"My turn—draw!"
Akiza's fighting spirit burned anew.
This time, not solely for revenge.
She is a duelist.
No matter when or where, she never betrayed that identity, even at the darkest moment of her life.
Once upon a time, that had been her dream and ambition. She thought she'd forgotten, but how could it be forgotten so easily?
Even at her lowest ebb, she kept dueling—that's proof enough. Why did it take Goodwin to remind her of such an obvious thing?
"I summon 'Twilight Rose Knight'!"
[Twilight Rose Knight, ATK 1000]
"Twilight Rose Knight's effect—on Summon, Special Summon a Level 4 or lower Plant-Type monster from hand.
Special Summon 'Dark Verger'!"
[Dark Verger, ATK 0]
"Level 3 Tuner, Twilight Rose Knight!
Level 2, Dark Verger!
Two Level 1 'Evil Thorn' Tuners!
Tuning!"
[3+2+1+1=7]
"Let the ice-cold flames engulf the world, as black flowers bloom! Synchro Summon—
—Black Rose Dragon!!!"
Rose petals filled the sky as the dragon descended, cloaked in a sea of flowers!
[Black Rose Dragon, ATK 2400]
"Your soul dragon has arrived." Kira smiled.
Akiza glanced at Black Rose Dragon with a complex look.
Yes, no matter what, Black Rose Dragon had always fought by her side, endured with her, suffered with her.
She resented her own power, but never Black Rose Dragon, nor dueling.
Black Rose Dragon was always with her, fighting for her, bearing her hatred and pain.
"I activate Equip Spell 'Thorn of Malice'," Akiza said,
"Equip to Black Rose Dragon—its ATK increases by 600!"
[Black Rose Dragon, ATK 2400→3000]
"Now, Black Rose Dragon activates its effect!
Once per turn, banish a Plant-Type from my GY to target a Defense Position monster you control—it switches to Attack Position and its ATK becomes 0 until the end of the turn!"
She revealed a Plant in her graveyard.
"I banish 'Evil Thorn' to have 'Machina Fortress' switch to Attack Position and become 0 ATK!"
Black Rose Dragon chomped the Evil Thorn, absorbing its energy. Vines lashed out, yanking Fortress upright.
[Machina Fortress, ATK 2500→0]
Actually, when Fortress is targeted by an opponent's monster effect, the opponent must reveal their hand and discard a card of your choice. But Akiza's hand was empty—nothing to discard.
"Once more, grant me your strength, Black Rose Dragon!"
Akiza's amber eyes shone fierce with determination.
"As a duelist!"
"Black Rose Dragon, attack Machina Fortress!"
With a boosted ATK of 3000, and Goodwin's LP at 2700, destroying Fortress (now 0 ATK) would win her the duel!
KABOOM—
Apocalyptic black flames roared across the field, melting Fortress in an instant. Psychic power stormed in all directions.
Akiza exhaled, panting.
"Did I do it?"
The smoke cleared—
The white-haired figure still stood, calm as ever.
[Kira, LP 700]
Akiza: "!"
"I activate Quick-Play Spell 'Emergency Provisions'—sending my Continuous Spell 'Mirage of Nightmare' to the grave to recover 1000 LP."
Akiza bit her lip.
He's a tough one.
Kira spoke:
"When Machina Fortress is destroyed in battle, destroy any card your opponent controls."
"Not happening," Akiza answered coolly.
"My Black Rose Dragon is equipped with 'Thorn of Malice'!
Opposing monsters that battle my equipped Black Rose Dragon won't be destroyed by battle, and after every battle, their ATK permanently drops by 600."
Although since Fortress was already at 0 ATK, it couldn't go any lower.
"You've evolved, Akiza Izinski." Kira smiled approvingly.
"The power in your last attack wasn't just hate. Only now can I sense your true duelist spirit."
Akiza: "…"
Even if she didn't want to admit it, it was true.
And not just because of what this 'Goodwin' said before—also due to what Yusei had told her.
For the first time in years, she didn't hate her own power as much.
Hatred and resentment were fading.
For the first time, she remembered her childhood's innocent dreams, her pure love and longing for dueling.
For the first time, she looked at the Dragon Mark on her arm and didn't resent it as a curse. She even thought—"Maybe this power can be used for good."
"Well, looks like I'm done here. Time to wrap this duel up."
Akiza: "!"
Such arrogant words—
Like this duel was just a game for him, and now that he was bored, he could end it whenever he liked.
Normally, she'd be angry at such blatant disrespect.
But oddly, Akiza couldn't muster up any anger.
Deep down, something told her he was simply stating the truth.
"My turn. Draw."
Kira drew.
"I play 'Necro Sacrifice'—Special Summon one or two monsters from my graveyard to my opponent's field.
I choose this card—" He grinned, showing the notorious Planet card:
"The Big Saturn—Special Summoned to your field!"
[The Big Saturn, ATK 2800]
Akiza stared wide-eyed at the appearance of The Big Saturn on her side of the field.
A gift—for me!?
"Of course, don't be shy," Kira said.
"With 'Necro Sacrifice'' summoning a monster to your field, the number of Tributes needed to summon a high-Level monster is reduced accordingly."
He revealed another card:
"So I tribute 1 less monster—I Normal Summon 'Cyber Dragon'!"
[Cyber Dragon, ATK 2100]
"Now I play 'One for One'—discard a monster from hand to Special Summon a Level 1 monster from my Deck.
I Special Summon 'Tuningware'!"
[Tuningware, ATK 100]
"The card I discarded was a Level 1 Tuner—'Glow-Up Bulb'.
By sending the top card of my Deck to the GY, 'Glow-Up Bulb' can Special Summon itself from the GY.
I Special Summon 'Glow-Up Bulb' from the GY!"
[Glow-Up Bulb, ATK 0]
"Level 1, Glow-Up Bulb!
Level 1, Tuningware!
Level 5, Cyber Dragon!
Tuning—!"
[1+1+5=7]
"Synchro Summon! Level 7—
—Seven Sword Warrior!"
[Seven Sword Warrior, ATK 2300]
"Now Tuningware's effect: When used as Synchro Material, draw 1 card."
Akiza: "You went through all this for a monster like that? Even after summoning it, it can't defeat my Black Rose Dragon—"
"Patience." Kira smiled.
"Next, I equip 'Black Pendant' to Seven Sword Warrior—raising its ATK by 500."
[Seven Sword Warrior, ATK 2300→2800]
Akiza frowned: "That only matches The Big Saturn's ATK..."
Is he planning to double KO with The Big Saturn? But he was the one who gave it to me! What's the point?
"Seven Sword Warrior's effect: Once per turn, when equipped, inflict 800 damage to your opponent."
[Akiza Izayoi, LP 4000→3200]
Seven Sword Warrior's strike made Akiza stagger back.
"It also has another effect," Kira continued.
"Once per turn, you can send an Equip Card it's equipped with to the GY—and when you do, destroy a face-up monster your opponent controls."
Destroying a face-up monster...!
Akiza's eyes flew to The Big Saturn.
Yes—The Big Saturn's effect means when it's destroyed by an opponent's card effect, both players take damage equal to its ATK.
Which means both would take 2800—
"And when 'Black Pendant' is sent from the field to the GY, inflict 500 more damage to your opponent," Kira said nonchalantly.
Akiza: "!!"
Equip for 800, destroy The Big Saturn for 2800, Black Pendant for 500—
A single combo for 4100 burn damage!
OTK!
"But you have only 700 LP left!" Akiza exclaimed. "When The Big Saturn explodes, wouldn't you lose first?"
"Oh? You're worried for me? How touching."
Kira laughed.
"But you don't have to worry about that.
I activate 'Mind Trust'.
I tribute my Level 7 Machina Fortress on the field and retrieve a Level 1 Tuner from my GY."
He gestured to Machina Fortress.
"I tribute Machina Fortress (Level 7), add 'Hanewata' (Level 1 Tuner) from GY to hand."
"What!?"
Akiza's eyes went wide—
Hanewata. Right—when discarded, its controller takes no effect damage that turn.
"And I discard Hanewata—this turn, I take no effect damage."
Akiza: "…"
"Alright, like I said—game over." Kira said calmly. "I'd keep playing, but I'm out of time.
So…"
He snapped his fingers.
"Seven Sword Warrior, send Black Pendant to the GY—destroy The Big Saturn!"
Seven Sword Warrior swung its final blow.
The Big Saturn exploded at the moment of impact, unleashing a storm of antimatter from its iron core. Golden rings collapsed, the field and the Black Rose Dragon, with all the equipped thorns, even Saturn itself—everything disintegrated into quantum dust, heralding the end of the universe.
[Akiza, LP 3200→0]