"This card's effect lets me add 1 'Swordsoul' monster from my Deck to my hand. If I control a Synchro Monster, I can also add 1 Wyrm monster instead."
"I choose to add [Swordsoul Strategist Taia] from my Deck to my hand!"
The moment the card hit his hand, Yusaku's fingers moved without hesitation as he slammed it onto the Duel Disk.
"With my Pendulum Scales set to 1 with [Superheavy Samurai Monk Big Benkei] and 8 with [Superheavy Samurai Prodigy Wakaushi], I can Pendulum Summon monsters from Levels 2 to 7!"
Then he played the card from his hand.
"So I Pendulum Summon my Level 4 [Swordsoul Strategist Taia]!"
A dazzling Pendulum pillar of light shot into the sky. A Swordsoul swordsman clad in silver-white armor stepped out through the radiance, the blade in her hand humming and trembling as the tassel snapped in the arena's artificial airflow.
[Swordsoul Strategist Taia]
[Level 4 / Wyrm / Effect]
[ATK 1800]
"I activate [Swordsoul Strategist Taia]'s effect!"
Yusaku's voice sharpened.
"I can banish 1 'Swordsoul' card or 1 Wyrm monster from my GY. Special Summon 1 'Swordsoul Token' (Wyrm / Tuner / WATER / Level 4 / ATK 0 / DEF 0)!"
"I banish [Swordsoul Emergence] from my GY, and Special Summon 1 'Swordsoul Token'!"
[Swordsoul Token]
[ATK 0]
"Next, I activate the Quick-Play Spell—[Wake Up Centur-Ion!]!"
His wrist flicked, and another card cut a clean afterimage through the air.
"This card's effect: If I have a face-up monster card in my Spell & Trap Zone, I can declare Level 4 or Level 8. Then I Special Summon 1 'Centur-Ion' Token with the declared Level (Pyro / DARK / ATK 0 / DEF 0)!"
"My Spell & Trap Zone has [Centur-Ion Trudea], so I activate this effect and Special Summon a Level 8 [Centur-Ion Token]!"
[Centur-Ion Token]
[ATK 0]
The moment the Token appeared, Yusaku immediately called out:
"Next, I Synchro Summon using the [Centur-Ion Token] and my Level 4 Tuner [Swordsoul Token]!"
"Be born—Crimson Dragon!!!"
A pillar of crimson light tore open the sky. The dragon's roar made the Duel Arena's barrier shudder and hum.
That massive body blotted out the field. Its golden eyes burned like miniature suns, and the red glare reflected off its scales dyed the entire stage blood-red. Wherever its draconic pressure reached, even the air rippled and warped.
[Crimson Dragon]
[Level 12 / Dragon / Synchro / Effect]
[ATK 0]
"Crimson Dragon's effect activates! I target my Level 12 [Centur-Ion Auxila], return it to the Extra Deck, and then Special Summon a Level 12 Dragon Synchro Monster from my Extra Deck!"
Yusaku raised his arm high and shouted:
"When gathered starlight becomes one, a new bond will illuminate the future and pave the road of radiant brilliance—appear! [Cosmic Blazar Dragon]!!!"
The instant the words fell, it was as if the world went silent.
Then a vertical beam of starlight crashed down. Crystal-clear wings like blades cleaved through the light.
A silver-white dragon surged upward amid a storm of star-dust, carving through the clouds as living starlight danced around its body, dragging a star-trail that stretched for hundreds of feet behind it.
When it dove back down, steel-like wings whipped a screaming gale through the arena, and the ground trembled beneath the impact.
[Cosmic Blazar Dragon]
[Dragon / Synchro / Effect]
[ATK 4000]
Seeing Yusaku's monster hit the field, the spectators' eyes went wide.
"Damn, he made Blazar with just two Tokens!? That's way too easy!"
Cosmic Blazar Dragon…
Miki frowned. He knew that monster. Its negation suite was notoriously oppressive—three "colors" of negation, and it could even negate monsters that were Normal Summoned.
"Next, I have two Level 4 monsters on my field!"
Miki: "???"
At those words, the academy observers and the regular duelists alike froze.
Yusaku raised his arm and shouted:
"I overlay my two Level 4 [Swordsoul Strategist Taia] to build the Overlay Network!"
"Xyz Summon! Rank 4—[Ryzeal Duo Drive]!"
In an instant, the two monsters became golden radiance and shot into an Xyz vortex overhead.
The next second, a gigantic mecha formed from their fused energies burst out of the vortex. Molten orange-red lines crawled across its armor like lava, while golden electric arcs crackled at every joint. The heatwave released by its arrival distorted the air itself.
[Ryzeal Duo Drive]
[Rank 4 / Thunder / Xyz / Effect]
[Xyz Materials: 2]
[ATK 2500]
The moment it appeared—everyone watching, on-site or by livestream, fell into the same stunned silence, mouths hanging open.
Miki staggered forward a few steps, disbelief written all over his face.
"Weren't you locked into Synchros by Swordsoul? How did you Xyz Summon!?"
Yusaku looked at him as if it were the simplest thing in the world.
"Swordsoul's Synchro restriction only applies while the Token is on the field. Before I Xyz Summoned, I'd already used up every Swordsoul Token. So I wasn't locked."
"Now then—my turn continues!"
"I activate [Ryzeal Duo Drive]'s effect. During my Main Phase, I can detach 2 materials!"
"I activate it!"
[Ryzeal Duo Drive]
[Xyz Materials: 2 → 0]
"I add the Trap [Ryzeal Mass Driver] and the monster [Node Ryzeal] from my Deck to my hand!"
After adding the searched cards, Yusaku immediately declared:
"Next, I activate [Baronne de Fleur]'s effect. Once per turn, I can target 1 card on the field and destroy it. I choose to destroy my [Ryzeal Duo Drive]!"
As the monster was destroyed, Yusaku revealed a card from his hand.
"[Sword Ryzeal]'s effect: If I have a 'Ryzeal' monster in my field or GY, I can Special Summon this card from my hand. But the turn I Special Summon it this way, I can only Special Summon Rank 4 Xyz Monsters from the Extra Deck!"
"My GY has a 'Ryzeal' monster, so I meet the condition!"
He slapped the card down.
"Come out—[Sword Ryzeal]!"
Blue flames and gold lightning interwove around a skeletal machine frame, surging and shaping it into a mecha holding a chain-saw greatsword.
As the blade spun, blue-gold sparks sprayed into the air. Heat gusted from the chassis with each breath, and the moment it landed, a crescent of energy carved a deep scar across the ground.
[Sword Ryzeal]
[Rank 4 / Thunder / Effect]
[ATK 1500]
"[Sword Ryzeal]'s effect!"
Yusaku called out.
"When this card is Summoned or Special Summoned, I can add 1 Pyro LIGHT monster from my Deck to my hand. I add [Ext Ryzeal]!"
With the searched card in hand, he immediately showed it.
"[Ext Ryzeal]'s effect: I can send 1 Xyz Monster from my Extra Deck to the GY to Special Summon this card from my hand!"
Yusaku briefly revealed a card from his Extra Deck and slotted it into the Duel Disk.
"I send [Mereologic Aggregator] from my Extra Deck to the GY, and Special Summon [Ext Ryzeal] from my hand!"
As he spoke, another mecha formed from blue flame, raging current, and precision machinery—dropping onto the field with a drill-like lance in its grasp.
[Ext Ryzeal]
[Level 4 / Pyro / Effect]
[ATK 500]
"Next, I activate [Node Ryzeal]'s effect. As long as there's an Xyz Monster in my field or GY, I can Special Summon it!"
"My GY already meets the condition!"
"So come out—[Node Ryzeal]!"
Purple flame detonated from its mechanical core as gold lightning erupted outward. The energy torrents braided together and crystallized into a purple-electrified armored frame.
[Node Ryzeal]
[Level 4 / Thunder / Effect]
[ATK 1400]
Yusaku raised his arm.
"Next, I overlay these three monsters—[Sword Ryzeal], [Ext Ryzeal], and [Node Ryzeal]—to build the Overlay Network!"
"Xyz Summon! Rank 4—[Ryzeal Detonator]!!!"
Three beams of dazzling light dove into a golden vortex. A steel demon of a machine slammed onto the field, fists clenched.
Molten glow and lightning streamed across its iron body. Every joint held a blazing energy core, and the shockwave of its landing blew loose rubble and debris from the arena's edges.
[Ryzeal Detonator]
[Rank 4 / Pyro / Xyz / Effect]
[Xyz Materials: 3]
[ATK 3000]
"[Ryzeal Detonator]'s effect!"
Yusaku shouted.
"When this card is Special Summoned, I can attach 1 monster from my GY to it as material!"
"I attach [Mereologic Aggregator] from my GY as Xyz Material!"
[Ryzeal Detonator]
[Xyz Materials: 3 → 4]
"Next, I activate the GY effect of the Quick-Play Spell [Wake Up Centur-Ion!]. During my Main Phase, I can banish it from my GY, then send 1 'Centur-Ion' card from my Deck to the GY—except [Wake Up Centur-Ion!]!"
"I send [Centur-Ion Atrii] from my Deck to the GY!"
After sending it, Yusaku pulled one more card and placed it face-down onto the Duel Disk.
"I set 1 card. End my turn!"
With a low hum, the set card appeared at his feet.
"End Phase."
Yusaku continued.
"Now, [Centur-Ion Auxila]'s effect can activate. During my or my opponent's End Phase, I can place 1 'Centur-Ion' monster from my GY or banishment—except a Synchro Monster—face-up in my Spell & Trap Zone as a Continuous Trap."
"I place the [Centur-Ion Atrii] I just sent to the GY face-up in my Spell & Trap Zone as a Continuous Trap!"
Once he finished, Yusaku looked at Miki.
"My effect processing is complete. It's your turn."
Seeing Yusaku's field, the spectators couldn't help sucking in a cold breath.
"Swordsoul ending on a four-material Detonator… what kind of nightmare is this?"
"Four-material Detonator! And it came out of a Swordsoul deck—so this is the legendary Ryzeal Swordsoul!"
"What Ryzeal Swordsoul? This endboard should be called Ryzeal Swordsoul Centur-Ion Superheavy Extended Edition!"
"I mean… it fits, but it also feels wrong for some reason…"
On the field, Miki stared at the monsters in front of him, blank for a long moment, before finally forcing out a single sentence.
"In a Swordsoul deck… where's your Swordsoul endboard?"
Yusaku smiled lightly.
"You can treat them as Swordsoul cards if you want. Most of them got started from Swordsoul lines anyway. Don't sweat the details. It's your turn."
Miki took a deep breath, placed his hand on the Deck, and called out:
"Then it's my turn. Draw!"
After drawing, he glanced at his hand, then pinched out a monster card with a blazing crimson frame and sneered at Yusaku.
"Didn't expect this, did you, Yusaku? I'm running [Lava Golem], and I opened it right away. I held back this whole time just so you wouldn't notice—I wanted you to sweat and build your whole board… then personally tribute your monsters and make you taste it!"
"So it's Lava Golem." Yusaku's tone stayed flat as he calmly flipped up a card from his hand. "Before you Summon, I activate [Maxx "C"][—each time you Special Summon, I draw 1 card."
Miki: "?"
Yusaku slotted the card into the Duel Disk, then looked at Miki with an easy smile.
"I've got four monsters on my field, so which two are you tributing?"
Miki frowned, then snorted.
"I'd like to see how long you can keep smiling."
He scanned Yusaku's field, then spoke without hesitation.
"I'm tributing your [Cosmic Blazar Dragon] and your [Baronne de Fleur]! As for the others…"
His gaze slid toward the Detonator, contempt flickering across his face.
"If that one were actually dangerous, you would've summoned it last duel instead of relying on your in-archetype monster to make [Constellar Ptolemy M7] for the win."
Then he slammed the card down.
"Say goodbye to your monsters, Yusaku!"
"I tribute your [Cosmic Blazar Dragon] and [Baronne de Fleur] to Summon [Lava Golem]!"
A pillar of red fire blasted upward. Blazar's stardust and Baronne's petals dissolved into the flames.
A magma-covered giant crashed down onto Yusaku's side of the field. Every step cracked the virtual ground into molten fissures. The iron cage on its chest glowed dark red as it locked into place like a prison.
[Lava Golem]
[Level 8 / Fiend / Effect]
[ATK 3000]
Staring at Yusaku trapped behind Lava Golem's looming presence, Miki let out a cold laugh.
"Yusaku. So you do have a day like this."
Then he drew out another card and continued.
"My turn continues. I activate the Spell—[A Hero Lives]!"
"This card's effect: If I control no face-up monsters, I can pay half my LP. Then I Special Summon 1 Level 4 or lower 'Elemental HERO' monster from my Deck!"
(End of Chapter)
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