Who Let Him Play Yu-Gi-Oh!

From the moment "Skull Invitation" was activated, Maitre' D felt a chill down his spine.

But he quickly shook his head, dismissing the bad feeling.

What was he thinking? This wasn't a high-level professional match—his opponent was just a student. No need to be nervous.

"Bacchus the Dizzy Deity, attack the set monster!" Maitre' D commanded.

Bacchus took a step forward, guzzled his golden wine cup, and then blew out a cloud of thick wine vapor!

The vapor struck the set monster, flipping it face-up—a sinister bug bristling with spikes.

"The monster you attacked is 'Needle Worm,'" Kira announced. "Its flip effect: send the top five cards of your deck to the Graveyard."

Maitre' D's eyelid twitched. "Send five cards to the Graveyard?"

Wait, that means—

He stared at his deck, watching the top five cards fly out one by one and dump into his Graveyard.

No, yamero—!

"'Skull Invitation'—five cards to the Graveyard, so that's 1500 damage," Kira smiled.

"Waugh!"

[Maitre' D, LP 3100 → LP 1600]

"And since 'Needle Worm' was destroyed by battle and sent to the Graveyard, I also take 300 damage from 'Skull Invitation.'"

[Kira, LP 4000 → LP 3700]

Maitre' D broke out in a cold sweat.

What kind of duel was this?

He'd barely done anything and already lost more than half his LP. Needle Worm's flip effect milled his deck, and that sinister trap burned his life away. That one attack was like stepping on a chain of landmines, blowing him to below half health in an instant.

Was this a joke?

He looked at the boy before him—who stood beside the ominous death god projection, shrouded in evil aura, his polite smile now looking downright creepy.

The professional expert Maitre' D couldn't help but swallow hard.

He was starting to realize—today's opponent was trouble.

"But now your field is empty," Maitre' D played another card. "Quick-Play Spell—'Divine Chalice.'

If you control a WATER monster, you can Special Summon a 'Crimson Token.'"

[Crimson Token, ATK 1000]

"'Skull Invitation,'" Kira said, "the Spell Card going to the Graveyard deals another 300 damage."

[Maitre' D, LP 1600 → LP 1300]

"Tch, I'll just beat you before my LP runs out!" Maitre' D shouted. "Crimson Token, direct attack!"

The token—a mass of wine shaped like a blob—lunged toward Kira.

"I activate my set card," Kira declared. "Counter Trap—'Negate Attack.' Your monster's attack is negated and the Battle Phase ends."

The Crimson Token slammed into a swirling white vortex and was repelled.

"Dammit," Maitre' D grew frustrated.

He couldn't break through on offense, and every time he used a card, he just lost more LP.

Maybe it was his imagination, but that demonic projection seemed to be smirking at him as if sizing up a soul about to be harvested.

"And of course, 'Negate Attack' goes to the Graveyard, so I take another 300 damage," Kira said.

[Kira, LP 3700 → LP 3400]

"Battle Phase over," Maitre' D said solemnly. "I tribute 'Crimson Token' and 'Bacchus the Dizzy Deity'! Appear, my ace—

—'Big Vintage Magna Mutton!'"

A massive white ram leaped onto the field in a burst of golden light, giant wine bottles strapped to its back like cannons.

[Big Vintage Magna Mutton, ATK 2500]

"Tokens don't go to the Graveyard when they leave the field, so only 'Bacchus' was sent," Maitre' D said.

Kira nodded. "So 'Skull Invitation' deals another 300 damage."

[Maitre' D, LP 1300 → LP 1000]

He'd barely done anything and was down to 1000 LP—students watching were left speechless.

They'd thought the pro might not be a match for the King of Yellow, but this was beyond that. The so-called eighth-ranked pro was being toyed with completely.

"I set a card and end my turn," Maitre' D said.

By now, all his previous confidence was gone, and he was on high alert.

Was he really about to get crushed by a student, here of all places?

If word got out, he might as well retire on the spot.

"My turn, draw."

Kira glanced at his new card, and a card in his Graveyard slid out.

"One of the cards sent to the Graveyard last turn by 'Card Destruction' was the Spell 'Take Over 5.' During my Standby Phase, if it's in the Graveyard, I can banish it and another copy from my deck to draw a card."

After drawing, he gestured and flipped over a back-row card.

"I activate Continuous Trap 'Call of the Haunted.' I can Special Summon a monster from my Graveyard in Attack Position.

I'm reviving a card that was discarded by 'Card Destruction' last turn."

He took out a card from his Graveyard and slapped it on his Duel Disk.

"Special Summon 'Warm Worm' in Attack Position."

[Warm Worm, ATK 600]

"Only 600 ATK..."

It looked like a weakling, but considering Kira's unorthodox style, Maitre' D was sure it had some trick.

Sure enough, Kira flipped another back-row card.

"I activate the Trap 'Assault on GHQ.' I destroy one of my own monsters and send the top two cards of your deck to the Graveyard."

Maitre' D was stunned.

Normally, that would be a pointless card—blowing up your own monster to mill the opponent by two? What's the point?

But in this context, cold sweat broke out on his back.

He suddenly guessed—could Warm Worm's effect be—

"'Warm Worm's' effect: when destroyed, send the top three cards of your opponent's deck to the Graveyard. So, with 'Assault on GHQ' destroying my own 'Warm Worm,' that's five cards from the top of your deck."

Maitre' D: "..."

Another five cards milled, another 1500 burn from "Skull Invitation."

[Maitre' D, LP 1000]

He almost wanted to laugh.

He finally realized—this guy never intended to summon a real monster and fight head-on.

Was he really planning to burn him to death with "Skull Invitation"?