KC Tournant Semifinals: Yugi vs. Jonouchi
[Jonouchi LP: 4000]
[Monsters: Red-Eyes Darkness tal Dragon (ATK 2800), Red-Eyes Black Dragon (ATK 2400 → 2700, equipped with talmorph), 1 Set Card]
[Yugi LP: 1300]
[Monster: Dark Magician (ATK 2500)]
Jonouchi, riding the montum of three straight wins in the prelims, had beco an unstoppable force—enough to even put the legendary Yugi on the back foot.
"Hmph. So even a second-rate duelist like him could make it this far, huh."
From the spectator stands, Kaiba scoffed as he watched the duel unfold from above. His voice dripped with contempt, but even he hadn't expected Jonouchi to put this much pressure on Yugi.
"You've really gotten stronger, Jonouchi. But now… the real duel begins."
Yugi smirked as he drew his card for the turn.
"My turn! I draw! I activate the Spell Card: Bond Between Teacher and Student! Since I control Dark Magician, I can Special Summon Dark Magician Girl from my Deck in Defense Position!"
A surge of magical energy erupted, and the ever-charming Dark Magician Girl appeared beside her master.
[Dark Magician Girl ★★★★★★ (Level 6)][DARK][Spellcaster/Effect][ATK 2000 / DEF 1700]
"Master, I'm here to help!" she said cheerfully, adjusting her oversized hat as she flew in, riding her wand.
"Then I activate the second effect of Bond Between Teacher and Student! After Dark Magician Girl is summoned, I can Set and imdiately activate the Spell Card: Dark Burning Magic!'"
[Dark Burning Magic Spell Card Effect: If you control monsters whose original nas are "Dark Magician" and "Dark Magician Girl": Destroy all cards your opponent controls.]
A blinding explosion of magical energy tore through the field—Dark Burning Magic incinerated both of Jonouchi's dragons in a single devastating blast.
[Red-Eyes Darkness tal Dragon – Destroyed]
[Red-Eyes Black Dragon – Destroyed]
"No way… that's Yugi for you."
"Jonouchi's got so skill, but compared to Yugi? It's obvious who's stronger."
In just one turn, public opinion completely flipped. The crowd's favor followed whoever had the upper hand—fickle judgnts made by those with no real dueling insight.
Honda: "Don't lose too badly, Jonouchi!"
Anzu: "At least hold out until Hoshino gets back!"
Akasha: "I'm betting a week's worth of snacks Jonouchi's gonna lose!"
Even Jonouchi's closest friends hadn't truly believed he could win.
"Shut up, all of you!" Jonouchi snapped. "I'm still in control of this duel! Who says I'm gonna lose?!"
Rebecca: "In control? Darling just wiped out all your monsters."
But Jonouchi just grinned and flipped over his set card.
"I activate my Set Trap Card: Call of the Haunted! I revive Red-Eyes Darkness tal Dragon from my Graveyard!"
[Red-Eyes Darkness tal Dragon – ATK 2800]
With his dragon back on the field, Jonouchi had a formidable wall to block a direct attack from Dark Magician.
"I Set two cards face-down and end my turn!"
"My turn! Draw!"
Jonouchi looked at the card he drew and broke into an even cockier grin.
"All right! Looks like luck's really on my side today! Watch closely, Yugi—this is the ultimate power of Red-Eyes! I activate the Spell Card: Red-Eyes Fusion!'"
[Red-Eyes Fusion Spell Card Effect: Fusion Summon 1 Fusion Monster that lists a "Red-Eyes" monster as material from your Extra Deck, using monsters from your hand, Deck, or field as Fusion Material, and if you do, its na becos "Red-Eyes Black Dragon". You cannot Normal or Special Summon other monsters the turn you activate this card. You can only activate 1 "Red-Eyes Fusion" per turn.]
Even without Fusion Materials on the field or in his hand, Jonouchi could fuse using monsters straight from his Deck—no wonder he called this the ultimate Red-Eyes move.
"I send Red-Eyes Black Flare Dragon and teor Dragon Red-Eyes Impact from my Deck to the Graveyard to Fusion Summon... the blazing black cot that scorches the heavens—teor Black Cot Dragon!'"
[teor Black Cot Dragon ★★★★★★★★ (Level 8)][DARK][Dragon/Fusion/Effect][ATK 3500 / DEF 2000][1 Level 7 "Red-Eyes" monster 1 Level 6 Dragon monster]
The fiery teor dragon spread its wings and soared onto Jonouchi's field, its burning body illuminating the entire arena.
"When teor Black Cot Dragon is Fusion Summoned: I can send 1 Red-Eyes monster from my Deck to the Graveyard, and if I do, inflict damage to my opponent equal to half that monster's ATK!"
He pulled a burning card from his Deck.
"I send Red-Eyes Alternative Black Dragon (ATK 2400) to the Graveyard! Yugi, take 1200 damage!"
[Yugi LP: 1300 → 100]
"Sorry, Yugi, looks like this duel's mine!"
Jonouchi entered his Battle Phase.
"teor Black Cot Dragon, attack Dark Magician!—teor Black Cot Burst!!"
Faced with the incoming blast from teor Black Cot Dragon, Yugi—down to just 100 LP—acted fast.
"I activate my Trap Card: Magical Hats!'"
Four giant magician's hats appeared and covered the battlefield. One of them concealed Dark Magician, while the others shuffled rapidly to confuse the enemy.
[Magical Hats Trap Card Effect: During your opponent's Battle Phase: Choose 1 monster you control. Take 3 Spells/Traps from your Deck and treat them as Normal Monsters (ATK/DEF 0). Shuffle them with the chosen monster face-down and place them on the field. Then, shuffle them to conceal the original target.]
"Choose wisely, Jonouchi. Only one of these hats contains Dark Magician~"
This was Yugi's usual tactic—no need for explanation. Naturally, the other three Magic Hats were all Trap Cards, just waiting for Jonouchi to fall into one.
"Attack the one on the far left, teor Black Dragon!"
The Black Fla Bullet: teor Burst shot out once again. Guided by beast-like instinct, Jonouchi had chosen his target—and in the very next second, that Magic Hat was engulfed in explosive black flas.
[Dark Magician – Destroyed]
It was proof that when luck is on your side, nothing can stop you. No one expected it—Jonouchi had guessed correctly, despite the one-in-four chance.
Even Yugi's expression faltered for a mont. "You really are sothing, Jonouchi…"
However, since Dark Magician had been turned face-down in Defense Position by Magical Hats, Yugi took no damage this turn despite the destruction.
"Keep going! Red-Eyes Darkness tal Dragon, Black Fla Shot!"
Jonouchi launched another attack, this ti targeting the face-down Dark Magician Girl. Without hesitation, the black flas consud her form.
[Dark Magician Girl – Destroyed]
"Since I activated Red-Eyes Fusion, I can't summon any other monsters this turn. End turn!"
Jonouchi exhaled deeply as he placed the rest of his hand on the Duel Disk. With two Red-Eyes dragons on the field and full Life Points, the advantage was clearly his.
"I'm finally going to win… I've dread of beating Yugi in a duel for so long… I never thought it'd happen today."
Even Jonouchi's friends couldn't help but feel that victory was within reach.
"If Jonouchi defeats Yugi in the semifinals, that'd be huge…"
After all, most duelists around the world had tuned in to see the long-awaited rematch between Hoshino and Yugi—one that never ca to pass during Duelist Kingdom. If Yugi lost now, Jonouchi—the underdog—would stand alone on the final stage.
In the stands, Honda voiced his worry. "If Yugi doesn't make it to the finals, KC Grand Prix's ratings are definitely gonna take a hit…"
Kaiba frowned slightly. "He's just a talentless fool getting lucky. But defeating Yugi with luck alone won't be so easy."
Still, no matter how this duel ended, it was undeniable: the once-obscure Jonouchi had beco a star.
From the bottom tier, he had fought his way to the top—a textbook hot-blooded shonen manga protagonist.
"My turn—draw!"
Yugi drew with a focused expression. From this desperate position, he still held onto determination.
"Jonouchi… Even though this is a duel between friends, I have a reason I absolutely cannot lose. To fulfill my promise with Hoshino, I'll push Dark Magician beyond his limits!"
He flipped over his face-down card. A stone tablet engraved with the Dark Magician's image rose from the ground onto Yugi's field.
"Continuous Trap Card activate—Eternal Soul!"
[Eternal Soul – Continuous Trap Effect:
● Every "Dark Magician" in your Monster Zone is unaffected by your opponent's card effects.
● Special Summon 1 "Dark Magician" from your hand or GY.]
"Thanks to Eternal Soul, return to the field—my most powerful servant!"
[Dark Magician – ATK 2500]
The Dark Magician reappeared, cloaked in the protective aura of the stone tablet, looking even more majestic than before.
"I also activate the Spell Card in my hand—Monster Reborn—to revive from the Graveyard…"
"Rooooar!!"
A familiar roar echoed through the arena. Bathed in the light of resurrection, a mighty silhouette erged.
"I'm reviving your Red-Eyes Black Dragon from your Graveyard, Jonouchi!"
[Red-Eyes Black Dragon – ATK 2400]
"Dark Magician and Red-Eyes Black Dragon…?"
Jonouchi couldn't make sense of it. Both monsters were powerful, sure—but they still didn't compare to the two dragons he had on the field.
"What is Yugi planning…?"
Anzu's heart pounded as she looked at Yugi, who was now holding just one card.
"Jonouchi—!"
Yugi slamd the last card in his hand onto the Duel Disk.
"This duel with you has brought out the ultimate form of the Dark Magician! A miracle born from our friendship will guide to victory! Spell Card—Polyrization!!"
Jonouchi's eyes widened. "Your last card… Polyrization? But your monsters—"
Yugi only had Dark Magician and Red-Eyes Black Dragon on the field. Though they were signature monsters, they had never been fused before… until now.
"The power of the Black Dragon… fused with the ultimate spellcaster! This unlocks infinite potential—Fusion Summon! Red-Eyes Dark Dragoon!!"
[Red-Eyes Dark Dragoon ★★★★★★★★ (Level 8)][DARK][Spellcaster/Fusion/Effect][ATK 3000 / DEF 2500][Materials: "Dark Magician" "Red-Eyes Black Dragon" or 1 Dragon-Type Effect Monster]
[Cannot be destroyed by card effects.]
Magical armor infused with Red-Eyes' design wrapped around the Dark Magician. With black wings unfurling from his back, the newly born Dragoon soared into the center of the battlefield.
"So you fused my Red-Eyes with your Dark Magician... Red-Eyes Dragoon... You really created a monster like that, huh, Yugi?"
Jonouchi's pupils shook. The aura surrounding the Dragoon rivaled even the pressure he felt from facing The Winged Dragon of Ra.
"But… in terms of attack power, my teor Black Cot Dragon is still stronger!"
"Sore wa dou kana?"
With a confident smirk, Yugi crossed his arms.
"Go! Red-Eyes Dark Dragoon's effect—activate!!"
[Once per turn: You can destroy 1 monster your opponent controls, and if you do, inflict damage equal to that monster's original ATK.]
"——Super Dark Fla Slash!!"
A slash of dark, condensed magical energy tore through the air, slicing clean through teor Black Cot Dragon's proud head.
[teor Black Cot Dragon – Destroyed]
[Jonouchi LP: 4000 → 500]
The shockwave swept across Jonouchi. The damage—equal to teor Black Cot Dragon's full ATK—struck him directly, shrinking his pupils in disbelief.
"N-No way… teor Black Cot Dragon couldn't even hold its ground...!"
"But Dragoon's power doesn't end there!"
Yugi raised his hand toward the remaining Red-Eyes Darkness tal Dragon. The terrifying slash of Red-Eyes Dragoon was still available.
"Red-Eyes Dragoon's effect can be activated once per Normal Monster used as Fusion Material! And both Dark Magician and Red-Eyes are Normal Monsters… Now feel the full force of Dragoon!"
The blade of black magic struck again—cleaving Red-Eyes Darkness tal Dragon cleanly in half.
A power beyond limits—just as Yugi had declared—had given the Dark Magician an almost invincible form in this fateful duel with Jonouchi.
[Red-Eyes Darkness tal Dragon – Destroyed]
"Uwaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!"
[Jonouchi LP: 500 → 0]
(*****)
If you'd like to read 25 chapters ahead, please consider joining my Patreon: patreon/ANeet. Your support ans a lot. Thank you!
User Comments
0 comments from readers