Who Let Him Play Yu-Gi-Oh!

As soon as Alpha's transforming duel disk activated, a wave of energy spread out, a pale blue barrier covering the area.

Kira immediately recognized it—a technology similar to what Kaiba had used before.

A scientific Shadow Duel?

Kira frowned.

He knew that the Taiyo group in 5D's also had such tech, but they were from the future. In this era, only Kaiba should have access to such technology—so who were these people?

Now he was curious.

"Alright."

Kira activated his duel disk too.

"Duel!" x2

[Kira, LP 4000]

[Alpha, LP 4000]

"I'll go first. Draw."

Kira played a card.

"Continuous Spell 'Messenger of Peace'. All monsters with 1500 or more ATK on either side can't declare an attack."

Like "Gravity Bind" or "Level Limit – Area B," this was a classic early lockdown card. But this one was more flexible—you could pay 100 LP in each of your Standby Phases to keep it or choose to let it be destroyed.

So the owner could lift the lockdown whenever they wished.

"Starting with an attack lock." Alpha crossed his arms and sneered. "Are you that afraid of my deck's power?"

Kira didn't reply, just smiled and continued: "Then I activate 'Card Destruction'. Both players discard their hands and draw the same number."

Alpha drew new cards, observing Kira's reaction.

Is he digging for a specific combo?

"I set a monster face-down," Kira said. "Then set a card and end my turn."

"Heh, so you didn't get your combo? Then be crushed by my power!

My turn, draw!"

Alpha swept his hand.

"Normal Summon 'Paladin of Felgrand'!"

A blond swordsman appeared, a white cape billowing behind him.

[Paladin of Felgrand, ATK 1700]

"When this card is summoned, equip a Level 7 or 8 Dragon from hand or deck to it as an Equip Card."

Alpha pulled a card from his deck.

"From my deck, equip Level 7 Dragon 'Arkbrave Dragon'."

A phantom dragon appeared, attaching itself to the knight's sword like a dragon's soul.

"Then I activate Continuous Spell 'Ruins of the Divine Dragon Lords'!"

A dragon statue appeared on the field, like a ruined temple.

"Once per turn, I can send a face-up card on the field (except this one) to the graveyard to Special Summon a 'Dragon Lord Token'.

I send the equipped 'Arkbrave Dragon' to the graveyard to Special Summon a Dragon Lord Token!"

[Dragon Lord Token, DEF 0]

"Then Paladin of Felgrand's follow-up effect: Tribute itself and another monster to Special Summon a Level 7 or 8 Dragon from the graveyard.

So I tribute Paladin and the token—arcane dragon soul revive!

Level 7, Arkbrave Dragon, Special Summon!"

The knight and token vanished, replaced by a brilliant dragon, descending in a shower of light.

[Arkbrave Dragon, ATK 2400]

"So it's that deck…" Kira touched his chin.

He'd seen this deck before at KaibaCorp—a new series themed on the Level 8 'Felgrand Dragon'—the latest, most powerful Dragon deck.

But it wasn't out yet, even at KaibaCorp it was a non-retail prototype.

Kira became even more curious about who this guy was.

"When Arkbrave Dragon is Special Summoned from the graveyard, banish all face-up Spells and Traps on your opponent's field!" Alpha declared. "Goodbye, Messenger of Peace!"

A radiant storm burst from the dragon, banishing Messenger of Peace to another dimension.

"And for each card banished, Arkbrave Dragon gains 200 ATK!"

[Arkbrave Dragon, ATK 2400 → 2600]

"Now the attack lock is gone. Such simple tricks are useless against my shining dragon!"

Alpha laughed.

"Battle! Crush him! Arkbrave Dragon, attack the face-down monster!"

Arkbrave Dragon opened its jaws, firing a blinding beam. The set monster flipped face-up—a red-skinned blacksmith.

[Iron Blacksmith Kotetsu, DEF 500]

"The monster you attacked is 'Iron Blacksmith Kotetsu'," Kira said. "When flipped, I can add an Equip Spell from my deck to my hand."

He pulled an Equip Spell from his deck.

"I add 'Butterfly Dagger – Elma' to my hand."

Any students who'd seen the "Butterfly Dagger OTK" in action would be sweating right now—but the opponent didn't realize the danger.

Alpha: "Battle Phase ends, I set three cards."

Three set cards appeared in Alpha's back row.

"Next, I activate the Continuous Spell 'Mirage of Nightmare' from my hand! Once per turn, during your opponent's Standby Phase: Draw cards until you have 4 cards in your hand. If you do, during your next Standby Phase after that: Randomly discard the same number of cards you drew!"

Kira glanced at the three set cards.

Looks like he set those to increase his hand for Mirage.

I bet at least one is Emergency Provisions…

"By the way, 'Ruins of the Divine Dragon Lords' has another effect," Alpha sneered. "If I control a Level 7 or 8 Dragon, only monsters Special Summoned from the graveyard can activate their effects.

Monsters Special Summoned from anywhere else have their effects negated for the turn they're summoned!"

Kira nodded slightly. "That's troublesome."

"Hmph." Alpha crossed his arms, smirking. "If you don't want to be utterly crushed, surrender and join us while you can."

Kira studied Alpha's posture and mannerisms.

"Don't you think your way of talking—and some of your moves—are a lot like Seto Kaiba?"

"Oh? You noticed?"

Alpha smirked.

"That's right. I am—"

"A diehard Seto Kaiba fan?" Kira cut in.

"Yes, I am Seto Kaiba's number one fan—wait!"

Alpha nearly fell for it, his face darkening.

"Nonsense! I'm the latest AI modeled after Seto Kaiba, codename Alpha. Seto Kaiba is destined to be surpassed by us. We will lead KaibaCorp back to the right path!"

Kira: "…"

===

3 Bonus Chapter @ 2000 PS

PS: Read Advanced chapters at patreon.com/AbsoluteCode