"My turn!"
Yugi's fingertip slid precisely across the top of his Deck, and a brand-new card fell into his hand. His gaze swept over the monsters on Yuto Tenshou's field, a glimmer of decision flashing in his eyes.
"Yuto Tenshou…"
Yugi's voice pierced the battlefield.
"Since I cannot stop you from summoning that unknown ACE next turn… then, right now, with absolute power, let us decide the outcome!"
Without a second thought, he drew out a Spell Card from his hand and slammed it onto the Duel Table!
"I activate the Ritual Spell—[Black Luster Ritual]!!! I tribute monsters from my hand whose total Levels equal 8!"
Yugi's voice was like the chanting of an ancient incantation.
"I offer the soul of darkness—Level 7 [Dark Magician]!"
The phantom of the legendary spellcaster appeared, holding a green staff and clad in a purple robe.
"And the soul of light—Level 1 [Kuriboh]!"
The cute, furball-shaped creature appeared, letting out a Kuri-kuri cry.
"One soul invites the light, one soul guides the darkness!"
Yugi's voice rose sharply.
"At the crossroads of light and dark, in the vortex of chaos, is born the warrior who split heaven and earth! Descend now—[Black Luster Soldier]!!!"
Boom—!!!
The Ritual circle erupted with chaotic light that engulfed everything! The energies of light and dark collided and fused violently, finally transforming into a pillar of radiance that pierced the sky!
Within that light descended a warrior clad in blue and gold armor, holding sword and shield.
The legendary warrior of creation—[Black Luster Soldier]! With a mighty 3000 Attack, he reigned supreme over the battlefield!
"Battle Phase!"
He swung his arm, targeting Yuto's defenses.
"[Gaia the Dragon Champion]! Attack the left-side [H.L.V.]! Spiral Spear Strike!!"
The great dragon lance surged forth with unstoppable piercing force, stabbing directly into the massive landing vessel!
Boom—!!!!
Its hardened metal shell was like paper before the terrifying 2600 Attack! [H.L.V.] was instantly skewered, its internal structure detonating violently, exploding into a massive fireball and fragments of shrapnel scattered across the field!
"It's not over yet!"
Yugi's voice did not pause, his arm now pointing to the other landing craft.
"[Black Luster Soldier]! Attack the middle [H.L.V.]! Chaos Blade!!!"
[Black Luster Soldier] let out a low, heavy battle cry! He raised his sword high, chaotic energy madly surging along its blade! A massive slash of pure chaotic power tore through the air, descending upon the second [H.L.V.] with the force of creation itself!
Zzraaa—BOOOOM!!!!
Its cut was mirror-smooth, and under the violent shockwave of chaos it was utterly annihilated, dissipating into particles of nothingness!
In an instant, two of Yuto's most strategically vital [H.L.V.] units had been destroyed!
"End of turn."
Yugi's voice carried a trace of regret at not being able to completely break the defense, yet also firm confidence in [Gaia the Dragon Champion] holding the line.
Yuto Tenshou's turn.
"Draw!!!"
Yuto drew a card! Seeing it, his heart sank—[Bombardment Marker]! Not an extender… not a field clearer… just a defensive Trap!
"Standby Phase!"
Suppressing his frustration, he activated the effect of the sole surviving [H.L.V.].
"I activate [H.L.V.]'s effect! I send it to the Graveyard!"
The massive landing pod let out a hissing release of pressure, and its hatch burst open!
"Then, from my Deck, I Special Summon in Defense Position—[MS-06 Zaku II]!!!"
A dark-green mass-production Mobile Suit stepped forth from the craft, kneeling on one knee as it joined the defense line.
Now, Yuto's field was reduced to just three monsters: the weakened [GQuuuuuuX Gundam], and two [MS-06 Zaku II].
"Main Phase…"
He looked at his pitiful hand—only the just-drawn [Bombardment Marker] and [ACE – Black Tri-Stars]. Despair flooded him like icy waves. No materials to summon [Black Tri-Stars]… not even a way to organize a proper offense!
He had no choice but to delay, pinning his hopes on [Bombardment Marker] taking down [Black Luster Soldier].
"I Set one card!"
He placed [Bombardment Marker] in his back row.
"Turn end!"
"My turn!"
Almost immediately, Yugi continued. He glanced at the new card he drew, then locked onto Yuto's faltering defenses—three defense monsters, and one unknown Set card. This guy was no longer a threat!
"Straight to Battle Phase! [Gaia the Dragon Champion]! Attack the newly Summoned [Zaku II] on the right!"
The lance pierced straight through the freshly deployed Zaku, shattering it instantly!
"Next!"
Yugi's arm didn't stop, pointing toward the middle [Zaku II].
"[Black Luster Soldier]! Attack the center [Zaku II]!"
Just as [Black Luster Soldier] raised his blade, chaotic energy ready to erupt—
"Now—!!!"
Like a predator lying in wait, Yuto let out a roar he had suppressed for so long!
"Trap Card Activate—[Bombardment Marker]!!!"
BOOM—!!!
The Set card flipped up with explosive force!
"What?!"
Yugi's pupils shrank, his voice breaking in shock.
"[Bombardment Marker]?!"
"That's right! [Bombardment Marker]'s effect activates! When an opponent's monster declares an attack, negate that attack! Then, without damage calculation, destroy both the attacking monster [Black Luster Soldier] and the attacked [Zaku II]!!!"
BOOOOM—!!!!
A devastating bombardment fell precisely upon both marked positions—the [Black Luster Soldier] and [Zaku II] were obliterated together! When the smoke cleared, both had turned to ash.
Yugi's proud [Black Luster Soldier], taken down by a single Trap and a weak Zaku in mutual destruction! Only [Gaia the Dragon Champion] remained!
"End of turn."
Yugi ended reluctantly. Nevertheless, it didn't matter—Yuto had no way to recover, and his Gundam was no threat!
"My turn—Draw!"
This was Yuto's final hope! His Deck was nearly exhausted, with almost no resources left to use! If this draw didn't deliver the card to end it all… then it was all garbage time from here.
Please! My Deck! Answer my belief! Give me—the card to finish everything!!!
He yanked the card out, and the moment his eyes landed on it—
"Wuhuuuu—!!!!"
A shout of triumph burst from Yuto's throat, echoing across the Duel Field!
"Yugi! Do you see this?! This is my ultimate ace to turn it all around!!"
He raised the card, glowing with hope, high into the air, then flipped it face-up for Yugi to see!
"I activate the Spell Card—[Radar Lock]!!! [Radar Lock]'s effect is—"
His voice trembled with excitement.
"Choose one monster on your opponent's field! When my Machine-Type monsters battle that chosen monster, their Attack becomes doubled!!!"
"What?!"
Yugi's face changed instantly! He snapped his gaze to Yuto's field! There… one monster remained. The one he had dismissed as harmless—[GQuuuuuuX Gundam]!
"Don't tell me?!"
A terrifying thought clenched Yugi's heart!
"That's right, Yugi!"
Yuto thrust his finger at [Gaia the Dragon Champion]!
"Target locked! [GQuuuuuuX Gundam], switch to Attack Position! Attack target—[Gaia the Dragon Champion]! Beam Saber, maximum output!!!!"
The Gundam's visor blazed with searing red light, burning as if it would consume itself! Like a blazing white comet, it charged straight at its locked target!
[Radar Lock]'s effect took hold! Gundam's Attack skyrocketed mid-charge!
ATK: 1800 → 3600!!!
BOOOOOOM—!!!!
The Gundam's Beam Saber, empowered by 3600 destructive Attack, sliced through Gaia's body without resistance! An earsplitting alarm shrieked as Yugi Muto's Life Point counter flickered madly amid the explosion and smoke, like a candle in the wind, until finally—
It hit zero!
...
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