Chapter 133: Yubel vs. Galaxy-Eyes
[Forced Duel Initiated]
[Duel Mode: Dark Game]
[Duelist: Kikawayu]
[Duelist: Kaiba Chiha]
[Duel!]
The Dark Game snapped into place and the duel began.
The Puppeteer, operating through Chiha's body, took the first turn.
"My turn. Draw."
The small borrowed body pulled a card from the Duel Disk.
From the moment the duel started, the Puppeteer felt something coming from the girl standing across the field. Pressure with no obvious source. The complete physical transformation, the cold composure, all of it wrong in ways that were hard to pin down.
Is this deck actually the fake Three Phantom Demons setup?
Whatever the answer, the Puppeteer had Chiha's expensive Galaxy build in hand, supplemented with dark seeds cultivated through the Eva network. The correct move was to open at full force and bury whatever was standing there.
"Spell Card: Graceful Charity. I draw three cards."
Cards scanned, the Puppeteer looked through a spread of Galaxy and Photon monsters.
"I discard Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon and Photon Emperor, then activate Photon Emperor's effect from the Graveyard."
[When this card is sent to the Graveyard from anywhere other than the field: if a Photon or Galaxy monster exists on your field or in your Graveyard, Special Summon this card in Defense Position.]
Sent to the Graveyard alongside Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon via Graceful Charity, Photon Emperor's trigger condition was met the instant it hit.
"Special Summon. Sovereign of radiant command. Photon Emperor."
Photon Emperor [LIGHT / Level 8 / Warrior-Type / Effect]
ATK: 2800 / DEF: 1000
"When Photon Emperor is Special Summoned, I gain one additional Normal Summon for a LIGHT monster this turn. I Normal Summon Galaxy Knight from my hand."
Galaxy Knight [LIGHT / Level 8 / Warrior-Type / Effect]
ATK: 2800 / DEF: 2600
[This card can be Normal Summoned without Tribute while you control a Photon or Galaxy monster.]
Galaxy Knight, Normal Summoned at Level 8 with no Tribute required. The moment it materialized, a thin silver blade swept low across the ground and lit up the Graveyard zone.
"When Galaxy Knight is Normal Summoned without Tribute, it loses 1000 ATK, and I Special Summon one Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon from the Graveyard."
Galaxy light exploded from the Graveyard, flooding the Dark Game's enclosed space.
"Galaxy that shines in the darkness, be the light that carries hope within me. Embodiment of light, descend. Appear, Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon."
Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon [LIGHT / Level 8 / Dragon-Type / Effect]
ATK: 3000 / DEF: 2500
Identical stats and attribute to Blue-Eyes White Dragon. Galaxy-Eyes roared into existence.
But compared to its previous confrontation with Amano, something in those silver dragon eyes had changed. A darkness had crept into the luminance. Whether the dark seed corruption was responsible, or whether the dragon itself resented its owner being used as a puppet, was impossible to say.
"I stack Photon Emperor and Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon to build a Rank 8 Xyz network."
The Galaxy brilliance that had blazed across the field went dark in the same instant. That radiant silver light fell as if dropped into the lightless edge of a boundless universe.
"I first Xyz Summon Rank 8 Galaxy-Eyes Cipher Dragon, then perform Rank-Up Xyz on top of it."
Galaxy-Eyes Cipher Dragon passed through the field like a flash, its pitch-black body roaring as it launched itself toward something darker in the space beyond.
"When flesh and soul have been exhausted, the soul of the king shall curse the world."
"Appear. Rank-Up Xyz Summon. Number 95: Galaxy-Eyes Dark Matter Dragon."
Number 95: Galaxy-Eyes Dark Matter Dragon [DARK / Rank 9 / Dragon-Type / Xyz / Effect]
ATK: 4000 / DEF: 0
[This card can also be Xyz Summoned by using a Galaxy-Eyes Xyz Monster on your field as Xyz Material.]
The cursed dragon from the deepest dead reaches of the universe. Its body had twisted so far from any recognizable dragon shape that calling it a dragon required willful imagination. The only things surrounding it were visible masses of resentful souls, circling endlessly.
Yubel, visible only to Kikawayu in semi-transparent form, observed it.
"So that's the dark card cultivated from a virus in the Eva network."
Kikawayu: "Hideous. Good thing Rei isn't in here. Something that ugly would give him nightmares."
The thing most likely to disturb Amano Rei in this Dark Game was not Galaxy-Eyes Dark Matter Dragon.
"Focus," the Puppeteer said sharply. "My setup isn't finished. Watch closely. Number 95: Galaxy-Eyes Dark Matter Dragon's effect activates."
[When this card is Xyz Summoned: send 3 Dragon monsters with different names from your Deck to the Graveyard. Your opponent banishes 3 monsters from their Deck.]
"I send Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon, Galaxy-Eyes Cloud Dragon, and Galaxy-Eyes Afterglow Dragon to the Graveyard. And you banish three monsters from yours."
"Sure." Kikawayu didn't look. She pulled three cards and discarded them without glancing at a single one.
"Since I can make two Normal Summons this turn, I Normal Summon my second Galaxy Knight, then use its effect to revive the second Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon I just sent to the Graveyard."
Galaxy light tore through the darkness again. Chiha flipped a card from her hand.
"Galaxy-Eyes Afterglow Dragon's hand effect: when a Galaxy-Eyes monster exists on the field, I can Special Summon it directly from my hand."
Galaxy-Eyes Afterglow Dragon [LIGHT / Level 8 / Dragon-Type / Effect]
ATK: 3000 / DEF: 2500
Four Level 8 monsters on the field at once. The Puppeteer began stacking them into dual Rank 8 Xyz networks.
"I stack the two Galaxy Knights."
"I stack Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon and Galaxy-Eyes Afterglow Dragon."
For one suspended moment, it looked like two opposing forces had found a perfect balance in the dark space. Black hole and galaxy, darkness and light, held in absolute equilibrium. Two Rank 8 Xyz monsters surged onto the field simultaneously.
"Two hopes sleeping in my memories. Pierce the vast abyss that keeps them apart and unite their power as one."
"Xyz Summon. Number 38: Hope Harbinger Dragon Titanic Galaxy."
Number 38: Hope Harbinger Dragon Titanic Galaxy [Rank 8 / Dragon-Type / Xyz / Effect]
ATK: 3000 / DEF: 2500
"The galaxy-born explosion. Its shockwave drives me toward absolute sovereignty."
"Xyz Summon. Number 90: Galaxy-Eyes Photon Lord."
Number 90: Galaxy-Eyes Photon Lord [LIGHT / Rank 8 / Warrior-Type / Xyz / Effect]
ATK: 2500 / DEF: 3000
Warrior of light and dragon of light emerged from their respective Xyz summons and took position flanking Galaxy-Eyes Dark Matter Dragon. Three Galaxy monarchs across the field.
"Number 90: Galaxy-Eyes Photon Lord can negate opponent monster effects and destroy those monsters. Number 38: Hope Harbinger Dragon Titanic Galaxy can negate opponent Spell Cards."
The Puppeteer let out a full laugh through Chiha's throat.
"What a magnificent board. No wonder she was top ten at the academy. It's a genuine shame Chiha didn't bring this arsenal to the entrance exam. If she had, Amano Rei wouldn't have had the slightest chance."
Three Rank 8 Galaxy Xyz monsters. One more card was placed face-down.
"I set one card. Turn end. Go ahead and struggle, Kikawayu. After I deal with you, Amano Rei is next."
Both times the Puppeteer said that name, the smile on Kikawayu's face grew a little less stable.
"You think this board can stop me? If you want to go after Rei, you're welcome to try. You'll have to step over your own corpse first."
Brief pause.
The standard phrasing was "step over my corpse." Threatening to use the opponent's body as the stepping stone was a meaningfully different statement.
"My turn. Draw."
Facing three Galaxy Xyz monsters, Kikawayu drew her opening card.
"I return the monster cards Yubel and Yubel Spirit from my hand to the Deck and Special Summon from the Extra Deck."
"What? No effect activation? You're summoning directly from the Extra Deck?"
The Puppeteer had Number 90's negation ready. Kikawayu hadn't given her the opening to use it.
"In the space between love and hatred, every burden yours becomes mine."
"Special Summon. Fusion Monster. Yubel's Phantom."
Yubel's Phantom [DARK / Level 9 / Fiend-Type / Fusion / Effect]
ATK: 0 / DEF: 0
[Yubel monster + Fiend-Type monster with 0 ATK and 0 DEF]
[Can only be Special Summoned by returning the above Fusion Materials from your hand, field, Graveyard, or Extra Deck. This card cannot be used as Fusion Material. Once per turn, when an opponent's monster effect is activated: Tribute this card; that effect becomes "destroy 1 Yubel card from your hand, Deck, or Graveyard."]
A golden phantom body wrapped in dark mist materialized slowly on Kikawayu's field.
"A Level 9 Fusion Monster summoned without activating a single card effect? That's impossible."
Impossible as it looked, the Puppeteer steadied itself. Zero attack and zero defense regardless of level. No combat threat at minimum.
"Next, I Normal Summon Offering to the Underworld Lotus."
Offering to the Underworld Lotus [DARK / Level 1 / Fiend-Type / Effect]
ATK: 0 / DEF: 0
Another zero-zero monster. A lotus with demonic tendril vines bloomed across Kikawayu's field.
"Offering to the Underworld Lotus's effect activates. I Tribute this card to Special Summon one Yubel monster from my Deck."
A monster effect. Finally. The Puppeteer stopped waiting.
"When your monster effect activates, Number 90: Galaxy-Eyes Photon Lord's effect activates."
[When an opponent's monster effect activates: detach 1 Xyz Material from this card. Negate that effect.]
"I detach Galaxy-Eyes Afterglow Dragon as Xyz Material to negate your monster's effect."
The smile on Kikawayu's face stretched to a level of confidence that had no business existing.
"That effect of your monster. Are you certain that's what it does? Maybe read it again."
"What kind of nonsense is that? I know exactly what my own monster"
"When an opponent's monster effect activates, Yubel's Phantom's effect activates."
[When an opponent's monster effect is activated: Tribute this card. That effect becomes: "destroy 1 Yubel card from your hand, Deck, or Graveyard."]
"I Tribute Yubel's Phantom to rewrite your monster's effect."
The golden phantom drifted across to Number 90: Galaxy-Eyes Photon Lord. Slender fingers reached out and touched the monster's frame with quiet deliberateness, pouring something wrong into it from inside.
"You rewrote my effect?"
"Because Number 90's effect was rewritten, I destroy Yubel Spirit from my Deck. And because Photon Lord's activation was redirected rather than negated, Offering to the Underworld Lotus resolves successfully. I Special Summon Yubel from my Deck."
Yubel [DARK / Level 10 / Fiend-Type / Effect]
ATK: 0 / DEF: 0
[This card cannot be destroyed by battle. Battle damage involving this card becomes 0. When this card in Attack Position is selected as an attack target: inflict damage to your opponent equal to the ATK of the attacking monster, before damage calculation. Once per turn, during your End Phase: Tribute 1 other monster, or destroy this card. When this card is destroyed by a card effect: Special Summon 1 Yubel Spirit from your hand, Deck, or Graveyard.]
Yubel: "My turn to take the stage."
Elegant demon wings spread wide as Yubel stepped forward from its position behind Kikawayu and materialized fully onto the field.
"Now Yubel Spirit's effect triggers, since it was just destroyed."
[When this card is destroyed: Special Summon 1 Yubel monster from your hand, Deck, Graveyard, or banished zone.]
"I summon a second Yubel from the Deck."
Two Yubels stood side by side. Their mismatched eyes, one color each, regarded the Puppeteer with total contempt.
"Zero attack. Summon as many as you want. They pose no combat threat."
Chiha's teeth ground together audibly, which was actually one of Chiha's more characteristic habits.
"Then I activate the effect of the Galaxy-Eyes Afterglow Dragon that was detached as Xyz Material. When this card is detached as Xyz Material, I can Special Summon Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon from my Deck."
"ROAR!"
A fourth Galaxy monster erupted onto the field.
"Stop summoning things. It's already over."
Kikawayu held her card. Inside her, the energy building toward its limit condensed into something that pushed outward through her skin.
"This is the ultimate force. The supreme Fusion that governs twelve dimensions."
"Quick-Play Spell: Super Polymerization, activate."
"Spell Cards don't work!" the Puppeteer snapped. "Number 38: Hope Harbinger Dragon Titanic Galaxy negates Spell activations."
"You're the one nothing works on." The contempt in Kikawayu's voice was completely unfiltered. "Super Polymerization cannot be chained to by any effect."
Super Polymerization [Quick-Play Spell: No Spell, Trap, or monster effect can be chained to this card's activation. Discard 1 card; Fusion Summon 1 Fusion Monster from your Extra Deck, using monsters from either player's field as Fusion Material.]
Unchainable. Drawing from either player's field for Fusion Material. Both at once.
The Fusion force hit the Puppeteer's field the way a wave hits a cliff face. An unstoppable spiral of Fusion energy dragged Galaxy light toward it regardless.
"I use both Yubels on my field, along with Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon, Number 90: Galaxy-Eyes Photon Lord, and Number 38: Hope Harbinger Dragon Titanic Galaxy as Fusion Material for Super Polymerization."
"Three of my Galaxy monsters absorbed at once."
With no way to chain against Super Polymerization, the Puppeteer could only watch its own field become fuel.
"Release everything, love and suffering together. At the end of time, across all dimensions, guard the one I love forever."
"Super Polymerization. Fusion Summon."
"Yubel, Guardian of Eternal Love."
Yubel, Guardian of Eternal Love [DARK / Level 12 / Fiend-Type / Fusion / Effect]
ATK: 0 / DEF: 0
[Yubel monster + 1 or more Effect Monsters on the field]
[Once per turn, when this card is Fusion Summoned: inflict damage equal to the number of Fusion Materials used x500. This card cannot be destroyed by battle or card effects, and battle damage involving this card becomes 0. At the end of the Damage Step when this card battles an opponent's monster: inflict damage to your opponent equal to that monster's ATK, then banish that monster.]
Zero attack, zero defense, Level 12. The ultimate Yubel. The Fusion Material requirement asked only for an Effect Monster from anywhere on the field, meaning Kikawayu could channel every monster she controlled into it if she chose.
"When Fusion Summoned, this card inflicts 500 damage per Fusion Material used."
Five materials total. Yubel spread demon-clawed hands and drove 2500 points of effect damage into Chiha's body.
Chiha LP: 4000 to 1500.
"AAAGHHH!"
A sharp scream cut through the Dark Game.
"It hurts. Why is the pain getting to me?"
"Did you think working through a puppet would let you dodge what you deserve? You've underestimated me again."
The pain had twisted Chiha's face into something unrecognizable. The Puppeteer had run countless duels through controlled bodies. Pain at this level during a duel was completely outside its experience.
This wasn't the physical burn Amano had dealt to a previous host's eyes. This came from somewhere deeper, from the soul itself, deep enough to erode the will underneath.
Chiha's body was drooling and crying at the same time. The Puppeteer, legs failing, sat down on the ground and looked up at Kikawayu with something that had become straightforward fear.
"What are you?"
"Me?" Kikawayu smiled. "Just a girl who won't let anyone hurt the person she loves."
Nobody was going to believe that framing.
One thing still confused the Puppeteer beyond the identity question. Why had Kikawayu left one monster standing? Number 95: Galaxy-Eyes Dark Matter Dragon was still on the field. Four thousand attack, highest remaining.
"Simple. I want you to suffer as much as possible first. Battle Phase. Yubel, Guardian of Eternal Love attacks Dark Matter Dragon."
"A zero-attack monster attacking into four thousand attack?"
The math was clear. Zero into four thousand was four thousand battle damage, going directly to Kikawayu.
"Yes, four thousand damage. It just won't be going to me. That's Yubel, Guardian of Eternal Love's effect."
[This card cannot be destroyed by battle or card effects. Battle damage involving this card becomes 0. At the end of the Damage Step when this card battles an opponent's monster: inflict damage to your opponent equal to that monster's ATK, then banish that monster.]
"I take nothing from Yubel's battle. After the Damage Step resolves, you receive four thousand damage instead. It ends here."
"Four thousand damage?"
The 2500 from a moment ago had already pushed the pain past what the Puppeteer wanted to endure. Four thousand more on top of that...
"No. I refuse to lose here." The Puppeteer's legs had given out but one hand was still moving, flipping the last face-down card. "Trap Card: Destruct Potion."
[Target 1 monster you control; destroy it, then gain LP equal to its ATK.]
"I destroy Number 95: Galaxy-Eyes Dark Matter Dragon and gain four thousand Life Points."
No target on the field meant Yubel's zero attack couldn't produce damage reflection. The duel was still alive.
"This isn't over."
"It is over. Everything ends here, and every ounce of suffering gets poured into you until there's no room left. I pay half my Life Points to activate a Trap Card from my hand."
"Activating a Trap from your hand? That's not how Traps work."
Kikawayu LP: 4000 to 2000.
"Trap Card: Red Reboot."
[This card can also be activated from the hand by paying half your LP. When an opponent activates a Trap Card: negate the activation, then place it on the field face-up. Then, your opponent may Set 1 Trap directly from their Deck. After this card resolves, your opponent cannot activate Trap Cards for the rest of this turn.]
Half her Life Points, paid from the hand, instant counter, shuts down every Trap the opponent could attempt for the remainder of the turn.
After Red Reboot resolved, the pain of the Life Point cost had flushed Kikawayu's face. She looked more alive for it.
"Not quite the same as what Rei gives me, but tonight was reasonably satisfying. Now, everything ends."
"Yubel, Guardian of Eternal Love. Attack Dark Matter Dragon."
"Synchronized Suffering. Pain Resonance."
Zero attack landed cleanly against four thousand.
At the conclusion of the Damage Step, Yubel's effect triggered, and four thousand points of resonant agony poured into Chiha's body in a single wave.
"AAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!"
Chiha LP: 1500 to 0.
A scream unlike any that had come before it filled the darkness. It was loud enough to pass through the barrier's thick walls, all the way to Amano standing outside.
"What is happening in there?"
Three minutes. That was all it had taken.
***
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