Chazz stared in shock at the Z-Zillion Tank on the field.
Even without knowing its effect, just from the appearance, he already suspected the obvious, it was an evolution of the Z-Metal Tank!
And that brought back the thought he had been trying to suppress.
Could the masked man before him really be...
Kaiba-sensei!
His breathing quickened.
"If you control a LIGHT Machine Fusion or Union Monster, you can activate this card's effect to Special Summon it from your hand!" Kaibaman drew a card. "Special Summon X-Cross Cannon!"
[X-Cross Cannon] Level 4│LIGHT│Machine│Union
This was an upgraded version of X-Head Cannon!!
Seeing a more magnificent and massive robot than before, Chazz couldn't help but gulp.
His Deck composition—
The Armed Dragons were his longtime partners; the Ojamas, he had found discarded in an old well; and the XYZ series—Kaiba had gifted them to him.
XYZs were ultra-rare cards. While they might not be top-tier in this world, they were undoubtedly rare.
So, of course—
A brand-new, upgraded XYZ series...
How would any normal person get their hands on that!?
"X-Cross Cannon's effect: Once per turn, I can equip 1 LIGHT Machine Union monster from my Deck to it as an Equip Spell.
"Hmph... Obviously, it's Y-Yare Head."
"Gyaaaugh!"
Yare Head looked nearly identical to Y-Dragon Head, save for the shimmering energy along its body that hinted at its evolved form.
"By now, you should get the picture, right?"
Chazz swallowed and nodded.
"Then—I combine X-Cross Cannon, Y-Yare Head, and Z-Zillion Tank!"
Rumble Rumble Rumble—
The three newly upgraded machines began to transform on the field. Z-Zillion Tank anchored at the bottom, Y-Yare Head spread its wings and slotted into the center, and X-Cross Cannon leapt high to lock in at the top.
"Fusion Summon—
"XYZ-Hyper Dragon Cannon!"
Boom Boom Boom!!!
The three monsters combined and blasted upward, illuminating the entire hot spring like it was midday!
[XYZ-Hyper Dragon Cannon] Level 8│Machine│3000 ATK
"Attack... 3000?!" Chazz gaped. "How can it be 3000?!"
They were still X, Y, and Z components. Even if the base forms were upgraded, their Attack was the same!
Yet the fusion had 200 more Attack than the original XYZ-Dragon Cannon!
"Battle. XYZ-Hyper Dragon Cannon, destroy that dragon."
Each mechanical cannon aimed at the Armed Dragon LV5. A burst of blinding light erupted, piercing through it instantly.
He destroyed Armed Dragon?
Good—that means he still had a chance. He could activate XYZ-Dragon Cannon's effect to destroy this new robot!
"Turn end." Kaibaman casually ended his turn.
'Alright!'
"My turn, draw—"
"Now, I activate XYZ-Hyper Dragon Cannon's monster effect."
"Huh?" Chazz froze mid-motion.
"Once per turn, during my opponent's turn: Discard 1 card, then destroy 1 card my opponent controls."
Kaibaman pointed straight at the XYZ-Dragon Cannon. "I target XYZ-Dragon Cannon."
He discarded a card to the Graveyard.
"Go, Hyper Dragon Cannon! Hyper Cannon Strike!"
Treads, head, and cannon—the three fused machines gathered power, then unleashed a burst of energy that obliterated XYZ-Dragon Cannon before Chazz could react.
"It's... stronger than XYZ-Dragon Cannon..."
Even so—
Isn't that obvious?
XYZ-Hyper Dragon Cannon was a brand-new evolution of XYZ-Dragon Cannon, with higher Attack, stronger effects—
Of course, it was stronger.
'Of course…'
'I... I can't win…'
"Hmph." Seeing Chazz falter, Kaibaman snorted coldly.
The sound made Chazz shrink back even more.
"Pathetic!" Kaibaman raised his head. "Is this all you've got!?"
"But... Sensei, I..." Chazz no longer pretended not to know. Of course, he recognized him.
"And you dare call yourself an elite Duelist like this?" Seto Kaiba no longer hid his identity—or rather, he never cared. "You think you can defeat me like this!?"
"I..." Chazz had never dreamed of defeating Kaiba.
Since childhood, Kaiba had taught him little. Only when he was lost would he offer a nudge, or toss him a few cards and tell him to figure it out.
Even with the Princeton family matters, Kaiba never gave guidance.
Recently, at the Union Hangar, Kaiba learned of the Princeton family's dealings with Leo Akaba and dumped everything on Chazz to handle alone. Back then, Chazz had tried everything he could.
Despite that—
His efforts were fruitless. Not long ago, the Fusion Army blitzed Shinson, causing catastrophic damage across two dimensions. Because of their collaboration, the Princeton Group was hit from all sides. His two older brothers were too overwhelmed to oppose him anymore, giving Chazz a clear path to control the Group.
That said, none of that… was his doing.
He had no talent like Kaiba, no presence like Kaiba. His Duels were worse. His mindset was worse...
'I…'
"Hmph, loser!" Kaiba barked again. "What kind of Duelist gives up willingly!?
"No matter how powerful the opponent, no matter how terrifying the enemy, a Duelist must never kneel!
"Otherwise, how can you dare call yourself elite!?"
Chazz gritted his teeth, yet couldn't argue.
Kaiba's tone eased slightly. He clenched his fist in front of him.
"You've only just stepped into the new era of Dueling. Before you lies an endless future.
"And against stronger cards, more experienced Duelists, and even your own master—you give up?
"What defines a truly elite Duelist?
"New cards?
"Powerful monsters?
"None of that.
"It's the spirit to challenge any enemy without fear!"
Pause.
"Just the other day, I received a message. Your friend, Amaki Hikaru, said—if he becomes champion, he wants...
"Blue-Eyes."
'!!!!'
Chazz snapped his head up, locking eyes with Kaiba.
"He... that guy Hikaru—he wants the Ultimate Dragon!!!"
Chazz's eyes bulged, his heart pounding.
Blue-Eyes White Dragon was Kaiba's soul card—the card he'd use even if he gave up the gods.
Without Blue-Eyes, there was no Seto Kaiba!
Countless people had tried to challenge Kaiba, block his path; regardless, Kaiba always moved forward alongside Blue-Eyes!
Chazz looked at his right hand.
He...
Forget challenging Kaiba. He never even thought about Blue-Eyes!
Kaiba had given him countless cards, legendary rares. Meanwhile, Chazz had never once considered... never dared ask.
'Blue-Eyes…'
'That guy Hikaru!'
Audacious?
Fearless?
No…
He just wants the Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon!
Even if it's Seto Kaiba.
Even if it means facing KaibaCorp, a cross-dimensional giant!
He just wants the Fusion Card.
Nothing else matters. He just wants Fusion!
As a peer, a classmate, a clubmate—
'What about me?'
'I can't accept losing to someone my own age! I am the glory and thunder of the Princeton family!'
"...I understand now, Sensei!" Chazz felt his heart settle. His fear melted away, replaced by the boundless competitive fire he'd always had.
He had always feared Kaiba.
But now, finally, he understood.
There was nothing to fear!
A Duelist should have no such emotions!
Kaiba smirked, arms crossed, nodding gently. "Heh... Come at me, Chazz."
...
Bonus @400
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