"Time to begin, Kaiba!"
"Bring it on, Yu↑gi↓!"
"Duel!" x2
The long-awaited destined duel has finally arrived. At this moment, both Yugi and Kaiba have stepped onto the duel stage, each unfolding their Duel Discs, ready to continue this millennium-spanning destiny battle.
Dark Marik, who always thought of stirring trouble, is now out, making the finals of Duel City more relaxed. No Dark Duel, no life-threatening wagers, and no companions lost in the shadows needing rescue (Bakura on the hospital bed seems forgotten).
With all these pressures gone, both Yugi and Kaiba need only to fight with all their strength, for themselves.
The audience at the front row has gathered to watch, with snacks like peanuts and sunflower seeds ready. In the live stream, the players' chat is as excited as ever, posting things like "world-famous painting" and "early craftsmanship" that seem to make no sense.
This time, it's President Kaiba's opening move—among players, his winning rate prediction was already under 1%, yet he managed to get the first turn, and even before the battle started, people already saw him as losing.
However, President Kaiba seemed completely unaware, even dramatically declaring: "Whenever we duel, the winds of battle will roar without end, Yu↑gi↓! I'm going to bury you in this duel!"
Kaiba's voice was full of passionate energy, especially the way he pronounced "Yugi," truly a unique skill.
But King Yugi wasn't directing this at anyone specifically; he wasn't interested in anyone except AIBO, dismissively waving a hand: "Just draw your card, Kaiba!"
Thus, the duel began swiftly.
Kaiba's play unfolded much like the original anime, first displaying the XYZ Dragon Cannon lineup. He combined the monsters "X-Head Cannon," "Y-Dragon Head," and "Z-Metal Tank," to summon the fusion monster "XYZ-Dragon Cannon" (ATK 2800), swiftly dominating the situation.
Then Kaiba struck while the iron was hot, claiming that "because it's a fusion monster, it counts as three monsters for tribute," thus using the "XYZ-Dragon Cannon," counted as three monsters—as a tribute—
—Right up in my face with Obelisk the Tormentor!
Obelisk's "Fist of Fate" smashed the defense position monster on Yugi's field. President Kaiba crossed his arms and laughed triumphantly, boasting: "See, Yugi? This is the god I wield, the destructive god Obelisk! Obelisk is invincible! Without an Egyptian God in your hand, you stand no chance!"
Yugi: "Honestly, I'm a bit disappointed, Kaiba."
"What did you say?" President Kaiba's hair stood on end.
As is commonly known, men fear being told they're inadequate by those they care about.
"No monster is unbeatable. If you fail to realize this truth, it merely shows you're just a duelist who relies on powerful monsters, nothing more," Yugi coldly stated with closed eyes, "In the last duel, even the absolutely overpowering god 'The Winged Dragon of Ra' was dissected by Youyu.
If that doesn't give you any enlightenment, Kaiba, then it shows as a duelist, you're far inferior to him!"
Kaiba gritted his teeth in anger: "Yu↑gi↓!"
As is widely known, beyond fearing being told they're inadequate, men fear even more being told someone is better.
"I'll defeat your god this turn, watch me, it's my turn!" Yugi raised his voice, "I summon 'Gamma the Magnet Warrior.' Then activate the Magic Card 'Ties of the Brethren,' paying 1000 LP to special summon level four monsters of the same type from my Card Deck! (Anime effect)
Come forth, 'Beta the Magnet Warrior,' 'Alpha the Magnet Warrior'!
Now, watch closely, Kaiba, this is the Magic Card I'm using to defeat your god—Courageous Strike!"
"What?" Kaiba was shocked.
"Courageous Strike can, at the cost of destroying all my monsters at battle's end, combine the attack power of three monsters for a single attack!" Yugi explained.
[Gamma the Magnet Warrior, ATK 1500]
[Beta the Magnet Warrior, ATK 1700]
[Alpha the Magnet Warrior, ATK 1400]
"Total attack power...4600!?" President Kaiba's color changed suddenly, "Attack power actually exceeds Obelisk?"
"Go ahead, Magnet Warriors!" Yugi shouted, "Smash that god for me!"
The trio of Magnet Warriors, linked by the magic card's energy, charged forward one by one, delivering headbutts to Obelisk.
Though each of them was immediately obliterated upon impact, they all desperately left small cracks on the god's body. Together, their combined effort widened the gap, and the destructive god let out a low growl as his form faded in a burst of blue light.
(Obelisk: I'm cracking...)
The situation that was originally absolutely in Kaiba's favor became uncertain again as his trump Egyptian God was easily dealt with. This major change must have impacted President Kaiba considerably, as he now hung his head, his expression dark, looking as though questioning life while being ridiculed into silence...
"Hahahahahahahahah!"
Suddenly, Kaiba burst out laughing, shocking even the spectators around him.
"Very good, Yu↑gi↓, that's exactly what makes it worth defeating!" Kaiba laughed, not withdrawn at all, rather gazing at Yugi with even hotter eyes.
"I knew you weren't a duelist who couldn't handle a single god. If that's all you're capable of, it'd be far too boring!"