# Chapter 269: OMO
"When Hamon, Lord of Striking Thunder destroys a Monster by battle and sends it to the Graveyard, inflict 1000 points of Effect Damage to the opponent Duelist!"
"Taste the feeling of being betrayed by the cards you cherish! Hell's Atonement!"
Hayato's eyes widened as he saw Gaia the Fierce Knight, who should have been sent to the Graveyard, reappear on his Field, and from Hamon, Lord of Striking Thunder's hand, a beam of lightning surged towards him.
Just as the lightning strike was about to hit him, Hayato noticed Gaia the Fierce Knight watching everything before him with a blank expression, completely motionless.
"Gaia the Fierce Knight, what are you looking at over there!" Hayato exclaimed, taking a step forward. But just then, a lightning bolt struck the ground not far in front of him. "Why are you just watching, Gaia the Fierce Knight!"
"Could it be... could it be that you've actually betrayed me!"
Gaia The Fierce Knight: OMO
Amidst Hayato's unwilling cries, Gaia the Fierce Knight turned around expressionlessly and vanished from the Field, leaving Hayato to be struck by the lightning.
"Gah!!!"
[Hayato: 4000 → 3000 LP]
"Hehehe, how about that? Do you feel the immense Power from Hamon, Lord of Striking Thunder?" Hesiod saw the uncontrollable pain on Hayato's face and felt extremely pleased. "You still have 3000 Life Points. You can enjoy the feeling of being betrayed by your trusted Monster three more times."
"Oh, it seems I accidentally missed something." Hesiod extended his hand and pointed at Hayato again. Total Defense Shogun, Attack the opponent Duelist directly!"
Having been freed from Rainbow Kuriboh's Control by the Summon of Hamon, Lord of Striking Thunder, the heavily armored Total Defense Shogun drew the Long Saber from its back for the second time and charged towards Hayato.
Hayato forced himself to stay alert. Before Total Defense Shogun's Attack reached him, he took a Card from his Graveyard and placed it on his Field: "When Total Defense Shogun declares a Direct Attack, I Activate the Effect of Rainbow Kuriboh in my Graveyard!"
"Summon it to my Field in Defense Position, and have it block this strike for me!"
"Aibo, save me!"
"Kuririri~"
Riding on a Rainbow Light, Rainbow Kuriboh once again stood between Hayato and Total Defense Shogun. However, this time, the tattered Rainbow Light failed to Control Total Defense Shogun as it did before and shattered immediately. Rainbow Kuriboh blocked the Attack with its Body, and then was Banished from Game.
"Hmph, you saved your life again, Kobayashi Hayato." Hesiod, who didn't realize this statement was somewhat of a death flag, looked at him with considerable dissatisfaction when his Total Defense Shogun's Attack was blocked again. You call yourself Total Defense Shogun? You're the one being absolutely defended against.
Meanwhile, Hayato held the Rainbow Kuriboh Card in his Hand, reluctantly Banishing it: "Thank you, Aibo, you saved my life again. I'll avenge you soon."
"With your empty Field and those weak Monsters, King of Games?" Hesiod said disdainfully. "Even the legendary Blue-Eyes White Dragon wouldn't stand a chance against my Invincible Hamon, Lord of Striking Thunder. In front of ordinary Duel Monsters, it is the God who dictates their life and death!"
"And I, who can wield Hamon, Lord of Striking Thunder, am undoubtedly a God." As the surrounding Life Force continuously surged into his Body, Hesiod, feeling unprecedentedly good, predictably became arrogant. "Await my Judgment in the next Turn, Kobayashi Hayato!"
"My Turn ends here."
[Hesiod: 4000 LP, Hand 0]
[Total Defense Shogun] [DEF 2500]
[Hamon, Lord of Striking Thunder] [ATK 4000]
The paralysis in his Body lingered, but Hayato forced himself to raise his arm, his fingers trembling as he Drew a Card: "My Turn, Draw Card."
"Then I Activate the Effect of the Quick-Play Spell Card Emergency Provisions, sending Nightmare's Steelcage on my Field to the Graveyard to Recover 1000 Life Points."
[Hayato: 3000 → 4000 LP]
After recovering some Life Points, Hayato's condition improved slightly. Although his face still looked bad, it was much better than after taking a hit from Hamon, Lord of Striking Thunder.
Using Emergency Provisions' Effect, Hayato avoided the Effect of Nightmare's Steelcage, allowing him to keep the five Cards in his Hand. However, the Cards currently in his Hand couldn't yet piece together the puzzle needed to Defeat Hamon, Lord of Striking Thunder and achieve Victory.
"I Summon one Monster in Face-Down Defense Position, then Set two Cards from my Hand. My Turn ends."
[Hayato: 4000 LP, Hand 2]
[Face-Down Defense Position Monster]
[Set Card] X3
"Heh heh, even the strongest King of Games can only cower and survive in front of Hamon, Lord of Striking Thunder?" Hesiod glanced at Hayato contemptuously. "Indeed, I am too strong, truly the God of Duel Monsters."
"You've only gained the upper hand temporarily, aren't you being a bit too arrogant?"
Hearing Hayato's words, Hesiod sneered: "Stubborn Will will only bring you greater suffering and nothing else. I'm suddenly starting to anticipate what kind of expression you'll have after you recognize the truth, King of Games."
"My Turn, Draw Card! I Activate the Spell Card Pot of Greed, draw two Cards from my Deck."
"Then I enter my Battle Phase, and Activate the Card in my Hand, the Quick-Play Spell Card Forbidden Lance!"
A shower of arrows, seemingly from nowhere, suddenly fell from the sky. Not a single one of the countless sharp arrows struck the three Monsters on the Field, because their only Target was the three Set Cards in Hayato's Backrow.
"Forbidden Lance can only be Activated at the start of the Battle Phase of either player, and neither player can activate Spell/Trap Cards or Monster Effects in response to this Card's effect," Hesiod said triumphantly. "Until the end of this Turn, neither player can activate the effects of Spell/Trap Cards."
"Even if you Set three Traps targeting Attack Declarations, they're useless now, King of Games!"
"Total Defense Shogun, Crush that Face-Down Defense Position Monster!" Hesiod ordered with a wave of his hand, a sinister smile appearing on his face. "After destroying that Monster, await the Attack of Hamon, Lord of Striking Thunder, Kobayashi Hayato!"
The heavy greatsword slashed down, easily Destroying the Set Monster on Hayato's Field. Not noticing that the Destroyed Monster had the appearance of a young girl, Hesiod impatiently ordered,
"Hamon, Lord of Striking Thunder, Attack Kobayashi Hayato directly!"