Who Let Him Play Yu-Gi-Oh!

Complete lockdown!

"That move of Kira's is awesome!"

Mokuba's eyes lit up, and he tugged at his brother's sleeve.

"Angel O7 seals monster effects, Jinzo seals traps, and Spell Canceller locks spells," Alister said. "Doesn't this mean Alister can't use any effects at all?"

"Hmph, not quite," Kaiba snorted.

He could see that even such a lockdown could be broken. After all, in Duel Monsters, there's rarely a true no-way-out situation—especially for duelists of his caliber, who could even top-deck an out at the last second.

But he had to admit, this formation was enough to crush almost any effect-based play. Any ordinary duelist would have already given up hope.

Still, Kaiba looked at Kira with more approval than before. Then he glanced at Alister, the hint of a wry smile tugging at his lips.

"Let's see if you've improved at all these years," Kaiba folded his arms. "Or have you just stagnated and actually regressed?"

Alister closed his eyes with a smile.

"You really caught me off guard, pulling off a formation like this. I didn't expect it at all."

He then straightened up, serious.

"I see. Even as a Duel Academy student, you can't be underestimated. But if it weren't like this, it wouldn't be worth the fight.

Then let me go all out as well.

My turn—draw!"

Alister drew a card. At the same time, a vortex opened on his field, and a small frog hopped out.

"During my Standby Phase, if there are no spells or traps in my graveyard, I can Special Summon 'Treeborn Frog' that I discarded as the cost for Toy Robot Box last turn!"

[Treeborn Frog, ATK 0]

"Angel O7 prevents monster effects on the field, but monsters in the graveyard aren't restricted," Alister explained.

Kira shrugged. The original Angel O7's effect in the anime was actually stronger than the real-life card—no tribute summon needed, it only locked the opponent's monsters, not your own, but it only affected monsters on the field, not in the graveyard. The real card is more comprehensive, locking even graveyard effects.

If it were the real-life Angel O7, even graveyard monster effects would be blocked.

"Next, I tribute 'Treeborn Frog' to Tribute Summon—"

Alister raised his arm.

"—Level 6, Brain Golem!"

A grotesque, unsettling monster with a massive brain and long tentacles, covered with eyes, appeared.

[Brain Golem, ATK 2500]

As soon as it appeared, its huge eyeballs all turned to Kira's Angel. The pure white steel angel was reflected in the golem's pupils, and its halo dimmed, the light receding into its body.

"While Brain Golem is on the field, the effects of all LIGHT monsters on the field are negated."

Alister smiled, shooting a glance at Kaiba.

"This card was meant as a trump card against a certain someone, but I didn't expect to use it here."

The most famous LIGHT-attribute duelist in the world is, naturally, Kaiba—called the King of Light since ancient times. His main decks—Blue-Eyes Power—are all LIGHT. So this monster was made to counter him.

Kaiba, however, wasn't fazed. He just gave a small, dismissive snort.

"Alister actually prepared something like that for Big Brother," Mokuba frowned. "But doesn't Angel O7 make all monster effects on the field invalid…?"

"Angel O7 prevents monsters from activating effects, but continuous effects like Brain Golem's are still applied," Kaiba calmly explained. "Brain Golem's ability doesn't need to activate; it's always on. So now, Angel O7's effect is negated."

"I see..." Mokuba realized. "Alister hasn't lost his edge at all over the years—in fact, he's improved. He found a breakthrough in such a strong lockdown so quickly..."

Alister continued:

"I can Special Summon 'Gigantes' from my hand by banishing an EARTH monster from my graveyard!"

He banished another card from his grave.

"I banish 'KC-1 Crayton', the EARTH monster discarded by Graceful Charity!" (anime card)

He displayed the banished card, then slid it into his deck box.

"Special Summon 'Gigantes' from my hand!"

[Gigantes, ATK 1900]

"Next, 'Gigantes' attacks 'Spell Canceller'!"

Gigantes roared, smashing the white metal machine to pieces. It exploded in a shower of sparks.

[Kira, LP 2000 → 1900]

Mokuba: "Ah, that breaks the spell-lock too..."

"Then Brain Golem attacks 'Jinzo'!"

Brain Golem's tentacles wrapped up the psychic master. Jinzo struggled, but couldn't break free. All the golem's eyes shot beams, engulfing Jinzo, who soon crumbled to dust.

[Kira, LP 1900 → 1800]

Jinzo: Damn it, another day as fodder…!

"Battle Phase ends," Alister smiled. "Now the lockdown on spells and traps is lifted, so spells can now be activated.

Therefore, I activate 'Card of Sanctity' from my hand!" (Anime Effects.)

The classic DM draw card appeared.

"Both players draw until they have six cards in hand."

Alister and Kira both drew.

Spreading out his new cards, Alister glanced at the white Angel on Kira's field and smiled.

"Though O7's effect is currently negated, leaving it there is still a huge threat. If Brain Golem leaves the field or is negated, O7's lockdown will return.

So, just to be safe..."

He played another just-drawn card.

"'Hammer Shot'—destroy the face-up monster with the highest ATK on the field!"

[Brain Golem, ATK 2500]

[Gigantes, ATK 1900]

[Angel O7, ATK 2500]

"Angel O7 and Brain Golem are tied for highest ATK," Mokuba noted.

"In cases of a tie, the player who activated the effect chooses which to destroy," Kaiba explained.

"Then I choose to destroy your 'Angel O7'," Alister declared.

The hammer fell, and Angel O7 was crushed to pieces.

"The situation's completely reversed now—Kira's field is empty," Mokuba said, concerned.

"Not just that," Alister continued. "I activate 'Spider Web'—I can add a card sent to your graveyard last turn to my hand!" (anime card)

A web shot from his card, snatching a card from Kira's graveyard.

"I add 'Monster Reborn' to my hand! And now I activate 'Monster Reborn' to revive a monster from the graveyard!

I choose your 'Jinzo'!"

[Jinzo, ATK 2400]

Jinzo looked miserable at being forced back to work—

Not only was he cannon fodder, he was now being kidnapped by the enemy!

"And now I activate 'Junk Dealer'!" (anime card)

Another Alister card from his duel with Kaiba—many of his anime cards were never printed for real, especially from the Doma arc. (For example, "Soul Charge," used by Rafael, was banned for being too powerful.)

"'Junk Dealer' lets me Special Summon up to two Warrior or Machine monsters from my Graveyard in Attack Position, but their ATK is halved.

I revive—'Spell Canceller'!"

[Spell Canceller, ATK 1800 → 900]

Mokuba realized—

Wait, this setup is...

Alister just pulled a reverse lockdown!?