"Got it memorized, Krista? This is how you use Quasar!"
The power of the heavens erupted—the Trinitized, Overlimit starlight once again illuminated the skies of the Axet Republic, radiating from Synchron Academy.
It was the same light that had once brought hope to Axet.
Before the duel even began, Krista had resolved to let this celestial light of hope shine again upon Axet, now sunk in decline.
"Hey, hey! Isn't that Shooting Quasar Dragon?!"
"It really is!"
"The Synchro that defeated the Earthbound Immortal and saved Axet… it's back at Synchron!"
"If I hurry, can I still make it to the match?!"
No advertisement or hype could compete with this sight.
In today's Axet Republic, Shooting Quasar Dragon was the very symbol of salvation—the ultimate Synchro.
"You did it, Krista!"
Watching the radiant hope spread from Synchron Academy, Vice Principal Orcus could only sigh in awe.
Miles had succeeded!
First turn, Scrap Fist. Second turn, Shooting Quasar Dragon. The speed of evolution was geometric… stunning everyone.
"Mr. Miles… you're so cool!"
Aisha's cheeks flushed, her heart racing uncontrollably, even heating up.
"Fastest Quasar ever… seriously, that's beyond words!"
At this point, only Aisha and Ren knew that the one dueling in Krista's place—or rather, forced to duel in her place—was Miles himself.
Perhaps even Irena had already realized it, sharp as she was, after seeing the Millennium Puzzle vanish from Aisha's chest; however, she chose not to say it aloud.
Synchron Academy, meanwhile, had completely exploded in excitement.
"Holy moly, that's insane! That's nuts! Totally unbeatable!"
With her limited vocabulary, the delinquent Lost could only stack exclamations to express her feelings.
Even Aoyao, who rarely opened her mouth at all, muttered in disbelief: "Krista's become that strong? In just two days, she's like a whole different person."
"She evolved from Accel Synchro to Trinity Accel Synchro? And in only two turns? That's the kind of terrifying speed that could pressure even the gods."
The Rune Eyes beneath Nid Hogg's shades glimmered brighter than ever, resonating with the highest-level Synchro energy.
"Even the Three Polar Gods of the Astral Realm—only Odin, Father of the Aesir—might be able to withstand that power."
XYZ Academy, on the other hand, was just as shaken—only in the worst way.
Lloyd was aghast. "That wasn't an Accel Synchro… it was a Trinity Accel?! She pulled it off on her second turn as the first player? What kind of speed is that?!"
Leon nodded silently. "As expected of Synchron Academy's ace—Krista Shia, yet another duelist XYZ Academy will have to take seriously."
Perhaps because Krista's soul was still sealed within the Millennium Puzzle, the Summon of Shooting Quasar Dragon was accompanied by a golden projection from the ancient relic on Miles's arm.
"Miles!" Krista's voice echoed again in his mind.
"Oh?" Miles blinked. "You can still talk even after turning into a dragon?"
He recalled their last duel—when Krista had first manifested as Quasar. She hadn't been able to speak again until the duel ended, and she returned to human form after Demolish was devoured by the Wicked God.
"Maybe it's because of the Millennium Puzzle. Feels like part of my soul's still in there."
"No problem. As long as it doesn't affect the fight, we're good. Full throttle, Krista—Quasar!"
"Awooo!"
He had to admit… hearing Krista imitate a dragon roar from inside the Puzzle was actually kind of cute.
"ROOOOAAAAARRR!!!"
Nonetheless, when the Battle Phase began, the real thing—a massive, starlight-clad dragon shining across the heavens—let out a roar that shook the world.
Even Takehiko, watching from the commentator's booth, could only describe it as blinding radiance of justice. The three Exosister Xyz monsters' holy glow was completely overwhelmed by Quasar's cosmic aura.
The difference in raw power was overwhelming. Against the might of Quasar, the Exosisters stood no chance.
Riding her D-Board through the stardust storm, Korys clenched her teeth. "Krista Shia… the ace of Synchron Academy… her power is this terrifying?!"
Even knowing she was facing an ACE, Korys never imagined she'd be pushed to the brink within a single turn.
"No… I can't give up now! Even against Shooting Quasar Dragon, I refuse to fall so easily! I can't let Synchron win this turn—it's the pride of XYZ Academy at stake! Never!"
Miles raised his hand and declared, "Prepare yourself for the baptism of the stars, Korys! Shooting Quasar Dragon can attack up to the number of times it was used for its Synchro materials in a single Battle Phase!"
Having completed a Trinity Accel Synchro, Shooting Quasar Dragon could unleash three consecutive attacks in this Battle Phase.
Guiding the light of the stars with flawless precision, Miles's D-Wheel glowed with golden speed as he called the first strike.
"—Creation Burst – Genesis Impact! First volley!"
In an instant, countless starlight trajectories converged into Quasar's maw, firing a cataclysmic blast toward [Exosister Mikailis], her only remaining monster.
"Trap Card, activate!" Korys shouted, flipping her final face-down beside her D-Board. [Bye Bye Damage]!"
[During damage calculation, if your monster is attacked: Your battling monster cannot be destroyed by that battle, also if you take battle damage from that battle, your opponent takes effect damage equal to double that amount.]
"I'll protect Mikailis from destruction and deal double the battle damage—3000 damage straight back to you!"
"Heh. Sorry, but—negated!"
The starlight overwhelmed the reflective burst. No mere Trap Card could stop Shooting Quasar Dragon's might. The people of Axet had seen Demolish prove that firsthand.
"This is Shooting Quasar Dragon's—Quasar Field!"
[Once per turn, when a Spell, Trap, or monster effect is activated: You can negate the activation, and if you do, destroy that card.]
With Quasar's built-in triple negation, Korys's final Trap never stood a chance.
The Genesis Impact erupted, swallowing [Exosister Mikailis] whole in the brilliance of the stars.
[Exosister Mikailis] destroyed.
[Korys, LP: 1900 → 400]
Barely hanging on, Korys steadied herself on her D-Board as the shimmering light of her fallen Exosister faded—triggering the Continuous Spell she'd left behind.
"When a LIGHT monster is destroyed, I activate my Continuous Spell [Fountain in the Sky]!"
[When a LIGHT monster is destroyed by battle and sent to your Graveyard: You can banish that monster; gain LP equal to its ATK.]
A cascade of healing light poured down, forming rippling azure waves beneath Korys's feet as she soared forward again.
"I banish [Exosister Mikailis] from my Graveyard and recover Life Points equal to her Attack!"
[Korys, LP: 400 → 2900]
She'd known her Trap couldn't stop Quasar, but she'd played it anyway—to force Miles to use one of Quasar's negations, ensuring the safety of her [Fountain in the Sky].
As long as that card remained, her LP would keep replenishing. She wouldn't be taken out in a single turn—not by Synchron Academy.
If she could just survive this round, her Spell [Dimension Fusion] could bring back all the Exosisters from the Banished Zone in one go. She still had a fighting chance!
"I'm not done yet!" Korys cried, weaving through the shower of stardust.
"—Creation Burst – Genesis Impact! Second volley!"
Miles's command came again. Starlight detonated across the track, consuming another Exosister.
[Exosister Asophiel] destroyed.
"I use [Fountain in the Sky] again—banish Asophiel and recover 2100 Life Points!"
[Korys, LP: 2900 → 5000]
"—Creation Burst – Genesis Impact! Triple volley!"
Shooting Quasar Dragon's final barrage exploded forth. The Trinitized Accel Synchro's threefold starlight assault annihilated all three Exosister Xyz Monsters.
[Exosister Gibrine] destroyed.
"I activate [Fountain in the Sky]—banish Gibrine and recover 1400 Life Points!"
[Korys, LP: 5000 → 6400]
On the other side, Korys Diane's Life Points only continued to climb. Even after her Exosisters were wiped out, she broke past 6000.
"That's it, Korys! Show them the spirit of XYZ!"
In the prep zone, her teammate Lloyd trembled, moved nearly to tears.
Even as the colossal pressure of Shooting Quasar Dragon bore down on her, Korys—riding her D-Board—kept fighting, weaving through each cataclysmic blast of stellar energy.
Though the stardust had cut across her pale skin, in this Turbo Duel for her academy's pride, a true duelist would never know the meaning of surrender until the very end.
"So now, Shooting Quasar Dragon's out of attacks, right?!"
"Not bad, Korys~."
Even Miles could feel her unyielding spirit, the duelist's will colliding mid-duel, and praised her sincerely.
Yet, to Korys, it sounded like something else entirely.
'He's flirting with me!'
Her heart fluttered.
Even the unshakable girl who had endured three consecutive Quasar strikes now found a faint blush creeping onto her face.
"Nevertheless, every duel must have a winner. Shooting Quasar Dragon—this turn's gathered Synchro light holds The Last trump card!"
Only one card remained set in Miles's back row.
At the start of the turn, when he'd calculated every possibility in his mind, this was the card meant to deliver the finishing blow once Quasar's light had gathered.
"I activate my Set card!"
The moment he flipped it, Shooting Quasar Dragon's golden aura flared red—the redshift of a collapsing quasar reborn.
"When the gathered starlight becomes one, it illuminates the future! And when it scatters, it becomes countless stardust across the cosmos! This is the light of infinite possibility!—Trap Card, [Synchro Out]!"
[Target 1 face-up Synchro Monster you control; return it to the Extra Deck, then, if all the monsters that were used for that Synchro Summon are in your Graveyard, you can Special Summon those monsters. Monsters Special Summoned by this effect are destroyed during the End Phase.]
"I target [Shooting Quasar Dragon] on my field—return it to the Extra Deck, and Special Summon the three monsters used for its Synchro Summon from my Graveyard!"
The red reversal of the Synchro aura detonated. From the fading brilliance of Quasar's vast form, the three Synchro Monsters that composed the Trinity Accel—returned to the field.
United as one flame; scattered, countless stars.
The stardust glow expanded wider than even Quasar's celestial radiance had before.
"Since they were Special Summoned during the Battle Phase, they can continue to attack!"
Miles raised his voice as the light spread across the heavens.
"Direct attack, [Shooting Riser Dragon]—'Starlight Mirage!'"
[Shooting Riser Dragon, ATK: 2100]
Wings flashing through the radiant sky, Shooting Riser Dragon dove, its light piercing through Korys's D-Board.
"Ahhhhhhh!"
[Korys, LP: 6400 → 4300]
"Direct attack, [Stardust Assault Warrior]—Starlight Impact Strike!"
[Stardust Assault Warrior, ATK: 2100]
Following in Riser Dragon's wake, the Stardust Warrior dashed forward and struck clean through.
"Ahhhhhhh!"
[Korys, LP: 4300 → 2200]
"This… is the finishing blow!"
Miles clenched his fist and swung upward toward the sky.
"The final strike—[Junk Warrior]'s direct attack!"
[Junk Warrior, ATK: 2300]
Having charged his iron fist all this time, waiting for the light to clear, Junk Warrior raised the massive steel punch that now carried all the will of the duel.
"I've won, Korys! Take my final hit!"
The giant iron fist came crashing down from above—inescapable, unblockable—leaving Korys no choice but to take it head-on.
"—Scrap Fist!"
"Ahhhhhhhhhh!"
[Korys, LP: 2200 → 0]
Miles's constructed Quasar OTK ended beautifully—with a single, perfect Scrap Fist that connected the duel from beginning to end in one decisive strike.
...
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