In the world of Yu-Gi-Oh, pursuing victory isn't wrong, but only pursuing victory by any means will only lead one further and further from the throne.
Bandit Keith is a prime example. Having once dominated all of America, he can't be said to lack talent, but he always approached dueling with the mindset of a gambler. Sleeve-hiding cards, stealing opponent's entry passes, using every unscrupulous trick in the book. But in this extraordinary world, such disrespectful methods towards dueling won't get you far.
Yugen originally just seized the moment to imitate the protagonist's group to boost his popularity and his spirit's favorability, hoping to perhaps gain some Destiny Power. But he never expected that just as the atmosphere seemed to be perfectly set, the mountain carving outside the dueling field suddenly glowed.
The sealed carving suddenly emitted a blinding light at that moment, so bright it made people unable to open their eyes. A powerful magical force was then released from it, forming a sky-high magical storm that engulfed the entire dueling arena.
After adapting to the intense light and barely opening their eyes, both of them only saw that the image originally carved into the rock had actually disappeared!
Keith's pupils constricted, and he immediately felt a sense of unease about this unusual development.
This development... Masaka (No way) (Could it be)!?
And when Yugen looked down, he was even more surprised to find that the top card of his deck actually started to glow.
What the heck? What's going on?
Could it be that his heartfelt words, originally meant for his Silent sister, actually resonated with the sealed spirit here?
This scene, this atmosphere, immediately reminded him of the President's famous floor-drawing scene.
He took a deep breath, his finger resting on his deck.
Lightning draw—!
The gold-glowing card was drawn in a magnificent arc. The moment the card left the deck, an astonishing energy wave erupted, and a spiral-shaped energy storm shot up into the sky, centered around him.
Keith grew even more panicked: "That aura, that power, could that card be...!?"
Sure enough, Yugen focused his gaze, only to see that the card he drew was clearly the legendary warrior of Forbidden Card status back in the day—
—Black Luster Soldier - Envoy of the Beginning!
Well, of course, he knew for a fact that this card was definitely not in his deck.
However, since he had already transmigrated, drawing a card that wasn't in his deck was just like NTR, one of those things you can't help but experience in Yu-Gi-Oh.
This isn't called hacking; this is called resonating with a spirit, a sign of a powerful duelist.
Yes, that's right.
As the card entered his hand, he vaguely seemed to see the illusory figure of a majestic warrior appear in spirit form, holding swords in both hands and saluting him.
It seemed to be expressing that its sword would be with him.
So Yugen nodded, acknowledging the warrior spirit's response.
"Then, Keith!" He shouted loudly, "Let me show you, the strongest ace card, the soul of my deck!"
"Oh come on, is it a legendary warrior? Fine, who's afraid of who? Bring it on!"
Keith also yelled loudly.
"Then quickly let me witness it!"
"Alright!"
So Yugen raised a card in his hand, and the card seemed to release endless divine power.
"Then I shall now unleash the power of this card—"
Bandit Keith held his breath, gritting his teeth and concentrating, waiting for the appearance of the legendary warrior sealed in this spirit ground.
The spirit of Black Luster Soldier already had its hand on the hilt of its sword, concentrating and ready to unleash its power, just waiting for that card to be played to leap into action and win victory for its new master with its sword.
Then Yugen continued: "By Tributing your 'Desperado Barrel Dragon' and 'Fiendish Engine Ω' on your field, I Special Summon this powerful monster to your field!
Awakening from the depths of magma, the power of destruction and rebirth—
—Level 8, Lava Golem!"
Bandit Keith: "? ? ?"
Black Luster Soldier: "? ? ?"
You summoned... what the hell???
Immediately after, Bandit Keith's eyes widened as he saw his two mighty mechanical aces simultaneously swallowed by a towering eruption of lava, instantly melting into molten steel. From the red-hot magma, a burning, ferocious hand slapped onto the field, and a giant burning figure slowly rose on his field, its towering body standing firm on Keith's field, while a searing cage locked Keith within.
[Lava Golem, DEF 2500]
"Lava Golem's effect," Yugen said calmly, "This card can be Special Summoned to your opponent's field by Tributing two monsters on their field.
However, during the turn this effect is used, I cannot Normal Summon."
He paused, then smiled at Keith.
"This is a powerful monster that can rival Blue-Eyes White Dragon's ATK, you know."
I'm directly giving you an eight-star behemoth!
Bandit Keith's jaw almost hit the floor.
God damn it, rival Blue-Eyes White Dragon. Get lost! Who the hell wants this freak!?
My Barrel Dragon, my Fiendish Engine!
Keith was utterly confused.
No, that atmosphere just now, that "hack" development... at a time like this, wasn't it supposed to be a clear reveal of the legendary Black Luster Soldier, followed by an epic clash of aces to decide the victor?
Why the hell didn't you follow the script!? What kind of obscure card is Lava Golem?
Where's your ace!? Where's your soul!? Is your soul this thing!?
The Black Luster Soldier spirit, which was just about to draw its sword, also froze in place, somewhat bewildered by this development.
Huh? You're not calling me?
Then, this legendary warrior suddenly realized something.
At this point in the duel, Bandit Keith had no cards in hand, his backrow resources were exhausted, and every card in his Graveyard was revealed, making any counter-attack almost impossible.
And "Lava Golem," besides eating up any two large monsters on the opponent's field, had another effect.
[During each of your Standby Phases, inflict 1000 damage to the controller of this card.]
[Bandit Keith, LP 500]
In other words, Yugen actually didn't need him; this duel was already won.
His dramatic entrance felt superfluous.
The legendary warrior fell into contemplation.
So... I'm leaving?
Yugen smiled: "The effect of 'Black Luster Soldier - Envoy of the Beginning' from my hand. This card can be Special Summoned by banishing one LIGHT Attribute and one DARK Attribute monster from my Graveyard.
I banish the LIGHT Attribute 'True Silent Magician' and the DARK Attribute 'Jinzo' from my Graveyard!"
Although he had already won, it was a rare opportunity to gain a new spirit—and a high-tier legendary one at that. He might as well give it a chance to show off, to avoid hurting its feelings.
Because, as just mentioned, at this stage, Keith had no cards in hand or backrow, and his Graveyard was open. Winning with any kind of flourish would make no difference.
Or rather, if he were to wait for Lava Golem's effect to burn the opponent to death next turn, Keith would still have one last chance to draw a card before that. Though the probability was extremely small, that one draw theoretically still held the possibility of saving his life.
But if he ended the duel this turn, he could eliminate even that minuscule possibility.
Silent Magician and Jinzo's forms appeared successively, soaring into the sky on either side of Yugen, and then separately darting into a chaotic vortex.
"One soul guides the light, one soul guides the darkness, the gate of chaos opens here!"
Yugen raised his arm.
"Heaven and Earth Creation! Level 8—
—Black Luster Soldier - Envoy of the Beginning, Summon!"
A supremely powerful vortex of light and darkness, and a majestic, armored warrior appeared on the field. Its sharp sword cleaved through chaos, carrying the inviolable majesty of a god, even the dark green barrier faintly trembled under that power.
[Black Luster Soldier - Envoy of the Beginning, ATK 3000]
"'Black Luster Soldier - Envoy of the Beginning' attacks 'Lava Golem'!"
Black Luster Soldier flew forward, cleaving with a sword that seemed to bring forth all creation. The defense-position Lava Golem was bisected, its body collapsing into molten slag.
"Envoy of the Beginning, effect activate! When this card destroys an opponent's monster by battle, it can make a second attack!"
Yugen raised his hand and commanded.
"One final blow! Black Luster Soldier - Envoy of the Beginning, direct attack on Bandit Keith!
Dimensional Rift Blade - Genesis Twin Slash!!!"
Black Luster Soldier soared into the air, circling. Its golden blade danced in a loop, converging into a dazzling golden light on its sword, like a sword strike transcending time and space!
Watching the incoming sword energy, which seemed to conjure countless sword illusions before his eyes, Bandit Keith cried out in despair.
In his dying moments, his mind was filled with unwillingness, with rage, with regret, and with endless pain. All his words finally condensed into one phrase—
—God damn Lava Golem, AAAAAAAAH!!!
[Bandit Keith, LP 500 → LP 0]