"I set one card face-down and end my turn."
Kira declared.
"At the end of your turn, the effect of the 'Interdimensional Matter Transporter' you activated this turn is also over. The banished 'Dark Flattop' returns to the field."
A wave of transparent dimensional energy rippled—the shadow of the pitch-black carrier once again loomed like Mount Everest, hovering ominously.
[Dark Flattop, Defense 3000]
"That carrier is what you protected at the cost of your own well-being, and now I'm returning it to you," Kira said with a faint smile. "Don't waste this chance. Use its power to counterattack."
Off-field, Jack commented flatly, "That guy called Greiger is completely at Goodwin's mercy."
"So it seems, at least for now," Yusei agreed. "But he still has a chance. This turn is Greiger's last stand."
"Oh?"
Jack raised an eyebrow at Yusei, signaling a question—with his eyes asking, how do you know?
Yusei offered no explanation. "Just keep watching and you'll understand."
…
Greiger's voice boomed: "My turn, draw!"
Though appearing at a total disadvantage, his fighting spirit was undiminished. In fact, his hatred for Goodwin only grew. In this duel, his aces—painstakingly summoned—had been repeatedly bounced from the field. That feeling of having all his strength mustered but never being able to land a punch only fueled his resentment more, making him all the more eager to skin Goodwin alive.
And Yusei was right—he still had hope!
Precisely because he saved his mark as a Dark Signer and his ace boss monster, the "Dark Flattop," he had this opportunity for a counterstrike.
"Activating Speed Spell, 'Angel Baton'!"
Greiger revealed his strongest spell card.
"When you have at least two Speed Counters, draw two cards from your deck, then discard one card from your hand."
Greiger drew two, then discarded one from his hand.
"The card I'm discarding is 'Flying Fortress SKY FIRE'!"
He raised his muscular arm and roared:
"Dark Flattop's effect! Once per turn: choose 'Flying Fortress SKY FIRE' in my Graveyard, and Special Summon it to the field, ignoring summoning conditions!
Return to my side once more—
Flying Fortress SKY FIRE!!"
Beneath the flying carrier, a dark swamp appeared, like an ocean leading to hell. The carrier surfaced slowly, an immense mech rising from its depths to cruise alongside its mothership.
[Flying Fortress SKY FIRE, ATK 3000]
Jack was shocked. This Greiger guy really had some skills; the bomber returned to the field almost instantly.
"Flying Fortress SKY FIRE's effect!" Greiger declared, "Once per turn, discard a card from your hand to destroy any card on your opponent's field!"
He tossed a card to the Graveyard.
At this moment, Goodwin had two cards on his field: in the front row, Brionac; in the back row, a set card.
Greiger's gaze flickered, considering briefly, before settling on the back row.
"Destroy the set card in the back row!"
The Brionac was strong but only had 2300 ATK and couldn't interfere outside its turn—it was easy to defeat in battle. However, the back row's unknown set was a greater threat.
Goodwin's Life Points were still a perfect 4000. Even if Greiger risked ignoring that set, using the bomber to destroy Brionac and then attacked directly, he'd deliver a hefty 3000 points of damage but leave Goodwin with 1000—insufficient for a finishing blow.
It only made sense to clear the back row first.
The bomber dropped shell after shell, bombarding Kira's field. The set card was engulfed in an explosion. In the brief flash before it vanished, it was revealed as a red trap—but not a generic one, as its outline disappeared in the flames.
"Now your Brionac has lost its protection." Greiger said. "Flying Fortress SKY FIRE, crush that disgusting dragon!"
All turrets on the bomber charged simultaneously, honeycomb missile launchers locking on with crimson targeting lights. The order was given—maximum tension, then a violent recoil. A dazzling 360-degree barrage roared out, with missiles like a searing waterfall of molten steel, shrapnel flickering in the smoke.
But at that moment, Kira's lips curled into a smile.
"I was waiting for this."
He waved his hand slowly.
"Trap activate!"
"What!?" Greiger exclaimed, hurrying to add, "Wait! You have nothing in your back row, you can't activate a trap!"
"Oh, but I can."
Kira chuckled as a whirlpool opened from his Graveyard—a trap card emerged, spinning out.
Though it was only for a fleeting instant before the blast, Greiger recognized it: the very card destroyed by his own SKY FIRE just now.
"Trap Card—'Cross Counter Trap'," Kira said. "The turn this card is sent from the field to the Graveyard, you have a one-time opportunity to activate a trap card from your hand." (Manga card)
It was also a trap Yugi used in the past.
As he spoke, the artwork of the Cross Counter Trap began to change. Starry ripples rolled over the card, morphing its image into another entirely. From the trap sprang a vortex of endless darkness and despair, like a demon from hell riding a storm of black mist.
"Trap Card—'Malevolent Catastrophe'!
When your opponent declares an attack, destroy all monsters on the field!" (Anime effect)
The evil vortex rapidly expanded, nearly engulfing the entire field. A terrifying gravity pulled both SKY FIRE and Dark Flattop in, the crushing weight soon producing the squeal of grinding metal. Both machines erupted and fell as flaming meteors.
"The trap on the field was just bait—the real trap was hidden in his hand," Jack said.
Yusei nodded: "Exactly, a chain trap. From start to finish, Greiger's comeback was anticipated and completely controlled by Goodwin. Goodwin is a master at trap cards."
"Cheh, just luck," Jack snorted. "He set 'Cross Counter Trap' and held the real killer, 'Malevolent Catastrophe', in his hand. But for this double trap to work, Greiger needed to destroy the set card.
What if Greiger hadn't targeted the set?"
"No gamble. No luck involved," Yusei shook his head. "Goodwin analyzed the situation and deliberately guided the duel this way.
Last turn, when Greiger activated 'Interdimensional Matter Transporter,' he could choose to protect either the Flattop or the SKY FIRE. In the end, he protected the Flattop—"
Hearing Yusei's words, Jack suddenly realized: "Right, if you can only pick one, the SKY FIRE is stronger—it should have been protected.
But last turn, Greiger used a trap to protect the Dark Flattop—"
Yusei nodded: "Because the Flattop can revive SKY FIRE every turn—it's the key to sustained offense. There's only one situation where Greiger would prioritize protecting the Flattop."
Jack blurted out, "He was sure he could revive SKY FIRE on his next turn!"
"Exactly. So the SKY FIRE's revival this turn wasn't a coincidence—it was certain," Yusei explained. "SKY FIRE's effect lets you discard a card to destroy any opponent's card.
Suppose Goodwin has both Brionac and a set card, and his Life Points remain 4000. SKY FIRE has 3000 ATK, Flattop has 0—he can't win in a single turn."
Jack reasoned, "So Greiger will definitely destroy the set card first!"
"Precisely," Yusei nodded. "No luck, no gamble. The entire duel flowed as Goodwin calculated."
…