"Heh-heh… hahahaha—!!!"
At the very instant Yuto declared his attack, a low, commanding laugh burst from Yugi Muto's lips!
It was not Yugi's usual voice—it carried the sovereign dignity of a king surveying the battlefield, seeing all!
"Wha—?!"
Yuto's heart clenched as if seized by an invisible hand! An ominous premonition flooded his body!
"This moment!"
Yugi's voice boomed like thunder, undeniable.
"I flip my Set card—Trap Card activate: [Negate Attack]!!!"
VMMM—!!!
An absolute barrier, freezing space itself, unfolded before [Gaia the Fierce Knight]!
[GQuuuuuuX Gundam]'s raging torrent of energy was deflected and snuffed out! A surge of rules forced its attack to a halt, slamming shut the doors of the Battle Phase!
"Tch!"
The frustration of being cut short made Yuto grit his teeth. He glanced at his two remaining cards, then lowered his hand in resignation.
"…Turn end."
The system's cards were powerful… yet his hand could never keep up!
The counterattack began—sounded by the King himself!
"My turn!"
Yugi's draw was fierce, as if burning his boats behind him.
"Draw!!!"
The card he drew seemed to blaze with victory!
"Yuto! Witness the power of bonds!"
His eyes sharpened like blades as he slammed a Spell onto the Duel Disk.
"I activate Spell Card—[Polymerization]!!!"
A rainbow vortex spun, pulling with immense suction!
"I fuse [Gaia the Fierce Knight] from my hand—"
The armored knight with his mighty lance appeared.
"With my partner [Curse of Dragon] on the field—"
The golden dragon roared deafeningly.
"Fusion!!!"
The knight and dragon merged, flowing into the vortex without hesitation!
"Dark knight, wielding the dragon's power—descend as the lancer who rends the heavens! Fusion Summon—[Gaia the Dragon Champion]!!!"
"ROOAAARRR!!!"
A dragon's roar fused with a knight's battle cry! The vortex burst apart!
Now, [Gaia the Fierce Knight] sat proudly astride [Curse of Dragon]'s back!
"Battle!"
Yugi's arm pointed like the sword of command, aimed at Yuto's white Gundam.
"[Gaia the Dragon Champion]! Attack [GQuuuuuuX Gundam]! With the strength to pierce all—obliterate the forbidden machine! Spiral Spear Strike!!"
"Urgh—!"
The dragon roared, carrying its rider like a blazing meteor!
Gaia's lance swirled with destructive dark flame, plunging at [GQuuuuuuX Gundam]'s cockpit!
Unavoidable! Unstoppable!
"Damn it!"
Death's shadow loomed. Yet at the last instant, Yuto slammed his Duel Disk!
[Unlock Psycommu System] on his field began to glow!
"I activate [Unlock Psycommu System]'s second effect!!!"
"When the equipped [GQuuuuuuX Gundam] would be destroyed—I send this Equip Spell to the Graveyard instead!!!"
BOOOOM—!!!!
The massive lance pierced the glowing barrier of [Unlock Psycommu System]!
The Equip Spell shattered under the impact, dissolving into motes of light!
The destruction was negated! The Gundam shook violently, sparks bursting, its mono-eye flickering madly—yet it still stood!
However, its Attack fell back to 1800.
[Yuto, LP: 2000 → 1800]
Not good!
Though he still had 1800 Life Points, only a defending [GQuuuuuuX Gundam] remained!
Facing Yugi's 2600-Attack [Gaia the Dragon Champion], if his defense fell next turn, it would be fatal!
He had to replenish his strength—now!
"My turn!"
Yuto's hand swept his Deck with desperate resolve.
"Draw!!!"
The moment his eyes landed on the new card, his furrowed brow eased—the light of salvation shone within!
"Yes! The key card!"
He slapped it onto his Duel Disk without hesitation.
"I activate Spell Card—[Operation British]!!!"
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!!!
With thunderous crashes and fiery trails, three massive steel pods plummeted like meteors, slamming into Yuto's field!
Through the smoke, three colossal drop pods—[H.L.V.]—stood tall! For now, silent in Defense Position, but ticking like bombs—their sealed hatches guarding the Mobile Suits inside!
"And I'm not done!"
Landing pods alone weren't enough—he needed a stronger line!
"I switch [GQuuuuuuX Gundam] to Defense Position!"
The white Mobile Suit crouched, shield raised to guard its cockpit.
"Next!"
He played one of his last monsters.
"I Normal Summon [MS-06 Zaku II] in Defense Position!"
CRASH!
The green, mono-eyed mass-production Mobile Suit landed heavily, kneeling with its machine gun braced before it—fragile, yet still a shield.
Now, Yuto had only one card left in hand.
His resources were drained!
Still, on his field, five monsters stood like a steel wall!
Although their defenses weren't great, sheer numbers formed a barrier hard to breach in one blow!
Most importantly, the three [H.L.V.]—ready to unleash their payload next turn—were his hidden trump card for a comeback!
"Turn end!"
Yuto's voice was weary, yet tinged with hope.
He placed his faith in the next turn, in the steel flood waiting within the [H.L.V.]!
Now his field was full.
Yugi stared at the steel bulwark of five machines, especially the ominous pods. His violet eyes glinted with gravity.
That last card in Yuto's hand, and the imminent detonation of [H.L.V.], promised the storm to come.
...
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