Chapter 93: Do You Like My Great Winged Dragon?
"Attack!" Kawaki launched his assault.
Although Nerokius was a Fusion Monster Card, this summoning method did not require Polymerization.
Battle City rules did not apply.
Kawaki wasn't participating in Battle City either, so he naturally wouldn't abide by Seto Kaiba's restriction of Fusion Summoned monsters being unable to attack on the turn they were summoned.
Yu Miao had no means of defense. He had to take this blow from Nerokius.
"Nerokius cannot be destroyed by battle. When this card battles, your opponent cannot activate monster, spell, or trap effects until the end of the Damage Step."
Kawaki roared.
Nero flashed before Yu Miao and punched him squarely.
The tremendous force sent Yu Miao flying, slamming him onto the ground—the pain was truly stimulating.
*[Yu Miao: 6100 LP → 3300 LP]*
"I end my turn."
—I will win.
Kawaki assessed his chances as very high. Yu Miao had zero cards in hand and on the field.
As long as Yu Miao couldn't deal with Nero, he was sure to secure this duel.
Yu Miao struggled to his feet, saying:
"You don't actually think you can win, do you?"
"There's only one outcome for this duel. You and that woman will die in this Shadow Game."
Kawaki was furious but said nothing, fixing his gaze on Yu Miao as if to say, "Draw your card already!"
If he wanted to win, the only path was to draw.
Then he would draw.
Even with a broken arm, he would draw without hesitation.
*My turn, draw!*
Yu Miao drew a card from his deck. Without even looking at it, he held it up for Kawaki to see, stating calmly, "I win."
*Painful Choice.*
Kawaki stared at this Spell Card, muttering: "Show 5 cards from your deck. Your opponent selects 1 to add to your hand, and the rest are sent to the Graveyard..."
As he spoke, five cards lit up.
They were: *Water of Life, Water of Life, Water of Life, Premature Burial, Premature Burial.*
"Come on, Kawaki, pick your poison," Yu Miao accidentally spoke his mind but quickly corrected himself: "Ah, I misspoke. Hurry up and pick a card for me to add to my hand."
This was the true "value" of "Painful Choice."
Kawaki licked his teeth. He did feel a bit bitter—a bitterness that grew heavier, so intense he almost shed tears.
Finally, Kawaki said resentfully, "You're insane, stuffing your deck with so many revival cards."
Most normal duelists would run only one Monster Reborn in their deck; some might add one Premature Burial.
But no one was like Yu Miao, filling their deck with multiple copies of Water of Life and Premature Burial...
Yu Miao's goal was simple: to revive The Winged Dragon of Ra from the Graveyard.
That foolish Yami Marik kept obsessing over that single Monster Reborn. Yu Miao was different—he maxed out on all cards that could revive a God.
Question Marik, emulate Marik, surpass Marik—You Miao had already transcended Marik.
The Winged Dragon of Ra belonged in the Graveyard. The main strategy was revival.
Kawaki fell silent.
Which one to choose?
Water of Life or Premature Burial—either would allow Yu Miao to revive The Winged Dragon of Ra this turn...
He called it a choice, but was there really a choice?
What difference did it make which one he picked?
How bitter! Kawaki knelt on the ground, clutching his head and screaming:
"You damn! You're just insane!"
"Are you choosing or not? If not, I'll choose for you." Yu Miao had waited long enough.
Kawaki's eyes were bloodshot. He didn't want to choose, he didn't want to decide, he didn't want to be forced!
"Hmm, I see. Looks like you want me to choose for you." Yu Miao added "Water of Life" to his hand.
With Soul Charge added, the remaining cards were all sent to the Graveyard.
Painful Choice—there was no real choice at all. Those so-called choices were paths the enemy had already paved for you.
The true meaning of this Spell Card was the cruelty of entry.
In Yu-Gi-Oh!'s Forbidden & Limited List, Painful Choice might be even harder to escape from than Pot of Greed.
Unless it got nerfed several times over.
"All your choices were sealed from the start." Yu Miao held victory in his grasp.
Ding~
Spell Card, *Water of Life*!
The effect of this Spell Card activated. Golden liquid droplets fell from above, landing beside Yu Miao.
This potent "Water of Life" was "piercing" the Graveyard, reviving a certain tsundere brat.
Whoosh~
Golden divine flames erupted... Not even the confines of the Shadow Game could conceal this scorching blaze.
"If you control no monsters: Target 1 monster in your Graveyard; Special Summon it in Attack Position. However, for the rest of this turn, you cannot activate the effects of monsters except the Summoned monster."
"Return, my little tsundere brat!!"
Yu Miao raised his arm. Behind him, a "Golden Phoenix" once again emerged!
*The Winged Dragon of Ra:*
"Nyah nyah nyah~ You pathetic loser, I'm back again!"
"If even a loser like you could do what I do, that would be so cool~"
The moment the Golden Phoenix revived, Yu Miao crossed his arms and shouted: "Activate the first Quick Effect! The Winged Dragon of Ra, transformed into the Golden Phoenix, attacks you directly! At the same time, all monsters on your field are sent to the Graveyard, and... savor the pain of your soul being burned!"
Kawaki knelt on the ground, unable to utter a word.
He had lost. Everything was gone.
Was this the despair those duelists whose souls he stole felt before dying?
"Please... spare Ada. I'm willing to use..." Kawaki attempted to negotiate terms.
However, You Miao didn't listen. He ordered the little tsundere to attack.
A divine cry!
The Winged Dragon of Ra, transformed into the "Golden Phoenix," spread its wings and mercilessly descended upon Kawaki!!
Amidst the relentless inferno, divine flames devoured Nero...
Within the golden flames, Kawaki tasted the same agony Aida had endured moments before.
Enhanced by the Shadow Game, the soul-burning flames of The Winged Dragon of Ra were only more potent.
"AAAAAAHHHHHH!!!" Kawaki's face was contorted by the flames.
Thump~
Finally, Kawaki, emitting wisps of smoke, collapsed onto the ground.
Motionless.
*Winner: Yu Miao!*
*[Notice: Congratulations on winning the duel. Obtained EXP 12,000]**
*[Notice: Pleasant surprise! Obtained Crystals 800]**
*[Notice: Mission "The Leader's Responsibility" completed...]*
*[Notice: Rewards distributed. Please check...]*
The Shadow Game's consumption slowly swallowed Kawaki and Ada, who was bound above.
Ishizu and Mai closed their eyes, unwilling to watch this scene.
Yu Miao showed no expression. Those who used "Orichalcos" were bound to pay the price sooner or later.
Losing a Shadow Duel meant paying the price.
If you didn't want to pay, you had to keep winning.
The Shadow Game dissipated, replaced by the disappearance of Kawaki and Ada. Not even their bodies remained.
In a way, this cruelty was even more brutal and merciless than the Orichalcos.
Yu Miao quietly walked over to pick up their duel disks. Leaving cards unclaimed was a cardinal sin.
Although the first-generation Gladiator Beast engine was slow, it still possessed considerable power.
Yu Miao planned to give the Gladiator Beasts to panther Lady.
"Thank you." Mai approached Yu Miao to express her gratitude, her previous resentment now gone.
Yu Miao replied indifferently, "Just a little thing."
He needed to complete "The Leader's Responsibility" anyway. Kawaki and Ada couldn't have escaped regardless.
"What happened to those two?" Mai still found it hard to accept such an outcome.
Her concept of Shadow Games was limited to the Duelist Kingdom arc, where Pegasus sealed Grandpa Muto and Mokuba.
Only when the Shadow Game was personally dissected did its inherent pain and deeper cruelty become apparent.
"They're gone."
"What else?"
Finally, Yu Miao gave Mai a piece of advice.
"Shadow Games... you'd best not touch them."
"Stay safely in the world of light."
"Only those with true resolve can survive in the world of Shadow Games."
The cost of a Shadow Game wasn't something everyone could bear.
In the Doma arc, when the Yami Yugi lost a duel, the price that should have been paid was borne by Yugi instead.
The Yami Yugi, having lost Yugi, lived like a walking corpse, but at least the Orichalcos offered a chance for remedy.
In a standard Shadow Game, Yugi might not have had any chance of being saved.
If Yugi were truly gone, would the Yami Yugi go mad and turn to darkness?
This was the cruelty and the price.
When it came to resolve in Shadow Games... the highest level didn't belong to that guy who constantly shouted "kimoji" (feels good) and took pleasure in tormenting others—Yami Marik.
In the Battle City finals, when Dark Marik realized he was about to be consumed by the Shadow Game, his appearance wasn't much better than Kawaki's just now.
The one deserving of respect was Hell Kaiser.
He was a duelist who truly accepted the price of death when facing a Shadow Game.
Jaden likely reached that level later too, as seen when he severed ties with his former companions.
Jaden understood the cruelty of Shadow Games. He didn't want anyone else to sacrifice themselves. It was better for his companions to live in the light and enjoy dueling happily.
Of course, there might have been an element of disdain them for being weak.
"..."
"Huh? Why can't I find it?" Yu Miao looked surprised. He finished organizing Kawaki's deck and picked up Ada's cards from the ground.
Ishizu noticed something was off and asked, "Are you looking for the Orichalcos Seal?"
Yes, Yu Miao was looking for the Orichalcos Seal.
This seal was a good thing. Perhaps Yu Miao could even create cards like "Orichalcos - Red" or "Orichalcos - Orange."
"Is this it?" Mai handed over two strange cards.
Yu Miao took them and examined them. He noticed the card images were entirely gray, the names blurred, and the effect text areas completely blank.
If he wasn't mistaken, these two cards should be the Orichalcos Seals from Kawaki and Aida's decks.
Yu Miao sighed...
Probably after being bitten by the snake, Darts had become much more cautious.
Darts must have forbidden Yu Miao from stealing his power again.
At this moment.
While Battle City was in full swing...
Across the city, card shops were doing phenomenal business.
Just imagine—with so many duelists competing, they would inevitably strive to outdo each other to win!
The most direct way to win was undoubtedly to strengthen one's deck.
How to make a deck stronger?
Acquire powerful rare cards, of course.
What's the most direct way to get rare cards?
Spend money on card packs at the card shop!
Thus, during Battle City, every card shop owner was grinning ear to ear.
Among them, a certain shop with the best reputation was raking in the most profits.
(End of Chapter)
Note: I'm new to translating so please be kind and tell me any mistakes you all find, I will try to release a chapter a day but don't expect much
Please support the original author: 纯爱战神l
Raw: 我在游戏王里不当人
please also support the artist: @kanari981 on twitter/X