# Chapter 192: Annihilation
The slowly rising vortex of stars was shattered by a dragon's roar, dissolving into motes of light that were absorbed by the Dragunity Knight atop his purple dragon.
"There are currently three banished monsters, so Dragunity Knight - Venom Spear's ATK increases by 300 points!"
Dragunity Knight - Venom Spear ATK: 3300 → 3600
His Rank-Up-Magic was negated, but Yūga Hōzumi wasn't annoyed. "This means all your defensive measures are exhausted, right?"
"What?" Noah was stunned by Yūga Hōzumi's words. "Could it be, just now you were...?"
"That's right. I was just testing your defenses. My true killing blow has yet to appear!" Yūga Hōzumi said with a smile. "This next attack will finish you!"
"I activate the effect of Number 39: Utopia Double!"
"By detaching one Xyz Material from this card, I add one 'Double or Nothing!' from my Deck to my hand. Then, I Special Summon one 'Utopia' Xyz Monster, other than this one, from my Extra Deck, by using this card on my field as material, treating it as an Xyz Summon."
Yūga Hōzumi drew the "Double or Nothing!" that popped out of his Duel Disk, then extended his right hand, which glowed with the red number 39, tearing open a golden vortex in the air.
"Appear! Warrior of Hope! Number 39: Utopia!"
Yūga Hōzumi shouted the monster's name. Across the battlefield, everyone couldn't help but turn to look at the central conflict between Yūga Hōzumi and Noah.
Under everyone's gaze, Utopia Double's form began to change. The emerging warrior fiercely drew a glowing longsword from its back.
"The 'Utopia' monster Special Summoned by this effect has its ATK doubled, but it cannot attack directly!"
Number 39: Utopia ATK: 2500 → 5000
"Go! Number 39: Utopia, attack Dragunity Knight - Venom Spear!"
"I activate Utopia's effect! When any player's monster declares an attack, I can detach one Xyz Material from this card to negate that attack!"
"Next, I activate the Quick-Play Spell, Double or Nothing!"
"When a monster's attack is negated, I can target that monster. During this Battle Phase, it can attack again. During the Damage Step of that attack, its ATK is doubled!"
"Feel the rage of the commoners you've oppressed for so long! Go, Utopia! Hope Sword - Double Slash!"
Utopia ran its left hand across its longsword. The blade began to hum as electrical energy from the monster's entire body channeled into it. Then, with a great flap of its wings, Utopia charged toward the dragon knight in mid-air.
Number 39: Utopia ATK: 5000 → 10000
Utopia's attack was a flash of light. A long gash was carved into the plaza before the Neo Domino City TV Station, and cleaved in two along with it was the once-majestic dragon knight in the air.
Descending from the sky, Utopia held its blade-swinging pose. For a moment, time seemed to freeze.
But a breath later, the purple dragon beneath the knight disintegrated with a mournful cry. The impact of the monster's explosion enveloped Noah and the army he had brought with him.
Noah LP: 4000 → 0
Annihilated in a single strike!
The smoke from the explosion slowly dispersed. Of the surrounding enemy army, only Noah, who had taken the full brunt of Utopia's attack, lay unconscious on the ground. The remaining soldiers, however, were all shaken to varying degrees.
Most importantly, the defeat of their commander shattered their morale. Even the stronger duelists among them were distracted from their own duels, their eyes fixed on Yūga Hōzumi, who had yet to make another move.
But to everyone's surprise, Yūga Hōzumi didn't join the other battles. Instead, he simply stood in the center of the battlefield and spoke:
"Lower your Duel Disks. Neo Domino City is about to face a true enemy. Don't waste your strength on pointless infighting."
"Why should we listen to you?" A few defiant soldiers, having defeated their own opponents, began to encircle Yūga Hōzumi.
"Everyone, I see most of you are over thirty, yet you're still just ordinary soldiers. I assume you were all born as Commoners." Facing the encirclement, Yūga Hōzumi showed no fear. He even waved a hand, signaling for Serena and Yuzu, who were ready to provide support, to stand down.
"I suppose you all joined the army just to make a living. As far as I know, unless you were born into The Top Echelons, the highest you can be promoted is to a non-commissioned officer. Under these rules, no matter how many meritorious deeds you perform, your birth has already sealed your future."
"I suggest you think carefully. Do you really need to fight us to the death? Your families are waiting for you to come home."
Yūga Hōzumi's words made the encircling soldiers hesitate. Besides, most of their comrades had already been defeated. Fortunately, the warriors of the Revolutionary Army had their monsters pull back at the last moment, so their injuries weren't severe.
"The enemy Neo Domino City is about to face are vicious invaders. They won't show the same mercy we have."
"So, lower your Duel Disks. Join us. Use your Duel Disks to fight for yourselves and for your families' future, not to throw your lives away for those high and mighty members of The Top Echelons!"
Yūga Hōzumi spoke slowly. On the large screen behind them, Kiryu's speech was drawing to a close.
"All who are oppressed, rise up! Stand with us! Let's fight back together!"
As Kiryu's voice fell, the plaza in front of the TV station fell silent.
The surrounded Regular Army soldiers were all lost in thought.
"Are you... certain you can win?" one of the soldiers asked Yūga Hōzumi after a long moment of contemplation.
"Sorry, I can't answer that," Yūga Hōzumi said with a faint smile. "The success of the revolution depends on every warrior willing to raise a torch. I doubt you'd believe a guarantee from me alone, would you?"
"Damn it, I'm in!" The soldier gritted his teeth, tore the hat from his head, and spat resentfully, "I've risked my life for so many years, but every single time, those bastards from The Top Echelons swoop in and reap all the rewards, treating me like a damn monkey!"
With the first man stepping forward, the remaining soldiers quickly lowered their weapons one by one and chose to join the Revolutionary Army.
Similar scenes were unfolding in every corner of Neo Domino City.
Although the Revolutionary Army was inferior to Neo Domino City's Regular Army in both numbers and strength, the arrival of the Lancers had closed the crucial gap between their top-tier duelists. Coupled with the incredible impact of Kiryu's speech, many soldiers whose high-ranking commanders had been defeated by Shun Kurosaki and the others chose to join the Revolutionary Army.
In an instant, the flames of revolution began to burn fiercely throughout the city.
In every corner of Neo Domino City, countless Commoners raised banners, shouted slogans, and marched toward the City Hall in the city center.
...
(end of chapter)