[Saiou, LP 4000 → LP 3000]
A thousand Life Points in exchange, the soldiers from the deep pits on either side soared through the air, transforming into fading light dots. A black storm swept through, bringing a twisted creature with a protruding eyeball and red tentacles onto the field!
[Arcana Force XV - The Fiend, Attack Power 2500]
Ranked fifteenth among the Arcana Force, the Arcana Fiend has not yet been realized as a Physical Card.
The moment it was summoned, the Monster Card appeared synchronously above the indescribable creature's head, mechanically spinning.
"Arcana Force XV - The Fiend, upon being summoned, randomly stops in either the Upright or Reversed position, gaining different effects," Saiou announced, "The Upright position is beneficial to my side, while the Reversed position is a drawback!"
Jonouchi widened his eyes, staring at the spinning card.
Honestly, Saiou just hit two Uprights with the Holy Chalice; getting a third Upright in a row would be ridiculous...
"Of course, fate has already been decided! Therefore, the Fiend naturally...
...stops in the Upright position!"
The spinning Monster Card stopped at the Upright position.
Ha!?
Jonouchi raised an eyebrow.
What the hell, is this guy cheating? How come there are so many Uprights?
"Hahaha! Yes, this feeling, just like this! The power of destiny is still within my grasp!" Saiou laughed, "Battle!
Arcana Force XV - The Fiend, attack 'Red-Eyes Alternative Black Dragon'! Devil Disaster!!"
Simultaneously, he swung his hand.
"At this moment, the Fiend's Upright effect! When it attacks, it can choose a Monster on the field to directly Destroy. However, if the destruction fails, the Fiend itself must be destroyed.
I will Destroy 'Red-Eyes Alternative Black Dragon'!"
Countless tentacles pierced through the Red-Eyes Alternative's body, and the black dragon was blown to bits with a heartbreaking screech.
"It's not over yet!" Saiou continued, "Due to this effect, the controller of the Destroyed Monster must take 500 points of damage!"
The tentacles piercing the black dragon continued through Jonouchi, causing pain far beyond what a regular duel could compare to.
Of course, the battle-hardened Jonouchi was no stranger to such unconventional duels.
[Jonouchi, LP 4000 → LP 3500]
"The troublesome obstacle has been cleared, so the Fiend's attack continues, direct..."
"Hold on." Jonouchi interrupted, shouting, "Red-Eyes Alternative Black Dragon's effect! When Red-Eyes Alternative is Destroyed by battle or opponent's effect, a Level 7 or lower 'Red-Eyes' Monster other than 'Red-Eyes Alternative Black Dragon' can be Special Summoned from our Graveyard!"
A card popped from the graveyard, transforming into a fire dragon wrapped in flames in Jonouchi's hand and then heavily slammed into the ground, revealing the noble posture of the black dragon at the center of the scattered flames!
"Red-Eyes Black Dragon, Summon!!"
[Red-Eyes Black Dragon, Attack Power 2400]
Saiou remarked, "As for Attack Power, the Fiend is still higher."
"However, Red-Eyes Alternative Black Dragon has a subsequent effect," Jonouchi smiled, "Monsters Special Summoned through Alternative's effect will have their original Attack Power doubled if they are Red-Eyes Black Dragon!"
[Red-Eyes Black Dragon, Attack Power 2400 → Attack Power 4800]
"Attack Power of 4800, huh? Then the attack is canceled, my battle is over." Saiou said calmly, drawing another card, "Then I'll activate the Magic Card 'Sword of X.' (Anime Card)
A Magic Card appeared overhead once more, spinning as if drawn by the threads of fate.
"Sword of X gains different effects based on its Upright or Reversed position," Saiou said, "Upright destroys all opponent's Monsters on the field.
But if Reversed, all Monsters on my field must be destroyed."
Jonouchi: "!"
What the f**k, playing this intensely?
Speaking of which, what's the deal with this guy? Is he my fan or something? Why does his Card Deck have all these coin-flipping things?
Jonouchi never imagined that he had purged all gambling cards from his Card Deck, yet he still had to gamble while playing.
Even if he decided to retire, he couldn't stop the opponent from bringing coins and dice...
Yet, even in retirement, Jonouchi has absolute confidence in his luck. To be honest, someone like Saiou who can hit three Uprights in a row in front of Jonouchi is an exceedingly rare occurrence.
Could you really randomly get a fourth Upright for me?
I, Jonouchi, seriously don't believe in this bad luck today!
The Magic Card stopped spinning.
Another Upright.
Jonouchi: "..."
"Hahaha, Upright effect!" Saiou laughed, "Destroy all opponent's Monsters on the field!"
In the sky, cold lights flickered, countless swords dragging silver light descended from the heavens! Red-Eyes Black Dragon was instantly impaled by thousands of swords, having nearly 5000 Attack Power but no chance to exert it, destroyed into pieces.
Jonouchi: "..."
Hey! Referee, there's cheating going on here, are you gonna do something?
Jonouchi now thinks he might indeed understand how the opponent felt when they accused him of cheating back in the day...
Unexpectedly, the Heavenly Dao turns, and Jonouchi also hits a stroke of bad luck...
"I set three cards face-down, turn over," Saiou smiled, "Alright, Jonouchi Katsuya, it's your turn. Let me see how far a Legendary Duelist can go against destiny!"
Jonouchi glared unhappily at him.
"Tch, playing tough... My turn, draw."
Seeing the card drawn into his hand, Jonouchi's eyes lit up.
Want to play coins and dice with me, Jonouchi? Fine! I'll go all out!
"I summon 'Time Wizard'!"
A small elderly magician with a clock-like design jumped onto the field, trailing a long cloak.
"..."
Here's a joke: "Golden Basin Wash Hands."
Alright, Jonouchi indeed kicked almost all gambling cards out of his Card Deck, but Time Wizard is different. After all, it's his Soul Card and the Friendship Card given by Yugi when he was still a rookie, and can never be replaced.
Yet in this situation, it's just perfect.
Jonouchi took a deep breath: "Let's shatter your so-called destiny with me, Jonouchi Darnel! I activate the effect of 'Time Wizard'!
Time Wheel!"
Time Wizard raised the Magic Staff in his hand, the clock-like wheel on it began spinning rapidly.
"Time Wheel's magic has a fifty percent chance to destroy all opponent's Monsters on the field; but also has a fifty percent chance to destroy all monsters on one's own field and suffer damage equal to half the combined Attack Power values of the destroyed Monsters!"
Saiou crossed his arms and sneered: "Oh, not avoiding fate, but rather using chance to attack me head-on?"
"Shut up and watch, my luck!" Jonouchi shouted, "Stop!"
Time Wheel stopped.
The pointer quickly slowed down, inching to the boundary between the strike zone and skull zone, swaying left and right, as if the Goddess of Fortune was in deep conflict over which side to help.
Then...
...then it stopped at the skull.
Jonouchi: Nani!!??
"Hahaha!" Saiou laughed, "Time Magic activation failed, according to the backlash, your 'Time Wizard' must destroy itself, and you must also suffer damage equal to half that Attack Power value!"
[Jonouchi, LP 3500 → LP 3250]
Watching Time Wizard self-destruct and disappear, Jonouchi was dumbfounded.
Five coin flips in a row, all hits?
Is this guy the son of the Goddess of Fortune or what? He's called the Dice War God, but never acted this arrogantly!
Not afraid of getting banned with such cheats?
Meanwhile, Jonouchi started doubting himself.
Could the problem be with him?
Is it because he decided not to touch gambling cards, causing the Goddess of Fortune to feel abandoned and seek revenge?