"Gallop Duel, accelerate!"
Although Yugen canceled the requirement of using "High-speed World" for riding duels, he retained some of the practical pursuit functions of the riding duel.
Just like in the opening scenes of the 5DS anime — at that time, Yusei Fudo was trying to escape on his D-Wheel, and the pursuing officer, Tetsu Ushio, activated the Field Spell "High-speed World", forcing Yusei into the high-speed field and making him duel.
If you can't win the duel, you cannot escape from the pursuer, which is the basic concept of riding duels. The defeated's D-Wheel's Perpetual Motion Machine will be forced to stop, allowing the pursuer to escape.
Both sides are drawn into a riding duel, and the fleeing D-Wheel in front is forced to slow down. Yugen's D-Wheel chases from behind, both parties maintaining a certain distance as they enter duel mode.
Entering duel mode not only means their speeds are restricted, but also their duel displays automatically show each other's Life Points, the status of each field, and their faces captured by the D-Wheel's front camera.
This is to be expected; it's a necessary function of the D-Wheel duel. Gallop duels differ from traditional standing duels because during the match, the distances can be significant, and the speeds are usually quite high, with the rushing wind drowning out any explanations of operations and card effects.
Thus, communication during gallop duels is through communication systems. Each duelist's image is transmitted by the front camera to the other party, and sound signals are exchanged through helmet communications. These are essential D-Wheel equipment; without them, you wouldn't be able to hear each other or effectively play cards.
The opponent didn't intentionally conceal their face; it was just too dark in the tower, and Yugen had only seen their back, so he only now sees their appearance clearly.
Indeed, it was someone he knew.
"You're... Bleu from the Unicorn Team?" Yugen was shocked. "Why are you investigating 'Taiyi' and me?"
This person had blond hair, with a unicorn horn-like decoration on the D-Wheel helmet, and a similar horn at the D-Wheel front. They were part of the Unicorn Team, which faced the 5DS team in the WRGP preliminary rounds.
But in Yugen's recollection, although the Unicorn Team's dueling level was among the highest in the entirety of 5DS, these three were just ordinary professional duelists. Strong, but mortal, not involved in anything extraordinary, no conspiracies or dark forces, unrelated to the main plot line of world destruction.
Why would someone like him be here? Why is he interested in me?
"Well, it would be best to avoid conflict, but since you've caught up so quickly... I might as well play with you."
Bleu from the Unicorn Team smiled confidently.
"In the first battle of the WRGP, you defeated three in a row. Let me see your strength.
Duel!"
[Yugen, LP4000]
[Bleu, LP4000]
"I'll take the first turn, draw!"
Bleu drew his card first.
"Summon the Adjusted Monster 'Two-Horned Beast', in Defense Position!"
Starlight exploded, and what was summoned by Bleu's side was a creature resembling a lion. It had messy red hair, black stripes on a golden body, and its most notable feature was the two horns atop its head.
[Two-Horned Beast, Defense Power 1600]
The Unicorn Team evidently had a fondness for the "horn" symbol. Not just with their helmets and D-Wheels, even their monsters have obvious horned features.
The physical card version of the Two-Horned Beast is modified to be an ordinary Effect Monster, although in the original anime, it was adjusted.
Bleu: "Then I'll set one card face-down and end my turn!"
"My turn, draw."
Yugen drew a card and casually summoned a monster.
"Summon 'Iron Knight - Jia Fried'!"
The classic old monster, the Iron Knight in black armor, swung his sword through the starlight vortex, his feet hovering as he advanced beside the D-Wheel.
[Iron Knight - Jia Fried, Attack Power 1800]
"Well, I'll unceremoniously attack directly from my side." said Yugen, "Go ahead. Iron Knight - Jia Fried, attack the 'Two-Horned Beast'."
The Iron Knight dashed forward, the sword on its arm slicing through the air. As the sword was about to strike the Two-Horned Beast, Bleu counterattacked immediately.
"Activate the Cover Card, Counterattack Trap 'Attack Powerlessness'! When your monster declares an attack, make that attack ineffective and end the battle phase!"
The Iron Knight's powerful sword strike was swept back by the transparent storm vortex and had to retreat. The transparent cyclone formed a vortex barrier, blocking further attacks for this turn.
Yugen: "Protecting the adjusted monster to prepare for a Synchro Summon next turn for a strong attack, huh."
Bleu smiled: "Hey, who knows, right?"
"Oh? Then I'll look forward to your tactics." said Yugen, "Then I'll set one card face-down and end my turn."
The face-down card floated beside the D-Wheel but quickly vanished as if melting away in the high-speed frame.
Bleu: "My turn, draw!
I summon 'Mining Mole'!"
What appeared was a miner mole with a small miner's hat on its head, equipped with a lamp. Its small, chibi-style body holding miniature mining tools, with a little red flower atop its nose, looking serious yet comical.
[Mining Mole, Attack Power 1000]
"Level Four, Adjusted Monster 'Two-Horned Beast'!
Level Three, 'Mining Mole'!
Star-Tuning!"
[4+3=7]
"Flying lightning, cut through the clouds and let your hooves pierce the ground! Synchro Summon —
— Flowing Electric Double-Horned Beast!!!"
Like blue-white lightning striking down, the ground burst open with spiderweb-like electric scars, as the majestic phantom beast emerged amidst the glow. Its body covered with azure blue fur, lightning-patterns subtly flowing beneath the skin, like a current raging within. Green mane danced wildly like flames, with every strand sparkling with tiny electric sparks. The enormous lightning-shaped double horns on its head where electric arcs leaped and crackled loudly.
[Flowing Electric Double-Horned Beast, Attack Power 2500]
"My offense has begun!"
Bleu swept his right arm, shouting.
"First, the Two-Horned Beast which served as Synchro Material, activates its effect!
When Two-Horned Beast is sent to the graveyard as Synchro Material, send the top two cards from the opponent's deck to the graveyard!
Go ahead, send the top two cards of your deck to the graveyard!"
Yugen squinted his eyes.
I knew it.
This tactic is... card deck destruction!