"Seto Kaiba!?"
The moment the man finished speaking, the person on the other end of the communication became excited immediately.
"Wait, Luca, don't make a move. He's mine; I must be the one to..."
"Sorry, buddy, but first come, first served. Since I bumped into him first, this has nothing to do with you." Luca lazily smiled, "Looks like I'm going to take him down first."
"No, Luca, you..."
The words from the other end of the communication were finally cut off by him. The man put down the communicator, and his eyes revealed a hint of anticipation as he looked at Seto Kaiba in front of him.
"Oh, so eager to become my defeated opponent, are you?"
Kaiba crossed his arms and sneered.
The storm clouds in the sky were still churning, indicating a coming downpour, the wind becoming stronger along the pier, causing Kaiba's coat to billow like a cape.
"Interesting." The man stood up, "Seto Kaiba, the legendary Duelist, only second to Muto Yuugi. I've wanted to challenge you for a long time."
Kaiba's smile vanished instantly, and he squinted, scrutinizing the man.
The other guy's words seemed to state a fact, yet also seemed to emphasize the phrase "second to Muto Yuugi" intentionally. And inconveniently, it was hard to refute...
"It's... Luca, right? One of the two remaining New Doma Three Musketeers." Kaiba said indifferently.
"I'm truly flattered that Seto Kaiba knows of me."
"Heh, of course, I know someone who's about to become my defeated opponent. This way, the so-called New Doma Three Musketeers will only have one left..."
Kaiba said indifferently.
"Just a rat that snuck in."
"Hahaha, as expected of President Kaiba, just as arrogant as the legends say."
Luca unfolded his Duel Disc and chuckled lightly.
"But be careful. Even if it's a rat, it might still bite and kill a beast at some point."
"Heh, is that so? I look forward to it then."
Saying that, Kaiba also unfolded his Duel Disc with a swish. At the same time, a transparent wave radiated from him, like a Sea of Data, gradually materializing into a blue field that enveloped both of them.
"Hmm?" Luca raised an eyebrow.
At this moment, Keihei, dressed in a suit, appeared behind Kaiba, smiling as he explained.
"The latest Duel Disc from Kaiba Technology, equipped with a function to materialize images, similar in effect to your supernatural tricks."
Kaiba snorted coldly: "This way, you can't escape from here until the duel is over."
"Hahaha, quite a comprehensive consideration. Alright."
Luca's lazy attitude abruptly vanished as he became serious.
"Then, let's decide victory, and life."
"Duel!" x2
[Kaiba, LP 4000]
[Luca, LP 4000]
"I'm going first. Draw," Luca said, "I set a monster in face-down defense position, then set one card face-down, and end my turn."
"My turn, draw!"
Kaiba drew a card.
"Summon 'Blood Axe Demon'!"
[Blood Axe Demon, Attack Power 1900]
One of the most commonly seen lower-level monsters in Kaiba's hand in the anime, even having a cameo in the GX era.
"Blood Axe Demon, attack the face-down monster!"
The Beast Warrior roared, swinging its battle axe towards the facedown monster. The blade cleaved down, splitting the cover card in two, revealing the shattered projection of a sinister insect.
"Hey, you fell for it, President." Luca said, "The monster you attacked is 'Cannibal Worm'!
When this card is flipped, it destroys one monster on the field. Disappear, 'Blood Axe Demon'!"
Before dying, the Cannibal Worm delivered a fierce thrust. The Blood Axe Demon, having just swung its axe, couldn't gather its strength and was pierced through the chest, similarly shattering into fragments and leaving the field.
Extreme one-for-one exchange.
"Oh, this insect." Kaiba mocked, "It indeed fits the description of a vermin-type monster."
"Don't underestimate the power of insects, President Kaiba." Luca said gloomily, "Insects are terrifying creatures, small in size but often capable of unleashing strength several times their body size.
Even powerful beasts can easily be plotted against and taken down by insects."
"Is that so? Then let's see if your insect succeeded in its plot." Kaiba smirked coldly in return.
Luca: "Your monster was indeed taken down by the Cannibal Worm, what are you saying... Nani!?"
He widened his eyes, shocked to see a purple dragon swirling on Kaiba's field, roaring ferociously at him through the empty front field!
"Why?" Luca frowned, "This dragon is..."
[Otherworld's Thorny Purple Dragon, Attack Power 2200]
"The effect of Otherworld's Thorny Purple Dragon. If a monster on your field is destroyed by battle or effect and sent to the graveyard, you can Special Summon this card from your hand."
Kaiba declared.
"A true duelist is always one step ahead, even minor tricks like this are within my formation! Otherworld's Thorny Purple Dragon, direct attack!"
As the impact materialized visually, it felt almost like being struck chest-first with a heavy flying hammer. Luca felt as if he was about to fly away, his chest churning with blood and energy, almost ready to spit out blood.
[Luca, LP 4000→LP 1800]
"Set two cards, end turn."
Kaiba set two cards in his backfield, expressionless.
"So-called New Doma Swordsman, is this all you can manage? You're far below the previous standard... I even had a bit of expectation."
Luca caught his breath, stood up, and patted the dust off his clothes.
"As expected of Seto Kaiba, impressive... hehe, but to be underestimated so easily, it's truly frustrating.
Then, let President Kaiba feel... the true strength of the Three Musketeers."
Luca announced seriously.
"My turn, draw."
He revealed a card in his hand.
"Normal Summon 'Zex Alien Insect'."
A Monster Card emerged on the field, and a blob of sticky green fluid slowly flowed out, as if coated with a strange silver edge by moonlight, constantly wriggling and deforming, struggling as if alive, until it condensed into a weird entity.
Some kind of four-headed sea star, with a core like a deep black hole, squirming like a worm.
[Zex Alien Insect, Attack Power 1800]
"Alien insect?"
Kaiba showed a bit of interest.
Though Alien Insect series cards are occasionally seen on the market, sets of cards in a complete system are relatively rare.
But considering the strength and background of the Doma Swordsmen organization, having any card deck isn't surprising.
"Uh, what a disgusting monster." Keihei frowned.
"Ha, it's truly a pity to be unable to comprehend the beauty of Alien Insects."
Luca chuckled, but then narrowed his eyes.
"But that's alright; I'll soon make you understand... the beauty and power of Alien Insects."