Hum.
As the system voice rang out, a grid-like spherical space expanded across the dark field, surrounding Jaden Yuki and Yubel.
Yubel looked around curiously. She soon noticed two brand-new areas extending from the Duel Disk on her left arm.
"Oh? The Extra Monster Zones?"
"Correct. If you want to perform a Link Summoning, the Extra Monster Zone is an essential component."
Jaden drew five cards from his deck. After defeating Darkness the night before, the system hadn't just unlocked the Red-Eyes Black Dragon card; it had even helped Jaden unlock the Link Summoning network.
[Link Summoning has been unlocked. Current Level: LV.1 (Usable only in Shadow Duels)]
To test the possibilities of Link Summoning, Jaden and Yubel had come deep into the Academy Forest for this test duel.
"Link Summoning..." Yubel looked at the cards in her hand, her eyes reflecting deep thought. Had Jaden's power already grown enough to trigger an unknown method of summoning?
"As long as specific conditions are met, a Link Summon allows for a Special Summon directly from the Extra Deck," Jaden explained as he slammed two cards onto his Duel Disk. "But the first Link Monster summoned must be placed in the Extra Monster Zone. Compared to Fusion Summoning, Link Summoning doesn't require the assistance of a Fusion Spell card, making it much more convenient."
Jaden continued his explanation while initiating his move. "I activate A Hero Lives! By paying half my Life Points, I Special Summon Elemental HERO Stratos from my deck!"
[Jaden Yuki LP: 4000 → 2000]
"A duel where you start by cutting off your own arm?" Yubel smiled and flipped a card in her hand. "However, I activate the effect of Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring from my hand to negate your A Hero Lives!"
"Uh..."
Jaden's eyelid twitched as he saw the spirit of Ash Blossom fly out from beside Yubel with a face full of apology. How was it that even in this world, his A Hero Lives could still turn into Ash Blossom Lives?
"I'm so sorry, Supreme King-sama... Yubel insisted I negate you..."
Ash Blossom pressed her hands together and playfully stuck out her tongue. She then flew over to Jaden and snatched the A Hero Lives card from his hand.
"In that case, I'll take a different path. I Normal Summon Vision HERO Vyon!" Jaden adapted quickly. "According to Vyon's effect, I send one HERO monster from my deck to the Graveyard. I send Destiny HERO Malicious to the Graveyard!"
"Next, I activate the effect of Destiny HERO Malicious from my Graveyard! By banishing it, I Special Summon another copy of Destiny HERO Malicious from my deck!"
Hum.
Two flashes of light flickered on Jaden's field. Vision HERO Vyon and Destiny HERO Malicious now stood ready.
"Good. These two monsters satisfy the materials required for a Link Summon from the Extra Deck."
Jaden waved his hand, and the two monsters on the field immediately transformed into two red orbs of light.
Ding! Ding!
The two orbs of light turned into two arrows that etched themselves deep into the Extra Monster Zone.
"LINK SUMMON!"
"Appear now! Link-2! Xtra HERO Cross Crusader!"
A blood-red cross expanded within the Extra Monster Zone. A hero with a crimson cross emblazoned on his chest appeared on Jaden's field.
[Xtra HERO Cross Crusader]
[Link Markers: Bottom-Left, Bottom-Right]
[ATK: 1600 / LINK-2]
"It actually succeeded!" Ash Blossom let out a cry of surprise as she watched the Link Monster appear. "The Supreme King actually performed a Link Summon in the GX era!"
Yubel was also quite astonished. Even for her, this was the first time seeing such a fundamentally different summoning method.
"Link Monsters have no Levels and no DEF, so they cannot exist in Defense Position," Jaden explained with a smile. "Therefore, Link Monsters are unaffected by card effects that change Battle Positions, and they are immune to any effects related to Levels."
"No Level? Isn't that just Level 0?" Yubel asked, crossing her arms with a furrowed brow.
"Well, about that..."
Jaden gave a dry laugh, but before he could explain further, the system's prompt rang in his ear.
[Link Network fluctuating. Host, please take note.]
Sizzle.
The holographic image of Xtra HERO Cross Crusader began to flicker and warp. Even the Extra Monster Zone projected by the Duel Disk grew blurry and unstable.
Zip.
With a sudden flash of electricity, the images on the field vanished without a trace. The Duel Disk, unable to withstand the electrical surge, began to emit black smoke.
[Duel Interrupted]
The surrounding darkness dissipated, and the forest returned to its natural tranquility.
"It seems a standard Duel Disk can't maintain a Link Network for long without specialized modifications," Jaden sighed, sliding the smoking device off his arm.
Fortunately, he had been cautious enough not to use his own Duel Disk, opting instead to borrow a spare from the Academy. If he had ruined one of KaibaCorp's high-tech models, it would have been quite a painful loss.
"But this is fine. Did we get the data?" Jaden turned to look at the nearby Ghost Belle & Haunted Mansion and Ghost Ogre & Snow Rabbit.
"Don't worry, Jaden. We've recorded all the data from the Link Summon," Ghost Belle said, nodding repeatedly while clutching a recording instrument.
"Excellent. Send this data to KaibaCorp. I need Kaiba's technology to manufacture a Duel Disk that is perfectly compatible with Link Summoning."
Jaden nodded in satisfaction and took the recorded data from Ghost Belle. Although Link Summoning was far too advanced for the GX era, Jaden believed that with KaibaCorp's technological prowess, cracking the secrets of the "Link Summon" would be well within their reach.
As for whether Seto Kaiba would help him... that wasn't something Jaden needed to worry about. He knew that once this summoning method was presented to Kaiba, the man would double his research efforts even if Jaden never said a word.
Domino City
KaibaCorp Headquarters, President's Office.
Ding.
Following a notification chime from his computer, Seto Kaiba, who had been standing by the floor-to-ceiling window overlooking the bustling metropolis, shifted his gaze. He turned toward the screen.
"Jaden Yuki?" Kaiba scoffed. "Hmph, to think he would contact me on his own initiative."
As he opened the message, Kaiba's brow gradually furrowed.
[Link Summoning]
A brand-new summoning method...
Kaiba read Jaden's letter in silence.
"Interesting." A smirk tugged at the corner of Kaiba's mouth. "Jaden Yuki... are you trying to overthrow the existing rules of summoning in this world? Manufacturing an entirely new Duel Disk..."
Kaiba's smile widened. "Jaden Yuki... I'm becoming more and more interested in this kid."
Roar!
The faint sound of a dragon's roar echoed in Kaiba's ears.
"Is that so? Even you are getting excited." Kaiba looked out at the city once more. "I didn't expect anyone besides that man to be able to pique my interest like this."
"Jaden Yuki..."
🚨 Note: Consider supporting this story on Patreon.com/Flokixy to access 400+ advance chapters and 2 new chapters daily! (Full story bundles also available without a subscription).