Trader In The World Of Pirates!!!

[TL/N: Read my new work - Detective Conan: I'm a Succubus?!] 

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"Those who understand the times are true heroes."

That saying rang true as Shukaku quickly abandoned his pride the moment he realized he couldn't control his Jinchūriki.

Dignity?

The pride of a Tailed Beast?

None of that mattered here.

This wasn't his original world.

Here, he wasn't feared, sealed away, or hunted like before.

As long as he cooperated with his Jinchūriki, the rules of this world would allow him to manifest fully on the battlefield—his complete form.

Even if it was just for a fleeting moment, a single breath of freedom, it was far better than the endless oppression he had suffered in his original world.

Shukaku wasn't a fool.

He could see the opportunity in front of him—and he would take it.

On the battlefield…

Seeing Shukaku submit so obediently, Mai let out a quiet sigh of relief.

If not for Nami's advice and repeated warnings beforehand, she wouldn't have known how to handle an intelligent spirit like this.

[One-Tailed Shukaku | ATK: 5000]

Staring at that immense attack power, Mai could already see the outcome of this battle.

But she didn't let her guard down.

With a sharp wave of her hand, she commanded:

"Shukaku, activate your effect!"

"Once per turn, you can destroy one monster on the opponent's field!"

She pointed at Marik's field and shouted:

"Go, Shukaku! Crush that ugly brute controlling the Amazon Trainee!"

"Quick Sand Hell!!!"

With a deep roar, Shukaku raised his massive arm, and in an instant—

WHOOSH!

His entire forearm stretched forward, shifting from solid form into a rushing torrent of sand.

The monstrous hand, as large as a mountain, engulfed Marik's [Amazon Trainee] in its crushing grip.

The warrior barely had time to scream before the quicksand twisted and compressed, shattering her into nothingness.

As the Amazon Trainee vanished from his field, he finally snapped out of his trance.

His eyes widened as he stared up at the towering beast before him.

A godlike existence.

For so long, he had believed himself to be the only one who wielded true power—the sole individual standing above others, looking down from the heavens.

Only the Nameless Pharaoh, with his ancient magic, had ever been worth acknowledging as an equal.

But now—this.

Shukaku's very presence made him question everything.

Had he truly been above others all this time?

Or had he simply been blind to the strength that had always surrounded him?

But introspection meant nothing now.

Because it was too late.

"Now, Marik, you have no monsters left to protect you!"

She pointed forward with fierce determination.

"And I'm not done yet!"

"I activate Shukaku's second effect!"

"Once per turn, I can summon a Continuous Spell onto your field—[The Troublesome Shukaku Clone]!"

[The Troublesome Shukaku Clone | Effect: None]

A miniature version of Shukaku suddenly materialized on Marik's side of the field.

Then—before anyone could react—

It plopped down, conjuring a beach chair, a sand-made umbrella, and a stone-crafted drink cooler.

With a lazy stretch, the tiny beast collapsed onto its chair, immediately dozing off.

"…"

Marik twitched.

His fist clenched, veins pulsing across his forehead.

He didn't know why, but something about the sight of that smug little creature made his entire body burn with humiliation.

But Mai wasn't done.

The dark energy surrounding her flared, her battle spirit surging.

"Shukaku! Attack the opponent directly!!!"

"Deliver the final blow!!!"

"Burial in the Sand Waterfall!!!"

"Wahahahahaha!!! Leave it to me!!!""

Shukaku threw his head back, cackling wildly.

Then—

He smashed his enormous palms against the ground.

BOOM!

The airship shuddered, tilting slightly from the sheer force of the impact.

A massive tsunami of sand erupted from the battlefield, a golden tidal wave surging toward Marik with unstoppable momentum.

Faced with the overwhelming power before him, Marik finally admitted it to himself—

"This… This is the power of a God Card!"

But he wasn't going down without a fight.

"OPEN SET CARD!!!"

Just before the crushing sand could consume him, Marik suddenly swung his arm forward.

"I activate my trap!"

"[Mirror Force]!!!"

A card flipped open on his field, glowing with sacred energy.

"When an opponent declares an attack, this card destroys ALL monsters on their field!"

His lips curled into a smirk.

"You think you can destroy me that easily!?"

"Think again!!!"

At that moment—Marik himself may not have realized it—

But for the first time, the perpetrator had begun to see himself as the victim.

A radiant barrier of light enveloped his field, blocking the incoming sandstorm.

Then—

The tsunami of sand reversed.

The golden storm was reflected back, rushing toward Mai's side of the battlefield with devastating force.

In an instant—

Every monster on her field, including Shukaku's earth clones, was consumed by the raging sands… and vanished.

"Huh?"

After the attack, all the gravel dissipated, but Marik remained frozen in shock.

He furrowed his brows, his voice laced with confusion.

"Why is your Shukaku still on the field!?"

Mai smirked, crossing her arms.

"Why?" she echoed playfully. "Your counterattack was indeed unexpected..."

"But Shukaku's body is made of sand and chakra."

"It cannot be destroyed by card effects—unless the effect belongs to a monster with higher attack power."

"In other words, all spell and trap destruction effects are useless against it!"

She raised an eyebrow, her voice dripping with confidence. "Satisfied with that answer?"

"WHAT!?"

Marik's eyes widened in disbelief. He had been convinced that his counterattack would turn the tide, yet Shukaku still towered over the battlefield, unscathed.

This effect... there was no doubt about it...

That overwhelming sense of déjà vu—

This was an ability that only a god should possess!

At last, the reality sank in.

The woman before him wasn't just another duelist to be toyed with.

She was a force to be reckoned with. A warrior on par with him—on par with the Pharaoh—one who could command the power of a god!

"Damn it!"

His gaze flickered toward Yugi in the audience.

His sole purpose had always been clear: destroy the Pharaoh, the one responsible for his clan's suffering for generations.

Yet, unexpected obstacles kept appearing. One after another.

It enraged him. His fury burned like an unrelenting fire.

And as that fire raged, he felt something stir within his deck.

Mai, satisfied with her turn, ended it without another word.

But with Shukaku standing firm, she had already established an invincible position.

After all…

In this era, there were few monsters with an attack power exceeding 5000.

Marik exhaled sharply, his fingers tightening around his deck.

"Draw!"

As soon as he pulled a card, the golden eye on his forehead ignited with a blinding glow, as if a divine entity itself was peering into the mortal realm.

"I activate the spell card—[Angel's Alms]!"

"I draw three cards, then discard two!"

"And now… witness the power of a god!!!"

The cards slid into his hand.

As expected.

Among them—

[The Winged Dragon of Ra]

Marik's lips curled into a manic grin.

"Hahahaha! Now it's my turn to strike back!"

Without hesitation, he tossed The Winged Dragon of Ra and another card into the graveyard.

Then, pressing his hands against his chest in the shape of a slanted cross, he closed his eyes, exhaling as if uttering a sacred prayer.

A deep, ancient chant escaped his lips—

A forbidden incantation. A secret ritual passed down for generations among the Tomb Keepers.

The language of the Sun God.

"It's coming!"

Even Kaiba, who had lost his own God Card, couldn't suppress a shudder.

Despite his scientific skepticism, he had studied the ancient scriptures—

He knew that when the time was right, the Winged Dragon of Ra would descend in the form of a phoenix!

Marik's eyes snapped open, filled with unhinged fervor.

"I activate the spell—[Monster Reborn]!"

"Ra, the Sun God, who slumbers in the graveyard—return to this world in your phoenix form!!!"

"Spread your wings! Soar freely across the battlefield!!!"

The sky trembled.

A deafening roar of thunder shattered the stillness.

Golden rays pierced through the darkness of the Shadow Game, slashing through the abyss like divine blades.

A scorching heat flooded the battlefield.

Waves of raging fire erupted, surging like a burning ocean.

And from within the inferno—

A massive, godlike bird emerged, its wings unfurling in a display of pure majesty.

Its golden body, as unyielding as divine steel, radiated a sacred power unlike any other.

[The Winged Dragon of Ra, ATK: 0]

Shukaku lifted his head, squinting his large panda-like eyes into thin slits as he stared at the newly arrived deity.

"So this is today's opponent?"

Rather than showing fear, his lips curled into an eager grin—

As if he could hardly wait to fight.

Yet, behind him, Mai Valentine frowned.

Her gaze locked onto the glaring [0] attack power displayed beneath Ra's name.

But instead of relief, a subtle unease crept into her heart.

"I'm still not experienced enough..."

She clenched her fists, deep in thought.

There was a time when she might have buckled under the pressure of facing a God Card.

When she might have fallen to her knees in sheer reverence.

But not anymore.

She had seen too much.

Her eyes flickered toward Yugi and Kaiba.

They had both wielded the power of gods before.

And as expected—

Even under Ra's divine presence, their expressions remained firm.

No fear. No hesitation.

Only unwavering resolve.

"We're both duelists from the same world... Is the gap really this vast?"

Mai shifted her gaze toward her Captain, Nami.

Then—she froze.

Because in Nami's eyes, there was neither Kaiba's arrogance nor Yugi's composed determination.

Instead—

Her eyes gleamed with a manic light, her lips curled into a crazed grin, as if she were practically drooling.

Sensing Mai's gaze, Nami suddenly turned her head, locking eyes with her.

Her lips moved slightly.

Mai couldn't hear anything from the outside world due to the Shadow Game, but if her guess was right...

She just said: "Take it! Quickly!!!"

Such raw, unrestrained greed...

Mai raised an eyebrow. She couldn't understand it.

To feel no awe, no fear in the presence of a god—only unrelenting, burning desire.

Maybe that's the difference between her and Nami.

No!

She clenched her fists.

I won't shame Captain Nami!

Mai narrowed her eyes, and in that instant, her spirit surged.

When she lifted her head again, her gaze burned with unwavering fighting intent.

"Huh?"

Marik, who had been observing her closely, was caught off guard.

He had expected Mai to break under the pressure of a god. He had anticipated fear, hesitation, even despair.

Instead, her battle spirit only intensified.

Heh… As expected.

A duelist who could command a being on par with the gods wouldn't falter so easily.

Marik hesitated no longer.

He slammed another card onto the field.

"I activate the Equip Spell—[Premature Burial]!"

"By paying 800 Life Points, I can revive a monster from my graveyard!"

"Return to me—[Masked Beast Des Gardius]!!!"

"Aaaaargh!!!"

[Marik, LP: 900 → 100]

The heavy toll on his Life Points sent a fresh wave of agony through Marik's body.

Pain wracked his limbs, as if he were being slashed by a thousand blades. Blood trickled down his skin. His breathing grew ragged.

Meanwhile—

Mai hadn't lost a single Life Point.

Not even a scratch.

The rules of this Shadow Game are absolute.

Perhaps, in that moment, Marik felt the sting of regret.

But there was no turning back now.

A ghastly, bestial howl echoed from within his graveyard.

"Oooooouuuugh—!"

The ground split open. A monstrous hand burst forth, clawing desperately at the earth as it pulled itself back into existence.

Moments later, the colossal Masked Beast Des Gardius loomed over the battlefield once more.

[Masked Beast Des Gardius, ATK: 3300]

Yet, despite its menacing presence, standing between The Winged Dragon of Ra and Shukaku, it seemed... small.

Even insignificant.

It trembled under their towering figures.

Marik, his body battered and bleeding, finally emerged from his haze of pain.

His lips curled into a wild grin as he staggered upright.

His trembling hand reached for another card, and his voice—now tinged with exhaustion—barely rose above a whisper.

"I Normal Summon—[Djinn of Rituals]!"

A cloaked warrior wielding a curved blade materialized onto the field.

Light green sparks of energy flickered around it, like ghostly will-o'-the-wisps.

[Djinn of Rituals, ATK: 1800]

A simple, effectless monster.

In a battlefield dominated by gods, its fate was already sealed.

Marik, bloodstained and crazed, only seemed to revel in the madness.

His eyes gleamed with mania, and his tattered cloak billowed in the dark void.

"I activate the effect of The Winged Dragon of Ra!"

"When Ra is Special Summoned, I can tribute any number of monsters!"

"Ra's attack power will then become the combined total of the tributed monsters!"

"And the sacrifices I choose are—"

"[Masked Beast Des Gardius] and [Djinn of Rituals]!!!"

BOOM!

Twin fireballs exploded onto the battlefield, engulfing the two monsters in a raging inferno.

The flames twisted and churned, swallowing them whole—

And then—

Their burning essences surged into Ra's body!

[The Winged Dragon of Ra, ATK: 0 → 5100]

Marik's eyes widened, his breath ragged, his mind consumed by madness.

"With this, Ra's attack power surpasses every monster on your field!"

"Wahahahahaha!!!"

Laughter, wild and deranged, tore from his throat.

Mai Valentine—

A woman he had never taken seriously—

Had pushed him this far!

His mind teetered on the edge.

"Winged Dragon of Ra!"

"Burn them to ash!!!"

"GOD FLAME CANNON!!!"