Who Let Him Play Yugioh? (Re-Upload)

”Just by being on the field, he can seal off the effects of all monsters of an entire race.”

Zane’s face turned grim.

Such a targeted effect—wasn’t this a death sentence for any Duelist running a pure Dragon-type deck?

Even Mokuba, who had always believed in his brother’s strength, couldn’t help but swallow nervously, starting to worry for Kaiba.

”But even so, Blue-Eyes Shining Dragon still has higher ATK,” Jaden said.

”No,” Mokuba replied in a low voice. ”That warrior has other terrifying effects.”

Sure enough, Kira continued, ”Buster Blader, the Dragon Destroyer Swordsman’s other effect: This card gains 1000 ATK for each Dragon-type monster on your opponent’s field and in their graveyard!”

”What!?”

The crowd gasped again.

A thousand points for every Dragon?

Blue-Eyes Shining Dragon also boosts its ATK based on Dragons in the graveyard, but only 300 per card. Buster Blader, the Dragon Destroyer Swordsman absorbs the power of every Dragon on field and in the graveyard, and it’s 1000 per card.

In other words, no matter how hard it tries, there will always be a massive gap between Blue-Eyes Shining Dragon and Buster Blader, the Dragon Destroyer Swordsman. The more Dragons in the graveyard, the greater the difference, a wall Shining Dragon can never hope to climb.

”Kaiba’s grave has six Dragons, plus Dragon Spirit of White and Blue-Eyes Shining Dragon on the field,” Kira continued. ”That’s eight Dragons total.

So, ’Buster Blader, the Dragon Destroyer Swordsman ’ gains 8000 ATK!”

[Buster Blader, the Dragon Destroyer Swordsman, ATK 2800 → ATK 10800]

Mokuba’s face went pale. ”Ten thousand eight hundred ATK...”

”Also, while Dragon Destroyer Swordsman is on the field, all opponent’s Dragons must switch to Defense Position,” Kira said. ”And when it attacks a Defense Position monster, any excess damage is dealt as piercing battle damage.”

Kaiba frowned. ”Blue-Eyes Shining Dragon’s effect, I choose not to accept this effect, so it stays in Attack Position. Only Dragon Spirit of White changes to Defense.”

[Dragon Spirit of White, ATK 2500 → DEF 2000]

”What terrifying suppression,” Zane muttered, staring at the swordsman. ”Against a Dragon user, this swordsman’s pressure surpasses even that of the gods.”

Dragons had always been the most sought-after race in the dueling world, both for power and style, attracting legions of duelists. The introduction of such a card would shake the dueling world to its core.

For Dragon users, facing this monster, you’ve lost more than half the duel before it even begins.

Can’t attack, can’t use effects, and the opponent’s ATK goes over 10,000—how do you even play against that?

”Now I activate the Spell Card ’Pot of Greed’,” Kira said. ”I draw two more cards.”

Kira drew two cards, glanced at them, thought for a moment, then stepped forward.

”Battle! Buster Blader, the Dragon Destroyer Swordsman, attack ’Blue-Eyes Shining Dragon’!”

The warrior raised his dragon-slaying sword, its blade flashing with a brilliance like the Milky Way.

”I anticipated you’d use the ultimate Dragon-slaying swordsman,” Kaiba roared. ”If my opponent doesn’t go all out, there’s no point! Blue-Eyes Shining Dragon still has its ultimate ability—Shining New Star!!”

”It’s useless, Kaiba!” Kira shouted. ”Shining New Star is an effect that must be actively activated! As long as Buster Blader, the Dragon Destroyer Swordsman is on the field, you can’t activate any Dragon monster effects!”

Mokuba was amazed. ”But Blue-Eyes Shining Dragon can choose whether to accept effects...”

”That’s only for ’effects that affect the monster,” Jaden explained. ”But ’the opponent cannot activate any Dragon effects’ is a restriction on the player.”

Zane nodded as well. ”It doesn’t affect the monster itself; it prevents the player from using effect commands. No matter how strong the monster or how perfect its resistance, if the duelist can’t give the command, it makes no difference.”

Hearing this, they realized Buster Blader, the Dragon Destroyer Swordsman truly was Blue-Eyes Shining Dragon’s nemesis.

At first glance, Shining Dragon seemed invincible, but all its abilities were perfectly countered by the swordsman.

A true dragon slayer, the ultimate weapon against Dragons.

Even Kaiba was surprised—not because Kira stopped him, but because he somehow knew Blue-Eyes Shining Dragon’s hidden ability.

But in the heat of battle, there was no time to dwell on it.

”I expected this! I activate my set card!” Kaiba shouted. ”Continuous Trap—’DNA Surgery’!

Declare a monster Type—all monsters on the field become that Type!”

Kira frowned. ”Declare a Type, I see.”

”That’s right, I declare ’Divine-Beast’!” Kaiba shouted. ”All monsters on the field become Divine-Beast!”

The three monsters—two Dragons and the Swordmaster—were instantly enveloped in a mystical aura, appearing even more majestic.

Of course, Kaiba likely only chose Divine-Beast for style points.

His real goal: make his monsters anything but Dragon.

”Blue-Eyes Shining Dragon can choose whether to accept the effect. I choose to accept ’DNA Surgery’s’ effect,” Kaiba declared. ”So Blue-Eyes Shining Dragon and Dragon Spirit of White become Divine-Beasts.

Now the number of Dragons on the field drops by two, reducing Buster Blader, the Dragon Destroyer Swordsman’s ATK by 2000!”

[Buster Blader, the Dragon Destroyer Swordsman, ATK 10800 → ATK 8800]

Mokuba was worried. ”But even so, it still has over 8000... Ah, but if it’s not a Dragon...”

”Exactly. Now that ’Blue-Eyes Shining Dragon’ is no longer a Dragon, it’s no longer restricted by Swordmaster’s effect!” Kaiba shouted. ”So Blue-Eyes Shining Dragon’s ultimate ability—Shining New Star—activates!

Sacrifice itself to destroy any card on the field!”

Kaiba’s voice was solemn.

”And this effect... can be activated during the opponent’s turn!”

(Note: The anime’s subtitles translated Kaiba as saying ”destroy any card on the field,” but in the original Japanese he said ”any card,” not ”just one.” However, in both the game and the anime, he always destroyed just one card, so there’s been debate on whether it could destroy more.)

Jaden was shocked. ”Destroy any card, and you can use it on your opponent’s turn!?”

While everyone knows quick-play field wipes become common in future Yu-Gi-Oh, at this point such effects are still outrageous.

Being able to wipe out any number of cards at any time, resetting the opponent’s plays—how do you even fight back?