"XYZ-Dragon Cannon, Fusion Summon!!!"
The parts from three mechanical monsters separated and started to assemble and combine with each other. The red mechanical dragon head, guided by two straight electric currents like tracks, settled onto the metal treads, and the leader Cannon also landed atop the mechanical dragon head with its two cannon barrels.
Parts interlocked, mechanical assembly, the three machines quickly combined, calibrating the cannon barrel, locking in the target, the steel treads heavily pressed onto the dueling arena, dust rising like a curtain.
[XYZ-Dragon Cannon, Attack Power 2800]
"Impressive, worthy of the legendary Kaiba Seto," Judai said, "To summon Manjome's ace monster in the first round..."
"XYZ-Dragon Cannon's effect activated!" Kaiba shoved his remaining two hand cards into the graveyard, "Discard one hand card to destroy one card on the opponent's field!
I discard two hand cards, destroying 'Elemental Hero Blazeman' and 'Elemental Hero Nova Master'!
Go, Dragon Cannon! Annihilate Cannon!"
The massive mecha moved. Ammo and energy were filled in place, blue energy brewed within the large, long cannon barrels, and at the central part of the mecha—if one were to compare it to a person, it might be the crotch—the red dragon head opened its mouth, with blue currents crackling.
Explosive beams instantly shattered the two heroes on Judai's field, accompanied by scorching waves and swift winds, turning into ashes.
"XYZ-Dragon Cannon!" Kaiba pointed forward, "Direct attack on the player!"
The mecha's three components simultaneously fired, the cannon's impact, dense Vulcan cannon, and shrill electric current, seemingly fused into one, straight into the opponent's half-field.
The intense explosion sound swept through the empty floor, smoke effects tinged with firelight spilled out from the shattered holes in the glass. Judai crossed his arms before him, sliding back half a step from the impact of the imagery.
[Judai, LP 4000 → LP 1200]
Judai took a few steps back, lowered his head, kept silent.
He seemed to have been beaten into silence.
Yusei thought to himself, "Worthy of the legendary duelist, this kind of spirit is indeed different from ordinary people."
Kaiba folded his arms, watching Judai from afar who seemed to be at a disadvantage, laughing heartily like he saw Youyu himself suffering before him.
However, as he laughed, he noticed...
...That kid across him was laughing along with him!?
Kaiba snorted, tilted his mouth, folded his arms, "Being able to laugh in such a situation is commendable resilience."
"Sorry, sorry," Judai raised his head, excited, "It's just that President Kaiba feels different. Dueling with such a duelist is truly exciting."
"Oh? Is there still room for excitement?" Kaiba smirked coldly.
"Yes. The powers of the heroes in my deck haven't been fully shown to President Kaiba yet." Judai smiled.
Yusei quietly stood aside without speaking, yet understood something.
Senior Judai had not been serious just now?
"Going all out, huh?" Yubel reappeared, "You know, right? That's a card not meant for this era..."
"No worries." Judai chuckled, "Moreover, if not giving it your all, it wouldn't be respecting your opponent, would it?"
Yubel shrugged indifferently, "Just a reminder."
Judai stood straight again.
For some reason, Kaiba instinctively felt that the other's aura seemed different.
Clearly still wearing such a ridiculous outfit, the unicorn-themed headgear wouldn't normally look serious at all, yet the entire person's aura seemed changed, that subtly revealed air, like it came from a dignified king.
Although it's strange to say, Kaiba suddenly felt a pressure only felt when facing Yugi.
The President frowned, "This guy..."
"My turn, draw a card!" Judai immediately played the card he drew, "Magic Card - Fusion Recovery! 'Polymerization' in the graveyard, and 'Elemental Hero Blazeman' sent to the graveyard as Fusion Material, return to the hand!"
Watching Judai return two cards to his hand, Kaiba coldly laughed, "Familiar tricks, is it another Fusion Hero comeback?"
"That's correct, but it may be a bit different from what you previously thought, President."
Judai smiled, placed the card into the Duel Disc.
"Magic Card - Polymerization activated! Hand cards 'Elemental Hero Neos', 'Neo-Spacian Flare Scarab' fusion!"
White body, red stripes, hero with blue round crystal on the chest appeared on the field, with the side being the Neo-Spacian surrounded by flames, armed in beetle-themed armor.
Seeing these two monsters—especially the one with the white-bodied hero—Kaiba immediately realized that this monster was extraordinary.
Although President Kaiba had faith in science and scoffed at so-called "supernatural phenomena," he could not deny that he was more sensitive than most to things science couldn't explain, like the Darkness Game and Duel Spirits.
For example, he could feel that the Elemental Hero with the white body in front of him harbored a mysterious and powerful force, potentially comparable to his "Blue-Eyes White Dragon."
"The fusion requirements are 'Elemental Hero Neos' combined with any level 4 or below Effect Monster. Fusion Summon—
——Elemental Hero Brave Neos!"
Under the fusion magic, Neos and Flare Scarab melded into one, shooting up into the whirlpool in the sky.
A beam of light cascaded down like a waterfall from the heavens, carrying the body of a brand-new hero to the ground. The white body gradually formed from the dazzling brilliance, retaining the stance of Neos but with broader shoulder armor and different colors and stripes.
...It felt like switching to another form.
[Elemental Hero Brave Neos, Attack: 2500]
This was a new form of Neos that had never appeared in the entire 'Yu-Gi-Oh! GX' series, evidently another identity for Neos given by Judai later on.
Kaiba was astonished by the energy fluctuations he felt from this monster—as if it were merely a hologram, yet he seemed to sense extraordinary energy from this unheard-of Elemental Hero.
...Impossible, it must be an illusion, just a hologram.
Kaiba said to himself internally.
And its attack power is just 2500, nothing to fear.
But as if seeing through his thoughts, Judai smiled and explained, "Brave Neos gains 100 attack points for each 'Hero' or 'Neo-Spacian' monster in the graveyard.
I currently have Solid Soldier, Nova Master, Flare Scarab, and Neos in my graveyard, so Brave Neos' attack power increases by 400."
[Elemental Hero Brave Neos, Attack: 2500 → Attack: 2900]
"Tch, surpassed 'XYZ-Dragon Cannon'..."
"Next, I'll Normal Summon the 'Elemental Hero Blazeman' I just retrieved to my hand!"
Amidst a burst of flames, the fiery hero that had recently left the field returned.
"This turn, I'll use Blazeman's other effect!" Judai said, "Blazeman can send an Elemental Hero monster from the deck to the graveyard to gain its attack and defense points until the end of the turn."
Judai revealed the card he selected from his deck.
"Sending 'Elemental Hero Edgeman' from the deck to the graveyard, Blazeman's attack strength becomes the same as Edgeman's at 2600 until the end of the turn!"
[Elemental Hero Blazeman, Attack: 1200 → Attack: 2600]
[Elemental Hero Brave Neos, Attack: 3000]
"Battle!" Judai commanded, "First, Elemental Hero Brave Neos, attack 'XYZ-Dragon Cannon'!"
Neos soared into the air, drawing a perfect arc in the sky, trailing two white lines behind him as he dived towards the mecha!
The heavy mecha fought back desperately, firing all weapons from its twin cannons and central dragon head, unleashing all its firepower at the white body in mid-air.
But neither energy cannons nor bullet rain could stop Neos from its charging trajectory. Neos turned into a mere afterimage, shrouded in a golden glow. With a single hand knife swing, it seemed to materialize into a long energy blade, slicing the XYZ-Dragon Cannon down the middle, exploding it into burning parts and metal fragments amidst its echoed burst.
[Kaiba, LP 4000 → LP 3800]
"Brave Neos' effect." Judai stated, "When it destroys an opponent's monster by battle, it can add a Magic Trap Card associated with 'Elemental Hero Neos' from the deck to the hand."
Kaiba squinted.
To think it could precisely add a Magic Trap Card to hand? Such a powerful ability?
"I'll add the Trap Card 'NEXT' to my hand."
Judai's duel disc executed an automatic search and ejected the card he desired.
"My attack continues," Judai said, "Next is 'Elemental Hero Blazeman,' direct attack Kaiba Seto!"
Blazeman, engulfed in flames, shot forth like a fiery projectile. The fiery momentum forced Kaiba to take a step back, clicking his tongue.
[Kaiba, LP 3800 → LP 1200]
"Set one card, end turn." A Set Card appeared beside Judai as he continued, "At the end phase, Blazeman's effect ends, and attack power returns to normal."
[Elemental Hero Blazeman, Attack: 2600 → Attack: 1200]