Kaiba's offensive temporarily came to a halt. He looked at Yusei with a blank expression, seemingly waiting and anticipating the next counterattack strategy from his opponent.
In fact, just now Yusei had also slightly gained the advantage of intelligence disparity—Kaiba didn't know that Stardust Dragon, summoned by Hyper Synchro, couldn't be destroyed by battle.
Otherwise, he would have definitely used the lower attack power "Blue-Eyes Twin Burst Dragon" to attack first, using its effect to banish Stardust Dragon from the game, then use "Blue-Eyes Chaos MAX Dragon" to directly attack and end the duel.
If that were the case, Yusei should have lost in the previous turn.
However, what Kaiba didn't know was that even if he had done so, Yusei was still holding a "Swift Scarecrow." This card could be discarded from the hand to negate the attack and forcefully end the Battle Phase during a direct attack.
Although from the result, neither could achieve a decisive strike, at least Yusei managed to save a Hand Pit thanks to the intelligence advantage.
From the earlier exchange, Kaiba could also clearly see that this "Stardust Dragon" should be Yusei's trump card, likely a unique Rare Card in his Card Deck. Having Stardust directly banished is undoubtedly very disadvantageous for Yusei.
But this only made Kaiba more excited about the opponent's next counter-strategy.
There was no basis or reason, but Kaiba just believed that this crab head could come up with a means of counterattack.
"It's my turn!"
Stardust Dragon being banished was indeed a huge blow to Yusei's Card Deck, but even without Stardust, his deck was not to be underestimated!
"Discard a Monster Card to Special Summon the second 'Quickdraw Synchro' from my hand!"
[Quickdraw Synchro, defense 1400]
"Next, the effect of 'Quillbolt Hedgehog' sent to the graveyard allows it to be Special Summoned from the graveyard when a Tuner Monster is present on the field!"
[Quillbolt Hedgehog, defense 800]
"It's those two again," Kaiba remarked, "Are you planning to Synchro Summon again?"
Yusei revealed another card from his hand: "This card can be Special Summoned from the hand when a Tuner Monster is present on the field!
Come forth, Boost Warrior!"
[Boost Warrior, attack 300]
"Level five Quickdraw Synchro, level two Quillbolt Hedgehog, level one Boost Warrior, tuning three monsters!"
[5+2+1=8]
"The gathered will shall awaken a roaring demon, shining forth as a radiant path! Synchro Summon—
—Level eight, Junk Destroyer!!!"
The punching force pierced the starlight, a steel warrior resembling a "God Dragon Warrior" with four arms emerged from the Synchro light curtain!
[Junk Destroyer, attack 2600]
"Junk Destroyer's effect!" Yusei declared with a wave of his hand. "When Synchro Summoned, for each monster used during the Summoning process, aside from Tuner Monsters, I can destroy a card on the field!
During the process, two Synchro material monsters were used apart from the Tuner Monster 'Quickdraw Synchro,' so I can destroy up to two cards on the field!"
"I see, indeed a powerful counterattack," Kaiba shouted, "but! 'Blue-Eyes Chaos MAX Dragon' can't be targeted or destroyed by card effects!"
Yusei's pupils contracted.
This dragon has such formidable resistance...
But he didn't hesitate: "Then, I'll destroy 'Blue-Eyes Twin Burst Dragon' and your Set Card in the back row!"
"Unfortunately, that won't work either!" Kaiba raised his hand, "Reveal Set Card! Continuous Trap 'Fiendish Chain'!"
The devil's dark green chains burst out from the Trap Card, binding the newly appeared steel warrior tightly, leaving it unable to make a move!
"The monster bound by Fiendish Chain can't attack, and its effects are negated." Kaiba laughed with folded arms, "Nice try, but it seems to end here!
You might be outstanding among Duelists, but unfortunately, you are now facing the strongest Duelist on earth!"
The arrogant CEO seemed to have forgotten about some people he couldn't defeat.
"Kaiba Seto, indeed very strong... Even stronger than the rumors." Yusei thought to himself.
There's no winning like this.
As he pondered, a sharp pain suddenly twitched his nerves, causing Yusei to grit his teeth.
Glancing at the mark on the back of his hand, he was astonished to find that the Red Dragon's mark had disappeared.
Immediately, a more intense pain emerged from his back—the Red Dragon's mark appeared on his back, forming a circular shape, head to tail, similar to the mythical ouroboros encircling the world!
This had happened before, where the Red Dragon bestowed its power upon the chosen Signer, resulting in a miracle.
But usually, such power only appeared when facing a powerful BOSS or during duels that determined the world's fate.
Yusei glanced at the immense "Blue-Eyes Chaos MAX Dragon" and suddenly understood something.
"So, Red Dragon, you also want to face it, huh?"
After all, it is the legendary Blue-Eyes White Dragon, an ancient beast with power comparable to a deity.
"I understand."
Yusei gently closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
"I activate the effect of 'Level Eater' in the graveyard to decrease the level of a level-eight or higher monster on the field by one star, and then I can Special Summon 'Level Eater' from the graveyard.
I will decrease the level of level-eight 'Junk Destroyer' by one star and Special Summon 'Level Eater'!"
[Level Eater, defense 0]
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