"My turn, draw."

Kira glanced at his new card, then smiled at Dark Atticus.

"So, you call yourself Nightshroud, right?"

Dark Atticus crossed his arms and glared, but said nothing.

"Red-Eyes Black Dragon is indeed powerful—and an ultra-rare card," Kira said. "It was famous in the hands of the legendary duelist Joey Wheeler during Battle City."

"Heh, scared of my Red-Eyes?" Dark Atticus sneered. "You can still beg for mercy."

"No. I'm asking—are you worthy of wielding Red-Eyes?"

Kira smiled, pointing at Red-Eyes.

"Red-Eyes is a treasure of the dueling world, but not everyone can handle it. For a chosen duelist, it opens up paths to victory. For a mediocre one, it's just a 2400 ATK beater—nothing to fear."

Kira always thought Atticus and Alexis were interesting. Their designs looked like Joey's kids, and even their ace monster was Red-Eyes. If there weren't only ten years between DM and GX, you'd suspect they were Joey and Mai's long-lost children.

Dark Atticus understood the mockery, but didn't get angry. "Interesting. The first to say I can't control Red-Eyes."

"Cosplaying with half a mask doesn't make you Red-Eyes' master."

Kira said blandly, raising his hand.

"I activate Guardian Sphinx's effect, triggered when it's flipped by Red-Eyes' attack. Once per turn, it can switch to face-down defense position. So I set Guardian Sphinx face-down again."

The Sphinx hid, becoming a set card.

Kira waved again.

"And I flip summon Guardian Sphinx!"

The Sphinx immediately flipped face-up again, radiating a wave of energy at Dark Atticus's Red-Eyes.

"Guardian Sphinx's effect: when flip summoned, all your monsters return to your hand. Bounce Red-Eyes Black Dragon!"

Dark Atticus's expression sharpened.

"A board bounce—but not so fast! I activate the Counter Trap 'Champion's Vigilance'! If I control a Level 7 or higher Normal Monster, I can negate and destroy a Spell, Trap, summon, flip summon, or special summon!"

He pointed at Kira's field.

"Guardian Sphinx's flip summon is negated and destroyed!"

Red-Eyes roared, radiating dominance. The Sphinx was shattered.

"Ha! Your Sphinx's bounce tactic is clever, but the king has seen through it!" Dark Atticus declared. "Can you still say I can't control Red-Eyes?"

"I activate the Spell Card 'Card of Adversity.' If my opponent controls a Special Summoned monster and I control none, I draw two cards." (Anime card)

Kira drew two, then quickly set another card.

"I set a monster in face-down defense position."

Dark Atticus sneered, "More defense? Is that all you can do before a true king?"

Kira ignored him, as a card left his graveyard.

"I activate the effect of 'A/D Changer' in my Graveyard. By banishing it, I can change the battle position of a monster on the field."

He pointed at his own field.

"I flip my set monster."

The card flipped to reveal a bald, burly man in black robes with a fierce face: Gravekeeper's Guard.

[Gravekeeper's Guard, ATK 1000]

"Gravekeeper's Guard's flip effect: return one opponent's monster to the hand. Bounce Red-Eyes Black Dragon."

Red-Eyes, having dodged the Sphinx, couldn't escape the Guard. With a roar, it was forced back to the hand.

Dark Atticus's smile vanished.

"Then, Gravekeeper's Guard, direct attack! Thousand-Slash Fury!"

Kira commanded, and the guard leapt forward, slashing down with his polearm. Dark Atticus grunted, clutching his chest and stepping back.

[Dark Atticus, LP: 4000 → 3000]

He gritted his teeth, glaring at the guard. "Gravekeepers..."

Behind the dragon mask, his brow furrowed—perhaps recalling something.

Atticus Rhodes had previously visited the Gravekeepers' ruins, dueling and defeating their chief. That was probably his first dark duel.

Kira had obtained half of a pendant from the Gravekeeper chief; the other half was with Atticus. Only by combining both pieces could their true power be unleashed.

"I set three cards and end my turn."

Kira set even more cards, his backrow now a veritable fortress, radiating ominous energy.

He chuckled. "Looks like your control over Red-Eyes isn't all that impressive."

Dark Atticus gritted his teeth, then straightened up.

"My turn, draw!" Dark Atticus said. "I activate the Spell Card 'Cards of the Red Stone.' I send a Level 7 'Red-Eyes' monster from my hand to the Graveyard to draw two cards, then send another Level 7 'Red-Eyes' from my deck to the Graveyard."

He revealed the Red-Eyes just bounced to his hand.

"I discard the Red-Eyes Black Dragon you just bounced, draw two, then send another Red-Eyes from the deck to the grave!"

He had not just one, but at least two Red-Eyes. Kira wasn't surprised—just as Zane had two Cyber End Dragons, Atticus was shown to use a second Red-Eyes in the anime.

After drawing, Atticus paused, frowning as if in doubt.

But after a moment, he made up his mind.

He drew three cards from his hand.

"I set three cards. Then, I Normal Summon 'Armageddon Knight'!"

PS: Bonus chapters at 1000 PS