NOVEL WEB Chapter 381: 381
"Draw." Grapha casually drew a card from his Deck.
"At this moment, due to the effect of Mirage of Nightmare, I draw until I have four cards during your Standby Phase!" Jaden seized the chance and quickly drew four cards.
"Hmph. Hahaha, to think I actually drew this card?" Grapha watched Jaden replenish his hand, completely unfazed. Glancing at the card he drew, he chuckled darkly. "In the past, facing the Supreme King, I'd never have drawn this card."
"The power of a Duel would be suppressed to the minimum. Still, now... things seem different."
"I activate the Spell Card: Dark Corridor."
"This card lets me add 1 'Dark World' monster from my Deck to my hand."
"?!"
"Heh... you know what I'm adding, don't you?" Grapha sneered. "I add the second Grapha, Dragon Lord of Dark World from my Deck to my hand!"
"What?!" Jim clambered up to the window, stunned by the wave of energy. "He created a second copy of his own body? Don't tell me there's a third?"
"You..." Jaden's face grew more serious as Grapha added a second copy of himself to hand.
For beings like spirits, it was difficult to gauge their power levels.
Even through Duels, it was hard to determine a spirit's raw power.
However, one thing was certain;
At most, a spirit would only have one card form. Replicating a perfect card that contained one's true essence was incredibly difficult, practically as hard as evolving.
A spirit that could create a second, or even third, version of themselves? In the Spirit World, that was the mark of a top-tier entity.
"Hahahaha, Supreme King, have you not remembered yet? I'm one of the top demons in the multiverse! Of course, I have three of me."
"Dark Corridor's effect: after adding a card to hand, I discard one."
"I discard Brron, Mad King of Dark World."
"Brron? To use Gates of Dark World's effect, right?"
His companions snapped to attention.
Of course.
Refreshing the hand was a solid choice.
"I activate the effect of The Gates of Dark World. I banish Brron from the Graveyard, discard a Fiend from my hand, and draw a card."
"Naturally, I discard myself." Grapha casually discarded and pointed. "Now vanish, Cosmic Warrior! When discarded by effect: destroy 1 card on your opponent's field!"
"Not so fast! I activate the effect of Neo-Spacian Fusion in the Graveyard! If a Fusion Monster on my field that used Neos as material would be destroyed, I can banish this instead!"
"Heh, a futile struggle."
Grapha glanced at his next card and snorted.
"I activate the Trap Card: Dark World Dealings! Target 2 'Dark World' monsters in the Graveyard; add them to my hand!"
Jaden's eyes widened.
Two Grapha in the Graveyard…
That meant…
Two Grapha returned to hand.
Grapha lazily summoned a monster.
"Normal Summon: Beiige, Vanguard of Dark World."
A snarling soldier appeared before him.
[Beiige, Vanguard of Dark World] Level 4│DARK│Fiend│1600 ATK → 1900 ATK
"Then, Continuous Spell: The Dark World Archives!"
Books burst from the gate behind Grapha, forming a twisted library.
"Once per Main Phase: discard 1 'Dark World' monster. All my Dark World monsters gain ATK equal to 100 × that monster's Level until the end of the turn."
"Of course I discard... Grapha, Dragon Lord of Dark World!"
[Beiige, ATK: 1900 → 2700]
"Grapha's effect: destroy your Flare Neos!"
"Quick-Play Spell: Emergency Provisions! I send Instant Neo Space and Mirage of Nightmare to the Graveyard to gain 2000 LP!"
[Jaden Yuki, LP: 4000 → 6000]
"Gaining Life Points just to protect these weak humans?" Brron cackled, eyes gleaming with malice.
"But I'm not done. Archives' secondary effect: if a Fiend is discarded by a 'Dark World' effect or an opponent's card, I can discard another card to draw two!"
"And obviously, I discard... my second self!"
BOOM!
A clone of Grapha struck Flare Neos like a meteor. Without the protection of Fusion support, it was instantly shattered.
"Second Grapha's effect: destroy your last line of defense!"
The little rover panicked, spinning in place, then exploded into scattered parts.
"Grapha!!" Jaden growled. "Card Trooper's effect: when destroyed, I draw 1 card."
He returned to 5 cards in hand.
"Then I activate... Dark World Dealings. Again."
Unfazed, Grapha drew. Jaden did too.
"I discard Goldd, Wu-Lord of Dark World."
A golden demon appeared beside Grapha.
[Goldd, Wu-Lord of Dark World] Level 5│DARK│Fiend│2300 ATK → 2600 ATK
"Now, return Goldd and Beiige to my hand!"
The monsters vanished into shadows, replaced by two identical Grapha looming from the dark, cackling hideously.
"Hahaha! No matter what you do, it's useless."
"Two monsters with 3000 ATK!?"
"It's over, even all that LP gain won't save him."
"How, Jaden used every card to defend, and still got wiped out..."
Brron cackled louder, licking his lips as he scanned the humans, scheming ever more grotesque fates for them.
"Wake up, kid. Heroes aren't made just by saying so. If you can't even win, what good are you? Your friends, classmates, they'll leave you. If not killed by us, then by something else."
"Direct attack! My clones, go!"
Jaden's expression darkened.
Enough of this "Supreme King" nonsense.
He wasn't perfect. He wasn't cheerful. He was filled with the weight of responsibility, and now, pure fury.
He had only one thought left.
He could not afford to take damage. The other students were right, the moment he got hit, Brron would strike.
"Quick-Play Spell! Flute of Summoning Kuriboh! Add 1 Kuriboh or Winged Kuriboh from my Deck to my hand or Special Summon it!"
"Come forth, partner!"
"Kurikuri!" Winged Kuriboh flew out and took position, guarding Jaden with its tiny claws.
[Winged Kuriboh] Level 1│LIGHT│Fairy│200 DEF
WHAM!
The demon shredded it instantly, but as Winged Kuriboh faded, a radiant barrier flared up around Jaden, shielding him from harm.
"When Winged Kuriboh is destroyed: this turn, all battle damage I take becomes 0!"
"Tch..." Brron clicked his tongue, lowering his hand.
If he were Dueling, all these humans would be long dead. Unfortunately, Grapha wasn't his style, too old-fashioned. No damage meant no Duel penalty.
Grapha narrowed his eyes.
As one of the oldest and strongest demons, he was beginning to piece together Jaden's intent. Despite that, it didn't faze him, he just shook his head and casually set a card.
"Then keep going. Continue your agony."
"No matter how painful it gets, I'll endure it! Because beyond this battlefield, far away, I still have countless friends supporting me!"
He would protect his classmates, every last Spirit, and bring everyone back home