Yu-Gi-Oh! The Pitfall Hero

*This card is a "Red-Eyes" card.

-

"Attack power 900...?"

Looking at the black dragon that had just appeared, Yusei's eyes were filled with a thoughtful light.

As we all know, high-star, low-attack effect monsters generally have extremely powerful effects.

The fact that Tenjouin Fubuki chose to Special Summon Crimson Soul, which has less than 1,000 attack power, instead of reviving the higher-attack Crimson Eyes Black Dragon from the graveyard, must mean she had her own reasons.

With only 2800 attack power, the Red-Eyes Dark Steel Dragon is clearly no match for the Ice Sword Dragon, which has 3000 attack power.

"When 【Red-Eyes Soul】 is on the field, its card name can also be used as 【Red-Eyes Black Dragon】..."

Tenjouin Fubuki waved her finger and continued, "Then, I'll activate the third effect of [Crimson Soul], dealing damage equal to the attack power of my [Red-Eyes Black Dragon]!"

Copy the card name, then unleash a weakened version of the effect damage.

The true Red-Eyes deck has truly been figured out by Tenjouin Fubuki.

As expected, its ultimate fate is to rely on its healing effects to reduce the opponent's health!

...Who in their right mind would play a Souls-like game with a berserker's eye? They'd only get beaten up!

Yusei: "Damn it...!"

As Tenjouin Fubuki finished speaking, the undead dragon, shrouded in white mist, opened its mouth wide in Yusei's direction and spat out a ball of crimson-black fire.

—Black Flame Bullet (Small)!

Compared to the previous meteor shower, this attack was significantly weaker, both visually and in terms of damage.

However, in a dark duel, even such an attack is enough to cause great damage to the opponent's body!

"……Well!"

"...Yusei!!!"

Amidst the gasps of Jaden and Asuka, Yusei, who had taken a direct hit from a black flame bullet, was sent flying backward, crashing just short of the platform's edge.

A little further ahead lies a vast ocean of lava; the consequences of falling into it are unimaginable.

"Hehehe... Yusei! Give me a full taste of the terror that darkness brings!" As Yusei's body was blasted away by the black flame bullet and then fell to the edge of the platform, Tenjōin Fubuki couldn't help but let out a smug laugh.

……

As Yusei was blasted away by the black flame bullet.

Kaiser Ryo gazing at the sea from the harbor; Manjoume awakened from a dream; Daitoku-ji Temple, embracing the Pharaoh and looking towards the crater; and Chronos, wearing fairytale-style pajamas and sleeping in a wretched position like a dead pig…

The holders of these keys to the Seven Star Gates all simultaneously felt a strange resonance.

The key on their chests was a reminder of one thing—

Right now, someone is engaged in a fierce battle with the Seven Star King!

"Did I do something wrong...? Maybe I've made an irreversible mistake..."

"Let these young people get involved in this terrifying battle that we absolutely must win..."

In the pitch-black principal's office at the Duel Academy headquarters, Principal Samejima, clutching his head, wore an expression of pain mixed with regret.

After handing the key to the seven people, he remained in this state, contemplating his choices and the gains and losses.

Deep down, he seemed to realize that entrusting such a heavy responsibility to those students might be too much of a burden.

As the principal, he should have set an example and protected his students.

But at this moment, he could only place his hopes on the chosen young people, and then cowardly hide behind them...

In this situation, the principal's disqualification falls under...

"Please, everyone, make sure to protect the key to the Seven Star Gate!"

Turning his head to look out the window, Principal Samejima let out a heavy, helpless sigh.

……

"It hurts, it hurts..."

Getting up from the ground and slowly straightening his body, Yusei subconsciously reached out and touched the chest that had been hit by the black flame bullet.

Even with the physical enhancement from the power of the spirits, Yusei still felt an extremely intense pain just now.

900 points of damage... nearly a quarter of a person's health.

Numerically speaking, it might not seem like much.

But experiencing it with your body is a completely different story.

(Yusei LP: 2600→1700)

"Oh? Yusei... You were directly hit by the Black Flame Bullet, and you're still able to stand up so quickly? It seems I underestimated you!"

As Yusei swayed and stood up again, a look of surprise flashed in the depths of Tenjōin Fubuki's eyes, hidden beneath her mask.

Sure enough, this guy is quite troublesome!

If someone else had been chosen as the initial target, the battle might have already been over by now.

"...Stop it! Stop the duel! Brother Fubuki!"

Asuka watched Yusei struggle to his feet, now covered in wounds, and a look of pity flashed in her eyes.

Facing the Darkness-possessed Tenjōin Fubuki across from her, she let out a pleading cry.

"Ah you are……?"

Upon hearing this voice, Tenjōin Fubuki turned her gaze towards Asuka's direction.

For some reason, there was no information about this girl in the intelligence he had.

Therefore, from the very beginning, his attention was not on her.

"...Tenjōin Asuka is your biological younger sister."

"But even if I say it now, you still won't understand, right?"

From beneath her collar, Asuka retrieved the key to the Seven Star Gate, hidden within the giant's heart, and held it in her hand. She proposed, "I also hold this key... Now, I'm giving it to you. Please spare Yusei and the others..."

339 Time is about to accelerate!

"..."

"…Asuka?"

There was a long silence.

Upon hearing Asuka's request, Tenjouin Fubuki stopped what she was doing.

"You mean... you want me to let them go?"

Finally, Tenjouin Fubuki responded to Asuka's words.

He spoke words tinged with amusement, directed towards Asuka.

“That’s right… If the key alone isn’t enough, in exchange, I’m willing to take Yusei’s place and be sealed inside the card you possess.”

With her pink lips slightly parted, Asuka uttered words that were astounding as a thunderbolt.

Voluntarily giving up a duel is tantamount to surrendering, which means choosing defeat as the outcome.

The loser in the Dark Duel will have their soul devoured, and their body will become an empty shell.

The cost can only be described as extremely high.

"Asuka? You..."

For the sake of Yusei and their immediate safety, Asuka actually chose to sacrifice herself.

Even someone as oblivious as Jaden Yuki couldn't help but see a dazzling brilliance called courage in Asuka at this moment.

As for Yusei, it goes without saying.

If the occasion weren't so inappropriate, he would have loved to rush up and hug the girl tightly, and then confess his love to her.

"it is good……"

"...Wait a minute!"

Just as Asuka closed her eyes, intending to become the sacrifice for the Dark Duel in place of Yusei, Yusei's voice suddenly echoed in her ears.

"When did I... become so degraded that I need to be protected by a girl?"

Yusei, who had come to Asuka's side, spoke calmly and reached out to stop her self-sacrificing act: "Besides, I haven't given up yet!"

"Youxing..."

Opening her eyes, Asuka turned her head to look at Yusei beside her. Her red lips were slightly parted, as if she wanted to say something.

However, in the end, she didn't say anything and obediently stood behind Yusei.

"Fubuki... no! Brother-in-law, let's continue our duel!"

Yusei, who had been deliberately avoiding his feelings, finally chose to confront his true feelings at this moment.

Life is short, so we should enjoy it while we can.

Now that things have come to this, there's no need to deliberately suppress my feelings anymore.

"...Hmph! Who's your brother-in-law!"

Upon hearing Yusei's address to her, Fubuki Tenjōin's face immediately revealed a visible expression of disdain.

Even with a mask covering nearly half of his face, it's still clear from the exposed lower half that he is undeniably a handsome man.

The black trench coat he was wearing at that moment also enhanced his appearance.

Judging from appearances alone, the still young Yusei is undoubtedly somewhat inferior to Fubuki.

But it's only a little bit.