This Hextech Duel Master is a pro at getting targets.

"In that case, what are your requests? Please let me know."

"As the father of Duel Monsters, I'll grant your request depending on the situation~"

If Pegasus didn't have the Millennium Eye, he might have said that out of kindness.

but……

Behind his long white hair, which covered half of his face, a dark gold, ancient eye-shaped ornament was faintly emitting an evil glow...

The Thousand-Year Eye is unleashing dark power towards You Shuo.

The Millennium Eye is one of the seven ancient artifacts that can see into a person's heart.

Sensing the terrifying dark power, You Shuo's card spirit, Tree Spirit Ashley, felt as if she had fallen into an ice cave and couldn't help but tremble.

Pegasus could see You Shuo's card sprites, but he wasn't interested in her; he was savoring the very interesting thought that was running through You Shuo's mind...

Through the power of the Millennium Eye, he saw that You Shuo wanted to challenge Insect Feather Moth in this competition and win the honor that Insect Feather Moth had just won as the champion.

This is, of course, against the rules.

However, Pegasus really enjoyed seeing this scene.

He had a premonition that the one who would ultimately be defeated might not be this completely unfamiliar young man in front of him, but rather the insect moth...

Pegasus, with his twisted sense of humor and penchant for drama, stared at You Shuo.

"Ha ha……"

"Your name is You Shuo~"

"You Shuo Boy~"

Pegasus chuckled inwardly.

Come on~

"Feel free to share your idea!"

"I will definitely satisfy you~"

"The champion, who had just reached the pinnacle, plummeted to the bottom in an instant..."

"Nothing could be more interesting than this!"

Pegasus was extremely excited.

A year or two ago, he won a championship in a very humiliating way, which completely shattered his belief.

He really looks forward to seeing this scene again.

You Shuo smiled confidently: "Lord Pegasus, I request to challenge the national champion—the Insect Moth. If he loses, all the honors and privileges of the champion will be mine!"

The insects and moths were basking in their springtime glory, while a cold glint flashed in his round-framed glasses: "Heh heh~ How audacious of you~"

"As Lord Pegasus said, what you're doing is indeed against the rules."

"However, I accept."

"After all, the duel just now was utterly boring for me~"

Upon hearing this, the dinosaur Ryuzaki, sensing the immense pollution, was instantly enraged: "What?! What did you say?!"

The insect moth ignored the dinosaur Ryuzaki and continued to smile at You Shuo, saying, "But, you want me to place such a big bet, what are you prepared to offer yourself?"

You Shuo was prepared. With a flick of his wrist, he caused a stir among the audience.

Those are a total of ten top-tier rare cards!

The price of each one is exceptionally high, and it is still rising ridiculously every day!

These ten cards combined could totally buy a house!

Down in the audience, Nosaka Miho, seeing those ten cards, couldn't help but worry for Yu Shuo.

During their trip together, she gradually learned the reason why You Shuo had suddenly become rich.

You Shuo explained to her that he was a professional Duel Monsters player, and he could make a lot of money every time he participated in a competition or resold rare cards.

Although Nosaka Miho knew that Yu Shuo was very rich now, ten rare cards... that was probably all of Yu Shuo's wealth!

Moreover, You Shuo is going to challenge the national champion!

This is so reckless!

Frustrated, Nosaka Miho rushed out of the audience, wanting to rush onto the stage to dissuade You Shuo, but this time, the security guards would not let anyone pass.

Miho Nosaka could only anxiously call out, "Yushuo! Calm down, don't be so impulsive!"

You Shuo turned around and smiled gently at Nosaka Miho below the stage: "Miho, do you believe me?"

Nosaka Miho was taken aback.

You Shuo laughed and said, "Don't worry, I can't possibly fail, and I have more than just these ten cards."

Hearing You Shuo say that, Nosaka Miho felt a little relieved, but she was still extremely nervous.

Ryuzaki the dinosaur and Hagoromo the insect both noticed Miho in the audience and felt a pang of jealousy.

That wretched brat!

The rare card is yours, and this beautiful girlfriend is yours too?!

Pegasus grinned, thoroughly enjoying the spectacle: "Wonderful! Absolutely brilliant! Moth Boy, will you accept this player's challenge?"

The insect-moth adjusted its glasses, a glint of malice and greed flashing in its eyes: "Hehehe~ If I don't accept, people will say I, the champion, deserted the stage~"

"I accept this challenge!"

"Kid, you'll find out soon enough—"

"Confidence shouldn't be used like a rare card!"

"The gap between you and this champion is even greater than the gap between Kuriboh and Blue-Eyes White Dragon!!"

Chapter Twenty-Three: You Shuo VS Insects and Moths

[Insect, Feathered Moth, LP: 2000]

[Yu Shuo, LP:2000]

Amidst the boisterous cheers, You Shuo and the Insect Moth began their final duel in the competition's final arena!

Ryuzaki retreated to the stands to watch the match, while Pegasus sat on a chair next to the arena, elegantly crossing his legs and watching the game with great interest.

"Since you're the challenger, then you can go first~" The insect moth was very arrogant, and he never took You Shuo seriously.

"Shh-"

Without any hesitation, You Shuo immediately drew his sixth card and set up a defense.

"My turn! Draw a card!"

"Activate the Spell Card - Pot of Greed!"

Draw two cards from your deck!

"Put a card on it."

"Attack signal summon - Chronospace Fighter V-Serpent!"

"The duelist who goes first cannot attack on their first turn, therefore my turn is over!"

Time-Traveling Fighter V-Shaped Serpent

【Four stars】

[Light Attribute/Mechanical Race]

Attack/Defense: 1200/800

[Description: A high-performance fighter jet with a reserve warehouse, capable of utilizing various capabilities.]

"Machine-Type monsters? Machine-Type monsters are immune to the effects of most spell cards~" Insect Moth adjusted his glasses. "They are indeed quite troublesome cards~"

"But I'm sorry~"

"This champion's Insect deck perfectly counters Machine-type decks!!"

The insects and moths chuckled a few times and began their round.

"My turn! Draw a card!"

"Snapped--"

The two cards were slammed down at once, and the insect-moth proudly declared:

"Attack signal summon - Insectoid!"

"Activate the Spell Card - Firearm-Equipped Mech Armor!"

"This card is an equipment card. It can increase the Insectoid's attack power by 700 and give it ranged capabilities!"

"Let's go! Insect Man!"

Insect Man

[Two stars]

[Earth Attribute/Insect Tribe]

Attack/Defense: 500/700

[Description: Insects that live in groups. Forests are their paradise.]

A giant green insect appeared out of thin air on the battlefield, its back illuminated by a beam of light, and a mobile artillery armor set materialized on its back.

Amidst the loud shouts of insects and moths, the insect-men, hearing the call, stared intently at the fighter jets flying in mid-air with their empty, emotionless insect eyes.

All the audience members couldn't help but start talking about it, and Nosaka Miho was extremely nervous.

"Both monsters have the same attack power! Are they going to perish together?!"

"No, that fighter jet-like monster should have the ability to fly, just like the bird-beast race. The insect-men will be countered!"

"But... insect-type monsters seem to be effective against machine-type monsters, right? And, once equipped with cannons, insect-men with ranged attack capabilities can ignore the target's flight ability when they launch an attack."

"That does seem to be true..."

Gazing at the billowing smoke, the insect moth raised the corners of its mouth, revealing a smug, wicked smile.

"Boom—"

[Yu Shuo, LP: 2000→1640]

As the smoke cleared, the monsters on the battlefield vanished in fragments, and his LP also decreased slightly.

“What… You Shuo…” Nosaka Miho was a little worried.

The audience was somewhat stunned.

"what happened?"

"Aren't the two monsters equally powerful?"

"Yes, the V-shaped Serpent from the Time-Space Fighter has the advantage of flight characteristics, while the Insect Man has the advantage of racial characteristics. The two advantages cancel each other out, so they should both perish when their attack power is the same!"

The reason given in the hidden rules for the Insectoid race's advantage over the Machine race is that Insectoid monsters can use their tiny bodies to burrow into Machine race monsters and disrupt their circuitry.

This might seem a bit far-fetched at first glance, but after seeing some other similar rules, such as dinosaurs being wiped out by a meteorite and therefore being countered by fire attributes, you get used to it.

"Hehehe~" the insect-moth chuckled smugly, mockingly saying, "I'm the national champion~"

"How could you possibly put an ordinary monster in your deck?"

"Insect-men are incredibly rare and powerful insect-type monsters~"

"This card gains a 30% attack power bonus when both sides have the same attack power!"

"In other words, although the restraint relationship cancels each other out, the insect-man's own characteristics can still allow it to defeat your monster!"

"Hehehe~" the insect-moth chuckled playfully, "I was hoping to make this duel a little easier and more enjoyable~"

"But if you insist on challenging this champion's honor, then don't blame me for being impolite~"

"This encounter clearly shows that the gap in strength between us is simply too great."

"Set one card face down, end your turn!"