# Chapter 51: Rank-Up Tactics
"Downtrodden falcon, raise the claws sharpened in adversity, and spread your wings of rebellion! Xyz Summon! Appear! Rank 4! Raidraptor - Rise Falcon!"
*Screee!*
Three birds circled and descended into the Stardust Vortex in front of Shun. Moments later, with a cry that pierced the heavens, a fully armored mechanical falcon soared into the sky.
Raidraptor - Rise Falcon ATK: 100
"I activate Raidraptor - Rise Falcon's effect! Once per turn, by detaching one Xyz Material from this card, its ATK increases by the combined ATK of all face-up Special Summoned monsters on my opponent's field until the End Phase."
Raidraptor - Rise Falcon ATK: 100 → 2100 → 6200
"The effect of Raidraptor - Fuzzy Lanius, sent to the Graveyard as an Xyz Material, activates! When this card is sent to the Graveyard, I can add another 'Raidraptor - Fuzzy Lanius' from my Deck to my hand."
"Is it that same monster again, the one that can attack Special Summoned monsters multiple times?" Sora said dismissively. "Don't you have any new tricks?"
As he spoke, Sora flipped over the Set Card in his backrow.
"I activate the Continuous Trap, Frightfur Misfortune Jar!"
"Frightfur Misfortune Jar's effect! Once per turn, I can discard one card to draw another and reveal it. If it's an 'Edge Imp' monster, I can target and destroy one card on the field. If not, I place a card from my hand on the top or bottom of my Deck." Sora drew a card and showed it.
"The card I drew is Edge Imp Scissors! So your monster can go to hell!" Sora declared. From the capsule machine in front of him, wreathed in demonic energy, a pitch-black capsule rolled out, landing at Rise Falcon's feet before exploding.
"If there's nothing new, then this is the end, isn't it?" Sora said, licking his candy and watching the flames rise from Rise Falcon's explosion.
But soon, from within the flames, an unyielding cry made Sora's expression stiffen.
"Something new? As you wish." A sudden gust of wind picked up, scattering the thick smoke that enveloped Shun and billowing the hem of his trench coat.
"I activate Rank-Up-Magic - Raptor's Force!"
"During the turn a 'Raidraptor' Xyz Monster I control was destroyed and sent to the Graveyard, I can target one 'Raidraptor' Xyz Monster in my Graveyard. I Special Summon it, then Special Summon a 'Raidraptor' monster that is one Rank higher from my Extra Deck, using the first monster as Xyz Material."
Raidraptor - Rise Falcon, which was just destroyed, reappeared. After a long cry, it descended into the black vortex that appeared before Shun.
"Unseen, valiant falcon! With the unknown power hidden within your mighty wings, declare your arrival! Rank-Up Xyz Summon! Appear! Rank 5! Raidraptor - Stranger Falcon!"
A cry that pierced the heavens emerged from the vortex. Moments later, a fully armored falcon with purple and gold armor flapped its wings and emerged from the vortex.
Raidraptor - Stranger Falcon ATK: 2000
"I activate Raidraptor - Stranger Falcon's effect!"
"Once per turn, I can detach one Xyz Material from this card to target one monster on my opponent's field. I destroy it and inflict damage to my opponent equal to its original ATK."
Stranger Falcon flew into the air, launching a full barrage toward Sora's Frightfur Leo on the field.
"It's useless! At this moment, I activate the trap card, Frightfur March!"
"When my opponent activates a monster, Spell, or Trap effect that targets a 'Frightfur' monster I control, I can negate the activation and destroy that card. Then, I send the targeted 'Frightfur' monster to the Graveyard and Fusion Summon one Level 8 or higher 'Frightfur' Fusion Monster from my Extra Deck. The monster Special Summoned by this effect is banished during my next End Phase."
An army of toys rushed out from Sora's Set Card, blocking all of the projectiles fired by Stranger Falcon before returning them all.
Then, the torrent of rushing toys transformed into a purple vortex filled with a resentful aura. Moments later, a tattered rag doll slowly rose from the vortex, exuding an eerie presence, as strange, cackling laughter from an unknown source filled the entire field.
"Vicious toy possessed by demons, descend now and bring the curse of destruction upon this world! Fusion Summon!"
"Appear, Level 10! Frightfur Nightmare Mary!"
Frightfur Nightmare Mary ATK: 2000
"Frightfur Nightmare Mary's ATK increases by 300 for each Fairy and Fiend-type monster in the Graveyard. I currently have seven Fairy and Fiend-type monsters in my Graveyard, so this card's ATK increases by 2100 points!"
Frightfur Nightmare Mary ATK: 2000 → 4100
"It seems your precious Rank-Up tactics didn't work!" Sora said triumphantly.
But before he could celebrate for long, an unyielding cry echoed through the heavens from within the thick smoke of Stranger Falcon's explosion.
"If Raidraptor - Stranger Falcon is destroyed by an opponent's card and sent to the Graveyard, I can target one other 'Raidraptor' Xyz Monster in my Graveyard. I Special Summon that monster and attach this card to it as Xyz Material."
"Revive! Raidraptor - Rise Falcon!"
The thick smoke from Stranger Falcon's explosion was torn apart by sharp wings, and Raidraptor - Rise Falcon soared into the sky once more!
"What?" Sora exclaimed in surprise.
"I activate Raidraptor - Rise Falcon's effect!"
"Once per turn, by detaching one Xyz Material, this card's ATK increases by the combined ATK of all Special Summoned monsters on my opponent's field!"
Raidraptor - Rise Falcon ATK: 100 → 2100 → 6200
"Battle! Raidraptor - Rise Falcon, attack Frightfur Sheep!" With a cold wave of his hand, Shun commanded the falcon soaring in the sky. It dove towards the opponent's Frightfur Sheep, extending its claws.
"Ha! You fell for it! At this instant, I activate the Quick-Play Spell, Duel Fusion!" Just as Rise Falcon's claws were about to shred Frightfur Sheep, Sora flipped his last Set Card.
"When a Fusion Monster I control battles an opponent's monster, my monster's ATK increases by the ATK of the monster it's battling, until the end of the Damage Step."
Under the effect of this card, the sheep, which had been trembling under Rise Falcon's claws, instantly became powerful, swinging the iron chain wrapped around its body toward the approaching talons.
Frightfur Sheep ATK: 2000 → 8200
The diving falcon was shattered by a single blow from the iron chain, its fragments exploding as thick smoke billowed up.
Shun LP: 4000 → 2000
"It seems I've won this time. Tremble! And welcome your end in fear!" Sora laughed wildly.
"Tremble? Fear?" Amidst the billowing smoke, Shun stood his ground, not retreating a single step. He gave a cold laugh. "I threw those things away long ago in this war!"
"All I have left is a will of steel!" Shun roared, slamming a card onto his Duel Disk.
"I activate the Quick-Play Spell, Rank-Up-Magic Death Double Force!"
...
(end of chapter)