Electro Flash: None of you ever include me! T^T

System: [(Duel Kingdom) Side Quest: Defeat the 'Duel Assassin' privately dispatched by the International Illusion Agency (completed). Quest rewards: Elemental Hero · Necro Darkman*1, Fusion R Card Voucher*1, Gems*100, Coins*1000, R Jewels*10, Shadow Jewels*10.]

“Necro Darkman... I knew it would be him!”

Staring at the phone screen, at the rewards granted by the system for defeating the Duel Assassin, especially the single card at the top—Elemental Hero · Necro Darkman—Yugi couldn’t help but smile.

In Yugi’s memory of the “Elemental Hero” series cards, among the effect monsters with the “Dark” attribute—excluding fusion monsters—there are only two such cards!

One is exclusive to the “Elemental Hero” series, with an effect that allows for a tribute-free summoning of high-level “Elemental Hero” monsters from the graveyard—Elemental Hero · Necro Darkman.

The other is a card whose name works with the “Elemental Hero” series, whose first effect applies to the derivative “Masked Hero” series, whose second effect applies to the entire “Hero” series—a monster whose status in the “Hero” lineup rivals that of the legendary “Sky Brother”—Elemental Hero · Shadow Mist! (It wouldn’t be too much to call her the “Big Sister” of the Heroes.)

The reason Yugi had already guessed the reward card would be “Necro Darkman” before seeing the system reward was simple: in the current environment, “Shadow Mist” is an incredibly powerful card! Especially since, in this world, he’s the only one using an “Elemental Hero” deck!

Such a broken card, the “Big Sister” of the Hero series, on par with “Sky Brother,” would never be so kindly gifted by the system.

Even if the system did offer it, or allowed a chance to obtain it, it wouldn’t be at this point in time—it would likely come no sooner than the anime-original “Doma Arc.”

Of course, whether the “Yu-Gi-Oh World” includes the “Doma Arc” or characters related to it remains to be seen, since that storyline is anime-original and not drawn in Takahashi’s manga.

Having finished with Necro Darkman, Yugi now cast his gaze downward—to the Fusion R Card Voucher.

“The third ‘Fusion R Card Voucher’ in this Kingdom system reward...”

The first voucher was earned by defeating Fisherman Queen, related to “Elemental Hero · Bubbleman,” and contained three fusion monsters in one.

The second voucher was received after defeating Ryuzaki; the reward included “Elemental Hero · Wildman,” an Earth-related monster immune to trap effects while on the field, and two fusion monsters using Wildman as material—“Elemental Hero · Wild Wingman” and “Elemental Hero · Necro Shaman.”

Upon seeing these two cards, Yugi’s first thought was to redeem “Elemental Hero · Wild Wingman,” whose effect allows him to discard a card to destroy a spell/trap on the field.

Firstly, both fusion materials—Wingman and Wildman—are already in his deck. Secondly, in terms of stats, Wild Wingman boasts 1900 attack and 2300 defense, equal in strength to Necro Shaman but with 500 more defense. Most importantly, “discard one card to destroy one spell/trap” is an effect with no activation limit!

In other words, as long as he has cards in hand and there are enough spells/traps on the field, he can “infinitely” discard to clear the back row—and incidentally build up his graveyard!

With its combination of “discard to break spells/traps,” “graveyard setup,” “complete materials,” and “solid stats,” Wild Wingman is clearly the first choice!

But just as he was about to tap “Confirm Redemption,” Yugi considered the current duel monster rules and the upcoming Kingdom semifinals. His gaze slowly shifted to Necro Shaman beside Wild Wingman.

Although Necro Shaman is inferior to Wild Wingman in materials, stats, and effect, it depends on the current duel environment.

In this era where Duel Monsters are only just developing, especially at the “Duel Kingdom” stage, Necro Shaman’s effect is far more practical than Wild Wingman’s!

Why?

Because at this point, the duel rules include this clause: If your attack position monster is destroyed by an opponent’s card effect, you take damage equal to half its original attack.

Thus, the moment Necro Shaman appears, he can destroy a monster on the opponent’s field—face-up or set. If it’s face-up in attack, he can deal damage as well.

Afterward, he can revive a weaker monster from the opponent’s graveyard, allowing Necro Shaman, with only 1900 attack, to inflict battle damage.

At this stage, players care more about the strength of their monsters than their spell/trap cards. To use spells/traps makes you a “good duelist”; use them well, and you’re a “strong duelist”! Under these circumstances, decks have fewer spells/traps than monsters.

So, comparatively, Necro Shaman is better suited for Yugi at this moment.

The only issue: when he received this second reward, his deck lacked the required material “Necro Darkman,” and he had no cards like the “Fusion Markers” or “King of the Swamp” to substitute for specified fusion materials.

In his dilemma, Yugi noticed the voucher’s redemption deadline—“after the Duel Kingdom tournament ends”—and relaxed.

Good, there’s enough time. If he can obtain Necro Darkman as a fusion material within the Kingdom, he’ll redeem it; if not, once the “City Arc” starts, Wild Wingman’s effect will shine perfectly, so he’ll choose that instead. If he gets Necro Darkman, he’ll pick whichever is most advantageous.

He estimates that after Kingdom ends and City Arc begins, the system will open the card shop for pack purchases, and he can buy whatever he needs with gems! Surely he’ll pull Wild Wingman eventually!

Having discussed the second big system reward—the second Fusion R Card Voucher—he returns to the “third” Fusion R Card Voucher.

The single card “Necro Darkman” is the fusion material for “Elemental Hero · Necro Shaman” and “Elemental Hero · Dark Brightman.”

Well, now that’s settled! Yugi no longer hesitates and immediately redeems the second Fusion R Card Voucher for “Elemental Hero · Wild Wingman,” tapping confirm.

Some might ask: wasn’t it said before that, upon obtaining Necro Darkman, he’d redeem Necro Shaman, which is more beneficial for Yugi at this stage? Why, now that he has Necro Darkman, does he pick Wild Wingman, whose time to shine is only in the City Arc?

There are three reasons:

First, as previously mentioned, the consideration for Necro Shaman—despite its inferiority to Wild Wingman—was based on the duel rules, specifically “the damage taken when your attack position monster is destroyed by an opponent’s card effect.” Necro Shaman’s effect fits this rule perfectly.

But now, with “Dark Brightman,” whose effect is similar, choosing Necro Shaman seems redundant.

Moreover, Dark Brightman has an extra beneficial effect compared to Necro Shaman. While Shaman destroys an opponent’s monster and revives one from their grave, Dark Brightman inflicts piercing damage—a common effect in later eras—and, when destroyed, takes an opponent’s monster to the grave with it.

See which is stronger?

Second, Necro Darkman’s effect, among all “Elemental Hero” effect monsters, only works with two high-level heroes: “Elemental Hero · Bladeedge” and “Elemental Hero · Lady of Flowers.” Lady of Flowers can’t be normal summoned and requires her own spell card “Petals” for special summoning.

In this situation, Necro Darkman’s effect is almost never used.

Lastly, Yugi’s deck currently contains effect monsters and vanilla heroes: “Elemental Hero · Bubbleman,” “Elemental Hero · Wildman,” “Elemental Hero · Necro Darkman,” and “Elemental Hero Quartet”—seven cards in total. Except for the Light attribute Sparkman, the other six all have their own fusion monsters.

Wingman + Bubbleman for “Mariner,” Wildman + Wingman for “Wild Wingman,” Wildman + Necro Darkman for “Necro Shaman,” Blazewoman + Clayman for “Rampart Blaster,” and Soul Card Wingman + Blazewoman for “Flame Wingman.”

Five fusion cards, none involving Sparkman. Those with Sparkman, in the DL system, are rated as “SR” rarity and cannot be gifted!

Currently, the only one involving Sparkman is “Dark Brightman,” linked to the second Fusion Card Voucher.

For all these reasons, Yugi chose Wild Wingman and gave up Necro Shaman.

...

[Personal Information]

Host: Yugi
Appearance: 96
Luck: 50
Deck: Elemental Hero Standard Version (Intermediate)
Inventory: Gems*300, Coins*3400, R Jewels*30, Shadow Jewels*10, Earth Jewels*12, Water Jewels*10, Flame Jewels*2