"Don't underestimate the bond between me and these guys, Phila!"
Niobe's voice over the communication channel sounded sharp with excitement. She slammed the Synchro Summon confirmation button, and dark green streams of light erupted from the D-Wheel beneath her.
"I tune the Level 4 [Scrap Raptor] with the Level 5 [Junk Warrior]! The gathered will shall awaken the twin-headed beast slumbering within the ruins! Appear! Synchro Summon, Level 9!"
[Scrap Twin Dragon] Level 9│EARTH│Dragon│3000 ATK
Two enormous serpentine necks made from heaps of steel wreckage rose from both sides of the track before merging into a dark green dragon with two terrifying heads. Its gigantic body coiled above Niobe, and the shadow it cast completely swallowed the two D-Wheels racing side by side.
"I activate the effect of [Scrap Twin Dragon]: Once per turn, target 1 card I control and 2 cards my opponent controls. Destroy the selected card I control, then return the opponent's cards to the hand!"
Niobe pointed toward the dashboard of her D-Wheel.
"I choose to destroy the rule card [Speed World 2] on my field, along with your [Shiranui Shogunsaga] and [Red-Eyes Zombie Dragon Lord]!"
The steel twin-headed dragon released a hiss like grinding rusted iron as the head on the left spewed corrosive breath and slammed into the surface of the track.
"Since [Speed World 2] is a rule card, it can't be destroyed by effects. But your two Synchro Monsters must return to the Extra Deck!"
"I chain to the effect of [Scrap Twin Dragon]. I activate the first effect of [Red-Eyes Zombie Dragon Lord]: During the opponent's turn, target 1 Zombie monster in the Graveyard other than 'Red-Eyes Zombie Dragon Lord'; Special Summon it!"
Phila pressed the Graveyard activation button.
"I Special Summon [Vampire Fraulein] from my Graveyard in Defense Position!"
At the final moment before the two high-level Synchro Monsters dissolved into particles of light and returned to the Extra Deck, Vampire Fraulein appeared once more.
[Shiranui Shogunsaga] and [Red-Eyes Zombie Dragon Lord] still ultimately dissolved into white particles and vanished.
"Not bad at all, Phila. But matching me isn't enough. You have to surpass me! Absolutely surpass me!"
Niobe's D-Wheel accelerated again.
"Now let me show you my final Synchro! I tune the Level 1 Tuner monster [Jet Synchron] with the Level 9 [Scrap Twin Dragon]!"
Guided by the miniature jet engine, the dark green dragon transformed into starlight.
"Level 10–[Satellite Warrior], descend!"
[Satellite Warrior] Level 10│LIGHT│Machine│2500 ATK
Golden metallic light reflected brilliantly across the sea. A robotic warrior resembling an artificial satellite floated before Niobe, with four enormous solar panels spread behind its back.
The energy recoil generated by the arrival of two consecutive Level 10 monsters forcibly pressed the seawater around the track down by several meters.
"I chain block! Chain-1 [Satellite Warrior], Chain-2 [Jet Synchron]."
"First effect of [Jet Synchron]: If this card is sent to the Graveyard as Synchro Material, add 1 'Junk' monster from your Deck to your hand. I add [Junk Dragonlet] to my hand."
"And now, the first effect of [Satellite Warrior] resolves!"
Niobe pointed toward Phila.
"When this card is Synchro Summoned, target cards on your opponent's field up to the number of Synchro Monsters in my Graveyard; destroy them, and this card gains 1000 Attack for each destroyed card!"
"Right now, my Graveyard holds [Junk Warrior], [Scrap Dragon], and [Scrap Twin Dragon]. That means three targets!"
The solar panels behind Satellite Warrior began rotating as three differently colored laser beams pierced down through the track.
"Disappear! [Changshi the Spiridao], [Gozuki], and [Vampire Fraulein]! All destroyed!"
Phila watched as the companions on her field fell one after another beneath the roaring lasers. Thick black smoke from the explosions obscured her vision, but through the gaps between the blasts, she saw the data value of the golden warrior climbing wildly.
[Satellite Warrior, ATK: 2500 → 5500]
"This is the power of bonds connecting companions! 5500 Attack!"
At this moment, Niobe's D-Wheel completely overtook Phila's. The sparks blasting from the exhaust pipe nearly brushed against Phila's cheek.
"Yeah… just as expected, you're really strong, Niobe."
On the now-empty field, Phila softly nodded toward the figure ahead of her who had already seized the advantage.
"Still, it's not over yet, Phila!"
Niobe's voice blew back against the raging wind from ahead. She had completely taken control of the inside lane of the track. Her right hand pulled out the card she had just searched from the Deck slot and directly slammed it onto the side of the Duel Disk.
"I activate the first effect of [Junk Dragonlet] from my hand: If I control a Synchro Monster, I can Special Summon this card from my hand. I Special Summon it in Attack Position!"
[Junk Dragonlet] Level 5│DARK│Machine│2100 ATK
A gigantic steel beast phantom condensed before Niobe's D-Wheel. It was a dragon-shaped machine assembled from countless cables and metallic frames. Light emitted from Satellite Warrior connected to its back as piercing electrical crackles rang out.
Niobe violently twisted the throttle.
"Entering the Battle Phase! This is everything I've got left!"
She loudly declared it.
"[Junk Dragonlet] attacks first! Then comes… the finishing blow from [Satellite Warrior]! Total damage–7600 points!"
[Junk Dragonlet] opene its jaw made from hydraulic rods as a blue plasma beam instantly erupted from within.
The next moment, the four solar panels behind [Satellite Warrior] unfolded in the air like blooming petals. Golden light compressed to its absolute limit at the circular core in the center. A gigantic golden beam over two meters wide, carrying enough heat to distort the air itself, instantly pierced through the entire track space before Phila.
Only that golden light remained reflected in Phila's pupils.
Then the unexpected happened. Although she had endured the turn, the violent attack slammed into the D-Wheel in an instant. The shaking D-Wheel tore open the skin between Phila's thumb and index finger.
"I can't control it anymore…"
Bright red blood flowed across the black handlebars. The entire D-Wheel flipped sideways within the explosive shockwave.
The motorcycle skidded sideways across the highway, scattering countless sparks.
"Hey, Phila!"
Raku's voice exploded within Phila's mind.
At that critical instant, Raku forcibly took control of the body.
The moment the D-Wheel smashed into the guardrail and was flung into the air, Phila's body reacted under Raku's control.
In midair, she precisely adjusted her center of gravity, planted both feet against the motorcycle frame, and kicked off toward the sea.
At the final second before hitting the water, he protected Phila's head.
Splash!
A massive spray exploded across the ocean surface.
"Duel suspended! Duel suspended!"
The Synchro Studies teacher at the finish line immediately halted the duel.
Niobe was thrown several meters by inertia during her emergency brake. Ignoring the scrapes on her knees, she immediately climbed back up and rushed toward the bridge railing, obvious fear in her voice.
"Phila!"
The area around the track fell silent at once.
Only the sound of rolling waves crashing against the bridge pillars remained.
Two minutes later, Phila's soaking wet head emerged from the waves.
Controlling the body, Raku raised Phila's right hand and shouted toward the bridge:
"I'm okay… I'm okay!"
He guided Phila toward the emergency rope ladder.
When the two of them finally returned to the bridge, all the students had already gathered around them. The Synchro Studies teacher wiped away cold sweat and stiffly announced before dismissing class:
"This demonstration duel has been terminated due to improper operation. Let me emphasize this once again: the first principle of Turbo Duels is safety! Class dismissed!"
Lowering her head, Niobe walked up to Phila, who was wrapped in a bath towel and still trembling uncontrollably.
The usually carefree mechanic girl intertwined her fingers together, speaking in a quiet voice.
"I'm sorry… Phila. I got too excited earlier. That was my fault."
"That's not true."
Phila lifted her head.
Her face was still pale, yet there was not the slightest trace of resentment in her crimson eyes. Instead, she puffed out her cheeks slightly.
"Going all out during a duel… that absolutely isn't wrong! I was just too weak."
Phila clenched her fists and looked past Niobe toward the track stretching all the way to the horizon.
"Next time… next time we'll definitely finish a duel properly! That's a promise!"
Niobe froze.
She looked at the girl before her, the same girl who once did not even dare send monsters to the Graveyard… and now she had grown into someone like this.
Niobe revealed her little fang-like teeth and firmly bumped her fist against Phila's shoulder.
"Yeah! Then it's a promise. Next time, we'll definitely have another proper duel."
"Yeah!"
At the same time, inside her mind, Phila called out:
Thank you, Mr. Spirit. If it weren't for you, something really bad might've happened just now.
"..."
Raku said nothing.
...
If you want to support, please consider Patreon, and read advanced chapters! Your support keeps this series going! [Patreon.com/RedZTL]