Truck Robot, break the Hell Dragon!
Clearly, Caesar's plan to accumulate Dragon Race resources in the graveyard fell through—not only fell through, but it even backfired a bit on him.
The two-thousand attack power Hell Dragon was almost given away to Yugen for free, sucked away by that NTR Robot without a word. The container on the back half of the truck creaked open, and the Hell Dragon was forcibly stuffed inside. The container then closed immediately, locking it firmly inside.
[Truck Robot, Attack Power 1000 → Attack Power 3000]
"Turning into a monster with an attack power equivalent to the Blue-Eyes White Dragon in the first turn. Marufuji, you're being too generous, giving such a strong monster right from the get-go," Yugen said with a smile.
Marufuji Ryo: "..."
According to the original plan, the Hell Dragon would be defeated this turn; he could summon a subordinate monster from the Electronic Dark next turn, absorb the Hell Dragon in the graveyard for a massive attack, and simultaneously lure the opponent into summoning a monster in attack position, revealing an opening. Who would have thought that the opponent would strike first and take down the Hell Dragon.
This way, the opponent has a big monster equivalent to the Blue-Eyes, and his graveyard still lacks usable Dragon Race resources. Even if he summons from the Electronic Dark next turn, it would only be a weakling with a few hundred attack points.
"Set a card, end turn," Yugen said.
Although he suffered a setback, Marufuji Ryo took a deep breath and remained calm.
Duels with the Master of the Yellow Robe require composure.
After all, with a duel against this opponent, he was mentally prepared beforehand. This level of trouble was to be expected.
"My turn, draw!"
Seeing the card drawn this time, a glint of brilliance flashed in Marufuji Ryo's eyes.
It has come!
Exactly the card he needed right now.
Marufuji Ryo looked up, unable to suppress a smile on his face.
"Using a special-ability monster like Truck Robot to prevent me from accumulating Dragon Race resources in the graveyard is indeed your style.
But! My dueling has evolved now, watch closely! With this new card deck, and the secret technique of the Electronic Stream buried for years, I will not be stopped by such trivial challenges!
I activate the Equipment Magic 'Future Fusion'! Sending the Fusion Material Monsters from the card deck to the graveyard for a Fusion Summon!" (Original effect)
Five golden brilliance flew out from Marufuji Ryo's card deck, each transforming into an image of a dragon floating in mid-air, their arrogant dragon roars nearly overlapping!
"I fuse five dragons from my card deck!"
Marufuji Ryo clenched his fist, the swirling air current simulated by the Hurricane hologram lifted his hem.
"The ultimate fusion of Dragon Race, possessing the most powerful fusion dragon in history, now descends here—
—Five Emperors Dragon, Fusion Summon!!!"
The whole venue erupted in amazement.
Though the card isn't particularly rare, it is a monster of extraordinary significance. Once printed by the Five Great Lords to confront Yugi and Kaiba, it was once considered a legendary monster.
Caesar Ryo—who had always been obsessed with various OTK poses of the Electronic Ultimate Dragon—actually summoned the Five Emperors Dragon!
"To actually summon the Five Emperors Dragon," Yugen gazed up at the giant dragon, lamenting as well.
In his heart, he added a line.
It's nothing more than a flimsy obstacle.
"Indeed." Marufuji Ryo showed off the five Dragon Race cards that flew from his deck. "Although the effect of 'Future Fusion' calls forth the Five Emperors Dragon, which can't attack this turn, the fusion conditions for the Five Emperors Dragon require five Dragon-type Monsters.
Therefore, I can choose any five dragons from the deck and send them to the graveyard!"
Trying to block my Electronic Dark graveyard resources? Not so easy!
I fuse five dragons directly from the card deck!
"Impressive indeed," Yugen nodded, snapping his fingers, "However, before the Future Fusion resolves, I activate this card.
Continuous Trap - Great Cosmos!"
The field background instantly changed, dragging the dueling field into an endless cosmic space.
"During the time Great Cosmos is on the field, any cards we send to the graveyard are not sent to the graveyard... but are directly excluded from the game instead!"
Marufuji Ryo: "..."
Marufuji Ryo: "......"
Marufuji Ryo: "........."
What—What!? ??
His expression twitched, losing a bit of composure.
All excluded?
This time, it's not like Truck Robot taking one monster at a time to interfere with his graveyard build-up.
This time, it obliterated his entire graveyard, effectively crippling his entire Electronic Dark system at its root.
The Electronic Dark series of the Inner Electronic Stream universally absorb Dragon Race monsters from the graveyard as equipment to boost power—it's a deck that revolves entirely around graveyard resources. This is why Hell Caesar often has the famous scene of blowing up his own deck with the Wall of Power in later stages.
So what's the point of fighting without a graveyard?
Without the graveyard, the entire Electronic Dark deck became a bunch of weaklings with only 800 attack power, leaving not a single capable of standing firm.
"Future Fusion's effect continues to resolve. Caesar, all five of your dragons are excluded from your deck," Yugen smiled, "Of course, the fusion will proceed nonetheless."
A thunderous roar, the five Dragon Race merged into the vortex in the sky, unleashing the brilliance of Earth, Water, Flame, Wind, and Dark attributes from chaos. That brilliance nurtured an incomparably massive form, like an insurmountable mountainous barrier descending magnificently!
[Five Emperors Dragon, Attack Power 5000]
Marufuji Ryo felt slightly settled.
Indeed, he at least summoned the Five Emperors Dragon. Though the Electronic Dark isn't viable now, he can at least use the Five Emperors Dragon to deal with it for a while.
"Future Fusion's effect summons monsters that can't attack this turn."
Marufuji Ryo said in a deep voice.
"I then set another card face down on the field, ending the turn."
He took a deep breath.
Indeed, he was the challenger today. The opponent was the Master of the Yellow Robe, the supreme figure of the Dueling Realm.
Designating Yugen as the opponent for the graduation duel, he was well-prepared to face all sorts of insidious tactics and endure any torture. A duel with this person often felt like imprisonment, and he must maintain composure no matter what.
"My turn, draw," Yugen glanced at the imposing Five Emperors Dragon on the opponent's field.
"A wall with five thousand attack power, slightly troublesome, even Truck Robot isn't a match...
So I activate the Field Spell 'Giant Machine City'!"
In the starry sky backdrop, a steel city rose, occupying the entire field where both players stood.
"Giant Machine City allows me to destroy one card on my field to search a 'Machine People' card from the deck to my hand.
I destroy the 'Hell Dragon' equipped on 'Truck Robot', and search from the deck... Of course, because the 'Great Cosmos' is on the field, even if it's destroyed, it won't go to your graveyard," Yugen cheerfully reminded.
As he spoke, the container behind Truck Robot opened, and the Hell Dragon exploded into pieces with a loud bang, turning into a beam of golden light that disappeared into an opened Other Dimension vortex in mid-air.
Marufuji Ryo: "..."
"Then I search for 'Submarine Robot' from the deck," Yugen continued, "Now, Normal Summon 'Submarine Robot'!"
[Submarine Robot, Attack Power 800]
Marufuji Ryo's expression twitched again.
Submarine...
I knew it.