Who Let Him Play Yu-Gi-Oh!

[Bonus]

Kira was stunned by Jaden's question.

"Why do you ask?"

"Ah, it's nothing, really. It's just…"

Jaden hesitated, frowning as if searching for words.

"I've always felt this way, a bit. Your dueling is incredible, and so creative—you might be the strongest duelist I've ever met.

But I still feel something is missing…"

"Missing?"

"Well, I guess not exactly."

Jaden grew serious.

"You once told me that dueling isn't just about fun. I understand that now, especially after meeting that guy, Shell.

I learned that there are duels where life, or even more important things, are at stake. Dueling can be heavy, and sometimes we have to carry burdens in a duel."

He paused, then looked at Kira sincerely.

"But I still think that even so, dueling itself is something to be enjoyed. Not every duel has to be tense or heavy. I think dueling started out as something that brings joy, not just a tool for victory."

He scratched his head sheepishly.

"I don't really get it myself, but sometimes I feel like you haven't fully enjoyed the fun of dueling. Not that it's bad or anything, just a bit of a shame.

You see, I've gone all out, better than ever before, but even so, you're still able to handle it with ease.

Your BLS, Silent Magician, and my HEROes are giving their all. Every turn I'm excited to see what you'll do next, how you'll attack, how you'll counter. Just imagining it makes me so excited.

With such a fun duel, if I'm the only one enjoying it, isn't that too much of a shame?"

Kira mused.

Is this the secret of Jellyfish-Head's miracle draws?

Honestly, he really couldn't match Jaden's passion for dueling—not that that's surprising. Few in this world could.

But Jaden also has an amazing talent.

He makes everyone around him feel his passion, and catch his fire. It's like his heat spreads to those nearby.

Those influenced by him not only get more passionate about dueling but even perform better during duels.

Kira closed his eyes gently.

At this very moment, in this duel, surrounded by cheers, facing Jaden, something deep inside seemed to be touched—a long dormant part of his heart.

Memories of first seeing those cool monsters on TV as a child, when he first learned of Yu-Gi-Oh.

Countless distant scenes flooded his mind: Yugi and Kaiba's godly battle in the sky arena, the Pharaoh's thumbs up as he vanished into the light, Jaden fusing himself with Yubel, and even later, when Yusei first summoned Shooting Star Dragon.

At some point, those memories had faded.

Kira opened his eyes again.

"I see," he smiled, "Then, as you wish, Jaden. From here on, regardless of win or lose, I'll enjoy this duel with you to the end."

Jaden grinned again.

"Hey, that's the way! But let me say first—I'm still going to win."

"Hah, we'll see about that. My turn—draw!" Kira said. "I'll play this card from my hand—

—Quick-Play Spell 'Emergency Provisions.'

I'll send my Continuous Trap 'Narukami Waterfall' to the Graveyard, gaining 1000 Life Points!"

The Trap dissolved into light, its energy absorbed by Kira.

[Kira, LP 1000→LP 2000]

"Life recovery… Wait," Jaden sensed something, "You discard 'Narukami Waterfall's restriction?"

That Trap affected him far more than Kira, but not entirely one-sidedly. "Neither player can send monsters from hand to Graveyard"—it's not just Fusion Summoning it impacts.

"Correct. I'll now activate this card," Kira continued. "Ritual Spell 'Super Soldier Synthesis'!

Send LIGHT or DARK monsters from hand to Graveyard whose levels total 8, then send a monster of the opposite attribute from Deck to Graveyard, and Ritual Summon using those two as material!

I send 4-star LIGHT 'Beginning Knight' from hand, and 4-star DARK 'Evening Twilight Knight' from the Deck as Ritual material—Ritual Summon!"

The altar appeared, and the young knights turned into light and dark energy.

"One soul guides the light, one soul guides the darkness—the gate to chaos opens—"

Kira raised his hand.

"Ritual Summon—Black Luster Soldier, Descend!"

From the whirl of light and darkness, the sword of chaos split the heavens. BLS spun in the storm, landing with divine pressure.

[Black Luster Soldier, ATK 3000]

"There he is, Black Luster Soldier!" Jaden cheered, "The legendary warrior who fought alongside Yugi Muto since the Duelist Kingdom!"

"When 'Evening Twilight Knight' is used as Ritual material, BLS gains an extra effect," Kira explained. "Once per turn, banish one of your monsters on the field.

I'll banish your Defense Position 'Elemental HERO Bubbleman!'

Twilight Slash!"

Of Jaden's five monsters, only Bubbleman is in Defense Position.

"At this moment, I activate my set card!" Jaden said. "Trap Card—'Elemental Recharge!' I gain 1000 LP for every 'Elemental HERO' on my field.

I have five, so I gain 5000 LP!"

[Jaden, LP 5300→LP 10300]

Sryus gasped: "10,300 LP!"

But Misawa said gravely: "It won't last."

"Now, I'll use the effect gained from 'Beginning Knight'—once per turn, banish one of your monsters.

This time, I'll banish 'Elemental HERO Sparkman!'

Beginning Knight Slash!"

The sword fell, and Sparkman vanished into a dimensional rift.

"Now I activate Equip Spell 'Wonder Wand,' equipping it to 'Silent Magician LV8.' Only Spellcasters can be equipped, and the equipped monster gains 500 ATK.

Silent Magician is immune to opponents' Spell effects, but can still benefit from her own controller's Spells."

[Silent Magician LV8, ATK 3500→ATK 4000]

"Battle phase." Kira declared. "First, 'BLS - Envoy of the Beginning' attacks 'Elemental HERO Avian!'"

Jaden: "Skyscraper effect—Avian gains 1000 ATK!"

BLS's blade fell; Avian struggled but was destroyed.

[Jaden, LP 10300→LP 9300]

"'BLS - Envoy of the Beginning' can attack again after destroying a monster," Kira said. "So, attack 'Elemental HERO Burstinatrix!'"

Jaden: "Burstinatrix also gains 1000 ATK from Skyscraper!"

The sword swept through, and Burstinatrix resisted but was destroyed.

[Jaden, LP 9300→LP 8500]

"'BLS' attacks again," Kira said. "Attack 'Elemental HERO Clayman!'"

"Then, from the Graveyard—'Necro Gardna's' effect!" Jaden said. "Banish Necro Gardna from my Graveyard to negate your attack!

Your BLS's attack is negated!"

Necro Gardna's phantom appeared, blocking BLS's flurry of blows.

"Because the extra attack only triggers on a successful destruction, and if the first attack is negated, there are no further attacks, right?" Jaden smiled.

"Exactly."

Kira nodded.

"Finally, 'Silent Magician LV8' attacks 'Elemental HERO Clayman.' Silent Magic Burst!"

Silent Magician unleashed her magical energy.

"Clayman also gains 1000 ATK from Skyscraper!"

[Silent Magician LV8, ATK 4000]

[Clayman, ATK 1800]

"Uwah!"

Jaden was blasted back.

[Jaden, LP 8500→LP 6300]

"Battle phase over. Now, Wonder Wand's other effect—send both it and the equipped monster to the Graveyard to draw two cards."

Kira drew two more cards.

"Then I set four cards." Kira set four more back row cards. "Turn end."

PS: 3 bonus chapters at 3000 PS.