Chapter 20: The More You Lack, the More You Flaunt It in Your Name

"The first turn is mine!" Hayato quickly drew five cards, shouting out before Shoji on the opposite side could even react. Unlike his previous friendly match with Yugi, where they could calmly discuss who should go first, this was different. After all, under the rule that allows the first player to draw a card, the advantage of going first is significant.

Hayato didn't even know this Shoji Manjoume, so why should he hand over an advantage?

"Tch, how vulgar. Not elegant at all." Having his first turn stolen, Shoji Manjoume felt annoyed. To him, the cause of this duel was Hayato Hayabusa getting close to Miho Nosaka. Viewing this duel as a battle to decide the outcome of their romance, he felt that Hayato was implying he intended to "beat him to the punch."

After drawing his card, Hayato began to examine his hand. Thanks to the Kame Game Shop and the system’s card packs, his deck had improved significantly. His current hand was perfect, featuring three spell cards and three decent monster cards—far superior to his previous duel with Yugi.

"I summon this card to the field. Come forth, Castle Gate Winged Dragon!"

As he slapped a card onto the field and declared the summon, Hayato was about to proceed with his next move, but the gasps from Joey and the others made him pause. "Ah! What is that?!"

Following Anzu’s cry, Joey and Honda shouted in perfect unison, "The Duel Monsters have materialized!"

On the field, a face-up card of the enlarged Castle Gate Winged Dragon appeared out of thin air. Then, from the illustration on the card, a blue winged dragon flapped its wings and emerged, standing between the two dueling platforms with the card as its base, roaring toward the sky.

[Castle Gate Winged Dragon] [Level 4/Wind] [Dragon/Normal] [1400/1200]

"Since this dueling platform was built in a rush, the sound system lacks sufficient space, so this is just a simplified version. The monsters' movements are also restricted to a small space," Shoji Manjoume said, seemingly enjoying the surprised expressions of Joey and the others. "Feast your eyes on this future technology and be amazed, you bumpkins!"

"While I agree that Duel Monsters will be the mainstream of the future, your constant calling us bumpkins is really irritating." Hayato, annoyed by Shoji’s attitude, continued to place a card on the field. "I’ll set one card in my back row and end my turn."

"Setting a back row? Hmph, Duel Monsters should be played upright and honorably." Completely projecting his view on romance into the duel, Manjoume—who hated everything related to his rival—even found the act of setting a back-row card repulsive.

[Hayato: Hand 5→6→4]

"My turn. Remember well the posture of my victory!"

Drawing a card and glancing at his hand, Shoji Manjoume played a card with a confident expression: "Witness what a noble’s duel looks like. I summon Gemini Elf!"

A card appeared on Shoji’s field. A graceful elf emerged from the illustration, fluttering playfully around the arena. As she landed on the card, another elf, similar in appearance, appeared beside her.

[Gemini Elf] [Level 4/Earth] [Spellcaster/Normal] [1900/900]

"The attack power is actually 1900!" Honda and the others chimed in, perfectly playing along with Shoji’s move. "It’s practically on par with Hayato’s 'Death Stalker'."

*Why are you all so impressed by a vanilla monster with less than 1000 attack points?* Hayato thought, feeling utterly bewildered. *If you’re going to be impressed, be impressed by the power of 'Soul-Eating Magic Blade'. Are you focusing on the wrong things?*

"Gemini Elf, destroy the enemy before you for your master! Magic Duet!" Shouting with great intensity, Shoji waved his hand toward the Castle Gate Winged Dragon on Hayato’s field. Following his attack declaration, the twin elves held out their palms, and two spheres of magical energy swirled and intertwined as they flew toward the target.

As the attack shattered the Castle Gate Winged Dragon, sending it disappearing from the field, Shoji kept his eyes fixed on the set card in Hayato’s back row.

Although he looked down on his opponent, Shoji Manjoume took this duel quite seriously. On one hand, he wanted to defeat Hayato at his own game to settle the score in love; on the other, the pride of the Manjoume family did not allow him to fail.

In truth, he hadn't had much interest in Duel Monsters before. It was his third younger brother, Jun, who seemed to like them. The deck he used for this duel was specially assembled by his subordinates, customized to his own preference for a "noble" theme because he felt it was elegant.

He didn't know much about Duel Monsters, but he had once seen a recording of the National Duel Monsters Championship at home. He was particularly impressed by a disgusting guy who liked to use Insect decks and a spell card called "Messiah's Ant-Lion Trap," which could only be activated during an attack declaration.

That was the reason Shoji had been watching Hayato’s back row during his attack. However, Hayato didn't activate any traps until the end of the battle, causing Shoji to breathe a sigh of relief. *It makes sense,* he thought. *The opponent is just an ordinary high school student; how could he possibly have the brilliant plays of a professional?*

"A bluffing set card—useless, as expected." Spouting arrogant remarks, Shoji looked smug. "Your Life Points are down to three-quarters. I’ll finish you off in the next three turns. My turn end—"

"Before your turn ends, I’m activating this card."

Hayato interrupted Shoji’s end-of-turn declaration and flipped his set card.

"Time Machine. Its effect returns the monster you destroyed this turn to the field in its original state. Come back, Castle Gate Winged Dragon!"

On the field, the set card stood upright, and a massive machine emerged from the card’s illustration. As clouds of steam poured from the machine, its front hatch opened, and the Castle Gate Winged Dragon, just destroyed by the Gemini Elves, flew out and landed back on the field. Unlike its arrogant roar when it first appeared, having failed to "guard the gate," the dragon simply bared its teeth at the opposing Gemini Elves.

"Useless small fry. Even if it appears again, it can't escape its fate of being destroyed," Shoji said unhappily.

Hayato merely replied, "Well, who knows? Perhaps its soul will become the fuel for my comrades’ counterattack?"

Shoji didn't understand what Hayato meant, but Joey and the others realized what move was coming next: "Here it comes, Hayato’s super-powerful combo!"

[Hayato: 2000 LP → 1500, Hand 4] [Castle Gate Winged Dragon ATK 1400]
[Shoji: 2000 LP, Hand 5→6→5] [Gemini Elf ATK 1900]