"M-My turn ends!"
Kaiba's voice trembled with frustration, every word squeezed out through gritted teeth.
To abandon the attack and end the Battle Phase—this was his only choice now!
Otherwise, he would take damage equal to Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon's Attack.
"Now, Newtype Sensing's second effect activates!" Yuto's voice was firm as steel.
"Since you didn't declare any attacks during the Battle Phase, all face-up monsters on your field are destroyed!"
BOOOOM!
An invisible force of rule descended!
The mighty Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon, which had only just made its awe-inspiring entrance, didn't even manage to unleash a single breath. Its colossal body shattered inch by inch under the crushing wave of energy, scattering into countless motes of light, vanishing unwillingly into the Graveyard.
It had barely appeared—before fading away in defeat!
"My turn!"
Without hesitation, Yuto drew.
He glanced at the card, then swept his eyes across Kaiba's now-empty Monster Zone.
Summoning a weak monster would only make it a target. He decided instantly.
"I Set one card. Turn end!"
A new face-down appeared in his back row.
The pressure shifted back to Kaiba.
His eyes, sharp as blades, locked on as he snapped a card from his Deck.
"My turn, draw!"
"I activate the Spell Card—Silver's Cry!" Kaiba slammed the card down, his voice carrying a trace of grim resolve.
"What?!" Yuto's eyes widened in disbelief, staring at the card's shining image under the sun—was that even supposed to exist in this era?!
A Quick-Play Spell that could Special Summon a Dragon from the Graveyard during the Battle Phase—its versatility and strength far exceeded the current game balance!
"Answer the call of the silver dragon—return from the abyss of the Graveyard, my soul's dragon!"
Kaiba raised his arm high.
"Special Summon—Blue-Eyes White Dragon!!"
In dazzling radiance, the pure white dragon once again took flight, descending onto Kaiba's field with unyielding will!
[Blue-Eyes White Dragon] ATK 3000 / DEF 2500
Without pause, Kaiba pointed at the trio of purple steel giants on Yuto's field.
"Blue-Eyes White Dragon, attack! Target—ACE – Black Tri-Stars! White Lightning!!!"
ROOOOAAARRR—!!
The Blue-Eyes reared its head, the blinding glow of annihilation blazing in its maw!
KABOOOOOM!!!
The devastating white beam collided midair with three streaking purple rockets!
A thunderous explosion shook the tower! A flash of unbearable light engulfed everything!
As the haze slowly cleared, the scene shocked everyone—both the majestic dragon and the united Tri-Stars were gone without a trace!
Both monsters… had perished together?!
"Wh-Why?!" Joey shouted, voicing what everyone was thinking.
"Blue-Eyes White Dragon has 3000 Attack! How could it be destroyed along with ACE – Black Tri-Stars, which only has 2500?!"
Yuto looked at his now-empty field, yet his lips curled with knowing confidence.
He raised his hand, pointing to the Duel Disk display of ACE – Black Tri-Stars' effect text:
"The answer is here! ACE – Black Tri-Stars' special effect—when this card battles, damage calculation is done by comparing its Attack against the opposing monster's Defense, not Attack versus Attack!"
"What?!" Kaiba's pupils contracted sharply as realization struck!
"That's right!" Yuto's voice was clear and powerful.
"Your Blue-Eyes White Dragon has 3000 Attack, but its Defense is 2500! My ACE – Black Tri-Stars also has 2500 Attack!"
"So in their battle, it wasn't 3000 versus 2500—it was 2500 versus 2500! As a result, both monsters are destroyed!"
Grinding his teeth, Kaiba could only begrudgingly end his turn.
The duel's rhythm had been broken once again—his mightiest dragon falling alongside Yuto's ace.
"My turn, draw!"
Yuto's strategy was clear.
"I Normal Summon—MS-05 Zaku I!"
A rough, old-style Zaku painted in dark green appeared on his field, its mono-eye glowing faintly.
[MS-05 Zaku I] ATK 800 / DEF 600
"Next, I activate the special effect of ACE – Johnny Ridden the Crimson Lightning from my hand!"
Yuto revealed the card.
"I Tribute MS-05 Zaku I on my field, to Special Summon!"
The Zaku dissolved into particles of light, and a crimson streak tore across the battlefield!
A high-mobility Zaku, painted in vivid scarlet with streamlined contours and blazing thrusters, descended onto the field!
[ACE – Johnny Ridden the Crimson Lightning] ATK 0 / DEF 0
"According to its special effect, its Attack increases by 1000 for each Tributed monster!"
[ACE – Johnny Ridden the Crimson Lightning, ATK: 0 → 1000]
"And that's not all!"
Yuto's moves flowed like water.
"I activate its third effect! By sending the Spell Card ACE! from my hand to the Graveyard—"
The Duel Disk's Graveyard slot glowed faintly as he slid the card in.
"I return the Trap Card Newtype Sensing from my Graveyard back to my hand!"
That card, which had tormented Kaiba so bitterly, after being used and sent to the Graveyard, now circled back into Yuto's grasp thanks to the Crimson Lightning's effect!
"I Set two cards!"
Yuto swiftly placed Newtype Sensing and Bombardment Marker into his back row. Two face-downs lay waiting like hidden blades.
"Turn end!"
Now it was Kaiba's move.
The pressure weighed heavy on his shoulders.
His Life Points were down to 700, while Yuto still had 2000—and on Yuto's field stood Johnny Ridden with 1000 Attack, backed by two ominous Set cards, one of which was almost certainly Newtype Sensing.
Kaiba's eyes locked grimly on his opponent's field.
Slowly, with the resolve of one with nothing left to lose, he pressed his fingers onto the top of his Deck.
"My turn…"
His voice was low, oppressive, every word squeezed out between his teeth.
"Draw!"
The edges of the card turned white in his grip. As his eyes fell upon it, a fierce light of resolve exploded within them!
Without a second of hesitation, Kaiba slapped the card onto his Duel Disk!
...
If you want to support, please consider Patreon, and read advanced chapters! Your support keeps this series going!
[Patreon.com/RedZTL]