Halfway through his sentence, he suddenly froze, eyes widening.
The card in Yusaku's hand had an icon similar to [Book of Moon], but the pattern was that of a black solar eclipse. It was clearly a card he had never seen before!
"Quick-Play Spell, [Book of Eclipse], activate!"
"This card's effect: change all face-up monsters on the field to face-down Defense Position! Then, during this turn's End Phase, all face-down Defense Position monsters on your opponent's field are flipped to face-up Defense Position, and for each monster flipped face-up by this effect, your opponent draws 1 card!"
"This isn't Harpie's Feather Duster, it specifically targets monsters! Your [Dragon Buster Destruction Sword] equipped to Thunder Dragon Titan needs its host monster to remain face-up to stay equipped. Once that monster is set face-down, the Equip Spell loses its target and is destroyed automatically!"
"So I said from the start: your so-called 'solid lockdown board' is nothing more than a fragile scaffold that collapses the moment it's poked."
Hearing this, Toei clenched his jaw and barked out:
"Then I'll chain to your effect! I activate the effect of [Thunder Dragondark] in my hand. At this moment, the condition to unlock Thunder Dragon Titan is already fulfilled!"
"When the effect of a Thunder monster is activated in the hand, I can choose 1 card on the field and destroy it!"
"I target my own [Union Carrier] and blow it up!"
Before his words even finished, the three-headed dragon wreathed in raging lightning threw open its maws. Thick arcs of electricity spewed forth, instantly blasting the Union Carrier on the field into dust.
As the remnants of the destroyed monster faded away, Toei continued:
"Next, I trigger the second effect of [Thunder Dragondark]. When this card is sent to the Graveyard, I can add another [Thunder Dragondark] from my Deck to my hand!"
The instant the new card slid into his hand, an ancient tome adorned with the Eye of Horus quietly floated in midair above the field. Its pages turned on their own, rustling softly.
A moment later, an invisible tide of energy swept across the field. All monsters seemed to have the power drained from them, reverting to card form one after another, automatically turning face-down in Defense Position.
As for [Dragon Buster Destruction Sword], which had been equipped to Thunder Dragon Titan, it lost its target and dissolved with a low hum into glittering fragments!
"You've got a few brains," Yusaku glanced at the Union Carrier now lying in the Graveyard. "Blowing it up yourself before it gets set, so you don't leave it there to take unnecessary battle damage… you do understand risk control."
Toei only snorted coldly, too lazy to respond.
"Then my turn continues."
Yusaku flipped up a card in his hand.
"I Normal Summon, [Fallen of Albaz]!"
Summoning light burst forth. A dark-skinned boy with flowing white hair, dressed in a pure white uniform, stepped out of the light. Faint dragon pressure coiled around his body.
[Fallen of Albaz]
[Level 4 / Dragon / Effect]
[ATK 1800]
"I activate the effect of [Fallen of Albaz]!" Yusaku called out. "When this card is Normal or Special Summoned, I can Special Summon 1 [Ecclesia] from my hand, Deck, or Graveyard!"
"I choose [Ecclesia, the Virtuous in White] in my Deck. Come forth!"
At his words, a golden-haired girl with a round, cute face appeared, lightly landing on the field. She gripped a dragon-headed staff in both hands, gentle radiance flowing at the tip.
[Ecclesia, the Virtuous in White]
[Level 4 / Spellcaster / Tuner / Effect]
[ATK 1500]
"Albaz in white paired with the Tuner Ecclesia…"
Toei's eyes were sharp as a blade. "According to the intel, these two only appear in your hybrid Branded / Swordsoul deck."
"So you really aren't playing by the book."
"Oh?" Yusaku raised an eyebrow. "And so?"
"So… I flip my set card!" A faint smirk tugged at Toei's lips as the last face-down at his feet snapped upright, radiating a dark crimson glow.
"Trap Card, [Dimensional Barrier], activate!"
"I declare Ritual, Fusion, Synchro, Xyz, or Pendulum; 1 type. This turn, neither of us can Special Summon monsters of that type, and all monsters of that type on the field have their effects negated!"
Yusaku folded his arms across his chest, tone edged with amusement.
"You people from Genius Academy sure are attached to this card. Last time I dueled your Fujiwara-senpai, he also flipped Dimensional Barrier at me."
"My Thunder Dragon deck is built as a lockdown deck," Toei sneered. "You think I'd skip a core lockdown Trap like this?"
"So?" Yusaku stared straight at him. "You know my deck can both Fusion and Synchro Summon. Don't tell me you still haven't figured out which route I'll aim for."
A trace of certainty flashed through Toei's eyes.
"Don't underestimate how much homework I've done on your deck! Before coming here, I combed through every one of your recorded duels. Your deck does support both Fusion and Synchro, but the ratio of Synchro monsters is clearly the highest!"
"So I declare… Synchro monsters!" He stressed each word. "This turn, you can't Summon any Synchro monsters, and all Synchro monsters on the field have their effects negated!"
As the effect resolved, Toei added coldly:
"You set four of my monsters with [Book of Eclipse]. Based on that card's effect, in the End Phase I'll flip those monsters face-up and draw 4 cards. If you don't finish me this turn, next turn will be your death sentence."
He paused, his voice carrying a suffocating pressure.
"On top of that, according to the Duel Tower rules: you have to defeat the opponent within three turns to advance. If you exceed the limit, the challenge is deemed a failure."
"Oh?" A glint of interest flickered in Yusaku's eyes. "Then if I win in a single turn… does that count as a comeback bonus?"
"That's right!" Toei gave a cold laugh. "If you OTK the opponent in one turn, you can skip an extra floor and climb two levels at once. But with Synchros sealed, you want to rely on a single card to break through four of my monsters and finish the duel?"
"Unless I write my name backwards!"
"No need to twist your name," Yusaku smiled faintly. "Just hand me your deck afterward."
Toei hesitated for a moment under the stares of the crowd, but for the sake of his pride he still agreed. Besides, he did not believe Yusaku could wipe him out with just one card.
"Fine! But if you lose, you hand me your deck too!"
"No problem."
With that, Yusaku slapped a card from his hand into the Graveyard slot.
"I activate the effect of [Fiendsmith Engraver] in my hand, discarding this card to add 1 'Fiendsmith' Spell or Trap from my Deck to my hand!"
The surrounding players had just been wondering how Yusaku planned to end the duel with a single card, but the moment they saw him discard something to the Graveyard, several of them suddenly wore looks of realization and murmured to each other:
"So that's it… now I get it…"
On the field, Yusaku's plays continued to flow.
"By discarding Fiendsmith Engraver to the Graveyard, I search my Deck for the Spell Card [Fiendsmith's Tract]!"
The moment the new card touched his fingers, he activated it without hesitation.
"Effect of Fiendsmith's Tract, activate! I add 1 LIGHT Fiend monster from my Deck to my hand, then discard 1 card!"
"I add [Fabled Lurrie] from my Deck, then send it straight to the Graveyard!"
As soon as the card hit the Graveyard, Yusaku chained into the next step.
"I trigger the effect of Fabled Lurrie! When this card is discarded from the hand to the Graveyard, it must be Special Summoned!"
A red glow flashed. A bat-like fiend wearing a red visor spread its wings and appeared on the field, a faint demonic aura swirling around it.
[Fabled Lurrie]
[Level 1 / Fiend / Effect]
[ATK 200]
"I use Fabled Lurrie as Link Material to Link Summon!" Yusaku swung his arm. "Link 1… [Fiendsmith's Requiem]!"
The bat burst apart into glimmering particles and shot into the Link network. The downward Link arrow lit up, and an enormous black mechanical coffin slowly descended from the circuit, radiating a chilling, ominous presence.
[Fiendsmith's Requiem]
[Link 1 / Fiend / Link / Effect]
[ATK 600]
In the stands, Kazuki, who had once dueled Yusaku, suddenly felt his pupils contract.
"It's this monster! Last time, he used this card to cycle his resources, flood the field with powerful Synchro monsters, and pin me down so hard I couldn't breathe!"
Beside him, Mizuki frowned.
"Kouhai, what's so special about this monster?"
"On its own, not much," Kazuki replied, then his tone shifted to a cold chuckle. "But it's the core of the Fiendsmith engine. Its resource rotation is insane."
"That said, things are different this time. His Synchro Summons are sealed, so he can't bring out his big bosses, and the highest ATK among the Fiendsmith main deck monsters is only 2300. That kind of power isn't enough to overturn the board."
Hearing that, Mizuki slightly relaxed and put his worries aside.
Down on the field, Yusaku still hadn't stopped.
"I activate the effect of Fiendsmith's Requiem! During either player's Main Phase, I can Tribute this card to Special Summon 1 'Fiendsmith' monster from my hand or Deck!"
"I Tribute Fiendsmith's Requiem, and Special Summon [Lacrima the Scarlet Sorrow] from my Deck!"
The mechanical coffin scattered into motes of light and vanished. A moment later, a lithe, succubus-like demoness stepped into the light, red mist clinging to her form.
[Lacrima the Scarlet Sorrow]
[Level 6 / Fiend / Effect]
[ATK 1200]
"I trigger the effect of Lacrima the Scarlet Sorrow!" Yusaku's voice picked up speed. "When this card is Normal or Special Summoned, I can send 1 'Fiendsmith' card other than itself from my Deck to the Graveyard! I choose another copy of [Fiendsmith Engraver]!"
"Next, I trigger the effect of Fiendsmith Engraver in the Graveyard!" he continued instantly. "While this card is in the Graveyard, I can return 1 other LIGHT Fiend monster from my Graveyard or Extra Deck to the Deck, and Special Summon this card!"
"I return Fabled Lurrie from my Graveyard to the Deck, and Special Summon Fiendsmith Engraver!"
[Fiendsmith Engraver]
[Level 6 / Fiend / Effect]
[ATK 1800]
The moment the new monster landed, Yusaku gave his next command.
"I use Lacrima the Scarlet Sorrow and Fiendsmith Engraver as Link Material to Link Summon! Link 2… [Fiendsmith's Sequence]!"
Two Link arrows lit up at once as the pair of monsters transformed into twin beams of light rushing into the Link network. An enormous demon in the shape of a coffin slowly descended, ripples of chaotic energy emanating from its body, the pressure it exuded almost suffocating.
[Fiendsmith's Sequence]
[Link 2 / Fiend / Link / Effect]
[ATK 1200]
"I activate the effect of Fiendsmith's Sequence!" Yusaku's voice suddenly rang louder. "I can shuffle monsters from my Graveyard into the Deck as Fusion Material to Special Summon a Fiend Fusion Monster!"
"I return Fiendsmith Engraver, Fiendsmith's Requiem, and Lacrima the Scarlet Sorrow from my Graveyard to the Extra Deck, and Fusion Summon, Level 9… [Fiendsmith's Desirae]!"
Three pillars of light shot skyward and merged into a Fusion vortex above the field. From that swirling maelstrom strode a demonic man wielding a bizarre, brutal chainsaw. An aura of apocalyptic destruction rolled off him in waves.
[Fiendsmith's Desirae]
[Level 9 / Fiend / Fusion / Effect]
[ATK 2800]
"Still not done!"
"I use Fiendsmith's Desirae and Fiendsmith's Sequence as Link Material to Link Summon! Link 3… [Fiendsmith's Agnumday]!"
Both monsters turned into streams of crimson light and shot into the Link network. Three Link arrows lit in sequence, and a towering, blood-red fiend descended from the circuit. Its aura alone made the entire arena tremble faintly.
[Fiendsmith's Agnumday]
[Link 3 / Fiend / Link / Effect]
[ATK 1800]
"I activate the effect of Fiendsmith's Agnumday!" Yusaku's eyes were as sharp as blades.
"Once per turn, during each player's turn, I can Special Summon 1 LIGHT Fiend monster from my Graveyard that is not a Link Monster, then equip this card to it as an Equip Spell!"
"The equipped monster gains ATK equal to 400 times its own ATK!"
"I choose Fiendsmith's Desirae in my Graveyard to Special Summon, and equip Fiendsmith's Agnumday to it!"
The crimson demon dissolved into a streak of light and plunged into the Graveyard.
A heartbeat later, Fiendsmith's Desirae reappeared on the field. Fiendsmith's Agnumday transformed into a crimson radiance that wrapped itself around him, forming a red suit of armor. Sigils on the armor flared one after another, his aura spiking as black flames roared skyward, nearly licking the top of the Duel Arena.
[Fiendsmith's Desirae]
[ATK 2800 → 4600]
"And I'm still not done! I trigger the effect of Fiendsmith's Sequence in the Graveyard!" Yusaku pressed on. "It can also become an Equip Spell and equip directly to Fiendsmith's Desirae on the field!"
"According to the effect of Fiendsmith's Agnumday, the equipped monster's ATK increases again. Fiendsmith's Sequence is a Link 2, so its ATK goes up by another 1200!"
Another layer of dark patterns spread across the red armor, and the light from the chainsaw in Desirae's hands grew even more blinding. The ATK value floating in midair climbed rapidly, finally freezing at a terrifying number.
[Fiendsmith's Desirae]
[ATK 4600 → 5800]
"Even if it hits 5800, so what?" Toei folded his arms, staring at Yusaku. "What, are you going to make it attack five times in a row?"
"Don't rush me. Two more steps and this duel is over."
Yusaku shot him a brief look, then turned his gaze to the two monsters still on his field.
"I overlay my Level 4 Ecclesia, the Virtuous in White and Level 4 Fallen of Albaz to construct the Overlay Network!"
Toei's brow furrowed sharply.
"An Xyz Summon?!"
"I Xyz Summon! Rank 4… Number 60: Dugares the Timeless!"
The Overlay Network unfolded in midair. A robed fiend engulfed in eerie blue flames slowly emerged, staff in hand, stepping out of the swirling light.
[Number 60: Dugares the Timeless]
[Rank 4 / Fiend / Xyz / Effect]
[Xyz Materials: 2]
[ATK 1200]
"I activate the effect of Number 60: Dugares the Timeless!" Yusaku declared without a moment's hesitation. "I detach 2 Xyz Materials and choose its third effect: I skip my next Battle Phase, and in return, I double the ATK of Fiendsmith's Desirae until the end of this turn!"
[Fiendsmith's Desirae]
[ATK 5800 → 11600]
"Battle!"
Yusaku's voice echoed throughout the arena.
"Fiendsmith's Desirae, attack Thunder Dragon Titan!"
The demonic man hefted his chainsaw, laughing wildly as he leapt high. His body spun once in midair, the roaring chainsaw carving a golden arc through the sky. The air itself shrieked as it split, the noise scraping across everyone's nerves.
Golden fire poured along the chainsaw's teeth, leaving behind a blazing trail as it cleaved down toward Toei's face-down Defense Position monster.
Yusaku glanced at Toei, the corner of his mouth curling up.
"Goodbye."
Toei let out a contemptuous snort.
"Why? You think one swing is enough to take out my ace?!"
Yusaku didn't bother arguing. He simply tapped his Duel Disk lightly, and the text of Fiendsmith's Agnumday's effect was projected clearly into the air.
Seeing this, Toei narrowed his eyes and read the lines.
"When the equipped monster attacks a Defense Position monster, inflict piercing battle damage to your opponent equal to the amount its ATK exceeds that monster's DEF!!!"
The instant he finished reading, the color drained from Toei's face.
"This can't be! I don't believe it!"
Yusaku shook his head.
"You people are all the same. At the very last moment you always spit out that line. Can't you at least change your script once in a while?"
As his words fell, the attack was already crashing down on Toei's field.
The terrifying impact shredded his set Thunder Dragon Titan in an instant, and the remaining shockwave surged onward unabated, blasting Toei clean off his feet.
"Guaaaaaah!"
[Toei: LP 4000 → 0]
(End of Chapter)
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