He drew in one smooth motion. "In the End Phase, I draw six cards!"
"Impressive draw power," Yugen said, resting his chin on his hand. The refill was brutal, even by Dragon standards.
"Drop that relaxed attitude," Manjoume snapped. "Only by defeating you at your best does this mean anything!"
"Why does everyone think I'm not serious?" Yugen replied lightly as he drew. "My turn. I activate the Spell Card Pot of Greed and draw two cards."
Because Iron Armor Dragon had been used as a Tribute, Dark End Dragon now had protection against Destroy effects. Most removal in the current format would not work on it.
"Against you, this is the better choice." Yugen revealed a card. "Continuous Spell Different Dimension Hangar. When activated, I banish three Level 4 or lower Union Monster from the Graveyard."
He banished Y Dragon Head, Z Metal Track, and W Catapult Wing. The three Machines were drawn into a vortex above the field.
"Is that the combination you used in your Duel with Tenjoin?" Manjoume asked, his expression tightening.
"Normal Summon X Head Cannon."
X Head Cannon appeared with 1800 ATK. "When a monster is Summoned, Different Dimension Hangar lets me Special Summon a related Union Monster from the banished zone. I Special Summon Y Dragon Head and Z Metal Track!"
The two Machines landed beside X. Then Yugen raised his hand.
"X, Y, and Z, banish and combine!"
The Machines separated and reassembled in midair. With a heavy crash, XYZ-Divine Dragon Cannon descended onto the field, cannons aimed forward.
XYZ-Divine Dragon Cannon, ATK 2800.
Manjoume narrowed his eyes. He remembered its effect. By discarding a card, it could destroy any card on his field. But with Iron Armor Dragon's protection, Dark End Dragon would not be Destroyed by effects.
"Open my set card," Yugen said instead. "Trap Card Assembly of the Clan. I target XYZ-Divine Dragon Cannon and Special Summon a monster of the same Type with a different name from my hand or Graveyard. I Special Summon V-Jet Tiger!"
V-Jet Tiger appeared with 1600 ATK.
"And when V-Jet Tiger is Summoned, Different Dimension Hangar activates again. I Special Summon W Catapult Wing!"
The field filled with Machines once more. "W Catapult Wing and V-Jet Tiger, banish and combine. Fusion Summon VW Tiger Catapult!"
VW Tiger Catapult, 2000 ATK.
"Now, XYZ-Divine Dragon Cannon and VW Tiger Catapult, further combine!"
The Machines shifted and locked together with loud metallic clicks. Armor plates aligned precisely as the massive form completed itself.
"Fivefold Fusion! Level 8. VWXYZ-Dragon Catapult Cannon!"
VWXYZ-Dragon Catapult Cannon stood tall with 3000 ATK, its cannons glowing.
"In one turn…" Manjoume muttered.
"VWXYZ-Dragon Catapult Cannon, Effect Activation. Once Per Turn, banish one card on the field." Yugen pointed straight ahead. "Target Dark End Dragon. Dimensional bombardment!"
A beam of energy shot forward, tearing open space itself. Iron Armor Dragon's protection only stopped Destroy effects, not banishing. Dark End Dragon twisted and vanished into the Dimension.
"Next, direct attack with VWXYZ-Dragon Catapult Cannon!"
The combined Machine unleashed a storm of multicolored blasts that crashed into Manjoume. The explosion forced him backward.
Manjoume, LP 4000 to LP 1000.
He struggled back to his feet, teeth clenched. Yugen calmly set two cards.
"I end my turn."
Manjoume: My Turn!, Card Draw!
His field was suppressed again, and his Life Points had been pushed into a losing position. Manjoume clenched his teeth as he looked at the board. After all that effort and preparation, he refused to fall here, and especially not in front of this opponent again.
"Quick-Play Spell Burial from a Different Dimension. Return up to three monsters from the banished zone to the Graveyard. I return Dark End Dragon, which was banished by VWXYZ, to the Graveyard!"
The shadow of the black dragon appeared once more and sank back into the vortex of the Graveyard. The air around the arena felt heavy as the energy settled.
"Then I activate the Equip Spell Premature Burial!"
He revealed a card from his hand. "I pay 800 Life Points to Special Summon one monster from my Graveyard in Attack Position and equip this card to it!"
Manjoume, LP 1000 to 200.
Dark currents burst from the Graveyard, and the fierce black dragon rose again from the swirling void. It roared as it returned to the field.
"Revive Dark End Dragon!"
Dark End Dragon, ATK 2600.
The Duel Department Senior Host narrowed her eyes. If Dark End Dragon removed VWXYZ with its effect and attacked directly, this would be a comeback from the brink for Manjoume. Even the senior students nearby admitted that Dark End Dragon was a terrifying new ace.
"But the revived Dark End Dragon no longer has protection from Destroy," Yugen said calmly. "I activate my set Trap Card, Bottomless Trap Hole. When you Summon a monster with 1500 or more ATK, it is Destroyed and banished."
A dark pit opened beneath Dark End Dragon, leading straight toward the Different Dimension. Stripped of its resistance, the dragon was swallowed without a chance to resist.
"I knew it would not be that simple!" Manjoume shouted. "Quick-Play Spell Duality of Light and Dark! By Tributing a LIGHT or DARK monster on my field, I Special Summon a monster of the opposite Attribute from my hand!"
He raised his arm as the storm gathered. "I Tribute the DARK Dark End Dragon!"
Darkness swallowed the dragon, and then a brilliant light burst outward. Radiance tore through the gloom as a majestic white dragon descended.
"Dispel the darkness and light the path to victory. Light End Dragon, Summon!"
Light End Dragon, ATK 2600.
It was the first time Manjoume had revealed this ace in public. The holy dragon's brilliance stood in sharp contrast to the dark dragon that had just fallen.
He did not stop there. "Spell Card Strange Clover. By discarding a Level 4 Plant monster, one monster I control can attack twice this turn. I discard Mystic Tomato. Light End Dragon can attack twice!"
Gasps rose from the crowd. Even with lower ATK than VWXYZ, he clearly had a plan.
"Battle. Light End Dragon attacks VWXYZ!"
"This moment, Light End Dragon's Effect Activation! During battle, it loses 500 ATK, and the opposing monster loses 1500 ATK until the end of the turn!"
Light End Dragon dropped to 2100. VWXYZ fell from 3000 to 1500.
The white light burst forward and tore through the massive machine. Explosions ripped across its armored body before it collapsed.
Yugen, LP 1900 to 1300.
"For the final blow!" Manjoume roared. "Light End Dragon attacks again! Flash Ascension!"
The wave of light surged toward Yugen. For a brief second, Manjoume believed it was over.
But a translucent mechanical figure appeared in front of Yugen, blocking the strike.
"Nani?!!?"
"Swift Scarecrow in the Graveyard. It can reduce battle damage from a direct attack to 0 once," Yugen said with a smile. "You sent it there with Card Destruction. Replacing both hands carries risks."
Manjoume felt the sting of the mistake. The victory that seemed within reach slipped away again.
He set one card. "End turn."
"My Turn!, Card Draw. Spell Card Treasure of Adversity. Since you control a Special Summoned monster and I control none, I draw two cards."
After drawing, Yugen revealed another card. "Equip Spell, DimensionDestroy Cannon Super Thunder Alliance. I Special Summon VWXYZ from my Graveyard ignoring conditions and equip this card. Its effects are negated."
VWXYZ returned with 3000 ATK. Then Machina Armored Unit Machina Fortress revived by discarding Machina Armored Unit Machina Megaform.
Machina Armored Unit Machina Fortress, ATK 2500.