Yu-Gi-Oh!: I use an Orichalcos deck

"Thank you, my friends," Yuki said softly, pressing the card close to his heart.

After the first round of the competition, You Ji encountered Lin Xiang in the rest area on the sidelines.

What a great match. Lin Xiang handed him a bottle of water. "Looks like your soul resonance has improved again."

Youji looked up in surprise: You know about soul resonance?

Lin Xiang smiled and nodded: Of course. There have always been rumors about this in the professional circle, but very few people have actually seen it. I guess Old Chen has already told you quite a bit?

Do you know Lao Chen?

He was my mentor when I entered the industry. A nostalgic look crossed Lin Xiang's eyes. Twenty years ago, he was one of the first professional players to use Xyz Summoning. Unfortunately, things changed later...

Yu Ji suddenly understood why Lin Xiang was so interested in him, a user of superpowers. So, the reason you gave me a wildcard spot is because...

Because I see the old Chen in you, and... me back then. Lin Xiang sighed. I was also once an Xyz Spellcaster, until I switched to mainstream decks for my professional career. Seeing you stick to your path reminds me of my initial passion.

0 ······Requesting flowers·· ····

These words shocked You Ji. He had never imagined that the glamorous national champion had such a past.

The second round of the competition is about to begin, so prepare well. Lin Xiang patted him on the shoulder and said, "Remember, whatever new abilities the cards reveal, they are proof of your bond with the deck. Trust them."

In the second round, Yuki encountered an opponent using a Thunder Dragon deck. This was a powerful deck centered around rapid Fusion Summoning, capable of unleashing massive damage in a single turn. However, faced with the Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon's newly revealed ability to negate an opponent's monster effect once per turn, the opponent's tactics were repeatedly thwarted. Yuki once again advanced smoothly with a score of 2-0.

The third opponent was even more formidable—a professional aspiring player using a Sky Striker deck, the very type of deck Lin Xiang excelled at. The duel was exceptionally intense, with both players exchanging blows. Ultimately, Yuuki narrowly defeated his opponent thanks to the new effect of Shining Emperor at a crucial moment—recovering a Galaxy card from the graveyard.

When Yuki stepped off the third round stage, he had become the dark horse attracting everyone's attention. The audience was eager to discuss this mysterious young man who used Xyz Deck to defeat mainstream decks one after another, and many people even began to dig out their long-forgotten Xyz Deck research.

"That's amazing! You've made it into the top 16!" Su Yuqing excitedly greeted her. "You know what? Everyone's talking about your Xyz Swarm deck right now!"

Old Chen was also very pleased: those forgotten tactics are being remembered again, and this is all thanks to you.

Yuki, however, seemed worried: "But... the cards are showing more and more new effects. I don't know if this is a good thing or..."

This is proof of our bond. Old Chen said firmly, "The card is responding to your trust. Don't be afraid of this power, but remember—true duelists fight for enjoyment, not just for victory."

..... ...... ....

Just then, the broadcast announced the matchups for the fourth round. You Ji looked at the big screen and froze instantly—his next opponent was none other than Zhao Mingkai.

How could this be... Su Yuqing was also dumbfounded. That guy actually made it into the top sixteen?

Yu Ji quickly found Zhao Mingkai in the player area. The other party was smugly sneering at him, playing with a shiny deck in his hand—it was the strongest Divine Number deck in the current environment, mainly based on Pendulum Summoning, and also had burst damage and control abilities.

"Looks like your good luck has run out, Overpowered Kid." Zhao Mingkai scoffed. "I'll show everyone that outdated decks can't beat the mainstream."

Yuki didn't respond and turned to walk towards the rest area. Su Yuqing followed worriedly: "Don't pay attention to him. However... the Divine Number deck is indeed difficult to deal with, especially against Xyz decks."

I know. Yuki took a deep breath, but I'm not fighting alone.

He looked at the deck in his hand; the blue light flickered slightly, as if giving him confidence.

The fourth round of the competition was held on the central main stage, attracting a large audience. When You Ji and Zhao Mingkai stepped onto the stage, they were greeted with enthusiastic applause and cheers.

Now, the Round of 0 begins, with Yuji facing off against Zhao Mingkai! The commentator's voice echoed throughout the arena. It's worth mentioning that these two players come from the same school! Yuji has been using a rare Xyz deck to fight his way through the rounds, while Zhao Mingkai is using a top-tier God deck! This will be a fierce clash between tradition and mainstream!

Zhao Mingkai arrogantly assembled his deck: Are you ready to lose face in front of the whole school?

Yuki calmly set up the duel board: I just want to enjoy a good duel.

DUEL!

The match began, and Zhao Mingkai seized the initiative, quickly unleashing the signature Pendulum Summoning of the Divine Number deck. Within minutes, his field was filled with powerful monsters and Pendulum Scales.

"Set the pendulum scale to 1 and 8! That way I can summon monsters of levels 2 to 7 at the same time!" Zhao Mingkai explained smugly, though it was entirely for the audience's benefit. Then he activated the effect of the Divine Refining Machine Holy Staff, Special Summoning Divine Refining Machine Holy Wing from the Deck!

Yuki silently observed his opponent's actions, noting down every detail. The advantage of the Divine Number deck lies in the continuous resources provided by Pendulum Summoning, but its weakness is also obvious—it relies on the setting of the Pendulum Zone.

Pendulum Summon! Appear, my monsters! Zhao Mingkai shouted, and five beams of light descended from the sky, revealing five monsters of different shapes on his field. Two cards were set to face-down, and the turn ended! Now, let me see how your lousy deck breaks through my impenetrable defenses!

Yuki looked at his starting hand—Silver Scattered Fence/Linqi Ershi Ba Shihe Warrior, Photon Exterminator, Galactic Expedition, Xyz Resurrection, and Galactic Cyclone. Not perfect, but there was room for maneuver.

My turn, draw a card! The newly drawn card is Galactic Magister. Yuki immediately has a plan: activate Galactic Whirlwind to destroy the Pendulum Card on your left!

What?! Zhao Mingkai's expression changed, and he activated the Continuous Trap Card Divine Strike! When you activate a Spell Card, you can destroy one card on your field! I choose your recently face-down Galaxy Cyclone!

Yuji had anticipated this: But the effect of the Galactic Cyclone has been dealt with, and your pendulum scale has been disrupted.

Zhao Mingkai's pendulum card on the left shattered instantly, but he quickly regained his confidence: "Hmph, it's just losing one scale. I can make up for it next turn."

Chapter 306 Heavy Armored Photon Dragon

Yuki ignored him and continued: "Normal Summon Galactic Warrior, activate its effect to add Photon Slayer to my hand from the Deck! Then activate Galactic Expedition, pay 1000 Life Points, Special Summon Photon Exterminator and Photon Slayer from my hand!"

Three beams of light flashed, and three monsters gathered on Yuki's field.

"I'm stacking a Level 4 Metroid and a Photon Exterminator! XYZ Summon! Descend, Gellerchian, the Radiant Emperor!"

Amidst the glittering starlight, the Radiant Emperor reappeared. A cheer erupted from the audience—the spectacular scenes of Xyz Summoning always ignite the passion of the crowd.

"Activate the effect of Radiant Emperor! Remove one Xyz Material and add Galaxy Annihilator from your Deck to your hand!" After searching, Yuuki immediately played the new card. "Quick-Play Spell Card: Galaxy Annihilator activated! Target one Galaxy Xyz Monster on the field. It can attack twice this turn!"

"Trying to attack directly? Not so easy!" Zhao Mingkai immediately flipped up his face-down card. "The Trap Card 'Divine Will' activates! When my opponent Special Summons a monster, I can Special Summon one Divine Monster from my Deck! Come forth, Divine Refiner Scales!"

A new monster appeared on Zhao Mingkai's field, but Yuji was prepared: "This is exactly what I wanted! Activate the effect of Photon Slayer! When your opponent Special Summons a monster, you can Special Summon this card from your hand! Come on, Photon Slayer!"

Another monster has joined Yuki's camp, and the situation on the field is becoming more complicated.

"Battle phase!" Yuki announced loudly, "Radiant Emperor attacks Libra!"

"Foolish! Libra's attack power is 2400, while your Radiant Emperor only has 2000!" Zhao Mingkai mocked.

Just as the two beasts were about to clash, "897," the Radiant Emperor once again unleashed a dazzling blue light!

"Radiant Emperor's hidden effect activated!" Yuuki sensed the energy fluctuation emanating from his deck. "When there are other Photon or Galaxy Monsters on the field, its ATK increases by 500 points for each of those monsters! I currently have Photon Slayer on the field, so its ATK increases by 500!"

The Radiant Emperor's attack power increased to 2500, just exceeding Libra's 2400. Zhao Mingkai's monster was defeated by Lingyi's Weeping Death and Noon Wine is Leek=Pulling, taking 100 damage to its HP.

"Due to the effect of the Galaxy Annihilator, the Radiant Emperor can attack again! This time the target is the Divine Number Refining Machine Holy Sky Wing!" Yu Ji continued his attack.

"Don't even think about it! Activate the effect of Skywing!" Zhao Mingkai shouted hurriedly. "Once per turn, when it becomes the target of an attack, I can draw a card. If it's a monster card, I can change the target!"

He drew a card, and his face immediately turned ugly—it was the magic card "Divine Mandate of God".

"The Skywing has been destroyed, and I've taken 200 damage," Zhao Mingkai gritted his teeth, his health dropping to 7700. "But next round, I'll make you pay!"

Yuji glanced at his hand and decided to conserve his resources: "Set one card face down, end turn."

"My turn, draw!" Zhao Mingkai glanced at his newly drawn card, a sinister smile spreading across his face. "You're finished! Activate the field spell, Divine Will! Now I can reset the pendulum scale!"

He quickly moved, placing two more cards in the Pendulum Zone: "Pendulum Summon! Return, my monsters!"

Four beams of light descended, and Zhao Mingkai's field was instantly filled with monsters again. He triumphantly launched a series of Link Summoning operations, finally summoning "Divine Number Refiner Saint Thunder" in the Extra Monster Zone—a powerful Link Monster with an attack power of 3000.

"Fight! Heavenly Thunder attacks Radiant Emperor!" Zhao Mingkai shouted.

Yuki immediately responded: "Activate the Trap Card Xyz Revival! Overlay Galactic Warrior and Photon Exterminator from the Graveyard, and Special Summon Glowing Emperor II!"

The second Radiant Emperor appeared on Yuji's field, but Zhao Mingkai didn't care: "So what? Heavenly Thunder's effect activates! Once per turn, it can destroy one Special Summoned monster on your opponent's field! I choose your first Radiant Emperor!"

Yu Ji's first Radiant Emperor was destroyed, and Zhao Mingkai continued his attack: "Heavenly Thunder, direct attack!"

The direct attack of 3000 points caused Youji's health to plummet to 5000. Worse still, Zhao Mingkai wasn't done with the battle: "Divine Number Refining Machine Holy Sky Wing, attack your second Radiant Emperor!"

"Activate the effect of Radiant Emperor!" Yuuki immediately responded, "Remove one Xyz Material, and it won't be destroyed in battle this turn!"

The two monsters clashed, but since their attack power was the same, no damage was dealt. Zhao Mingkai sneered, "Set one card face down, end your turn. Next turn will be your death!"

Yuki glanced at his hand and the resources on the field; the situation was indeed dire. But he could feel the pulse emanating from his deck, as if it were telling him—trust us.

"My turn, draw a card!" The newly drawn card made Yuki's eyes light up - "Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon".

"Normal Summon Galactic Magus!" Yuuki played this key card. "Activate its effect: Reveal the Galactic Eye Photon Dragon in your hand, and draw two cards from your deck!"

The two cards drawn were "Galaxy Knight" and "Xyz Component". Yuuki quickly calculated the possible combinations.

"Activate Xyz Component! Banish Galaxy Warrior and Photon Killer from the Graveyard, and Special Summon Galaxy Knight from the Extra Deck!"

The silver-armored knight descended upon the battlefield, but Zhao Mingkai immediately launched an intervention: "Activate the Trap Card Divine Punishment! When the opponent Special Summons a monster, you can destroy that monster and inflict 500 damage!"

The Galactic Knight was destroyed, reducing Yuuki's Life Points to 4500. But he didn't panic: "This is exactly what I wanted! When the Galactic Knight is destroyed, you can add one Galactic or Photon Monster from your Deck to your hand! I choose Photon Pusher!"

"Then, I'll stack a Level 4 Galactic Magister and a Photon Thruster!" Yuki raised his right hand. "Using two monsters to construct an Xyz Network, XYZ Summon! Descend, No. 90, Galactic Eye Photon Lord!"

As starlight converged, a warrior clad in photon armor appeared on Yuki's field. A gasp erupted from the audience—this was the first time Yuki had summoned this card in a public tournament.

"Lightbringer's effect activated!" Yuki immediately activated, "Remove one Xyz Material and add one Galaxy Eye card from my Deck to my hand! I choose Galaxy Eye Cloud Cage!"

Zhao Mingkai began to show unease: "It's just a monster with an attack power of 2500, it won't change anything!"

Yuki ignored him and continued: "Activate Galaxy-Eyes Cloud Cage! Banish Photon Lord on the field and Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon from my hand, Special Summon—"

He took a deep breath, his voice echoing throughout the entire stadium:

"Descend, Galaxy-Eyed Heavy Armored Photon Dragon!"

A dazzling beam of light shot into the sky, and a giant silver dragon spread its wings, letting out a roar that shook the entire arena. The appearance of this behemoth with an attack power of 4000 drew gasps from the audience.

"No...impossible!" Zhao Mingkai's face turned deathly pale. "How could an Xyz Deck possibly summon a monster of this level?!"

"Battle phase!" Yuuki gave his opponent no chance to breathe. "Heavy Armor Photon Dragon Attacks Heavenly Thunder! Photon Shockwave!"

A torrent of silvery-white energy swept across Zhao Mingkai's field, instantly obliterating his ace monster and reducing its life points by 1000.

"It's not over yet!" Yuji pointed to the other monsters on Zhao Mingkai's field. "The effect of Heavy Armor Photon Dragon is activated! Once per turn, after destroying a monster by battle, it can attack again! The target is Divine Refining Machine Holy Sky Wing!"

The second photon shockwave reduced Tianyi to ashes, and Zhao Mingkai's health dropped to 5700.

"Set one card face down, end your turn." Yuki finished his turn, leaving only the Heavy Armor Photon Dragon and one face-down card on the field.

Zhao Mingkai's hands trembled slightly; he hadn't expected Yuki's Xyz Deck to unleash such terrifying power. "My...my turn, draw!"

Seeing the newly drawn card, hope rekindled in his eyes: "Activate the Spell Card Divine Mandate! Add the Divine Mandate Refining Holy Sword from my deck to my hand! Then set the Pendulum Scale and perform a Pendulum Summon!"

The four monsters returned to Zhao Mingkai's field, and he quickly performed a Link Summon, summoning "Sky Thunder" with an attack power of 3000 once again.

"Battle! Heavenly Thunder attacks the Heavy Armored Photon Dragon!" Zhao Mingkai shouted.

Yuki calmly flipped open his face-down card: "Activate the Trap Card Photonification! When a Galaxy-Eyes monster becomes the target of an attack, you can negate the attack and destroy the attacking monster!"

"What?!" Zhao Mingkai watched helplessly as his trump card was eliminated once again.

“Not only that,” Yuki added, “the photonization effect will also deal you half the original attack power of the destroyed monster!”

The 1500 points of damage reduced Zhao Mingkai's health to 4200, and the situation began to turn around.