"My… turn…"
Sweat beaded on Jonouchi's forehead, his mind filled with the image of his little sister.
In Jonouchi's memory, the last time he saw Shizuka was on a videotape.
"I want… to see big brother one last time…"
Those were the final words Shizuka left behind.
"For Shizuka's eyes… I have to win!" Jonouchi's gaze hardened with resolve.
"Heh heh heh… how interesting." Pegasus peered into their thoughts with the Millennium Eye.
Two people with deep friendship—now tearing at each other for the ones they cherish most. At this point, skill doesn't matter. The one with the stronger spirit will win, Pegasus thought.
"Draw!"
Jonouchi looked at his card—then clarity sparked in his eyes.
"Yugi—this is the last card I drew: Black Flare Blast!"
He thrust the card forward for Dark Yugi to see.
"Black Flare Blast…?" Dark Yugi murmured.
"I never expected Jonouchi to draw that at the very end," Kisaragi said. "It means the Red-Eyes deck answered his determination… but—"
"Yugi! I activate Black Flare Blast immediately! This card targets my Red-Eyes Black Dragon and inflicts damage to you equal to that Red-Eyes' original ATK!"
"Then that means…?" Anzu breathed.
"Right—Yugi will take 2400 damage, Red-Eyes Black Dragon's original ATK!" Bakura said.
"Looks like the Goddess of Victory is smiling on Jonouchi Boy," Pegasus remarked.
"Go—Red-Eyes Black Dragon! Black Flare Blast!"
"Jonouchi—now I activate my Dark Cavalry (Super Magical Knight—Black Magic Cavalry)'s second effect!" Dark Yugi snapped.
"When a Spell/Trap/Monster effect that targets a card on the field is activated, I can discard 1 card—then negate and destroy that activation!"
Dark Yugi discarded a card. The black flame gathering in Red-Eyes' mouth dispersed—snuffed out.
"And because another Spell card has now been added to the Graveyard," Dark Yugi continued, "Dark Cavalry's ATK increases by 100!"
Dark Cavalry (4800/2300)
"Then I'll do it again!" Jonouchi shot back.
"I Normal Summon Red-Eyes Archfiend of Lightning—Evil Demon once more! Yugi, even if your Dark Cavalry has 4800 ATK, its DEF is only 2300. If I destroy it, I still win!"
"Jonouchi—you're forgetting that monster's effect!" Honda shouted. "You'll get your monster destroyed!"
"No," Kisaragi said, eyes narrowed. "Dark Cavalry can't stop it."
"Huh? Why not?" Anzu asked.
"Is it the difference between targeting and non-targeting effects?" Bakura said.
Kisaragi nodded.
"Yugi's Dark Cavalry can only negate effects that clearly target a specific card," Kisaragi explained. "Like Black Flare Blast, which targets Red-Eyes Black Dragon—so it could be stopped."
"But Red-Eyes Archfiend's destruction effect wipes all monsters whose DEF is lower than its ATK," Bakura added. "It doesn't pick a single specific target—so it's non-targeting. Dark Cavalry can't negate it."
"Targeting, non-targeting… my head's spinning!" Honda groaned, clutching his hair.
"Go! Red-Eyes Archfiend of Lightning—Evil Demon! Destroy Yugi's Dark Cavalry!" Jonouchi declared.
"Heh… it's over," Pegasus said.
But then—chains snapped into place around the Archfiend. It couldn't move. It couldn't attack. It couldn't even activate its effect.
"What?!" Pegasus and Jonouchi both shouted.
"When you re-summoned that monster," Dark Yugi said evenly, "I activated this card."
"Continuous Trap—Fiendish Chain!"
"This duel… is Yugi's win," Kisaragi said quietly.
"Fiendish Chain seals one Effect Monster," Anzu explained. "That monster can't attack, and it can't activate its effects."
"Damn it!" Jonouchi grit his teeth.
"I switch Red-Eyes Black Dragon and Red-Eyes Archfiend to Defense Position! Turn end!" (Cards in hand: 2)
It's fine, Jonouchi thought. As long as Return of the Red-Eyes is still there, no matter what he destroys next turn, I can bring it back.
Dark Yugi's Turn
"My turn—draw!"
"Jonouchi," Dark Yugi said, voice soft but merciless, "you're thinking about how to survive this turn… aren't you?"
"What?!" Jonouchi stiffened.
"Then let me tell you Dark Cavalry's third effect: when this card attacks a Defense Position monster, it inflicts piercing damage—battle damage equal to the amount its ATK exceeds that monster's DEF."
The fire in Jonouchi's eyes finally wavered. He lowered his head—tears dripping down.
"Battle…!" Dark Yugi's own eyes brimmed with tears. This is the cruelty of dueling.
Jonouchi sank for a moment—then lifted his head, facing what was coming like a man.
Dark Yugi felt Jonouchi's resolve… and chose to answer it.
"Dark Cavalry attacks Red-Eyes Archfiend of Lightning—Evil Demon!"
At the instant the attack landed, Jonouchi didn't flinch. Watching him stand his ground, Mai's eyes shimmered—and a single tear slipped free.
Jonouchi Katsuya LP 100 → 0
Dark Yugi Wins!
"Winner: Mutou Yugi!"
"Now the finalists of Duelist Kingdom have been decided: Mutou Yugi versus Kisaragi Aoi. The duel will begin in three hours. Please prepare."
Pegasus stood and left the arena.
"Game Boy… you truly are worthy as a Millennium Item bearer," Pegasus said. "I'm looking forward to the final."
After the match, everyone gathered together.
"I lost…" Jonouchi's voice was heavy. "Looks like getting Shizuka's medical fees is going to be a long road after all."
"Shizuka?" Mai asked.
"She's Jonouchi's little sister," Anzu explained. "She has an eye condition, and the surgery costs a lot—so Jonouchi entered this tournament."
"Kisaragi," Mai said softly, glancing at her. "The finals are you versus Yugi…"
Kisaragi stepped forward.
"Jonouchi—no matter whether Yugi wins or I win, the prize money will be yours," she said. "Right, Yugi?"
"Yeah," Yugi agreed. "I entered to free my grandfather's soul. If Kisaragi doesn't care about the money, neither do I. Jonouchi… use the prize for your sister."
"Kisaragi… Yugi… thank you."
Join here to read ahead.
In Star Rail, Ultra-Beast Armored — Have I Caught "Equilibrium"? l (Chapter 80)
Uma Musume, But I Only Have Five Years Left to Live (Chapter 178)
Zenless Zone Zero: I'm a Doctor, Not a Bangboo (Chapter 115)
Ben Tennyson Wants to Join the Justice League ( 126 )
TYPE-MOON: Redemption Beginning with the Holy Grail War (Chapter110)
Yu-Gi-Oh! — Transmigrated into the White Dragon Girl (Chapter116)
"Is this chat group even serious?" (Chapter82)
I, Lord Ravager, Utterly Loyal! (Chapter144)
Can Playing Games Save the World? 65
Crossover Anime Multiverse: The Demon Hunter of an Unnatural World 77
From Junkman to Wasteland 66
Weekly Refresh of Overpowered 31
I'm Grinding Proficiency Like 46
From Kiana, Lord Ravager, Onwa 118
Honkai: Is This Still the Prev 42
Elf: My Starter Pokémon Is Inc 65
Warhammer: My Primarch Is Remi 111
From Demon Slayer to Grand Ass 80
The Way the Umamusume Look at 68
Uma Musume, but My Cheat Power 112
Naruto: Weaving the Future, Be 65
Zenless Zone Zero, but Kamen R 76
Multiverse Crossover: The Perf 66
My Cyberpsycho Girlfriend 65
Uma Musume: The Dark Trainer 80
Uma Musume: A Calamity Born fr 74
I, a Reincarnation-Loop Player 48
The Violent Girl Group Is Beat 50
Uma Musume: The Horse Girl Who 47
Uma Musume: From Beginner 42
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