"Hahahaha—Jack, this is exactly the move I was waiting for! I activate Threefold's effect!" Paradox's words made Jack's heart sink even further. "Can only be activated when the opponent activates a monster effect. Special Summon 1 [Crystron] Monster other than Threefold Crystal from the Deck. Then, using that Monster and other Monsters you control as material, perform a Synchro Summon of 1 Machine-Type Synchro Monster!"
"What!?" Jack's face changed drastically.
"Well then, what are you gonna do, Jack Atlas!!"
Trouble!
Big trouble!
If he let this effect resolve, Abyss's effect would be completely wasted, because before Abyss's effect successfully resolved, Citrine Rescue Dragon would already be gone from the field. And if he tried to activate Red Zone's effect, destroying Threefold or Citrine Rescue Dragon, that was meaningless too, because if he destroyed Threefold, this guy could still go into Tuning, and if he destroyed Citrine Rescue Dragon, not only could the Special Summon still continue, but since Citrine Rescue Dragon was destroyed, it wouldn't get negated by Abyss's effect either!
Damn—
"Hmph, do whatever you want."
"Heh… I told you, Jack Atlas, every single one of your moves is within my expectations."
"Tch…"
"Then, I won't be holding back, Jack Atlas. I Special Summon Crystron Matrix Citrine from my Deck, and then…"
He suddenly slammed the accelerator, then stood up on his D-wheel, spreading his arms wide, and shouted, "I tune the LV 2 Tuner Monster Matrix Citrine, the LV 2 Tuner Monster Threefold Crystal, and the LV 5 Citrine Rescue Dragon for a Double Tuning!!"
"Huh!?"
"What the hell?!"
"Double Tuning!!!"
Yugo and Rin practically wanted to press their faces onto the screen to watch.
Jack's eyes betrayed his shock and confusion. He stared at Paradox behind him, nothing but disbelief in his gaze. "What did you say? Double Tuning, wasn't that something I just created—ah—"
He realized what Paradox had meant by calling him an "idol"!
Citrine Rescue Dragon turned transparent, the two Tuner Monsters transformed into a silver-white halo and a golden halo respectively. The two Spirits, so similar to Long Yalongke, flashed with light, then enveloped Citrine Rescue Dragon.
Its body began to swell violently, then transformed into a… a Machine Monster that actually resembled Red Nova Dragon to some extent!
"O radiance that manifests from the rifts of history, proclaim the prologue of ruin upon the stage that transcends time and space!"
"Double Tuning!"
"LV 9, Crystron Quariongandrax!!"
Crystron Quariongandrax, LV 9, Water Attribute, Machine-Type, Attack Power 3000.
The instant he saw this Monster, Jack was shocked, but at least he let out a breath of relief.
"Attack Power three thousand, huh? Hmph, with that stat, there's no way you can defeat my Monster!"
Paradox, however, had no interest in continuing to mock Jack at this point. Instead, he said slowly, "When Quariongandrax is Synchro Summoned: target Monsters on your opponent's field and/or in their Graveyard up to the number of Monsters used as this card's Synchro Material. Banish those Monsters."
Jack's eyes widened.
So that's it!
Dimension Isolator had been deliberately making him think he didn't know about "Red Zone"—a Trap!
"In addition, I'll send Crystron Thystvern and Crystron Prasiortle from my Deck to the Graveyard."
"Then I'll banish your Red Nova Dragon, Hot Red Dragon Archfiend Abyss, and Red Dragon Archfiend!"
"This is bad!"
A lot of the spectators realized this was a truly dire situation for Jack.
"…I activate Red Zone's effect!" Jack had not given up on the Duel. He looked back at Paradox, launching his final counterattack. "If you control a 'Red Dragon Archfiend' or a Synchro Monster that lists that card's name, when your opponent activates a card effect: target 1 card on your opponent's field. Destroy that card; I'll destroy Quariongandrax!"
"That's Jack for you, still able to turn it around at this point!"
"Now both fields will be wiped clean!"
"Nice, Jack still has Recycling sustain cards. Next turn he just needs to attack and Paradox, with only 1000 Life Points left, loses!"
Tenjo Hikari frowned tightly, and had no choice but to tell Yusei that their team was about to suffer its first loss.
"Losing isn't the issue. This Duel really cleared up a lot of the doubts and frustrations I've had." Yusei didn't mind. He picked up his helmet and said to his teammates, "I'll go bring Jack back."
As for Jack himself…
For a Duelist, the Duel is everything.
Since Paradox's Duel with Jack played out like this, then naturally, this Duel has its own meaning.
"Exactly as I foresaw, Jack Atlas." At this moment, Paradox felt no excitement at all; instead, there was a sense of absurdity and regret.
With Precognition, he understood the people of this era better than most in this world; naturally, he also understood their flaws even more clearly.
Originally, all of that was normal.
After all, people in the past couldn't see the future; having flaws was only natural.
But when he actually saw these "flawed antiques" with his own eyes, the urge to just kick these old relics straight into the dirt began to grow uncontrollably.
"Quariongandrax's effect!"
"Effect? Don't tell me—"
The moment Jack heard Paradox's voice, cold sweat broke out all over his body.
No!
The Crystron was going to destroy his own Monster!
Then, could it be—
"If the Synchro Summoned Crystron Quariongandrax is destroyed by battle or card effect: target 1 of your or your opponent's banished Monsters, except this card; Special Summon that Monster to your field!"
"You bastard————————" Jack roared, unable to contain his fury.
"I choose your banished Red Nova Dragon!!!"
Time flowed, and the red Archfiend replaced the golden serpent's spot, slowly descending.
Red Nova Dragon, LV 12, Dark Attribute, Dragon-Type, Attack Power 3500→4500.
The commentators and hosts on site were stunned. Jack's fans froze up as well, and even Jack himself stared at this scene, his face drained of all color.
Within the flow of time and history, Paradox had once again completed the "seizure of a Dragon."
Controlling another's Dragon was child's play to him!
"Red Nova Dragon, attack your opponent directly!"
"Burning Soul!!"
At Paradox's shout, Jack's very soul was assaulted by him.
Red Nova Dragon spread its wings wide, endless flames erupting from the track. The ground split open, pillars of fire shooting up like countless stars in the sky. The Demon Dragon's right fist, wreathed in blazing fire, slammed mercilessly into Jack's body.
"Guaaaah————"
The instant he took the hit, Jack was blasted away by the tremendous force. Wheel of Fortune spun in midair like a coin flipping on its edge over and over, then smacked into the wall with a crack. The tremendous impact's rebound sent Wheel of Fortune bouncing back twice in the opposite direction, thud thud, rolling and tumbling on the ground like a rag.
The sheer force of the impact all but instantly flung Jack off the D-wheel, and with a crisp crashing sound, gravity slammed him into the track, gouging out a small crater.
Screeeech—
Paradox, catching up from behind, glanced casually at the battered, bloodied Jack Atlas, then, expressionless, tapped the accelerator lightly and turned away.
"Jack!!!"
In that moment, countless people screamed his name in terror.