With one decisive strike—blowing up "red pit" traps and burning LP to seal the win.
Even after victory, Jinzo - Lord didn't vanish immediately. Instead it folded its arms, tilted its head up proudly, and lingered for several seconds, as if savoring its hard-won triumph.
Finally!
Jinzo couldn't even remember the last time it had gotten a "kill."
Ever since following its current master, it didn't get many chances to appear in the first place. And for some reason, it seemed as if it was cursed: even when it did appear, it was usually just cannon fodder. Before today, its biggest goal was basically "if I survive until next turn, I win."
But today, things turned around—well, the curse wasn't really broken, since it still died quickly. But its master gave it more chances: it died fast, but "resurrected" fast too, bouncing between the underworld and the living world over and over. Compared to staying on the field nonstop, that kind of repeated popping in and out was even more tilting for the opponent.
More importantly, it finally landed the finishing blow again!
At least that was enough to brag for a year in front of that rival, the Shadow Monarch Caius (whom it didn't get along with).
But as a great person once said: happiness in this world is mostly conserved. If someone gains it, someone else loses it.
And so it was. Jinzo gained happiness; one sunny Tomb Keeper lost his.
Kira didn't know Odion well, but based on experience he guessed most of this Tomb Keeper brother's duels were usually "fun." After all, this guy's typical opening was "set three back row, empty field, pass." Win or lose aside, he probably enjoyed himself.
Odion the trap master had trapped people his whole life; he'd likely never felt as stifled as he did today.
They'd told him he could "ask the King for guidance," and he hadn't really expected to win anyway. But even losing, he hadn't expected it to be this painful. He felt like he and this man were simply incompatible, and silently decided that if possible, he never wanted to "learn from" the Duel King again.
Oh—though maybe he could encourage his master, Marik, to "ask for guidance" from the King sometime.
No particular reason. Just that the King's dueling style was unique, his strength formidable and distinct, and fighting him would greatly temper a duelist and broaden their horizons.
Back then Marik had been a legendary duelist too, but after years without real duels, even when he did play, opponents at his level were basically just "fish" in a pond—mere bullying.
And bullying weak opponents too much can make you weaker, too. With this rare chance, Odion naturally hoped Marik could spar with a true expert and keep his edge.
Absolutely no other motive.
"Sorry—are you alright?"
Kira put away his Duel Disk and walked over. The massive palace behind them had already vanished. That palace had been a manifestation of the Temple of the Kings created by Odion's dark power—partly to draw Kira's attention and lure him into a duel, and partly as a show of force: fighting on "home ground" made Odion look more imposing.
This wasn't just for show. High-level duels often involve "presence." Many actions seem meaningless—just "style points"—but sometimes that pressure stabilizes your own play and grants an edge.
Of course, that only matters when both sides are within a certain range of strength. If the gap is too big, then even if the weaker side stacks every "maybe not," "flickering candle," and other buffs imaginable, it only affects how dramatically they lose.
Just like Odion: even with home-field advantage, under Jinzo suppression he still had no room to breathe.
Still, his mentality was good. He waved it off. "I'm fine."
He took a breath and continued: "A duelist who bears the title of King truly lives up to it. I really was no match."
Odion himself was an "underworld" player who'd trapped plenty of people and been criticized for "winning unfairly." He'd never cared. In a duel, only victory and defeat matter. Whether you win by ace monsters trading blows or by red-pit traps that prevent the opponent from acting—only the result matters.
If he trapped the opponent until they couldn't play, that was simply superior skill. Where's the "unfair" in that?
By the same logic, today his red pits were shut down by the opponent's Jinzo "family bucket combo," and he had nothing to say. If he couldn't beat it, it meant the other side was stronger. He wouldn't complain about targeted anti-trap tech.
"The Tomb Keeper Odion, a Battle City Top 8, really does use trap tactics brilliantly," Kira said.
After some brief, polite mutual compliments, Kira asked:
"But Mr. Odion, you didn't wait here specifically just to duel me for guidance, right?
It's not a short trip from Egypt."
Odion said, "These past two days, Lord Marik has official matters to handle. He and Lady Ishizu came to Domino City, and I accompanied them.
But they've been too busy to come themselves, so they sent me to invite you. They specifically told me that if circumstances allow, they will come personally."
"Invite?" Kira asked.
Odion said, "It's about the troubles you've recently encountered. If possible, we hope you can come to Egypt. There are things we want to show you—perhaps related to the Advent Church, and to the enemies you've been meeting lately."
He paused, glanced toward the Advent Church gathering place, and lowered his voice.
"You should have already come face to face with an 'Evil God,' right?"
Kira fell silent.
He recalled that in the original DM story, the matters of the God Cards began with the Tomb Keeper siblings. Marik stole "Slifer the Sky Dragon" and "The Winged Dragon of Ra" to enter Battle City, while Ishizu, to oppose her rebellious brother, entrusted "Obelisk the Tormentor" to Seto Kaiba.
The Tomb Keepers guarded not only the Pharaoh's secret, but also the three God Cards. Although the God Cards were no longer present in the world, the Three Wicked Gods stood opposed to the Three Egyptian Gods—so the Tomb Keepers might know something.
"So the Wicked God cards weren't completely destroyed back then," Kira said. "The Tomb Keepers know some inside details?"
Odion only shook his head. "I'm just a servant of the Tomb Keepers—I don't know much. But I believe Lord Marik and Lady Ishizu can certainly answer your questions."
"I understand," Kira nodded.
"I'll accept the invitation."