The ground cracked open, beams of blue light piercing through like spikes.
A white body burst forth from a myriad of flying debris onto the field, the White Dragon's mouth seemingly calling out thunder and lightning, its brilliance showering the earth.
Blue-Eyes Alternative White Dragon, summon!
[Blue-Eyes Alternative White Dragon, ATK 3000]
Yusei's expression changed slightly: "A different form of Blue-Eyes White Dragon..."
"Using 'Prevention Star' to block Blue-Eyes Twin Burst Dragon's attack," Kaiba said, "As long as 'Prevention Star' remains, Twin Burst Dragon must stay in Defense Position and cannot change form.
Even if I summon a new monster to destroy 'Junk Gardna', and destroy the equipped 'Prevention Star', Twin Burst Dragon must wait until the end of the Battle Phase to switch to Attack Position.
That way, you can survive this turn... isn't that right?"
Yusei: "..."
Actually, that's not all.
Kaiba didn't know that 'Junk Gardna' also has the effect to forcibly switch an opponent's monster to Defense Position during their turn.
Which means even if Kaiba summons a monster with high enough ATK to attack, it'll be switched to Defense by 'Junk Gardna'. He needs to summon at least two high ATK monsters to break through 'Junk Gardna'.
"But my duel is one step ahead of yours!" Kaiba shouted, "Blue-Eyes Alternative White Dragon, activate effect! Once per turn, destroy one monster on the opponent's field!
My White Dragon can attack without going through battle, and that's where you miscalculated!
Disappear, 'Junk Gardna'!"
The white storm gathered into the White Dragon's open mouth, forming a light bullet of swift wind, dragging a clear white trail to bombard the guardian on Yusei's field!
The armored warrior faced this effect bombardment with no resistance, his armored plate penetrated in just one hit, and he was shattered along with it!
Yusei raised an arm to shield himself from the fragments swept by the rapid wind. Despite losing his only barrier, he... smiled?
"I've been waiting for this moment." Yusei smiled.
Kaiba: "?"
"Prevention Star, proceed with the subsequent effect!" Yusei waved his hand, "When the monster equipped with this card is destroyed and this card is sent to the Graveyard, the monster from the opponent that was blocked from attacking...
...is directly banished from the game!"
"What!?" Kaiba was astonished.
He hurriedly turned to look at the Twin Burst beside him, and indeed, the two-headed dragon roared unwillingly, gradually turning translucent and ethereal under the milky white halo, until disappearing to the other side of dimensions.
The powerful Blue-Eyes Twin Burst Dragon, with strong battle resistance and field-clearing capability, indirectly perished by Kaiba's own action.
"I see. The combination of 'Junk Gardna' and 'Prevention Star', seemingly a temporary measure to block attacks and delay time... is actually a trap to intentionally lure me to attack, step into the invisible second trap?"
Kaiba narrowed his eyes, carefully examining this crabhead.
A tactical approach to combine generally weak cards, linking and cooperating with each other to unleash powerful effects?
This guy... is truly something.
"And!" Yusei continued, "Junk Gardna, proceed with the subsequent effect! When this card is sent from the field to the Graveyard, you can change the battle position of one monster on the field.
I change 'Blue-Eyes Alternative White Dragon' from Attack to Defense Position!"
[Blue-Eyes Alternative White Dragon, ATK 3000 → DEF 2500]
Kaiba narrowed his eyes.
Not only did he use my own hand to get rid of Blue-Eyes Twin Burst but also have a countermeasure for the remaining Alternative White Dragon?
Actually, the Alternative White Dragon couldn't attack during the turn it used its card-destroying effect, but Yusei didn't know that.
"Interesting, indeed interesting." Kaiba chuckled, "A strategy combining defense and counterattack, not bad. Then, my turn ends."
The nameless premonition in Kaiba grew stronger, as if stirring his Soul of the Duelist, igniting his passion as a card player.
He felt like he might have found one.
Besides Youyu and Yugi, another opponent worth giving his all, a thrilling rival!
"My turn, draw!" Yusei swung his hand, "Magic Card 'Card of Reversal', when the opponent has a Special Summoned monster on the field and I have no monsters, draw two cards from the card deck." (Animation Card)
Yusei glanced at the two cards he drew, immediately revealing one without hesitation.
"I Special Summon 'Level Warrior'!"
The warrior in a tight red uniform leapt onto the field, with a wide cloak behind him, a golden star emblazoned on his chest and helmet.
[Level Warrior, ATK 300]
"Level Warrior can be Special Summoned from hand as a LV 2 Monster when there are no monsters on both fields." Yusei explained, "When the opponent has monsters and I have none, it can be Special Summoned as a LV 4 Monster.
Now there's 'Blue-Eyes Alternative White Dragon' on your field, but none on mine, so Level Warrior's level is 4!"
Yusei revealed another card from his hand.
"Next is the Normal Summon of 'Hyper Synchro'!"
The mechanical warrior with heavy armor jumped onto the field, jetting high-speed airflow from behind.
[Hyper Synchro, ATK 1600]
"One Tuner Monster, one non-Tuner Monster, combined levels are eight..." Kaiba said blandly, "Level 8 Synchro Summon... Are you finally ready to unveil your ace?"
"I'm not your enemy, President Haima. But as respect for you, I'll give my all in this duel!"
Yusei swung his hand.
"Level 4 'Hyper Synchro' together with Level 4 'Level Warrior', tuning!"
Hyper Synchro's steel body disassembled and vanished, turning into four shining stars, circling Level Warrior forming four light rings. Level Warrior also transformed into four connected light points, like a river of white light flowing through the rings.
"The Converging Wishes will become a newly born shining star, transforming into a radiant path! Synchro Summon—
—Fly, Stardust Dragon!!!
Thin white bone wings sliced through the curtain of light, the noble and pure white body shooting out like a sonic bullet, its beating wings scattering the sky with crystal brilliance!
[Stardust Dragon, ATK 2500]
"Stardust Dragon."
Kaiba looked up at the silver dragon surrounded by starlight.
"Is this your ace?"
Meanwhile, the space around them began to shake violently! The virtual ground and houses quaked, cracks spread like webs, and countless streams of light blue data containing 0s and 1s flew rapidly.
"Brother, it's going to be dangerous if this continues!" Mokuba couldn't help but warn again, "That thing called 'Synchro Summon' is impacting our system!
If this goes on, Duel Links might..."
"Release an emergency maintenance announcement, have all Duel Links duelists log off." Kaiba said icily.
Mokuba was stunned.
"What about you, brother?"
"Me? I want to finish this duel." Kaiba stared sharply at Stardust Dragon.
No one can stop this game!
Not even the world-ending!
"'Hyper Synchro' increases the ATK of Synchro Monsters By 800 when used as Synchro material!" Yusei said.
[Stardust Dragon, ATK 2500 → ATK 3300]
"Go, Stardust Dragon!"
Yusei waved his arm, pointing at the White Dragon subspecies on Kaiba's field.
"Attack 'Blue-Eyes Alternative White Dragon'!
Shooting Sonic!!!