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Chapter 428: Thank You, Taro
"Um, this might be sudden, but Reiko, can I ask you a question?"
Reiko heard Joey Wheeler's words.
"Huh?"
"Reiko, do you think Duel Monsters is fun?"
After Joey Wheeler asked the question, it seems like he felt that Reiko, who had always held an inexplicable sense of fear towards him, wouldn't answer, so he spoke to himself: "Me, I'm always enjoying Duels very happily."
"Although my mood fluctuates wildly every time I attack because of a Set Card activated by my opponent, although I feel fear when I see a powerful monster I can't defeat, although I feel unease due to uncertainty when I draw a card,"
"But Duel Monsters is a game that brings people smiles, and this unexpectedness and uncertainty are also part of Duel Monsters' charm."
Northwood Reiko listened to Joey Wheeler's words and showed a quite surprised expression.
Northwood Reiko didn't lie to Joey Wheeler; the time she had been exposed to Duel Monsters was indeed only one month. However, even so, she still showed quite astonishing talent in Duel Monsters. Her skill and strength were already greater than many Duelists who had played Duel Monsters for many years.
It was precisely because of this that she participated in the KC Cup, and without holding any desire to win, merely with the goal of "self-preservation," she defeated many opponents and won until now.
However, the more she achieved victory, the more Northwood Reiko found it difficult to understand the fun of Duel Monsters, looking at the unwilling and distorted faces of her defeated opponents after being knocked down from the peak of victory, and the Duel Monsters that launched attack after attack under the command of those filled with greed for victory.
Northwood Reiko, who was instinctively unsuited to conflict, even began to feel that those Duelists who could issue ruthless orders were not the same existence as herself, almost like vegetarian rabbits and carnivorous felines.
She originally thought that Joey Wheeler was the same as the Duelists she had encountered before, but unexpectedly, Joey Wheeler was also fighting in Duels with feelings like "fear" and "unease"?
Joey Wheeler, he seems like he's different from the Duelists she had encountered before?
Curiosity couldn't help but arise in Northwood Reiko's mind.
Even though they were both feeling fear, why could Joey Wheeler fight so bravely and even show that kind of smile?
Northwood Reiko didn't know what kind of change this curiosity would bring, and Joey Wheeler also didn't know Northwood Reiko's thoughts, he was just trying his best to convey his thoughts with his words.
"Reiko, although the attacks from just now until now have been unilaterally initiated by me, I can feel the excitement transmitted when our Duelist Spirits collide. You're actually also feeling disgust towards Dueling while trembling with fear, right?"
"Your Deck uses the strategy of protecting yourself with high DEF monsters, and then achieving victory without shedding blood by using the Deck Out strategy, right?" Joey Wheeler pointed to Reiko's Field, which was already empty. "I'm not criticizing whether the strategy your Deck uses is despicable or anything, it's just that,"
"Without that feeling of unease and excitement, just achieving victory plainly until the end, wouldn't it be too boring?"
Joey Wheeler, who was usually the one being lectured, looked at Northwood Reiko's surprised expression and showed a gentle smile: "Come on, Reiko, let me also feel the shouts and roars coming from your Duelist Spirit!"
"My Turn, End Phase. And at the same time as the End Phase, because of the effect of your 【战场的惨剧】(Tragedy of the Battlefield), I send to the Graveyard five cards from my Deck, and the 【真红眼黑刃龙】(Red-Eyes Black Sword Dragon) that was Fusion Summoned by the effect of [Instant Fusion] just now will also be destroyed."
[Joey Wheeler: 24→19]
[Instant Fusion] is a powerful card that can perform a Fusion Summon during the Battle Phase, and powerful cards are often accompanied by risk. The risk belonging to [Instant Fusion] is that its effect only lasts for one turn.
The body of 【人偶国王】(Puppet King), which had subdued [Puppet King], disintegrated with the End Phase. However, just as it was about to be destroyed, the phantom of [Gilthia the D. Knight], which was attached to 【真红眼黑刃龙】(Red-Eyes Black Sword Dragon) before, retreated from its body in time, and even stepped on 【真红眼黑刃龙】(Red-Eyes Black Sword Dragon) to accelerate its departure, just like a pilot leaving the cockpit just before an MS explosion, using the impact force of the explosion to propel themselves away from the machine.
[Gilthia the D. Knight] [ATK1850]
"The third effect of 【真红眼黑刃龙】(Red-Eyes Black Sword Dragon) is, if [Red-Eyes Black Sword Dragon] equipped with an Equip Card is destroyed by effect or battle, you can Special Summon the monster that was equipped to [Red-Eyes Black Sword Dragon] when it was destroyed from the Graveyard as much as possible."
After Joey Wheeler placed the [Gilthia the D. Knight] card on the Front Row, he let his hands hang casually and looked at Northwood Reiko with an expectant gaze.
At this moment, Joey Wheeler was more looking forward to Northwood Reiko achieving growth in this Duel than achieving victory.
[Joey Wheeler: 4000LP, Hand 0]
[Red-Eyes Black Dragon] [ATK2400]
[Gilthia the D. Knight] [ATK1850]
[Dangerous Machine Type 6] [Set Card (Forbidden Dress)]
"My, My Turn," Her finger rested on the Deck. It was Northwood Reiko's turn to draw a card, but at this moment, she hesitated.
Was she feeling fear towards Duel Monsters and those Duelists who thirsted for victory?
Yes, that's right. It was precisely because of this that she chose the safest, least harmful defense strategy, to achieve victory in this way of evasion.
So, was she truly like Joey Wheeler said, that deep in her heart, she also felt the same disgust towards the self who trembled while drawing a card?
Yes.
That's right, she also wanted to Duel bravely.
Looking at the gentle smile on Joey Wheeler's face, some kind of power began to erupt within Northwood Reiko's heart.
I want to bravely issue attack orders with monsters and achieve victory upright.
I want to command monsters to confront opponents, not for victory, but for the joy of Dueling itself.
I want to, I want to be like Joey Wheeler, bravely show a smile!
On Northwood Reiko's face, for the first time since the Duel began, a smile appeared that was not fawning or humble, but full of confidence.
"My Turn, Draw!"
"Normal Spell Card, [Pot of Greed], draw two more cards from my Deck!"
"Then I activate [Monster Reborn]!"
The Ankh symbol appeared on Northwood Reiko's Field. 【人偶国王】(Puppet King), which was destroyed by 【真红眼黑刃龙】(Red-Eyes Black Sword Dragon)'s attack during the previous turn, was revived on her Field. But what was revived by [Monster Reborn] was not just 【人偶国王】(Puppet King), but also Northwood Reiko's courage, because—
【人偶国王】(Puppet King), which she Special Summoned to the Field, existed in Attack Position!
Northwood Reiko looked at 【人偶国王】(Puppet King) appearing on her Field, no longer in the stance of crouching with its body shielded by a greatsword, but in a never-before-seen stance, holding its sword high with soaring aura. Northwood Reiko couldn't help but murmur in a daze, "I..."
"Up until now in this Duel, I never thought I would actively initiate an attack..."
Looking at Joey Wheeler's expectant smile, Northwood Reiko showed the same smile: "Thank you, Joey Wheeler."
"Then... go, my Battle Phase!"
Joey Wheeler heard Reiko's attack declaration and also showed a smile: "Oh, come on, Reiko!"
"I use 【人偶国王】(Puppet King) to launch an attack on Joey Wheeler's [Red-Eyes Black Dragon]!" Reiko issued the first attack instruction of her Dueling career. "As for the name, let's call it 'Newborn Flash'!"
[Puppet King] [ATK2800]
[Red-Eyes Black Dragon] [ATK2400]
The huge and heavy sword was raised high by 【人偶国王】(Puppet King). Using its flowing cape as a shield, it deceived the black flame bullet spat out by [Red-Eyes Black Dragon] when it countered. Lowering its body, it turned and slashed upwards, its sharp blade cutting through [Red-Eyes Black Dragon]'s body, destroying it and sending it to the Graveyard.
"Whoa!" The overflowing battle damage was only 400 points. Joey Wheeler, cooperating with the wind pressure from 【人偶国王】(Puppet King)'s sword swing, let out a strange cry, attracting Reiko's worried gaze.
[Joey Wheeler: 4000→3600LP]
However, Joey Wheeler was a monster-level willpower owner who could easily withstand even a Divine-Beast's attack. Noticing Reiko's gaze, Joey Wheeler twisted his neck and suddenly burst into laughter:
"Fufufu..."
"Wahahaha~ You're strong, Reiko!"
"When you're serious, aren't you quite charming!" The straightforward Joey Wheeler didn't pay attention to what he said at all, and said with a smile, "Then next, we're going to start a full power Duel!"
A blush appeared on Reiko's face: "Yes, yes!"
"Set a card, My Turn End Phase. Then, because of the effect of 【战场的惨剧】(Tragedy of the Battlefield), I send 5 cards from the top of my Deck to the Graveyard."
[Northwood Reiko: 4000LP, Hand 0]
[Puppet King] [ATK2800]
【战场的惨剧】(Tragedy of the Battlefield) [Set Card]
Although he spoke with quite a lot of aura, saying things like "full power Duel" and so on.
But actually, Joey Wheeler hadn't really held back from the start; he had always been at full power. It's just that his strength fluctuated quite a bit. When he was in good form, he could even suppress Kaiba for a while, but when he was in bad form, he could be in a stalemate with any Elementary School Student for over a dozen turns.
To put it another way, he's probably fifty-fifty against anyone?
In short, now it's Joey Wheeler's turn again, and he currently has 19 cards left in the Deck. He doesn't have many chances to attack left.
If it were Kaiba or Yugi, they might strategize before drawing, thinking about what kind of card they need to draw to solve the current problem, but Joey Wheeler only has one way: draw the card first and then figure it out.
"Alright, then My Turn, Draw!"
(End of Chapter)
"Um, this might be sudden, but Reiko, can I ask you a question?"
Reiko heard Joey Wheeler's words.
"Huh?"
"Reiko, do you think Duel Monsters is fun?"
After Joey Wheeler asked the question, it seems like he felt that Reiko, who had always held an inexplicable sense of fear towards him, wouldn't answer, so he spoke to himself: "Me, I'm always enjoying Duels very happily."
"Although my mood fluctuates wildly every time I attack because of a Set Card activated by my opponent, although I feel fear when I see a powerful monster I can't defeat, although I feel unease due to uncertainty when I draw a card,"
"But Duel Monsters is a game that brings people smiles, and this unexpectedness and uncertainty are also part of Duel Monsters' charm."
Northwood Reiko listened to Joey Wheeler's words and showed a quite surprised expression.
Northwood Reiko didn't lie to Joey Wheeler; the time she had been exposed to Duel Monsters was indeed only one month. However, even so, she still showed quite astonishing talent in Duel Monsters. Her skill and strength were already greater than many Duelists who had played Duel Monsters for many years.
It was precisely because of this that she participated in the KC Cup, and without holding any desire to win, merely with the goal of "self-preservation," she defeated many opponents and won until now.
However, the more she achieved victory, the more Northwood Reiko found it difficult to understand the fun of Duel Monsters, looking at the unwilling and distorted faces of her defeated opponents after being knocked down from the peak of victory, and the Duel Monsters that launched attack after attack under the command of those filled with greed for victory.
Northwood Reiko, who was instinctively unsuited to conflict, even began to feel that those Duelists who could issue ruthless orders were not the same existence as herself, almost like vegetarian rabbits and carnivorous felines.
She originally thought that Joey Wheeler was the same as the Duelists she had encountered before, but unexpectedly, Joey Wheeler was also fighting in Duels with feelings like "fear" and "unease"?
Joey Wheeler, he seems like he's different from the Duelists she had encountered before?
Curiosity couldn't help but arise in Northwood Reiko's mind.
Even though they were both feeling fear, why could Joey Wheeler fight so bravely and even show that kind of smile?
Northwood Reiko didn't know what kind of change this curiosity would bring, and Joey Wheeler also didn't know Northwood Reiko's thoughts, he was just trying his best to convey his thoughts with his words.
"Reiko, although the attacks from just now until now have been unilaterally initiated by me, I can feel the excitement transmitted when our Duelist Spirits collide. You're actually also feeling disgust towards Dueling while trembling with fear, right?"
"Your Deck uses the strategy of protecting yourself with high DEF monsters, and then achieving victory without shedding blood by using the Deck Out strategy, right?" Joey Wheeler pointed to Reiko's Field, which was already empty. "I'm not criticizing whether the strategy your Deck uses is despicable or anything, it's just that,"
"Without that feeling of unease and excitement, just achieving victory plainly until the end, wouldn't it be too boring?"
Joey Wheeler, who was usually the one being lectured, looked at Northwood Reiko's surprised expression and showed a gentle smile: "Come on, Reiko, let me also feel the shouts and roars coming from your Duelist Spirit!"
"My Turn, End Phase. And at the same time as the End Phase, because of the effect of your 【战场的惨剧】(Tragedy of the Battlefield), I send to the Graveyard five cards from my Deck, and the 【真红眼黑刃龙】(Red-Eyes Black Sword Dragon) that was Fusion Summoned by the effect of [Instant Fusion] just now will also be destroyed."
[Joey Wheeler: 24→19]
[Instant Fusion] is a powerful card that can perform a Fusion Summon during the Battle Phase, and powerful cards are often accompanied by risk. The risk belonging to [Instant Fusion] is that its effect only lasts for one turn.
The body of 【人偶国王】(Puppet King), which had subdued [Puppet King], disintegrated with the End Phase. However, just as it was about to be destroyed, the phantom of [Gilthia the D. Knight], which was attached to 【真红眼黑刃龙】(Red-Eyes Black Sword Dragon) before, retreated from its body in time, and even stepped on 【真红眼黑刃龙】(Red-Eyes Black Sword Dragon) to accelerate its departure, just like a pilot leaving the cockpit just before an MS explosion, using the impact force of the explosion to propel themselves away from the machine.
[Gilthia the D. Knight] [ATK1850]
"The third effect of 【真红眼黑刃龙】(Red-Eyes Black Sword Dragon) is, if [Red-Eyes Black Sword Dragon] equipped with an Equip Card is destroyed by effect or battle, you can Special Summon the monster that was equipped to [Red-Eyes Black Sword Dragon] when it was destroyed from the Graveyard as much as possible."
After Joey Wheeler placed the [Gilthia the D. Knight] card on the Front Row, he let his hands hang casually and looked at Northwood Reiko with an expectant gaze.
At this moment, Joey Wheeler was more looking forward to Northwood Reiko achieving growth in this Duel than achieving victory.
[Joey Wheeler: 4000LP, Hand 0]
[Red-Eyes Black Dragon] [ATK2400]
[Gilthia the D. Knight] [ATK1850]
[Dangerous Machine Type 6] [Set Card (Forbidden Dress)]
"My, My Turn," Her finger rested on the Deck. It was Northwood Reiko's turn to draw a card, but at this moment, she hesitated.
Was she feeling fear towards Duel Monsters and those Duelists who thirsted for victory?
Yes, that's right. It was precisely because of this that she chose the safest, least harmful defense strategy, to achieve victory in this way of evasion.
So, was she truly like Joey Wheeler said, that deep in her heart, she also felt the same disgust towards the self who trembled while drawing a card?
Yes.
That's right, she also wanted to Duel bravely.
Looking at the gentle smile on Joey Wheeler's face, some kind of power began to erupt within Northwood Reiko's heart.
I want to bravely issue attack orders with monsters and achieve victory upright.
I want to command monsters to confront opponents, not for victory, but for the joy of Dueling itself.
I want to, I want to be like Joey Wheeler, bravely show a smile!
On Northwood Reiko's face, for the first time since the Duel began, a smile appeared that was not fawning or humble, but full of confidence.
"My Turn, Draw!"
"Normal Spell Card, [Pot of Greed], draw two more cards from my Deck!"
"Then I activate [Monster Reborn]!"
The Ankh symbol appeared on Northwood Reiko's Field. 【人偶国王】(Puppet King), which was destroyed by 【真红眼黑刃龙】(Red-Eyes Black Sword Dragon)'s attack during the previous turn, was revived on her Field. But what was revived by [Monster Reborn] was not just 【人偶国王】(Puppet King), but also Northwood Reiko's courage, because—
【人偶国王】(Puppet King), which she Special Summoned to the Field, existed in Attack Position!
Northwood Reiko looked at 【人偶国王】(Puppet King) appearing on her Field, no longer in the stance of crouching with its body shielded by a greatsword, but in a never-before-seen stance, holding its sword high with soaring aura. Northwood Reiko couldn't help but murmur in a daze, "I..."
"Up until now in this Duel, I never thought I would actively initiate an attack..."
Looking at Joey Wheeler's expectant smile, Northwood Reiko showed the same smile: "Thank you, Joey Wheeler."
"Then... go, my Battle Phase!"
Joey Wheeler heard Reiko's attack declaration and also showed a smile: "Oh, come on, Reiko!"
"I use 【人偶国王】(Puppet King) to launch an attack on Joey Wheeler's [Red-Eyes Black Dragon]!" Reiko issued the first attack instruction of her Dueling career. "As for the name, let's call it 'Newborn Flash'!"
[Puppet King] [ATK2800]
[Red-Eyes Black Dragon] [ATK2400]
The huge and heavy sword was raised high by 【人偶国王】(Puppet King). Using its flowing cape as a shield, it deceived the black flame bullet spat out by [Red-Eyes Black Dragon] when it countered. Lowering its body, it turned and slashed upwards, its sharp blade cutting through [Red-Eyes Black Dragon]'s body, destroying it and sending it to the Graveyard.
"Whoa!" The overflowing battle damage was only 400 points. Joey Wheeler, cooperating with the wind pressure from 【人偶国王】(Puppet King)'s sword swing, let out a strange cry, attracting Reiko's worried gaze.
[Joey Wheeler: 4000→3600LP]
However, Joey Wheeler was a monster-level willpower owner who could easily withstand even a Divine-Beast's attack. Noticing Reiko's gaze, Joey Wheeler twisted his neck and suddenly burst into laughter:
"Fufufu..."
"Wahahaha~ You're strong, Reiko!"
"When you're serious, aren't you quite charming!" The straightforward Joey Wheeler didn't pay attention to what he said at all, and said with a smile, "Then next, we're going to start a full power Duel!"
A blush appeared on Reiko's face: "Yes, yes!"
"Set a card, My Turn End Phase. Then, because of the effect of 【战场的惨剧】(Tragedy of the Battlefield), I send 5 cards from the top of my Deck to the Graveyard."
[Northwood Reiko: 4000LP, Hand 0]
[Puppet King] [ATK2800]
【战场的惨剧】(Tragedy of the Battlefield) [Set Card]
Although he spoke with quite a lot of aura, saying things like "full power Duel" and so on.
But actually, Joey Wheeler hadn't really held back from the start; he had always been at full power. It's just that his strength fluctuated quite a bit. When he was in good form, he could even suppress Kaiba for a while, but when he was in bad form, he could be in a stalemate with any Elementary School Student for over a dozen turns.
To put it another way, he's probably fifty-fifty against anyone?
In short, now it's Joey Wheeler's turn again, and he currently has 19 cards left in the Deck. He doesn't have many chances to attack left.
If it were Kaiba or Yugi, they might strategize before drawing, thinking about what kind of card they need to draw to solve the current problem, but Joey Wheeler only has one way: draw the card first and then figure it out.
"Alright, then My Turn, Draw!"
(End of Chapter)
