Dragon Card Shop
The boss was staring at the counter with boredom, while behind him duelists were engaged in heated discussions with each other.
Suddenly, a spirited voice reached the boss's ears.
"I overlay level 4 [Utopic Onomatopoeia] and level 4 [Zubababancho Gagagacoat]!"
"XYZ Summoning! Appear! [Number 39: Utopia]!"
"Next, I stack this card directly onto Utopia! Rank-Up XYZ Change!"
"Appear! [Number S39: Utopia the Lightning]!"
"Next, I equip [Utopia the Lightning] with the [Zexal Weapon - Tornado Bringer]!"
(T/N: ZW = Zexal Weapon)
"This card increases [Utopia the Lightning]'s attack power by 1300 points! Additionally, the opponent cannot target the equipped monster!"
"And then this! [Zexal Weapon - Lightning Blade]!"
"This card increases [Utopia the Lightning]'s attack power by 1200 points, and while this card is equipped, the Zexal weapons on the field cannot be destroyed!"
"It's not over yet! Next comes this! [Zexal Weapon - Unicorn Spear]!"
"This card increases [Utopia the Lightning]'s attack power by 1900 points! It also negates the effects of monsters that battle the equipped monster!"
[Number S39: Utopia the Lightning]
ATK: 2500→3800→5000→6900
"That's how I end my turn!"
"Wow! He's really going all out - I should go have a look." The boss said, stepping out from behind the counter and walking toward the table in the back.
...
In just a few steps, the boss quickly reached the table and surveyed the scene.
Seven cards lay quietly in the graveyard, while a powerful monster stood imposingly on the field.
[Gameciel, the Sea Turtle Kaiju] ATK: 2200
The owner of this monster wore an expression of despair, while his opponent casually played a card.
"I summon [Firewall Dragon], do you have any responses..."
"Oh, no chain? Then I'll continue. [Firewall Dragon]'s effect activates - I special summon from my deck..."
...
That evening, Yuji Itadori was walking home in a complete daze. He was the duelist whose soul had been crushed, having been fed countless sea turtles throughout the afternoon until he felt completely numb.
When he reached the traffic light, Yuji raised his head just as the green light turned on, signaling it was safe to cross.
A little girl beside him couldn't wait any longer and eagerly jumped forward to rush across.
But at that moment, from the opposite side of the road, a Transit Express dump truck came roaring toward them.
"Shit!" Yuji exclaimed, and without thinking twice, he rushed forward.
...
After an unknown amount of time had passed, Yuji Itadori woke up feeling groggy and disoriented.
"Is this the afterlife? I hope my act of saving someone before dying will grant me a better life in my next reincarnation." he muttered, struggling to stand up.
Suddenly, Yuji felt something unfamiliar on his left arm, and when he looked down, he saw a small gold and red box attached to it.
"What is this?" Yuji Itadori wondered aloud in confusion, then pressed the only button on top.
With a sharp snap, the small box on his left arm activated, and a black area with gleaming gold edges popped up in front of him. A slot near his palm opened up, the central screen lit up, and four capital letters spelling DUEL began to flash.
"This is...? A duel disk?" Yuji scratched his head in bewilderment.
Does the afterlife also involve playing cards?
At that moment, a voice resonated inside Yuji's mind.
[Duel King System is loading!]
[Loading progress: 20%...]
"I'm not dead? I've transmigrated? And they even gave me a system?" Yuji was overjoyed.
[Loading progress: 100%]
[Loading complete]
After a while, once Yuji's system finished loading, a voice sounded in his head again.
[The system has loaded successfully. This system's purpose is to guide the host in becoming the strongest duelist. Please select your initial deck and initial ace card from the following options.]
[1. Dark Magician deck, initial ace [Dark Magician], includes exclusive duel skill: Destiny Draw]
[Destiny Draw: Can only be used once per duel. When the host faces an absolute disadvantage in a duel, the next draw allows you to choose any card from the remaining cards in your deck.]
[2. Hero deck, initial ace [Elemental Hero Flame Wingman], includes exclusive duel skill: Philosopher's Stone]
[The Philosopher's Stone (temporarily locked): This skill can be used 3 times total, but only once per duel. When the host faces an absolute disadvantage in a duel, the host can create a fusion monster and add it to the extra deck. PS: The monster must be approved by the system before it can be used]
[3. Junk deck, initial ace [Stardust Dragon], includes exclusive skill: Light of Salvation]
[Light of Salvation: Can only be used once per duel. When the host faces an absolute disadvantage in a duel and has [Stardust Dragon] on the field, this skill can be activated. Place a [Majestic Dragon] from outside the deck on top of your deck, and add "Majestic" Dragon Synchro monsters to the Extra Deck.]
[4. Onomatopoeia deck, initial ace [Number 39: Utopia], includes exclusive skill: ZEXAL - XYZ Evolution]
[ZEXAL - XYZ Evolution (temporarily locked): Available when the host faces an absolute disadvantage in a duel, allowing transformation into ZEXAL form]
Yuji looked at the options before him and fell into deep contemplation.
What should I choose? The Dark Magician archetype? The skill is powerful, and maybe I'll get to play [Red-Eyes Dark Dragoon] in the future.
The Hero deck is also very appealing. Although the initial ace is somewhat underwhelming, this skill is amazing - three chances to create custom cards, so why not just find an opportunity to create God cards?
There's also the Junk deck, but Accel Synchro summoning is incredibly cool!
After thinking for a while, Yuji tapped on the Onomatopoeia deck without any hesitation.
Are you kidding me - this is superhuman transformation. This will also give me a chance to pilot a Gundam directly, and neither Red Daddy nor Phoenix Daddy can compete with that.
Moreover, although the skill system didn't clearly explain the ZEXAL transformation, Yuji knew that after transforming into ZEXAL, he would become the strongest duelist where everything became inevitable - even his card draws would be under his complete control.
After making his choice, a complete deck of cards materialized in the card slot on his duel disk, and 3 cards also appeared in the extra deck zone at his waist.
Yuji picked them up to examine them and immediately cursed: "Screw you, system! How am I supposed to play with this stuttering deck!"
"These are all single-archetype onomatopoeia monsters, and the spell and trap support cards are completely meaningless. You only gave me one Utopia, a warrior and a cowboy?"
(T/N: [Gagaga Samurai] and [Gagaga Cowboy])
Onomatopoeia is a large archetype that includes four sub-archetypes: Gagaga, Gogogo, Dododo, and Zubaba, along with many key low-level monsters that can be played in the system which have more than two onomatopoeia subtypes, and some onomatopoeia monsters even cover all 4 subtypes. These monsters connect the four small archetypes together, allowing for a wide range of operational effects, but this terrible system didn't give me a single one.
[The novice gift package has arrived, please check it, host]
The system completely ignored Yuji's complaints and responded in an emotionless electronic voice.
"Open it quickly!" Yuji urged impatiently.
[The novice gift pack has been opened. You have received: 4 UR dream tickets, 10 SR dream tickets, 3 random card packs of designated archtype, one chance to draw prizes for Number XYZ monsters, and three chances to draw prizes for XYZ monsters]
...
(End of this chapter)