[Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon, 3000 ATK]
The colossal dragon descended from the heavens, its body radiating white brilliance, wings unfurled like blades of light cutting through the darkness. Its eyes shimmered with the infinite depths of the cosmos, locking onto Dimitri with a predatory glare that made the air itself feel heavy.
"How is that even possible? You actually have a monster with the same strength as the Legendary Blue-Eyes White Dragon!?" Dimitri's voice cracked as he stumbled backward. He was supposed to be the one wielding Yugi Muto's deck, the deck of the King of Games. And yet, here stood his opponent, flaunting a dragon that rivaled the Blue-Eyes itself.
Wait, no. This was too much of a coincidence.
The coat, the arrogant theatrics, the booming declarations, and now a 3000 ATK dragon that no one had ever seen before…
This bastard was mimicking Seto Kaiba!
The realization hit like a thunderclap, and for a brief moment, Dimitri could only grind his teeth in frustration. Everyone knew about the legendary rivalry, the King of Games and the President of KaibaCorp, Yugi versus Kaiba. And now, he'd been thrown into that exact same nightmare scenario.
He cursed under his breath. He had barely gotten his hands on Yugi's deck, stolen no less, and hadn't even had time to test it. And then Slifer, no, Yumi appeared, demanding a duel, playing the part of Kaiba to perfection.
Still, he forced himself to breathe. To calm down. After all… wasn't this exactly how the King of Games first started? With an unfamiliar deck, against impossible odds?Dimitri clenched his fist.
Yes… if I just believe in my deck, I cannot lose!
"That's right, as long as I believe in my deck, there is no way I could lose!" Dimitri shouted, psyching himself up.
What he conveniently forgot was that Yugi received his deck from his grandfather to save a stolen Blue-Eyes. Dimitri, on the other hand, had stolen his.
Yumi scoffed, a perfect imitation of Kaiba's disdain. "You can believe all you want… let's see if you can survive the might of my dragon!"
He flung his arm dramatically toward the field, coat billowing as if on cue. "Battle! Galaxy-Eyes, destroy that Chimera!"
The dragon's maw opened, gathering pure photons into a blazing sphere of cosmic light.
"Photon Stream of Destruction!"
"I won't let you! Trap Card, open!" Dimitri roared back as his last face-down flipped over. A shining barrier of divine energy formed, halting the incoming blast. "Mirror Force! With this, all of your attack position monsters are destroyed! Say goodbye to your dr-"
"Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon's effect activates!" Yumi snapped, cutting him off mid-sentence. His voice was sharp, commanding, and dripping with Kaiba-like arrogance. "Quick Effect: I can banish one attack position monster on the field, along with my Galaxy-Eyes!" He pointed dramatically. "I'll banish my own monster, Kisara!"
"Galaxy Void!"
The dragon roared as a torrent of starry light engulfed Kisara. In an instant, both she and Galaxy-Eyes vanished, leaving only a single kneeling Data Token on Yumi's field.
"Since my Data Token is in defense position, your Mirror Force doesn't affect it," Yumi explained coldly. He then revealed his remaining cards with a flourish. "I set two cards, and end my turn!"
As the face-downs appeared, a vortex of cosmic energy ripped open. From it, Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon returned, wings blazing brighter than ever, dragging Kisara's spirit back with it.
"During the End Phase, Galaxy-Eyes returns, along with the banished monster. And for every two Levels that monster has, Galaxy-Eyes gains 500 ATK. Kisara is Level 4. That's an extra 1000 points of power!"
Originally, Yumi wasn't planning this kind of upgrade for his Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon, but then again, this is the natural predator of Xyz monsters, gaining 500 ATK for each Xyz Material sent to the grave because of its effect.
Since Xyz monsters haven't even been invented yet, Yumi decided to change the Xyz material to Levels. After all, he already upgraded this dragon's original effect, so it felt a bit wasteful only doing it halfway.
Plus, he didn't see this attack boosting effect as something overpowered. The highest Galaxy-Eyes could go on its own is 6000 ATK, by banishing a Level 12 monster. Powerful duelists could easily surpass that level of attack. Not to mention, there are a lot of card destruction cards; if Galaxy-Eyes couldn't dodge in time, it would still get destroyed.
[Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon, 3000 -> 4000 ATK]
The dragon's roar shook the battlefield as its strength increased, its eyes now burning with galactic fury.
"4000… attack points?" Dimitri whispered, staggering backward, nearly tripping off the cliff into the ocean. His heart pounded in sheer terror. Even Obelisk the Tormentor capped at 4000. This… this dragon had just match a god.
Yumi's grin widened. He lowered his hand, his voice filled with cruel finality.
"It's your turn. Hurry up and draw your last pathetic card… so I can end this."
"M-My turn!"Dimitri's voice cracked as he placed trembling fingers over his deck. He inhaled sharply, steadying his pounding heart.
"Draw!"
The card slid out with a flash of light. Dimitri clutched it tight. "Please… lend me strength, my deck."
He slammed the card down. "Spell Card, Card of Sanctity! Both of us draw until we each have six cards in hand!"
The field pulsed with radiant energy as new cards surged into their hands. Even if he was giving Yumi more fuel, Dimitri had no choice, without something to deal with that massive dragon, he was finished.
"I'll activate Graceful Charity! I draw three cards, then discard two!" The cards spun into his grasp before being sent flying into the graveyard. Dimitri's lips curled into a smile as he revealed his next move.
"Now! Spell Card, Monster Reborn! I'll bring back my most loyal servant from the graveyard! Return to me, Dark M-"
"Not so fast." Yumi's voice cut through the arena like a blade. His coat snapped dramatically as one of his set cards flipped up. "Quickplay spell, Spell Card "Monster Reborn", this lets me revive a monster from the grave. Arise, Dark Magician!"
A violet aura erupted, and from it emerged the cloaked figure of the Dark Magician, but not on Dimitri's side.
[Dark Magician, 2500 ATK]
The ultimate wizard crossed his arms, holding his scepter and glaring coldly at Dimitri.
The Spirit of the Dark Magician has awakened. Yet he doesn't look conflicted at all, having been revived on the enemy side.
Although Yumi isn't its master, the Dark Magician's spirit still has more respect for a powerful Duelist like Yumi rather than a thief who stole a deck just to be strong.
Dimitri: "..."
Dimitri noticed the Dark Magician on the other side seemed to be glaring at him with visible disgust.
Did Kaiba Corp's hologram just get updated?
Still, even so, why would his monster look at him like that when being brought to the enemy side?
Or is this just the Dark Magician's animation?
Yumi's voice was like frost. "If you're already out of plays, then end your turn."
The words made Dimitri's stomach twist. Even with the strongest Duelist's deck in his possession, he still felt suffocated, crushed under the overwhelming pressure Yumi radiated.
His hands trembled, but he roared back, clinging to his resolve. "I won't give up! I'll show you the bond I share with my cards! From my graveyard, I banish the LIGHT monster Jack's Knight and DARK monster Berfomet, to Special Summon, Black Luster Soldier - Envoy of the Beginning!" Dimitri placed the card down on his field.
A swirling vortex of light and shadow split open, and a warrior clad in azure and gold armor strode forth, blade and shield gleaming.
[Black Luster Soldier - Envoy of the Beginning, 3000 ATK]
The Black Luster Soldier looks forward, noticing his coworker and the radiant behemoth, then turns back to see that the one who summoned him wasn't his real master.
A frown of disappointment flickered across his face, but he quickly turned back toward the other side.
Black Luster Soldier: So that's why you joined the enemy, huh?
Dark Magician: Don't flatter yourself. I simply refuse to serve a thief.
"Now, I'll activate Black Luster Soldier - Envoy of the Beginning's effect. Once per turn, I can target one monster on the field, banish it, but doing so, he can't attack the turn this effect is activated." Dimitri waved his hand, pointing directly at Galaxy-Eyes. "I'll banish your dragon!"
The armored warrior surged forward, blade cutting open a dimensional rift that threatened to swallow Yumi's dragon whole.
Suppose this were the regular Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon. In that case, this effect may have successfully dragged it away, but this is the upgraded Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon with a more powerful and flexible effect.
Yumi only smirked, his eyes glinting with cruel amusement. "Pathetic. You think a mere effect can erase my dragon? I'll chain it with Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon's effect, I banish both it and your Black Luster Soldier! Galaxy Void!"
The Photon Dragon roared, its body bursting into starlight; the starry light engulfed the Black Luster Soldier, pulling it into the cosmic abyss.
Dimitri clenched his teeth, despair creeping in.
Even if I banish it… it only comes back stronger…
Still, he forced his voice to rise above his dread. "I won't give in! I believe in my friends, in my companions! I'll fight until the very end!"
"I found them!" Celina's voice rang out. Both duelists turned as she came running, followed by Jaden, Misawa, Syrus, Chumley, and even Professor Crowler. The group had been searching for the thief who stole the King's Deck, and after hearing the roar of a monster, they rushed toward the sound.
They arrived just in time to see Dimitri and Yumi already locked in a duel.
At first glance, it wasn't clear who the real thief was. Dimitri had summoned the Chimera, while Yumi somehow wielded the Dark Magician.
"So it was Yumi who stole the King's Deck?" Chumley muttered under his breath, since the Dark Magician is rarer than a Chimera.
"Yumi-san! Have you betrayed us!?" Syrus shouted after overhearing.
"It could be either of them... but the Dark Magician is much rarer than Chimera the Flying Mystical Beast." Misawa murmurs.
"Mamma mia! Student Yumi Uzushi!" Crowler bellowed, pointing an accusatory finger. "Do you know the punishment for stealing!? You dare accuse an Obelisk Blue of theft not long ago, yet now you dare steal the King's Deck!?" His voice dripped with venom, still bitter over the past incident.
"There's no way AIBO would do something like that!" Jaden was the first to step up in Yumi's defense.
"He might not take your class seriously, but he isn't a thief!" Celina shot back at Crowler, nearly leaping forward to kick him.
Yumi: "…"
Great. He had come here to catch the real thief, only to be mistaken for one himself. It was like chasing down a purse snatcher, only for the police to show up, see the purse in your hands, and surround you as the criminal.
This brings back some bitter memories as his smile disappears.
His icy gaze settled on the "dead weight", the ones so quick to accuse. Without a word, he turned back to Dimitri.
His voice was flat, monotone. "Hurry. I don't find this duel interesting anymore."
"I…" Dimitri flinched. That sudden chill in Yumi's tone sent a shiver down his spine. With so many witnesses, including a professor, continuing the duel meant risking exposure as the true thief. But if he backed out, Yumi could expose him on the spot anyway. Either way, he was cornered.
Still, he instinctively stepped back, planning an escape, a metallic claw shot out from Yumi's Duel Disk and clamped tightly onto his wrist.
"Wh-What the!?" Dimitri gasped, staring down at the cold steel locked around his arm, then at the cable connected to Yumi's Duel Disk.
"Don't waste my time. Hurry up," Yumi's voice cut through the air.
Dimitri swallowed hard, realizing he had no choice but to play on. "I'll tribute Chimera the Flying Mystical Beast… to Normal Summon, Dark Magician Girl!"
Chimera roared in defiance before shattering into light. From that light emerged a young sorceress in pink attire, staff in hand, her expression conflicted as she noticed her teacher's piercing gaze from across the field.
[Dark Magician Girl, 2000 ATK]
Dark Magician Girl: Wait, I haven't done anything yet! Sensei! Why are you angry at me!?
"Next, I'll activate the Spell Card, Dark Burning Attack!" Dimitri declared. "This card can only be activated when I control Dark Magician Girl. With it, I can destroy all of your face-up monsters!"
The girl's face paled as the magic within her staff swelled uncontrollably.
No… Sensei…
She resisted, trembling, but the spell forced her hand.
Dark Magician Girl: YAMERO!!!
A blast of destructive magic surged forth, wiping out Yumi's monsters.
"With Dark Magician in the Graveyard, Dark Magician Girl gains 300 ATK!" Dimitri announced proudly, oblivious to the tear running down the Duel Spirit's face.
[Dark Magician Girl, 2000 -> 2300 ATK]
If they were just normal cards, they wouldn't have such a reaction. But because of Yumi being a magnet for Duel Spirits, all the monsters that have been summoned have, in a way, awakened; this includes both the Dark Magician and Dark Magician Girl, who have a student-teacher relationship.
Being forced to kill your own teacher is something no student who loved their teacher could ever do easily. Fortunately, this was in the world of the living and is a duel controlled by people, so he technically won't die.
But the memory and feeling still linger.
"Now, Dark Magician Girl, direct attack!" Dimitri ordered.
But she hesitated, trembling as she looked at Yumi. His calm, steady gaze mirrored that of her teacher's, the same eyes that had once looked at her with trust.
"Go on," Yumi said evenly.
Her eyes welled as she obeyed, hurling her magic blast at him.
"Trap Card, Transaction Rollback." Yumi flipped his final set card. A glowing barrier rose around him, shielding him from the blast. "By paying half my Life Points, I can target a Normal Trap in your Graveyard and activate its effect."
[Yumi, LP 4000 -> 2000]
The barrier dissolved into radiant light. "I choose Mirror Force."
The luminous wave struck the field. Dark Magician Girl smiled faintly as she closed her eyes, allowing the light to take her away. Her form broke apart into shimmering data.
"Turn end," Dimitri muttered bitterly, his hand trembling.
"At this moment, both of our monsters return," Yumi said, his voice still cold. The field erupted with energy as two figures reappeared.
[Black Luster Soldier - Envoy of the Beginning, 3000 ATK]
[Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon, 3000 -> 5000 ATK]
The spectators gasped.
"What the…" Celina whispered, eyes wide.
"Mamma mia!" Crowler tore straight through his handkerchief in shock.
"Awesome! This looks just like a duel between Yugi and Kaiba!" Jaden blurted, saying what everyone else was already thinking.
"Draw!"
Yumi, without glancing at the card, slammed it down onto his Duel Disk. His voice was cold, detached.
"I'll Normal Summon, Raye."
Blue data swirled into existence, materializing the slender female warrior who stood at attention, blade in hand.
[Sky Striker Ace - Raye, 1500 ATK]
"Set three cards. Battle."
After placing down three cards, he directly entered his battle phase. Yumi extended his hand.
"Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon, vaporize it!"
The dragon roared, charging a radiant sphere of energy before unleashing a beam of destruction toward Black Luster Soldier - Envoy of the Beginning.
"Kuriboh's effect!" Dimitri cried desperately, discarding the tiny furball from his hand. The battle damage was reduced to zero, sparing him, but his monster was destroyed.
But Yumi didn't even blink.
"Raye, direct attack!"
The blade-wielding girl dashed forward, cutting across the field.
"Ace Striker!"
"AHhh!" Dimitri staggered back, clutching his chest as the damage tore through him.
[Dimitri, LP 4000 -> 2500]
"Quickplay Spell, Berserker Soul!" Yumi's eyes narrowed. His voice dropped to a chilling monotone.
"This card makes me discard my entire hand." He discarded his remaining cards with a brutal flick of his wrist.
"Then I draw until I draw a non-monster card. If I draw a monster, I must discard it. And for every monster card I discard, a monster I control with 1500 ATK or less can attack again." His hand rested on his deck.
"Draw! Monster card, Ghost Ogre & Snow Rabbit!"
Discard. Raye slashed again.
[Dimitri, LP 2500 -> 1000]
"Draw! Monster card, Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring!"
Another discard. Another merciless strike.
[Dimitri, LP 1000 -> 0]
"He won-" Syrus started, relief flooding his voice.
But Yumi didn't stop. His eyes gleamed dangerously.
"Draw! Monster card, Masked HERO Dusk Crow!"
Slash. Dimitri's body convulsed from the phantom blow.
"Draw! Monster card, Elemental HERO Blazeman!"
Slash. The Ra Yellow collapsed to one knee.
"Draw! Monster card, Elemental HERO Airman!"
Slash. His cry grew hoarse, echoing through the night sky.
"Ugh... should we do something?" Chumley whispered, trembling behind Crowler, who had already ducked behind a stunned Jaden.
"Draw! Monster card, Rainbow Kuriboh!"
Slash. Dimitri was barely conscious, eyes rolling back as his body shook.
Yumi drew again, voice rising into a furious snarl-
"Monste-"
"Enough!" Celina lunged toward him, grabbing his wrist mid-motion. Her grip was iron, holding his hand back from discarding, and she easily lifted him up.
"Let go of me!" Yumi roared, thrashing, his voice laced with raw anger.
"His Life Point has already reached zero, you already won!" She shouted back, her words sharp, desperate.
The metal claws of his Duel Disk finally disengaged, releasing the defeated Dimitri. He collapsed to the ground with a dull thud, unconscious.