Yugen narrowed his eyes, observing the newcomer.
"Bandit Keith?" he said, a little unsure.
"Ho ho, someone actually still recognizes me, the great one, now?"
The man took off his sunglasses, revealing an unsettling smirk.
It was him, indeed.
Bandit Keith, a minor antagonist in the early "Yu-Gi-Oh! DM" Duelist Kingdom arc. He was once a bounty hunter known as the "card expert" in America. During his peak, he was undefeated across America, hailed as the undisputed American Champion, a powerful and promising dueling star.
Until one day, he challenged Pegasus, the father of Duel Monsters. Pegasus didn't even duel him personally, only inviting a child to duel while he himself sat in the stands, chatting happily with Seto Kaiba. To his surprise, the child, using only strategies on a small piece of paper given by Pegasus, defeated Keith. His pride shattered, Keith embarked on a path of corruption and despair.
But that was old history from the early DM era; this person should have been out of the scene long ago.
Even after so many years, his attire was similar, but his appearance had changed quite a bit from before, which was why Yugen only confirmed his identity after the opponent admitted it himself.
However, this didn't explain why Bandit Keith would appear in the Spirit World.
"I can feel the power on you, an evil, devouring power." Mystical Elf looked at Keith warily. "You are one of the Evil God's pawns."
"Oh please, power is just power. What's evil or not evil about it?"
Bandit Keith put a cigarette in his mouth, took out a lighter, and flicked it on.
He exhaled a puff of smoke, then slowly spoke to Yugen: "Thanks to Yugi Muto and Katsuya Jonouchi, I once fell into the swamp of despair, but with the help of divine power, I have been reborn from the ashes.
Bandit Keith died a long time ago. All that remains now is the Swordsman chosen by God."
He paused, took another drag from his cigarette, and pointed a hand at the carved portrait behind Yugen.
"And now my mission is to come for it, the legendary warrior, that spirit's power, we're taking it. So, sorry kid, I'm afraid I can't let you leave here alive. But don't worry, you won't die immediately."
He puffed on his cigarette again, exhaling more smoke, then spat.
"To be able to come here, you must have some special qualities. Your soul should make good nourishment."
Bandit Keith threw his cigarette down, extinguishing it with his foot, then swiftly deployed his duel disk.
"Come on. No matter what, today only one of us can leave here."
"Thanks for the invite, but I'll pass."
Yugen took two steps back, stood firm in front of him, and similarly deployed his duel disk.
"You can keep the opportunity to be monster fodder for yourself."
"Duel!" x2
[Yugen, LP 4000]
[Bandit Keith, LP 4000]
"I'll go first, draw card." Bandit Keith said, "First, I activate 'Pot of Greed' from my hand to draw two cards from my Deck.
Next, I Set one monster in face-down Defense Position, then I set one more card, turn end."
Yugen: "My turn, draw card."
In his first turn, Keith only Set a monster and a card, making it impossible to discern his strategy.
In the original work, Keith appeared in the Duelist Kingdom arc, where everyone still used the "one-hit-one-hit" no-tribute summon system. It was a simple and brutal environment where even a Blue-Eyes White Dragon could dominate. Almost ten years have passed since then, so the matches from that era might not hold much reference value anymore.
Moreover, Keith now clearly seemed to have aligned himself with some other force, so it was hard to say what kind of deck he was using.
In any case, it was best to focus on his own duel first.
"I Normal Summon 'Summoner Monk' in Defense Position!"
[Summoner Monk, DEF 1600]
Normally summoning in face-up Defense Position was an anime-specific rule; in real-life card games, you can either Normal Summon in Attack Position or Set the monster.
However, for "Summoner Monk," it didn't make a difference, as Summoner Monk has the special effect: "When this card is Normal Summoned, it must be changed to Defense Position."
"Summoner Monk's effect activates," Yugen said. "Once per turn, by discarding one Spell Card from my hand, I Special Summon one Level 4 monster from my Deck."
Yugen took a card from his hand and placed it on the duel disk; the card automatically slid into the Graveyard.
"I Special Summon Level 4 'Witch of the Black Forest' from my Deck!"
[Witch of the Black Forest, ATK 1100]
"Then, from my hand, I activate the Equip Spell 'Wonder Wand' and equip it to 'Summoner Monk'.
This card can only be equipped to a Spellcaster-Type monster. The equipped monster gains 500 ATK."
[Summoner Monk, ATK 800 → ATK 1300]
"Summoner Monk must be changed to Defense Position when Normal Summoned," Bandit Keith said flatly. "What's the point of boosting its ATK?"
"'Wonder Wand's' second effect activates!" Yugen waved his hand again. "By sending the equipped monster and this card from the field to the Graveyard, I draw two cards from my Deck."
Summoner Monk and the staff in its hand dissipated into specks of light, converging into a golden glow that flew into Yugen's Deck. He smoothly drew two cards.
"Next, the Spell Card discarded to activate 'Summoner Monk's' effect, 'Silent Burning'!" Yugen said. "By banishing 'Silent Burning' from my Graveyard, I add one 'Silent Magician' monster from my Deck to my hand.
Therefore, I add 'Silent Magician' to my hand."
The duel disk executed a check program, and a card automatically ejected. Yugen drew it into his hand, and his Deck immediately shuffled automatically in its slot.
"'Silent Magician' cannot be Normal Summoned, but it can be Special Summoned by Tributing a Spellcaster-Type monster on the field.
Therefore, I Tribute the Spellcaster-Type 'Witch of the Black Forest' on my field!"
The black-robed witch's figure dissolved into golden light, and energy gathered on the ground to form a white magic circle. Transparent white magic power transformed into a swirling storm.
"Entrusted with hope, the silent wings, the magician of light, appear here—
—Silent Magician, Special Summon!"
White robes fluttered in the dazzling whirlwind, and slender, snow-white legs occasionally peeked from beneath the long gown. The silent maiden slowly opened her eyes, skillfully swirling her staff twice before gripping it firmly in her hand.
[Silent Magician, ATK 1000]
"At this moment, 'Witch of the Black Forest's' effect also activates." Yugen waved his hand and said, "When the Witch is sent to the Graveyard, I add one monster with 1500 or less DEF from my Deck to my hand.
Therefore, I want to add this card—"
The Deck automatically checked again, and another card was ejected, which he drew into his hand.
"I add 'Jinzo' with 1500 DEF to my hand!"
"Jinzo..."
Seeing that card, Keith curled his lip slightly, letting out a soft grunt.
That card reminded him of an old acquaintance.
Jonouchi Katsuya, who had dealt him another heavy blow in Duelist Kingdom, eliminating him and sending him spiraling into an even deeper abyss of despair.
Of course, Jonouchi didn't have that card at the time. However, after Jonouchi became famous, Jinzo was also publicized as one of his iconic rare cards as a legendary duelist. So, even though Keith had never truly dueled against Jonouchi's Jinzo on the field, simply associating it with his enemy made him feel somewhat annoyed.
"Bad memories?"
Yugen drew his check card from his Deck, and as the Deck automatically shuffled, he coldly observed his opponent.
"That's none of your business," Bandit Keith said coldly. "Sooner or later, I will use my new power to drag all those who once trampled on me into the darkness.
But one problem at a time. I'll deal with you first. Alright, continue the duel."
"As you wish."
Yugen said calmly.
"'Silent Magician's' ATK will increase by 500 points for each card in my hand. With the 'Jinzo' I just added to my hand, I now have six cards in my hand.
Therefore, Silent Magician's ATK increases by 3000!"
As he spoke, his six cards in hand seemed to genuinely release an invisible波動 (hàndong - wave/vibration), transforming into transparent magic power that surged into Silent Magician. She gently swept her staff, and an invisible magical storm blossomed, causing her flowing gown to ripple as if forming a solemn, impenetrable barrier.
[Silent Magician, ATK 1000 → ATK 4000]
"Starting with a monster equivalent to Obelisk's level..." Keith raised an eyebrow.
Only now did he notice that his opponent's series of actions—continuous card drawing, searching, and summoning an ace monster—had left his hand still with six cards, instantly bringing out a powerful monster equivalent to Obelisk's level.
Keith vaguely realized something.
This opponent, it seemed, was not simple either.