Yugen squinted to assess the newcomer.
"Thief Keith?" he said with some uncertainty.
"Wow, someone still recognizes me?"
The man took off his sunglasses, revealing a disconcerting grin.
It was indeed him.
Thief Keith, the minor boss of the early Duel Kingdom Chapter in "Yu-Gi-Oh! DM." He was once known as a "Card Expert" bounty hunter in the United States, undefeated at the peak of his career and hailed as the National Champion, a Duelist star with immense power and promising prospects.
Until the day he challenged the Father of Duel Monsters, Beckas. Beckas didn't even personally take the stage; he sent a kid to duel in his place while he chatted with Seto Kaiba in the audience. Unexpectedly, that kid used only the strategies from a small note Beckas provided to defeat Keith, crushing his self-esteem and setting him on a path of darkening and downfall.
But that was ancient history from the early DM days; he should have retired long ago.
Though he dressed similarly over the years, his appearance had changed quite a bit since then, so Yugen only confirmed his identity when Keith admitted it himself.
However, that still didn't explain why Thief Keith would appear in the Elf Realm.
"I can feel the power within you, evil, devouring power." The Holy Elf warily eyed Keith, "You're the Evil God's agent."
"Tsk, power is power, what's evil about it?"
Thief Keith lit a cigarette, flicking the lighter with a snap.
He exhaled a smoke ring and leisurely told Yugen, "Thanks to Muto Yugi and Joey Wheeler, I once plunged into the mire of despair, but with the help of divine power, I have been reborn in flames.
Thief Keith is long dead; now all that remains is a swordsman chosen by a god."
He paused, took a drag, and pointed to the engraved image behind Yugen.
"And now my mission is here for that, the legendary Warrior's power from the elves is ours for sure. So my apologies, kid, but I can't let you live to leave this place. But don't worry, you won't die immediately."
He puffed smoke again, grinning.
"You've made it here, so I assume you must be special. Your soul might serve as good nourishment."
Thief Keith flicked away his cigarette, crushed it underfoot, and with a rustle, unfolded his Duel Disc.
"Come on then. One of us, today, can leave here."
"Thanks for the invite, but I'll pass."
Yugen took two steps back, facing him, his Duel Disc also unfolded.
"Keep the chance to be monster fodder to yourself."
"Duel!" x2
[Yugen, LP 4000]
[Thief Keith, LP 4000]
"I go first, draw a card." Thief Keith said, "I'll activate 'Pot of Greed' from my hand to draw two cards from my deck.
Then set a monster in face-down defense position on the field, and set another card facedown as well, end my turn."
Yugen: "My turn, draw."
In the first turn, Keith only set a monster and card, keeping his strategy secret.
Originally Keith appeared in the Duel Kingdom Chapter, where everyone used no-tribute summon rules, a simple environment dominated by the likes of 'Blue-Eyes White Dragon.' It has been nearly ten years since those days, making that competition hardly relevant.
Besides, Keith now seems to have allied with another force, so it's uncertain what deck he's using.
For now, focus on my own duel.
"Summon 'Summoning Monk,' in defense position!"
[Summoning Monk, Defense Power 1600]
Summoning in face-up defense position is unique to animation rules; in reality, cards are either summoned in attack position or set face-down.
However, this makes no difference for "Summoning Monk" as it has the special effect of "switching to defense position when successfully summoned."
"Activate Summoning Monk's effect." Yugen said, "Once per turn, discard a Magic Card from your hand and Special Summon a Level 4 Monster from the deck."
Yugen placed a card on the Duel Disc, which automatically slipped into the graveyard zone.
"I'll Special Summon 'Black Forest Witch' from the deck!"
[Black Forest Witch, Attack Power 1100]
"Then, from my hand, I'll activate the Equipment Magic Card 'Magical Wand' on 'Summoning Monk.'
This card can equip Mage race monsters, increasing the equipped monster's attack power by 500."
[Summoning Monk, Attack Power 800 → Attack Power 1300]
"Summoning Monk switches to defense position when successfully summoned." Thief Keith said indifferently, "Strengthening its attack power is pointless?"
"Activate 'Magical Wand's' second effect!" Yugen waved again, "By sending this card and the equipped monster to the graveyard, draw two cards from the deck."
Summoning Monk and the wand dissolved into light particles, forming golden beams that flew into Yugen's deck. He drew two cards.
"Now activate the Magic Card 'Silent Magic Burst' discarded for Summoning Monk's effect!" Yugen said, "By banishing 'Silent Magic Burst' from the game, add a 'Silent Magician' monster from the deck to your hand.
Therefore, I'll add 'True Silent Magician' from the deck to my hand."
The Duel Disc carried out the search protocol, ejecting a card. Yugen drew it into his hand, the deck then automatically shuffled in its slot.
"'True Silent Magician' can't be normally summoned but can be Special Summoned by sacrificing a Mage race on the field.
Therefore, I'll sacrifice the Mage race 'Black Forest Witch' on the field!"
The black-robed witch dissolved into golden light, energy gathered on the ground forming a white Magic Array, the transparent white magic transformed into a swirling storm.
"Carrying hopes on silent wings, Light Mage, appear——
——True Silent Magician, summon!"
The white Magic Robe fluttered in the radiant storm, slender snowy legs glimpsed beneath the robe. The silent girl slowly opened her eyes, the Magical Staff deftly twirled twice as she grasped it firmly.
[Silent Magician, Attack Power 1000]
"At this moment, 'Black Forest Witch's' effect activates." Yugen waved his hand, "When the Witch is sent to the graveyard, add a monster with 1500 or less Defense Power from the deck to your hand.
Therefore, I'll pick this card..."
The deck again auto-searched, another card clicked out, and he drew it into his hand.
"Add the 1500 Defense Power 'Artificial Human - Telekinesis Intimidator' to my hand!"
"Artificial Human..."
Upon seeing that card, Keith slightly curled his lips, emitting a soft snort.
The card brought back memories of a rival.
Joey Wheeler dealt him a heavy blow in Duel Kingdom, eliminating him and plunging him deeper into the abyss.
Though at that time Joey didn't have this card. But after Joey rose to fame, Artificial Human Soga became known as one of his iconic rare cards. So although Keith never faced Joey's Soga in an actual duel, just associating it with his foe irked him.
"Unpleasant memories?"
As Yugen drew the searched card, the deck auto-shuffling, he coldly observed his opponent.
"None of your business." Thief Keith retorted coldly, "Sooner or later, I'll drag those who stepped on me into the darkness with my new power.
But one thing at a time, I'll deal with you first. Continue the duel then."
"As you wish."
Yugen replied calmly.
"True Silent Magician's Attack Power increases by 500 points per card in my hand. With the 'Artificial Human - Telekinesis Intimidator' I just added, I have six cards in hand.
Thus, Silent Magician's Attack Power rises by three thousand!"
His six cards seemed to emit an invisible pulse; transparent magic poured into the Silent Magician. Her Magic Staff swept, magic storms erupted, stirring the skirt, forming an invincible aura.
[True Silent Magician, Attack Power 1000 → Attack Power 4000]
"Starting with a monster equivalent to Obelisk Level..." Keith frowned.
He finally noticed; the opponent's sequence of operations, continuous card draw and search, then summoned a key monster while still holding six cards, creating a monster comparable to Obelisk Level.
Keith vaguely realized.
This opponent might also be no ordinary Duelist.