Caius the Shadow Monarch, Summon!
[Caius the Shadow Monarch, ATK 2400]
Kira immediately raised an eyebrow.
So the true form of that dark spirit was Caius.
How convenient.
How did you know I was collecting Monarchs?
The strongest early Monarch just delivered himself to his door, and even comes with a spirit.
Kira now looked at the King of Yamimakai with a gentler gaze—thankful that the guy had jumped out himself. Otherwise, if he’d just left after getting the artifact, he would’ve missed such a huge bonus.
The King of Yamimakai, however, was intoxicated with his newfound power, oblivious to Kira’s change in attitude. He laughed loudly.
"With the power of Caius the Shadow Monarch, you have no chance! Caius’s effect activates!
When Tribute Summoned, banish any card on the field!
Banish ’Green Baboon, Defender of the Forest’!"
The King of Yamimakai’s face twisted wickedly.
"That immortal baboon is troublesome, but before Caius’s might, it’s nothing! Disappear, trash!"
Caius crossed his hands, a dark energy wave distorting space and hitting the baboon. The baboon roared but was quickly sucked into the darkness and vanished.
"Now it can’t revive," the King of Yamimakai’s eyes flashed red. "Next, I activate Equip Spell ’Dragon Nails’!
Equip to Caius—ATK increases by 600!"
[Caius the Shadow Monarch, ATK 2400 → ATK 3000]
"Also, while equipped with ’Dragon Nails,’ Caius can’t be destroyed by opponent’s card effects.
Even if destroyed by battle, Caius is revived immediately and re-equipped!"
The King of Yamimakai raised his arms, laughing maniacally.
"With Caius’s power, I’m invincible! Shadow Monarch, continue to crush his field! Attack ’Nimble Momonga’!"
Caius charged a dark energy ball in his palms.
"Can’t be destroyed by effects, revives if destroyed by battle—too scary."
Kira snapped his fingers.
"I activate set card, Trap Card ’Phoenix Wing Wind Blast.’ Discard a card, target a card your opponent controls, and return it to the top of their deck!"
He pointed at Caius.
"Caius, back to the top of your deck."
The King of Yamimakai’s eyes almost popped out.
"What!? Not destroy, but return to deck?
Nooo!"
A phantom of Sacred Phoenix of Nephthys appeared, its wings stirring a fiery storm. Caius was engulfed, turned to shadow, and flew back to the top of the deck.
"AAAAAAHHHH!!!" The King of Yamimakai howled.
Back to the deck—again!
"With Caius gone, ’Dragon Nails’ is destroyed." Kira smiled. "But it’s still your turn. Go ahead."
"..."
Several seconds of silence.
The King of Yamimakai gritted his teeth and continued.
"I set two cards and end my turn."
He exhaled deeply.
It wasn’t over—Caius hadn’t completely abandoned him.
His set cards were his last hope.
"My turn—draw," Kira said. "Activate Trap, ’Destruct Potion.’ Destroy a monster I control and gain LP equal to its ATK.
I destroy ’Nimble Momonga’ and gain 1000 LP."
One Nimble Momonga exploded, its energy absorbed by Kira.
[Kira, LP 3000 → LP 4000]
The King of Yamimakai’s face darkened.
LP gain... No, that’s not the point.
"Then, another ’Green Baboon, Defender of the Forest’ in my graveyard—its effect activates. When a Beast is destroyed, pay 1000 LP to Special Summon Green Baboon!"
[Kira, LP 4000 → LP 3000]
From the grave’s vortex, the wild baboon jumped out again, howling.
[Green Baboon, Defender of the Forest, ATK 2600]
King of Yamimakai: "Again with that thing..."
"Green Baboon, direct attack."
The baboon roared and attacked.
Now!
The King of Yamimakai’s eyes glowed red.
His last chance! His counterattack!
"Trap Card—Counter Gate!" He was surrounded by dark energy. "When an opponent’s monster declares a direct attack, negate the attack, draw a card. If it’s a monster, you can Normal Summon it in attack position!"
"Oh? Counter Gate?" Kira nodded.
"That’s right." The King of Yamimakai grinned. "And thanks to you, we both know the top card of my deck is a monster!"
"But Counter Gate is a Normal Summon. If it’s Level 5 or higher, you need a tribute." Kira reminded, cutting off any attempts at cheating. "Even if you draw Caius, you can’t summon it."
"Hahaha, you think I didn’t plan for that?" The King of Yamimakai shouted. "Chain—Continuous Trap ’Tiki Curse’! It can be Special Summoned as a monster!"
[Tiki Curse, DEF 1000]
"So you prepared another Trap Monster just for this." Kira nodded.
"Now resolve Counter Gate. Baboon’s attack is negated, I draw!"
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: Who Let Him Play Yu-Gi-Oh!