"Synchro Explorer's effect—I Special Summon 'Quickdraw Synchron' from the Graveyard!"
The hollow in Synchro Explorer's chest opened like a gateway to the underworld. Quickdraw Synchron returned to Yusei's field in a swirling vortex of starlight.
[Quickdraw Synchron, ATK 700]
Yusei's field once again held one Tuner and one non-Tuner, plus the already-present Stardust Dragon and two Doppel Tokens. The range of Levels available for Synchro Summoning was now extremely wide. Yusei had also already used his Normal Summon for the turn.
The opponent's Cosmic Blazar Dragon showed no reaction whatsoever.
Clearly, the copy believed it was still safe to wait until Yusei summoned something that could actually threaten him. He had absolute confidence in Cosmic Blazar Dragon's power—no matter what appeared, the Cosmic Blazar could handle it.
"Level 5 Tuner Monster 'Quickdraw Synchron'! Level 2 'Synchron Explorer'! Tuning!"
[5 + 2 = 7]
"The gathered shouts become an echoing arrow that rips through the sky, becoming a shining path of light! Synchro Summon! Appear—Junk Archer!"
The Synchro Ring unfolded in the air. Shadows of gears and mechanical parts spun and collided inside it. As Quickdraw Synchron and Synchron Explorer dissolved into orange-red data streams, dazzling sparks erupted from the center. Junk Archer's mechanical foot stepped through the light curtain first, hydraulic joints hissing with exhaust.
Orange-red armor still carried traces of Synchro stardust. White steam vented continuously from the shoulder joints. The instant it fully materialized, its single mechanical eye's targeting scope flashed red. The composite bow in its hand unfolded into battle form, the bowstring vibrating with a high-frequency hum.
[Junk Archer, ATK 2300]
Junk Archer was one of Yusei's signature Synchro Monsters from the anime and was later praised by fans as "the archer who almost could have ended the story."
Its effect allows it, once per turn, to banish one opponent's monster from the game until the End Phase. The effect works even against Z-ONE's Machine Gods.
Yet in episode 148 of the 5D's anime, when Yusei could have Synchro Summoned Junk Archer, he instead chose Black Rose Dragon—the card Akiza had given him. Black Rose Dragon's field-nuking or ATK-reduction effects were completely useless against the Machine Gods. Aside from its sentimental value as "waifu's card," it served no purpose in that final battle.
Later analysis by card players showed that if Yusei had summoned Junk Archer instead, he could have banished the lone Machine God on Z-ONE's field and finished the duel with a direct attack that turn. Z-ONE had no answer for it at the time. There would have been no Shooting Quasar Dragon, no ultimate Machine God—Z-ONE would have been defeated immediately.
The only logical explanation is that before the duel, every teammate had slipped an extra Dragon into Yusei's Extra Deck. The deck was so bloated with "meaningless" cards that Yusei had no choice but to cut Junk Archer.
In a sense, this was a monster capable of creating the true ending—stronger even than Shooting Quasar Dragon.
Of course, the copy of Yusei would never allow such a powerful monster to hit the field.
"Then, at this moment—activate the effect of Cosmic Blazar Dragon!"
Yusei's heart tightened. "Finally moving…"
He had been wary of whatever terrifying ability this dragon possessed.
"One of Cosmic Blazar Dragon's three effects—Summon Lock!" the copy declared. "When the opponent Summons, Special Summons, or Flip Summons a monster, Cosmic Blazar Dragon banishes itself from the game, negating that Summon and destroying the monster!"
Yusei: "What did you say!?"
A truly overwhelming ability!
In the starry sky, the phantom of Cosmic Blazar Dragon lit up. Its pure-white body dissolved into countless particles of light. The stripped energy became starlight chains that wrapped around the materializing Junk Archer. The mechanical warrior's single eye flashed frantic red warnings. The bowstring screamed with the sound of tearing metal in the distorted space.
When the Cosmic Blazar vanished completely into stardust, every chain contracted at once. Junk Archer's orange-red armor shattered under the pressure. Joints sparked violently. The entire monster and its composite bow collapsed into data fragments.
Yusei frowned.
The ability was powerful, but now the opponent's field was empty. Yusei still had Stardust Dragon. With the copy's remaining Life Points, one attack should end it.
It couldn't possibly be that simple.
Yusei knew it. The opponent had no Set cards. Either hand traps or Graveyard backup plans were waiting.
Because the deck was nearly identical to his own, Yusei was certain of this. His own hand traps and Graveyard traps were numerous—some had real-card versions, others had only been used once in the anime and never released.
"Since that's the case…"
Yusei's eyes hardened.
"Delta Accel Synchro is a realm I have yet to touch. But I walk my own path of evolution—and I will keep walking it without hesitation!"
Yusei played another card.
"I banish one 'Doppel Token' on my field from the game and Special Summon 'D.D. Sprite' from my hand!"
[D.D. Sprite, ATK 0]
The token shattered. A tiny sprite wreathed in golden light appeared.
"Level 1 Tuner Monster 'D.D. Sprite'! Level 1 'Doppel Token'! Tuning!"
[1 + 1 = 2]
"The gathered prayers guide new speed toward the horizon, becoming a path of shining light! Power of Hope—Synchro Tuner—Formula Synchron!"
[Formula Synchron, DEF 1500]
"Formula Synchron's effect—once per turn, I draw one card." (Anime effect)
Yusei drew.
The copy chuckled. "Here it comes—your Accel Synchro."
"Exactly!"
Yusei twisted the throttle. The Duel Runner shot forward like a wild horse wrapped in crimson light.
"Clear Mind!"
Yusei raised his hand.
"Level 2 Synchro Tuner 'Formula Synchron'! Level 8 Synchro Monster 'Stardust Dragon'! Tuning!"
"The gathered crystals of dreams open the gate to new evolution, becoming a shining path of light! Accel Synchro—Be born—Shooting Star Dragon!!!"
…