Chapter 84: Mai Valentine's Spell/Trap Zone Crush
"We meet again, Hayato-kun." Mai Valentine smiled, looking at Bakura, who was following beside Hayato with a timid expression. "You're not with Yugi and the others? Did you make a new companion?"
"H-hello, my name is Bakura Ryo, I'm Hayato-kun's classmate." Although Mai Valentine was an absolute beauty, her Aura was as strong as her Stats. The timid Bakura managed to introduce himself, but it clearly didn't pique Mai Valentine's interest.
Hayato glanced at the Duel Glove Mai Valentine had just changed into. The number of Star Chips embedded on it had already filled one circle, and even a Star Chip had been embedded in the second circle. Clearly, she had already collected ten Star Chips.
Logically speaking, Mai Valentine now had the qualification to enter Pegasus's Castle and participate in the final round of the Duelist Kingdom Tournament. Having Assembled them in less than a day, her Strength could be considered quite good among all the Duelists participating in this Match.
However, it was puzzling that she didn't immediately rush to secure a Spot, but instead changed to a Beginner's Glove and looked for other Duelists to Duel on the Island.
"Rex just told me he lost two Star Chips. Adding those two, you should have thirteen now, Miss Mai? Collecting so many Star Chips just a few hours after the start is truly impressive for a female Duelist."
"If you hadn't given one Star Chip to that guy named Joey Wheeler, you should have eight now, right?" Hayato looked at Mai Valentine, and Mai Valentine also saw the three empty slots on Hayato's glove. "So it's really hard to understand you people, always talking about 'Bond', 'Friendship', and things like that."
"The so-called 'person' is just two strokes leaning on each other. You can't go far alone. However, I think Miss Mai, you specifically paid the Stakes of two Star Chips to have that guy Rex bring me here, so you're probably not just bored and want to chat, right?"
Hayato looked at the Duel Platform in the distance that hadn't been put away yet. The Virtual Field on it was Forest, which could increase the ATK and DEF of Insect, Beast-Type, Plant, and Beast-Warrior Monsters. However, neither Mai Valentine's favored Winged Beast-Type nor Rex's Dinosaur-Type would receive any extra bonus from the Forest Field.
Mai Valentine also looked at the Duel Platform. "How is it? Are you satisfied with this Field? Let's Duel. Just so you know, most of the Winged Beast-Type Monsters I'm good at using are Wind Attribute, and just like your Warrior Type, they don't get a Field bonus, okay?"
"Are you aiming to defeat your opponent in a fair environment?" Hayato didn't really have any specific requirements for the Duel Field. "Alright, let's Duel. You decide the number of Star Chips we'll bet."
Just as Hayato and Mai Valentine stepped onto the Duel Platform, the Staff member who had brought Mai Valentine the Beginner's Glove earlier didn't leave. Instead, he watched the ready Hayato and Mai Valentine and reported into the microphone pinned to his chest.
"...Yes, it has started. Okay, I understand. Right..."
Looking at his respectful demeanor, it was clear that the other end of the Communication Channel must be an Important Person.
On the Duel Platform, Hayato and Mai Valentine had both placed their Decks. Taking three Star Chips from her glove, Mai Valentine raised her hand and signaled to Hayato. "You should only be three Star Chips away from ten now, right? Then I'll just bet three directly."
"That's truly the talk of the wealthy. Since you want to help me complete my Star Chip collection early, I shall respectfully accept." Hayato also took three Star Chips from his glove and placed them on the Duel Platform.
"Duel!" x2
[Hayato: 4000 LP]
[Mai Valentine: 4000 LP]
"I'll take the First Turn. My Turn, Draw a Card!" Hayato completed the Draw a Card action one step faster than Mai Valentine, seizing the opportunity for the First Turn. However, Hayato was a bit confused, because he remembered Mai Valentine was originally a dealer, so why was his action faster instead?
Looking at his Hand, Hayato was a little annoyed. The long-lost Bricked Hand was here again. He had been quite smooth when Dueling Weevil, Dark Bakura, and Anasis before, so why did he brick this time?
"I Activate the Goblin Thief in my Hand, stealing 500 Life Points from you. Then, I Set Defense Position Summon one Monster, Set two Cards, End Turn."
The simple and effective Goblin Thief made a long-awaited appearance, creating a 1000 Life Points difference for Hayato. Since it was the First Turn, Hayato simply Set a few Cards on the Field and ended his Turn.
[Mai Valentine: 4000 LP → 3500 LP]
[Hayato: 4000 LP → 4500 LP, Hand 2]
[Face-Down Defense Position Monster]
[Set Card] [Set Card]
"Although it doesn't look like much, it's a quite powerful Card." Mai Valentine looked at Hayato's Goblin Thief which had stolen her Life Points. Although the Duelist Kingdom had a rule against using Cards that solely Damage Life Points, such as Hinotama, Cards like Ring of Destruction and Goblin Thief, which don't unilaterally Damage Life Points, were allowed.
"My Turn, Draw a Card!"
Drawing a Card from her Deck, Mai Valentine thought for a moment and played that Card. "Although it's not the best timing, since my opponent is you, I can't be too careful. I Activate Magic Card, Harpie's Feather Duster!"
A giant broom appeared on the Field. Looking at the material, it seemed to be made of feathers from some kind of bird. With just one sweep of the giant broom, a strong wind appeared out of nowhere in Hayato's Spell/Trap Zone. The two Cards he had Set earlier were lifted by the gale and torn to shreds.
Before the two Cards were destroyed, Mai Valentine, with her excellent eyesight, clearly saw the Card names: Ojamagic and Time Machine.
"That Trap Card that can revive Monsters? But what's the other one?" Mai Valentine knew the Card Time Machine, but it was the first time she had seen the other Magic Card, Ojamagic. "Looking at the name, it should have something to do with your Ojama Monsters, right?"
"As Rex said, Mai Valentine, you're really good at destroying Cards in the Spell/Trap Zone." Although Hayato knew Mai Valentine had such a powerful Board Wipe Card even without Rex telling him, he couldn't exactly say, "You're just like in the Anime I watched," could he? "Although it's quite a shame that Time Machine was destroyed, Ojamagic's Effect was triggered because of it."
"When this Card is sent from the Hand or Field to the Graveyard, I can add three Meaning Unknown Small Fry Monsters from my Deck to my Hand."
After the strong wind passed, a stage Curtain commonly seen on stages appeared in Hayato's Spell/Trap Zone. From behind the Curtain, Mai Valentine saw three disgusting Monsters that left a deep Impression on her—the Ojama Yellow, Ojama Green, and Ojama Black Brothers.
"Cry for my Strength~"
"Just so you know, I'm very~ strong~!"
"Can I take you guys out? You don't have to answer."
Although they were saying quite cool lines, it couldn't change the fact that without Field support, the three Monsters were just Small Fry among Small Fry with 0 ATK.
Adding the three clowns to his Hand, Hayato spread his hands, indicating that his Effect had finished resolving and Mai Valentine could continue.