"—Xyz Summon! Number 27: Dreadnought Dreadnoid!!"
[Number 27: Dreadnought Dreadnoid] WATER│Machine│Xyz│2200 ATK / 1000 DEF
[2 or more Level 4 Monsters]
The Empire's dreadnought warship rode the winds at ten thousand meters above ground. The Rank 4 Xyz Monster, striding as though the skies were seas, thundered across Cameron's field.
"Dreadnoid, 2200 Attack? Hmph, too weak!"
The lowest Attack among Kaima's monsters was 3000 from her Blue-Eyes Alternative White Dragon. This seemingly mighty dreadnought warship couldn't harm her dragons.
Cameron roared: "Forward, indomitable warship! This is the charge that forges the Empire's glory anew!"
Declaring the Battle Phase, the dreadnought's array of cannons all locked onto Miles' field from the skies.
"Damn! Coming for me?!"
At the moment, Miles had only one Mokey Mokey in Defense Position. Other than Kaima's White Dragon and Chaos MAX Dragon, it was the only viable target.
Using the firepower of an entire dreadnought to bombard a block of tofu—it felt like swatting a mosquito with anti-aircraft guns.
"Fire—!!"
The fourth thunderous command from the Imperial General. A barrage of cannon fire engulfed Mokey Mokey.
Mokey Mokey's expression remained indifferent, perhaps unaware of what awaited it next.
"Trap Card, activate!"
Just before impact, Kaima flipped her set card.
Miles exclaimed, "You triggered a Trap just to protect Mokey Mokey, Kaima? You… are you tsundere?!"
Last turn, Kaima had called Mokey Mokey a small fry… Yet now she chose to protect it with a Trap.
"Ridiculous! I only intend to destroy your monster when it declares an attack! Trap Card—Mirror Force!!"
A holy mirror absorbed the dreadnought's barrage, reflecting it into destructive waves.
Kaima's tactic was simple. In a Tag Duel, Cameron's card resources were falling behind. Destroying [Number 27: Dreadnought Dreadnoid] now would give Miles the space to finish things next turn.
Even 9400 LP couldn't withstand both Blue-Eyes and Chaos MAX forever.
"Mirror Force reflects your attack, destroying all Attack Position monsters!"
"You've never set foot on a battlefield, child! Dreadnoid fears no such counter! I activate its effect!"
[If this card would be destroyed by battle or card effect, you can detach 1 Xyz Material instead.]
"I detach [Flying Pegasus Railroad Stampede] to protect Dreadnoid from destruction! The battle continues!"
The warship rammed through, cannons still blazing, crushing Mokey Mokey beneath its steel.
Aisha said, saluting, "What an honor, Mokey Mokey… you died gloriously!"
Kaima frowned. "So it can replace its destruction by detaching material… I see."
Each Xyz Material was an extra life. Spending one here wasn't a waste.
Miles, cautious, said, "Still, as his final Xyz, isn't that too weak a trump card?"
Indeed, merely resisting destruction posed no threat to their dragons.
Cameron bellowed, "I declared it already! This is the Empire's charge! End Battle Phase—Dreadnoid's true effect begins!"
[At the end of the Battle Phase, if this card destroyed an opponent's monster by battle: You can Special Summon from your Extra Deck, 1 Rank 10 or higher Machine Xyz Monster by using this card as material.]
"When the charge is complete, Dreadnoid becomes the vessel for a greater machine!"
Aisha's eyes widened, "From Rank 4 straight to Rank 10?!"
The steel dreadnought transformed. Cameron's target was the monster he'd just recycled with Pot of Avarice.
"Overlay upgrade—Superdreadnought Rail Cannon Gustav Max!!"
[Superdreadnought Rail Cannon Gustav Max│ATK: 3000]
The PTSD-inducing cannon reared onto Cameron's field.
No doubt—its unbalanced effect was about to fire again.
"I detach [Dreadnought Dreadnoid] to activate Gustav Max's effect! Once per turn, inflict 2000 damage!"
The massive barrel targeted Kaima and Miles once more.
"The frail Kingdom of Livorden cannot withstand the Varian Empire's supreme artillery!"
With their Kuriphoton already spent, neither had expected Cameron to fire three consecutive 2000-damage blasts.
"This is no duel—it's the Empire's fortress bombarding its foes!"
"Varian Empire stands supreme! Fire—!!"
The fifth cannon blast roared, the lethal 2000 damage descending.
"Aisha?! This blast—"
"I know, we can't take it head-on! But…"
Miles had no defense left in hand.
"Kaima!"
The last hope fell to her.
"Livorden is not so fragile! Fusion Monsters have more uses still! Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon!!"
In that desperate instant, Kaima raised her card. Her eyes locked on the incoming blast.
"Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon? Now?!"
Even Miles doubted. What could the mighty fusion do against effect damage?
"Roar—!!"
Even so, the three-headed dragon answered. Its vast body became radiant light, shielding its masters.
Aisha was perplexed, "Ultimate Dragon… protected us?! How?!"
Behind that shining body, Kaima revealed the Trap beneath her feet.
"Counter Trap—Fusion Guard!!"
[When a card effect that inflicts damage is activated: Discard 1 card; negate the activation, and send 1 Fusion Monster from your Extra Deck to the Graveyard.]
She sent the original Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon to the Graveyard, nullifying the blast.
"The will of Livorden's Fusion shall not fade here! It is you, the invader, who must fall back!"
The light of the Ultimate Dragon faded, while Kaima and Miles survived.
"Then struggle on! I Xyz Summon again—overlay Gustav Max into [Superdreadnought Rail Cannon Juggernaut Liebe]!!"
[Juggernaut Liebe, DEF: 4000 → 6000]
Recycling his cannons, Cameron fortified his field once more. 6000 Defense, immune to Chaos MAX's battle destruction.
"I set one card, end my turn."
"My turn, draw!"
Miles drew, still holding [Monster Reborn] and [Tri-Wight].
"Aisha, use Alternative White Dragon's power!"
"Got it, Kaima!"
Alternative's once-per-turn effect could destroy a monster—perfect for breaching the fortress.
"—Burst Stream of Alternative!!"
Her cute voice shouting Blue-Eyes' attack name gave it new flavor.
"Roar!!"
The dragon unleashed its blast.
"Not so fast! Quick-Play Spell—Forbidden Dress!!"
[Target 1 face-up monster; it loses 600 ATK, but is unaffected by other Spells/Traps this turn.]
Of course, Cameron had accounted for it. Draped in sacred armor, Juggernaut Liebe gained effect immunity.
"This is my final strategy! With the armor, your path is sealed! The Empire's wall is unbreakable!"
6000 Defense, immune to targeting and destruction, Juggernaut Liebe stood as the Empire's strongest fortress. Even Alternative's white burst left no mark.
"The Varian Empire's steel bastion—indestructible!"
Kaima grimaced. With her options spent, Cameron was tougher than she had thought.
Now, she was glad to have brought Miles. Alone, she would have lost already.
She looked to him, his white hair fluttering in the wind at her side.
"Miles. Livorden's Fusion will not fade, true. That said, have you heard the saying—fight fire with fire?"
"Fight fire with fire?" Kaima frowned. "You mean… fight the Varian Empire's Xyz with our own? But you already did that."
Her low-level Xyz had boosted her Mokey Mokey deck's strength, she knew.
"Not me."
Miles pointed at her.
"You, Kaima. Do you have the resolve… to open a new dimension for Blue-Eyes?"
"A new dimension for Blue-Eyes… You want me to Xyz Summon? Bakana! I'm a student of Fusion Academy!"
"I'm a student there too. However, I realized… if you want to be the strongest, you can't limit yourself to one Summon method! Now it's your turn, Kaima Seth! Do you have that resolve?!"
With Cameron's fortress unbreakable, and 9400 LP still left, their only hope was for Kaima to step beyond Fusion…into Xyz.
...
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