Summoner Monk appeared face-up in defense, its DEF at 1600. While face-up defense summons were an anime rule, this made no difference for Summoner Monk, whose effect forced it into defense upon being summoned.
"Summoner Monk's effect activates," Yugen said. "Once per turn, I discard one Spell Card from my hand to special summon a Level 4 monster from my Deck."
He placed a card onto the Duel Disk, and it slid into the graveyard. "I special summon Witch of the Black Forest from my Deck."
Her ATK was 1100 as she appeared on the field. Yugen continued, "Next, I activate the Equip Spell 'Wonder Wand' from my hand, equipping it to Summoner Monk. This card can only equip to a Spellcaster Type monster, and the equipped monster gains 500 ATK."
Summoner Monk's ATK rose from 800 to 1300. Bandit Keith spoke flatly, "Summoner Monk must switch to defense when summoned. What is the point of raising its ATK?"
"The second effect of 'Wonder Wand' activates," Yugen said, sweeping his hand. "By sending the equipped monster and this card to the graveyard, I draw two cards from my Deck."
Summoner Monk and the wand dissolved into light, streaming back into Yugen's Deck as he drew two cards. He did not pause.
"Next is the Spell I discarded earlier, 'Silent Burning.' I banish it from my graveyard to add one 'Silent Magician' monster from my Deck to my hand. I add 'Silent Magician' to my hand."
The Duel Disk completed its search, and the card popped out smoothly before the Deck shuffled itself. Yugen raised the card.
"'Silent Magician' cannot be Normal Summoned, but it can be Special Summoned by tributing a Spellcaster Type monster on the field. I tribute Witch of the Black Forest."
The black-robed witch dissolved into golden light, energy pooling into a white magic circle on the ground. Transparent mana rose and spun like a small storm.
"Wings of silence that bear hope, Magician of light, appear now. Silent Magician, summon."
White robes swayed within the shining storm, long pale legs briefly visible beneath the hem. The silent girl opened her eyes, spun her staff twice with practiced ease, and held it steady.
Silent Magician stood with 1000 ATK. Yugen lifted his hand again.
"At this moment, Witch of the Black Forest's effect activates. When she is sent to the graveyard, I add one monster with 1500 or less DEF from my Deck to my hand."
The Deck searched once more, and a card snapped out into his hand. "I add 'Jinzo' to my hand."
"Jinzo," Keith muttered.
The card stirred an old memory. In the Duelist Kingdom, it had delivered another crushing blow, knocking him out and pushing him deeper into ruin, all at the hands of Katsuya Jonouchi. At the time, Joey Wheeler had not even owned that card, but after his rise, Jinzo became one of his iconic Rare Card as a Legendary Duelist. Even without facing him directly, the association alone left Keith irritated.
"Bad memories?" Yugen asked calmly.
As the Deck finished shuffling, he watched his opponent closely. "None of your business," Bandit Keith replied coldly. "Sooner or later, I will drag everyone who stepped on me into the dark with my new power. But first things first. I will deal with you. Now continue the Duel."
"As you wish," Yugen said.
"Silent Magician gains ATK equal to my hand size times 500. With Jinzo added, I have six cards in hand. That means her ATK increases by 3000."
The six cards in his hand seemed to release invisible waves that poured into Silent Magician. She swept her staff, and unseen force burst outward, lifting her skirt and forming a firm barrier around her.
Silent Magician's ATK rose from 1000 to 4000. Bandit Keith frowned. "Starting out with a monster on the level of Obelisk Dorm."
Only now did he fully realize it. After a full LV Series sequence of drawing, searching, and summoning his ace, Yugen still held six cards in hand. In a single turn, he had created a monster rivaling the level of Obelisk Dorm.
Keith understood it then. This opponent was anything but ordinary.
Yugen gave the order without hesitation. He moved straight into the battle phase and pointed forward, his voice steady as he commanded the attack.
"Silent Magician, attack the face-down monster."
Silent Magician spun her staff lightly twice, and a white magic circle spread beneath her feet. Surging white light gathered into her hands and then burst forward like a rushing tide, sweeping flat across the opposing field.
The face-down monster flipped open, revealing a huge tomato with a wide, vicious grin, crouched in defense position. Mystic Tomato, DEF 1100.
A tomato like that had no chance of withstanding Silent Magician's power, and the massive stream of light blasted it apart into dust in an instant. Fragments scattered before dissolving completely.
"Heh, fell right into it!" Bandit Keith shouted. "At this moment, my set card activates too!"
A card in his back row flipped up with a sharp motion, the projection of a Trap Card rising into the air. Its light flickered as its effect was declared.
"Trap Card - Just Desserts! When a monster is sent to its owner's Graveyard, you can destroy one monster on the field! (ANIME EFFECT)"
With a cold grin, Keith pointed straight at Yugen's side of the field. His voice carried sharp malice as he gave the order.
"That annoying magician leaves the stage here. Destroy 'Silent Magician'!"
Golden light burst from the Trap Card, and the destroyed Mystic Tomato seemed to fire out in ghostly form. Like a wailing spirit, it lunged toward Silent Magician, dragging with it a sense of violent force.
"Then I activate the Quick-Play Spell 'My Body as a Shield' from my hand!"
As Yugen swung his arm, rolling streams of data formed the image of a Spell Card in front of him. The effect resolved immediately, cutting into the flow of the attack.
"When the opponent activates an effect that includes 'destroy a monster on the field,' I pay 1500 Life Points to negate that activation and destroy it!"
The spell took effect, and the tomato's ghostly force veered sharply away from Silent Magician before crashing straight into Yugen. He staggered back half a step, wincing as the impact landed.
Yugen, LP 4000 to LP 2500.
"So this really is a Shadow Duel. The pain feels real," he muttered.
Seeing her master take the hit meant for her, Silent Magician froze in shock. She clutched her staff and looked at him with clear concern, her expression caught between worry and confusion.
"Oh?" Bandit Keith sneered coldly. "A Duelist taking damage for his own monster? Cards are just weapons, just tools. A real strong one knows how to use every piece on the board."
He paused, then laughed under his breath, lips curling upward. His tone was thick with contempt.
"The strong rule the weak. That is an unchanging truth. A so-called Duelist is just a warrior who can enslave the strongest creatures. Victory means paying any price. Everything except the king who commands can be thrown away!"
Yugen narrowed his eyes at him, silently thinking that this guy had serious problems. If he had not blocked the attack, his field would have been empty next turn anyway.
Then another thought struck him, and he realized this was a perfect chance to build rapport. He immediately put on a strained expression, gritting his teeth as if enduring pain while he spoke.
"You're wrong. A Duelist is someone who trusts their monsters and trusts their Deck. Every card is chosen from countless possibilities, connected to the soul, and irreplaceable. Someone who can't understand that doesn't deserve to be called a Duelist, no matter how much power they gain!"
He reflected that while he had never been good at writing essays, he had never missed a generation of Yu-Gi-Oh! anime. Speeches about bonds and trusting one's deck were everywhere, and copying one on the spot was easy.
The result seemed effective. When Silent Magician looked at him again, her normally icy face was filled with emotion. Yugen guessed that if affection could be measured, there would be a huge increase right about now.