"After this card inflicts battle damage to the opponent, during their next Draw Phase—before they draw—they must discard their entire hand."
That's the effect triggered by "Kagutsuchi" after dealing damage.
At first glance, it seems insanely powerful. But most Soul Monsters in this deck have bizarre summoning conditions—either "cannot be Special Summoned" or "cannot be Normal Summoned"—plus generic effects like "return to the hand at end phase."
It's simply—
"Overpowered."
You Ming murmurs, truly impressed.
Soul Monsters are ridiculous enough—but Kaiba Noah, who builds his deck around them…
Noah senses the gaze and says:
"What is it?"
"Nothing." You Ming smiles.
"I just think you're incredibly strong."
In their anime world, running out of cards doesn't matter: they summon monsters like Kagutsuchi seemingly at will. All these bizarre effects seamlessly come together.
But in this world, they have a different way of describing it:
"This isn't just my battle."
Noah quietly strokes his deck.
"It's not because I'm strong—it's because my companions are willing to be strong for me… I'm grateful they lent me their power."
Themes of friendship, bonds, souls, and pride—the duelists in the anime shout these while using cards considered absurd by real players, and still manage unbelievable comebacks and plays.
---
"...How did this happen?"
The two demons stare at each other, stunned.
Blighted Demon Lord is lost; Dark Invader looks downcast beneath his hood. You Ming sees Dark Invader visibly uneasy.
In a doubles match with no setup, losing all your hand cards instantly is humiliating.
Yet here in a life-or-death match, they have no choice—they must continue.
---
"It's not over."
Through clenched teeth, the Demon Lord growls:
"We still have one card left!"
You Ming smirks. "Is that your epic line?"
He glances at the destroyed gate and the wreckage around them.
"Someone looking in'd assume we're the invaders."
"Draw, partner. Let them see our power."
The Demon Lord nods solemnly.
"I'll go down with you—no matter what happens."
Silence fills the air. The Demon Lord keeps waiting, eventually calling weakly:
"…Are you okay?"
No answer. He softly taps his friend's armor—which suddenly shatters.
With a clang, dull metal falls away, revealing flesh beneath. The Demon Lord roars:
"You coward! How dare you abandon me?!"
You Ming laughs, slightly hoarse:
"But demons—can they abandon a Dark Game?"
"They can."
Noah confirms:
"They are masters of manipulating mind, soul, and body. The one who stood beside you was clearly not the real person."
"So it's hard to punish them in a Dark Game."
"Not hard—just… we lacked strength."
"Even so, I won't give up!"
The brief exchange ends. You Ming and Noah stare ahead.
"Even if it's just me, I'll keep fighting."
Smoke still scents the air. The defeated Demon Lord rises slowly and places a hand on his deck.
"My turn: draw!"
You Ming mutters, "How earnest."
"Don't really draw something that flips the game…"
Suddenly, the Demon Lord bursts into a loony laugh:
"I got it!"
He roars in triumph. You Ming looks to Noah.
"Have a counter?"
Noah nods.
He presses a button on his duel disk.
"Trap Card."
The Demon Lord raises a card—but instantly, an angelic, Buddha-like spirit descends and intercepts it like Michelangelo's Adam reaching for God's hand.
"Knock-Off—the opponent discards one card from the card they drew this Draw Phase."
The Demon Lord freezes like a statue. You Ming facepalms.
Though his enemy, he feels sympathy.
"It's okay… I'll just… end this turn."
He sighs—but begins shouting again:
"Your hand is zero, mine too! Even if I draw a monster next turn, I can't finish you in one hit!"
You Ming sees his red glare—a mix of resolve and derangement.
"Next turn… I still have a chance!"
Spirited, at least.
You Ming sighs:
"Sir Demon Lord, you should surrender. Holding on isn't always wise."
"Shut up. Let's begin!"
You Ming sighs again.
"Alright… my turn, draw."
Noah reminds him:
"You checked your set cards, right?"
You Ming's lips twitch.
He did check—but he's grown fond already.
That card was no joke:
"Trap—Gravekeeper's Rite."
A soul-monster support card from anime only. Its effect:
"Add one Soul Monster from your Graveyard to your hand."
Question: is there a Soul Monster there?
Yes.
Earlier, Noah discarded one via Scalar Field Generator—and it was a Soul Monster.
"Caw!"
When activated, shimmering shafts sparkle from the graveyard, forming a card—a crow.
"I add 'Yatagarasu' to my hand, and—"
He places it and declares:
"Summon."
The duel ends.
"Yatagarasu, attack the player directly."
(Blighted Demon Lord LP: 5200→5000)
PS: Access advance chapters at
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