The golden radiance punched through the Duel Tower and reached the very edge of the night sky.
In the next instant, a colossal dragon body formed from pure Numeron energy manifested in midair. Its shadow blotted out the entire tower. The maw it opened looked large enough to swallow a mountain whole, and its roar rolled like unbroken thunder. The air churned into a transparent torrent, and the invisible shockwaves made the ground tremble.
Number 100: Numeron Dragon
[Dragon / Xyz / Effect]
ATK: 0
"Activating Number 100: Numeron Dragon's effect!" Yusaku's voice carried like a decree. "Detach 1 Xyz Material; this card gains ATK until the end of your opponent's turn equal to the total Ranks of all Xyz Monsters on the field × 1000!"
"I have Rank 8 Number 97: Draglubion, Rank 8 Number 90: Galaxy-Eyes Photon Lord, and Rank 1 Number 100: Numeron Dragon—a total of 17 Ranks!"
Number 100: Numeron Dragon
ATK: 0 → 17000
"Seventeen thousand ATK?" Ichiki sneered. "Looks scary, but don't forget my LP is 19000—higher than your monster's ATK!"
"Then how about this card?" Yusaku snapped his last card out, golden spell sigils flowing across its surface.
"Activate the Quick-Play Spell—Saga of the Dragon Emperor!"
"This card's effect: Target 1 Dragon monster you control; that monster's ATK becomes double until the end of the turn!"
"I target Number 100: Numeron Dragon—double its ATK!"
The moment the words left his mouth, the golden dragon released a world-shaking roar. Numeron energy erupted around it in a frenzy, and the ATK value on the Duel Disk skyrocketed.
Number 100: Numeron Dragon
ATK: 17000 → 34000
Yusaku stared straight at Ichiki's paper-white face, his voice cold and razor-sharp. "Now tell me—can this end the duel?"
Ichiki didn't answer. He was already calculating at breakneck speed in his head.
Yusaku raised his arm. The golden dragon opened its jaws.
"Don't bother. I'll do it for you. Your Meteor Token's 5800 plus your LP is 19000—24800 total. My Numeron Dragon hits for 34000. That means you're taking 9200 damage."
Ichiki's pupils shrank violently. "What?"
A golden beam like a falling star blasted from the dragon's mouth, crushing the Meteor Token in an instant. The shockwave didn't slow after punching through the wreckage—it surged straight toward Ichiki.
As the gold light swallowed his vision, despair spread across Ichiki's face. His legs gave out, and he dropped to his knees in front of his Duel Disk.
The blast detonated skyward. The impact flung him away, slamming him hard into the edge of the arena.
[Ichiki, LP 19000 → 0]
The instant the duel ended, the screens across every major plaza froze.
The duelists watching went dead silent—then the whole place erupted.
"Thirty-four thousand ATK! Is that even a number humans are allowed to reach?"
"Nineteen thousand LP and he still got one-punched—what kind of monster is this?!"
"Bro, you were saying you'd challenge him in the upper district to get famous, right? One hit like that and you're not getting back up!"
"Nope! Nope! We're picking a different target!"
…
Duel Tower — Floor 6.
Yusaku looked at Mizuki—still standing there with his mouth half-open, completely blank from watching Ichiki get one-punched.
"Get up here. Do I need to invite you?"
Mizuki finally snapped back. With a cold face, he waved someone over to haul Ichiki off the field.
Once Ichiki was carried away, Mizuki—who had been hesitating just moments ago—straightened up.
"After watching that duel," Yusaku said, "are you choosing to go first, or second?"
Mizuki snorted. "I don't believe you can always open Nibiru, the Primal Being every duel. And that dragon you just made? As long as I build my board, I can make sure it never even hits the field."
"Come on. Cut the talk. I'm still taking first."
Yusaku's smile curved slightly. "As you wish."
"Duel!" "Duel!"
The Duel Disks whirred open, projecting pale-blue screens. Data streams flickered across the surface, and their starting Life Points displayed clearly.
[Yusaku, LP 8000]
[Mizuki, LP 8000]
"My turn. I'll go first!"
Mizuki's hand went to his Deck at once. He dragged his fingers along the card edges and cleanly drew his opening five.
After a quick scan, he pulled one card and slapped it onto the Duel Disk.
"I activate the Continuous Spell—Lunalight Masquerade!"
"The turn this card is activated, during my Main Phase I can use its effect: send 1 'Lunalight' monster from my Deck to the GY. I send Lunalight Silver Hound!"
"Lunalights, huh?" Yusaku rested his chin on one hand, a trace of nostalgia in his eyes. "Been a while since I've seen those. So what are you on—Fusion Lunalights, Xyz Lunalights, or did you cram both packages in?"
Mizuki scoffed, contempt dripping from his tone. "Taking a Fusion-based Lunalight Deck and trying to play it as Xyz? Only an idiot would do something that backwards."
Yusaku shook his head. "Then you don't understand what Lunalights are really worth. If you're just going to waste that Deck, hand it over. Let's gamble Decks."
"If you win, I give you the Deck I'm using right now. If you lose, your Lunalight Deck becomes mine. You in?"
At the words "gamble Decks," Mizuki didn't answer immediately. Instead, he instinctively turned toward the front row of the stands—where a middle-aged man in sunglasses sat, calm and composed.
Only after the man gave a slight nod did Mizuki turn back.
"I accept."
Yusaku clearly noticed the exchange. His gaze slid over the stands, expression indifferent.
"So that's your 'teacher,' huh? Thank him for me."
Mizuki frowned. "For what?"
"For handing me this many Decks." Yusaku chuckled. "You people have dueled me over and over. The number of Decks I've collected off you is already over five. And I still haven't seen you donate anything truly valuable."
That line instantly turned Mizuki's face iron-gray.
He forced his anger down and snorted. "Enjoy your mouth while you can. Once I set up my board, we'll see if you can still smile."
Before the words even cooled, Mizuki revealed a card in his GY.
"GY effect—Lunalight Silver Hound activates! If this card is sent to the GY by a card effect: Special Summon 1 'Lunalight' monster from my Deck, except 'Lunalight Silver Hound'!"
"I Special Summon Lunalight Gold Leo from my Deck!"
A burst of gold shot out from the Deck and took shape at center field—a Beast-Warrior with fluffy lion ears and a swaying tail, standing proud and imposing.
Lunalight Gold Leo
[Level 4 / Beast-Warrior / Effect]
ATK: 600
"Now I activate Lunalight Gold Leo's effect!" Mizuki's voice surged, confidence returning.
"When this card is Normal or Special Summoned: add 1 'Lunalight' monster from my Deck to my hand, then discard 1 card!"
"I add Lunalight Kaleido Chick!"
Then, without hesitation, he pitched a card to the GY.
"I discard Lunalight Yellow Marten from my hand!"
The moment it hit the GY, Mizuki chained in immediately.
"Lunalight Yellow Marten's effect activates! If this card is sent to the GY by a card effect: I can add 1 'Lunalight' monster or Spell/Trap from my Deck to my hand! I add Lunalight Black Sheep!"
With the new card in hand, he revealed another.
"Normal Summon—Lunalight Kaleido Chick!"
Light flared, and a slender girl in a yellow hood appeared on the field. The feather-like ornament at her head trembled lightly, like a small bird ready to take flight.
Lunalight Kaleido Chick
[Level 4 / Beast-Warrior / Effect]
ATK: 1400
"Activating Lunalight Kaleido Chick!" Mizuki's eyes sharpened. "Once per turn: I can send 1 'Lunalight' monster from my Deck or Extra Deck to the GY. This turn, if I use this face-up card as Fusion Material, I can treat it as having the same name as the monster I sent!"
"I send Lunalight Black Sheep from my Deck to the GY!"
"The moment that happens—" Mizuki raised his voice. "I have Lunalight Gold Leo on the field, and a 'Lunalight' monster just hit my GY!"
"While this card is on the field, each time a 'Lunalight' monster is sent to my GY, I can target 1 of them and add it to my hand!"
"I add the Lunalight Black Sheep I just sent back to my hand!"
With no pause, he revealed it.
"Activating Lunalight Black Sheep! I discard it; then I add either 1 'Lunalight' monster from my GY, or 1 Polymerization from my Deck, to my hand!"
"I discard it and add Polymerization!"
With Polymerization secured, Mizuki pressed on.
"Next, I activate Lunalight Yellow Marten's other effect from the GY! While it's in my hand or GY, I can target 1 other 'Lunalight' card I control; return it to my hand, then Special Summon this card in Defense Position!"
"I return Lunalight Kaleido Chick from the field to my hand, and Special Summon Lunalight Yellow Marten in Defense Position!"
A girl with a half-mask and sharp weasel-like ears dropped into a low defensive stance.
Lunalight Yellow Marten
[Level 4 / Beast-Warrior / Effect]
DEF: 2000
"Now—activate Polymerization!" Mizuki slammed the Spell down, and a massive Fusion vortex formed over the Duel Disk.
"I use the Lunalight Yellow Marten I just put on the field, and Lunalight Gold Leo, as Fusion Material—send them to the GY!"
"Fusion Summon! Level 8—Lunalight Panther Dancer!"
The two monsters became streaks of light and spiraled into the vortex.
A crisp bell-like chime rang out.
A warrior in a flowing dress stepped from the whirlpool, violet hair pouring down like a waterfall. A gorgeous cat-eared mask covered her face, and purple ribbons danced around her as if alive—elegant, powerful, and poised.
Lunalight Panther Dancer
[Level 8 / Beast-Warrior / Fusion / Effect]
ATK: 2000
"At this moment!" Mizuki barked. "I activate Lunalight Masquerade's effect!"
"First, Lunalight Panther Dancer's effect triggers!" He pointed at the violet warrior. "If this card is Fusion Summoned: add 1 Luna Light Perfume from my Deck to my hand!"
He drew the Spell into his hand, then continued.
"Then Lunalight Masquerade's effect! If I Fusion Summon a 'Lunalight' monster: I can add 1 banished 'Fusion' Spell back to my hand, then I can discard 1 card."
"And after I use this effect—" Mizuki looked up at Yusaku, pressure in his gaze. "This turn, the next time I Fusion Summon a 'Lunalight' monster, I can banish monsters from my GY as Fusion Material one time."
Yusaku rubbed his chin lightly. "So it's basically turning into a 'use the GY as Fusion material' line. Not bad."
Mizuki snorted, pride creeping back into his tone. "At least you have eyes. That's what makes Lunalights strong—cards in the GY still become Fusion power."
Yusaku smiled faintly. "And this still isn't the real thing. The truly terrifying kind of Fusion isn't something you can even imagine."
"Talking about HERO?" Mizuki's disdain was obvious. "HERO is a washed-up Deck. Don't put it in the same sentence as Lunalight."
Yusaku didn't argue.
Some Decks, from the moment they were born, stood at the apex of dueling and never fell. Second place changed hands again and again, but no one ever touched the throne.
Seeing Yusaku go quiet, Mizuki stopped wasting breath and refocused.
"By Lunalight Masquerade's effect, I add Polymerization back to my hand, then discard Lunalight Emerald Bird!"
With the discard done, he pulled the card he'd just searched and slammed it onto the Duel Disk.
"Activate the Spell—Luna Light Perfume!"
"This card's effect targets 1 'Lunalight' monster in my GY; Special Summon it!"
"I Special Summon Lunalight Black Sheep!"
Light flashed. A girl in a black butler outfit appeared with refined grace, a sheep-eared mask on her face.
Lunalight Black Sheep
[Level 2 / Beast-Warrior / Effect]
ATK: 100
"Now I activate Lunalight Panther Dancer's effect!" Mizuki spoke again. "I can target 1 other 'Lunalight' card I control; return it to the hand, then Special Summon 1 'Lunalight' monster from my hand!"
He pressed down on the Continuous Spell on his Duel Disk.
"I return my Continuous Spell Lunalight Masquerade to my hand, then I Special Summon Lunalight Kaleido Chick from my hand!"
Lunalight Kaleido Chick
[Level 4 / Beast-Warrior / Effect]
ATK: 1400
"Next, I activate Luna Light Perfume's other effect from the GY!" Mizuki's motions were smooth and uninterrupted. "I can banish this card from my GY, then discard 1 card; add 1 'Lunalight' monster from my Deck to my hand!"
"I banish Luna Light Perfume, discard the Lunalight Masquerade I just returned to my hand, and add Lunalight Tiger from my Deck!"
With the new card in hand, Mizuki took a breath and slotted it into the Pendulum Zone.
"I set the Pendulum Scale 5—Lunalight Tiger!"
An orange-yellow pillar of light rose behind him. Within it, the silhouette of a tiger-striped, sharp-eyed beast-eared girl flickered into view.
"Lunalight Tiger's Pendulum Effect! Once per turn: I can target 1 'Lunalight' monster in my GY; Special Summon it, but the monster can't attack, its effects are negated, and it's destroyed during the End Phase!"
Mizuki's voice carried a hard edge of resolve.
"I use that effect to Special Summon Lunalight Gold Leo from my GY!"
Lunalight Gold Leo
[Level 4 / Beast-Warrior / Effect]
ATK: 600
(End of Chapter)
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