I was talking about ordinary human Duelists. Of course, those people are not worthy of possessing the Kashtira archetype!
"But is Brother You Ye an ordinary human Duelist? He is the strongest human Duelist in history! Someone like him is naturally qualified to command the Kashtira!"
Kashtira Arise-Heart answered confidently, without the slightest trace of embarrassment.
Seeing his shamelessly enthusiastic attitude, You Ye could only smile helplessly and said:
"If you want to know more applications of the Kashtira archetype, just ask Kashtira Fenrir. Aside from the 'entertainment' playstyle I just showed, I've already taught him all the standard and competitive combo routes."
"My lord… I probably can't stay much longer."
Kashtira Fenrir spoke awkwardly. It wasn't that he didn't want to explain—rather, the human world was already rejecting him. In one or two minutes at most, he would be forcibly returned to the Sixth World.
You Ye, as the summoner, also sensed Fenrir's imminent return. The next summon would take at least a full day.
He could forcibly keep Fenrir here a little longer, but the price would be Merlo returning to the Pearl World instead.
Just as You Ye was about to say he'd explain things to Riseheart himself later, Riseheart—now fully separated from Arise-Heart—spoke up:
"It's fine. I was planning to return to the Diablosis World anyway. At my speed, one day is enough to get back."
"Alright."
You Ye understood that Riseheart was giving him an out and accepted. His impression of Riseheart improved considerably.
Riseheart might have spoken harshly earlier, but You Ye didn't take it to heart. After all, Kashtira—including Fenrir—were all hot-blooded extremists. Earlier, You Ye had been their enemy; polite words would have been a stranger.
Of course, if Riseheart kept that attitude now, You Ye would definitely remind him who the real boss was.
At that moment, Wang Cheng collected the purple card from the ground.
As soon as the card disappeared, dozens of people reappeared nearby. At the front were Zhao Jingqing and Tian Nan.
The moment they saw You Ye and the others—especially Sheng Ning, Wang Cheng, and Riseheart standing calmly beside You Ye—both Tian Nan and Zhao Jingqing instantly understood that the Kashtira incident was over.
They both let out quiet sighs of relief.
They had been preparing for the worst—evacuating the entire city if You Ye lost.
Thankfully, that plan was no longer necessary.
"You Ye, thank you so much for today."
Tian Nan and Zhao Jingqing bowed slightly at the same time. Behind them, aside from one person behind Tian Nan who curiously observed You Ye, everyone else bowed in silence.
If an eastern city had truly been occupied by spirits, both the Eastern Duel Association and the Eastern Inspectorate would have been held fully accountable.
"It's nothing. I had my own motives, too."
You Ye smiled lightly.
That was the truth—his real goal had been obtaining the Kashtira archetype.
"Motives aside, your contribution to Hangzhou will be reported to headquarters. We'll apply for the rewards you deserve," Tian Nan said solemnly.
"I'll do the same," Zhao Jingqing added.
"Alright."
At this point, refusing would have been impolite.
"Before that," You Ye continued, looking at Zhao Jingqing, "do you have some time?"
"Yes. What do you need?"
"It's not that. Aren't you planning to challenge King Rank soon? I can give you a deck-strengthening idea."
"…A strengthening idea?"
"Yes. There's an archetype that fits Labrynth extremely well. I'll demonstrate how to use it. It won't make Labrynth absurdly broken, but it'll give you more flexibility and much stronger resistance."
Zhao Jingqing's expression immediately brightened.
"If this really helps Labrynth evolve further, King Rank won't be a gamble anymore."
"You're welcome. If there's anything I can help with later—so long as it doesn't violate Association rules—I won't refuse."
You Ye then glanced at Riseheart.
"You didn't damage any facilities here, right?"
"No," Riseheart replied seriously. "Brother, I capture slaves to work in the Diablosis World—not destroy human cities."
"…Alright."
You Ye then turned to Wang Cheng.
"Director Wang, could you lead the way? I'll borrow the Inspectorate's equipment and demonstrate a duel."
Zhao Jingqing looked eager, though she hesitated briefly after glancing at Riseheart.
At that moment, Tian Nan spoke up:
"Silver Princess, go ahead. If even this needs Duel Association intervention, our Inspectorate would be a joke."
"I'll also compile the Kashtira report and send it to you. No need to worry."
After a moment's hesitation, Zhao Jingqing nodded.
"Alright."
Inspectorate — Master Duel Room
Only You Ye, Riseheart, Merlo the Mermaid, Muning, and Zhao Jingqing remained.
After leading them there, Wang Cheng quietly left.
"May I ask, senior—this strengthening you mentioned—is it an archetype?"
"Yes. The Unchained archetype. Ever heard of it?"
"…No."
Zhao Jingqing frowned slightly and shook her head.
"Then you'll want to look it up later. For now, let's use Master Duel and see the difference between Unchained Labrynth and traditional Labrynth."
"You'd better use Bond mechanics, or this duel would be pretty boring."
"Alright."
Duel Start
You Ye (8000 LP) vs Zhao Jingqing (8000 LP)
You Ye, chose to go first. Both players drew five cards.
After glancing at his hand, You Ye immediately began.
"I activate the effect of Ariane the Labrynth Servant from my hand. During my Main Phase, I send this card to the GY to either Special Summon a 'Labrynth' monster from my hand, or Set a Normal Trap that can be activated this turn."
Before he finished, Zhao Jingqing responded instantly:
"Chain 2. I activate Lovely Labrynth of the Silver Castle from my hand and Special Summon her in Defense Position."
You Ye followed immediately:
"Chain 3. I also Special Summon Lovely Labrynth of the Silver Castle from my hand."
"Chain 4. I activate Labrynth Stove Torbie, discarding Transaction Rollback to Set Big Welcome Labrynth from my Deck."
Zhao Jingqing paused—but did not chain further.
Chain resolves:
C4: Stove Torbie sets Big Welcome Labrynth
C3: You Ye's Lovely Labrynth Special Summons
C2: Zhao Jingqing's Lovely Labrynth Special Summons
C1: Ariane sets Infinite Impermanence
The turn priority shifted to Zhao Jingqing.
You Ye instantly realized—she had deliberately waited for this timing.
Interesting.
Compared to traditional Labrynth, Unchained Labrynth was far more flexible, with much better resource recursion. As long as he didn't get OTK'd, traditional Labrynth had no real chance.
Zhao Jingqing began her counterplay.
"I activate Ariane the Labrynth Servant, sending her to the GY to Special Summon Arianna the Labrynth Servant."
"Arianna's effect activates—"
"Chain 2. Infinite Impermanence, targeting Arianna. Her effects are negated."
Zhao Jingqing smiled.
"Chain 3. Lovely Labrynth's effect—when a Normal Trap is activated, I Set another Normal Trap from my Deck."
"Chain 4. Ariane's GY effect. I Special Summon her."
"Chain 5. I also activate Ariane's GY effect."
No further chains.
Resolution:
C5: Zhao Jingqing's Ariane Special Summons
C4: You Ye's Ariane Special Summons
C3: Zhao Jingqing sets Big Welcome Labrynth
C2: Arianna is negated
C1: Arianna's effect fails
"I use Ariane and Lovely Labrynth as Link Materials—Link Summon Unchained Soul of Yama!"
A horned demon woman in crimson robes appeared.
Zhao Jingqing's expression sharpened.
A Fiend-type Link monster… Link-2… a bridge piece.
You Ye continued.
"Yama's effect. I add Unchained Soul Sharvara from my Deck to my hand."
"I activate Sharvara's effect from hand—during either Main Phase, I target a face-down card or Fiend monster I control, destroy it, and Special Summon Sharvara."
"I destroy Big Welcome Labrynth."
A crimson hellhound appeared.
Zhao Jingqing's eyes lit up.
Both players' Main Phase? This dodges Ash, dodges Imperm…
"And all Labrynth monsters are Fiends anyway."
You Ye continued seamlessly.
"I Link Sharvara and Yama—Link Summon Unchained Soul of Anguish."
"Sharvara's second effect triggers. When sent to the GY, I set Unchained Soul Disaster."
"Anguish's effect—target your Arianna. Using only her and Anguish, I Link Summon Unchained Abomination!"
The massive chained black hellhound descended.
Zhao Jingqing's heart raced.
This fits Labrynth far too well…
Then—
"I activate Transaction Rollback from my GY, paying half my LP."
"I copy Big Welcome Labrynth, Special Summon Arianna, then return her to hand."
"Stove Torbie's GY effect activates. I Special Summon him."
"I Normal Summon Arianna—attempting to search."
"Chain 2. Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring. Negate."
You, Ye, nodded calmly.
"I activate Big Welcome Labrynth's GY effect, returning Arianna."
"I end my turn."
End Phase—
"Unchained Abomination's effect—destroy one card. I destroy your Set Big Welcome Labrynth."
Zhao Jingqing activated its GY effect, bouncing Unchained Abomination back to the Extra Deck.
She looked at the field and the hand.
This Unchained archetype… terrifying.
What era is this… and I'm still playing traditional Labrynth?