isn't honorable at all!
If others hear about it, they'll say the Runick spirits bully their own chosen duelist!"
Hugi added strongly.
The dog, lion, and horse spirits all barked and roared in agreement.
Runick Fountain's glowing center flickered.
Waves rippled across the spring beneath it.
It now began to doubt whether it was even a Runick spirit anymore—
Otherwise, why were all the other Runick spirits siding with Yuye and calling him wrong?
After thinking a bit, Fountain realized Muning actually had a point.
Dueling Yuye like this did seem like bullying.
And so, it fell into deep self-doubt.
Then—
A mechanical, emotionless voice echoed:
"Restriction confirmed.
Runick Fountain's bond effect locked—
Runick Fountain may not use Runick cards previously used by Yuye, nor Nature-Rune cards.
Yuye is forbidden from using Tearlaments, Runick, King of the Swamp, and Red-Eyes Dark Dragoon.
If both parties agree, I will witness the duel."
The moment this voice appeared, all the Runick spirits understood instantly.
Yuye immediately shouted at the sky:
"Why did you run away last time!?"
Duel Rules: …
Brother… when Emergence Tearlaments discards Diviner off Shuffler… how was I supposed to not run? You wanted me to sit there and get OTK'd??
Except Muning, the rest of the Runick spirits collectively froze.
"Please, brother…
Next time, don't run.
If you're scared, I can make a smaller board.
I'll even let you out a little.
It's okay, I'm not afraid of you clearing my board.
On your turn, I can build another board for you to slowly break."
Yuye whispered sincerely at the sky.
Duel Rules: …
Are you speaking human language!?
Let you break?
Break everything, and you rebuild during my turn!?
Also—I'm NOT your brother.
I don't want to duel you.
Please go away.
Go away!!
"Ah… boring."
Seeing that the Duel Rules refused to answer him, Yuye sighed and looked back at Runick Fountain.
"So? Shall we begin?"
"…Begin."
The appearance of the Duel Rules meant one thing:
If Yuye won this duel, he would earn the right to obtain the entire Runick card pool.
Runick Fountain naturally had no objections and accepted immediately.
"Good.
Let me adjust my deck."
Yuye squinted with satisfaction.
This duel occurred in the spirit communication space, where only the Runick spirits could observe.
So the newly obtained Kashtira Fenrir, Tenyi Spirit, and other cards no longer needed to be hidden.
Yuye (8000 LP) vs. Runick Fountain (8000 LP)
Duel Rules allowed Fountain to choose turn order.
It chose to go first.
Both drew five cards.
The duel began.
"I activate Runick Fountain.
Then I use Runick Slumber to Special Summon Hugin.
Hugin's effect discards Runick Freezing Curses to search Fountain.
Chain 2, Fountain's effect attempts to return Slumber and Freezing Curses to draw."
Just as Fountain began its setup—
"Hold on.
Chain 3, I discard Ash Blossom to negate your Fountain draw/recycle.
Chain 4, since I control no cards—
I activate Infinite Impermanence from hand, targeting your Hugin."
Yuye immediately connected the chain.
Skillfully cutting off both the draw engine and Hugin's search.
Chain resolves (reverse order):
C4 Impermanence resolves — Hugin's effect is negated.
C3 Ash Blossom resolves — Fountain's recycle/draw is negated.
C2 Fountain effect negated.
C1 Hugin effect negated.
"Beautifully done, Night!
Unless Fountain has more Runick Quick-Play Spells or another Fountain in hand, it's over!"
Hugi cheered.
Muning nodded.
The three animals made satisfied noises.
Runick Fountain:
My own family… all siding with him…
I'm the only one suffering…
Yuye, however, sensed danger.
Because in his previous life—
anytime someone said "unless they've got exactly X card,"
The opponent always had it.
And sure enough—
"I activate Runick Tip!
I searched for another Runick Fountain.
Night, banish the top card of your Deck."
"I activate Fountain again.
Then I activate Runick Golden Droplet—
You draw one, banish the top four."
"Since Fountain's effect is not once per turn by name,
it activates again—
I return Tip, Slumber, and Freezing Curses to draw three."
Runick Fountain ended its turn.
Yuye drew for a turn.
"I activate Kashtira Fenrir from my hand—since I control no monsters, I can Special Summon it."
"Come forth—
Fenrir!"
A towering red warrior-wolf wielding a massive axe appeared.
"???"
"Night… you had Kashtira cards?"
Muning was baffled.
She had never once seen him use Fenrir.
"Yes.
I own Fenrir's original card.
But in our world, normal duels have too many eyes watching…
So I never used it."
"…Fair."
Having worked in the Inspection Bureau, Muning understood this deeply.
They "knew" many things—
As long as no one reported it, they wouldn't intervene.
"I Normal Summon Mole Cricket.
Cricket's effect tributes itself to Special Summon Camellia.
Camellia sends Blessed Winds to the GY to add Spring Breeze."
"I activate Spring Breeze to revive Mole Cricket."
"I Chain 2—Runick Flashing Fire, targeting your Camellia to destroy it.
Banish the top two cards of your Deck."
Chain resolves:
C2 Flashing Fire destroys Camellia.
C1 Spring Breeze revives Mole Cricket.
Seeing Fountain stop chaining further, Yuye instantly understood and continued.
"I link Mole Cricket—
Link 1: Linkuriboh."
"I discard Glory of Horus – Imsety and the Sword Priest to send King's Sarcophagus to the GY and draw one.
I activate Sarcophagus—sending Horus's Blessing – Duamutef and Horus's Vanguard – Hapi to GY."
"I send Fenrir and Horus's Protection – Qebehsenuef to GY.
Then I Special Summon Hapi, Imsety, Duamutef, and Qebehsenuef!"
"I use Duamutef + Linkuriboh—
Link Summon S:P Little Knight!"
"Little Knight effect—target your Runick Fountain in the GY to banish it!"
"GY?"
The Fountain spirit was confused.
Shouldn't Little Knight banish field cards?
Why GY?
But even though confused, it chained immediately.
"Chain 2—Effect Veiler on Little Knight to negate it!"
"Little Knight cannot be stopped by that.
Chain 3—Little Knight's second effect!
I banish her and Hapi!"
Runick Fountain chained again—
"Chain 4—Runick Freezing Curses on Little Knight!
Negate her effects and banish the top three of your Deck!"
Chain resolves:
C4 Freezing Curses → Little Knight negated
C3 Little Knight effect negated
C2 Effect Veiler resolves
C1 Little Knight negated
Then—
"…Why didn't my effect trigger?"
Fountain was genuinely confused
And that was where the chapter ended.