Eight's smug grin stretched across his face, his gaze flicking from Jarek to Benji and back again. "Yeah, 60% sounds steep, but it won't matter. I don't plan on losing." He drew a card from his deck and glanced at it, his confidence only seeming to grow. "I've been saving this play for a while. Let's see how your bunnies stack up against real monsters."

Benji clenched his jaw, keeping his eyes on Eight's every move. His bunnies, cute as they were, weren't pushovers. But still, this was his first time dueling against someone with as much swagger as Eight. He glanced at Markus out of the corner of his eye, hoping for a sign of reassurance.

Markus stood silent, eyes locked on the battlefield. His face was unreadable, as if he didn't care whether Eight talked or not. It was like Markus knew something that Benji didn't, some hidden truth about the way this duel was going to unfold.

Jarek, on the other hand, seemed more amused than anything. "Don't get ahead of yourself, Eight," he said casually, leaning against the arena's edge. "Remember, you might be playing for sponsorship, but you're also playing against my hand-picked partner here. He's also one of the best duelists in this city." He gestured toward Markus, as if that alone should be enough to make Eight hesitate. "And Benji's just starting to figure out how dangerous he can be."

Benji swallowed, hoping Jarek's words weren't just empty flattery. He had to admit, there was something to what Jarek was saying. His hand was strong, his bunnies were in place, and he still had Father Rabbit watching over the field.

Eight raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. "Alright, Mister Bunny, let's see how you handle this." He slid a card onto his duel disk. "I summon Thunder Dragon Seer!"

Nine mana orbs floated around Eight, shimmering with a dull, electric hue. Two of the orbs drifted into the card, and a hunched, sickly old man appeared on the field, draped in a plain, tattered robe. His frail body seemed incapable of any significant combat.

Benji frowned. The card's stats flickered above it—1 ATK / 2 DEF. "That's it?" Benji scoffed. "From the way you were talking, I was expecting more. He doesn't look—"

"—He doesn't look like much because he's not," Eight interrupted, a wicked grin spreading across his face. "At least, not physically. But he's the key to unlocking my true power. You'll see." Eight raised his arm, and three more mana orbs floated into the old man's cloak. "I activate Thunder Dragon Seer's effect: Soul Charge!"

The card's effect flashed across the field.

Thunder Dragon SeerATK/1DEF/2Effect: Upon being summoned, this card can cast 'Thunder King's Prison' by paying the appropriate mana cost: 1 mana from the hand, 2 mana from the graveyard, or 3 mana from the deck.

Three orbs of mana glowed brightly, then vanished as the field around them began to warp. Chains erupted from the ground, weaving through the air like living serpents, the entire room trembling with a heavy, oppressive energy. The walls of the arena shimmered before shifting, stone pillars rising from the ground, metal bars stretching across them to form prison cells. The duelists' platform was gone, replaced by a cold stone floor, and Benji could feel the cold chill of the prison sinking into his bones.

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The entire space had transformed, pulling everyone into the very heart of Thunder King's Prison. The field spell didn't just appear—it took over.

Benji glanced around in disbelief. They weren't in the duel room r anymore. Instead, they were standing inside an immense, thunderous prison, the walls covered in iron chains and barred cells. The air crackled with energy, and from the cells, shadowy figures of dragons stirred, rattling their bindings.

"This is… your field spell?" Benji muttered, trying to keep his voice steady.

Eight's voice echoed through the prison, his smile darkening. "That's right. Welcome to Thunder King's Prison. While this is in play, all my dragons are chained, restricted by its power. They can neither attack nor activate their effects unless I pay mana for each action. But don't get comfortable—what you're seeing here? It's only the beginning."

With a dramatic flourish, Eight raised his duel disk, and the four remaining mana orbs spun around him before sinking into his body. His soul card began to glow, bright golden chains erupting from his chest as the prison trembled in response. "Now, I summon my soul card—Thunder King's Herald!"

A roar thundered through the prison, and from one of the barred cells, a massive black dragon crawled out, its body shackled in thick golden chains. The dragon was enormous, its eyes glowing with fierce intensity as it broke free of its restraints, electricity arcing across its scales. Unlike the other dragons imprisoned here, Thunder King's Herald moved freely, its powerful wings spreading as it ascended above the field, unshackled by the prison's control.

Thunder King's HeraldATK/3DEF/6Effect: While 'Thunder King's Prison' is active, this card is unaffected by the prison's restriction effects. Once per turn, it can command one other dragon on the field to act without paying mana costs. Additionally, once per turn, it can choose one opposing monster, imprisoning it. The imprisoned monster's effects are negated, and control is transferred to the user of 'Thunder King's Herald.' If a dragon under this card's command deals damage, you gain life equal to the damage dealt.

Benji's heart sank as the dragon glared down at him. Thunder King's Herald wasn't just a boss monster—it was the warden of the entire prison. The other dragons cowered in their cells, bound by the prison's chains, but Herald was free, in full control of the battlefield.

"Now you're getting it," Eight said with a smug grin. "Thunder King's Herald is the ruler of this prison. As long as the field spell is active, it commands all the other dragons. Once per turn, I can let any of my dragons act without paying the mana cost, and if I want? I can imprison your monsters, too."

Benji's stomach churned as Herald roared again, its chains rattling in the air. "It can choose one of your monsters, imprison it, negate its effects, and force it to fight for me. That's what it means to be in my prison."

The chains hanging from the ceiling began to sway as if they were alive, slithering toward Benji's side of the field. His bunnies, adorable and harmless-looking, felt a million miles away from the ruthless environment of Thunder King's Prison.

Hope you're ready," Eight taunted, his eyes gleaming with sadistic glee. "Because once Thunder King's Herald takes control, this duel is as good as over. And after I win? Jarek's little deal will mean nothing."