Chapter 23: Machina Force!

Yuyu came to a halt at the end of the alley, turned around, and silently awaited the arrival of the individual following him.

After a while, a figure cloaked in shadows emerged.

It was a man wrapped in a tattered cloak, his short stature resembling that of an elementary school student who had yet to graduate.

However, despite the cloak's worn appearance and the duel disk concealed beneath it, the corners and edges peeked out—it was clear that this was another rare card hunter from the Gurus Group, similar to Pandora, whom Yuyu had defeated previously.

"I can't believe you actually detected my presence," sneered the diminutive hunter. "you are quite perceptive."

"Rare card hunter?" Yuyu responded casually. "Truly, you're like ghosts."

"Hah, since you put it that way, it seems you really did defeat Pandora," the short hunter grinned. "The intel claimed he lost to a kid like you. I didn't believe it at first... But you possess remarkable courage. Most members of our Gurus only go after one or two rare cards. But you, kid, you had the audacity to seize Pandora's entire deck..."

A wry smile played on Yuyu's lips.

How did I become the ruthless villain?

His words even sounded somewhat like a compliment between colleagues. The other party's implication was that they usually only aimed for one or two rare cards, while he, on the other hand, wanted them all. Quite a handful indeed.

But he was right. According to the game, Gurus, as a villainous organization, adhered to certain rules, which was somewhat admirable.

Although they were an evil organization, whenever their group made a move, they would dutifully display their duel disks to engage in card battles with the protagonists. They would only proceed to snatch rare cards after winning the match, and they never directly attacked the masses.

Not to mention, occasionally, some hunters who lost duels against the protagonist would try to backpedal or resort to direct confrontations.

Such unruly individuals were remotely manipulated by their leader, and their memories tampered with, leaving them mentally impaired as a punishment

Yuyu coughed. "He was the one who provoked me first."

"Hmph, it doesn't matter. The fool who lost to you has been dealt with by the organization."

The short rare card hunter opened his duel disk.

"And my mission is to retrieve from you the 'Dark Magician' that Pandora lost to you. Once I succeed, I'll receive a commendation, replace Pandora's position, and gain a higher status!" he declared smugly.

"...Seems like this will be a little too easy," Yuyu remarked.

"The hidden mission, the challenge from Gurus (2)!"

Once again, Yuyu received the task reminder. However, the task panel didn't offer any options to accept or decline the mission. It appeared to be an enforced task triggered by certain conditions, leaving him with no right to refuse.

Most likely because there was no escaping from this shorty right now.

Most villains in Yu-Gi-Oh followed a certain code—so long as you played cards with them in good faith, they would adhere to the rules and often are willing to wager something.

However, if you refused to duel and attempted to escape, they would choose to engage directly with fists.

"Duel!" x2

[Yuyu, LP4000]

[Sho- Rare Card Hunter, LP4000]

"Then I'll make the first move. Draw!" The rare card hunter declared, "I summon 'Machina Soldier'"

[Machina Soldier, 1600 ATK]

"Next, I activate the spell card, 'Bond of Comrades'! By paying 1,000 LP, I can Special Summon two level-4 monsters with the same type as 'Mecha Soldier' from my deck!"

(Note: I couldn't find this card or a similar one…Just pretend it exists)

[Rare Card Hunter, LP4000 → LP3000]

Swiftly, he retrieved two cards from his deck.

"Appear, my mechas! I Special Summon 'Machina Sniper' and 'Machina Guard'!"

[Machina Sniper, 1800 ATK]

[Machina Guard, 1200 ATK]

Yuyu narrowed his eyes.

A Mecha deck?

Being able to summon three monsters in succession like this demonstrated considerable skill in the current environment.

"Hey, now I have three monsters on the field," the hunter grinned. "Unfortunately, the specially summoned monsters through the 'bond' effect cannot attack, nor can they be used as tributes for a higher-level summon."

The hunter then placed another card on the field, concluding his turn.

They can't attack or be used as tributes?

Yuyu studied the opponent's field, pondering over the three four-star cards.

"My turn!" Yuyu announced. "I summon 'Elemental Hero Spark Man'!"

A blue warrior emerged onto the field amidst crackling electric currents. (Sparkman: Why do I have a premonition of becoming the next overworked and defeated hero?)

[Elemental Hero Sparkman, 1600 ATK]

"Sparkman, attack 'Machina Guard'!"

Following the command, Sparkman soared through the air, unleashing a surge of electric current. Lightning crackled like a spear hurled into the sky, targeting the 'Machina Guard' with the lowest attack power on the opponent's field.

"Heh, just as I expected!" the hunter chuckled, activating his facedown card. "Your opponent's monster's attack becomes ineffective, and the battle phase is forcibly terminated from this card!"

A gust of wind emanated from the flipped trap card, creating a swirling vortex barrier that shielded the mecha monsters. Spark Man's electric current dissipated within the storm, unable to breach the defensive layer.

"It's a shame your attack failed," the hunter taunted. "Your strategy was too predictable, just like that of a child..."

However, Yuyu paid no attention to his jeering.

At that moment, all of Yuyu's focus zeroed in on the gradually fading trap card and its effect on the field.

An early life-saving card!

It not only nullified the attack but also forcibly ended the battle phase. At the very least, it was a rare SR-level card capable of launching a swift counterattack.

This card was truly remarkable, though it seemed it would soon be mine with a visual inspection.

The rare card hunter had been trash-talking for a while, only to realize that Yuyu had shown no reaction. Soon, he noticed that Yuyu was fixated on the diminishing attack weakening effect of the trap card.

This infuriated the rare card hunter.

Damn it, we're supposed to be playing cards, and here you are contemplating how to steal my cards?

"I play two cards face-down, and my turn ends."

The hunter felt a sense of disdain from being underestimated, his features contorting with a bit of anger. "It's my turn!"

He drew a card from his deck, a twisted smile forming on the hunter's face.

The hunter laughed and placed a new monster card onto an empty card slot.

"I summon 'Commander Covington'!"

[Commander Covington, 1000 ATK]

A soldier clad in a red mech suit stood on his field like a vigilant sentry.

"Now, the conditions are met!"

Triumphantly, the hunter waved his hand, a childish glee evident in his smile.

"The special effect of Commander Covington allows me to unite the 'Machina Sniper,' 'Machina Guard,' and 'Machina Soldier' on the field into a triple-unit!, though there is a price…"

[Rare Card Hunter, LP3000 → LP2000]

Yuyu raised an eyebrow.

A fusion?

Three mecha monsters on the hunter's field levitated simultaneously, their metallic bodies beginning to disassemble. Countless machine parts hovered in the air, magnetically attracted to their predetermined paths.

Parts connected, gears interlocked, and metal mechas collided and merged in a single location. Gradually, they formed a colossal mech, its towering frame seeming to pierce the heavens like a steel mountain, imposingly blocking Yuyu's path.

"This is my most powerful fusion hero, 'Machina Force'!"

[Machina Force, 4600 ATK]