Although it was Kira's turn, the moment he entered the Standby Phase—before he could even act—Joey swept his arm forward: "Activate the set card, the Trap Card 'A Rival Appears!!'"
"Select 1 face-up monster on your opponent's field; Special Summon from your hand 1 monster with the same Level as the selected monster.
I choose your Level 4 'Power Annihilator' on the field, and Special Summon a Level 4 monster from my hand."
He flashed a card from his hand.
"Come forth! 'Gearfried the Red-Eyes Iron Knight'!"
[Gearfried the Red-Eyes Iron Knight, ATK 1800]
Then he shot Kira a meaningful look.
Kira understood and nodded with a smile.
"In that case, I'll gladly borrow your strength."
Kira flicked his wrist.
"Activate the other set card my buddy placed.
Equip Spell 'Divine Sword - Phoenix Blade.' This card can only equip to a Warrior. Equip it to the Red-Eyes Iron Knight on the field; its ATK increases by 300."
The third demon frowned slightly.
An extra 300 ATK would bring it to 2100, but even if it attacked, Power Annihilator would rise to 2800—nothing to fear.
He hesitated, but didn't activate his Trap.
"However, I now activate 'Red-Eyes Iron Knight's' effect. Once per turn, when an Equip Card becomes equipped to this card, destroy those Equip Cards."
All three demons were startled.
"Destroy your own Equip!?"
"And after that, you can target 1 Spell/Trap your opponent controls and destroy it." Kira pointed at the back row set card. "Destroy that set."
The three demons jolted. "So that was your aim!?"
They could technically chain Ultimate Providence to negate the effect that would destroy Ultimate Providence. Of course, nobody would be dumb enough to do that.
Ultimate Providence failed to activate and was destroyed, removing their strongest back-row deterrent. The demon scowled and grunted. "Tch. Even so, you still have to Summon a monster with over 3800 ATK."
"I'm starting to notice a pattern with you—you've got something mixed up," Kira cut in. "Why must I defeat your monster?"
"Eh?" The demon blinked.
Kira didn't elaborate. Calmly, he revealed another card from his hand: "Spell Card 'Power Bond,' activate!"
Jaden exclaimed, "Zane's soul card!"
Though to be fair, it's not exactly unique—Syrus has it too.
"I fuse two 'Submarineroid' in my hand," Kira said. "Fusion materials: two Machine monsters with the same name. Fusion Summon—
—Pair Cycroid!"
[Pair Cycroid, ATK 1600]
A bicycle!
At Duel Academy, Jaden had often heard of Kira's infamous bicycle; it had once been the source of many students' trauma.
"Machines Fusion Summoned by Power Bond have their ATK doubled."
[Pair Cycroid, ATK 1600 → ATK 3200]
Kira continued: "Quick-Play Spell 'Cybernetic Fusion Support.'
Pay half your Life Points. This turn, when you Fusion Summon a Machine Fusion Monster, once, you can banish monsters from your hand, field, or GY to substitute Fusion Materials."
[Kira's team, LP 12000 → LP 6000]
"You just burned through six thousand Life Points at once!" the one-winged demon gasped. "In that much of a hurry to die!?"
Kira went on unfazed: "Then I activate another 'Power Bond'!
Via Cybernetic Fusion Support's effect, I banish the two 'Submarineroid' in the GY and Fusion Summon again. Fusion Summon—
—Pair Cycroid, No. 2!"
[Pair Cycroid, ATK 1600 → ATK 3200]
"You summoned two of those things in a row?"
The one-winged demon was stupefied.
"But 3200 ATK can't beat Power Annihilator."
"That's why I said, I'll just beat you instead."
Kira smiled and snapped his fingers.
"Pair Cycroid can attack directly."
"Nani!?"
All three were shocked.
"Go, bicycles—attack directly," Kira raised his hand. "Double strike!"
The bicycles narrowed their eyes into a vicious glare, then executed a gorgeous storm-drain drift around the bend. The two bikes performed a Dragon Tail Swing technique in succession, rolling over the demons' faces one by one, leaving two crisp tire tracks on each.
"Haha, that looks like it hurts," Jaden chuckled.
[Three Demons, LP 10200 → LP 7000 → LP 3800]
"You smug bastard!"
The goat-headed demon staggered to his feet, furious, sporting two sets of four-lined tire marks across his forehead.
"Is that all you've got—"
"Quick-Play Spell 'Flash Fusion,'" Kira said. "This lets me Fusion Summon using monsters I control during the Battle Phase."
The three demons froze.
Fusion during the Battle Phase?
"Fusion requirements: two Machines with the same name.
I fuse my two 'Pair Cycroid' on the field to Fusion Summon—
—Pair Cycroid!"
The two bicycles that had completed their drift-strike leapt into the air, drawn together, merging as a dazzling golden light erupted within the fusion vortex.
Pair Cycroid—resummoned!
[Pair Cycroid, ATK 1600]
"Of course, since it was Special Summoned during the Battle Phase, it can attack again." Kira swept his hand. "Pair Cycroid, attack directly once more."
The bicycle gazed upon the three demons with a conqueror's disdain, as if appraising three pieces of trash.
It burst forward again, drifting expertly around the bend, then stamped a fifth and sixth set of tire tracks.
"Gwahhh!"
[Three Demons, LP 3800 → LP 2200]
"Damn you…"
They gnashed their teeth.
Bicycle, bicycle—still the bicycle. Is it never-ending?
Power Annihilator watched the bikes drift glamorously past again and again to smack its masters directly, wearing a helpless look.
There was nothing it could do—the drift was too fast, the plates too blurry to read. All it could do was watch them go…
"As expected of Kira. He handles bicycles even more skillfully than before,"
Jaden murmured, impressed.
Not only that—because both bicycles created by "Power Bond" left the field, he even dodged Power Bond's end-phase burn drawback entirely.
But Kira still wasn't done. He smiled slightly and fanned out another card between his index and middle fingers.
"Quick-Play Spell 'De-Fusion,'" Kira said. "I De-Fuse the 'Pair Cycroid' on the field and Special Summon its Fusion Materials from the GY."
Everyone was dumbstruck.
De-Fuse the bicycle on the field…
Wait.
What were the materials that just fused into this bike again?
Then the demons' eyes bulged as they watched the bicycle split in two, reverting into two fresh bicycles with their attack counts reset.
[Pair Cycroid, ATK 1600] x2
The three demon generals slowly opened their mouths, faces written with disbelief.
N-no way…
"Battle continues," Kira said. "Pair Cycroid—keep up the double direct attacks."
The demon generals, mouths agape and eyes wide, stared blankly as the two bicycles charged them yet again, their minds going numb.
Are you freaking kidding me???
Another four clean tire tracks rolled across their demonic foreheads.
"AAAAAAAHHH!!!"
[Three Demons, LP 2200 → LP 0]