"My turn—draw!"
It was Mello's turn again.
The attack lock still wasn't lifted. Most of the Gladiator Beasts' power remained sealed, and even Gyzarus, the Gladiator Beast boss, had been taken down. Though Rainbow Life had restored a big chunk of LP, the situation still looked grim for him overall.
But there was still a way.
"I Normal Summon 'Gladiator Beast Andal'!"
With a deep roar, a black bear in heavy armor appeared in a burst of golden light, pounding its chest like a gorilla.
[Gladiator Beast Andal, ATK 1900]
The only vanilla in the Gladiator Beast family, but it was considered a key reinforcement when it was released. 1900 ATK outclassed the then-main 4-star beater Bestiari, and being a Level 4 vanilla made it easy to Special Summon with the Spell Card Unexpected Dai, turning that into an advantage.
"Then I activate the effect of another 'Test Tiger' in my hand," Mello said. "If I control a Gladiator Beast, Test Tiger can Special Summon itself.
I Special Summon 'Test Tiger' from my hand again!"
[Test Tiger, ATK 600]
"Though this duel hasn't gone exactly as planned, it seems I still have to get serious against you," Mello said. "You're a duelist blessed by talent, Fujiki Kira. Your ability alone puts you above most people in this world.
And precisely because of that, I can't afford to lose."
He paused, eyes narrowing slightly, and spoke slowly.
"With President Pegasus's aid, the completed Gladiator cards are at last ready to unleash their power.
I activate Test Tiger's effect: tribute this card, return 1 'Gladiator Beast' I control to the Deck, then Special Summon any 'Gladiator Beast' from the Deck!"
Test Tiger, fresh on the field and just done licking its little paw, dissolved into countless golden motes and vanished.
"I return 'Gladiator Beast Andal' from the field to the Deck. From the Deck, a new Gladiator Beast appears—show yourself—
—Gladiator Beast Augustus!"
A pitch-black whirlwind rose; feathers filled the air. A greatsword split the black gale into fragments as the avian king of the arena descended in heavy armor.
[Gladiator Beast Augustus, ATK 2600]
"Now, Augustus's effect activates!" Mello said. "When Augustus is Special Summoned by a 'Gladiator Beast' effect: I can Special Summon 1 'Gladiator Beast' monster from my hand in Defense Position!"
"Test Tiger isn't a Gladiator Beast by name, but it counts as Special Summoned by a Gladiator Beast effect, right?" Kira asked.
"Correct," Mello replied. "However, the monster Special Summoned by Augustus's effect must return to its owner's Deck during the End Phase. But one turn is more than enough!"
Mello revealed another Gladiator Beast.
"I Special Summon 'Gladiator Beast Darius'!"
A shrill whinny rang out as the horse-faced Beast-Warrior returned to the field.
[Gladiator Beast Darius, ATK 1700]
"Then Darius's effect," Mello continued. "When Darius is Special Summoned by a Gladiator Beast effect: negate the effects of a Gladiator Beast in the GY and Special Summon it!"
"Your Bestiari went back to the Deck last turn," Kira reminded him.
"I know," Mello said coldly. "But in the GY still sleeps the Gladiator king you destroyed with 'Blaze Accelerator'!
Return once more and display your majesty—
—Gladiator Beast Gyzarus!!!"
A green tornado surged as the king of the arena descended again. But unlike before, his colors seemed darker and his aura slightly diminished.
"When Darius revives a Gladiator Beast, that monster's effects are negated," Kira noted. "So even if you bring Gyzarus back, it can't pop Gravity Bind."
"I'm well aware."
Mello snorted in annoyance, as if offended that Kira would suspect him of rules lawyering.
"Now behold my ultimate Gladiator power!
I return 'Gladiator Beast Augustus,' 'Gladiator Beast Gyzarus,' and 'Gladiator Beast Darius' from my field to the Deck—Contact Fusion of three!"
Kira raised an eyebrow.
Wait, those fusion conditions… a triple Contact Fusion?
In his memory, the early absolute boss of Gladiator Beasts was Gyzarus—the deck's symbol. If there was some ace beyond Gyzarus…
"The Fusion Materials are 'Gladiator Beast Augustus' plus any two Gladiator Beasts—Fusion Summon!"
Mello thrust his arm high.
"O restless specters of ancient gladiators, gather in the emperor's name and offer up your strength!
Fusion Summon! Descend—
—Gladiator Beast Andabata!!!"
The three Gladiator Beasts vanished into the vortex. With a triple Contact Fusion, it was as if the fabric of spacetime tore—roars and cries from ancient arenas swallowed everything.
A gladiator in an archaic helm, green body clad in radiant blue armor, blade gleaming in hand, a tail ending in a rending spike.
[Gladiator Beast Andabata, ATK 1000]
"...Huh."
Even Kira was slightly surprised.
"So that's it. This is the Gladiator power completed with President Pegasus's help… something that shouldn't exist in this era," Kira murmured.
Of course, "shouldn't exist in this era" was by his understanding. In reality, by the time this card was printed, Gladiator Beasts' golden age had long passed—GB had become nostalgia for veterans; this was years-later support.
But unlike most late support, this one had anime backing. "Gladiator Beast Andabata" first appeared in Yu-Gi-Oh! Arc-V.
Arc-V is a curious entry in Yu-Gi-Oh. Due to low ratings, explosive word-of-mouth, and an abstract plot, many cardheads treat it like official fanfiction—yet it undeniably contributed a lot.
Most notably, its worldbuilding integrated prior summoning-method dimensions—Fusion, Synchro, Xyz—into a multiverse-like setup.
The Fusion Dimension mirrors a GX-like parallel world, featuring counterparts of GX's Aster Phoenix and Alexis Rhodes.
This world also has a Duel Academy—but as a military academy invading other worlds via dueling.
And sealed deep within that academy as a feared doomsday weapon—their strongest duelist, Battle Beast—is the Gladiator Beast user.
The "Gladiator Beast Andabata" Kira now faced was that character's ace in the anime.
"This is getting interesting."
Kira narrowed his eyes at the opponent—more precisely, at "Gladiator Beast Andabata" on the field.
This guy's deck had a lot of good stuff. He hadn't expected such a bonus find.
...
2 Bonus chapters at 1000 PS