Even after summoning that pay-to-win First of the Dragons, Slade didn't go straight to the Battle Phase.
"I didn't use a normal Polymerization just now—it was Double Fusion." Slade smiled. "Chazz, you know this, right? That card lets you use the effect of 'Fusion' twice in a single turn."
Chazz started. "Brother, don't tell me—"
"Correct. I've fully mastered Fusion Summoning. Pulling off multiple Fusions in one turn is no problem!"
Slade declared in a ringing voice:
"I'll personally lead the Princeton Group into the dueling world and take the summit!
Double Fusion's second use—activate! I fuse 'Lord of D.' and 'Divine Dragon Ragnarok' in my hand! Fusion Summon—
—King Dragun!!!"
With the majesty of a golden divine dragon, the king of dragon knights descended amid a howling storm. Faces around the arena changed again.
This was a Fusion from the 'Lord of D.' line Kaiba Seto himself had used—the Lord of D, master over dragons—another rare card!
"Money can be transmuted into power even in a duel!" Slade said. "If someone from the Princeton Family has forgotten that, allow me to help you remember!
While King Dragun is on the field, all Dragons you control cannot be targeted by your opponent's card effects. And he rules over Dragons with another strong effect. Once per turn, Special Summon 1 Dragon from your hand!"
"Hold it," Chazz cut in. "Two of your Monster Zones are still sealed by Ojama Knight. You can't Summon anything new—"
"Heh, you think I didn't account for that?" Slade chuckled. "Of course I did.
I activate the Quick-Play Spell Forbidden Chalice from my hand. One monster on the field gains 400 ATK until the end of the turn, and its effects are negated.
I'll boost 'Ojama Knight' by 400 and negate its effects!"
[Ojama Knight, ATK 0 → ATK 400]
Four hundred ATK meant nothing to Ojama Knight—but losing the effect was fatal.
"With that, your lock on my zones is lifted," Slade smiled. "I told you—petty tricks can't stand before the Way of the King. The former you should have understood that, Chazz.
Therefore I activate King Dragun's effect! Special Summon a Dragon from my hand!
I Special Summon Luster Dragon!"
A dragon like a creature carved from gemstone swept down to Slade's field. When it spread its wings, its whole body glittered with crystalline light.
[Luster Dragon, ATK 1900]
A 1900-ATK Level 4—top-tier beater among the lower ranks. And more than anything else, pricey.
"We're finished, we're finished," Syrus went pale in the stands. "He's not a novice at all—he's strong! So many powerful Dragons in one turn—"
Misawa exhaled. "So that's the power of money..."
"And Chazz's lock doesn't work at all!" Syrus fretted. "It looked decent, like he learned Kira's tactics, but it got broken instantly."
Misawa said nothing, but agreed in his heart.
Yeah. If our King of Games were down there, the opponent would already be rolling up their sleeves...
"First of the Dragons—attack 'Ojama Knight'!"
Ojama Knight yelped and raised his shield, trying his best to block. But against First of the Dragons he was powerless; the colossal ancient dragon swatted him aside, shield and all, smashing a crater in the floor.
"Ojama Knight was in Defense Position," Chazz said evenly. "Even if it's destroyed, I won't take damage."
"Yes—but how will you deal with what comes next?"
Slade raised his hand, smiling.
"King Dragun, direct attack!"
King Dragun swooped straight for Chazz. He crossed his arms to guard, grunting as the charge blasted him backward.
[Chazz, LP 3200 → LP 800]
"One last blow. What a short duel after all, Chazz," Slade laughed. "But if you betray the family and even forget your own path, this outcome is only natural.
Duel Academy will be securely taken by the Princeton Group!"
He stepped forward and swept his arm down.
"Finish it—Luster Dragon, direct attack!"
The sapphires studding the dragon's body seemed to gleam brighter as energy flooded its maw. A beam shone out like a lance of faceted light, firing at Chazz!
"Chazz!" someone in the stands cried out.
If this hit, the Academy would immediately belong to the Princeton Group. What they'd turn it into afterward—no one knew.
"I activate my set card!" Chazz shouted. "Trap Card—Chaos Barrier Field!
During the same Battle Phase, when a second direct attack is declared, the attacking monster battles the first monster that made a direct attack to calculate battle damage!"
"NANI!?"
Slade's face changed.
The second direct attacker battling the first one—that means—
He watched in shock as his Luster Dragon, which had been locked onto his little brother, suddenly wheeled about and fired at King Dragun instead!
King Dragun, the commander of dragons, would not tolerate a mere lowly underling challenging his authority. Without thinking, he swatted the blast aside and countered.
The sapphire beam was shattered like dry twigs; Luster Dragon screamed as its body was pierced, then burst into a rain of sparkling gem-dust.
[Slade, LP 3500 → LP 3000]
"Oh, slick counter! Keep that momentum, Chazz!" Jaden was first to cheer.
"It's Chazz Thunder!"
Wiping the sweat on his brow, Chazz still found the time to remind him:
"It's Mr. THUNDER!"
Jaden laughed. "Okay, okay—Mr. Thunder it is. Mr. Thunder!"
Having eaten a small loss, Slade straightened and gave a dry chuckle. "Seems I underestimated you a little. But it changes nothing. You've only delayed the inevitable by a single turn."
He waved a hand.
"I set a card. Turn end."
Chazz knew he wasn't wrong. Honestly, his brother's dueling skill had surprised him—and most of Chazz's usual decks were off-limits right now. Things were grim.
But even so...
He looked down at his deck. Kira's face rose unbidden in his mind again.
That ever-sunny, gentle smile that somehow made you want to punch him.
Yeah, that guy's already the King of Games.
If it were him, a restriction like this would mean nothing at all.
He'd probably have ten-plus ways to win easily—and make the opponent lose sleep for a week from sheer salt.
If that's the case, then what right do I have, with him as my target, to talk about giving up?
The fire rekindled in Chazz's eyes.
"My turn—draw!"