Chapter 14: The Solitary Duel

Kajiki let out a long, weary sigh.
He was truly foolish—truly.
Having watched yesterday’s match, he had assumed that this underworld envoy would, like yesterday against Banjo, send his monsters to another dimension. He never expected this time the opponent would change tactics and retreat into isolation.
But why did this guy have so many different underworld strategies?
No straightforward duel tactics at all, it seemed.
Now Kajiki finally realized that his opponent was more beast than man. His Perfect Machine King on the field hadn’t attacked yet, but even if it did, it would be meaningless.
The effect of the Power of the Guardian didn’t say it only triggered once per turn. Even if he summoned five monsters at once to attack, it would only lead to a repetitive cycle of “placing indicator–removing indicator–battle destruction negated.”
So, helpless, he could only watch and end his turn.
Now it was You Xuan’s turn. Without much ado, You Xuan forwent summoning monsters and entered the battle phase. The Magic Attacker brazenly flew over the opponent’s front line, unleashing a barrage of attacks.
At the moment of attack, the effect of the Power of the Guardian triggered again, adding another magic indicator. The Magic Attacker’s attack rose back to 1100, delivering a critical hit of 1100 damage.
[Kajiki Makoto, LP 3400 → LP 2300]
“Set one card, then end my turn,” You Xuan said.
“Damn... It’s my turn now,” Kajiki muttered, feeling the pressure mounting.
He had to find a way to counter this damned combo, or he might literally be beaten to death by relentless attacks.
“Draw!”
Kajiki drew a card, and upon seeing it, he laughed wildly.
“Hahaha! A combo formed by complementary equipment and monster effects is indeed a beautiful tactic. But! My counter is even better!
I activate a Quick-Play Spell from my hand—Whirlwind! It can destroy one Spell or Trap card on the field. I will destroy the Equip Spell ‘Power of the Guardian’!”
A dark whirlwind swept through, shattering the magic on You Xuan’s back row into fragments. The golden shield on the Magic Attacker dissipated, and its attack dropped back to normal.
Kajiki had studied his opponent’s previous matches carefully. He had long noticed that You Xuan was a recluse, particularly obsessed with those devastating traps that ruin lives.
So his deck was packed with three copies of Whirlwind and one Big Storm, designed precisely to punish isolation tactics.
[Magic Attacker, ATK 1100 → ATK 600]
“Nice tactic, but that Spell itself is your weakness,” Kajiki said proudly. “Battle phase! Perfect Machine King, crush that disgusting little pest for me!”
The Machine King seemed just as pent-up as Kajiki, eagerly flying forward at the command, swinging its hammer to smash the loathsome creature to pieces.
“Flip a set card,” You Xuan snapped his fingers, and the back row sprang open.
“Continuous Trap—Super Gravity Net. All Level Four or higher monsters on both sides cannot attack.”
Kajiki: “...”
Damn it.
Kajiki felt as if ten thousand molten demons were stampeding through his mind. He had a Level Four and a Level Eight monster, and the Whirlwind he had just drawn had already been used to destroy the Power of the Guardian. This new card completely sealed his ability to attack.
But he still had an option!
“I Normal Summon ‘Dark Shooter’ in Defense Position.”
[Dark Shooter, DEF 1500]
“End of turn.”
“I see, so you have that trick too,” You Xuan said knowingly.
He remembered this card—it was used by Yuki Judai in the anime. In short, its effect allows destroying Spell or Trap cards on the opponent’s field in the next turn.
So as long as this card survived until the next turn, it could destroy You Xuan’s Super Gravity Net, lift the blockade, and launch an attack.
This was Kajiki’s adjustment for the match, his struggle as a living duelist against an underworld recluse.
But it didn’t matter.
“My turn, draw.” You Xuan drew a card and immediately without hesitation activated the Continuous Spell ‘Level Limit Area B’ from his hand.
As long as this card remained on the field, all Level Four or higher monsters on both sides... must be in Defense Position.
[Sergeant Mech, ATK 1600 → DEF 1800]
[Perfect Machine King, ATK 3700 → DEF 1500]
Kajiki spat blood.
Dude, where did you even get that?
Kajiki was truly shocked. He had never imagined someone could play so reclusively. This wasn’t a competition—it was social revenge.
Even if Dark Shooter’s effect triggered next turn, he could only destroy one Spell or Trap card. But now, whether he destroyed Super Gravity Net or Level Limit Area B, as long as one remained, he still couldn’t attack.
And he also noticed that Magic Attacker was Level Three—just below the Level Four boundary. So only he was prevented from attacking, while You Xuan could attack freely.
And it wasn’t over.
“Next, I summon ‘Alien Envoy’ in Attack Position.”
[Alien Envoy, ATK 700]
“This card’s effect is the same as Magic Attacker’s; it can attack directly,” You Xuan paused, smiling faintly. “By the way, Alien Envoy is also Level Three, so it is unaffected by Level Limit Area B and Super Gravity Net.”
Kajiki: “............”
He wanted to say no, that thing isn’t an Alien Envoy.
It’s an underworld envoy.
“Magic Attacker, Alien Envoy, attack directly!”
Two direct strikes in succession!
Perfect Machine King and Sergeant Mech watched helplessly as these two reclusive monsters flew past their heads, mercilessly pounding their master into the ground.
The monsters were angry but powerless...
[Kajiki Makoto, LP 2300 → LP 1000]
Kajiki said nothing, but veins bulged on his hand and forehead, his redness nearing 90%...
“Set one card, end turn.”
“My turn.”
Kajiki took a deep breath.
Stay calm, stay calm.
Just as the dojo master said, the more critical the moment, the less you can panic. The duel’s outcome is unknown until the very last second.
Believe in your deck, remember the daily card-drawing practice.
Now was the time to test his training.
Kajiki closed his eyes tightly and silently prayed.
Could he draw a Wind card?
“Draw!”
The next moment, Kajiki nearly jumped in place.
This draw was miraculous!
“I activate the Spell card ‘Big Storm’ from my hand!” Kajiki raised the card like a sacred relic. “Destroy all Spell and Trap cards on both sides of the field!”
Big Storm—the strongest field-clearing weapon, indiscriminately overturning the table.
“You actually drew Wind this turn...” You Xuan muttered to himself, “Even extras in the anime world seem to have godlike luck in drawing.”
But...
You Xuan snapped his fingers.
“Flip a set card. Counter Trap—Anubis’s Judgment.”
Kajiki was still laughing weirdly: “No way! Big Storm is the ultimate enemy of Spells and Traps—nothing can stand before it... Wait, what’s that?”
“Anubis’s Judgment can only be activated when the opponent activates a Spell card that destroys Spell or Trap cards on the field,” You Xuan calmly explained.
“Discard one card to negate and destroy that Spell card’s effect. Then choose one face-up monster on the opponent’s field; destroy it and inflict damage equal to its attack to the opponent.”
Kajiki’s eyes went blank.
Negate Big Storm’s activation, destroy a monster and inflict damage equal to its attack...
“...”
What!?
Stunned, the storm vanished under some invisible curse. Black mist spread across the field, taking the fierce form of the god Anubis, glaring at Kajiki’s side.
“By its effect, I will destroy your Perfect Machine King,” You Xuan waved his hand. “Take the attack power damage—3700 points.”
Anubis opened its mouth, exhaling a terrifying black breath. The Machine King’s body instantly melted away, and the fierce dark current engulfed Kajiki Makoto as well.
“Ughhh!!!”
The impact equivalent to 3700 damage sent Kajiki crashing to the ground. His eyes remained wide open as if unwilling to accept his fate.
As if to say, even if nailed into a coffin and buried in the earth, he would still cry out with a decaying voice—
“I have never seen such a ruthless avenger of society!”
[Kajiki Makoto, LP 1000 → LP 0]