Yu-Gi-Oh! The Pitfall Hero

"...This time, our target is Yusei, who is several times more troublesome than Jaden Yuki. Therefore, the personnel we send this time are of a much higher caliber than before!"

Extending his index finger and waving it back and forth in front of Napoleon's eyes, Manjoume smiled smugly before his eyes narrowed into slits: "Hehehe... Yusei, that guy, should have accepted the duel by now, right?"

"Then, only destruction awaits him..."

"...After all, this time his opponent is Mr. X, who is ranked above Ed Phoenix!"

……

...

"Hmm... So it really was that Manjoume guy's challenge? I didn't really want to come..."

"However, it wasn't my personal choice for that guy to become like this, so... I'll reluctantly accept the challenge."

"...Let's find a suitable opportunity to give him a friendly face-breaking punch."

Looking at the duel location sent by Manjoume on the communication device, Yusei, who had followed the navigation to a hidden cave entrance, raised an eyebrow and then stepped into the cave.

This place is the Water Curtain Cave that X visited before.

Clearly, Manjoume sent Yusei a fake address, deliberately leading him to the place where X was waiting.

"...So you've finally arrived! Yusei!"

The moment Yusei stepped into the cave entrance, the sensor that X had previously placed at the entrance was triggered.

Starting from the cave entrance, bursts of light suddenly appeared as light bulbs were turned on.

With the continuous illumination of multiple light bulbs, the entire cave was soon bathed in light, making it appear as bright as day.

Ed, who had been hiding in the shadows, was startled by the sight and quietly shrank back into the darkness where no light shone.

"Hmm...who are you? The address that Manjoume sent should be here, right? How come there's this strange old man here?"

As he entered the cave, Yusei, with a slightly puzzled expression, looked at the man—X—who was positioned in the very center of the light.

Standing in the center of the cave, X bowed slightly in Yusei's direction and then raised the Duel Disk he was wearing: "Hehehe... that boy in the white uniform won't be coming. Tonight's duel is entirely in my hands."

"Yusei, come and fight me!"

“...Give me a reason to duel with you.”

Crossing his arms and taking the initiative, Yusei raised his head, striking a pose that appeared quite arrogant to outsiders.

If you just call it a duel, wouldn't I lose face?

Besides, I don't even know who you are!

"Heh... So, the reason for the duel?" Pushing up his glasses, X pondered for a moment before smiling faintly, "My name is X, and I am a professional duelist..."

"...Yusei, I'm very interested in you now that you've defeated Ed Phoenix, so I came all the way from the main island."

"In any case, as a duelist, I want to fight you."

Curiosity about the strength of powerful duelists is an essential element of a qualified duelist.

After hearing that Edward had been defeated by a student named Yusei, X, who was curious about him, seized this rare opportunity and came to Duel Academy. With the help of Manjou's arrangement, he was able to have a one-on-one match with Yusei.

Yusei: "Hmm...you know Edward?"

X: "Heh... She's a very strong duelist, possessing unparalleled strength and limitless potential, but for now, I'm still ranked higher!"

X, who had been smugly straightening his body and using Edward as a reference point, slowly curled the corners of his mouth into a smile: "Yusei, I think... you must also be very interested in knowing my strength, right?"

“Indeed, after hearing what you said, I am quite interested.” Stroking his chin, Yusei then smiled and said, “Then, let’s begin our duel as you have suggested!”

Edward: "...Yusei, you actually agreed to the duel with that guy!"

Upon hearing their conversation, a dazed look appeared on Edward's face.

Although she wanted to refute X's words and prove that she was stronger than him, it was an undeniable fact that she ranked lower in the professional league rankings due to her later debut.

So, after rolling his eyes in exasperation, Ed Phoenix, no longer wanting to dwell on the topic, turned his attention back to the two who were about to begin their duel.

Yusei, the man who used the same Hero Deck as him, and who defeated him in a duel by using strange tactics. X, a veteran who was already active in the professional league before he became famous, possessing terrifying dueling skills.

What would it be like if these two fought?

Edward was quite looking forward to the upcoming results.

Having lost to Yusei, she seemed to have found a sliver of enjoyment in dueling, beyond her destiny of revenge.

520 What kind of ten-life great philanthropist?

"Interesting... I accept your challenge!"

After listening to X's self-introduction and learning that he was Edward's senior in the professional league, Yusei, who was quite interested in X's strength, immediately raised the Duel Disk he was carrying.

"Hehe... Well then, let's begin! Duel!"

Without needing to say anything more, after receiving Yusei's affirmative answer, X pushed up his glasses and simultaneously raised his arm: "...Duel!"

(X LP: 4000)

(Yusei LP: 4000)

"Well then, let's start with me. Draw a card!" X placed his right palm on his chest, gave a slight bow, and then drew a card from the Duel Disk.

"First, I activate the Spell Card [Hand Card Annihilation] from my hand! Both players discard all cards in their hands, and then draw cards from their decks equal to the number of cards discarded."

Right from the start, X locked onto both players' hands without hesitation, activated spell cards in response, and sent all of each other's cards to the graveyard.

Thanks to the effect of this magic card, both players will draw five new cards from their decks.

"Hmm... so it's a major reshuffling of the cards in your hand right from the start?"

Sending his five cards to the graveyard, Yusei raised an eyebrow and subconsciously uttered a sigh.

At the same time, he seized the opportunity and activated the effect of the card that had just been sent to the graveyard: "At this moment, I activate the effect of [Elemental HERO - Lady of the Mist] that was just sent to the graveyard, and search for one [HERO] monster card other than her from my deck. I choose to search for [Elemental HERO - Sky Knight]!"

Yusei waved the Sky Warrior he had taken from his deck in front of X, and then added it to his hand.

"...Huh? A card that triggers a search effect while being sent to the graveyard? Interesting."

Watching Yusei's chain of actions, X nodded and then stretched out his arm in imitation: "Then, I will also activate the effect of the trap card that was just sent to the graveyard - [Moth Lantern LV4] (anime card). If this card is sent to the graveyard by an effect, I can Special Summon a Level 4 or lower monster from my Deck."

"...Come forth, Trap Disruptor (Attack Power: 800)!"

A purple and white land robot with three large legs appeared in front of him as X spoke.

Just like its name suggests, this monster has the effect of interfering with trap cards.

"Next, I'll lay two cards in wait, and then the turn ends."

After X Special Summoned a monster using the effect of a Trap Card, he did not perform any deployment actions.

After burying two cards in his hand in the back row, he waved his hand to end his turn.

"Well then, it's my turn next!"

Placing his palm on the deck, Yusei abruptly drew the top card: "...My turn, draw!"

"Wait... At this very moment, I pay 1000 life points to activate the Continuous Trap Card—[Monster Counter]!"

During Yusei's preparation phase, X waved his hand and revealed a face-down card in the back row.

As he moved, a mimic with a ferocious human face appeared on his field.

(X LP: 4000→3000)

Yusei: "...[Monster Counter]? A Trap Card, is it?"

X: "That's right! According to the effect of this card, each time a monster is summoned, both players must send a card with the corresponding level number to the graveyard."

X straightened his body smugly, a knowing look on his face.

"...If you want to summon a monster, you have to sacrifice your own deck as a price!"

As long as the Continuous Trap Card [Monster Counter] is on the field, every time Yusei summons a monster card from his hand, he must send the corresponding number of level cards from his deck to the graveyard.

To summon a Level 1 monster, you discard one card; to summon a Level 4 monster, you must discard four cards...

After several such encounters, Yusei's deck will be completely depleted, and he will face defeat in the duel after running out of cards to draw.

Because X has a Trap Disruptor on his field, this effect becomes a one-way effect, only affecting Yusei's side.

The person who activated the Trap Card will not be negatively affected by this effect, thus avoiding the fate of having their deck destroyed.

"...Huh? Sending cards from the deck to the graveyard? Are you sure?"

Listening to X's explanation, Yusei, feeling somewhat taken aback, couldn't help but show a strange expression on his face.

This is...isn't this just helping the opponent build a grave for nothing?

What kind of great philanthropist is this?

What kind of trash trap card is this again?

X, are you serious? You actually gave me such a big gift? Are you worried that I won't be able to get the hang of mowing the neighbor's lawn, so you're planning to sacrifice yourself to help me?

"A grave mound? X... This guy's finished!"

Ed, who was hiding in the shadows, couldn't help but sigh after realizing X's deck-destroying tactics.

This tactic might be very effective against other duelists, but against Yusei... it's utterly ridiculous!

Previously, Edward was defeated by Yusei's grave-building maneuver.

Faced with that explosive chain reaction, even her destined hero was unable to mount an effective resistance, and the situation was reversed in an instant, leading to the complete defeat of the Qing Dynasty.

X is clearly about to follow in her footsteps.

"...I usually summon [Elemental HERO Sky Knight] (ATK: 1800) and activate its effect to add one [HERO] monster card from my deck to my hand."

The overworked hero with a pair of gliders on his back appeared on the field as Yusei's voice fell.

Yusei, explaining the effect of this card, added a new [HERO] monster card from his deck to his hand.

"Hmph!!! Since you summoned Level 4 Sky Knight, the effect of the Continuous Trap Card [Monster Counter] will also be triggered... Next, you must send 4 cards from your deck to the Graveyard!"

Extending his finger, X pointed to where Yusei was.