Who Let Him Play Yu-Gi-Oh!

"Duel!" ×2

[Kira, LP 4000]

[Zane, LP 4000]

"I'll go first. Draw."

Kira declared.

"I set a monster in face-down defense position, then set a card face-down. Turn end."

Zane: "My turn. Draw!"

He glanced at his hand, then promptly played a card.

"Spell Card: 'Different Dimension Capsule.' I choose one card from my deck, banish it face-down. During my second Standby Phase after activation, that card is added to my hand."

Cards like Gold Sarcophagus and Different Dimension Capsule are considered obsolete due to their slow speed nowadays, but back in the early days, they were incredibly strong and restricted. Although you have to wait two turns, it acts as a universal search—hugely popular among players back then.

Unlike modern Yu-Gi-Oh!, where duels are often decided in one turn, back then it was normal to have empty turns and little to no OTKs. Waiting two turns for a search was no problem.

Zane searched his deck, selected a card, and placed it face-down in the Different Dimension Capsule. The capsule closed, glowed gold, and sank into the ground, disappearing.

While Kira couldn't see what card was chosen, he could easily guess it was the Spell Card "Power Bond."

A Machine-Type Fusion Spell that doubles the attack of the fused monster.

In the anime, Zane always opens with Different Dimension Capsule—and always picks Power Bond.

"…Hey, isn't that guy over there Kaiser?"

"Looks like it! And his opponent—wait, isn't that the guy, Fujiki Kira, the Yellow Big Villain?"

A few students happened to be passing by—probably Duel Academy students visiting Duel City during their break. Running into the two school legends dueling in Duel City was a huge surprise.

The Master of Yellow versus Academy's Kaiser!

A battle for the Academy's crown?

"Record this! Hurry up!"

The students quickly crowded around with their phones.

Everyone knew that no matter who won, this duel would be viral back at school—guaranteed to draw attention.

"Then, Spell Card: 'Pot of Greed.'" Zane continued. "Draw two cards."

After drawing, he paused and glanced at Kira's set card.

He'd never dueled Kira before, but he'd watched plenty of his duels. He knew Kira was a master of trap setups—his back row couldn't be underestimated.

"Quick-Play Spell, 'Mystical Space Typhoon,'" Zane said. "Destroy one Spell or Trap Card on the field. I'll destroy your set card."

A black whirlwind wrapped around Kira's set card, and a bolt of lightning struck it, shattering the trap.

Kira smiled faintly. "The card you destroyed was the Trap Card 'Dummy Marker.' When this card is destroyed by a card effect, I draw one card. If it's destroyed by your Spell Card, I can draw two cards from my deck."

Zane nodded. "So I walked right into your trap."

"Since your 'Mystical Space Typhoon' destroyed it, I'll draw two cards."

Kira drew two cards from his deck.

Zane: "Now, I Special Summon 'Cyber Dragon.'"

The legendary monster—the core of the Cyber deck—a mechanical dragon appeared on his field, electricity arcing around its steel body as it protected Zane.

[Cyber Dragon, ATK 2100]

"Cyber Dragon is a Level 5 monster, but if my opponent controls a monster and I don't, I can Special Summon it from my hand."

Zane swept his hand.

"Cyber Dragon attacks the face-down monster."

Cyber Dragon opened its mouth, unleashing a golden spiral of energy, obliterating the set monster—a tiny frog with a halo above its head.

[Treeborn Frog, DEF 100]

"Treeborn Frog… a monster that can revive itself."

Zane frowned and pulled a card from his hand.

"I set a card face-down. Turn end."

The nearby students, recording the duel, were already gushing: "As expected of Kaiser, immediately summoning a high-level monster, clearing the back row, and solidifying his own back row too."

Another nodded. "That was a perfect first turn—both offense and defense."

Kira: "…"

Honestly, Zane's opening was identical to his first appearance against Jaden in the anime—even the in-show commentary said the same thing.

"Cyber Dragon, a high-level monster that can hit the field so easily—pretty impressive, huh?" Kira smiled.

Zane smiled too, glancing at Cyber Dragon.

"It's my friend."

And as if it understood, Cyber Dragon actually lowered its head in acknowledgement.

But that was nothing unusual; it was well-known that Kaiser's Cyber Dragon was a spirit.

"I've seen your duels—your style as 'Kaiser.'" Kira smiled. "You respect every possibility your opponent has, showcase the strong bonds between yourself and your monsters through dueling, and use Cyber Dragon's ultimate forms to give your opponent an honorable finish.

That's your style—and the source of your strength."

He paused, narrowing his eyes meaningfully.

"Well, as long as you can keep winning like this, that's great."

Zane was momentarily confused but replied,

"As long as I can stick to my own dueling, and walk my own path, there's nothing to regret even if I lose to a strong opponent."

"That's true."

Kira smiled mysteriously, saying no more.

"My turn, draw," Kira declared. "During my Standby Phase, Treeborn Frog's effect in the graveyard:

If I have no Treeborn Frog on the field, I can Special Summon this card from the graveyard.

So I revive Treeborn Frog."

A holy light descended, and the little angelic frog with wings and a halo hopped back onto the field.

[Treeborn Frog, ATK 100]

"Now, I tribute Treeborn Frog for a Tribute Summon!"

Kira raised his hand, and a green storm whipped up, blades of wind swirling as if an army of wind was welcoming its general.

"Raiza the Storm Monarch—Summon!"

[Raiza the Storm Monarch, ATK 2400]

"When Raiza is Tribute Summoned, I can return one card on the field to the top of its owner's deck," Kira said. "'Cyber Dragon' goes back to the top of your deck."

A green storm engulfed Cyber Dragon, and its metallic body vanished in a flash of light, returning to the top of Zane's deck.

"Then Raiza attacks directly!"

A storm of wind blades ripped through the battlefield, even the ground was torn apart by the air currents. The storm swept over Zane, making him stagger.

[Zane, LP 4000 → 1600]

The crowd buzzed.

"Kira takes the first point!"

One guy sounded like he was streaming.

"He actually pushed back even Kaiser…"

But Zane wasn't discouraged. After the storm, he straightened up and smiled. "No wonder the Monarchs are such a rare and powerful series—that was impressive."

"Spell Card: 'Card of Heaven and Earth.'" Kira said. "If I performed a Tribute Summon this turn, I draw two cards from my deck. But the cards I draw can't be used this turn—if possible, I must set at least one." (Manga Card)

Kira drew two cards.

"I set two cards face-down. Turn end."