"I will start by activating the effect of Shamoji Soldier." He declared, having his first action of the turn after drawing, being to activate the monster's effect. "I will detach one material from it, to have us draw another card on the next Standby Phase."
The food-like fairy waved its chopsticks yet again, using up its last overlay material to have both players gain a small boost during the next turn.
Number 63: Shamoji Soldier - Light/Fairy/XYZ/Rank 1/Effect: 0/2000 OV: 0
"What?" Ruri couldn't help but mutter under her breath. "But why would you-"
"Then I will normal summon Galaxy Cleric." And without wasting a beat, Kaito used his normal summon of the turn to play a card from his hand, and a white robe wearing spellcaster took form and filled the last of his monster zones.
Galaxy Cleric - Light/Spellcaster/Level 4/Effect: 500/600
"Then its effect activates." He declared as soon as it hit the field. "If this card is normal or special summoned, I can target 5 'Photon' or 'Galaxy' cards with different names in my graveyard, shuffle them into the deck, then draw two cards."
"H-huh? Shuffling five cards from the graveyard to draw two cards?!"
"I will target one copy of Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon, Galaxy-Eyes Afterglow Dragon, Photon Delta Wing, Galaxy Zero, and Galaxy Expedition in my graveyard!" The blonde declared the five cards as his target, shuffling them all back onto his deck. "And I draw two cards!" And drawing back to five whole cards.
He gave the drawn cards a brief glance, before throwing his hand to the side with a declaration. "Now, I will take the Level 4 Photon Jumper and Galaxy Cleric and overlay them!"
The pair of monsters form then distorted, changing into shining golden pillars of light as they spun around a galactical vortex that manifested before Kaito. "I will construct the overlay network with these two monsters, XYZ Summon!" And exploded into a blinding pillar of light.
"Descend! Galaxy Photon Dragon!" And the monster that appeared was yet another majestic dragon, yet unlike the others that Kaito had summoned, it was smaller in frame, clad in silver armor like scales that wrapped around its galactical blue body, golden orbs shining on parts of its body while two similar orbs orbited the newly formed XYZ.
Galaxy Photon Dragon - Light/Dragon/XYZ/Rank 4: 2000/0 OV: 2
"A... different XYZ Monster?" And upon its entrance, Ruri noted that it was neither the one that summoned the main deck Galaxy-Eyes from his deck, nor was it the one that summoned it forth from the hand. "So there's even more!"
"Now while Galaxy Photon Dragon is on the field, other Light monsters that I control gain 500 attack." Kaito read aloud what was essentially the monster's passive effect, the white galactical dragon reared its head backward as it roared, while all of the monsters on his field gained an empowering golden aura.
Number 90: Galaxy-Eyes Photon Lord - Light/Warrior/XYZ/Rank 8/Effect: 3000/3000 OV: 2
Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon - Light/Dragon/Level 8/Effect: 3500/2500
Number 63: Shamoji Soldier- Light/Fairy/XYZ/Rank 1/Effect: 500/2000 OV: 0
"A 500 attack boost, but what does it-" And as she remembered what other cards he had, her eyes widened. "Starliege Photon Blast Dragon! It makes any of your monsters can't target monsters with over 2000 attack! So if you have it and this card-"
"It won't do anything special as it is now." And what Kaito noted aloud was indeed, correct. In a duel against Ruri, having a monster with a higher attack power didn't quite mean as much as one would against other decks that weren't Lyrilusc.
"I will activate Galaxy Photon Dragon's effect!" Continuing on, Kaito shot his hand forward towards the silver galactical dragon before him, and declared his effect. "By detaching one overlay material from this card, I can either add one 'Photon' or 'Galaxy' card from my deck to my hand, or send it to my graveyard!"
"That's-!" Ruri gasped upon hearing the effect. "Just like my Bird Call!" And watched as the armoured dragon absorbed one of its overlay material into itself.
Galaxy Photon Dragon - Light/Dragon/XYZ/Rank 4: 2000/0 OV: 1
"I will add to my hand the Continuous Spell, Galaxy Hundred!" Kaito shouted, taking the card from his deck to show to his opponent before shuffling it to his now six card hand.
"Then the effect of Photon Jumper activates!" He continued on without missing a beat, activating the card's effect on a new chain.
"Photon Jumper? The detached monster!" Ruri immediately caught on, noting that it was the overlay unit that was used for Galaxy Photon Dragon's effect. "It has a graveyard effect as well!"
"If this card is sent to the graveyard, I can add one 'Photon' or 'Galaxy' Spell or Trap card from my deck to my hand! I will add the Continuous Trap, Photon Change!" Her opponent explained, and she bit her lips in frustration at the mention of him adding more and more cards into his possession.
"So this one just adds Spells or Traps!" Ruri couldn't help but be wary, Kaito having so much advantage on her along with adding so many cards to his hands could mean that he could access ways to out her monster.
'With Photon Lord on the field, I can't even activate the effect of Assembled Nightingale lest it be negated and destroyed.' She thought. 'And it would always have material, since during my Standby Phase, he could just use its effect to attach a card onto it instead of adding it to his hand.'
It was a conundrum to be sure, she would most likely survive this turn as Kaito had given up his Battle Phase due to Photon Jumper's effect, but if he somehow managed to find a way to get rid of her untargetable Assembled Nightingale and keep Photon Lord on the field as an interaction...
"I'd be in deep trouble..."
"Now I will activate Galaxy Hundred!" The blonde Galaxy duelist shouted as he placed the card onto his crescent-shaped duel blade, allowing its holographic projection to shine in front of him.
"When Galaxy Hundred is activated, I can send one 'Photon' or 'Galaxy' card from my deck to the graveyard." Kaito explained the card's effect upon activation, and took out a card from his deck as his target.
"I will send Photon Emperor to the graveyard, and then activate its effect!" And as soon as the effect resolved, he followed up by using the sent monster's own effect.
"A graveyard effect! But couldn't he have just sent it with Galaxy Photon Dragon's effect?" Ruri muttered to herself, sending a glance to the Continuous Spell that now stood on Kaito field.
She immediately answered her own question as she thought further. "No, if anything, it might be similar to Serena's Fire Formation - Tenki. It has to have some other effect on the field."
With the quick line of thought finished, she snapped back to Kaito's explanation of his card's effect. "If this card is sent to the graveyard while another 'Photon' or 'Galaxy' monster is on the field or in my graveyard, I can special summon this card in defence position."
"It summons itself! Then that means-" Kaito would have two Level 8 monsters to fill up his field yet again, and that means he'd have another chance at summoning an XYZ Monster.
"I won't let you!" She shouted back, flipping a card in her hand. "From my hand, I will activate the effect of D.D. Crow!"
"D.D. Crow?" Her opponent blinked in surprise. "That's the last card that was in your hand?"
"That's right! As a Quick Effect, I can discard D.D. Crow from hand to the graveyard, then target one card in your graveyard and banish that target!" She shouted out the card's effect and raised her hand as a rift in the spacetime continuum opened above her.
"What!?" Her opponent shouted in surprise as a vortex formed in front of him, from which a giant lance wielding galactical warrior began to rise from.
"I will target your Photon Emperor, and banish it!" From the rift between dimensions, a crow augmented with cybernetic enhancements dove onto the field with a large caw, diving straight into the emerging Photon Emperor, crashing into it and pushing it back further into the abyss.
"Tch! You!" Kaito's calm facade broke for a moment as he clicked his tongue and scowled in annoyance.
"I will special summon Photon Vanisher!" Yet he continued on as he took out another card from his hand, summoning forth the Photon Vanisher that she had returned to his hand on his previous turn, of course using its own innate summoning condition that he had fulfilled with all the monsters on his field.
Photon Vanisher - Light/Warrior/Level 4/Effect: 2000/0
Who was then of course boosted in its attack through the continuous effect of Galaxy Photon Dragon.
Photon Vanisher - Light/Warrior/Level 4/Effect: 2500/0
"And with its effect I can add a copy of Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon to my hand!" He declared, only to then swing his hand to the side and continue. "Then I will chain Galaxy Photon Dragon's effect!"
"Another effect!" She of course mentioned to the new Rank 4 that he was declaring the effect of.
"If a Light Monster is special summoned to my field except during the damage step, I can target one of those monsters, and have its Level either become 4 or 8 until the end of this turn!"
"A Level modulation!? That means-"
"I will change Photon Vanisher's Level to 8!" And the white galactical dragon reared its head back and spread its wings wide as it let out a roar, a pillar of light engulfing the gun wielding warrior as its Level was raised.
Photon Vanisher - Light/Warrior/Level 8/Effect: 2500/0
"Two Level 8s!" And whatever Rank 8 monsters that would come next. 'If its Galaxy-Eyes Cipher Dragon then I would be fine. Assembled Nightingale was made with Cobalt Sparrow so it can't be targeted by card effect.'
Yet as her eyes moved ever so slightly to the side, to the gigantic figure of the blue clad warrior with its towering sword and shield, she began to harbour doubts.
'But if he has anything that's passed through that protection…'
And Ruri would be vindicated in knowing that with simply two Level 8 monsters, Kaito truly did not have a clean way to remove the Assembled Nightingale that was on her field, not with his Battle Phase having been skipped due to Photon Jumper's effect.
And of course, with his field already filled to the brim, there truly was no way for him to access more materials.
Or one would think so. "Then from my hand, I will activate the Equip Spell, Overlay Satellite, and equip it to Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon!"
The card's projection manifested behind the giant galactical dragon, taking the form of a pair of floating satellites that shone light onto the dragonic monster.
"With this card equipped, if Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon would be used as an XYZ Material for an XYZ Summon, it can be treated as 2 monsters! And it will then be attached to that XYZ Monster!" Kaito shouted with all his might, as his eyes began to glow an ominous red.
"W-what!?" And that completely blew whatever shred of composure that Ruri had. "T-that means you're not just going for a Rank 8 with two materials! You're-"
"I will take the now Level 8 Photon Vanisher and the Level 8 Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon that's treated as two materials, and overlay them!" And both the gigantic dragon, the satellite that now orbited it, and the futuristic weapon wielding warrior transformed into shining pillars of light. All while their summoner's body exploded with crimson energy,
"Ha-Wha-!?" She winced as she hid herself behind her arms, feeling a pressure as winds began to push her back. The verdant field of grass rustling as pieces of dirt began to scatter away from the sheer force that was forming.
And yet, instead of forming the typical vortex from which XYZ Monsters would usually emerge from before its summoner, the pillar of lights gathered upwards, towards a black vortex without the glimmer of stars.
"Radiant galaxy, here and now become the striking light," Kaito chanted as his body continued to glow, extending his right hand as a gigantic crimson and black spear, larger than his own body manifested in his hand. "and show yourself!"
And threw it right towards the mass of darkness that high above them, being completely absorbed by the dimensional vortex and exploding into colours.
"XYZ SUMMON!" He roared, one that was echoed by a dragon's. "Descend, My very soul! Neo Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon!"
And what formed was an explosion of flames, an equivalent to a big bang, as crimson energy wafted and engulfed the entire dueling arena that was set for them from the monster's very own manifestation.
Its eyes was the galaxy itself, its body crimson pulsating with chaotic energy and defended with plates of dark purple matter. Wings spread far and wide as its form eclipsed every other monster on the field, and all three heads that it possessed let out a dragonic roar upon its entrance. All three golden overlay material circling the monster.
This, was none other than the evolved form of Kaito's new Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon.
Neo Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon - Light/Dragon/XYZ/Rank 8/Effect: 4500/3000 OV: 3
And as if the monster was not terrifying enough, the mere presence of Galaxy Photon Dragon increased its offensive capabilities.
Neo Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon - Light/Dragon/XYZ/Rank 8/Effect: 5000/3000 OV: 3
"N-Neo Galaxy-Eyes..." And Ruri could only stare at the three headed dragon in awe, her jaw completely open as she gawked at the terrifying monster's magnificence. The sheer weight and presence that it exuded left her with naught but shock and fear.
"However, as it is XYZ Summoned using Overlay Satellite, Neo Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon cannot attack this turn." Kaito added on, snapping her out of her thoughts momentarily.
"Not that it would matter since you don't have a Battle Phase." She thought bitterly, easing the trembling in her body as her eyes still locked onto the gigantic dragon whose body pulsed with red energy.
"Quite. And I will be using its effect! Photon Howling!" The teen who was now glowing crimson energy immediately declared, pushing his hand forward as the three headed dragon roared, sending a wave of energy that spread throughout the arena.
"If this card is XYZ Summoned using 'Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon' as any of its materials, then I can negate the effects of all other face-up cards currently on the field!"
"W-what?!" And the response that Ruri had to that was none else but shock, eyes widening again as her lips flapped. "Wait, negating the effects of all other face-up cards on the field?! But that includes-"
There was no need to mention that all other face-up cards on the field only excluded Neo Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon itself. Meaning that his own cards, be it the newly summoned Galaxy Photon Dragon, the Continuous Spell whose other effects she still hadn't figured out nor had he used, and even his own walking monster negation through Photon Lord would also lose their effects.
'But… I can't do anything about it.' She thought bitterly. 'If I try to use Assembled Nightingale's effect, then he would simply just use Photon Lord in retaliation. And that means that I would lose her anyway.'
It was undoubtedly a way to remove Assembled Nightingale, negating its face-up effect would mean that the protection that was granted to it by Cobalt Sparrow too would dissipate, making it a viable target to be removed through normal means.
'But with his board being filled like that, I don't think he has a way to remove her just yet.' With that hopeful thought, she tried to think of a possible way to try and grasp victory on the next turn as she watched her monster recoil and chirp in pain as her effects were negated, along with everything else that was face-up on the field.
Lyrilusc - Assembled Nightingale - Wind/XYZ/Winged Beast /Rank 1/Effect: 0/0 OV: 6
Number 90: Galaxy-Eyes Photon Lord - Light/Warrior/XYZ/Rank 8/Effect: 2500/3000 OV: 2
Number 63: Shamoji Soldier- Light/Fairy/XYZ/Rank 1/Effect: 0/2000 OV: 0
Neo Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon - Light/Dragon/XYZ/Rank 8/Effect: 4500/3000 OV: 3
She winced at seeing her monster's attack, and the protection that defended her, being reduced to naught from Neo Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon's howl. Yet she knew that she would endure, her opponent doesn't have a Battle Phase to finish the duel in this turn.
"I will take the Rank 8 Galaxy-Eyes Photon Lord," Kaito, still glowing with crimson energy, spoke as he raised his hand. "And overlay it."
"W-what!?" She watched as the gigantic blade and shield wielding warrior stood in attention, the galactical vortex forming below it as the monster began to descend into it. "With this monster, I will reconstruct the overlay network!"
He gripped his hand, channeling the crimson energy that enveloped his body once more, forming a pure black spear that he slammed into the ground.. "At the end of the milky way's light, a new world opens! Descend scion of divinity!" And with it, the vortex exploded into a pillar of light.
"Armored XYZ Summon!" He roared, glowing with power. "Come forth, new incarnation of light! Galaxy-Eyes Full Armor Photon Dragon!"
And what emerged holds no trace to the galactical warrior that was once was, but instead another galactical dragon, armed and coated in pure black armour that covered every inch of its dragonic body. Wings of pure blue energy spread wide as two golden orbs orbited the monster.
Galaxy-Eyes Full Armor Photon Dragon - Light/Dragon/XYZ/Rank 8/Effect: 4000/3500 OV: 2
"T-there was more?! Another Galaxy-Eyes Dragon!?"
"Galaxy-Eyes Full Armor Photon Dragon can be XYZ Summoned by using a 'Galaxy-Eyes' XYZ Monster that I control as material." Kaito explained the monster's alternate summoning condition, before swinging his hand forwards with a declaration.
"And he will use its effect!" He said, "Once per turn, I can detach one material from Galaxy-Eyes Full Armor Photon Dragon, to target one face-up card that you control, and destroy it!"
"A face-up card!" And it was a card effect that targeted, something that she shouldn't be wary of before but-
"And as its effects are negated, Assembled Nightingale can now be targeted by my card effects! So I will target it, and destroy it! Galaxy Sidewinder!" The black armoured dragon roared as it chomped on one of its overlay materials, before raising its hand and sending a wave of destructive blue energy down towards the weakened XYZ Monster.
Galaxy-Eyes Full Armor Photon Dragon - Light/Dragon/XYZ/Rank 8/Effect: 4000/3500 OV: 1
"KYAAA!" And she held both hands in front of her to defend from the attack's resulting explosion, only lowering it as the winds settled down and to see that there was no trace left of her own monster.
"Now I will take Galaxy-Eyes Full Armor Photon Dragon, and I will overlay it once more." Kaito raised his right hand, the galactical dragon roaring loud as a black and gold vortex appeared under it as it began its descent.
"Huh-?!"
"With this monster, I will once more reconstruct the overlay network!" He shouted, and from the black and golden galaxy-like vortex, another explosion of light formed. "Rank Up! XYZ Change!"
And in front of him a large glowing blade formed, one with a red hilt and a glowing blue blade dotted with star-like white dots. "O galaxy shining in the darkness, with the savagery of a supernova, bring on a cosmic cataclysm that vaporises everything in your path!"
Grabbing the weapon in front of him, he swiftly threw it into the air, and like before it exploded into particles of light, slowly taking a fierce and menacing form. "Come forth, Galaxy-Eyes Cipher Blade Dragon!"
Said form was similar to his second XYZ Monster, a giant dragon with rainbow-like ciphered wings, its eyes shining as if it was the galaxy itself. From its arms came long fierce blades, both shining with cipher lines like its gigantic wings, with its head sporting long golden horns.
Letting a loud screeching roar, the XYZ Monster made its presence clear on the field, standing next to Kaito's other two XYZ Monsters. Two glowing yellow orbs orbiting the monster.
Galaxy-Eyes Cipher Blade Dragon - Light/Dragon/XYZ/Rank 9/Effect: 3200/2800 OV: 2
"Wha-another one?! There's even more?!" ANd her eyes widened in realization. "No wait! This was what Nii-san mention! The Rank-Up XYZ that didn't use a Rank-Up Spell!"
"Galaxy-Eyes Cipher Blade Dragon can be XYZ Summoned using a Rank 8 'Galaxy-Eyes' XYZ monster that I control as material" Kaito explained as he saw her recount her sibling's meeting against the giant dragon, and the monster in question let out another roar.
"And I will activate its effect." The blond Galaxy-Eyes duelist said as he waved his hand to the newly evolved XYZ Monster. "Once per turn, I can detach one material from this card, then target one card on the field and destroy it!"
With a roar, the bladed giant dragon swung its appendage and sliced through one of its XYZ Material, paying for the cost of its effect activation.
Galaxy-Eyes Cipher Blade Dragon - Light/Dragon/XYZ/Rank 9/Effect: 3200/2800 OV: 1
"I will target your face-down set card, and destroy it! Cipher Sidewinder!" And the blade on the gigantic dragon's forearm shone, releasing a slash of light that travelled through the field and towards the last remaining card on Ruri's field.
"Then I will activate it! The Trap, XYZ Reborn!" She shouted, chaining the card in response. "Which lets me target an XYZ Monster in my graveyard, special summon it, and attach this card to it as material!"
While there were multiple options to choose from, she only had one true target. "I will target my Assembled Nightingale, and summon her back!" With a flash of light, the pale feathered Lyrilusc returned onto the field, far weaker and without the protection that it had before, but returned nonetheless.
Lyrilusc Assembled Nightingale - Wind/Winged Beast/XYZ/Rank 1/Effect: 200/0 OV: 1
"Tch." Kaito clicked his tongue in obvious annoyance as he watched the monster that he had jumped through hoops to remove so easily return. "I will set three cards face-down. And as with Photon Jumper's effect, I skip my Battle Phase, and end my turn."
So Kaito finished his turn, having managed to clear through Ruri's XYZ Monster that had threatened his victory only for it to return, while the trio of dragonic monsters, and a trio of set cards behind him, while three new set cards rested on his backrow. All while two cards still remained in his hand, the Photon Delta Wing, and the reshuffled Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon.
-
"What the heck?! I know that he's changed his deck and everything but this is ridiculous!?" The comment of course came from none other than Allen as he gaped. "How many XYZ Summons did he did in that one turn?! 3!?"
"It's amazing…" Sayaka too couldn't help but do the same. "The way he plays now is completely different. He's more aggressive than ever, and those cards just lets him summon more and more monsters every turn…"
"I can see that it's completely different. The level on how his Galaxy and Photon deck works and his previous Cipher cards are in a whole different league." Mei nodded her head as her eyes narrowed, a small frown adorning her features as she muttered her words. "But Ruri…"
"But I guess he still keeps some of those cards, the Extra Deck ones." Serena cut off whatever the purplette was mumbling as she eyed the gigantic dragon that the screen above showed. "And he has even more of them too."
"They're even stronger now." Myu grimaced as her shoulders stiffened at the sight. "I'm so glad I didn't have to duel him now… he seems way more scary than the last time I saw him."
-
"My turn! I draw!" And as the turn player changed, Ruri's began with a draw to start off her turn, though that wouldn't be the last card that she would be adding to her hand.
For as soon as he moved on to the Standby Phase, the effect of Kaito's own monster resolved. "Shamoji Soldier's effect would then let us each draw one card." And with that, both players now had four cards in their hand, several of them being known cards.
"And I will also activate my set card!" That wasn't the only effect that was activated in the Standby Phase however, as Kaito used one of the set cards that he had on his backrow. "Eternal Galaxy!"
"Not the one that he searched, so was it the draw?" The ravenette muttered as she saw the card's projection shine before her opponent.
"If I control a 'Photon' or 'Galaxy' monster, Eternal Galaxy allows me to target one monster that I control, and special summon from my Extra Deck one 'Photon' or 'Galaxy' monster that is 4 Ranks higher than that target. ny using that target as material!"
"W-what!?" Her eyes widened at hearing the effect. "T-then that's-! A Rank up by four whole Ranks?!"
"I will target my Rank 4 Galaxy Photon Dragon and reconstruct the overlay network!" And the smaller of the galactical dragon spread out its majestic wings, the gold and black galactical vortex reappearing beneath it as the monster descended ever so slowly.
"Twin hopes sleep in my memory! Pierce the rivers of darkness separating those hopes and make them one!" And from it formed yet another spear of light manifested before Kaito, yet this time he only needed to heave it upwards as the weapon itself exploded into a giant mass of light.
"Rank Up! Xyz Change! Come forth, Number 38!" And flashed in a crimson numeral of 38, before the monster itself slowly took shape. "Hope Harbinger Dragon Titanic Galaxy!" That being of another fearsome dragon, with equally large white shoulder pauldrons and skirt armor, blades of galactic blue energy spread in its back as wings as the monster spread its claws to sent a roar that shook the entire field.
Number 38: Hope Harbinger Dragon Titanic Galaxy - Light/Dragon/XYZ/Rank 8/Effect: 3000/2500 OV: 2
"This is… unbelievable!" The cards that he's been using, the monsters that he's been summoning, all of them were unfamiliar to her. Foreign even. Different from the cards that she used to know Kaito would play.
She knew, intellectually that he's changed decks from what Nii-san told her, she had been dueling him for the grueling few turns that has had her activate and use card effect more than her entire life.
But there was still a level of familiarity. His strategy, though differing in the methods, still ends on summoning a Rank 8 monster, the titular Galaxy-Eyes monster, if different.
He's summoned them over and over, with changes in effect and in looks. Evolved and more stronger, different but familiar.
This was… just…
"Unbelievable." There really weren't any other words to say how she was feeling. "You're… really just…"
Now she was facing against another different dragon, one whose effects weren't negated might she add.
'But the card that he used… it wasn't the one that he added.' Noting that he could have added the card in question with either jumper or galaxy photon dragon, but instead adding a different trap in photon change meant that he most likely drew it, either from shamoji the previous turn, the draw for turn, or even from Galaxy Cleric that he used.
'But there's no need t wonder about that.' Either way, she has no idea what the monster could possibly do, but she knew what she had to do however, and that was to find a way past through all of his monsters, whatever they may do.
"I will start by activating Beryll Canary in my hand! Targeting the Cobalt Sparrow in my graveyard!" In the face of Kaito's assembly monsters, she had no other choice but to continue moving forward. And the first step she took was in using Beryll Canary's effect to summon itself and another from the graveyard.
Lyrilusc - Beryl Canary - Wind/Winged Beast/Level 1/Effect: 0/200
Lyrilusc - Cobalt Sparrow - Wind/Winged Beast/Level 1/Effect: 0/100
"And then Cobalt Sparrow's effect activates! Letting me add another Level 1 Winged Beast to my hand! I will add another copy of Lyrilusc - Turquoise Warbler!" The brown feathered monster flapped her wings with laugh, calling upon her brethren to assist their master.
"Now I will take the Level 1 Lyrilusc - Beryl Canary and Lyrilusc - Cobalt Sparrow, and overlay them!" And both monsters let out their chirp, shining as they transformed into green pillars of light.
"With these two monsters, I will construct the overlay network!" Both crossed one another, making a dance everyone was all to familiar as they entered the vertex of black and gold. "XYZ Summon!" Then exploded into a pillar of light,
"Dance! Lyrilusc - Recital Starling!" And formed into yet another copy of Recital Starling, the black feathered Lyrilusc brandishing her beautiful wings once more.
Lyrilusc - Recital Starling - Wind/Winged Beast/XYZ/Rank 1/Effect: 0/0 OV: 2
"A wind XYZ Monster made with Beryl Canary gains 200 attack and can't switch controllers, and Cobalt Sparrow makes it so that she can't be targeted by your card effects!"
Lyrilusc - Recital Starling - Wind/Winged Beast/XYZ/Rank 1/Effect: 200/0 OV: 2
"Then Recital Starling's effect! If its XYZ Summoned, I can target one face-up monster on the field and have it gain 300 attack and defence for each material that she has!"
The on summon effect read out, Ruri swept her hand to the side where her target lay waiting. "I will target my revived Assembled Nightingale, and increase her attack by 600 points!"
The onyx feathered XYZ Monster danced, moving her beautiful feathers with graceful movements and strengthening the reborn Assembled Nightingale.
Lyrilusc - Assembled Nightingale - Wind/Winged Beast/XYZ/Rank 1/Effect: 800/0 OV: 1
"Now! I will activate the Spell, Bird Call!" And with the card placed on her duel blade, its holographic projection shone brightly before her, another copy of the card that she had thankfully drawn.
"So you're intending to summon the Turquoise Warbler with that Spell then." Kaito muttered as he narrowed his eyes, his mind racing a mile a minute. He knows that she has limited ways to special summon the monster from her hand barring its own summoning condition, and this spell was without a doubt one of them.
It was the same move that she had done in her previous turn after all, he was bound to have noticed a pattern with how familiar he was with her cards, unlike him, she hadn't change her deck. Mostly.
His eyes moved from the flock of birds on his opponent's side of the field, to the card behind it, the Continuous Spell that hid behind her monsters that was greyed out.
'The only other Spell that she plays that is searchable other than Bird Call is that Continuous Spell, Lyrilusc - Bird Sanctuary, but seeing as how its effects are all once per turn, and it doesn't have an on activation effect like my own Galaxy Hundred, then she would most likely only be running a single copy of it.' Kaito thought as he assessed the field as the card was activated.
Of course, Kaito doesn't know of new cards that Ruri could possibly have gathered under her belt in his absence, after all, the possibility for that was indeed endless.
"Then the only good target is this!" He shouted, raising his hand and pointing towards the activated Spell. "I will activate Titanic Galaxy's effect!"
At that, Ruri stumbled. "H-huh?"
"Once per turn, when a Spell card or effect is activated on the field, as a Quick Effect, Titanic Galaxy can negate that effect, then attach that card to itself as material!" The blonde Galaxy duelist declared, and the large armoured dragon before him glew with ethereal energy, its ethereal blue blade-like wings crackling with untold power.
"W-what?! Another effect that negates a card effect!?" She screamed as her eyes widened, only then realizing a specific wording in the effect that he spoke of. "And it isn't even the effect that it detaches overlay materials for?!"
Number 38: Hope Harbinger Dragon Titanic Galaxy - Light/Dragon/XYZ/Rank 8/Effect: 3000/2500 OV: 3
"That's just!" She truly had no words! The way that he was playing is now so utterly different, so mind boggling that there really wasn't a word that she knew that could describe it.
A way of dueling that did not let the opponent play their cards. From Photon Lord to Titanic Galaxy, even that frightening Neo-Galaxy monster, the new style of dueling that Kaito seemed to adopt was just so utterly different from what he had been doing previously.
"Photon Lord and Titanic Galaxy, and even Full armor and Cipher Blade too..." And that wasn't mentioning the other monsters that he now had in his arsenal as well. A veritable swiss army knife of XYZ Monsters that he could apparently simply summon atop of one another at his leisure.
"No! This is no time to be wallowing like this! I still... I have to still have a way to win!" But she wasn't defeated just yet. She still has cards that she could use. Ones that she could play.
So long as she has those, then her chance of winning wasn't null.
"Then I will activate her other effect! Recital Starling's!" The ravenette continued on. "I will detach one material from Recital Starling, to add another Level 1 Winged Beast to my hand! I will be adding the last copy of Sapphire Swallow to my hand!"
Lyrilusc - Recital Starling - Wind/Winged Beast/XYZ/Rank 1/Effect: 200/0 OV: 1
"Tch! The third copy!"
"Then I will activate the effect of Lyrilusc - Sapphire Swallow in my hand!" Ruri declared as she took the added card and showed it to her opponent. "As I control another Winged Beast monster, I can special summon it and another Level 1 Winged Beast from my hand!"
She flipped two cards from her grip, showing them to the opponent, though she was sure he already knew what her targets were. "I will special summon her and Turquoise Warbler from my hand!" And both the sapphire and turquoise feathers Lyrilusc flew onto the field with a flash of light.
Lyrilusc - Sapphire Swallow - Wind/Winged Beast/Level 1/Effect: 100/0
Lyrilusc - Turquoise Warbler - Wind/Winged Beast/Level 1/Effect: 1000/100
"Then Turquoise Warbler's effect activates! Since she was special summoned from my hand, I can special summon another 'Lyrilusc' monster from either my hand or graveyard!" She declared, repeating the card's effect yet again.
"I will summon back the Lyrilusc - Celestine Wagtail from my graveyard!" And with a wave of her hand, a small black vortex appeared on the field, before the shining silver feathered monster shot out from, dancing on the field upon her return.
Lyrilusc - Celestine Wagtail - Wind/Winged Beast/Level 1/Effect: 200/0
"And her effect activates! As she is special summoned, I can add one Lyrilusc Spell or Trap from my deck to my hand!" For a brief moment, she eyed the monsters that her opponent had on his board, the gigantic dragons that loomed over her own miniscule birds.
'I could add that Spell, Bird Strike to my hand and make it so that I wouldn't have to deal with them, but...' And her eyes wandered further, towards the pair of set cards that kaito had set in addition to the one that he had used to Rank Up Galaxy Photon Dragon.
'One of those is the Continuous Trap that he added earlier, Photon Change.' She remembered, the sequence of effects where he added both the Continuous Spell and Trap.
'I don't really know what that card does, nor what that other unknown set is. So the safest way to do this is...' As soon as the thought passed her mind, Ruri bit her own lip and hurriedly shook her head.
'No. If I try to play it safe like that, then I wouldn't be able to win this turn! I-I have to risk it!' Decision made, her eyes sharpened as she shout out her target.
"I will add another of the Continuous Spell, Lyrilusc - Bird Sanctuary to my hand!"
"A second one?!" At this point, Kaito had more or less seen the entire contents of her deck, she's already cycled through almost her entire spell trap and monster lineup, and their turn count hasn't even yet hit the double digits.
"And activate it!" The ravenette declared, allowing the second copy of the Continuous Spell to manifest right beside the first one that was permanently negated.
There was no delay on her next move. "I will overlay the Level 1 Lyrilusc - Sapphire Swallow, Turquoise Warbler, and Celestine Wagtail!" ANd all three monsters transformed into pillars of light yet again, forming another vortex of light.
"Dance! Lyrilusc - Recital Starling!" Transforming into the last and final copy of Recital Starling.
Lyrilusc - Recital Starling - Wind/Winged Beast/XYZ/Rank 1/Effect: 0/0 OV: 3
"And I will activate her effect! And chain Sapphire Swallow's too!" Ruri declared, activating the effect in the specific chain. "I will attach a Cobalt Sparrow from my graveyard to her as material!"
Lyrilusc - Recital Starling - Wind/Winged Beast/XYZ/Rank 1/Effect: 0/0 OV: 4
"And then increase the attack of Assembled Nightingale by 1200!" As that was the target for her effect, the pale feathered Lyrilusc XYZ Monstre shone as her attack increased even more.
Lyrilusc - Assembled Nightingale - Wind/Winged Beast/XYZ/Rank 1/Effect: 2000/0 OV: 1
"2000 attack!" Kaito clicked his tongue. "And it can still attack directly!"
"Then since I have a monster with over three overlay materials, I will use Bird Sanctuary to draw a card!" She didn't let up as she activated the Continuous Spell's effect now that she fulfilled its condition. She just needed a few more things and she could most certainly turn this duel around. "I draw!"
And as if providence, it came. Unnoticed was the glow in her bracelet.
Her eyes widened as she saw the card that was now in her hand, her mind raced as she began to count, yet she grit her teeth as her determination rose. "I will activate the Spell, Wing Requital!"
"If all monsters that I control are Winged Beast, and I at least control two of them with different original names, I can pay 600 Life Points to draw two cards!" Her Life points was a small price to pay if it gets her to more possible cards to play.
"Kuh!" She winced as her duel disk sparked, the chime of her Life Points dropping filled the silent clearing.
Ruri: 1100LP
"I draw!" And gave her two additional cards in addition to the ones that she already have in hand.
There was no hesitation on what Ruri did next. "I will use the third Recital Starling's effect! Detaching one material, to add D.D. Crow from my deck to my hand!" And the XYZ Monster absorbed one of its overlay materials, using its effect to add another monster into her grip.
Lyrilusc - Recital Starling - Wind/Winged Beast/XYZ/Rank 1/Effect: 0/0 OV: 3
This, was done for a single purpose. "Then Celestine Wagtail's effect in the graveyard! I will attach her from the graveyard to Assembled Nightingale!" ANd that was of course, to boost the one card she had that could end this whole duel.
The revived Assembled Nightingale glew even brighter with a green aura of energy surrounding her, letting out a growl as she ruffled her feathers threateningly.
Lyrilusc - Assembled Nightingale - Wind/Winged Beast/XYZ/Rank 1/Effect: 2200/0 OV: 2
And it was all set. A 2200 attack monster that can attack twice, directly past the guards of Kaito's monsters. Even after everything that he had thrown at her, victory was in her grasp.
"Now Battle! Assembled Nightingale attacks you directly!" She commanded, and her monster flew into the air, spreading her grandiose wings widely as her beautiful feathers fell.
"With this-!"
"Naive!" Her opponent roared. "I will activate Titanic Galaxy's effect!" Her hopes for victory were halted by Kaito's words, and she snapped her head his way.
"W-wha!? Another effect?!"
"When an opponent's monster declares an attack, by detaching one material, Titanic Galaxy can redirect the attack toward itself!" The giant dragon roared with his voice, its sharp claws poised towards the far smaller XYZ monster in the sky.
"W-whjat!? T-then I'll use Assembled Nightingale's effect! To prevent her from-"
"It's no use! The moment this effect is activated, it will immediately perform damage calculation! And besides, that effect can't be activated during this stage of the attack!" He roared, and the giant dragon grasped at one of its three overlay materials, and shattered it in its claws.
Number 38: Hope Harbinger Dragon Titanic Galaxy - Light/Dragon/XYZ/Rank 8/Effect: 3000/2500 OV: 2
Power surged from its body, chaining itself and the flying Assembled Nightingale with golden energy as the Lyrilusc's descent pivoted from Kaito towards the gigantic dragon.
The two clashed, yet even strengthened as she was, Assembled Nightingale stood no chance against Titanic Galaxy. The gigantic dragon caught the flying winged-beast in its grasp, and released a devastating wave from its body that decimated her before she could escape.
"KYAAAAA!" The attack didn't only destroy her monster, but also dealt a backlash towards her as Ruri was thrown back, far into a clearing and she trailed and spun on the grassy ground. Her dress now marred by grass and dirt as she groaned onto the ground in pain.
-
""RURI!"" "RURI-SAN!"
-
Ruri: 300LP
"K-kuh! Agh!" She grunted, winced as her body ached but stood back up none the less. She eyed the giant monster that stood on her opponent's field with a slightly blurry vision.
"Kai..to…" And moved her gaze towards her opponent as her vision cleared after a few moments.
And saw a stone cold face. Devoid of emotion of any kind. Like a statue, a machine, designed only to defeat the opponent before him.
That look, more than anything, made her heart ache.
"I... will use the effect of Bird Sanctuary." She muttered, fully standing back up, slowly as to not make her body ache even more after the beating that he had just taken.
He shouldn't look like that.
"Hm?" The blond made a small noise as she saw her shamble, her hands trembling as she pushed herself to a somewhat steady position.
"I... will target both Recital Starlings, and attach one to the other as material." With a wave of her hand, both Recital Starlings fused into one, creating a singular XYZ Monster with five materials.
Lyrilusc - Recital Starling - Wind/Winged Beast/XYZ/Rank 1/Effect: 0/0 OV: 5
He shouldn't.
"Then... then I will take the Rank 1 Lyrilusc - Recital Starling, and reform the overlay network with her!" She shouted, no, roared with her lungs so hard that her chest ached. The Lyrilusc monster followed her master's command as she let out a battle cry while transforming into a pillar of light.
"What? An XYZ Summon?" Kaito narrowed his eyes. "Just like my Galaxy-Eyes then. But without the Battle Phase, there's nothing else that you could do with whatever you summon-"
"XYZ SUMMON!" And roared, even harder, shutting down the words that would never leave the mouth of the Kaito that she knew. The Kaito that was her friend.
And the pillar of light that emerged dwarfed any that had been formed in the entire duel. Bathing the entire area in blinding light.
For the monster that came was different, unlike any that she had summoned before in her life.
For in the place of the Recital Starling who was as tall as she was, now lay a gigantic, no, a titanic monster of her own.
The giant was made of steel, silver and gold adorned its mechanical body that was as large as a building itself. It exuded power from the many exhausts in its body, wings of metal spread from its back, its span as wide as a whole road in its entirety.
Lightning came with it, be it from its hands in a signal of power, the thrusters that allowed the mechanical divine to stay above the ground, and from its sheer presence. Summoned forth to aid her in her duel.
'A secret tool that would help her later.' A certain red hat wearing girl had told her.
And she knew that the time to use it was now.
"Descend! Divine Arsenal AA-ZEUS - Sky Thunder!" And the monster released its presence in full, crackles of thunder falling down upon its summon as six whole orbs of golden light orbited the metal giant.
Divine Arsenal AA-ZEUS - Sky Thunder - Light/Machine/XYZ/Rank 12/Effect: 3000/3000 OV: 6
-
"W-WHAAAAAAT!? WHAT THE HECK IS THAT!?" Allen's shout was mirrored by so many others, all both awed and shocked at how the duel was unfolding, and of course the appearance of the giant mecha that Ruri had just summoned.
"How come she has something like that?! I thought her thing was just those cute bird monsters!?"
"It's just one card but… that thing's presence really does go over anything else that she's summoned this duel." Myu's comment wasn't wrong of course, ZEUS's sheer presence was so overpowering that every other monster that she had summoned, graceful and beautiful, was contrasted by the sheer power that ZEUS radiated.
"So it finally showed up." Serena spoke as she leaned forward in her seat. "I knew that she would use it eventually. That Kaito guy is just too strong for her not to use it."
"But she was close. If that last attack had gone through she could have gotten him." Then her eyes narrowed. "But I suppose that's why Kaito specifically went for that XYZ Monster. It's one that could negate Spells, absorb them, and then use it to redirect attacks too. A counter to her direct attacking strategy."
"He could have done it earlier couldn't he?" The silver haired girl commented. "But then he instead goes onto that monster negation effect. I suppose it's more useful but…"
As the group devolved into an argument, the duel raged on.
-
"W-what!?" And in its presence, it was Kaito's turn to be left speechless. Taking a step back as his head arched upwards to seemingly take in the monster's magnitude that rivaled his own massive dragons.
"What is this?!" He shouted, the calm mask that he adorned himself in shattered yet again, as shock, irritation, and even a hint of fear seeped into his voice.
"ZEUS can... be XYZ Summoned using an XYZ Monster, during the turn that an XYZ Monster had battled." She slowly spoke out the monster's summoning condition, wincing as her chest ached from the shouting that she had just done.
'But this little bit of pain… is still manageable!'
"I will use its effect!" She shouted, waving her hand upwards towards the giant monster that now was under her command. "As a Quick Effect, I can detach two materials from ZEUS, to send all other cards from the field to the graveyard!"
"W-WHAT DID YOU SAY!?" It was an effect so strong, so absurd, that Kaito's composure or what was left of it, completely left him.
"Go! ZEUS! DIVINE THUNDER! KERAUNOS!" Purple lighting crackled, thunder echoed through the realm as ZEUS crossed its arms. Its giant hands curled into fist, gripping the immaterial as power, purple and destructive gathered upon its mechanical fingertips.
Divine Arsenal AA-ZEUS - Sky Thunder - Light/Machine/XYZ/Rank 12/Effect: 3000/3000 OV: 4
"D-damn it! I will activate the Continuous Trap, Photon Change!" And in response to the gigantic machine preparing to fire its board-wiping salvo, Kaito activated the pair of unknown set cards that he still had.
"By sending a 'Photon' or 'Galaxy' monster that I control to the graveyard, I can either special summon a 'Photon' monster, or add one 'Photon' card from my deck to my hand!" He hastily spoke out the card's effect, and pointed towards its target.
"I will send Neo-Galaxy Eyes Photon Dragon to activate the first effect and summon a Photon monster!"
"And the Quick-Play Spell, Galaxy Journey!" And he of course didn't forget his other set card, activating it in chain with his first one. "Galaxy Journey lets me target one Light or Dark monster that is banished, and special summon it!"
As there was only a single target for its effect, there wasn't much else to summon. "I will summon back Photon Emperor!" And as the chain of effects resolved, a giant warrior of light formed onto the field, filling the last slot of Kaito's monster zone with its regal attire.
Photon Emperor - Light/Warrior/Level 8/Effect: 2800/1000
"Then I send Neo-Galaxy Eyes Photon Dragon, to special summon another Photon Jumper from my deck!" And the terrifying three headed dragon disappeared, in its place was another cape wearing galactical warrior.
Photon Jumper - Light/Warrior/Level 4/Effect: 0/0
Yet both newly summoned monsters did not stay for long, as the next card to resolve in the chain was her own.
ZEUS' hands snapped outwards, filling the entire zone with purple lighting that blinded both duelists. Grass charred under the thunder, dirt flew and was crushed from the sheer power behind the attack, and the dragons and warriors at Kaito's field could only let out a defeated cry as they were wiped into mere golden particles.
And as the dust settled, the board was wiped clean. None but the gigantic mechanical form of ZEUS remained.
Yet it was also after that, that her opponent could activate their card effects again. "Then I will activate Photon Jumper's effect! And Photon Emperor's effect as well!" Kaito snapped, his hand reaching forwards as he declared both card's effects.
"I will add a 'Photon' or 'Galaxy' Spell or Trap from my deck to my hand, and activate Photon Emperor's effect to summon itself back from the graveyard!" He said, chaining both monster's effects in sequence.
"That effect again!" Ruri winced as she heard the monster effect's to summon itself back from the graveyard, something that she noted would allow him to return again next turn should it be detached for an XYZ Monster's effect.
Something that he would most certainly do, if he had had this in rotation earlier, then he would have been able to make his summons for Rank 8s much easier.
And at this critical juncture, with his board clear of monsters, she couldn't let him get any form of advantage. "Then I will use my own card! I will activate D.D. Crow's effect and banish it again!"
"Again!? Tch!" And once more, the mechanically enhanced crow appeared on her field and swooped down onto Kaito's side as the chain of effect resolved, dissolving itself into feathers of black as it banished the monster card yet again.
"But Photon Jumper's effect will still resolve! I will add the Spell, Galaxy Trance to my hand!" And continued further on with Photon Jumper's graveyard effect, allowing him to add the Spell card into his grip that was already filled with cards.
With that, the control of the field once more went into an open gamestate, and allowed her to return to her plays.
"I... will normal summon Celestine Wagtail." And her play was to finally use her normal summon for the turn, summoning forth the copy of the silver feathered monster that she had added mere moments earlier.
Lyrilusc - Celestine Wagtail - Wind/Winged Beast/Level 1/Effect: 200/0
"Another monster?" Kaito grit his teeth as he went on guard. "You can still go for another XYZ Summon?!"
"I…" She trailed, taking a card from her hand, and then taking a second one from her grip. "Will set two cards face-down, and end my turn." And a pair of facedown cards formed behind her monsters, fading soon after they were set.
Ending her turn with a pair of monster, one a towering XYZ Monster, the other her meagre normal summon, a pair of set cards, and one card that remained in her hand.
"Damn it! Now it's my turn! I draw!" With a shout and a crimson aura still rolling off of his body, Kaito roared as he began with his turn, drawing up to five whole cards in his hand.
"I will normal summon Photon Delta Wing! And use its effect!" Taking no time as he quickly moved onto his Main Phase, the blonde summoned forth the mechanical plane, and immediately used its effect upon its summon.
Photon Delta Wing - Light/Machine/Level 4/Effect: 1800/900
The effect was of course to summon another copy of the monster that was in the deck, most likely the copy that was shuffled back into the deck. "I won't let you! I will activate the Trap, Breakthrough Skill!" And in response to that, she chained the first of her two backrow, flipping it face-up and making its projection shine.
"This card allows me to target one face-up effect monster that you control, and negate its effects until the end of this turn!"
"What?!"
With a flourish, she pointed towards the newly summoned mechanical monster. "I will target your Photon Delta Wing, and negate its effect!" And with the sound of breaking glass, the mechanical monster sputtered in the air, its colour graying as it hovered without energy.
"Tch! You-! I will special summon Photon Advancer from my hand!" And with that line of play halted, Kaito continued by using one of the many cards that remained in his hand. Summoning forth another energy-like galactical warrior.
Photon Advancer - Light/Warrior/Level 4/Effect: 1000/1000
"Photon Advancer can be special summoned this card if a 'Photon' monster is on the field." Kaito explained the monster's special summoning condition, one that he had of course fulfilled with the normal summon that he had used earlier.
"Two Level 4s! So you're going to make another Rank 4!" Either it being Starliege Blast Dragon or whatever other new monster it may be, she would have to stop him from doing it all the same.
And to do that, she raised her hand with a declaration. "I will activate the Trap, Icarus Attack!" The Trap card's artwork shone with power as it was flipped face-up.
Kaito simply clicked his tongue at the card's activation, bracing himself for whatever it was to come.
"Icarus Attack allows me to tribute one Winged Beast-Type monster, then target 2 cards on the field, and destroy them!"
"!" The blonde's expression hardened, his hands balling into fists as he could already tell what her targets were going to be. "So that's why you normal summoned!"
"That's right! I will tribute Lyrilusc - Celestine Wagtail, to target and destroy both of your monsters!" The silver winged Lyrilusc let out a cry as she raised both of her wings, turning into a shining pillar of flames shot upwards in an arc, splitting and striking both the futuristic warrior and the summoned mechanical plane.
"Kh!" This time it was Kaito's turn to raise both his hands in defence, the hem of his jacket flowing behind him from the resulting explosion.
"I will activate the Spell, Galaxy Trance!" And proceeded to activate the card that he had added to his hand in the previous turn, slamming it into his crescent shaped duel disk and letting its holographic projection shine on the field.
"Galaxy Trance lets me pay 2000 LP, then target 1 'Photon' monster in my GY; Special Summon both it and one "Galaxy" monster from my Deck, with the same Level, both in defense position, and if I do, each monster's ATK become 2000, also their effects are negated!"
"2-2000 Life Points?! To summon back a monster from the graveyard and one from deck?!" She gawked at the card's effect upon hearing it.
The card's didn't come without downsides however, barring its ridiculous Life Points cost in Ruri's eyes. "I can only activate 1 "Galaxy Trance" per turn, and I cannot Normal or special summon monsters during the turn you activate this card, except 'Photon' and 'Galaxy' monsters." Kaito added on the lock that he would be under as soon as the card effect resolved.
"Kh!" Kaito stumbled, almost falling to one knee as electricity sparked from his duel disk, the crimson energy that surrounded him flickered once more as his Life Points dropped drastically in move move.
Kaito Tenjo: 2000LP
The blonde gritted through the pain, declaring the targets for the card's effect aloud. "I will target Photon Jumper in my graveyard! And summon from my deck, Galaxy War Drake!" And with a wave, she summoned back the crimson cape galaxy warrior, and a smalled galactical drake.
Photon Jumper - Light/Warrior/Level 4/Effect: 0/0
Galaxy War Drake - Light/Dragon/Level 4/Effect: 1500/1000
A yellow glow enveloped both monsters, as their attack points changed due to the effect of the Spell that summoned them forth.
Photon Jumper - Light/Warrior/Level 4/Effect: 2000/0
Galaxy War Drake - Light/Dragon/Level 4/Effect: 2000/1000
"Two Level 4 monsters just like that! And it's Photon Jumper too of all things!" Ruri gaped as she saw her opponent once more assemble a pair of high Level monsters, shaking her head quickly as she made a declaration of her own.
"I won't let you! I will activate ZEUS' effect!" And with her command, the gigantic machine's eyes shone, the lights all over its body shining once again as it began to gather energy in its hands.
"What!? No-it can't be-!" Kaito stumbled back, the aura that enveloped him flickering for a brief second "An effect like that is a Quick Effect?!" He had missed that in the midst of all the chaos!
"That's right! I will detach two more materials, to send all other cards on the field to the graveyard!" She roared, and the monster absorbed another two of its overlay materials. "Divine Thunder! Keraunos!" Purple lighting crackled, power gathering in its arms yet again.
Divine Arsenal AA0-ZEUS - Sky Thunder - Light/Machine/XYZ/Rank 12/Effect: 3000/3000 OV: 2
And with a swing, the field was wiped clean once more in a blinding flash of light, and once more only ZEUS remained standing stalwart on the field.
"Tch!" Beads of sweat now visibly dropped off of Kaito's head, teeth grinding in a scowl as he sent a glare towards the gigantic mechanical XYZ Monster that stood stalwart on his opponent's field.
Glancing at the cards in his hand, he could feel exhaustion and began to eat through whatever reserves he had. His hand began shaking as the pressure that had consumed him from hosting all the Numbers Monsters that he had, and the duel that had been taking far longer than he had liked. Slowly but surely taking a toll on his body.
'But... I have to endure! For Haruto's sake! No matter what happens to me I will-!' And with eyes filled with burning grim determination, the Galaxy-Eyes duelist played his next card.
"I will activate Photon Jumper's effect again! This time, I will add Galaxy Zero to my hand!" And Kaito continued by adding another copy of the revival Equip Spell. "And I will use it! Summoning back Photon Vanisher!"
The Equip Spell's effect resolved, targeting the monster that was declared and summoning forth the rifle wielding warrior back onto the field.
Photon Vanisher - Light/Warrior/Level 4/Effect: 2000/0
"Then I will use Galaxy War Drake's effect!" He declared, his crimson aura flaring as he swiped his hand. "If a Level 4 Light monster is special summoned to my field, I can special summon this card from my graveyard or hand!"
In a flash of light, the white and golden scaled dragon returned onto the field, its head arched left and right as it let out a roar while beating its wings.
Galaxy War Drake - Light/Dragon/Level 4/Effect: 2000/1000
With the pair of Level 4 monsters appearing on the field, Ruri had to respond immediately before her opponent could summon an XYZ Monster. "Then I will use ZEUS' effect again!"
"WHAT!?" The shock was palpable with the height of his voice. "T-that effect can be activated again!?"
"That's right! ZEUS' effect is not just a Quick Effect, but it is also not even a once per turn!" Ruri couldn't help the smile that grew as she took Kaito by surprise again. "Which means since it still has material, I can still use its effect!"
Her hand cut through the air as she swiped it forwards, and called out for her monster to strike out with its ability once again. "Go! ZEUS! Divine Thunder! Keraunos!" And the mechanical giant released the power it held in its hands, its bright purple energy covering the whole field yet again raising a cloud of dust in its wake.
Divine Arsenal AA0-ZEUS - Sky Thunder - Light/Machine/XYZ/Rank 12/Effect: 3000/3000 OV: 0
"You-! A card like this!" Kaito growled as he swiped his hands, clearing the cloud of dust before him. "It's not even a Numbers and yet-!" The blonde grit his teeth, his fist shaking with rage.
His hand then snatched a card from his hand, and Kaito roared once more as the red power that clad him grew in intensity. "I will activate the Spell! Numbers Last Hope!" And slamming the card atop of his crescent shaped duel blade, the card's holographic manifestation shone on the field in front of him.
"By paying half my Life Points, I can target 2 monsters in my graveyard; special summon both with their effects negated, then, immediately after this effect resolves Xyz Summon 1 'Number' Xyz Monster using only those 2 monsters!" He started, explaining the card's effect.
"That's! A Spell that revives two monsters!? And immediately an XYZ?!"
"Additionally for the rest of this turn after this card resolves, I can only Special Summon one more time from the Extra Deck!" But he did not forget to add the card's stipulation of course, the limitation that the strong double revival card had.
"Kh-Gagh!" The cost, was of course, the rest of his already halved Life Points. His duel disk sparking with electricity as he lost his footing,stumbling slightly as he hissed while a mechanical chime rang throughout the now barren field.
Kaito Tenjo: 1000LP
"I-" Kaito grit his teeth, crimson energy flaring yet again as he swiped his hand and continued to declare his targets. "I will target Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon and Galaxy Brave and special summon both of them!"
The two targets were declared, the monsters who would be revived and be summoned back onto the field and immediately be overlayed to summoned another Number XYZ Monster.
"..." Ruri took a breath, and released it with a quiet exhale. "I suppose I have to thank you, Kaito-san."
The blonde stopped, turning towards her as his card was still in activation. "What?"
"I guess if it wasn't for you using your Shamoji soldier, I wouldn't have been able to get all the cards to do my plays. And in a way, this draw too-" She spoke, as she raised the singular card that was still in her hand. "Was thanks to you."
"You, just what are you talking about?" The blonde's eyes narrowed.
"I guess I'm just being sentimental. I will admit that it has been a trying couple of days." The ravenette admitted with a chuckle, her body slightly swaying with how light headed she was. "But I am thankful, because if it wasn't for all those draws that you've given me…"
And flipped the card that was in her hand. "I wouldn't have drawn this D.D. Crow after all."
Kaito's eyes blew wide, his mouth gasped open as he stumbled back. "WHAT!? NO! THE THIRD D.D. CROW?!"
"Well, technically speaking it's the second one. This one was the one that I drew, and the last one was the one that I had searched for." She just didn't use the monster for anything that's all.
"I will activate D.D. Crow's effect! And banish that Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon that you're targeting!" And discarding the card from her hand, she chained the monster's effect to Numbers Last Hope's effect.
"No, no nononono no! This cannot-this can't be!" The blonde teen stumbled another step back, his head shaking back and forth in denial. "If one of the targets for Numbers Last Hope is removed then its effect will-"
Regardless of what his wished had been, the chain of effects resolves backwards. The third and final different dimensional crow manifested on Ruri's shoulders, flapping its black wings as it dived down towards the dark vortex and banished the Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon before it could be summoned.
And in doing so, made Numbers Last Hope resolve without effect. Leaving him with nothing on the field. Having used his normal summon and anything else useable in his hand.
"I can't lose here! Not now! Not when I'm so close!" Kaito's head swung left and right repeatedly, "I can't lose! I can't! I-I!" His whole body shook with rage, palpable by how his teeth grit and chattered.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA! KUROSAKI RURI! YOU! YOOU!" The blonde roared with anger, releasing the emotions that he had kept in lock and key as his defeat on a pivotal moment was all but guaranteed.
"IF ONLY YOU WASN'T HERE THEN I-I WOULD HAVE-!" He cried until he lost his voice, heaving and breathing harshly as he was left with his head hanging down.
"K-Kaito… san…" Was all that Ruri could say, completely taken off guard with his sudden breakdown.
"Fine." And Kaito was yet again the one to speak. His voice devoid of any and all emotion as his head was raised, his eyes dead and emotionless just like his voice. "Fine then. I end my turn. Just end this."
The control for the turn was then returned to her, and she-she couldn't bear to look at her opponent. "I draw."
She turned away and closed her eyes as she spoke her next few words. And they were short and concise. "ZEUS." She called, and the singular mechanical giant that floated upon the field let out equally mechanical noises upon her call.
"Finish it." She ordered, lips quivering. "Please."
And her monster responded, its lens glowing with light as it raised its hand towards her opponent. Purple energy gathering as it aimed towards her opponent, who simply stood even as air whisk past him from the attack's charge.
ZEUS struck, releasing the blast of purple energy towards her opponent. And Kaito simply… took the attack as he was swallowed by the beam of power.
"Haru...to…" He whispered, consumed by the wave of energy as an explosion rattled the field.
Kaito Tenjo: 0LP
The duel finished as soon as the attack landed. The field bathed in golden light as the solid holograms around them began to disappear. The large form of ZEUS of course being one of them.
As soon as it was finished, Ruri fell to her knees. Breathing heavily as she watched Kaito, who was laid on his back unconscious on the now barren field, the continuous results of their back and forth marring the once green field.
She did it. She won against Kaito, against one of the strongest people that she's ever known. Someone that everyone around her looks up to and respects.
It didn't feel good at all.