Yu-Gi-Oh! The Pitfall Hero

With unwavering confidence, he stood there patiently waiting for Jaden Yuki to willingly step into his trap.

"...My turn, draw a card!"

Adding the top card of his deck to his hand, Jaden Yuki immediately inserted the Quick-Play Spell Card he had searched for in the previous turn into the back row of his Duel Disk: "Targeting the DARK Mist Lady, I activate the Quick-Play Spell Card in my hand—[Masked Change]! Send her to the Graveyard to Special Summon a [Masked HERO] monster of the same Attribute from my Extra Deck!"

"...Come on! [Masked Hero Dark Claw] (Attack Power: 2400)!!!"

Enveloped in light, the Shadow Mist Lady underwent a mask transformation before everyone's eyes, evolving into a higher-level form.

The lone dark hero appeared before him amidst scattered light, following Jaden Yuki's shout.

The friend, whose body was covered by a black armor shaped like a werewolf, didn't need to make any movements. Just by standing there, the aura of an orphan spreading out from him brought a chilling and powerful aura to everyone!

"...Attack power 2400? The same as [Earth Emperor Granmar], is that right?"

Looking at the friend appearing before him, Iwamaru muttered to himself.

"Next, I activate the Spell Card 'Temporary Truce' from my hand. According to this card's effect, both players draw one card from their decks, and until the end of the next turn, both players will take 0 damage."

The illustration on the magic card depicts a Japanese samurai taking a short rest by a campfire.

After Zhang's card is activated, neither player can inflict any damage on the other until Jaden Yuki's next turn.

"...Make me draw cards? Jaden Yuki, what are you thinking? And this effect that protects both sides from any harm, are you kidding me?!"

With puzzled expressions, Iwamaru and Jaden Yuki simultaneously drew a brand new card from their decks.

Confused by Jaden Yuki's intentions, he had just uttered his question when Jaden Yuki smiled and curled his lips: "Heh! This is the moment I've been waiting for! Iwamaru... As you draw your card, the effect of [Masked Hero Dark Claw] will also be activated! According to the second effect of Friend Hero, once per turn, when your opponent adds a card to their hand outside of their draw phase, randomly banish one card from their hand!"

Iwamaru: "What...?!"

After listening to Judai's explanation, Iwamaru finally understood his intention.

The reason why Jaden Yuki chose to have both sides draw cards at the same time was to take advantage of Iwamaru's hand.

In the previous round, Iwamaru activated the effect of the Continuous Spell Card [Emperor's Rock Splitter] and added his ally's card [Emperor Testaros] from the deck to his hand.

Undoubtedly, following the normal procedure, this Fire-attribute Emperor will be summoned to Iwamaru's field during Iwamaru's next turn, triggering the corresponding effect.

Jaden Yuki's goal was to use the effect of Friend Hero to banish this card from Iwamaru's hand!

What? You're asking what to do if you choose the wrong answer in a multiple-choice situation?

Heh... others might not be able to guarantee it, but for Jaden Yuki, who is blessed with immense destiny power, it's simply impossible for him to make the wrong choice!

Just like his passive skill "Godlike Draw".

The probability of Jaden Yuki selecting [Emperor Testaros] is not a theoretical fraction, but a scientifically impossible one thousand percent!

"Hey! Iwamaru... put your hand cards..." Looking at his opponent, Jaden Yuki raised his arm with a smile.

"Hmph! There's no other way... At this moment, I flipped over the face-down card in the backcourt!"

With his brows furrowed, he was unwilling to gamble his fate on choices filled with uncertainty.

As the effect of Yuki Jaden's Friend Hero activated, Iwamaru simultaneously revealed two face-down cards hidden in his back row: "...The Continuous Trap Card [Combo Emperor] and the Quick-Play Spell Card [Emperor's Whirlwind] are activated at the same time!"

"...According to the chain reverse processing order rules, the effect of the card that is revealed later will be activated first...and the effect of the Quick-Play Spell Card - [Emperor's Whirlwind] is...this turn, if you Tribute your own monster for a Tribute Summon, you can only Tribute 1 monster on your opponent's field in place of 1 monster on your field."

"Next, I'll activate the effect of the Continuous Trap Card—[Combo King]: Once per turn, this effect can only be activated during your opponent's Main Phase and Battle Phase. Tribute Summon 1 monster!"

The artwork on the magic card depicts a green emperor standing amidst a storm – [Wind Emperor Raiza].

The Trap Card illustration depicts [Ice Emperor Mebius] and [Flame Emperor Testaros] simultaneously raising their arms to activate a combo attack.

The Emperor series of spell and trap cards were flipped over in front of Iwamaru at the same time, and Iwamaru, who activated these two cards, also gained the abnormal ability to use his monsters as tributes to summon monsters from his hand during Jaden Yuki's turn!

To put it simply—I'm not only going to shit on your head, but I'm also going to ask you for toilet paper! That's how shameless I am!

Jaden Yuki: "...?!"

Iwamaru: "Yuki Jaden! Based on the effect of the Continuous Trap Card—[Combo Emperor]! I will Tribute your [Masked Hero Dark Claw] to Tribute Summon a monster from my hand!"

While Jaden Yuki was causing trouble for the Flame Emperor in his hand, Iwamaru, sensing the danger, took the opportunity to open the face-down card in the back row and sacrifice Jaden Yuki's Friend Knight to the Emperor's Descent.

Waving his arms, Iwamaru's eyes ignited with a tangible crimson flame. Briefly maintaining this state, he revealed Enmaru's dying wish to everyone: "...Appear! The second emperor—[Emperor Flame Testaros]!!!"

-

【Emperor Yan Testaros】

(Fire Clan/Fire/6-Star/Attack: 2400/Defense: 1000)

effect:

When this card is successfully Tribute Summoned, your opponent discards 1 random card from their hand. If the discarded card is a Monster Card, inflict damage to your opponent equal to 100 times the monster's Level.

-

With raging flames burning in his palms and his body covered in a full suit of knight's plate armor, the Flame Emperor, sacrificing Yuki Jaden's friend Kamen Rider, descended upon Iwamaru's field with immense power.

With the arrival of the second Emperor-level monster, the effect of the Continuous Spell Card "Emperor's Rock Splitter" on Iwamaru's field will be triggered again.

"Yuki Jaden... Although it is your turn now, since I have performed a Tribute Summon, the effect of [Emperor's Rock Smash] will also be activated! I can add one monster with 2400 ATK/1000 DEF, or 2800 ATK/1000 DEF, other than [Emperor Testaros], from my Deck to my hand."

545. Thirty-one people, my Superman!

"Based on the effect of the magic card [Emperor's Rock Splitter], I've added the Level 6 [Radiant Demon] to my hand from my deck!"

As he said this, Iwamaru picked up his deck from the Duel Disk.

He then selected a yellow monster card and added it to his hand.

Although Iwamaru could not avoid the forced card-reduction effect of [Masked Hero - Dark Claw] and had to have one card from Yuki Jaden's hand banished, he took timely and effective countermeasures against this, summoning the Flame Emperor from his hand first, thus avoiding the worst-case scenario.

Following the order of activation of the chain, after the effects of Iwamaru's Spell & Trap Cards have been resolved, it is time for Friend Hero's effect, which has already been sacrificed and sent to the Graveyard, to be activated.

Under everyone's watchful eyes, one of Iwamaru's cards was enveloped in black mist and vanished from his hand, sent to the other side of the dimension.

Judging from the calm expression on Iwamaru's face, the attack clearly did not cause him any effective damage.

However, after an insignificant card was banished, Iwamaru raised his arm in the next instant and activated the newly appeared Emperor's effect: "...[Emperor Testaros] effect activated! When this card is successfully Tribute Summoned, randomly discard one card from your opponent's hand! If the discarded card is a Monster Card, inflict damage to your opponent equal to that monster's Level x 100!"

"Hey! Jaden Yuki... This time, it's your turn to discard your hand!"

The arrival of the Flame Emperor helped Iwamaru regain some face after his blunder.

After experiencing the effects of Friend Hero, he returned those effects to Jaden Yuki himself, doubling the effect.

"Hmm... there's no other way."

The Special Summoned monster was released, and Jaden Yuki, listening to Iwamaru's words, could only helplessly flip his hand over so that it faced away from him, and then choose one card to send to the Graveyard.

The card sent to the graveyard was a Level 4 monster, "Neocosmic Guide," so Jaden Yuki will also suffer effect damage equal to its Level x 100, which is 400 points.

(Yujo Judai LP: 2400 → 2000)

"Ten generations!"

“…Brother!”

In the blink of an eye, Yuki Jaden's health points were reduced by half due to Iwamaru's combo attacks.

Seeing the empty stadium, the onlookers couldn't help but gasp in surprise.

At this moment, everyone was certain that this guy named Iwamaru... was indeed a powerful duelist, just as he had said!

At least, his strength is several levels higher than that of Hyomaru and Raimaru, who were previously defeated by Yusei and the others!

Misawa Daichi, who had previously been spouting nonsense at Iwamaru, couldn't help but scratch his cheek with an embarrassed expression after seeing his current behavior.

"Judai Yuki... The Emperors of Fire and Earth attributes are all gathered on my field, while your field has no cards at all!"

As he recounted Jaden Yuki's current situation, Iwamaru uttered a questioning tone: "...What are you planning to do next? How are you going to defeat me?"

The sacrifice of his friend forced Iwamaru to reveal his trump card prematurely.

For Jaden Yuki, this was both a tragedy and a rare opportunity.

"...Ha! Is that really the case?"

Upon hearing Iwamaru's words, Yuki Jaden immediately curled the corners of his mouth into a smile.

Although he was initially surprised by Iwamaru's tactics, he had now regained his composure.

Iwamaru: "...Hmm?"

Looking at Jaden Yuki's current situation, Iwamaru couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.

To his surprise, Jaden Yuki, who had taken the surprise attack head-on, did not show much despair on his face.

After seeing the situation on the field, he raised his head and revealed a faint smile.

Could it be that he has other means to continue? Or did I misjudge the timing?

"Indeed... I really didn't expect this..."

"Iwamaru, your tactic of making my monster your sacrifice has truly exceeded my expectations!"

Having acknowledged Iwamaru's earlier actions, Jaden Yuki continued with a laugh, "...But! Iwamaru! You've used up all your trump cards at this moment, haven't you?"

"..."

When asked by Yuki Jaden, Iwamaru snorted and adopted an indifferent attitude.

Clearly... he didn't want Jaden Yuki to perceive his inner thoughts through his reactions.

"No answer? Well... fine! Then, Iwamaru... next, I'll show you the potential of my heroes!"

As he said this, Jaden Yuki's eyes narrowed, and he raised his arm: "【Masked HERO Dark Claw】was Special Summoned to the field through the effect of a Quick-Play Spell Card, and this turn... I haven't performed a Normal Summon yet!"

"When the Shadow Mist Lady was sent to the Graveyard, I activated her effect, which retrieved a [HERO] monster card into my hand..."

"...And now, it's time for this monster to make its appearance!"

"Attack signal: Normal Summon! Summon! [Elemental Hero - Sky Warrior]!!!"

A green wind swept across the land, lifting the contrasting cloaks behind the two emperors.

As Jaden Yuki shouted, the hero who died from overwork, with spiral wings on his back, appeared on the field accompanied by a burst of light.

As the starting point for the development of the hero deck, the arrival of Sky Knight will also become the golden key for Jaden Yuki to open the door to victory!