"Duel!" x2
"I'll take first. Draw."
The D. drew, adjusted his glasses, and looked coldly at Kira.
Duel King or not, this was too arrogant. To declare so brazenly that he was taking Plasma, speaking and acting like Ultimate D already bore his surname.
He wasn't even putting the World Champion in his eyes.
Head lowered, his lenses reflecting light and hiding his gaze, he only seemed more sinister.
"Seems I'm being underestimated," he said coolly. "Then let me show the Duel King the power of a champion with all restraints removed."
He slid a card into his Duel Disk.
"Spell: Graceful Charity. Draw three, discard two."
He immediately drew three more.
"I set three cards face-down. Turn end!"
"Only sets," Kira murmured. "Feels like more people have been doing that lately…
Alright, my turn. Draw."
Kira pitched a card from hand to the GY and played another.
"From my hand, Tricky's effect—discard a card to Special Summon this card.
I Special Summon 'The Tricky'!"
A card was discarded to the GY, and golden summoning light flashed on the field. Cloak billowing, the question-mark-chested magician appeared.
[The Tricky, ATK 2000]
"Oh? Opening with a Level 5," The D. pushed up his frames. "Planning to swing in, Duel King?"
"The discarded card was the Quick-Play Spell 'Silent Burning.'"
Kira lifted his Duel Disk; his GY emitted white light.
"While Silent Burning is in the GY, I can banish it to add one 'Silent Magician' from my Deck to my hand."
The spell drifted up and faded, its dissipating energy turning into a scatter of white motes, forming a milky magic circle on the floor.
The circle flared; a pillar of white light shot up. The silver-haired magician's phantom flitted over the field and settled into Kira's hand as a card.
"Next, Normal Summon 'Witch of the Black Forest.'"
A black-robed witch appeared, ten fingers laced as if praying.
[Witch of the Black Forest, ATK 1100]
"Silent Magician cannot be Normal Summoned. It can only be Special Summoned by tributing a Spellcaster you control."
Kira raised his arm.
"I tribute the Spellcaster 'Witch of the Black Forest.'
Wings of hope in silence—Magician of Light, appear—
—Silent Magician, Summon!"
White light gathered into a storm; a complex magic array spread across the floor. The silver-haired, white-robed magician emerged from the surging mana, cleaving the wind with her staff and alighting lightly.
[Silent Magician, ATK 1000]
"Silent Magician," The D. said, a bit solemn. "The original Duel King's ace—bringing her out this quickly."
"And the tributed Witch has a special ability," Kira continued. "When Witch of the Black Forest is sent to the GY, I add one monster with 1500 or less DEF from my Deck to my hand.
I add a monster with 1200 DEF—"
The Duel Disk auto-searched, a monster card popped from the deck module. Kira took it; the deck auto-shuffled.
"'Psychic Megacyber' to hand."
"When your Spell/Trap count exceeds mine, 'Psychic Megacyber' can Special Summon itself from hand.
You have three backrow; I have none. Condition met."
He didn't keep the searched monster in hand—he slapped it onto the Disk.
"Special Summon 'Psychic Megacyber'!"
Golden electricity exploded; a gold, immortal-alloy giant rose amid crackling current, exuding crushing pressure.
[Psychic Megacyber, ATK 2400]
"Three high-level bodies at once?" The D. was startled.
In truth, Silent wasn't actually high-level—she's Level 4. But her function is essentially that of a boss; the point stands.
"So this is a king's duel—full-throttle from the start," The D. nudged his glasses. "Impressive."
Together, they had more than enough damage to break his LP; any two direct hits would hurt. Yet The D. remained calm.
Kira's eyes naturally fell to the three face-downs.
It was obvious—their primary confidence and safety came from that backrow.
But Kira had plans.
"Then I activate the Spell 'Metamorphosis,'" Kira said. "Tribute a monster you control to Special Summon a Fusion Monster from the Extra Deck with the same Level as the tributed monster."
"Still more?"
The D. chuckled, needling.
"Hey now, at this rate it'll be morning by the time it's my turn."
"Is that so? No worries—then let's make sure your turn doesn't come."
Kira smiled.
"Don't worry, it ends right now.
I tribute the Level 6 'Psychic Megacyber' for Metamorphosis!
When a warrior with dragon-taming power merges with a Dragon, true strength is released—
—Level 6, Ryu Senshi, Summon!"
Metamorphosis consumed the golden giant, scattering its energy into glittering motes. The light gathered into a gleaming blade and armor; a masked swordsman stepped down upon the storm.
[Ryu Senshi, ATK 2000]
"Lower ATK…?"
That odd change made The D. uneasy.
Using an extra card to transform the Psychic Megacyber into a weaker Ryu Senshi—there had to be a purpose. This wasn't about aesthetics.
Something was coming.
"Battle."
Kira gave the attack order.
"Silent Magician—direct attack The D."
She twirled her staff twice; white mana gathered at the tip into a gleaming orb.
"Silent's ATK increases by 500 for each card in its controller's hand," Kira said. "I have two cards left—so +1000."
[Silent Magician, ATK 1000 → 2000]
"Silent Burning!"