"Hey, where did you even get Waking the Dragon?!"
Seeing the destroyed Set card reveal its name, Youmi showed genuine shock for the first time.
"It was a lucky gift from a red‑haired stranger we met on our way here. We didn't know him, but the card was good, so of course we used it," Para said proudly.
"I activate the effect of 'Waking the Dragon'! When this Set card is sent from the field to the Graveyard or banished by your opponent's effect, I can Special Summon a monster from my Deck or Extra Deck."
This time, Youmi's expression turned serious. If they brought out something like Last Warrior from Another Planet and then followed up with a board‑breaking card, he and Syrus were in for real trouble.
"Thanks to 'Waking the Dragon', I Special Summon from my Extra Deck—Last Warrior from Another Planet!"
THUD!!
As Para Summoned Last Warrior from Another Planet, Youmi immediately collapsed forward onto the ground.
"The effect of 'Last Warrior from Another Planet' activates! When this card is Special Summoned, it destroys all other monsters on my field. And as long as it remains in the Monster Zone, neither player can Normal Summon, Flip Summon, or Special Summon any monster! My 'Labyrinth Heavy Tank' and 'Gate Guardian of Thunder and Wind'—all destroyed!"
Syrus froze in shock. "I‑It's Last Warrior from Another Planet…! If only I hadn't used Stealthroid—then maybe…"
"Don't back‑calculate the play from the outcome. You made the right move. I didn't expect them to have something like this either," Youmi said, quietly cursing that red‑haired "Aluber‑looking" guy twice over.
He pushed himself up, wincing as his wound throbbed from the fall. "I'll deal with this thing later. You've used most of your hand. Don't put extra pressure on yourself."
Still guilt‑stricken, Syrus nodded. "Then… I end my turn!"
Turn 4
"My turn—draw."
Dox drew a card, then flashed a crooked smile at them. "Looks like I won't need to do much at all. First, I activate another copy of 'Labyrinth Wall Shadow'. Its effect Sets 'Sanga of the Thunder' from my Deck into my Spell/Trap Zone. Then I enter the Battle Phase—Last Warrior from Another Planet attacks 'Pair Cycroid'!"
[Youmi & Syrus, LP: 8000 → 7250]
"Main Phase 2—I equip 'Last Warrior from Another Planet' with 'Moon Mirror Shield'. I Set one card. Turn end."
Turn 5
Youmi drew his card—but with Last Warrior on the field, he couldn't Summon anything. He immediately declared his Battle Phase.
"Well, at least you know better than to attack Last Warrior with 'Chimera' while it has 'Moon Mirror Shield'. Should've Set 'Enemy Controller' when I had the chance. My turn—draw. I'll have 'Chimera' attack Last Warrior from Another Planet."
"The effect of 'Moon Mirror Shield'! During damage calculation, the equipped monster's ATK/DEF becomes the higher of the opposing monster's ATK/DEF plus 100. Your 'Chimera the Illusion Beast' has 3100 Attack, so Last Warrior's ATK becomes 3200!"
[Youmi & Syrus, LP: 7250 → 7150]
Syrus looked at their slightly lowered LP. "W‑Wait, even with Chimera's effect, won't Last Warrior always have 100 more ATK? Doesn't that mean it'll stay on the field forever?!"
Youmi smiled at him. "Doesn't matter. As long as its effect gets negated, we're fine. 'Chimera the Illusion Beast' activates—Last Warrior from Another Planet's ATK becomes 0, and its effects are negated. Main Phase 2—I Set a card. Turn end."
Turn 6
"How arrogant. You still can't beat a 'Last Warrior' equipped with 'Moon Mirror Shield'. And since Last Warrior's effect is now negated—I can start Summoning 'Gate Guardian' monsters again! My turn—draw!"
Para drew with a wicked grin and immediately activated the Field Spell's effect.
"I activate 'Labyrinth Wall Shadow'! I Set 'Kazejin' from my Deck. Then I fuse the two Divine Guardians once more—'Gate Guardian of Thunder and Wind'! I use its effect to search 'Riryoku Guardian'—and activate it!"
A Gate Guardian‑exclusive version of Riryoku Guardian surged with energy—and at that moment, Youmi and Syrus' LP were halved.
Syrus stared wide‑eyed at the display on their Duel Disks. "W‑What kind of effect is this?! Isn't the original 'Riryoku Guardian' supposed to target two face‑up monsters, halve one monster's ATK, and increase the other by that amount until the End Phase? What is this version…?!"
[Youmi & Syrus, LP: 7150 → 3575]
['Gate Guardian of Thunder and Wind', ATK: 2500 → 6075]
Seeing Syrus so rattled, Para happily explained:
"Hahaha! This 'Riryoku Guardian' can only be activated if my LP are lower than yours, targeting a single 'Gate Guardian' monster I control! It halves your LP—and increases my monster's ATK by that exact amount! Now this is the end—I attack 'Stealthroid' with 'Gate Guardian of Thunder and Wind'!"
"T‑This is bad, Youmi‑nii—!"
Unlike Syrus, Youmi didn't panic. He tossed out the 'Sphere Kuriboh' from his hand.
"Relax~ When a monster declares an attack, I discard 'Sphere Kuriboh' to change 'Gate Guardian of Thunder and Wind' to Defense Position."
"Tch. Stalling again?
"Fine then! I activate my brother's Set card—'Prey of the Jirai Gumo'! After activation, it becomes a Normal Monster and Special Summons to the zone directly across from it. Then I destroy the monster in the same column. I Special Summon it in Defense Position—and destroy 'Stealthroid'! Now our defense is impenetrable! Turn end."
Turn 7
"My turn, draw…"
Syrus looked at the opponent's overwhelming field and drew his next card.
"The card I drew is… I actually drew it?! But…"
The card in his hand was 'Power Bond'—the ultimate Machine Fusion card that doubles a Fusion Monster's Attack but deals damage to its user equal to that original Attack during the End Phase.
At this moment, he had no monsters in hand—but he did have a support card that could make the impossible possible.
"But I only have two 'Drillroid' in the Graveyard, one 'Stealthroid', and one 'Pair Cycroid'… I still don't have the materials for 'Barbaroid'… unless…?"
Syrus suddenly looked toward Youmi, who gave him a proud, encouraging nod. "Right! Even if Barbaroid is strong, it's not what I need right now—this is!
"I activate from my hand—'Cybernetic Fusion Support'! I pay half my LP! This turn, when I Fusion Summon a Machine Fusion Monster, I can banish the Fusion Materials from my hand, field, or Graveyard—just once this turn!"
[Youmi & Syrus, LP: 3575 → 1788]
"A Fusion Support card that can even use the Graveyard as material? But what could that possibly accomplish?!"
Syrus raised 'Power Bond' high.
"I activate 'Power Bond'! I send the Fusion Materials listed on a Machine Fusion Monster from my hand or field to the Graveyard, then Fusion Summon that Monster from the Extra Deck! The summoned monster's Attack is doubled! At the end of the turn, I take damage equal to the original Attack. I banish the two 'Drillroid' in my Graveyard—Fusion Summon my second 'Pair Cycroid'! This monster can attack directly!"
['Pair Cycroid', ATK: 1600 → 3200]
"So what? Even doubled, it only reaches 3200! Even a direct attack won't wipe out our Life Points—and you'll take damage in the End Phase and be left with only 188 LP!"
Even though 3200 ATK put pressure on Para, they still had 'Gate Guardian', 'Prey of the Jirai Gumo', and 'Last Warrior from Another Planet' equipped with 'Moon Mirror Shield'. Defeat should have been impossible.
"You don't have a next turn!"
Syrus stepped forward—his grim expression melting into a determined smile.
Youmi raised a hand and exchanged a look with him before turning to the Paradox Brothers.
"Don't act like you're the only ones who understand tag duels. If you two are running matching support cards for your team—why can't I carry cards just to support Syrus~?"
"I attack directly with 'Pair Cycroid'! At the moment of damage calculation—I activate the card Youmi-nii Set last turn: 'Limiter Removal'! All Machine monsters we control have their Attack doubled until the end of the turn! They'll be destroyed afterward! But that's fine—'Pair Cycroid' becomes 6400 Attack! This is the finishing blow!"
[Paradox Brothers, LP: 3900 → 0]
The instant the Paradox Brothers' LP hit zero, the spectator seats erupted. Jaden and Alexis's tag duel earlier had been impressive, but too one-sided to stir the crowd. Albeit now, two Slifer Reds in red jackets had pulled off an ultimate comeback, and the arena exploded with cheers.
Even Zane descended from the stands, wearing a look of sincere pride, and walked up to Syrus.
"It seems you really have grown, Syrus."
"Onii-chan! You came to watch!"
As their opponents, the Paradox Brothers approached as well.
"We thought we were the masters of tag dueling… but to think you'd include support cards specifically for your partner—we're impressed. That was a splendid duel. Thank you for the match." Para bowed respectfully.
And so, the school-appointed Punishment Duel ended—with all four punished students completely victorious. Youmi returned to the dorms to recover and began preparing for the makeup monthly exam.
…
Meanwhile, outside Duel Academy—
The Paradox Brothers stepped off a boat and onto the mainland. From the shadows, a red-haired boy emerged, raising a hand—only to tense his brow and sidestep a sudden slash.
Standing before him was a dark-skinned, white-haired youth, gripping an icy dagger, posture tense.
"You're… Youmi? No—Fallen of Albaz. So you tracked me here? Was this that guy's foresight?"
"Are you Aluber? I can sense the power of Branded energy on you—and your aura reeks of Aluber…" Albaz pointed the dagger at him, demanding, "What are you planning to do in this world? Youmi said you gave today's opponents cards that don't belong to this world, didn't you?"
"Hmph" The red-haired "Aluber" flicked his hand, sending a whip of rhombus-shaped light that forced Albaz back, and his form began to fade into the shadows. "That's something for later"
...
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