The night sky split open with a pitch-black rift. Purple lightning like data streams danced along the edges. A colossal white shadow—the Meklord Emperor God—descended slowly. The air pressure alone lifted gravel from the track. Its shoulder armors resembled two black holes, absolute voids that swallowed light. Inside each floated an irregular energy core like trapped violent stars—identical to the cores of ordinary Meklord Emperors.
[Meklord Astro Mekanikle, ATK 4000]
"Mekanikle?" Yusei was shocked. "That's also a Meklord Emperor?"
"Not a Meklord Emperor—a Meklord Emperor God!" the copy replied. "To save the world and protect everyone, I fought alongside many companions and gained tremendous power.
In battle I learned that clinging to empty dreams and hope without facing cruel reality saves no one."
Yusei's gaze flickered. "You…"
"This is my resolve—the power of the current me." Copy Yusei's voice was steady. "As long as I can win, as long as I can change the future, any price is acceptable.
Meklord Astro Mekanikle—effect activate! Once per turn, it may absorb one Synchro Monster on the opponent's field as an Equip Card and gain that monster's ATK!"
Energy chains shot from the Meklord Emperor God's chest toward Shooting Star Dragon.
On one side stood the pinnacle of Synchro—Delta Accel Synchro Cosmic Blazar Dragon. On the other stood the pinnacle of Meklord Emperors—Meklord Emperor God. A single duelist wielding two seemingly contradictory ultimate powers. The copy Yusei could truly be called unprecedented.
"Same base ability as the Meklord Emperors, huh." Yusei gritted his teeth. "But Shooting Star Dragon has already gained the power to resist Meklord Emperors!
Shooting Star Dragon's effect activates! Once per opponent's turn, banish itself from the game—this turn it can negate one monster's attack!"
Shooting Star Dragon's attack-sealing effect. The copy could negate it with the Cosmic Blazar, but then Shooting Star Dragon could negate the negation—pointless.
"…Of course I remember Shooting Star Dragon's effect." Copy Yusei said calmly. "At this moment, Meklord Astro Mekanikle's other effect activates!
By sending a Meklord Emperor part from the hand to the Graveyard, until the End Phase this card gains that monster's effect and may activate it as the discarded part's effect." (Anime effect)
He sent a card to the Graveyard.
"I discard 'Granel Top.' Meklord Emperor God's effect now activates as Granel Top's effect.
Granel Top's effect: once per turn, negate the effects of one Synchro Monster on the field until the End Phase!"
Yusei: "Nani!?"
"Gaining Granel Top's effect, Meklord Emperor God negates Shooting Star Dragon's effects." Copy Yusei declared. "Now it cannot escape, cannot negate attacks—it can only be absorbed as an Equip!"
But Yusei remained calm. "Then I activate my Set Trap—De-Synchro!
Return one Synchro Monster on my field to the Extra Deck. If its Synchro Materials exist in the Graveyard, Special Summon it from the Graveyard!" (Anime Card)
"Return Shooting Star Dragon to the Extra Deck. Release the Synchro!"
At the last instant, before the capture tentacles struck, Shooting Star Dragon disintegrated back into Stardust Dragon and Formula Synchron.
[Stardust Dragon, DEF 2000]
[Formula Synchron, DEF 1500]
All effects were still on the same chain. Shooting Star Dragon's effect had not yet been negated. Therefore the copy could not use the Cosmic Blazar to negate "De-Synchro"—if he tried, Yusei would immediately chain Shooting Star Dragon to negate the negation and destroy the Cosmic Blazar.
As long as Shooting Star Dragon remained on the field, the Cosmic Blazar was effectively locked down.
"And at this moment—activate Set card Cosmic Blast!" Yusei declared. "When a Synchro Monster on my field leaves the field, inflict damage to the opponent equal to that monster's ATK!" (Anime Card)
One of Yusei's favorite early traps—easy to combo with Stardust Synchros for explosive finishes.
Of course, with Shooting Star Dragon now gone, the restriction on the opponent's Cosmic Blazar was lifted.
"Cosmic Blazar Dragon's effect!" Copy Yusei shouted. "Banish Cosmic Blazar Dragon from the game—negate and destroy the activation of a Spell, Trap, or Monster effect!"
Yusei was inwardly shocked. Not only Summons—any card effect activation can be negated. What a terrifying dragon.
The Cosmic Blazar vanished into a phantom. Released energy engulfed Yusei's back-row trap. Cosmic Blast shattered.
Copy Yusei: "Battle. Meklord Astro Mekanikle attacks 'Stardust Dragon'."
He knew the attack could not go through.
Because the moment he declared it, Yusei twisted the throttle violently. The Duel Runner became a streak of light and shot forward!
Stardust Dragon and Formula Synchron merged into his accelerating light ring, becoming a meteor that pierced the stars. In that instant the Duel Runner broke the speed of light, transcended space, and returned carrying the shining Shooting Star Dragon!
[Shooting Star Dragon, DEF 2500]
Accel Synchro Summon!
Yes—Accel Synchro can be performed even on the opponent's turn.
In the real card game it was changed to a monster effect usable only in the opponent's Main Phase via Formula Synchron. But in the anime, Accel Synchro is a rule-based Summon that does not enter the chain and can be performed at any time, in any phase, as long as materials are ready.
Shooting Star Dragon—re-summoned!
…