Hayato Kuroda feels like he's just had the worst luck of his life.
How many times has he used "Handwriting Erasure" in his dueling career?
Maybe fifty times? A hundred times?
He can't remember.
And he's pretty sure he's not the only one who commonly uses this card. As a non-rare utility card demonstrated in the card deck of the Duel King Muto Yuugi during the first Duel City Tournament, this card has maintained a high usage rate over the years in the Dueling Realm, with many users.
So why is it that everyone else uses it just fine, whether it's to start, to fill the graveyard, or to rectify a poor hand, but he somehow ended up blowing everything up the moment he used it?
Why the hell did mine have to blow up like this?
On Yugen's side, he couldn't help but grin with amusement.
"Honestly, I've been playing with this deck for a while, but I've never seen someone as eager as you run straight into trouble."
The combination of Temple Guardian and Handwriting Erasure can instantly destroy all of the opponent's hand cards, effectively eliminating any possibility for them to make moves, almost immediately stripping away their ability to play Yu-Gi-Oh!
But achieving this combination isn't that simple, as Temple Guardian on the field prevents the activation of Handwriting Erasure due to the "opponent can't draw cards" restriction. The only way it works is to first activate Handwriting Erasure and then chain effects before resolution to summon Temple Guardian onto the field.
So being able to achieve this kind of situation with a combination of effects really shows some serious bad luck on this guy's part...
"But speaking of which, didn't you guys in the Light Association say everything is fate? That every draw and duel outcome is predestined?"
Yugen said with a chuckle.
"Does that mean, according to the great fate given by your light, you were destined to blow up your entire hand this turn?"
Hayato Kuroda: "......"
His mouth twitched as he glared at Yugen, but for a moment, he couldn't find the words.
But he quickly let out a heavy snort.
"Of course, everything is the best arrangement of fate. Even if you destroyed my hand, I still have the 'Strong Attack Cannon Beetle' on my field."
The advantage is still mine!
"Strong Attack Cannon Beetle, attack!" Hayato Kuroda shouted angrily, "Destroy the 'Temple Guardian'!"
The Strong Attack Cannon Beetle charged forth, seemingly fueled by its master's anger.
"Then, during your attack declaration, I activate the graveyard effect of 'Resurrection Chestnut Ball'." Yugen said. "When the opponent declares an attack, by banishing this card from the graveyard, I can Special Summon any number of 'Chestnut Ball' from my graveyard."
Hayato Kuroda was startled: "Chestnut Ball?"
"Special Summoning 'Feathered Chestnut Ball' and 'Chestnut Ball' from the graveyard."
[Feathered Chestnut Ball, Defense Power 200]
[Chestnut Ball, Defense Power 200]
Seeing the fluffy little balls flying from the graveyard to the field, Hayato Kuroda frowned: "The cards just tossed with Handwriting Erasure..."
But they're just walls with 200 defense, not drawing much attention from him.
The Temple Guardian was instantly shattered by the strong attack of the beetle, scattering all over the place with a crash.
Of course, destroying it now is more about venting anger than serving any practical purpose, especially since he has no cards left.
And apart from attacking, there's nothing else he can do, since he's out of cards.
"Now it's my turn, draw a card."
Yugen glanced at the card he drew, smiled mysteriously, and said.
"Since you have such faith in the light guiding your fate, let me show you something special, your so-called Light Incarnation!
I discard two cards from my hand, and Special Summon this guy, the incarnation of the Light of Destruction—
——Light Source Beast Gandila Dragon!!"
Hayato Kuroda: "???"
As he saw the towering beam of light descend and the imposing figure within it, Hayato Kuroda's eyes nearly popped out.
Because he could feel it, his purified soul could sense that what the opponent said was true.
What he is facing right now is truly the Incarnation of Light that guides their fate!
[Light Source Beast Gandila Dragon, Attack Power?]
This was naturally the card of the Cosmic People that Judai defeated earlier. However, after that Cosmic Person was defeated, the card deck was confiscated, researched by the Kaiba Group, and after collecting sufficient data and conducting enough experiments, it ended up in Yugen's hands.
Of course, there was no longer the Light of Destruction within, just some remnants of light. But since this monster itself doesn't exist on Earth and is a card materialized from the power of the Light of Destruction, Hayato, as a follower of light, was utterly shocked.
"How... how can you have such a card!?"
He looked at Yugen in shock, and a ridiculous thought popped into his mind.
Is there a possibility that the Duel King is actually one of us?
"Such a huge reaction?" Yugen chuckled, "Since you like this monster so much, I'll give it to you.
Activating the Magic Card 'Forced Transfer'. Both players must choose a monster on their field and exchange control."
Hayato Kuroda was stunned.
What?
This person is being so generous? Actually giving such a magnificent Light Incarnation to him...
He's growing more suspicious.
Is it possible that this person is actually one of us?
"Of course, you only have 'Strong Attack Cannon Beetle' on your field." Yugen said, "So you can only exchange with the 'Strong Attack Cannon Beetle'. So, I'll hand over 'Light Source Beast Gandila Dragon' to you. Make good use of it."
As a result, the monsters on each side were exchanged, with Light Source Beast going to Hayato's field and Strong Attack Cannon Beetle coming to Yugen's field.
"Oh, I forgot to mention." Yugen squinted his eyes, "The attack power of 'Light Source Beast Gandila Dragon' is determined by the hand size, becoming the controller's hand size x 1000 points.
Of course, now your hand count is 0, so Gandil Dragon's attack power...
[Light Source Beast Gandila Dragon, Attack Power 0]
Hayato Kuroda: "..."
He immediately realized that just for a moment, doubting if the opponent could be a good person was simply too naive...
"Giving me a target with 0 attack power?" Hayato Kuroda said with a gloomy face.
"Is that so?"
Yugen chuckled and said.
"Your Strong Attack Cannon Beetle is quite a powerful monster, but it seems you don't know how to use it... Let me demonstrate for you."
Yugen snapped his fingers.
"Strong Attack Cannon Beetle, activate effect. Sacrifice one monster on my field to deal 800 damage to the opponent.
I sacrifice 'Feathered Chestnut Ball' to deal 800 damage."
[Hayato Kuroda, LP4000→LP3200]
Hayato snorted and said, "This level of damage..."
"Then sacrifice 'Chestnut Ball' for 800 damage."
[Hayato Kuroda, LP3200→LP2400]
Hayato kept a grim face and said nothing.
This is the terrifying aspect of Strong Attack Cannon Beetle. Although it may seem pointless to sacrifice a monster for only 800 damage, the power lies in the fact that this effect doesn't specify once per turn.
Throughout the history of Yu-Gi-Oh!, any card that sacrifices monsters for damage, even for just 100 points of damage, is usually considered extremely vicious, a prime candidate for the banned list.
And now, after only two shots, Hayato's Life Points have dropped to a dangerously low 2400, right in the kill zone of his own Strong Attack Cannon Beetle.
The opponent forcibly transferred away his Strong Attack Cannon Beetle, only to give him a Light Source Beast with 0 attack. If the attack went through, it would be the end for him.
"Strong Attack Cannon Beetle, attack 'Light Source Beast Gandila Dragon'.
"Not that easy!" Hayato shouted, "Counterattack Trap 'Attack Powerlessness'! Opponent's monster's attack is negated, forcibly ending the battle phase!"
This is also the card he covered on the first turn.
Only now, after Yugen initiated the first attack, does he have the chance to activate it.
Yugen: "Alright, then turn ends."
It's Hayato's turn. He took a deep breath, adjusting his mindset.
Calm.
As a member of the Light Association, the most important thing is to constantly believe everything is the best arrangement. Light has already arranged the path to victory, regardless of what happens during the duel, maintain composure.
Firmly believe the next draw will surely reveal the path to victory.
"My turn, draw!"
"Sorry, that's not possible." Yugen chuckled, "Another effect of 'Light Source Beast Gandila Dragon'. As long as this card is on the field, the controller cannot draw during the draw phase."
Hayato's motion to draw a card froze.
What?
Cannot... draw?
He was stunned for two seconds, then raised his head to look at this embodiment of the Light of Destruction on his field, looking at it, which in return looks at him, big eyes staring at small eyes, frozen like that.
For several seconds.
Then he finally exploded.
What kind of absurd self-restriction is the no card draw?!
Why does something so ridiculous even exist?
Gandil Dragon looked down at him—both heads lowered, blinking their eyes as if they were innocent.
But Hayato already cracked. All the awe he felt when seeing the Light Incarnation, feeling the mighty power, evaporated, leaving only one thought in his mind—
—Damn the destiny of the Light.
What kind of nonsense Light of Destruction, stupid thing, right?
Why would the power of light incarnate into something so disgusting?
Now he's blown his hand to pieces himself, and he can't draw cards, leaving him utterly helpless.
The only thing left to do is to switch that stupid Light Dragon to defense and patiently wait for death.
Unless, of course, the opponent is kind enough to help him take down that stupid dragon in defense position.
But naturally, you can't expect Yugen to be that kind-hearted.
"Then it's my turn, draw." Yugen said casually, "Normal summon 'Clean Chestnut Ball'.
Activate the effect of 'Strong Attack Beetle Cannon' once more, sacrifice Clean Chestnut Ball for 800 damage."
[Hayato, LP2400→LP1600]
"Turn ends."
Yugen gestured with a "please" motion.
"Come on, it's your turn again, but you still can't draw cards. Please."
Hayato Kuroda: "......"
Even though it looks like his Life Points still remain, at that moment Hayato Kuroda understood.
He's essentially already dead.