The chatter in the stands rose and fell in waves, but Shota's expression only grew uglier by the second.
He glanced at the thickness of his Deck, then at the cards in his hand. In the end, he gritted his teeth and slammed two cards into his back row.
"A powerful monster always comes with risks! I don't believe your Rhongomyniad can keep locking me down forever!"
"I set two cards. E-End my turn!"
As the command registered, the two set cards appeared—one in his back row, one in his monster zone—like the last, desperate line of defense.
Hearing that, Yusaku smiled faintly, absolute confidence in his voice. "No need to keep you locked down. Because this duel is about to end."
"In the End Phase of your turn—" Yusaku's voice jumped sharply as he swung his right hand. "I flip my set cards!"
In an instant, three Quick-Play Spell Cards in his back row flipped face-up at the same time, and dazzling golden light flooded the arena.
"I activate Runick Slumber! Chain Runick Smiting Storm! Chain again—Runick Golden Droplet!"
"First—Runick Golden Droplet!" Yusaku's voice boomed through the stadium. "My opponent draws 1 card. Then, banish the top 4 cards of my opponent's Deck!"
Shota's face twisted as he reluctantly drew a card.
But the moment he finished, the top four cards of his Deck streamed into the banished zone like they were being poured out. The Deck counter jumped—19.
"Next—Runick Smiting Storm!" Yusaku continued without the slightest pause. "Banish cards from the top of my opponent's Deck equal to the number of cards they control! You have 2 cards on your field, so I banish the top 2 cards of your Deck!"
Two more cards turned to streaks of light and vanished into the banished zone. The counter dropped—17.
"Then—Runick Slumber!"
"Target 1 face-up monster on the field. This turn, that monster can't be destroyed by battle or card effects once, and it can't attack. Then, banish the top 3 cards of my opponent's Deck!"
"I target my Naturia Bamboo Shoot!" Yusaku pointed precisely at the lush green monster. "It gains one-time protection from destruction, and it can't attack. Then, banish the top three cards of your Deck!"
The moment the command landed, the Duel Disk's processing sequence kicked in automatically. The top three cards of Shota's Deck flew into the banished zone again. The counter dropped—14.
"Still not done!" Yusaku's voice carried a hint of excitement as it rang out again. "Right now—activate the effect of my Continuous Spell Runick Allure! And I chain the effect of my Field Spell Runick Fountain!"
"W-What?!" Shota cried out, disbelief written all over his face. "Your Field Spell can activate on my turn?!"
Yusaku shot him a glance, flat as ever. "Didn't I tell you? As long as I activate a 'Runick' Quick-Play Spell, I can use it. A king doesn't wait for your turn."
"By Runick Fountain's effect," Yusaku declared, "I place Runick Slumber, Runick Smiting Storm, and Runick Golden Droplet from my GY on the bottom of my Deck—then I draw 3 cards!"
"And now—Runick Allure! Each time either player activates a Quick-Play Spell, it triggers: banish the top card of my opponent's Deck. I activated three Quick-Play Spells, so banish the top 3 cards of your Deck!"
Three more cards vanished into the banished zone.
Shota's Deck count fell to 11.
"Not done yet." Yusaku flipped his fingers and revealed two Quick-Play Spells he'd just drawn. "Runick Fountain has another clause—while it's in my Field Zone, I can activate 'Runick' Quick-Play Spells from my hand during my opponent's turn."
"My Runick Fountain is on the field, so I activate Runick Destruction! Chain Runick Tip!"
"First—Runick Tip!" Yusaku's voice was sharp and clear. "I add 1 'Runick' card from my Deck to my hand, except itself—then I banish the top card of your Deck! I add Runick Slumber to my hand! Then I banish the top card of your Deck!"
The Duel Disk's search sequence activated. A Runick Slumber was fetched cleanly into Yusaku's hand.
At the same time, the top card of Shota's Deck flew into the banished zone.
Deck count—10.
"Then—Runick Destruction!"
"Target 1 Spell/Trap on my opponent's field; destroy it. Then banish the top 4 cards of my opponent's Deck!"
"I target your only set card!" Yusaku's finger stabbed toward Shota's back row. "Destroy it—then banish the top four cards of your Deck!"
A crimson blade of energy shot out from Yusaku's field and split the set card cleanly. It shattered and dissolved into the air.
At the same time, four more cards from the top of Shota's Deck were banished.
Deck count—6.
"Finally—Runick Allure!" Yusaku shouted. "I activated two more Quick-Play Spells, so banish the top 2 cards of your Deck!"
Two cards vanished in succession.
Deck count—4.
"Ah…!"
A collective gasp ripped through the stands as everyone stared at the counter on Shota's Duel Disk.
In less than a minute after Shota ended his turn, his Deck had been cut from 23 down to 4.
This wasn't a duel.
It was a one-sided execution.
Only now did everyone truly understand what Yusaku meant before the match when he said, "Normally, I won't use this Deck."
This Deck was vile.
A full 60-card Deck was being carved down to nothing in two turns. If it were a standard 40-card Deck, it would've been emptied on the spot.
At center field, Yusaku's eyes settled on Number 86: Heroic Champion – Rhongomyniad.
"Because you attempted to build a field," he said calmly, "Rhongomyniad's effect activates. I detach three Xyz Materials from this card."
Number 86: Heroic Champion – Rhongomyniad
Xyz Materials: 8 → 7
Seeing the light around Rhongomyniad dim slightly, Shota suddenly snapped his head up like he'd caught something.
"I get it!" he blurted. "Your monster's suppression effect is tied to its Xyz Materials! Once the materials drop to a certain point, the lockdown disappears!"
Yusaku looked at him, indifferent. "And? What does that change?"
"This duel is already over."
"My turn—draw!"
Yusaku drew a card, didn't even bother looking at it, and immediately slammed the Runick Slumber he'd just searched onto his Duel Disk.
"I activate Runick Slumber! I target Naturia Bamboo Shoot, give it one-time protection from destruction, and it can't attack! Then I banish the top 3 cards of your Deck!"
A transparent energy shield wrapped around Naturia Bamboo Shoot.
At the same time, the top three cards of Shota's Deck flashed into the banished zone.
"Next, I activate the effect of my Continuous Spell Runick Allure," Yusaku said flatly, looking straight at Shota's darkening face. "Banish the last card in your Deck."
With the command, the final remaining card in Shota's Deck drifted up… and disappeared into the banished zone.
After banishing it, Yusaku made no further moves.
"End my turn."
He folded his arms, watched Shota's face go paper-white, and let a faint smile curve his lips.
"Bye-bye."
The turn passed to Shota.
Almost at the exact same moment, Shota's Duel Disk shrieked with a piercing alarm.
Shota Mikawa, LP 8000 → 0
No cards left to draw. Duelist loses.
Even the referee's eyes seemed to seize up at the scene in front of him.
In all his years officiating, this was the first time he'd ever seen someone completely strip a 60-card Deck to zero and end the duel by decking out.
It was unheard of.
After a brief blank stare, Isono finally snapped back. He cleared his throat and announced loudly, voice trembling just slightly:
"Shota Mikawa loses due to having no cards left to draw. According to duel rules—this match is won by Yusaku!"
…
The moment the call landed, the entire arena fell into a short, stunned silence.
Then—an explosion of thunderous cheers.
Players in the stands pumped their fists and screamed Yusaku's name, while mercilessly mocking the Genius Academy duelist whose face had gone an ugly shade of green.
At center field, Isono looked from the expressionless Yusaku to the trembling Shota, then spoke.
"The Top 16 match is best-of-three. Yusaku has taken the first duel and is now at match point. You have ten minutes for a break—do you wish to rest before the second duel?"
Yusaku smiled lightly, unhurried. "I don't care. If Shota wants to rest, that's fine."
"Rest? Who the hell needs rest?!"
Shota jerked his head up, eyes blazing with unwilling fire. He yanked out a second Deck from inside his jacket and slammed it into his Duel Disk, his voice packed with clenched-teeth hatred.
"You only beat me because I didn't know your Deck! This time, I'm not losing! Enough talk—let's go!"
Yusaku calmly ejected his own Deck and slotted in another, his tone unchanged. "As you wish."
Seeing neither of them intended to rest, Isono nodded and stepped to the edge of the arena, passing the decision to the backstage staff.
Two seconds later, their exchange blasted through the stadium speakers.
"Everyone! Yusaku and Shota have declined the intermission and will begin the second duel immediately! Yusaku leads 1–0 and holds match point! Will Yusaku crush through and advance with unstoppable momentum—"
"—or will Shota strike back from the brink and tie the score?! Let's find out!"
The crowd's roar climbed even higher, shaking the air.
At center field, with both duelists ready, Isono lifted his arm and shouted:
"I declare—the second duel begins!"
The two of them called out at the same time—
"Duel!" "Monster King!"
Yusaku, LP 8000
Shota Mikawa, LP 8000
(End of Chapter)
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