"Welcome to the Link Arena."
Saito Tomoki stepped onto the pale blue stream of data, arriving at the center of the circular arena. Azure ripples, like flowing water, materialized into a dueling field. Tomoki stood in the center, his heart filled with anticipation.
Next week would be his debut in the professional circuit.
The Pro Duelist League was a dream stage for countless duelists worldwide. After years of tireless effort, Tomoki had finally reached this vast platform, ready to begin his new life as a professional. Being a pro meant fame, status, and wealth beyond the imagination of ordinary people.
Having trained at a prestigious Duel Dojo, Tomoki was starting to feel that the people around him could no longer satisfy his drive.
He needed pressure! He needed a challenge!
The online competitive Link System recently released by KaibaCorp was the perfect opportunity. He hoped to find motivation in this virtual venue, perhaps even encountering veteran heavyweights from the pro circuit who had also received closed beta access.
In truth, his ultimate goal was to face the shining rookie of the pro league, Aster Phoenixa superstar who used a HERO deck and maintained a perfect win record. Only by facing a master of that caliber could he truly push himself to the next level.
Otherwise, Tomoki felt that as a "genius rookie," it would be quite difficult for him to actually lose.
The Link Arena completed the matchmaking process. Tomoki checked his opponent's ID.
Happy Duel?
An image of a naive, hot-blooded youth overflowing with passion for dueling immediately came to Tomoki's mind.
Probably just some enthusiastic kid who loves dueling, right?
Online IDs were usually aliases, but Tomoki had chosen to use his real name as his ID. It wasn't for any particular reason other than to project the confidence of a genius rookie.
The virtual avatars met on the field. Tomoki got straight to the point. "Are you from the pro circuit?"
Yugen, who had just logged in, blinked in surprise before answering honestly with a smile. "No."
Tomoki was a bit disappointed. "An amateur?"
"Yeah, pure amateur."
"I see."
Great, another seal-clubbing match. This is going to be boring, Tomoki thought.
He deployed his Duel Disk. "Come then, don't hold back. Let me see what you've got."
I'm an expert; getting a pointer or two from me will benefit you for a lifetime, he mused.
Meanwhile, Mokuba had arrived at the sidelines to watch.
"Oh? His opponent right off the bat is a pro... well, semi-pro."
Mokuba checked the opponent's data.
Saito Tomoki, a signed rookie for the pro circuit, making his debut next week.
Mokuba's expression became somewhat complicated as he looked at Tomoki.
The guy has a match next week. I hope his mental state doesn't get completely shattered today...
"Duel!" the two shouted in unison.
[Yugen, LP: 4000]
[Tomoki, LP: 4000]
The indicator light on the Duel Disk flickered, signaling that Tomoki had won the right to go first.
The genius youth glanced at his hand. "I won't slack off just because my opponent is an amateur. My turn, draw! From my hand, I activate the Spell Card, Ancient Rules! This allows me to Special Summon one Level 5 or higher Normal Monster from my hand!"
An ancient scroll unfurled on the field before him. It was painted in a classical style, depicting the image of a Wattaildragon as golden light surged from the parchment.
"From my hand, I Special Summon a Level 6 Normal Monster! The strongest of the Fiend-Type, the king of demons driven by the King of Games himselfSummoned Skull!"
Dark clouds billowed as if churned by an invisible hand, forming a massive vortex. Lightning crackled within the clouds like silver dragons weaving through the gloom.
A massive demonic figure emerged from the darkness. Its body was encased in white bone, looking hideous and terrifying under the flash of lightning. Every shard of bone seemed to whisper tales of endless slaughter and blood.
[Summoned Skull, ATK: 2500]
"Yugi's monster," Mokuba murmured.
Summoned Skull was a Level 6 monster that only required a single tribute but possessed a staggering 2500 ATK. It was a favorite among beatdown players and remained a rare card to this day. Furthermore, new evolutionary forms had been developed for it, and professional teams recognized its potential for even further growth.
Of course, most of the trump cards used by Yugi Muto back in the day had since been proven to have immense developmental potential.
"I set one card and end my turn," Tomoki said.
"Then it's my turn, draw," Yugen said, drawing two cards. "I set one monster in face-down Defense Position and set one card in the backrow. I end my turn."
Hmm?
Tomoki raised an eyebrow, his eyes flashing with disdain.
That's it?
"Such a lukewarm duel will get you eaten alive in the ruthless professional world. Allow me to teach you just how cruel that world can be."
Tomoki smiled confidently.
"Then I shall trouble you for your guidance, senior," Yugen replied politely.
"Naturally! My turn, draw!"
Tomoki drew and immediately pulled two cards from his hand. He discarded one to the Graveyard and played the other.
"Spell Card, Cost Down! By discarding one card from my hand, the Levels of all monsters in my hand are reduced by 2. Therefore, the Level 6 Skull Archfiend of Lightning in my hand becomes Level 4, allowing me to Normal Summon it without a tribute!"
Tomoki held the card high.
"The King of Demons has evolved into a new form through the ages. Descend now as the ruler of lightningSkull Archfiend of Lightning, Summon!"
Countless bolts of thunder fell from the black clouds, exploding across the field. The monster shared a nearly identical silhouette with Summoned Skull, but its body was wreathed in terrifying lightning. Skeletal plates covered it like a suit of armor, and its roar boomed like a physical shockwave.
[Skull Archfiend of Lightning, ATK: 2500]
"There it is, the evolved form of Summoned Skull," Mokuba thought. "Summoning two great demons at once... this rookie isn't half bad."
It's just a pity he's met the wrong opponent. I hope today's duel doesn't affect his debut match next week...
"I activate my face-down card!" Tomoki shouted. "Equip Spell, Rare Metal Armor! As long as the monster equipped with this card is on the field, all of the opponent's card effects that target must choose the equipped monster as the target. I equip Rare Metal Armor to Skull Archfiend of Lightning!"
"Oh?" Yugen rubbed his chin and nodded. "That's an interesting move."
"The range of Rare Metal Armor isn't limited to monsters on the field," Tomoki sneered. "It includes monsters in both our Graveyards and those that are banishedyou cannot target any of them.
Furthermore, activating an Equip Spell on your own monster is also a 'targeting' action, so you can't do that either. If you want to use an Equip Spell, you can only equip it to my Skull Archfiend of Lightning. You can't even activate Monster Reborn, because Monster Reborn must 'target' a monster in the Graveyard."
Tomoki's lips curled into a cold smirk.
Yugen nodded. "And when Skull Archfiend of Lightning becomes the target of an effect, it triggers an additional effect, doesn't it?"
"Hmph, you're quite knowledgeable," Tomoki said with confidence. "Correct! When Skull Archfiend of Lightning is targeted by an opponent's card effect, I can roll a six-sided die. If the result is a 1, 3, or 6, that effect is negated and the card is destroyed!"
"So there's a fifty-percent chance of success," Yugen noted.
"Whoa, this rookie really has something," Mokuba said, starting to look at Tomoki in a new light.
"With this, hasn't a massive portion of Yugen's deck been sealed away?"
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