It didn't take long after Yugen arrived for him to realize something. He had been projected into this world through the power of the Link System, and as a result, he could carry over some of the items his virtual avatar possessed.
For instance, his Duel Disk.
He extended his arm, and a stream of pale blue data converged around his left forearm. In an instant, it materialized into the high-tech Duel Disk he used within the Link System.
None of the spirits seemed to find the act of conjuring equipment out of thin air strange. At most, they were curious about its sleek, technological design. This was likely because spirits usually had their own Duel Disks grow out of their bodies whenever it was time to play cards anyway.
"Duel!" the two shouted in unison.
[Yugen: 4000 LP]
[Four-eyed Demon: 4000 LP]
"I'll take the first move. Draw!"
Yugen drew his card and, without wasting words, pulled five cards from his hand in one go.
"I set one monster in defense position and set four cards in the backrow. I end my turn."
He started with a "five-set" opening, passing his first turn so quickly and without hesitation that his opponent almost wondered if he had gone second instead.
If it had been the tormented students of Duel Academy standing there, they would already be breaking out in a cold sweat. However, the simple demons of this other world clearly lacked that level of intuition.
"Hmph, consolidating your defense so cautiously?" the lead demon sneered. "I'll show you soon enough in a place like this, and before me, defense is useless!"
Yugen mused to himself. It felt like he had heard variations of that line several times since coming to this world. Usually, by the time the game was over, the opponent's worldview had undergone a significant shift.
"Just a heads-up," the lead demon said. "Inside The Bunker, the truth is eternal: the strong rule the weak. While killing other prisoners isn't allowed, any other friction is settled by our internal rules."
He narrowed his eyes and laughed coldly.
"For us Duelists, a win or loss doesn't just determine who makes the rules. The loser must also hand over any single card designated by the winner. That is the rule. Do you understand?"
Yugen frowned.
What? Only one card per game?
How many matches would you have to play to win an entire deck at that rate? That's way too slow...
Yugen's first thought was that their rules were fundamentally flawed.
But it didn't matter. Once he finished this game and became the one making the rules, he would correct them.
"My turn, draw!"
The Four-eyed Demon scanned his hand and curled his lip into a smirk.
"Hmph, with this starting hand, I can launch the perfect offensive immediately. I activate"
"Not so fast. We're still in the Standby Phase," Yugen interrupted with a snap of his fingers.
"I activate my trap card Trap Dustshoot! This can only be activated when my opponent has four or more cards in their hand. I get to look at your hand and choose one monster card to return to your deck."
Checking your hand?
The Four-eyed Demon grimaced. "You're looking at my hand?"
Images of the six cards in his hand materialized before Yugen. He swept his gaze over them quickly. Just as the demon's appearance suggested, it was a Fiend-themed deck, though its power level seemed average at best.
Yugen casually pointed at one of the monsters.
"Return Intercept Fiend to the deck."
Intercept Fiend was a Level 4 monster with 1400 ATK and a burn effect that dealt 500 damage when the opponent declared an attack.
"Tch, annoying brat," the demon spat. The designated card dissolved into a dark current and flew back into his deck.
"But did you think a petty trick like that would save your life? Useless! From my hand, I activate"
"Hold on, the Standby Phase isn't over yet."
Yugen cut off his declaration once more.
"I activate my set card, the Quick-Play Spell Cold Feet!
During this turn, I cannot use the effects of any Spells or Traps, I cannot activate any Spells or Traps, and I cannot set any cards on the field."
As the words fell, the magic took hold. A violent storm of freezing air erupted on Yugen's side of the field. His Spell and Trap Zone was instantly covered in a thick layer of frost, looking as though it had been completely sealed.
The Four-eyed Demon stared, baffled. "???"
It wasn't just the lead demon; even his subordinates were stunned.
What kind of meaningless card is that?
He's sealing his own meridians and sabotaging his own moves? Isn't that just suicide?
The demon frowned. "Kid, are you looking down on me?"
"I wouldn't dream of it," Yugen replied with a smile. "I'm actually being quite cautious. After all, it would be troublesome if you started your offensive. So, just to be safe..."
He chained his next face-down card.
"Trap card Mystical Refpanel!"
A female spirit emerged on the field, holding a mirror in both hands. The image of Cold Feet was reflected in the glass, appearing trapped within.
"Mystical Refpanel can redirect the effect of a Spell card that targets a single player to the other player instead."
The Four-eyed Demon paused to think.
Wait, things are getting messy. Let me think...
Cold Feet forces the player who activated it to be unable to use or set Spells and Traps for the rest of the turn.
Mystical Refpanel transfers a Spell effect targeting one player to the other.
Since there are only two people in this duel, the other player is...
The demon blinked his four eyes. In the hovering mirror, he could see his own bewildered reflection perfectly.
He looked like a clown.
Nani!? There are combos like this!?
"The effect of Mystical Refpanel has transferred the target of Cold Feet to you. Therefore, during this turn, you cannot activate Spell or Trap cards, nor can you set any cards on the field," Yugen said cheerfully. He paused before adding, "Don't mention it."
The demon felt a sudden, violent urge to reach out and tear that smiling face apart.
Don't mention it!? I'll give you "don't mention it," you bastard!
As the realization of what had just happened dawned on the demon subordinates, their mouths fell open. Their expressions became increasingly absurd.
Ah... this...
The boss started with six cards. Before he could even play, one of his two monsters was forcibly deported, and the four Spells and Traps left in his hand are now rotting because he can't use them.
And this is still the boss's first turn! His turn hasn't even officially started yet!
The demons looked at one another. Even they felt that this human's dueling style was... a bit much.
"Curse you... but I still have one last card I can use!"
With his four Spells and Traps completely sealed, the Four-eyed Demon gritted his teeth and pulled the only playable card left in his hand.
"I normal summon Archfiend Soldier!"
[Archfiend Soldier: 1900 ATK]
A Level 4 with 1900 ATK was quite a formidable card. Yugen likely hadn't picked it with Trap Dustshoot because it was a Vanilla monster, whereas the other one had a special ability to deal effect damage.
But it didn't matter. Archfiend Soldier's excellent stats were enough
"I open my set card Bottomless Trap Hole." Yugen calmly flipped a card in his backrow. "When the opponent summons a monster with 1500 or more ATK, it is destroyed and banished from the game."
Archfiend Soldier was "boxed" the moment he hit the field. He stumbled into a void and vanished into the far side of a different dimension.
The Four-eyed Demon: "..."
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