Chapter 937: The Tomb Guardian
Chapter 937: The Tomb Guardian
A grand palace stood before them, every inch of its space seemingly gilded with a golden glow. In the center of the hall, beneath a towering dome, stood statues of authority, each with a unique pose—some holding scepters, others deep in contemplation. The walls and thick columns surrounding the hall were adorned with intricate, ancient murals and mysterious, indecipherable inscriptions.
A pitch-black jackal sculpture rested quietly in the center of the hall, its eyes seeming to come to life, piercing through the void and scrutinizing every soul that dared approach this forbidden domain.
You Xuan strode into the palace, stepping right into the heart of this forbidden domain.
Moments later, a figure appeared before him.
"Welcome," the figure spoke, "to the new king of the modern era, Fujiki You Xuan."
Dressed in black from head to toe, with a hood covering most of his face, the figure's identity remained shrouded in shadow.
But as he stepped forward and slowly removed his hood, a bald, round head was revealed, its dark skin resembling a freshly boiled egg under the dim lighting.
The man's face bore prominent markings, seemingly tattoos. Some resembled abstract mural-like images, while others were ancient texts and characters. Though their meaning was unclear, the mere sight of this sinister face hinted at the unimaginable pain he must have endured to acquire these tattoos and the willpower required to complete such a masterpiece.
You Xuan instantly recognized the man's identity from these distinctive features.
He was Reidou.
Reidou, from the Tomb Guardian clan, was Malik Ishtar's most trusted confidant in the world.
Reidou was not originally from the Tomb Guardian clan but was adopted and raised to serve Malik from a young age. He was Malik's servant and closest friend.
As a child, Malik had to endure the cruel tradition of the Tomb Guardians, bearing a full set of tattoos related to the memories of the Pharaoh on his body. The process was excruciating, and the young Malik's hatred nurtured a dark personality, which later manifested as the six-eyed evil Malik, who rode the Winged Dragon of Authurian Code and wreaked havoc in Duel City.
To share Malik's pain, Reidou volunteered to have the same tattoos etched onto his body, even his face, saying that while he couldn't lessen Malik's suffering, he was willing to endure it with him.
Malik was deeply moved by Reidou's loyalty, and with his help, he managed to suppress the six-eyed personality, preventing it from resurfacing for many years.
However, Reidou's appearance before You Xuan as a servant of the Tomb Guardians was puzzling.
"I apologize for the intrusion," Reidou said.
"I represent the Tomb Guardians, a clan that has guarded the secrets of the Pharaohs for generations in ancient Egypt. We would never disturb the king's life unless it was absolutely necessary."
"It seems you have something to discuss," You Xuan said.
"Indeed. But I am just a humble servant, sent here to invite you to meet with the Tomb Guardians. Their heir will explain everything to you."
You Xuan knew that the heir of the Tomb Guardians was likely referring to Malik and his sister.
"However, before that, I have another task to fulfill. It's not mandatory, but..."
Reidou raised his Duel Disk.
You Xuan had already noticed the Duel Disk on his wrist and asked, "A duel?"
Reidou nodded.
"Of course, if you don't wish to, it's not necessary. But I've always hoped for the chance to learn from you, so..."
"Sure," You Xuan smiled.
He was always open to such requests.
Moreover, You Xuan had long wanted to visit the Tomb Guardians, but Malik and his sister lived in Egypt, and the distance made it challenging.
Not only did You Xuan frequently use cards from the Tomb Guardians, including his Tamahorph, but Mr. Izzy, in a sense, was the pioneer of the modern underworld.
In addition, the Gravekeepers also possessed the ultimate weapon known as "The Reversal of the World and the Underworld."
This card had left its mark in the history of the real-life Yu-Gi-Oh! game, earning the reputation of having a near-perfect first-turn win rate in FTK (First Turn Kill) strategies. It was a legendary deck that people still raved about, known as the "Real-World Underworld Legend."
And who would have thought that in the future, a new series of decks themed around "The Reversal of the World and the Underworld" would be released? This series, due to its excellent synergy with a certain beautiful, immortal, and powerful entity, hitched a ride on the coattails of that mighty being, forming the renowned deck known as "Tears of the Crown, Sad Song," or simply "Tears" among card players. To this day, it remains acknowledged as the strongest deck in Yu-Gi-Oh! history.
So, it was worth paying a visit to Isis, the master of the Real-World Underworld deck.
"Then let's begin. I'll go easy on you."
You Xuan set up his Duel Disk.
After all, they were all Duelists with dark powers, and the territory they were in, as You Xuan recognized, was a manifestation of the magic card "Royal Shrine" under the influence of dark forces.
It was just a friendly game, and no one wanted to get hurt.
Reidou nodded.
"Duel!" x2
[You Xuan, LP: 4000]
[Reidou, LP: 4000]
"I'll go first and draw a card."
Reidou took the first turn.
No mistakes, single issue content in comparison to the 69 book review!
He drew a card and quickly selected two from his hand, examining the cards in his hand.
"I'll set two cards face-down on the field," Reidou announced, "and end my turn!"
He only set cards without summoning any monsters. If it were an ordinary player facing this formation, they would feel perplexed and mutter to themselves.
But You Xuan was fine.
This wasn't just because You Xuan himself occasionally liked to start the game this way to put psychological pressure on his opponents—setting cards in the back row without a frontline defense was like openly inviting them to step into a trap.
And this strategy was originally Reidou's creation.
Reidou was probably the first person in Yu-Gi-Oh! history to play a pure Trap Card deck. During his animated duel against Yugi, his tactic was essentially to set five cards in the back row, leaving Yugi with no choice but to fall into his trap. Yugi felt the harshness of the Dueling world.
That's why the Gravekeepers in the original series were truly wholesome.
There was no need to elaborate on Malik, the sunny big boy. As the master of the Lava Golem, he was the founder of the underworld. His sister Isis' Real-World Underworld deck was even more formidable. Reidou, on the other hand, played an all-red trap deck, making him a red-trap pillar.
Precisely because You Xuan was aware of Reidou's deck style, he confidently chose his current deck as his opponent.
"My turn. I'll draw a card."
You Xuan revealed the magic card in his hand.
"I activate the magic card 'Universal Law.'
Your opponent can select one Trap Card from their hand or deck and set it in the Spell & Trap Zone."
Reidou was stunned.
What?
An unconditional, arbitrary Trap Card search from the deck, just like that?
His expression showed his surprise.
What kind of strategy was this? Giving the opponent such a massive advantage right from the start?
This opportunity was especially precious for Reidou, who played an all-trap deck.
Was this the so-called confidence of a king?
But before Reidou could search his deck, You Xuan continued with a smile.
"Of course, as an exchange, if your opponent chooses to set a Trap Card, I can Special Summon an 'Android Psychoforce' directly from my deck."
Reidou: "!!!"
You're summoning... what?
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
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