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# Chapter 370: Hero?
Under the effect of Red Reboot, the Trap Card D.D. had flipped on the field was suppressed and set back down. As D.D. looked on in disbelief, Hayato explained smugly:
"While a conventional Trap Card needs to be set from the Hand onto the Field and wait a Turn before it can be activated, don't try to gauge a God's talent with ordinary thinking!" Hayato lightly tapped the side of the Red Reboot card.
"By paying half my Life Points, I can activate 'Red Reboot' directly from my Hand. This negates the activation of your Trap Card and sets it, and you can set one Trap Card from your Deck onto your Field. Also, until the end of the turn, you cannot activate Trap Cards."
"If Duel Monsters is a game, then this is a 'Reset' I, as the Game Administrator, am imposing on you! All conditions unfavorable to me will disappear!"
Hearing this, D.D.'s expression turned ugly. The Adhesion Trap Hole being negated was secondary. Besides the Adhesion Trap Hole, the other Set Card in his backrow was the simple yet effective Sakuretsu Armor.
But now, not only was the Adhesion Trap Hole set back, but the Sakuretsu Armor also couldn't be activated due to Red Reboot's effect. What was the point of being able to set a Trap Card from his Deck?
Feeling annoyed, D.D. searched his Deck for a Trap Card. Upon seeing Misoperation, he decisively chose to set it.
*"Misoperation" has the effect to negate the activation of a Trap Card and return it to its original state. This is giving him a taste of his own medicine! Learn the power of an adult, you damn kid!*
Smugly setting Misoperation, D.D. sneered inwardly, while outwardly feigning helpless rage.
"Don't think you can be smug with that kind of trick for too long! Your Monster is destined to be defeated by a Hero, and that Hero is me, D.D.! Bring it on, Dan Kuroto!"
"It's not Dan Kuroto, it's Kuroto Dan God!" Hayato crossed his arms. "In the presence of a God, there's no need for a Hero to exist! I'll use this move to bring you despair!"
"First, I equip the Equip Spell Card, Demotion, to Gameciel, the Sea Turtle Kaiju. Then, I activate the Normal Spell Card, Tail Swipe Attack!"
As Hayato played the two Cards from his Hand one after another, D.D. noticed that while the ATK/DEF of Gameciel, the Sea Turtle Kaiju on the field hadn't changed, its aura visibly diminished significantly.
If the previous Gameciel could somewhat confront Dogoran, the Mad Flame Kaiju, now, in front of Dogoran equipped with Demotion, it could only tremble and bow its head in submission.
"I can activate this Card by targeting one Dinosaur-Type monster with a Level of 5 or higher on my field. It returns up to two Monsters on the opponent's field that are in face-down Defense Position or have a Level lower than the targeted Dinosaur-Type monster to their owner's Hand!"
"A Monster with a Level lower than the targeted Dinosaur-Type monster..." Hearing this, D.D. subconsciously turned his head to look at his Gameciel, the Sea Turtle Kaiju on the Field, only to find that it was coincidentally looking back at him with ill intent.
【Gameciel, the Sea Turtle Kaiju】【8☆→6☆】
After being equipped with Demotion, Gameciel, the Sea Turtle Kaiju's Level decreased by 2 Stars, making it just enough lower than the Level of Dogoran, the Mad Flame Kaiju, which it had just been equal to!?
D.D. recognized the Card 'Demotion', but in his impression, hardly anyone would include this Card in their Deck because its effect is "Decrease the Level of the equipped monster by 2 Stars." If it was like Cost Down, which directly decreases the Level of a Monster in the Hand by 2 Stars, that would be understandable. Decreasing the Level of an equipped monster was completely meaningless.
"How could anyone include this Card!?"
Amidst D.D.'s roar of complete incomprehension regarding Hayato's strategy, Dogoran, the Mad Flame Kaiju let out a skyward roar. With a speed that didn't match its massive body, it quickly turned around. Its long, thick tail behind it broke the sound barrier in an instant, forcefully striking the shell of Gameciel, the Sea Turtle Kaiju.
Then, Gameciel, the Sea Turtle Kaiju displayed an extremely exaggerated expression of pain, letting out a low wail as it was bounced back into Hayato's Hand.
It ate my Chimera the Flying Mythical Beast, and it still ran away?! D.D.'s mind was now filled with classic American curses like "SOB" and "MF" that he wanted to send to "Dan Kuroto".
Can this guy even let people Duel properly? What I want to experience is Monster Attack and Defense, not being unilaterally beaten by your Monster!
Now, Hayato has Dogoran, the Mad Flame Kaiju on the field, with an Attack equal to the legendary Blue-Eyes White Dragon. Facing its towering 3000 Attack, D.D.'s field is empty, and his three Set Cards are sealed by Red Reboot.
"This is the punishment brought upon you for opposing me! The final finishing blow! Go, Dogoran!" With an exaggerated backbend, Hayato commanded, "Super Flame!"
Although it was also a giant Dinosaur that breathed flames, Dogoran couldn't breathe out a sphere of compressed flames like Greymon. It simply raised its head and unleashed its Radiant Heat Ray towards the defenseless D.D., depleting D.D.'s remaining 2000 Life Points in an instant.
"Ugh, ahhhhh!!!" The high temperature of the flames and the radiation contained within the breath brought intense pain to D.D.'s nerves. Although it was a Solid Vision and not a Dark Game, so the Duel Monsters didn't cause him actual damage, it was enough to make this guy with weak willpower wail uncontrollably.
【D.D.: 2000LP → 0】
By the side of the Duel Platform, the wail of one of the players attracted the attention of the referee hiding beneath the Duel Platform. He poked out a shiny bald head, and his gaze met that of "Dan Kuroto" and Dogoran, the Mad Flame Kaiju.
"Win... Winner, No.114514!"
Not everyone had the strong heart of Iso, who thought, "God Cards fighting in front of me? How awesome, but what does that have to do with me, an emotionless tool person?" The bald referee stammered a bit, quickly declared Hayato the Winner, and immediately pulled his head back to avoid being targeted by Hayato's gaze.
Looking at Dogoran, the Mad Flame Kaiju, which disappeared from the field as the Duel ended, Hayato looked at D.D., who had collapsed unconscious in a highly embarrassing manner due to the intense pain, with disregard. He scoffed, "What a weak Hero. As expected, I am the God who dominates this game of Duel Monsters!"
"Wahahaha~~!!"
Perhaps "Dan Kuroto"'s laughter was too infectious. The onlookers who witnessed "Dan Kuroto" using a giant Monster to OTK his opponent, after recovering from their brief panic, quickly transferred the adore they had previously placed on D.D. to "Dan Kuroto".
"So... so powerful! And both the Monster and the duelist himself are so cool!"
"Lord Dan Kuroto!"
"Incorrect!" Just as someone in the crowd shouted "Dan Kuroto"'s name, Hayato suddenly turned around, pointing his finger at the blonde woman who had just shouted his name. "It's not Dan Kuroto, it's Kuroto Dan God!"
As he was being carried off the Duel Platform by the medical team prepared at the Qualifiers Venue, D.D., who had fallen unconscious from pain, was momentarily woken up by the surrounding audience's cheers. Listening to the surrounding shouts of "Kuroto Dan God!", D.D.'s eyes were fixed on "Dan Kuroto" on the Duel Platform, who was enjoying the pursuit of his fervent fans, his gaze filled with jealousy and malice.
This should have belonged to me! I had already won three winning streaks, why is it that an unknown minor character can become so popular just by defeating me once?!
He reached into his pocket and felt a Card protected by a metal piece. D.D. made a decision—the person who defeated me has no need to exist in this world!
————King Crimson!————
After finishing a day of Qualifiers and raising his points to a relatively high position, Hayato managed to politely decline his fervent fans and left the Qualifiers Venue with his DP Points back in the five-digit range.
Although only the first opponent, D.D., had noteworthy strength among his Duel opponents, and the later opponents were rarely professional duelists, the sheer number of matches throughout the day, even low-quality Duels, brought Hayato a terrifying amount of DP Points.
However, in contrast, due to the excessive number of Duels, Hayato also felt quite tired. All he wanted now was to return to the hotel he had booked near the Qualifiers Venue and rest.
His current points ranking was tenth, securing his qualification to advance was practically guaranteed. There was no need to push himself as hard in the next few days of Qualifiers as he did today.
This meant Hayato could even start thinking about how to make the Official Matches more interesting.
Just as Hayato was considering whether to buy Simorgh, Bird of Darkness, Alien's Final Warrior, Macro Cosmos, and Anti-Spell Fragrance from a shop to bring joy to other duelists, a masked man wearing a cloak slowly emerged from the quiet street he was walking down.
"I've been waiting for you, Dan Kuroto." The masked man seemed to be using a voice changer, his voice having the characteristic static of electronic equipment. Aside from a pair of glasses perched on his nose, Hayato couldn't find any other distinguishing features on the masked man.
However, appearance could be disguised, and voice could be changed, but the ominous energy residing within him was impossible to conceal.
"Blocking a God's path is a great disrespect. But if you are an adorer who wishes to admire, a God is tolerant, D.D."
Hearing Hayato call out his name, the masked man visibly panicked. "Impossible! How did you see through my perfect disguise?!"
"Damn it, I originally just planned to prevent you from participating in the match. Now, I have no choice but to take your life, Dan Kuroto!" His disguise exposed, D.D. angrily tore off the cloth covering his face and extended his hand from beneath the cloak, already wearing his Duel Disk. "Blame yourself for being too smart, Kid!"
"Go, The Ultimate D!"
As D.D. played a Card on his Duel Disk, a strangely shaped bloody hand quickly materialized from illusion and attacked Hayato.
But just as D.D. leaned in, ready to listen for Hayato's scream, he was surprised to find a sharp lance flying out from Hayato's card box at his waist. It accurately pierced the hand, repelled it, and pinned it to the wall by the road, even causing actual cracks in the wall?!
"No... impossible! What's going on?"
D.D. had been full of confidence in this attack, but this kid, "Dan Kuroto", also showed signs of possessing supernatural power. Besides being surprised, his mood worsened. "Just who the hell are you?!"
"Just a fake passing God who happened to pass by. Remember that."
Although "Dan Kuroto" was just a disguise for Hayato, Hayato cared quite a bit about his persona and tried hard not to let it twist into another guy who offended his hairdresser.
Looking at the face-down Card D.D. had placed on his Duel Disk, Hayato's eyes narrowed. While he didn't understand much about technology, judging by the exposed wires and distinctly different coloring of the Duel Disk D.D. wore on his wrist, his Duel Disk had definitely been modified.
Other functions were hard to say, but just from the action of playing the Card face-down without showing its front, the modification of that Duel Disk was likely aimed at disconnecting it from the KaibaCorp Data Collection Network, specifically to avoid revealing the true identity of the Card he held.
"Even someone like you can possess supernatural power. It's only natural for me, a God, to possess miraculous power." Lifting his chin proudly, Hayato tried to glare at D.D. with his nostrils. "But I'm very curious, what reason could you possibly have for attacking me, someone you've only met once?"
"Too much nonsense, Dan Kuroto!" D.D. had no intention of answering Hayato's question. Instead, he inserted the Card from his Hand into his Deck, reflexively shuffled it quickly, and then inserted it into the Deck Zone of his Duel Disk. "If the easy way doesn't work on you, I'll deal with you through a Duel."
"Don't think that what you saw during the day was my full strength. If it's to silence you, I don't mind using this Card!"
As D.D. placed his Deck into the Duel Disk, Hayato also took out his Deck and unfolded his Duel Disk. At the same time, an invisible energy, completely different from the Dark Energy Hayato had felt in the past, began to spread outwards from D.D.'s Deck.
Before Hayato could activate a Dark Game, as if encountering an enemy, Hayato's Millennium Puzzle on his chest and the Millennium Rod tucked into his waist simultaneously manifested. Dazzling golden light burst forth, instantly suppressing the force that had almost spread to Hayato's side.
Compared to Hayato, who had sensed it, D.D. acted as if nothing had happened, saying arrogantly, "I've heard enough nonsense about Gods and ghosts. Let me show you what an adult's romance is—a Hero, Dan Kuroto!"
"Fall into a sea of blood and perish!"
"I refuse! As a God, I am indestructible!" Hayato drew five Cards into his Hand, striking a pose. "Keep going until I clear the game!"
Under the effect of Red Reboot, the Trap Card D.D. had flipped on the field was suppressed and set back down. As D.D. looked on in disbelief, Hayato explained smugly:
"While a conventional Trap Card needs to be set from the Hand onto the Field and wait a Turn before it can be activated, don't try to gauge a God's talent with ordinary thinking!" Hayato lightly tapped the side of the Red Reboot card.
"By paying half my Life Points, I can activate 'Red Reboot' directly from my Hand. This negates the activation of your Trap Card and sets it, and you can set one Trap Card from your Deck onto your Field. Also, until the end of the turn, you cannot activate Trap Cards."
"If Duel Monsters is a game, then this is a 'Reset' I, as the Game Administrator, am imposing on you! All conditions unfavorable to me will disappear!"
Hearing this, D.D.'s expression turned ugly. The Adhesion Trap Hole being negated was secondary. Besides the Adhesion Trap Hole, the other Set Card in his backrow was the simple yet effective Sakuretsu Armor.
But now, not only was the Adhesion Trap Hole set back, but the Sakuretsu Armor also couldn't be activated due to Red Reboot's effect. What was the point of being able to set a Trap Card from his Deck?
Feeling annoyed, D.D. searched his Deck for a Trap Card. Upon seeing Misoperation, he decisively chose to set it.
*"Misoperation" has the effect to negate the activation of a Trap Card and return it to its original state. This is giving him a taste of his own medicine! Learn the power of an adult, you damn kid!*
Smugly setting Misoperation, D.D. sneered inwardly, while outwardly feigning helpless rage.
"Don't think you can be smug with that kind of trick for too long! Your Monster is destined to be defeated by a Hero, and that Hero is me, D.D.! Bring it on, Dan Kuroto!"
"It's not Dan Kuroto, it's Kuroto Dan God!" Hayato crossed his arms. "In the presence of a God, there's no need for a Hero to exist! I'll use this move to bring you despair!"
"First, I equip the Equip Spell Card, Demotion, to Gameciel, the Sea Turtle Kaiju. Then, I activate the Normal Spell Card, Tail Swipe Attack!"
As Hayato played the two Cards from his Hand one after another, D.D. noticed that while the ATK/DEF of Gameciel, the Sea Turtle Kaiju on the field hadn't changed, its aura visibly diminished significantly.
If the previous Gameciel could somewhat confront Dogoran, the Mad Flame Kaiju, now, in front of Dogoran equipped with Demotion, it could only tremble and bow its head in submission.
"I can activate this Card by targeting one Dinosaur-Type monster with a Level of 5 or higher on my field. It returns up to two Monsters on the opponent's field that are in face-down Defense Position or have a Level lower than the targeted Dinosaur-Type monster to their owner's Hand!"
"A Monster with a Level lower than the targeted Dinosaur-Type monster..." Hearing this, D.D. subconsciously turned his head to look at his Gameciel, the Sea Turtle Kaiju on the Field, only to find that it was coincidentally looking back at him with ill intent.
【Gameciel, the Sea Turtle Kaiju】【8☆→6☆】
After being equipped with Demotion, Gameciel, the Sea Turtle Kaiju's Level decreased by 2 Stars, making it just enough lower than the Level of Dogoran, the Mad Flame Kaiju, which it had just been equal to!?
D.D. recognized the Card 'Demotion', but in his impression, hardly anyone would include this Card in their Deck because its effect is "Decrease the Level of the equipped monster by 2 Stars." If it was like Cost Down, which directly decreases the Level of a Monster in the Hand by 2 Stars, that would be understandable. Decreasing the Level of an equipped monster was completely meaningless.
"How could anyone include this Card!?"
Amidst D.D.'s roar of complete incomprehension regarding Hayato's strategy, Dogoran, the Mad Flame Kaiju let out a skyward roar. With a speed that didn't match its massive body, it quickly turned around. Its long, thick tail behind it broke the sound barrier in an instant, forcefully striking the shell of Gameciel, the Sea Turtle Kaiju.
Then, Gameciel, the Sea Turtle Kaiju displayed an extremely exaggerated expression of pain, letting out a low wail as it was bounced back into Hayato's Hand.
It ate my Chimera the Flying Mythical Beast, and it still ran away?! D.D.'s mind was now filled with classic American curses like "SOB" and "MF" that he wanted to send to "Dan Kuroto".
Can this guy even let people Duel properly? What I want to experience is Monster Attack and Defense, not being unilaterally beaten by your Monster!
Now, Hayato has Dogoran, the Mad Flame Kaiju on the field, with an Attack equal to the legendary Blue-Eyes White Dragon. Facing its towering 3000 Attack, D.D.'s field is empty, and his three Set Cards are sealed by Red Reboot.
"This is the punishment brought upon you for opposing me! The final finishing blow! Go, Dogoran!" With an exaggerated backbend, Hayato commanded, "Super Flame!"
Although it was also a giant Dinosaur that breathed flames, Dogoran couldn't breathe out a sphere of compressed flames like Greymon. It simply raised its head and unleashed its Radiant Heat Ray towards the defenseless D.D., depleting D.D.'s remaining 2000 Life Points in an instant.
"Ugh, ahhhhh!!!" The high temperature of the flames and the radiation contained within the breath brought intense pain to D.D.'s nerves. Although it was a Solid Vision and not a Dark Game, so the Duel Monsters didn't cause him actual damage, it was enough to make this guy with weak willpower wail uncontrollably.
【D.D.: 2000LP → 0】
By the side of the Duel Platform, the wail of one of the players attracted the attention of the referee hiding beneath the Duel Platform. He poked out a shiny bald head, and his gaze met that of "Dan Kuroto" and Dogoran, the Mad Flame Kaiju.
"Win... Winner, No.114514!"
Not everyone had the strong heart of Iso, who thought, "God Cards fighting in front of me? How awesome, but what does that have to do with me, an emotionless tool person?" The bald referee stammered a bit, quickly declared Hayato the Winner, and immediately pulled his head back to avoid being targeted by Hayato's gaze.
Looking at Dogoran, the Mad Flame Kaiju, which disappeared from the field as the Duel ended, Hayato looked at D.D., who had collapsed unconscious in a highly embarrassing manner due to the intense pain, with disregard. He scoffed, "What a weak Hero. As expected, I am the God who dominates this game of Duel Monsters!"
"Wahahaha~~!!"
Perhaps "Dan Kuroto"'s laughter was too infectious. The onlookers who witnessed "Dan Kuroto" using a giant Monster to OTK his opponent, after recovering from their brief panic, quickly transferred the adore they had previously placed on D.D. to "Dan Kuroto".
"So... so powerful! And both the Monster and the duelist himself are so cool!"
"Lord Dan Kuroto!"
"Incorrect!" Just as someone in the crowd shouted "Dan Kuroto"'s name, Hayato suddenly turned around, pointing his finger at the blonde woman who had just shouted his name. "It's not Dan Kuroto, it's Kuroto Dan God!"
As he was being carried off the Duel Platform by the medical team prepared at the Qualifiers Venue, D.D., who had fallen unconscious from pain, was momentarily woken up by the surrounding audience's cheers. Listening to the surrounding shouts of "Kuroto Dan God!", D.D.'s eyes were fixed on "Dan Kuroto" on the Duel Platform, who was enjoying the pursuit of his fervent fans, his gaze filled with jealousy and malice.
This should have belonged to me! I had already won three winning streaks, why is it that an unknown minor character can become so popular just by defeating me once?!
He reached into his pocket and felt a Card protected by a metal piece. D.D. made a decision—the person who defeated me has no need to exist in this world!
————King Crimson!————
After finishing a day of Qualifiers and raising his points to a relatively high position, Hayato managed to politely decline his fervent fans and left the Qualifiers Venue with his DP Points back in the five-digit range.
Although only the first opponent, D.D., had noteworthy strength among his Duel opponents, and the later opponents were rarely professional duelists, the sheer number of matches throughout the day, even low-quality Duels, brought Hayato a terrifying amount of DP Points.
However, in contrast, due to the excessive number of Duels, Hayato also felt quite tired. All he wanted now was to return to the hotel he had booked near the Qualifiers Venue and rest.
His current points ranking was tenth, securing his qualification to advance was practically guaranteed. There was no need to push himself as hard in the next few days of Qualifiers as he did today.
This meant Hayato could even start thinking about how to make the Official Matches more interesting.
Just as Hayato was considering whether to buy Simorgh, Bird of Darkness, Alien's Final Warrior, Macro Cosmos, and Anti-Spell Fragrance from a shop to bring joy to other duelists, a masked man wearing a cloak slowly emerged from the quiet street he was walking down.
"I've been waiting for you, Dan Kuroto." The masked man seemed to be using a voice changer, his voice having the characteristic static of electronic equipment. Aside from a pair of glasses perched on his nose, Hayato couldn't find any other distinguishing features on the masked man.
However, appearance could be disguised, and voice could be changed, but the ominous energy residing within him was impossible to conceal.
"Blocking a God's path is a great disrespect. But if you are an adorer who wishes to admire, a God is tolerant, D.D."
Hearing Hayato call out his name, the masked man visibly panicked. "Impossible! How did you see through my perfect disguise?!"
"Damn it, I originally just planned to prevent you from participating in the match. Now, I have no choice but to take your life, Dan Kuroto!" His disguise exposed, D.D. angrily tore off the cloth covering his face and extended his hand from beneath the cloak, already wearing his Duel Disk. "Blame yourself for being too smart, Kid!"
"Go, The Ultimate D!"
As D.D. played a Card on his Duel Disk, a strangely shaped bloody hand quickly materialized from illusion and attacked Hayato.
But just as D.D. leaned in, ready to listen for Hayato's scream, he was surprised to find a sharp lance flying out from Hayato's card box at his waist. It accurately pierced the hand, repelled it, and pinned it to the wall by the road, even causing actual cracks in the wall?!
"No... impossible! What's going on?"
D.D. had been full of confidence in this attack, but this kid, "Dan Kuroto", also showed signs of possessing supernatural power. Besides being surprised, his mood worsened. "Just who the hell are you?!"
"Just a fake passing God who happened to pass by. Remember that."
Although "Dan Kuroto" was just a disguise for Hayato, Hayato cared quite a bit about his persona and tried hard not to let it twist into another guy who offended his hairdresser.
Looking at the face-down Card D.D. had placed on his Duel Disk, Hayato's eyes narrowed. While he didn't understand much about technology, judging by the exposed wires and distinctly different coloring of the Duel Disk D.D. wore on his wrist, his Duel Disk had definitely been modified.
Other functions were hard to say, but just from the action of playing the Card face-down without showing its front, the modification of that Duel Disk was likely aimed at disconnecting it from the KaibaCorp Data Collection Network, specifically to avoid revealing the true identity of the Card he held.
"Even someone like you can possess supernatural power. It's only natural for me, a God, to possess miraculous power." Lifting his chin proudly, Hayato tried to glare at D.D. with his nostrils. "But I'm very curious, what reason could you possibly have for attacking me, someone you've only met once?"
"Too much nonsense, Dan Kuroto!" D.D. had no intention of answering Hayato's question. Instead, he inserted the Card from his Hand into his Deck, reflexively shuffled it quickly, and then inserted it into the Deck Zone of his Duel Disk. "If the easy way doesn't work on you, I'll deal with you through a Duel."
"Don't think that what you saw during the day was my full strength. If it's to silence you, I don't mind using this Card!"
As D.D. placed his Deck into the Duel Disk, Hayato also took out his Deck and unfolded his Duel Disk. At the same time, an invisible energy, completely different from the Dark Energy Hayato had felt in the past, began to spread outwards from D.D.'s Deck.
Before Hayato could activate a Dark Game, as if encountering an enemy, Hayato's Millennium Puzzle on his chest and the Millennium Rod tucked into his waist simultaneously manifested. Dazzling golden light burst forth, instantly suppressing the force that had almost spread to Hayato's side.
Compared to Hayato, who had sensed it, D.D. acted as if nothing had happened, saying arrogantly, "I've heard enough nonsense about Gods and ghosts. Let me show you what an adult's romance is—a Hero, Dan Kuroto!"
"Fall into a sea of blood and perish!"
"I refuse! As a God, I am indestructible!" Hayato drew five Cards into his Hand, striking a pose. "Keep going until I clear the game!"
