Chapter 9: Sacrifice for the Greater Good

“My turn, draw.”

【Hayato: Hand 4→5】

After drawing a card and taking a look, a look of joy appeared on Hayato’s face.

At the same time, he placed the card he had just drawn along with another monster card from his hand onto the field.

“I summon another ‘Death Stalker’ in attack position, and then, I use this magic card targeting him.”

Hayato summoned yet another “Death Stalker” and placed a magic card into the magic zone corresponding to that column.

Within the blue border, the card art depicted a demonic blade that looked inherently sinister.

“Soul-Eating Demonic Blade?” Yugi recognized the card. “If I remember correctly, its effect is a magic card that turns other companions besides the target monster into sacrifices?”

“That’s right. Sacrifice yourself for the greater good, ‘Death Stalker’ No. 1. This is a necessary sacrifice.” Hayato sent the “Death Stalker” in defense position—which had been revived by “Time Machine” earlier—to the graveyard.

“Feeding on the souls of fallen comrades, each monster used as a sacrifice increases the attack power of ‘Death Stalker’ No. 2 by 1000 points!”

“Death Stalker”, ATK 900→1900

“Following the Prime Minister’s legacy, I strike down the traitor who usurped the Han. ‘Death Stalker’, attack ‘Dark Dragon King’!”

“Using ‘Time Machine’ to preserve your forces, then using ‘Soul-Eating Demonic Blade’ to consolidate that power. That’s a truly impressive combo, Hayato.” Yugi smiled as he placed “Dark Dragon King” into the graveyard zone.

Yugi: 2000LP→1600LP

“It’s nothing, really.” Hayato was humble with his words, but he couldn’t suppress the expression on his face. Did you hear that? The first-generation Duel King, Yugi Muto, just praised my play. I’m so proud~

“Then, I end my turn.” Placing “Soul-Eating Demonic Blade” into the graveyard, Hayato ended his turn.

【Hayato: Hand 5→3】

It is worth noting here that in the early rules of *Yu-Gi-Oh!*, not only was there no distinction between magic and trap cards, but there were no sub-categories for magic cards either. Fusions could be activated during the opponent’s turn, and equip spells would remain in effect after use even though the card itself was sent to the graveyard—these were all unique phenomena of the early days, and it wasn't until later that categories like “Normal Magic,” “Quick-Play Magic,” and “Equip Magic” were gradually introduced.

Therefore, Hayato’s play here was not a mistake.

“Hayato is really amazing, summoning a monster with 1900 attack points in just one turn.” Jonouchi, who was watching from the sidelines, exclaimed. “I can’t believe such a powerful monster was summoned so early.”

“If Yugi can’t summon a monster with higher attack power than 1900, there’s no way he can deal with Hayato’s ‘Death Stalker’.” Honda had also begun to understand some of the rules.

However, Yugi, entering his own turn, did not feel as much pressure as Jonouchi and the others imagined.

“My turn, draw.”

He drew a card without adding it to his hand. Yugi looked at Hayato with his “Karsland-sized” big eyes and said, “1900 attack points is truly impressive. Even though it only had 900 originally, it reached such heights through cooperation with its companions (Sacrificed “Death Stalker”:???). That’s top-tier attack power even among all warrior-type monsters.”

“Originally, the monster with the highest attack power in my hand was ‘Minotaur’, but 1700 attack points is still a distance away from 1900.” Yugi said as he placed the card he had just drawn onto the field. “However, the monster I just drew is this one.”

Hayato’s eyes went wide as he looked at the card Yugi had drawn. The reason was simple: he had this card too, and it was—

“Dark Knight Ga—ia—!!!”

The Dark Knight, riding a warhorse and wielding a cavalry lance, was summoned to the field in attack position. With 2300 attack points, it was considered top-tier for this era. Even with the attack boost from “Soul-Eating Demonic Blade,” the 1900 attack points of “Death Stalker” stood no chance against Gaia.

“‘Dark Knight Gaia’, attack ‘Death Stalker’.” Yugi ordered the attack without mercy.

This time, “Death Stalker” had no “Time Machine” to save its life. It was easily destroyed by Gaia and sent to the graveyard, leaving Hayato’s field completely empty.

“I end my turn.”

Without setting any cards, Yugi ended his turn just like that.

【Hayato: 2000LP→1600LP, Hand 3】

【Yugi: 1600LP, Hand 5→6→5】

Looking at Yugi’s empty backrow and the Gaia in attack position, Hayato thought to himself, *“If this were the actual card game, I would have wiped you out in one turn.”* But unfortunately, Hayato’s own ace was also Gaia, and even if he drew Gaia this turn, it would be useless, resulting in a mutual destruction for both sides.

“My turn, draw.”

What caught his eye was a yellow border: “Sacred Knight Artorigus.” If Gaia hadn’t appeared, summoning this might have been a good choice. But Gaia’s 2300 attack power was enough to crush any monster currently in Hayato’s hand.

Rather than wasting a rare, decent card like this, it would be better to use some other vanilla monster to stall for now.

“I summon ‘Earthbound Warrior’ in defense position, and end my turn.”

【Hayato: Hand 3→4→3】

He sent a weakling from his hand to act as a wall. With stats of 500/1200, it had no ability to withstand Gaia’s attack and could only serve to delay.

“Eh? I thought Hayato would summon some powerful monster too.” Honda looked at the “Earthbound Warrior” Hayato had placed on the field, feeling a bit confused.

Jonouchi curled his lip and said, “Stupid Honda, do you think powerful monsters are that common? Yugi’s Gaia can already be considered a super-powerful monster. Never mind 2300 attack points, even monsters with over 2000 attack points are rare, okay?”

“My turn.”

Yugi drew a card from his deck. He didn’t summon any other monsters, instead having Gaia attack the “Earthbound Warrior” on Hayato’s field directly.

Over the next three turns, Yugi did the same, using Gaia to destroy the monsters Hayato placed on the field one after another— “Celtic Guardian,” “Judge Man,” and the third “Death Stalker.”

【Yugi: 1600LP, Hand 7】

【Hayato: 1600LP, Hand 3】

Even though his hand reached the limit time and again, forcing him to discard, Yugi chose not to summon more monsters to give Hayato an opening. His defense was truly airtight.

To achieve victory, Hayato’s only way out was to defeat the “Dark Knight Gaia” that stood before Yugi like a towering mountain.

“Turn end.” Sending another card from his hand to the graveyard, Yugi did not become impatient or irritable due to Hayato’s constant defensive stance. He appeared quite calm and patient—it’s no wonder he would go further and further down the path of heavy backrow traps in the future.

“Then, my turn.” Placing his hand on the deck, Hayato prepared to draw. But suddenly, he had a strange feeling in his heart.

It was as if he could guess what the next card was.

(Although this is a battle between noobs that’s even worse than the launch of the Yu-Gi-Oh! DL national server, it seems a bit dragged out? But it will end in the next chapter. A spoiler in advance: Yugi wins. After all, the gap in deck quality between the two sides is there.)

(End of chapter)