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Chapter 846: Scammed
After activating the Continuous Spell Card, **Blazing Duelists**, amidst the rising BGM, Hayato began explaining the card's effect to Johan:
"As long as **Blazing Duelists** is in the Spell & Trap Zone, both players can only Set one Spell/Trap Card from their Hand once per turn, and monsters Special Summoned from the Fusion Deck cannot attack that turn."
"The latter effect was actually a rule that Seto tried to push before Battle City began, thinking that **Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon** was too strong and needed to be weakened. However, he changed his mind after my persuasion (referring to taking control of **Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon**). This non-existent rule can now only be used through this card."
Hearing Hayato's words, Johan nodded, having learned a story behind Battle City he didn't know before. But then he asked strangely, "But isn't that effect just a pure negative effect? It affects Mr. Hayato even more than it affects me."
"After all, that **Invoked Mechaba** was Special Summoned from the Fusion Deck this turn, but now it cannot attack because of **Blazing Duelists**'s effect."
Hayato smiled upon hearing this. "After all, powerful cards often come with great risk. But it's enough. The puzzle to break through **Guardian's Power** is complete at this moment."
"Enter Battle Phase. I use **Nibiru, the Primal Being** to attack **Ground Spider**!" Just as he raised his hand, Hayato added, "However, I will use the effect of **Blazing Duelists** to negate **Nibiru, the Primal Being**'s attack."
From the huge meteor on Hayato's Field, a humanoid arm actually extended, and then a humanoid creature drilled out of the meteor. This was normal; after all, the meteor's real name wasn't actually a meteor but **Nibiru, the Primal Being**. Although it was Rock-Type, it was indeed a creature, and this humanoid figure was a part of it that had differentiated for the purpose of attack.
However, despite being an original life form, the humanoid figure that emerged from the meteor had long, wavy purple hair and was almost completely naked, wearing only strips of cloth wrapped around its armpits and shoulders, and a loincloth. It struck a demonic stance, making one feel like it would be more suitable to find two other characters with similar artwork to pose under the moon.
And after receiving Hayato's attack command, although Hayato said the attack had been negated, Johan saw the demonic humanoid figure waved its hand, and from its elbows, pairs of slender, long blades grew out like plant growth, reflecting a nearly metallic luster in the sunshine.
Furthermore, it suddenly rushed towards Johan's Field, shouting, "Flow of Light - Brilliant Sliding Blade Style!"
"Watch out, **Ground Spider**!"
Because of the humanoid figure's aura, Johan subconsciously shouted at his **Ground Spider** on the Field. It should have been protected by **Guardian's Power**, unable to be destroyed by either battle or effect, yet facing the humanoid figure's charge, Johan felt a sense of unease.
At the same time, he was also a bit annoyed at himself for being so shocked by the series of plays Hayato had made just now—the wormhole, the meteor, the Continuous Spell Card—that he missed the timing and couldn't activate **Ground Spider**'s effect, a truly scum move.
**Ground Spider**'s effect is that when an opponent's monster is Summoned/Special Summoned while it is in Defense Position, it can change those monsters to Defense Position. If Johan had maintained a calm mindset just now, he could have used its effect when **Nibiru, the Primal Being** was appearing to change it to a fragile Defense Position with only 600 DEF.
Instead of facing an attack whose result he didn't know.
**Guardian's Power** (Spell Counter: 1→2)
**Ground Spider** [DEF 2000→2500]
Although, as Hayato said, **Nibiru, the Primal Being**'s attack was negated by one of **Blazing Duelists**'s effects, whose full scope was unknown, Hayato's attack declaration on **Ground Spider** was a fact. **Guardian's Power** also gained a Spell Counter due to its own effect, increasing **Ground Spider**'s DEF.
But Johan became increasingly uneasy, and **Nibiru, the Primal Being**'s attack had already reached his Field.
What Johan didn't expect was that just as he and **Ground Spider** were ready for battle, the humanoid figure completely bypassed **Ground Spider** and slashed directly at the remaining Set Card on his Back Row!?
It's a monster, yet it can attack a Set Card?!
"Duel Monsters, isn't it strange?" As if possessing the ability to read minds, Hayato spoke, answering Johan's confusion. "The effect of **Blazing Duelists**, when my monster declares an attack, I can activate it by targeting one Spell/Trap Card on the Opponent's Field."
Pointing at Johan's mysterious Set Card, Hayato said, "That monster's attack is negated, and the targeted card is destroyed. Accept this blow! Let your Set Card shatter here!"
As Hayato's words fell, Johan also saw that the blades on **Nibiru, the Primal Being** seemed to have countless tiny sawteeth rotating like a chainsaw. With a casual downward slash, it violently cut through the Set Card on his Back Row!
Before the card shattered, Hayato also clearly saw Johan's Set Card. It was actually the Spell Card **Spell Power Grasp**!?
"**Spell Power Grasp**, which can place Spell Counters on **Guardian's Power**, has the effect to search for another **Spell Power Grasp** from the Deck. Teacher said this is a good card for maintaining Card Advantage, but its flaw is that you can only use one **Spell Power Grasp** per turn."
Johan looked at Hayato, who had an expression like he had just heard "Never Gonna Give You Up" and been scammed. He said shyly but with a hint of being proud, "Keeping it in Hand would mean waiting until the next turn to use it anyway. It's better to Set it on the Back Row; maybe I could trick those who are more cautious. Teacher taught me that, and it actually worked."
"What kind of tricking **Mystical Space Typhoon** is this? Rafael, what have you been teaching this child?" Hearing Rafael's words, Hayato couldn't help but look at Rafael Off-field and rant at him.
But Rafael was completely unmoved and retorted, "Otherwise, should the next generation of Duelists learn those annoying Dueling Techniques from you, which are practically from the Underworld, Hayato Kobayashi? I've been annoyed for a long time. As the Duel King, you always use those strange moves. Their influence on teenagers is immeasurable."
"It's precisely because of that that I've decided to become an educator in the Future! At the very least, I'll correct some of these children from your influence!"
Hearing Rafael's words full of resentment towards him, Hayato shrugged helplessly. "Compared to the result of the duel, you still care more about the process than before. But the pity thing is that I care about the result. No matter how wonderful the process, if the result is a tragedy, I'll be very annoyed."
"As long as I can achieve victory, the means/method doesn't matter." He played a card from his Hand and inserted it.
"Although I was tricked out of a **Mystical Space Typhoon** once, it doesn't matter. **Blazing Duelists** still has one last usefulness. In the Battle Phase, I activate the Quick-Play Spell Card **Double Cyclone**!"
"I can activate this by targeting one Spell/Trap Card on my Field and one Spell/Trap Card on the Opponent's Field. Destroy those cards. And the cards I will destroy are naturally **Blazing Duelists**, which restricted **Invoked Mechaba** from attacking this turn, and that **Guardian's Power** protecting your **Ground Spider**!"
"Although it can provide powerful destruction resistance to the Equip Monster, as well as a continuously increasing ATK/DEF boost, in the end, that card is just a plain card with not very high rarity. It itself doesn't have any destruction resistance!"
Two hurricanes suddenly rose in the Field and collided, sweeping towards the only remaining card on Hayato's and Johan's Back Rows respectively. **Blazing Duelists** and **Guardian's Power** were destroyed together and sent to the Graveyard.
**Ground Spider** [DEF 2500→1500]
As **Ground Spider** lost **Guardian's Power**'s ATK/DEF boost and powerful resistance, **Invoked Mechaba**, the bull-headed monster beast whose lower body was integrated with a chariot, moved its body. Free from its shackles, it was already eager to attack.
And Hayato naturally didn't make it wait any longer. With a wave of his hand, he said, "Then, it's time for battle! Go, **Invoked Mechaba**, the Undying Chariot of Gale and Storm! Stole an Illya!"
Hayato's pronunciation of "Tragoidla" was outrageous, and the attack name was also somewhat meaningless, but when the silver-white chariot began to charge, everything else became completely unimportant. Its aura had overwhelmingly attracted everyone's gaze.
Seeing this, Johan shouted anxiously at his unsightly **Ground Spider** on the Field, "Persist, **Ground Spider**!"
However, **Ground Spider**, which had not awakened a spirit and was just an ordinary Duel Monsters card, could not respond to Johan. And this wasn't the Pokemon Setting, but a Duel Field with detailed values and strict rules. **Ground Spider**, with only 1500 DEF, was no match for **Invoked Mechaba** with 2500 ATK. It was instantly crushed by the wheel and sent to the Graveyard.
As **Invoked Mechaba** returned to Hayato's Field, Johan had a sad expression on his face, looking at the location where **Ground Spider** was destroyed.
Because **Ground Spider** was in Defense Position, Johan didn't take damage from this. Moreover, his Duel Disk had its Virtual Impact Simulation System damage specially reduced to the lowest value, ensuring that younger children wouldn't be affected. However, compared to the physical influence, Johan's state was clearly mainly from his mind.
With his arms crossed over his chest, Rafael looked at the Field and suddenly spoke, "Speaking of which, this is actually Johnny's first duel with someone."
"First time? That child is dueling for the first time?" Atem said in surprise upon hearing this, glancing at Johan. "That's truly amazing talent."
"Iya iya, this isn't just amazing, is it? Is he a genius? When Yugi and I dueled for the first time, I couldn't even remember my own card effects, and as far as I know, most people are pretty much the same," Joey Wheeler said in disbelief. "And he even used quite a few Dueling Techniques. Is it really his first duel?"
"In that case, as expected, just like you said, Rafael, he's a genius in the Duel Monsters Domain," Tristan said, crossing his arms behind his head, looking at Johan, then looking a bit strange. "But what's wrong with him now?"
Rafael sighed, "I said before, Johnny has the rare ability to see the existence of spirits. This ability isn't something every powerful Duelist possesses, but Johnny was born with it."
"In many cases, Duelists seeing the existence of spirits usually happens later than the awakening of the spirits in their own cards. But because Johnny was born with this ability, the normal order is reversed, causing him to feel the spirits slumbering in the cards, but the cards cannot respond to him."
"That child seems optimistic on the surface, but he's actually always been very lonely inside. He doesn't have friends who are the same as him, nor does he have Card Spirit partners."
"But even if that's the case, he still regards every monster as his important friend, even if it's just a one-sided friendship."
After Rafael finished speaking, Atem beside him looked at Johan, whose expression was clearly in a state of sadness. "But, I feel there's more than just sadness on his body. There seems to be something else."
"Because the monsters have never responded to him, coupled with Hayato boy's blow, Johnny boy seems to be doubting himself now, even starting to wonder if he should continue to believe in cards?"
"Did you see that with the power of the Millennium Eye, Pegasus?" Hearing Pegasus's words, Marik glanced at him, also attracting Rafael's unfriendly gaze towards Pegasus.
"NoNoNo, me still has a certain ability to judge people," Pegasus quickly clarified upon seeing this, waving his hand. Looking at Johan, he couldn't help but show a bit of disappointment. "As expected, still an immature child. With that mindset, me is still somewhat unable to entrust the card to him."
Meanwhile, on the Field, Hayato also saw Johan's state, but he didn't say anything to him, merely declaring, "My turn ends here."
The important goal of this duel was to display Johan's ability to Pegasus. Monsters being destroyed would happen countless times again in Johan's duels in the Future. He had to overcome this; Hayato couldn't help him.
As Johan hesitated before drawing a card, Rafael, after thinking for a moment, spoke to him, "Johnny, this is the third lesson, lesson 3."
"Believe in cards. Just believe."
End of Chapter
After activating the Continuous Spell Card, **Blazing Duelists**, amidst the rising BGM, Hayato began explaining the card's effect to Johan:
"As long as **Blazing Duelists** is in the Spell & Trap Zone, both players can only Set one Spell/Trap Card from their Hand once per turn, and monsters Special Summoned from the Fusion Deck cannot attack that turn."
"The latter effect was actually a rule that Seto tried to push before Battle City began, thinking that **Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon** was too strong and needed to be weakened. However, he changed his mind after my persuasion (referring to taking control of **Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon**). This non-existent rule can now only be used through this card."
Hearing Hayato's words, Johan nodded, having learned a story behind Battle City he didn't know before. But then he asked strangely, "But isn't that effect just a pure negative effect? It affects Mr. Hayato even more than it affects me."
"After all, that **Invoked Mechaba** was Special Summoned from the Fusion Deck this turn, but now it cannot attack because of **Blazing Duelists**'s effect."
Hayato smiled upon hearing this. "After all, powerful cards often come with great risk. But it's enough. The puzzle to break through **Guardian's Power** is complete at this moment."
"Enter Battle Phase. I use **Nibiru, the Primal Being** to attack **Ground Spider**!" Just as he raised his hand, Hayato added, "However, I will use the effect of **Blazing Duelists** to negate **Nibiru, the Primal Being**'s attack."
From the huge meteor on Hayato's Field, a humanoid arm actually extended, and then a humanoid creature drilled out of the meteor. This was normal; after all, the meteor's real name wasn't actually a meteor but **Nibiru, the Primal Being**. Although it was Rock-Type, it was indeed a creature, and this humanoid figure was a part of it that had differentiated for the purpose of attack.
However, despite being an original life form, the humanoid figure that emerged from the meteor had long, wavy purple hair and was almost completely naked, wearing only strips of cloth wrapped around its armpits and shoulders, and a loincloth. It struck a demonic stance, making one feel like it would be more suitable to find two other characters with similar artwork to pose under the moon.
And after receiving Hayato's attack command, although Hayato said the attack had been negated, Johan saw the demonic humanoid figure waved its hand, and from its elbows, pairs of slender, long blades grew out like plant growth, reflecting a nearly metallic luster in the sunshine.
Furthermore, it suddenly rushed towards Johan's Field, shouting, "Flow of Light - Brilliant Sliding Blade Style!"
"Watch out, **Ground Spider**!"
Because of the humanoid figure's aura, Johan subconsciously shouted at his **Ground Spider** on the Field. It should have been protected by **Guardian's Power**, unable to be destroyed by either battle or effect, yet facing the humanoid figure's charge, Johan felt a sense of unease.
At the same time, he was also a bit annoyed at himself for being so shocked by the series of plays Hayato had made just now—the wormhole, the meteor, the Continuous Spell Card—that he missed the timing and couldn't activate **Ground Spider**'s effect, a truly scum move.
**Ground Spider**'s effect is that when an opponent's monster is Summoned/Special Summoned while it is in Defense Position, it can change those monsters to Defense Position. If Johan had maintained a calm mindset just now, he could have used its effect when **Nibiru, the Primal Being** was appearing to change it to a fragile Defense Position with only 600 DEF.
Instead of facing an attack whose result he didn't know.
**Guardian's Power** (Spell Counter: 1→2)
**Ground Spider** [DEF 2000→2500]
Although, as Hayato said, **Nibiru, the Primal Being**'s attack was negated by one of **Blazing Duelists**'s effects, whose full scope was unknown, Hayato's attack declaration on **Ground Spider** was a fact. **Guardian's Power** also gained a Spell Counter due to its own effect, increasing **Ground Spider**'s DEF.
But Johan became increasingly uneasy, and **Nibiru, the Primal Being**'s attack had already reached his Field.
What Johan didn't expect was that just as he and **Ground Spider** were ready for battle, the humanoid figure completely bypassed **Ground Spider** and slashed directly at the remaining Set Card on his Back Row!?
It's a monster, yet it can attack a Set Card?!
"Duel Monsters, isn't it strange?" As if possessing the ability to read minds, Hayato spoke, answering Johan's confusion. "The effect of **Blazing Duelists**, when my monster declares an attack, I can activate it by targeting one Spell/Trap Card on the Opponent's Field."
Pointing at Johan's mysterious Set Card, Hayato said, "That monster's attack is negated, and the targeted card is destroyed. Accept this blow! Let your Set Card shatter here!"
As Hayato's words fell, Johan also saw that the blades on **Nibiru, the Primal Being** seemed to have countless tiny sawteeth rotating like a chainsaw. With a casual downward slash, it violently cut through the Set Card on his Back Row!
Before the card shattered, Hayato also clearly saw Johan's Set Card. It was actually the Spell Card **Spell Power Grasp**!?
"**Spell Power Grasp**, which can place Spell Counters on **Guardian's Power**, has the effect to search for another **Spell Power Grasp** from the Deck. Teacher said this is a good card for maintaining Card Advantage, but its flaw is that you can only use one **Spell Power Grasp** per turn."
Johan looked at Hayato, who had an expression like he had just heard "Never Gonna Give You Up" and been scammed. He said shyly but with a hint of being proud, "Keeping it in Hand would mean waiting until the next turn to use it anyway. It's better to Set it on the Back Row; maybe I could trick those who are more cautious. Teacher taught me that, and it actually worked."
"What kind of tricking **Mystical Space Typhoon** is this? Rafael, what have you been teaching this child?" Hearing Rafael's words, Hayato couldn't help but look at Rafael Off-field and rant at him.
But Rafael was completely unmoved and retorted, "Otherwise, should the next generation of Duelists learn those annoying Dueling Techniques from you, which are practically from the Underworld, Hayato Kobayashi? I've been annoyed for a long time. As the Duel King, you always use those strange moves. Their influence on teenagers is immeasurable."
"It's precisely because of that that I've decided to become an educator in the Future! At the very least, I'll correct some of these children from your influence!"
Hearing Rafael's words full of resentment towards him, Hayato shrugged helplessly. "Compared to the result of the duel, you still care more about the process than before. But the pity thing is that I care about the result. No matter how wonderful the process, if the result is a tragedy, I'll be very annoyed."
"As long as I can achieve victory, the means/method doesn't matter." He played a card from his Hand and inserted it.
"Although I was tricked out of a **Mystical Space Typhoon** once, it doesn't matter. **Blazing Duelists** still has one last usefulness. In the Battle Phase, I activate the Quick-Play Spell Card **Double Cyclone**!"
"I can activate this by targeting one Spell/Trap Card on my Field and one Spell/Trap Card on the Opponent's Field. Destroy those cards. And the cards I will destroy are naturally **Blazing Duelists**, which restricted **Invoked Mechaba** from attacking this turn, and that **Guardian's Power** protecting your **Ground Spider**!"
"Although it can provide powerful destruction resistance to the Equip Monster, as well as a continuously increasing ATK/DEF boost, in the end, that card is just a plain card with not very high rarity. It itself doesn't have any destruction resistance!"
Two hurricanes suddenly rose in the Field and collided, sweeping towards the only remaining card on Hayato's and Johan's Back Rows respectively. **Blazing Duelists** and **Guardian's Power** were destroyed together and sent to the Graveyard.
**Ground Spider** [DEF 2500→1500]
As **Ground Spider** lost **Guardian's Power**'s ATK/DEF boost and powerful resistance, **Invoked Mechaba**, the bull-headed monster beast whose lower body was integrated with a chariot, moved its body. Free from its shackles, it was already eager to attack.
And Hayato naturally didn't make it wait any longer. With a wave of his hand, he said, "Then, it's time for battle! Go, **Invoked Mechaba**, the Undying Chariot of Gale and Storm! Stole an Illya!"
Hayato's pronunciation of "Tragoidla" was outrageous, and the attack name was also somewhat meaningless, but when the silver-white chariot began to charge, everything else became completely unimportant. Its aura had overwhelmingly attracted everyone's gaze.
Seeing this, Johan shouted anxiously at his unsightly **Ground Spider** on the Field, "Persist, **Ground Spider**!"
However, **Ground Spider**, which had not awakened a spirit and was just an ordinary Duel Monsters card, could not respond to Johan. And this wasn't the Pokemon Setting, but a Duel Field with detailed values and strict rules. **Ground Spider**, with only 1500 DEF, was no match for **Invoked Mechaba** with 2500 ATK. It was instantly crushed by the wheel and sent to the Graveyard.
As **Invoked Mechaba** returned to Hayato's Field, Johan had a sad expression on his face, looking at the location where **Ground Spider** was destroyed.
Because **Ground Spider** was in Defense Position, Johan didn't take damage from this. Moreover, his Duel Disk had its Virtual Impact Simulation System damage specially reduced to the lowest value, ensuring that younger children wouldn't be affected. However, compared to the physical influence, Johan's state was clearly mainly from his mind.
With his arms crossed over his chest, Rafael looked at the Field and suddenly spoke, "Speaking of which, this is actually Johnny's first duel with someone."
"First time? That child is dueling for the first time?" Atem said in surprise upon hearing this, glancing at Johan. "That's truly amazing talent."
"Iya iya, this isn't just amazing, is it? Is he a genius? When Yugi and I dueled for the first time, I couldn't even remember my own card effects, and as far as I know, most people are pretty much the same," Joey Wheeler said in disbelief. "And he even used quite a few Dueling Techniques. Is it really his first duel?"
"In that case, as expected, just like you said, Rafael, he's a genius in the Duel Monsters Domain," Tristan said, crossing his arms behind his head, looking at Johan, then looking a bit strange. "But what's wrong with him now?"
Rafael sighed, "I said before, Johnny has the rare ability to see the existence of spirits. This ability isn't something every powerful Duelist possesses, but Johnny was born with it."
"In many cases, Duelists seeing the existence of spirits usually happens later than the awakening of the spirits in their own cards. But because Johnny was born with this ability, the normal order is reversed, causing him to feel the spirits slumbering in the cards, but the cards cannot respond to him."
"That child seems optimistic on the surface, but he's actually always been very lonely inside. He doesn't have friends who are the same as him, nor does he have Card Spirit partners."
"But even if that's the case, he still regards every monster as his important friend, even if it's just a one-sided friendship."
After Rafael finished speaking, Atem beside him looked at Johan, whose expression was clearly in a state of sadness. "But, I feel there's more than just sadness on his body. There seems to be something else."
"Because the monsters have never responded to him, coupled with Hayato boy's blow, Johnny boy seems to be doubting himself now, even starting to wonder if he should continue to believe in cards?"
"Did you see that with the power of the Millennium Eye, Pegasus?" Hearing Pegasus's words, Marik glanced at him, also attracting Rafael's unfriendly gaze towards Pegasus.
"NoNoNo, me still has a certain ability to judge people," Pegasus quickly clarified upon seeing this, waving his hand. Looking at Johan, he couldn't help but show a bit of disappointment. "As expected, still an immature child. With that mindset, me is still somewhat unable to entrust the card to him."
Meanwhile, on the Field, Hayato also saw Johan's state, but he didn't say anything to him, merely declaring, "My turn ends here."
The important goal of this duel was to display Johan's ability to Pegasus. Monsters being destroyed would happen countless times again in Johan's duels in the Future. He had to overcome this; Hayato couldn't help him.
As Johan hesitated before drawing a card, Rafael, after thinking for a moment, spoke to him, "Johnny, this is the third lesson, lesson 3."
"Believe in cards. Just believe."
End of Chapter
