"The end of Synchro?"
Yusei's eyes flashed.
From the moment the mechanical monster that looked exactly like his Duel Runner appeared, his premonition grew even stronger.
Something was coming.
Something extremely powerful that surpassed his current knowledge.
"I activate the effect of 'Level Eater' from the graveyard," the Copy Yusei declared.
"Level Eater in the graveyard can Special Summon itself by reducing the Level of one Level 5 or higher monster on my field by 1.
I reduce the Level of 'Quickdraw Synchron' on my field by 1 and Special Summon 'Level Eater' from the graveyard."
A graveyard vortex opened. The ghostly shadow of Level Eater emerged and passed through the little mechanical cowboy. Level Eater held a star in its mouth. Its form changed from ghostly to solid after absorbing the star.
[Level Eater, ATK 600]
"Quickdraw Synchron, now Level 4 Tuner, Level 1 'Level Eater', Tuning!"
[4 + 1 = 5]
"The gathered prayers awaken new power, becoming a shining road! Synchro Summon—
Junk Warrior!!!"
The classic old armor. The very first and most iconic Synchro Monster. Junk Warrior punched through the light curtain, sparks of electricity blooming across its body. After a perfect split landing, it gently touched down.
[Junk Warrior, ATK 2300]
"Preparations are complete."
The Copy Yusei briefly closed his eyes.
The next moment, his whole body and Duel Runner seemed covered in red glow. The road ahead of the Duel Runner seemed paved with a galaxy path. The Duel Runner seemed to grow wings and become part of the starlight, as if both he and the Duel Runner had become part of the light.
"Top Clear Mind!"
Yusei was shocked. "Top Clear Mind?"
He had only recently comprehended the Clear Mind state, and it was still unstable. Yet he could clearly feel that the power the opponent was erupting right now came from the same source and the same evolutionary path, but had gone much further—how could he not be shocked?
There was actually such a realm beyond Clear Mind?
"Level 5 Synchro Tuner 'Accel Synchron'! Level 5 Synchro Monster 'Junk Warrior'! Level 2 Synchro Monster 'T.G. Recipro Dragonfly'! Tuning!"
[5 + 5 + 2 = 12]
Yusei was even more stunned. "Synchro Summon using three Synchro Monsters!?"
The Copy Yusei's Duel Runner had already charged forward, turning into a ray of light piercing space. The three Synchro Monsters turned into layered nested star rings in front of him, guiding the way toward the boundless universe.
"The gathered stars connect bonds, pray together, fly toward the future, becoming a shining road!"
A galactic-vortex-like Synchro ring suddenly cracked open in the starry sky. Countless star-dust particles rearranged inside. When the twelfth starlight fell into place, the center of the ring erupted with supernova-like pure white light. Silver-white dragon claws pierced the light curtain first, spiral nebula energy coiling around the claw tips.
The Copy Yusei raised his arm high.
"Delta Accel Synchro—
Cosmic Blazar Dragon!!!"
The ultimate Synchro Dragon arrived as if from the end of the universe, causing space to distort upon descent. Its flickering body left comet-tail afterimages in the air. Light crystals continuously scattered from the edges of its spread wings. When it fully left the acceleration ring, the entire dragon body suddenly bloomed with absolutely pure white light. Wherever the light reached, rotating galaxy projections appeared.
[Cosmic Blazar Dragon, ATK 4000]
The instant he saw this majestic and sacred dragon body, Yusei felt his heart skip a beat.
He felt suffocated, as if this dragon held some extraordinary meaning for him. The pressure was truly god-like. That noble and holy body felt exactly like the dragon from his dreams.
It was as if every cell in his body was telling him: That's it. That's the one.
That was the ultimate thing he had always dreamed of at the end of the Synchro path—the most perfect dragon, the ultimate evolved form of the Stardust road.
…
"Cosmic Blazar…?"
Even the real Z-ONE's expression became somewhat strange.
"Can a Copy Yusei Fudo reach this level?"
"I told you, he is no longer a mere replica," Fake-Z-ONE said. "The setbacks and battles he experienced far surpass your imagination. He reached this realm through his own power, not merely by being copied.
That is why I said the Yusei Fudo of your dimension right now cannot win."
Kira was also surprised.
He hadn't expected a replica to be able to bring out even Blazar, that black-history big brother.
This was a legendary monster that never appeared in the anime and was only mentioned by name in Z-ONE's historical records. It was the strongest monster printed by the future Yusei in the timeline before Z-ONE's interference. It would not be an exaggeration to call it the ultimate symbol of Synchro.
…
"Of course, I also want to let you feel Blazar's power right away. However…"
The Copy Yusei glanced at the gauges on his Duel Runner. On the duel electronic screen, the "Battle Phase" option button was gray, indicating the Battle Phase for this turn had been sealed.
"Well, because of 'Thunder of Ruler' this turn, I cannot enter the Battle Phase. You managed to gain one more turn of life."
The Copy Yusei said.
"Then my turn ends. Now, use this hard-won new turn you gained in front of Blazar to the fullest and try challenging Blazar's power!"
Yusei gritted his teeth. "My turn, draw!"
This existence called Cosmic Blazar Dragon definitely possessed terrifying power. Although it was the first time Yusei encountered it, he could confirm it with pure intuition.
But he didn't know Blazar's specific abilities.
Yusei looked at his hand, then at his proud ace on the field—Stardust Dragon, who had fought alongside him until now.
"No matter what, I will believe in Stardust's power and fight!"
Yusei declared.
"I Normal Summon 'Synchron Explorer'!"
[Synchron Explorer, ATK 0]
Yusei didn't know Blazar's abilities, but the observers—Kira and the two Z-ONEs—knew them clearly.
Cosmic Blazar Dragon, by banishing itself from the game until the end of the turn, could negate and destroy the activation of Spell/Trap/Monster effects, negate and destroy any form of monster summoning by the opponent, or negate an opponent's monster attack and forcibly end the Battle Phase.
Effect negation, summon negation, attack negation—flawless universal resistance, plus a 4000 ATK giant soldier-level body. It was truly terrifying.
However, the Copy Yusei did not react at this moment.
Of course, he would not waste Blazar's precious ability on a small monster like Synchron Explorer.
Thus Yusei continued: "Synchron Explorer's effect activates!
When this card is successfully summoned, I can Special Summon a monster whose name contains 'Synchron' from the graveyard!"