"Since when did you start noticing?"
"Iwao" asked casually.
"It's been a while." Yugen replied indifferently, "One of my spirits is very sensitive to the scent of 'Orichalcos.'"
As he spoke, the phantom of the Chaos Warrior drifted beside him, hand on the sword hilt, cautiously observing the opposing side.
"I see... Chaos Warrior, huh? Tsk, I told you we shouldn't have let him get away back then, such a troublesome fellow."
"Iwao" muttered, before tearing off his disguise.
The tall, stout figure vanished in an instant, shrinking down to reveal a slender man's form after removing the height enhancements.
The Three Musketeers of New Doma, Luca.
"Let me guess, from the moment we first met, it's been you all along, right?" Yugen said, "Where's the real Iwao then?"
"What do you think?"
Luca shrugged.
"Since I replaced him, naturally I can't risk him coming out to ruin my plans, right?"
He said, smiling, and took out a card from his coat.
It was the Sealing Card of the Orichalcos Barrier. In duels activated with the barrier, those who lose with their soul extracted are sealed on such cards.
And as he showed it, the one sealed on the card was none other than the original Iwao.
"I see." Yugen nodded, "But what's the purpose of a swordsman from Doma sneaking into a group of refugees like that?"
"Well, mainly to find that guy you just took out. I thought he might be hiding among those survivors."
Luca spoke casually.
"Tragodia is indeed a rare and powerful monster, useful to the organization.
Additionally, I wanted to search for the legendary duelist..."
"... Joey Wheeler, is it?" Yugen asked.
"Yes." Luca shrugged, "Too bad, I couldn't find anything in the end. He's quite sought after, many people are looking for him..."
Pausing, he chuckled softly.
"Of course, encountering you was an unexpected surprise. I can feel you're special, a unique dueling style, yet as strong as any top-level expert. Plus, that inexplicable confidence you seem to have at all times..."
He squinted, smiling.
"You're so sure I'm the enemy, didn't hesitate to lock me up with those zombies? Haven't you considered, even if there's only a one-in-ten chance, that you might have judged incorrectly?"
"No need." Yugen shrugged, glancing at the Chaos Warrior beside him, "A duelist must simply trust their monster. If you can't even do that, how can you step onto the battlefield?"
"Hahaha, makes sense. I'm starting to like you a bit."
Luca licked his lips, simultaneously unfolding his Duel Disc.
"What a shame, I still have to take you down. No choice, our standings are different, and you happen to have what we want?"
Yugen said nothing more, also unfolding his Duel Disc.
"Duel!" x2
[Yugen, LP 4000]
[Luca, LP 4000]
"First turn is mine, draw card."
Luca drew a card, then squinted.
"Ha, right at the start it's this card... Looks like even if I wanted to hold back, the divine won't allow it.
Activate Field Spell 'Orichalcos Barrier'!"
The barrier is activated, green light shooting skyward. The hexagram opens beneath their feet, also appearing on his forehead. Luca lets out a roar, his whole body seemingly exploding with green flames, his aura multiplying inexplicably.
"Only the victor can leave this barrier, I believe I don't need to explain that much." Luca said, "Next, activate Magic Card 'Handwriting Erasure'!
Both sides discard all cards in hand, then draw the same number."
Yugen remained silent, glanced at his hand cards, quickly sending them to the graveyard, then drew again.
"Then, place one monster in Face-down Defense Position on the field." Luca said, "And set one card in the rear. Turn ends."
Yugen: "My turn, draw card."
Thanks to having the president scouting ahead, he already knew this person primarily uses alien insects in the card deck. Therefore, he had to guard against the possibility of the face-down monster having dangerous flip effects.
But no worries.
Yugen quickly glanced at the newly drawn hand cards.
He had a plan.
"Activate Magic Card 'Dark Temptation.'" Yugen said, "Draw two cards from the card deck, then banish one Dark Attribute monster from the game."
He drew two cards, then revealed one from his hand.
"Banish Dark Attribute monster 'Interdimensional Scout' from the game."
The white spherical scout floated above him, the black vortex of the Other Dimension opened, absorbing the scout, leaving no trace.
"Next, banish the Magic Card 'Shield Shattering,' discarded by your 'Handwriting Erasure' last turn, from the graveyard."
The image of the Magic Card floated, also absorbed into the Other Dimension.
"Special Summon 'Magic Attacker'!"
[Magic Attacker, Attack Power 600]
"Magic Attacker can be Special Summoned from the hand by banishing one Magic Card in the graveyard." Yugen said, "Then use 'Magic Attacker' as a tribute, Upper-level Summon!
Let that power shake the earth, summon forth the Earth Emperor —
— Earth Emperor Granmat!"
Golden light shot from the earth, forming a glowing gigantic crevice. A dazzling golden figure, seemingly armored of pure gold, emerged. The enormous form towered like a mountain growing from the earth, surrounded by thick smoke.
[Earth Emperor Granmat, Attack Power 2400]
Luca's expression shifted slightly: "Summoning an Emperor right off? What's this guy's effect..."
"Earth Emperor Granmat can destroy one face-down card on the field upon successful summoning." Yugen said, "Destroy the face-down defense-covered monster."
The Earth Emperor swung a powerful punch, the crevice spreading across the field with explosive energy waves. The face-down monster on Luca's field revealed its true form.
Sure enough, a Sub-Akang Alien Insect.
Upon flipping, it would return an opponent's monster on the field to the owner's hand. If the Emperor charged in and ate that bounce, it would immediately result in losing the resources of an Upper-level Monster.
However, in the face of the Earth's power, the Sub-Akang Alien Insect had no chance to flip and was directly blasted to pieces.
"Direct attack by Earth Emperor Granmat." Yugen waved his hand.
The Emperor's massive fist crashed down like a tidal wave. The tangible impact slammed right into Luca's face, a muffled grunt escaped, his back slammed heavily into the transparent barrier behind him, feeling the heat and blood churn in his chest.
[Luca, LP 4000→LP 1600]
Half-kneeling, he held his chest, taking a while to quell the disturbance caused by the Emperor's heavy strike.
"Tsk, just happens to counter flip abilities with the Earth Emperor... no, that Magic Card 'Shield Shattering' just banished from the grave, though discarded by 'Handwriting Erasure,' also counters flip abilities.
I see, adjustments were made after gaining intel related to me from Seto Kaiba?"
He stood, wiped the blood from his mouth, laughed gently, nonchalantly.
"Seems I underestimated you a bit."