Chapter 4: Duelists Are Forbidden from Leaving the Ring to Fight
A true duelist should possess the calm composure of a mountain unmoved even as it crumbles before them. No matter the circumstances or the opponent, they must remain unshaken, never allowing impulse to override rational judgment.
Koji Sato closed his eyes, taking deep breaths, repeatedly reminding himself of this principle—
—Hitting your opponent is against the rules.
Because facing the bastard before him, remembering that was easier said than done.
With his last two cards rendered useless, Koji bit his lip and reluctantly declared the end of his turn. It was Yugen’s turn again, and the torment resumed.
“Draw.”
Yugen drew a card from his deck.
Koji’s field was completely empty—both front and back—like a little girl tempting someone to break the rules. In this era, before hand traps had flooded the game, an empty field was akin to running around naked, making it effortless for the opponent to press the attack without restraint.
Without hesitation, Yugen slapped down the monster card he just drew.
“I summon ‘Leader Zarug’ in attack position!”
A grizzled one-eyed warrior appeared on Yugen’s side of the field, an eye patch covering one eye.
[Leader Zarug, ATK 1400]
“Battle phase,” Yugen commanded. “Leader Zarug attacks the player directly.”
The warrior obeyed, drawing two revolvers and firing like a deadly gunslinger. A volley of projected bullets tore through Koji’s form, the invisible impact staggering him back half a step.
The newest dueling system developed by Kaiba Corporation summoned monsters not as mere holograms but with tactile impact devices. Though incapable of inflicting real harm, they simulated realistic force and mild pain to enhance immersion.
[Koji, LP 4000 → LP 2600]
Taking the direct hit, Koji exhaled deeply. At least it was just a weakling with 1400 attack; he could still hold on.
But then Yugen smiled: “Leader Zarug’s effect activates. When this card inflicts battle damage to the opponent, I may choose one of two effects:
One, discard a random card from the opponent’s hand.
Two, send the top two cards of the opponent’s deck to the graveyard.”
Koji’s eyelid twitched violently.
“Wait, are you… you’re going to…”
His face twisted in horror, his body instinctively retreating.
“That’s right, I choose the first effect,” Yugen said. “Erase one more card from your hand.”
With a bang, Zarug fired again. One of Koji’s remaining two cards was instantly perforated with a projected bullet hole.
Gritting his teeth, Koji sent another card to the graveyard, eyes blazing with fury.
Now he had only one card left…
This wasn’t just any duel he had ever lost, nor was Yugen the strongest opponent he’d faced.
But this was definitely the duel that made him most want to smash something.
Not a single card played so far—can you believe it?
“Set two cards face-down and end my turn.”
Two more face-down cards appeared in Yugen’s back row.
Seeing those two abyssal face-down cards, Koji’s previous contempt vanished, replaced by a suffocating breathlessness.
More traps? Please, no…
Please, just let me play a card…
The unfolding duel had clearly confounded the onlookers. Students on both sides exchanged bewildered glances, utterly at a loss.
This duel… how to put it?
It felt bizarre—deeply, disturbingly bizarre.
---
Looking for fast-paced offense and defense or a clash of power? None here. Only a fiend bent on breaking spirits.
Want to see rapid summons and dazzling big monsters? Nope. Just a sinister player relishing the psychological torment.
So far, not a single card has been successfully played by either side, leaving nothing tactical to analyze or critique. And every move, every card played by Yugen seemed permeated by two words—
—Revenge on society.
He hadn’t even summoned a monster, nor attacked Koji’s life points. His entire approach silently declared: I may not win, but you absolutely will never enjoy playing Yu-Gi-Oh today.
Isn’t that exactly revenge on society?
“You’re not dueling correctly, junior brother…” Koji tried to maintain the image of a patient senior, but his twitching facial muscles and quivering voice betrayed his composure.
Yugen smiled silently, politely gesturing “please,” signaling it was his turn again.
That said, duelists all know Yu-Gi-Oh is a cruel game; one side just needs to manage to play somewhat decently.
Reluctantly, Koji lifted his duel disk again.
“Then… my turn…”
He bit his lip hard.
Only one card left in hand—and it was an equip spell. No monster to summon, utterly useless.
This was the fateful draw.
But a true duelist never gives up. As the legendary Duel King Yugi Muto said, trust your deck; it will answer your call.
He believed in the bond between himself and his deck.
Koji’s fingers hovered over the deck as he took a deep breath, silently praying.
Come on, Autumn Pear Syrup! Give me a level-four monster!
He drew a card with an almost soulful flourish.
Upon opening his eyes and glimpsing the card, Koji’s pupils dilated in shock, nearly bursting into triumphant laughter.
It was here!
Not only had he drawn a summonable monster, but it was “Magic Lizard Yigao,” a four-star with 1850 attack. A perfect 50 points higher than the highly sought-after 1800-attack beaters, making it the strongest low-level monster in his deck.
Indeed, the deck had answered his call!
However, just as a smile curved Koji’s lips, heralding a counterattack, his grin froze upon noticing an unfamiliar face-down card flipped in Yugen’s back row.
Trap Card—Smash Trap, Unit 2.
Activated during the draw phase, the drawn card was immediately sent to the graveyard.
Koji: “............”
“By Smash Trap’s effect,” Yugen said politely, “please discard that card as well.”
Koji’s lips nearly bled from biting hard. With a grimace, he sent his key comeback card, Magic Lizard Yigao, to the graveyard, then looked down to find only that solitary equip spell left in hand.
“Turn… turn ends,” Koji muttered in frustration.
“Then it’s my turn… draw.”
Yugen glanced at his draw—another trap card.
His hand overflowed with red traps, but the opponent seemingly had no cards left to disrupt. Adding the card to his hand, he waved casually.
“Leader Zarug, attack directly.”
[Koji, LP 2600 → LP 1200]
“Zarug’s effect activates again. Naturally, I choose the first effect.”
Yugen pointed to the last card in Koji’s hand.
“Discard that one too.”
Koji watched helplessly as his final card joined the graveyard, suddenly regretting not setting it last turn—even if it might not have changed much.
His mind shattered, utterly forgot that small detail.
“Turn ends.”
“Then my turn… draw.”
This time Koji didn’t even look at his draw, eyes locked on Yugen’s back row, silently asking, No traps, right? Can I really draw now?
Yugen smiled and nodded, letting him pass.
Having barely survived the draw phase, Koji entered his standby phase on the verge of tears.
He never imagined, even in dreams, that drawing a card could feel like such a luxury.
Looking at the card in hand, his spirits lifted anew.
“Grudge Killer Doll,” level four, 1600 attack.
Ordinarily an unremarkable monster, but now a lifeline. Zarug’s 1400 attack meant he finally had a chance to strike down that hand-hating menace.
Koji couldn’t wait.
“I summon ‘Grudge Killer Doll’ in attack position. Attack ‘Leader Zarug’! Beat him down, go to hell…”
“Calm down, calm down, buddy. Duel with a smile,” Yugen teased.
“Besides, don’t rush. It’s not battle phase yet. I activated a trap card just now.”
He pointed to the face-down card now revealed.
“Trap Card—Forced Return Device. Return one monster on the field to its owner’s hand.
I’m sending ‘Grudge Killer Doll’ back to your hand.”
The trap took effect, and the doll wielding its axe barely steadied itself before vanishing in a golden flash back to Koji’s hand.
Koji: “............”
That was his only card.
And he’d just used his only normal summon this turn.
Clearly, he had no cards left to play.
The next move was obvious: he could do nothing but end his turn, and that cursed Zarug would attack again, discarding his last card…
No, actually, it wouldn’t even come to that.
Because his life points were down to 1200—one more hit and he’d lose.
Yet Yugen did not manage to bring Koji’s LP to zero.
Before the next turn began…
Koji was caught by surrounding students as he attempted an illegal direct attack on Yugen himself, disqualified, and declared the loser.
---
The duel was over.