Zhou Hongli… is really dead?
"Are you blind? His ice statue is still standing outside Gate Three of the National Tournament. From that miserable pose, he was clearly crying and begging."
"That's not the point. The real issue is—You Ye is only Geo-tier, and he crushed Dragon Synchro Pile?"
"He probably didn't lose after completing his board. More likely, he misplayed his protection cards, or his bond draw didn't give him Prohibition. Or maybe he ran straight into a Tearlaments T0 opening."
"If it was Tearlaments T0, then yeah—Zhou Hongli had no chance."
"Stop making excuses for him. The Duel Association just released the information—You Ye didn't use Tearlaments. He used Fallen of Albaz."
"Albaz? A fusion-dependent deck with no hard negates? How careless was Zhou Hongli? Even a lion uses its full strength to hunt a rabbit!"
"Forget the dead man. The real problem is this—besides using Zhou Hongli's corpse as a warning, the Duel Association also announced that if a player is maliciously targeted during a match, the victim has the right to initiate any form of duel."
"That's You Ye's counterattack."
"Hah. Counterattack? Just the last struggle of a clown. Once he reaches the Top 16 and meets me, that will be his final dance—and his last duel in this world."
"You're that confident? Even if he uses Tearlaments, winning won't be easy."
"I've prepared thoroughly. If he uses Tearlaments, I'll show him what the Royal Valley really is. And if he doesn't—every other deck, I've already teched full counters for."
"As expected. Zhou Hongli was one step from the King's Path. You already have one foot on it—and you're the strongest independent duelist among us."
"Hahaha. Once I win, I'll be sure to share the duel with you. Let's see if I can pull it off."
"Looking forward to it."
At a private gathering inside a villa, figures of all kinds discussed the matter animatedly.
You Ye, however, knew nothing of this.
After the duel, Li Yuan invited him to a private card vault.
According to Li Yuan, since You Ye had been so generous and magnanimous, he—作为国赛总负责人—couldn't let You Ye suffer a loss without compensation.
After half a day of selection, You Ye took two cards:
Gimmick Puppet Nightmare (Original Card)
No.42 Galaxy Tomahawk (commonly known as Little Plane)
"You're planning to build a Gimmick Puppet FTK?"
Li Yuan looked at the cards and reminded him meaningfully.
"If so… Four might not agree."
"Four?" You, Ye, asked.
"Thomas Arklay?"
Li Yuan frowned.
"Who's that? Four is just called Four. Also known as the Fourth King—a terrifying King-tier Duelist."
He spoke with deep apprehension.
Li Yuan had once encountered Gimmick Puppet FTK himself—and had been completely helpless against it.
"I see. My mistake," You Ye said, nodding.
He didn't ask why such a weak-looking archetype could produce a King-tier Duelist.
There were two reasons:
First, in later eras, Gimmick Puppets received massive support—the FTK success rate skyrocketed.
Second, this world's duelists mostly played pure builds, with minimal tech.
A King-tier Gimmick Puppet user wasn't that strange.
"So… what do you mean by 'won't agree'?" You, Ye, asked.
"You've noticed, haven't you?" Li Yuan replied.
"Potent archetypes are rarely obtained."
"Yes."
"It's not that they can't be obtained. We negotiated with the spirits—asking them not to grant their archetypes."
"I see. So what level is required to do that?"
"It has nothing to do with level. As long as the archetype recognizes an owner, or you have a strong relationship with the spirit, and reach an agreement."
"That explains a lot."
You Ye's lingering doubts vanished.
It wasn't that Heaven-tier Duelists didn't want stronger archetypes.
They couldn't get them.
Li Yuan's warning meant one thing—
Four had already reached an agreement with the Gimmick Puppet spirits.
"You can take single cards," Li Yuan added.
"Just don't take the archetype."
You Ye nodded, though he wasn't really listening.
If he truly wanted Gimmick Puppet FTK, he'd negotiate.
But honestly?
He wasn't interested.
He already had Tearlaments, Bystials, Branded, rollback tools, Divine cards—
If he wanted FTK, future Fish King strategies would be even easier.
Lowering his power level for Gimmick Puppets?
Pointless.
The Next Day — National Tournament Arena
Due to the previous incident, contestants were now divided into two separate backstage zones, entering the arena from different directions.
When Ye entered the stage, his opponent's appearance reminded him of a certain League of Legends champion—Rakan.
Except this man was dressed entirely in black, with a sinister grin.
Once the officials left, the man spoke in a hoarse, chilling voice.
"Boy. I am Hei Liao."
"I don't want to waste words."
"Hand over Tearlaments, Graceful Charity, and all the generic cards and knowledge you possess."
"If you comply, I'll concede voluntarily and graciously spare your Geo-tier mission."
"Oh?"
You Ye, smiled strangely.
"So generous?"
"Everyone benefits," Hei Liao replied with a sinister grin.
"Isn't that best?"
"What a beautiful phrase—everyone benefits."
"You want my archetype, my cards, my knowledge…"
"I really don't see where I benefit."
You Ye, laughed in anger.
"Since you refuse," Hei Liao said coldly,
"Then I'll show you what true despair is!"
He raised his Duel Disk.
You Ye (8000 LP) vs Hei Liao (8000 LP)Dark Duel
You Ye, chose to go first.
As he looked at his opening hand, his smile grew even more twisted than Hei Liao's.
Playing dirty?
I have an entire lifetime of dirty decks.
Hei Liao felt uneasy—but when he saw the two Maxx "C" in his hand, the feeling vanished.
No matter how strong you are,
with six draws in hand, victory is mine.
You Ye's Turn
"I activate Bystial Lubellion, adding Bystial Saronir."
"Then I activate Branded Fusion."
"Chain 2!" Hei Liao shouted.
"I discard Droll & Lock Bird—no, Dodo-Doodle Huwah-Loris.
You summon from the deck or Extra Deck—I draw!"
You Ye, glanced at the card and chose not to respond.
Hei Liao's main deck was Blackwings.
As long as You Ye's answer resolved—
The duel would be decided.
After resolution:
Branded Fusion sent Tri-Brigade Mercourier and Fallen of Albaz
Fusion Summon: Albion the Branded Dragon
"You—aren't you going to draw?" You Ye prompted.
Hei Liao hesitated for over ten seconds, thinking.
Eventually, he chose engine over disruption.
The Trap Is Set
The duel progressed.
Then—
Gimmick Puppet Nightmare was sent to the Graveyard.
Hei Liao froze.
"Gimmick Puppet Nightmare!?"
"You're a Gimmick Puppet player!? FTK!?"
You, Ye, rolled his eyes.
"Think. What's my restriction?"
"Fusion lock…?"
Confusion turned to dread.
The Answer Sheet
You Ye continued calmly.
White Albion
Branded in White
Mirrorjade, the Iceblade Dragon
Hei Liao laughed wildly.
"HAHAHA! Heaven itself favors me!"
He raised Nibiru—
Then froze.
"No timing!?"
You Ye, smiled.
"As long as Branded Lost is face-up, fusion summons I perform cannot be responded to."
"That summon… had no window."
Hei Liao relaxed.
"A single timing denial won't save you."
You Ye's smile vanished.
"Mirrorjade—banish."
"Albion—Chain."
"You're scared of Nibiru?" Hei Liao sneered.
"Then I'll just drop it now!"
"Chain 4—Crossout Designator.
Declare Nibiru."
Silence.
Shock.
"You… didn't have Called by the Grave…?"
"Does it matter?" You, Ye, replied calmly.
"The meteor falls nowhere."
End Phase
You Ye, set one card.
"Your turn."
Hei Liao grinned viciously.
"Now you'll see real terror."
You Ye looked at him with pity.
"You're already lost—and you don't even realize it."
Another primitive duelist.
Another fool.