Li Guanqi stepped through the detection gate, and the number on his wrist lit up.
[Final player of Bianyuelong.]
[Numbered Citizen————]
[0748]
Three simple sentences from the AI referee held the entire arena in suspense for a full eighteen seconds.
“What the heck?!
Bianyuelong’s out of players?!”
“What’s going on?”
“They’re sending a numbered citizen into the match?
Where’d they dig this guy up?”
“This is a joke, right?!”
Commentator Hong Mi’s eyes widened in disbelief.
He turned to Zi Cai and asked, “Is…
is this even allowed?”
In his entire commentary career, it was the first time he’d ever seen an ordinary numbered citizen walk onto a league dueling stage.
Even among numbered citizens, there were classes and ranks.
Qiqi, for instance, was a multifunctional numbered citizen.
Once stabilized, she’d be granted citizenship and integrated into society.
But someone like Li Guanqi, his face clearly marked, was the kind with low compatibility and poor learning capability.
People like him usually got shipped off to mines or biochemical labs.
“Let me check.” Zi Cai quickly looked through the updates and then said in realization, “Bianyuelong’s original substitute, Player Qiqi, had a sudden heart attack.
She’s already been rushed to the infirmary.”
“0748 qualifies as an emergency substitute.”
“Emergency substitutes are allowed by league rules, as long as they’re not citizens of other fortresses.”
“You can’t be serious about sending in a numbered citizen though!” Hong Mi shouted.
“Don’t they still have one main player left?”
Zi Cai pursed his lips, forcing a bitter smile.
“Bianyuelong’s main lineup is already down, one injured, one mentally unstable.”
With that implication made clear, the tens of thousands in the audience finally realized what Bianyuelong was doing, they were sending in a sacrificial lamb.
The stadium erupted in outrage.
“So they’re just scared huh?!”
“If Bianyuelong can’t afford to lose, they shouldn’t even be here!”
“A few years ago they were a Level 5 Fortress, how the heck did they fall this far?”
“Get out of the match!”
“I came all this way, and you just call me a numbered pawn?”
“Refund!”
“Disqualify him!”
“Disqualify him!”
The crowd’s anger surged wave after wave.
Several staff members trying to maintain order were drenched in sweat, and the scene nearly spiraled out of control.
Wang Gu laughed smugly, making a mocking “weak” gesture toward Bianyuelong’s resting room.
They say you may lose, but never lose face, Bianyuelong seemed to have lost even that.
Li Guanqi stood on the stage as if deaf to the jeers, his mind immersed in the cards in his hand.
The Deck wasn’t made of paper, but crystal cards, coated with a scratch-resistant film.
What was stranger was that he felt an indescribable connection with the Deck.
That phrase “This Deck wants to come to me” just wasn’t just bravado; he could sense subtle heartbeats and breaths.
Resonance?
Calling?
Channeling?
No, none of those were accurate.
It was like a soldier preparing for battle, honed for a thousand years, finally waiting for the general to lead the troops.
It was leadership!
<Red Side, please insert your Deck>
The AI referee issued the notification.
Li Guanqi slowly placed the Deck into the duel disk.
With a beep, the duel disk lit up red and quickly shuffled the Deck.
A wisp of black mist rose from the duel disk, crawling up his arm.
“The curse.”
In the resting room, Qin Dongzhu’s expression tightened; Tang Xin didn’t dare look, tightly closing her eyes.
“Medics, get ready.” Mickey clapped his hands casually, but the next moment, something caught his eye and his voice faltered.
Li Guanqi stood firm under the spotlight; a second shadow flickered beneath his feet.
He seemed changed, calm and steady, his face unreadable.
The sanity rate meter above his head showed a value——— 85%.
“This is…” Qin Dongzhu and the others were stunned, frozen on the spot.
Mickey watched Li Guanqi’s back from below the stage, lost in thought.
Like Fairy Zixia looking at Supreme Treasure as she faced the sunlight and drew the Purple Green Sword.
He had a young mother at home.
His mother told him “You have to wait for the person who can use this Deck, that’s your destined one.”
He always thought it meant finding a wife!
Qiqi would be fine.
Turns out, it wasn’t that!!!
<Both duelists, please select Pain Level>
The AI referee immediately moved to the next step.
“Fine, I’ll make it easy for you.” Wang Gu sneered, “I choose Level 8.”
“What’s the highest level?” Li Guanqi’s voice was cold and emotionless.
<The highest is Level 10>
Li Guanqi suddenly laughed loudly, wildly, like a madman: “Hahaha———-”
“What are you laughing at!?” Wang Gu shivered at the laugh, forcing himself to roar angrily.
“So you’re just a coward.” Li Guanqi stopped laughing and sneered mockingly, “Hehehe, Level 8?
Are you trying to live long?”
“I choose Level 10!”
As soon as he said it, the taunts against Bianyuelong abruptly stopped.
Wang Gu’s pupils contracted sharply, forcing himself to stay calm.
Level 10 could very well be lethal.
But at Level 10, it was only 3,000 damage per hit, a damage output most Decks could achieve.
Sustained damage could be fatal.
Over 10 years ago, someone used <Trickstar>, Level 10 pain, dealing 200 or 300 damage hits, and literally scraped someone to death.
“Not bad, Bianyuelong!” The audience atmosphere shifted suddenly.
“Bring it on!”
“Blood will flow like a river!”
A true life-or-death duel always stirs the heart.
“You numbered citizens really are just the same, reckless and clueless.” Wang Gu said coldly.
In his view, numbered citizens had no idea what Level 10 pain meant, nor understood dueling.
[Please select first or second turn]
A projection popped up before them.
Li Guanqi smiled faintly, “I want———-”
He slowly raised his head, his pupils flashing a odd blue-orange dual color, and spoke with two identical voices.
[Second turn.]
“Second turn.”
[Pain Level set: 10]
[FIRST TURN: BLUE SIDE]
[DUEL START!]
A pale golden barrier spread over the duel field, cutting off all outside noise.
Both duel disks clicked, and 5 starting cards popped out.
Wang Gu picked up his cards, his eyes shining brightly, unable to suppress a wild laugh: “Hahaha!”
“I win!”
When he heard Level 10 pain, he panicked briefly, worried about bricking.
Now, no worries anymore!
“Please.” Li Guanqi politely gestured, a ghostly smile playing on his lips, “You go first.”
“Show-off!” Wang Gu gritted his teeth, groaned, and slapped down a card, “Normal Summon———— <Wightprincess>!”
“Activate <Wightprincess>’s effect, send one <Wightprince> from the Deck to the graveyard!”
“Immediately after, activate <Wightprince>’s effect.
From the Deck, send one <Skull Servants> and one <The Lady in Wight> to the graveyard!”
“I activate the Spell Card, <One on One>!”
“Send <Wightprince> from hand to graveyard, Special Summon———– <King of the Skull Servants>!”
“<Wightprince>’s effect, send one <Skull Servant> and one <The Lady in Wight> from the Deck to the graveyard!”
“Activate the effect of <Wightlord> in hand, send this card to the graveyard, then send 7 cards from the top of my Deck to the graveyard.”
He swung his hand sharply, scattering seven cards into the void.
<King of the Skull Servants>
<Mystical Space Typhoon>
<Skill Prisoner>
<Wightbaking>
<Wightbaking>
<Forbidden Lance>
<Wightprincess>
Seven cards floated in the void, between the gaps revealing Li Guanqi’s faint, cold smile.