Chapter 158: Dual Kings
Both attacks struck their respective targets. With a loud "boom," the smoke that hadn't fully dispersed thickened again, obscuring the situation on the Field.
"Who won in the end?" Joey Wheeler had stood up from his seat moments ago, leaning over the railing at the front of the Spectator Area, gripping the handrail tightly with both hands, his Inner Thoughts extremely nervous.
Samejima frowned. "Hayato's Card Trooper on the Field has an Effect that increases its ATK, but it should only be able to Activate during Hayato's own Turn. And even if it's increased to its maximum limit, its ATK is only 1900 Points. Yugi's Summoned Skull has higher ATK."
"Theoretically speaking, it should be Yugi's Victory. However..."
"However, since that guy Hayato Activated a Card like Final Attack Orders, it means he must have some way, right?" Kujaku Mai thought of this and relaxed instead, sitting back down in her seat.
The smoke gradually thinned. The first thing that came into everyone's sight was the unharmed Summoned Skull on Yugi's Field. Its bony claws casually brushed its chest; Card Trooper's previous Attack hadn't caused it any Damage. Summoned Skull looked disdainfully at the opposite side.
"As expected, Yugi won in the end?" Tristan said with a questioning tone when he saw Summoned Skull appear. After all, according to the Rules of Final Attack Orders, if Yugi still had a Monster on his Field, that would be his Victory.
But Bakura saw the situation within the smoke before everyone else. "No, Hayato also has a Monster on his Field! Card Trooper wasn't Destroyed!"
"What?!"
The smoke on Hayato's Field also quickly dispersed, revealing the figure of Card Trooper. However, in front of Card Trooper, there was another figure half-crouching, holding a Shield as tall as himself in his hand.
"Shield Warrior, one of the three Cards previously Send to Graveyard by Card Trooper," Hayato drew a Card from his Graveyard and showed it to Yugi. "When a Monster on the Field engages in Battle, Shield Warrior can be Banish from the Graveyard to protect my Monster on the Field from being Battle Destruction."
"Both sides have Monsters on the Field, so the Outcome, I don't need to say it, right?"
"Heh, you're really a guy who hates to lose, Hayato." Yugi smiled and looked at the Old Butler beside the Duel Platform. "Then, Referee, please announce the result of the Match."
The Old Butler looked up at Pegasus on the High Platform, and after receiving his nod of approval, picked up the microphone. "According to the Effect of Final Attack Orders Activated by Player Hayato Kobayashi, both Player Mutou Yuugi and Player Hayato Kobayashi have Monsters on their Fields. It's a Draw!"
"I announce that the Champion of the final Duelist Kingdom Tournament, the one who will defend the 'Duel King' Title, is Hayato Kobayashi and Mutou Yuugi!"
On the Big Screen, the Avatars of Hayato and Yugi simultaneously lit up side-by-side. Their originally brown Avatar Frames lit up with golden edges. At the same time, the words "Duel King" appeared on the screen.
"There are two Winners?!" Joey Wheeler was completely astonished. Then, he burst into heartfelt laughter. "That's great! Both of them drew, so neither of them lost!"
"What an unexpected Ending." Samejima also smiled and began to applaud.
"Clap clap"
"Clap clap clap clap"
Led by Samejima, Téa, Tristan, Bakura, Kujaku Mai, Joey Wheeler, and even the Old Butler serving as the Referee, all began to applaud. They applauded for the birth of the Duel Kings, and also for the spectacular Duel presented by the two Duelists on the Duel Platform.
"That was a good Match, Yugi." Hayato also clapped. "Seriously, I feel like I used everything I had, but in the end, I could only manage a Draw with you."
"But this Duel also used all of my strength, Hayato," Yugi also clapped. "Yata-Garasu, Gaia, The Earth Spirit - Gustav, your Bond with your Cards left a deep Impression on me. It was a truly interesting Duel."
Just as the two were enjoying the congratulations from their Friends, from the High Platform, Pegasus's voice drifted down faintly. "Interesting, Hayato boy, Yugi boy~"
The two turned their heads in unison to look at the High Platform.
Pegasus was leaning on the railing, looking down at Yugi and Hayato below, like a King looking down from on high at actors who had performed a splendid play for him. He had a mysterious smile on his face and was also clapping.
However, compared to the enthusiastic applause of the others, Pegasus's clapping seemed weak and listless.
"The ones who defeated so many Opponents and reached the pinnacle of all Duelists are actually you two? Oh~, even me didn't anticipate such a situation. If me had known, me should have prepared a few more Prizes."
Pegasus said with a smile that didn't reach his eyes, extending his hand in the Direction of Hayato and Yugi. "So, Hayato boy, Yugi boy, the Cards me mailed to you should still be on your person, right?"
Hayato and Yugi exchanged glances, each taking out an Envelope from their person and drawing out two Cards from them—the Glory of the King's Right Hand with a Treasure pattern, and the Glory of the King's Left Hand with a blank Card Art.
"As a reward for the saikou Duel you two presented to me, me can make an exception for you and provide two Prizes~" Pegasus looked at the two. "The Right Hand symbolizes Wealth, allowing you to obtain a large sum of Prize Money; while the Left Hand symbolizes Glory, allowing you to obtain the opportunity to Challenge me."
"Now, how will you choose? Will you use the Left Hand?" Pegasus said, the smile disappearing from his face. "However, if you use the Left Hand, the Outcome for the Loser of the Duel will be like Kaiba boy, you know?"
Pegasus's question was one that neither Hayato nor Yugi needed even a second to think about; they could easily make their choice.
"Heh heh, heh ha ha, heh ha ha ha ha!" Hayato glanced at the Card in his hand and suddenly burst out laughing. "Pegasus, for a question like this, isn't there only one answer?"
"Ji-chan, Kaiba, Keipei... you brought them suffering." Yugi glanced at the Card in his hand and also suddenly laughed. However, it wasn't a gentle smile, but a cold laugh full of fighting spirit. "Our choice is—"
"To Challenge you! To swing the Scythe of Judgment at you and settle the Sins you've stained your hands with!"
Their movements were perfectly synchronized. Hayato and Yugi simultaneously showed the Cards in their hands. It was the blank Glory of the King's Left Hand, and its Effect was something both Hayato and Yugi had witnessed firsthand: Soul Sealing.
"Subarashii! You truly didn't disappoint me, Hayato boy, Yugi boy!" Pegasus looked at the two below, full of fighting spirit, and also laughed confidently.
"Then, I hope you perform well in tomorrow's Duel~"
After speaking, Pegasus, accompanied by his "hohoho" laughter, turned and left, disappearing from the High Platform.