"Since you volunteered, Syrus, I'll be counting on you to join me in the Punishment Duel."
In the Slifer Red dorm, Youmi had called Syrus into his room and pulled out a stack of cards from his drawer.
"Even though I see you've got some strong single cards you never included in your Deck before, we should still optimize your entire engine, right? I opened some new packs recently, and a few of the cards are perfect for your Deck."
Youmi showed him one of them—"Barbaroid, the Ultimate Battle Machine".
"This card needs a lot of materials, but compared to monsters that require very specific names, gathering five monsters is way easier, right? How about adding this to your Deck?"
As he spoke, Youmi handed the card to Syrus.
"It really is strong… it can attack twice and even inflict damage… Even though it can't attack directly, it's still super powerful!"
Syrus held the card carefully and looked up at Youmi. "But Youmi-nii, didn't you and Jaden miss the release of the new packs at Ms. Dorothy's shop that day? How did you pull cards I didn't even get…?"
"That?"
Youmi pointed to the unopened packs still in his drawer. "Ah, some of these were rewards from Alexis the other day, and some were slipped into my hospital room by Professor Mama-mia the other night. Probably because he felt guilty I got stabbed… I'll have to thank them one by one later. For now, let's focus on updating our Decks. I even pulled a new card I can use myself."
Youmi tore open a booster pack. His eyes lit up as he picked out a Fusion Monster.
"Berfomet the Mythical King of Phantom Beasts".
"Is that a new card for your Chimera Deck, Youmi-nii? But why is it Fiend-type instead of Beast?"
Syrus tilted his head, staring at "Berfomet the Mythical King of Phantom Beasts" in Youmi's hand. "The effect's different from 'Chimera the King of Mythical Beasts' too—discarding vs. dumping? Ah, it must be to work with the Chimera monsters that activate in the Graveyard, right?"
"Exactly. Looks like it's worth running. And the materials are really convenient." Youmi took out a pack of sleeves and double-sleeved his new "Chimera the King of Mythical Beasts" card. Ever since arriving in this world, he'd changed his sleeves to ones featuring "Fallen of Albaz" and "Dogmatika Ecclesia, the Virtuous".
"Alright, let's work out our strategy. Professor Crowler just called me—the duelists we'll face have been decided."
······
At the Duel Arena, Youmi reassured the still-nervous Syrus before inserting his Deck into his Duel Disk.
"Thank you, Youmi-nii… but I'm still nervous. Our opponents are the Paradox Brothers, the ones who even challenged the legendary Duel King, Yugi Muto…"
As he said that, the two notorious "draw fraud gods" appeared before them, both wearing Duel Disks.
"Indeed. We are the wandering guardians, the Paradox Brothers. Seems they know of our fame, brother," Para said as he glanced at Dox.
"Then let us demonstrate the strength that once forced even Yugi Muto into a corner." Dox lifted his Duel Disk and inserted his Deck. "Defeat us, and the path forward will open. Fail, and you'll wander the labyrinth forever. Will you be able to match the duo from before?"
"Youmi! Syrus! Do your best!"
From the spectator seats, they could still faintly hear Professor Crowler cheering—but that wasn't important right now.
Youmi looked at Syrus. "Listen. What we need now is focus. Absolute concentration on this duel. The Punishment Duel itself doesn't matter. All we need to do is give everything we've got. So don't fear losing~"
"Youmi-nii… I understand."
"Then—begin the Slifer Red Dorm's Punishment Duel! Both sides start with 8000 LP. Each team has separate fields but shares one Graveyard. If either player's Deck hits zero cards or either side's LP reaches 0, the duel ends!"
In the spectator seats, Zane Truesdale was watching the interaction between Youmi and Syrus. Jaden and Alexis had already completed their joint Punishment Duel earlier, winning without issue—unsurprising for two naturally gifted duelists.
However, now, with Syrus dueling, Zane couldn't help feeling uneasy.
As his older brother, he knew Syrus had potential even Syrus himself hadn't realized—but whether he could bring it out in a duel was another matter.
"Youmi… are you about to accomplish something I've never managed to?"
"DUEL!" ×4
Turn 1
"Since the system assigned it, I'll gladly take the first turn."
Youmi drew a card from his Deck and slapped it onto the field.
"I discard 'Cornfield Coatl' and activate its effect. I add a monster whose card name is listed on 'Chimera Fusion' from my Deck to my hand. I add 'Mirror Swordknight'—and I'll summon it right away."
The Mythical Beast knight appeared on Youmi's field. It barely had time to show its form before being Tributed.
"I activate 'Mirror Swordknight'. I Tribute this card to Special Summon a monster from my Deck whose name is listed on 'Chimera Fusion'. I Special Summon 'Big-Winged Berfomet'. When it's Normal or Special Summoned, I add 1 'Chimera Fusion' and 1 'Gazelle the King of Mythical Claws' from my Deck to my hand."
Youmi showed the Fusion materials and 'Chimera Fusion' to the Paradox Brothers.
"This is… the same Chimera Deck used by Yugi Muto… Why do you also—"
Ignoring their shock, Youmi activated 'Chimera Fusion':
"I activate 'Chimera Fusion'! I Fusion Summon by using 'Gazelle the King of Mythical Claws' and 'Big-Winged Berfomet'—When wings that darken the heavens cross with talons that cleave steel, arise—'Chimera the King of Mythical Beasts'!"
A two-colored vortex engulfed the monsters, merging them into a new form.
"When 'Big-Winged Berfomet' and 'Gazelle the King of Mythical Claws' are sent to the Graveyard as Fusion Materials, their effects, as well as 'Chimera the King of Mythical Beasts', each activate.
"During this turn's End Phase, my opponent must discard 1 random card. I add a second 'Cornfield Coatl' to my hand, and I Special Summon 'Mirror Swordknight' from the Graveyard. After that—the effect of 'Chimera Fusion' activates.
"Since it's in the Graveyard and I control a monster whose name is treated as 'Chimera the Flying Mythical Beast', I can add this card back to my hand."
Retrieving 'Chimera Fusion' from the Graveyard, Youmi Set four cards and declared the end of his turn.
"End Phase, my card is discarded at random… tch…"
As the defending player, Dox discarded one card, and the turn passed to his brother.
Turn 2
"Hmph. Even if you use a Deck similar to Yugi Muto's, we are duelists who once pushed him to the brink. My turn—draw!"
"I discard 'Shadow Ghoul of the Labyrinth' and activate its effect to add 1 'Labyrinth Wall' card from my Deck to my hand. I add the Field Spell 'Labyrinth Wall Shadow'—and activate it immediately."
The card manifested their specialty field—an endless underground labyrinth.
"I remember that card being from the TCG…"
Youmi studied the 'Labyrinth Wall Shadow' being displayed, trying to recall its effect.
"Crap. Can't remember. I don't play TCG formats…"
Para activated the Field Spell's effect, and Normal Summoned a monster:
"You may not know what you're saying, but it's too late to fear us now. 'Labyrinth Wall Shadow' activates—I Set 'Kazejin' from my Deck as a Continuous Spell in my Spell/Trap Zone. Then I Normal Summon 'Labyrinth Heavy Tank'.
"Even though it's Level 7, it can be Normal Summoned without Tributing, but it cannot attack this turn. Not that it matters, since the Field Spell already prevents Level 5 or higher monsters from attacking this turn.
"I now activate the effect of 'Labyrinth Heavy Tank'. During my Main Phase, I can place one of 'Suijin', 'Sanga of the Thunder', or 'Kazejin' from my hand, Deck, or banished pile into my Spell/Trap Zone as a Continuous Spell. I place 'Suijin'. And—if I control a 'Labyrinth Wall' card, I can destroy one monster on your field."
"Wow, would've been nice if you led with that extra part!"
As his 'Chimera' was destroyed, Youmi quickly flipped 'Screams of the Branded' to revive it.
But Syrus had a question.
Why didn't Youmi use 'Mirror Swordknight''s effect?
Just as he was about to ask, Youmi waved a finger, telling him to watch the rest of the opponent's turn first.
"Hoho, so you protected your monster? Then—by banishing 'Kazejin' and 'Suijin', I Special Summon from my Extra Deck—Gate Guardian of Wind and Water!"
"After all these years, even with new cards, you two still play card disadvantage decks…" Feeling something bad approaching, Youmi immediately activated a Set card.
"At that moment, I flip 'Chimera Fusion'! During either player's Main Phase, I Fusion Summon using Beast and/or Fiend monsters from my hand and field!"
"Hahahaha! You've triggered our trap—'Gate Guardian of Wind and Water' activates! Once per chain, when your opponent activates a Spell/Trap on the field, negate it! This effect can be used twice per turn!"
Just as 'Chimera Fusion' activated and the Gate Guardian launched its combined wind-and-water blast to negate it, a bolt of lightning pierced through the guardian's body, destroying it.
"What?! 'Gate Guardian of Wind and Water'—negated AND destroyed?!"
Bathed in sacred light, a boy in a red academy jacket stepped out from behind the activated Set card.
"Counter Trap—'Solemn Judgment'. By paying half my Life Points, I negate the activation of a monster effect and destroy it."
...
If you want to support, please consider Patreon, and read advanced chapters! Your support keeps this series going! [Patreon.com/RedZTL]