Yugen couldn't help but size up the person in front of him.
Speaking of which, although the other person was wrapped up tightly, with their face also covered, a sudden thought made him feel like they indeed seemed a bit robotic...
Kaiba's AI?
He quickly recalled that AI in the White Dragon Paradise that was beaten until its system crashed.
The other seemed to guess his thoughts and snorted haughtily, "Don't compare me to those inferior computers from Kaiba Company.
They are at best just duel programs, a crude imitation of Duelist tactics, without anything that could be called a 'heart'.
But we are different. We are not copies, but designed based on Seto Kaiba, with analysis of his personality, tactics, and experience, from which we evolved self-awareness.
In the endless process of evolution, with each update, we become stronger and more excellent..."
He paused, recalling a teammate who seemed to have only learned arrogance and whose intelligence was almost nonexistent.
So his tone weakened slightly, "Well... in general, more excellent... probably."
Yugen: "So where's your White Dragon?"
Alpha stiffened.
Then said gloomily: "I said, I'm not Seto Kaiba, just designed based on him. I have my own tactics..."
Yugen: "So where's your White Dragon?"
"No, I already said I'm not Seto Kaiba, are you deaf? Still asking about White Dragon ah..." Alpha got annoyed.
"If you don't have it, you don't have it, there's nothing to be ashamed of." Yugen shrugged.
Alpha: "..."
But to say it's an AI designed based on the president is somewhat surprising to Yugen. And from the way the other speaks, it seems like a mass-produced one, not just one.
He recalled Pegasus Nightwalker mentioning before that he suspected the hack on Kaiba Company and the International Illusion Association was conducted by some unknown AI.
It seems likely to be this group.
Then the "father" this guy was referring to could be the designer of these AIs, possibly also the mastermind.
But being an AI, it didn't use Data Cards like the program in White Dragon Paradise...
Combining the theory he'd heard from Nightwalker and Keihei before, Yugen guessed blindly that maybe the Data Cards would limit Destiny Power's potential.
A self-aware AI might also have Destiny Power like a true Duelist. However, the Duel Monsters cards themselves have Extraordinary Attributes, so using simulated data rather than actual cards might indeed have an effect.
"...My turn, draw a card."
One cannot idle too long during a duel, so Yugen refocused on the game.
"In the preparation phase, the effect of 'Nightmare Mirage Tower'," Alpha said, "Until the hand becomes four cards, I draw from the Card Deck."
He redrew four cards.
"Activate the Cover Card." Yugen triggered the backfield, "Continuous Trap 'Enhanced Revival'.
Special Summon a monster from the Graveyard that is Level 4 or lower, its Level increases by 1, and its Attack Power by 100."
He drew a card from the Duel Disc graveyard slot.
"I revive this card from the Graveyard—
—Magical Beast - Cerberus!"
[Magical Beast - Cerberus, Attack Power 1400→Attack Power 1500]
"Since it's Special Summoned from the graveyard, it won't be negated by 'Giant Dragon God's Relics'."
Yugen said, then activated another Magic card.
"Magic Card 'Reinforcements', add a Level 4 or lower Warrior Race from the Card Deck to hand. I'll add the Level Four 'Iron Knight - Jia Fried' to my hand."
Yugen drew the Monster Card he searched from the Card Deck.
"Then I activate the Magic Card 'Burial Spell Treasure Scroll'. Banish three Magic Cards 'Reinforcements', 'Handwriting Erasure', and the Magic Card 'Weapon Cave' discarded by Hand Erasure from the game, draw two cards." (Original Card)
Yugen drew two cards.
"Then normal summon Iron Knight - Jia Fried!"
[Iron Knight - Jia Fried, Attack Power 1800]
Alpha said in a deep voice, "Even if there are more Miscellaneous Monsters..."
But before he finished, Yugen interrupted: "You claim to be an AI designed on the president's model, but your sensitivity to duel progress seems to be not even a ten-thousandth of his."
"What did you say?" Alpha said angrily.
"Ah, sorry, just talking to myself, you can ignore me."
Yugen smiled, then drew the card he searched in the previous turn.
"Activate the Equipment Magic 'Butterfly Short Sword - Echo', equip to 'Iron Knight - Jia Fried', granting 300 Attack Power," Yugen said, "But the Iron Knight's own effect.
Any Equipment Card equipped to Iron Knight self-destructs, so 'Butterfly Short Sword - Echo' is destroyed.
But at this moment, on the field, the effect of 'Magical Beast - Cerberus'. When a Magic Card is activated, place a Mana Indicator on the Magical Beast. And its Attack Power increases by the number of Mana Indicators x 500."
[Magical Beast - Cerberus, Attack Power 1500→Attack Power 2000]
"Then the effect of 'Butterfly Short Sword - Echo' itself, when this card is destroyed, it returns to the hand.
Next, I activate 'Butterfly Short Sword - Echo' again, equipping it to the Iron Knight ..."
Only now Alpha finally reacted, took two steps back in shock.
"This is... Infinite Loop!?"
"That's right, as long as I keep activating Butterfly Short Sword, it can loop infinitely, and each time the Magical Beast gains an extra 500 Attack Power. After infinite times, the Magical Beast's Attack Power will become..."
[Magical Beast - Cerberus, Attack Power 2000→Attack Power ∞]
"Attack Power... Infinite!?" Alpha was terrified.
That's right, if the infinite loop determination is passed, you can skip the process and directly fast-forward to infinity. The reason I didn't do this last time against Senior Watanabe was because Yugen was just a novice in the club, and he had no grievance with the senior, so there was no need to give the senior an infinite psychological shadow.
After all, Yugen has always been friendly to others.
But there's no need to hold back against external enemies.
"Battle," Yugen said, "'Magical Beast - Cerberus,' attack 'Arc Light Brave Dragon'!"
The Magical Beast, with its attack power swollen to infinity, now looked like a giant beast from mythology covering the sky and sun. Anyone with even a slight lack of determination would probably find their courage completely drained just facing such a creature.
Alpha had no doubt that if that claw came down, he would definitely be turned into a pixelated mess on the spot.
However...
"Activate the Cover Card! Trap Card 'Absorption Shield'!" Alpha shouted, "Negate the opponent's monster's attack and gain Life Points equal to that attack power!"
He then threw his head back and let out a string of triumphant laughter like a cosplay president.
"Hahaha... Bet you didn't expect this, I'm still a cut above! This way, by absorbing the attack of the Magical Beast, my Life Points will also become infinite!"
A shimmering barrier appeared in front of him, and the Magical Beast's claw was about to strike!
"Then I activate the Speed Attack Magic 'Speed Summon' from my hand," Yugen said, "I can Normal Summon a monster from my hand." (Original Card)
He said this as he revealed the Monster Card in his hand.
"I use 'Magical Beast - Cerberus' on the field as a sacrifice for an Upper-level Summon! Here, calling forth the Puppet Master who controls the puppet—
—Level 5, Magic Manipulated Puppet, summon!"
The giant Magical Beast's image dispersed into light points on the field, and in its place appeared a sinister-looking mage, whose dancing fingers controlled white puppet strings, remotely controlling a magic puppet wielding knives in both hands.
[Magic Manipulated Puppet, Attack Power 2000]
"Tsk, dodged the Absorption Shield through a sacrifice, huh?"
Alpha frowned.
Did he foresee that I might have traps in the backfield, so he deliberately left a countermeasure in his hand to avoid traps through sacrifice?
"But your remaining two monsters can't match the attack power of 'Arc Light Brave Dragon,' so you can't break through my defense."
"Indeed."
Yugen was unconcerned.
"Then my Battle Phase ends. Then I activate the Equipment Magic 'Butterfly Short Sword - Echo' from my hand again, equipping it to 'ron Knight - Jia Fried.'
And because of the Iron Knight's effect, the Butterfly Short Sword is destroyed."
"Again?" Alpha was shocked, "But the 'Magical Beast - Cerberus' is no longer on the field, so even if you loop it again, what's the point..."
Yugen smiled and pointed at the eerie puppet that had just appeared.
"The effect of 'Magic Manipulated Puppet.' Each time either side activates a Magic Card, the Manipulated Puppet gains a Mana Indicator, and its attack power increases by 200."
Alpha: "!"
Is it actually the same type of effect as the Magical Beast?
"Therefore, after the same infinite loop, the attack power of the Magic Manipulated Puppet becomes..."
[Magic Manipulated Puppet, Attack Power 2000→Attack Power ∞]
"Another infinite attack power..." Alpha gritted his teeth.
Is this guy really just a student at Duel Academy?
What is with this cheat-level attack power that goes off at any moment?
But he still forced himself to stay calm: "Even so, your Battle Phase has passed. This turn you can't attack with that infinite attack power..."
"The subsequent effect of 'Magic Manipulated Puppet,'" Yugen said, "by removing two Mana Indicators, destroy a monster on the field.
Therefore, remove two Mana Indicators from Magic Manipulated Puppet to destroy 'Arc Light Brave Dragon.'
The Puppet Master lightly moved his fingertips, and the Manipulated Puppet's twin blades flew out, piercing the shining dragon, shattering its magnificent body with a crash.
Alpha raised his arm to shield his face, said in a deep voice: "Then activate the Cover Card! Trap Card 'Revive Combination!'
When a monster on my field is destroyed by an effect, I can revive that monster!
Return, Arc Light Brave Dragon!"
A shining storm swirled up towards the sky, and the dragon flapped its wings once again!
"And when Arc Light Brave Dragon is revived from the graveyard, it removes your Continuous Trap 'Enhanced Revival' from the game, and its attack power increases by 200 points!"
[Arc Light Brave Dragon, Attack Power 2400→Attack Power 2600]
"What a pity," Alpha said, "your tactic still didn't work..."
"Then remove two more Mana Indicators," Yugen snapped his fingers, "'Arc Light Brave Dragon,' destroy."
"Nani!?"
Alpha exclaimed in shock.
Does this thing not have a once-per-turn limitation for its monster destruction effect!?
Wait a moment...
He immediately realized the gravity of the situation.
The Magic Manipulated Puppet now had infinite Mana Indicators, and its attack power was also infinitely large.
The Manipulated Puppet can remove two indicators to randomly destroy a monster on the field, and there is no limit on the number of times per turn.
Alpha: "......"
Isn't that basically invincible?