The Copy Yusei refresh-drew in one breath and continued his operations.
"Quickdraw Synchron in my hand can be Special Summoned by discarding one monster card from my hand.
Special Summon the second 'Quickdraw Synchron'."
[Quickdraw Synchron, ATK 700]
"Level 5 Tuner 'Quickdraw Synchron'!
Tuningware treated as Level 1 and Tuningware treated as Level 2, Tuning!"
[5 + 1 + 2 = 8]
"The gathered hope leads to a new horizon, becoming a shining road! Synchro Summon, break through—
Road Warrior!"
A giant fist covered in golden armor tore open the light ring. Energy sparks like molten metal flew from its moving knuckles. The moment Road Warrior descended, visible gravity ripples appeared. Every step it took produced the hydraulic sounds of mechanical transmissions. Behind it, particle streams like molten gold sprayed out, shattering the remaining starlight path of the Synchro into a sky full of light rain.
[Road Warrior, ATK 3000]
Yusei gritted his teeth. "Road Warrior…"
Just how many Synchro Summons did this guy plan to do in one turn?
"Of course, because I used two more 'Tuningwares' as Synchro Materials, I draw two more cards from the deck."
The Copy Yusei slowly drew two more cards.
Yusei glanced at the remaining Junk Synchron and the last Tuningware on the opponent's field, knowing it probably wasn't over yet.
Copy Yusei: "Road Warrior's effect activates.
Once per turn, I can Special Summon one Level 2 or lower Warrior or Machine monster from the deck."
A golden light shot out from the Copy Yusei's deck and turned into a round mechanical sphere. A red core in the center looked like an eye.
"Special Summon the Level 1 Machine Tuner 'Unknown Synchron'!"
[Unknown Synchron, ATK 0]
"Level 1 Tuner 'Unknown Synchron'!
Level 1 'Tuningware'!
Tuning!"
[1 + 1 = 2]
"The gathered prayers let comrades' souls overlap. Lend me the power of comrades! Synchro Summon—
T.G. Recipro Dragonfly!"
This time a Synchro Monster Yusei had never seen appeared. He stared in shock at the green metal dragonfly flapping its wings and exclaimed: "T.G.? That's not…"
He thought of the mysterious person who had guided him toward Accelerated Synchro and given him the possibility of evolution.
At this point Yusei did not yet recognize Antinomy, but he knew T.G. was that person's deck.
"Are you comrades with that person!?" Yusei asked.
"You mean Antinomy?" the Copy Yusei said calmly. "Yes, my most important comrade. He is to me, and also to you—though you haven't realized it yet."
"What?" Yusei frowned.
In fact, Antinomy had already, under Z-ONE's instruction, infiltrated the 5DS team disguised as "Bruno" and become an important companion to Yusei. Yusei simply didn't know Bruno's true identity yet.
The Copy Yusei seemed to have no intention of revealing it. He didn't continue and simply said: "My deck has already completed its final evolution on top of yours.
It possesses not only the ultimate personal evolution of Yusei Fudo but also inherits the souls of the comrades who once fought together for the future. That is why I said the current you cannot beat me."
As he spoke, he continued his operations and swung his arm.
"T.G. Recipro Dragonfly's effect activates. Once per turn, I can release one Synchro Monster on my field and Special Summon the original Synchro Materials used from the graveyard once again." (Anime effect)
"Using Recipro Dragonfly's effect, release 'Road Warrior'!"
Road Warrior's body blurred and released, turning into eight stars. The starlight rearranged and returned to Quickdraw Synchron and two Tuningwares.
[Quickdraw Synchron, ATK 700]
[Tuningware, ATK 100] ×2
"De-Synchro again…" Yusei lightly gritted his teeth.
Constant Synchro, constant de-fusion—maximizing the draw effect of the three Tuningwares.
They were clearly his own cards, things he was familiar with, yet he had never thought of using them this way. Seeing this, Yusei felt genuine admiration in his heart. Regardless of their positions, he had to admit he respected the replica before him.
Such skilled operation and masterful control of the cards were things the current him could not achieve.
…
Meanwhile, Kira watching through the live broadcast also felt his heart stir.
This development, this combo… it felt familiar.
To the protagonists of the current dimension, the Copy Yusei's high-intensity plays this turn were top-tier, but to Kira they only felt somewhat familiar.
This was a common scenario from the real-card environment of the 5DS era—the upper-tier competitive deck "Junk Doppel" built around Yusei's deck.
Back then Junk Doppel was famous for high-speed summoning and extremely powerful combo plays. Performing for five minutes in one turn and emptying the deck was normal. Compared to that, this replica was actually being quite conservative.
"Not bad," Kira murmured as he watched the replica.
This replica had either been tempered through countless battles to reach this level, or the blueprint it was copied from was a Yusei from an even further future timeline, naturally stronger than the current one.
…
Copy Yusei: "Level 3 Tuner 'Junk Synchron'!
Two Level 1 'Tuningwares'!
Tuning!"
[3 + 1 + 1 = 5]
"The gathered prayers become the wheel of evolution, becoming a shining road! Synchro Summon—
Level 5 Synchro Tuner, Accel Synchron!"
A brand-new Synchro Tuner. The moment this monster appeared, Yusei's eyes widened in shock. He almost doubted his own eyes.
Because what he saw being summoned looked like…
His own Duel Runner?
Yes—a red Duel Runner exactly like the ones both of them were riding, summoned onto the elevated highway as a monster. Without a rider, it sped between the two as if it had its own will.
Then the Duel Runner emitted a high-frequency mechanical transformation hum. The red fairing split open like a living thing. The front wheel hydraulic axle flipped upward in a reverse-joint posture, combining with the unfolding side-wing armor to form mechanical legs. The rear exhaust nozzles split, continuously spraying blue ion flames during the transformation. The front of the vehicle flipped forward and settled on the chest like heavy protective armor.
Accel Synchron, summoned!
Yusei was shocked beyond words.
My Duel Runner turned into a card?
Yes—Accel Synchron was a monster designed with Yusei's Duel Runner as its prototype. His Duel Runner had transformed into robot form.
"Not over yet. Accel Synchron is only the beginning that guides the path of true evolution."
The Copy Yusei shouted.
"What you are about to see next is the end of Synchro!"
…