# Chapter 40: You've Never Borne Such a Burden
After cutting the Silverclaw Wolf in half with a single slash, Gagaga Swordsman chased after Yuya once more.
"Gagaga Swordsman can attack again this turn due to its own effect!"
Gagaga Swordsman caught up to Yuya and slashed out with its sword again.
Seeing the sharp blade rapidly approaching, Yuya lunged, snatching a card from atop the collapsed Ferris wheel.
"Action Card, Evasion!"
"Negate the attack of one of your opponent's monsters!" Although he narrowly dodged Gagaga Swordsman's long blade, when he fell from the air, he was tripped by the gravel on the uneven ground, tumbling and crashing into the railing beside the Ferris wheel.
Sharp building debris left numerous small wounds on Yuya's body. He tried to stand, but the pain made it impossible for him to continue.
"Yuya!" Yuzu cried out anxiously at the sight.
Yūga Hōzumi slowly approached the fallen Yuya, bent down, and picked up a battered teddy bear from the ground, gently wiping away the dust clinging to it.
"This is Starlight Amusement Park, Heartland City's largest amusement park, the place where Heartland City once had the most laughter. If not for this war, my professional debut match would probably have been held here," Yūga Hōzumi said, sighing as he looked at the surroundings devastated by the flames.
"It was also here, on that day, during the performance exchange competition held by the Four Major Academies of Heartland City, that our enemies suddenly appeared. To cover the retreat of the civilians, all the principals of the Four Major Academies were killed in battle that day, did you know that? That day in the car, an old geezer even said he'd take me to be a lifeguard at the girls' swimming competition at the Academy in a couple of days," Yūga Hōzumi stated.
"From that day on, I, Yuto, and Shun, all began to bear the expectations of all the survivors behind us. We cannot lose a single duel. If we lose, it's not just us—everything we protect will be irrevocably lost. Tell me, what right do we have to smile?" Yūga Hōzumi said softly, placing the cleaned plushie on a relatively flat spot nearby before gazing at Yuya.
After speaking, Yūga Hōzumi sighed softly, "Why am I telling you all this? You've never shouldered such burdens. All you know is how to make people laugh."
"I..." Yuya looked into Yūga Hōzumi's eyes, wanting to say something but not knowing how to begin.
"So, if you want me to laugh, give me a reason first! Your idiotic father, for some ridiculous reason, rescued the commander of those invaders I painstakingly defeated! We don't know how many of our comrades-in-arms will pay with their lives for this in the future, and now you want me to laugh?" Yūga Hōzumi roared, releasing his killing intent without reservation, and raised his hand, declaring: "Utopia the Onomatopoeia, direct attack!"
Little Utopia slashed Yuya, and Yuya's body flew out uncontrollably like a puppet, crashing beneath the collapsed skyscraper.
Yuya LP: 2300 → 800
"The Battle Phase ends. I overlay the Level 4 Utopia the Onomatopoeia with Dododo Golem."
"The lonesome gunslinger of the desert, descend here! Fire that silver bullet! Xyz Summon! Rank 4! Gagaga Gunman!"
The mellow sound of a harmonica echoed as a masked cowboy, clad in a tattered red cape and wearing a cowboy hat, slowly emerged from the Stardust Vortex summoned by Yūga Hōzumi.
Gagaga Gunman DEF: 2400
"He has no more ways to attack, so he's strengthening his defense by putting it in Defense Position?" In the audience stands, Gongenzaka looked at Yuya, who was struggling to stand, and said with a worried expression, "But in this state, will Yuya even have the strength to counter-attack next turn?"
But before his words even faded, Yūga Hōzumi spoke again, his voice echoing through every corner of the empty stadium: "I activate Gagaga Gunman's effect! While in Defense Position, this card can detach one Overlay Material each turn to inflict 800 damage to the opponent."
As Yūga Hōzumi's words fell, a golden orb of light circling Gagaga Gunman transformed into a stream of light, entering the revolver in its hand. Aiming and firing was a single, fluid motion.
Yuya LP: 800 → 0
After a single gunshot depleted Yuya's remaining Life Points, Yūga Hōzumi immediately put away his Duel Disk and turned to leave.
A moment later, Yūga Hōzumi emerged from the competitor channel and arrived at the audience stands where everyone was gathered. Seeing Yūga Hōzumi's expressionless face, Yuzu and Gongenzaka cowered in silence.
"When will the cards you mentioned arrive?" Yūga Hōzumi asked, looking at Reiji Akaba, who had observed the entire spectacle.
"How about after the second phase of this tournament concludes, following the Lancers' founding ceremony? After all, we need some production time."
"Alright. Though I apologize for one thing: the person you had high hopes for seems to have had his spirit broken," Yūga Hōzumi said, glancing back at the crestfallen Yuya Sakaki in the field.
"Such a small setback won't knock him down. If he were to fall just like that, he wouldn't be able to pursue that person's shadow," Reiji Akaba said, adjusting his glasses.
"If you have such confidence in him, then so be it. But remember to keep a closer eye on him in the future. Otherwise, I don't mind breaking his spirit again," Yūga Hōzumi said, then turned and walked towards the stadium exit with Yuto and Shun.
...
After returning to his room, Yūga Hōzumi finally had time to open the system. As soon as the system interface appeared, a series of reward notifications came one after another.
[Congratulations, Host, for defeating Sora Shiun'in for the first time]
[Reward: Random Number Monster ×1, Random XYZ Monster ×3, Generic Spell/Trap Dream Scroll ×1, Generic Spell/Trap Card Pack ×3]
[Congratulations, Host, for defeating Yuya Sakaki for the first time]
[Reward: Random Number Monster ×1, Random XYZ Monster ×3, Generic Spell/Trap Dream Scroll ×2, Generic Spell/Trap Card Pack ×5]
[Detected that Host has acquired Generic Spell/Trap Card Pack. The Shop has now unlocked the Generic Spell/Trap Card Pack. Price: 500 Gold Coins]
"It's time for my favorite part: the lottery! For the sake of my career in this world, I'm sure my future kids won't mind me staying single for a few more years," Yūga Hōzumi muttered to himself, rubbing his hands.
"Let's open the Number Card Pack first this time. Shitty System, don't mess with me!"
[Number 50: Blackship of Corn Unlocked]
[Number 91: Thunder Spark Dragon]
"Targeting, non-destruction removal for a single target, and a non-targeting field wipe? Sounds pretty decent."
Next, Yūga Hōzumi opened the six Random XYZ Monster Card Packs.
[Blade Blaster Unlocked]
[Digital Bug Corebage Unlocked]
[Gem-Knight Pearl Unlocked]
[Inzektor Exa-Beetle Unlocked]
[Symphonic Warrior Sword Conductor Unlocked]
[Gem-Knight Pearl Unlocked]
"Why is it this vanilla monster again? And two at once? Can't this shitty system have a recycling mechanism?" Yūga Hōzumi grumbled, looking at the messages popping up from the system.
Subsequently, Yūga Hōzumi opened a total of eight Generic Spell/Trap Packs, for a total of 24 cards.
A golden flash passed, and 24 cards appeared in Yūga Hōzumi's hands. After inspecting them carefully, Yūga Hōzumi found it hard to keep his composure.
"Shitty System, do you have some misunderstanding of the word 'generic'? Out of these, besides one Solemn Judgment and one Cosmic Cyclone, which one can even be called generic? What's with giving me five Red Potions? Do you just call any Spell/Trap without an archetype 'generic'?!"
...
(end of chapter)