Chapter 3: How to play this card?

As You Yu wandered through the dark and empty alley for the third time, he noticed that the streets outside had already become deserted. It was well past midnight, and most people had succumbed to sleep, leaving only a handful of individuals aimlessly drifting through the dimly lit streets. Among them were inebriated souls, miscreants, and enigmatic characters.

However, You Yu stood out from these groups by his appearance alone. His striking handsomeness made it evident that he did not belong to any of those categories.

A cold gust of wind blew through the alley, bringing a slight chill and a pang of hunger to You Yu's senses. It had been half a day since he had eaten anything, and he realized that despite having a game-like interface, he was now a resident of the real world. He would need to find employment in the morning to alleviate his hunger and ensure he didn't starve.

Completing his fourth lap along the same path, You Yu realized that the town remained unchanged. He had spent the entire night exploring the streets, hoping to stumble upon any signs of an unfolding plot, but so far, he had found nothing.

He went through his memory once more, confirming the details of the elusive plot he had learned from a seasoned player in his previous life. According to that information, the plot was supposed to be triggered in this very area. However, he considered the possibility that it might be too early since the game was still a month away and logical assumptions suggested it wouldn't be triggered prematurely.

But You Yu was never one to shy away from a challenge, even when the odds were stacked against him.

As the thought crossed his mind, the symphony of footsteps echoed behind him in the alley. The sound of leather shoes striking the pavement filled the air, cutting through the eerie silence. You Yu's eyes sparkled with anticipation. Could this be it?

He turned his head to find a figure emerging behind him. Clad in a billowing black robe, the man seemed like a shapeless sack immersed in darkness. A wide hood concealed most of his features, with only a glimpse of a white mask visible beneath.

The man's left hand bore a distinct dueling plate, indicating that he was a fellow card player.

"The duelist over yonder," the man chuckled softly, mischief lacing his voice. "Do you dare engage in a duel? One involving a rare card, no less."

You Yu remained composed, feeling a surge of exhilaration within him. He muttered to himself, "Damn, I've been chasing after this all night!"

"A rare card hunter, I presume?" he replied.

"Huh? Do you know of me?" The man's smile widened.

"Word has been spreading about you recently," You Yu explained. "With the forthcoming Haima Company competition, duelists from around the globe have converged upon Tono City, causing a surge in activity among rare card hunters like yourself."

"I see," the man replied, his smile unyielding. "In accordance with Haima Company's regulations, only recognized duels featuring rare cards will grant access to their newly developed duel plates and secure qualification for the competition."

As the man's gaze shifted towards You Yu's duel plate, he noticed that You Yu was also equipped with one.

"Ah, I see you're sporting one as well," the man remarked, his voice trailing off as he raised his arm. With a swift motion, the duel plate on his wrist unfolded automatically.

"Let us proceed then. The rules follow the gambling card regulations of Duel City. The loser shall surrender their rare card," he declared firmly.

Simultaneously, a system prompt materialized in front of You Yu, revealing a hidden mission: "The Challenge from Gurus!"

The mission involved Pandora, a member of the formidable rare card hunter group known as Gurus. You Yu's objective was to defeat him in a duel and obtain the coveted UR rare card, 'Black Magician,' as a reward.

Despite the ambiguous failure penalty, You Yu knew that undertaking this mission was an opportunity he couldn't pass up. In his previous life, the boss mentioned by You Yu had defeated Pandora during the Duel City Chapter mission, acquiring the Black Magician card. This allowed the player to unlock a series of formidable support cards linked to the Black Magician.

While the game had yet to be officially released, You Yu was determined not to let this chance slip away.

Furthermore, he believed this mission to be relatively safe. Pandora lacked extraordinary powers, and even in the worst-case scenario, losing would only result in enduring the impact of three-dimensional images, expending physical energy, and facing the loss of a rare card. Since You Yu's current deck consisted mainly of mediocre villains and ineffective trap cards, the stakes were inconsequential.

With a resolute mindset, You Yu accepted the challenge.

"Duel!"

[You Yu, LP 4000]

[Pandora, LP 4000]

"I shall make the first move. I draw a card," Pandora declared. He drew a card, adding it to the five cards in his hand before placing a monster card onto the duel plate.

"What I'm about to summon here is... Killer Tomato! Attack mode!"

The three-dimensional imaging technology activated, materializing a red tomato with a sinister grin on the field.

[Killer Tomato, ATK 1400]

Pandora's turn came to an end after summoning a four-star monster and clearing the back row.

Now it was You Yu's turn. He drew a card, examined his hand, and selected a card with a mischievous grin. With a swift motion, he slammed the card onto the duel plate.

"I summon Elemental Hero - Wingman!"

[Elemental Hero - Wingman, DEF 1000]

With that, You Yu ended his turn, ready to face the challenge that lay ahead.

As for what he would do if he were a cat... well, that was a question for another time. For now, he focused on the duel at hand and the opportunity to acquire the Black Magician.