Jack Atlas pushed his D-Wheel to the starting line and looked at his opponent, that mysterious member of "Team New World."
Paradox.
This guy had a head of dazzling golden hair and wore a mask. But unlike the mask that fellow Hikaru had just casually picked up, this mask looked extraordinarily refined. Under the shadow, golden light emanated from the eye positions, and on the left eye there was a mark similar to the "criminal mark" on Yusei's face. But more than a mark, it looked like a "tear."
Like his own, Paradox's D-Wheel was a huge silver-white D-Wheel too. But compared to his Wheel of Fortune, Paradox's D-Wheel looked more aggressive, a bit like a spike meant for charging.
Clearly, this was a self-made D-Wheel too!
Although Jack didn't build D-Wheels himself, as one of the finest Turbo Duelists in the world, he could naturally tell that this D-Wheel was absolutely not lacking. It was extremely high quality, perhaps even surpassing his own Wheel of Fortune, which had been built with the cutting-edge core technology of the City!
A strong opponent!
"Jack Atlas, is it..." Seeing Jack take the stage, Paradox showed no regret or disappointment. On the contrary, his mood seemed to rise slightly. He removed his mask and greeted Jack.
This threw Jack for a loop.
The face beneath Paradox's mask wasn't anyone strange. He wasn't some secret duelist from some far-off nation, but seemed to be just an exceptionally handsome peer.
"You're taking off the mask just like that?"
Paradox casually put the mask back on and said: "I wear the mask not to hide my identity, but only to avoid influencing history too much."
?
Before Jack could press further, the WRGP tournament's traffic lights began flashing beside them.
Beep.
Beep.
At the same time, the footage of this duel began broadcasting to the audience.
In the upper City, the lower City, nearly every spectator waiting for Team 5D's match began focusing eagerly on this duel, not to mention Jack Atlas's fanatical female fans.
Whether it was cheerleaders on-site, or over at the police station, Jack Atlas had fans everywhere. The reason came down to one word: he was handsome.
Really, extraordinarily handsome.
At the hospital, Carly Nagisa leaned back against her pillow, watching the television screen, watching Jack's dashing figure, and a small smile crept onto her face too.
Some time ago, in her search for more powerful cards, she'd been possessed by an Earthbound Immortal. It was Jack who had thrown everything into saving her and pulling her back to consciousness.
"Go on, Jack..."
Jack's fans naturally weren't limited to women. In fact, among the contestants in this duel, quite a few were his fans too, like Yugo, like Rin. Seeing that Team 5D's was about to compete again and Jack was taking the stage, the two youngsters hurried to sit in front of the screen, looking forward to this duel.
"Go, Jack!"
Beep.
Green light!
Vroom!!
Two silver-white D-Wheels shot from the track at almost the same instant. Immediately, the two great D-Wheels raced onto the course at speeds ordinary people couldn't imagine. This was practically something no duelist before had ever done!
Charging into the track at maximum speed, fighting for the first move!
The two D-Wheels ran neck and neck, tearing into the course together. The corner of Jack's mouth curled up in confidence.
He'd taken the inside lane. Even if his opponent's skill was on par with his own, and the D-Wheel was equally excellent, there was no stopping him now!
The first move was his to take.
But in the space of that momentary distraction, his eyes went wide, and he realized, with utter shock...
His opponent had overtaken him!
How could it be!
He'd clearly been leading just a moment ago!
Even on the outside lane, that shouldn't have been possible at that speed!
With the first move already decided, the two riders' D-Wheel speeds began gradually dropping. Jack stared at this Paradox beside him in shock, as if looking at a monster.
That acceleration just now felt like something no human could achieve. It almost made him suspect "time acceleration"!
"The first move is mine!"
Paradox laughed heartily.
"Hmph..."
Jack silently accepted it.
Paradox, LP: 4000. Jack Atlas, LP: 4000.
"My turn."
Paradox casually entered his turn.
"Jack Atlas, come to think of it, I've actually always admired you."
"Oh? Yet another fan of mine from around the world?" Jack showed no particular expression at hearing this. Dueling fans was routine for him by now. "But don't think that because you're a fan of mine, I'll go easy on you. The King's duel is inevitably a serious one!"
At this moment, the Nordic trio was also watching this duel. Hearing Jack's words, a certain someone clearly snorted, plainly not accepting it at all.
"Hahahaha... The King's duel must be a serious one, is it?" Paradox laughed heartily, then casually held up a card.
"There's actually something to that. But to be honest, Jack Atlas, when I first saw you, I was actually deeply disappointed. Your performance and the you in my imagination were simply too far apart."
"Yet another fellow who's taken the me of his imagination as his own idol? Hmph, think whatever you like. There is only one King, and that is me, Jack Atlas! I don't need anyone's approval or doubt. I am the KING!"
Oh!!
For some reason, Yugo and Rin lit up.
They'd heard some of Jack's stories from Yusei before, knowing that he'd stolen "Stardust Dragon" in order to reach the top of the City. But after various events and duels, Jack Atlas had been forgiven by Yusei, so they naturally wouldn't cling to that issue anymore.
And with that "blemish" gone, for the two children, Jack was simply the KING they had idolized ever since childhood. Now, seeing Jack's classic yet different declaration and the King's proclamation, they immediately let out a cheer.
This kind of thing was completely lost on outsiders like Serena and Lulu.
Of course, they were quite looking forward to Jack's duel too.
Paradox couldn't help shaking his head: "No... what I mean is completely different from that..."
"Fine, since that's the case, let's use the duel to see instead."
"Spell Card, Graceful Charity."
Jack Atlas frowned.
He'd actually managed to get his hands on a card like Graceful Charity, which was practically impossible to find, an ultra-rare?
"Draw three cards from the Deck, then discard two cards from my hand."
"I send Malefic Red-Eyes Black Dragon and Malefic Parallel Gear from my hand to the Graveyard."
"Next, I activate Spell Card, Malefic Selector. This can be activated by banishing two 'Malefic' cards from my Graveyard. I add to my hand a 'Malefic' card other than Malefic Selector whose name is different from those of the banished cards."
"Selecting two directly!"
"What a devastating card."
Paradox flipped through his Deck and pulled out two: "I add Malefic World and Malefic Paradigm Dragon to my hand."
"Field Spell Card, Malefic World."
"Then, I banish Malefic Paradox Dragon from my Extra Deck to Special Summon Malefic Paradigm Dragon."
An enormous black mechanical wing spread behind him. Then countless streams of electricity flowed across the mechanical wings, and a black-and-white mechanical giant dragon, spreading its wings, roared onto the field.
Malefic Paradigm Dragon. Level 10, DARK Attribute, Dragon-Type, DEF 4000!
"Defense Position?"
"After all, it's the first turn. Defense is safer, isn't it?"
Many people had watched Paradox's duels before, so a monster with 4000 ATK wasn't surprising to them.
What surprised more people was that Paradox ended his turn just like that!
Looked like he hadn't drawn into Skill Drain.
Not a few onlookers, secretly hoping to see Jack take another spectacular tumble, felt a pang of regret.
"I end my turn just like that."
"Hmph... DEF 4000, truly a wall like a mountain, Paradox." Jack looked at this enormous monster, but the confidence on his face wasn't shaken in the slightest.
"But before me, Jack Atlas, a scene like this isn't worth mentioning!"
This time, even Dragan on the Nordic team couldn't help nodding with a cold expression: "This guy's not wrong. This fellow called Paradox made the wrong choice."
Many people treated Red Dragon Archfiend as merely a vanilla monster with 3000 ATK, but in fact, Red Dragon Archfiend had the effect that, after damage calculation from attacking a Defense Position monster, all Defense Position monsters on the opponent's field are destroyed!
Defense Position was simply wasting Paradigm Dragon's stats!
He'd grown a little less optimistic about Paradox.
Similarly, aside from this "hater," as Jack's fans, Yugo and Rin naturally understood this point too, and couldn't help starting to daydream.
The advantage felt huge!
"My turn, draw!"
Jack glanced at his hand, the corner of his mouth curling up: "Nice hand. Then, Normal Summon, Level 3, Tuner monster, Soul Resonator!"
"Soul Resonator's effect activates when it's Normal or Special Summoned. I add 1 Fiend monster of Level 4 or lower other than Soul Resonator from my Deck to my hand. After this effect activates, until the end of the turn, I cannot Special Summon non-DARK Synchro Monsters from my Extra Deck.
I add Bone Archfiend from my Deck to my hand."
"I send Scarlet security from my hand to the Graveyard to activate Bone Archfiend's effect and Special Summon it. After this Special Summon by this effect, until the end of the turn, I cannot Special Summon non-DARK Dragon Synchro Monsters from my Extra Deck."
"Such a drawn-out self-restriction, Jack Atlas."
"Hmph. The King's duel is to bind his own hands and feet dueling ordinary men, granting his opponent the chance to look upon the King!"
Jack raised a hand, pointing at Bone Archfiend: "Bone Archfiend's effect. Target 1 face-up monster on my field to activate. I send 1 Fiend Tuner monster from my hand or Deck to the Graveyard. The targeted monster's Level increases or decreases by 1.
I send Crimson Resonator from my Deck to the Graveyard, and decrease Bone Archfiend by 1 Level."
"I tune Level 3 Soul Resonator with Level 3 Bone Archfiend!"
"Synchro Summon! Level 6, Red Rising Dragon!"
Red Rising Dragon. Level 6, DARK Attribute, Dragon-Type. ATK 2100.
"Red Rising Dragon's effect. When this card is successfully Synchro Summoned, I can target 1 Resonator in my Graveyard to activate. Special Summon that monster!"
"Come back, Level 2, Tuner monster, Crimson Resonator!"
Paradox turned his gaze back to look at Crimson Resonator, then asked the question on the audience's behalf:
"Level 6 and Level 2, here it comes? Red Dragon Archfiend?"
"No, that's something the me of the past would do. My current self has already surpassed the past!" Jack Atlas pointed at Crimson Resonator on the field. "Crimson Resonator's effect. If the only other monster on my field is exactly 1 DARK Dragon-Type Synchro Monster, I can activate. I Special Summon up to 2 Resonator monsters other than Crimson Resonator from my hand or Deck!"
"I Special Summon Level 2 Vision Resonator, and Level 2 Force Resonator!"
"Vision Resonator?"
Paradox looked at that monster. Its appearance wasn't that of an ordinary Resonator; it was clad in the robes of a witch.
"Ah!!" Watching the duel, a flush spread across Carly Nagisa's face, then she burst into fury: "This is too ugly, Jack!"
"I tune Level 2 Force Resonator with Level 6 Red Rising Dragon!"
"Synchro Summon, Level 8, my very soul, Red Dragon Archfiend!"
The pitch-black dragon roared out of the darkness, beat its wings, and slowly followed Jack Atlas onto the stage.
"Whoa!!!"
"There it is, our Red Dragon Archfiend!"
In the Synchro Dimension, Red Dragon Archfiend was an extremely famous monster.
"It's not over yet!"
Jack's eyes blazed with intense flames. He clenched his right hand into a fist and struck his own chest: "Using Level 2 Crimson Resonator and Level 2 Vision Resonator, together with Level 8 Red Dragon Archfiend, I perform Double Tuning!"
"What?"
"Double Tuning!??"
Never mind spectators from other dimensions, even spectators from this dimension were stunned upon hearing his words.
What was Double Tuning!?
A Synchro Monster required a Tuner and non-Tuner monsters. Two Tuner monsters, what did that count as!?
"King and demon, now converge here! Wild soul! Raise the cry of the creation of heaven and earth! Synchro Summon! Appear,
Level 12,
Red Nova Dragon!"
Flames tore the earth apart, black fire rising up out of the ground. The terrifying fire took the shape of a geoglyph, floating in the sky. Amid this scene, an enormous red demon, armored head to toe, slowly leapt out from within!
Red Nova Dragon. Level 12, DARK Attribute, Dragon-Type. ATK 3500.
"Red... Nova Dragon?"
"3500 ATK!"
"Whoa, Red Dragon Archfiend's brand-new form, so cool!"
"Double Tuning, using two Tuners to tune. Team 5D's has too many specialties!"
"Whoa!! Jack, so strong!!"
Jack didn't care about the audience's cries, didn't focus on the cheers that could be heard even across countless distances, but continued his operations: "Vision Resonator's effect. When this card is sent to the Graveyard, I can activate. I add 1 Spell or Trap card that mentions 'Red Dragon Archfiend' from my Deck to my hand.
I add Crimson Gaia to my hand!"
"As for Red Nova Dragon's ATK, it gains 500 ATK per Tuner monster in my Graveyard! I currently have 4 Tuner monsters in my Graveyard in total, so its ATK is 5500!"
"5500 ATK!?"
"Even surpasses Five-Headed Dragon!"
"Malefic Paradigm Dragon has no way to compare at all!"
"So strong, super strong, Jack really is the coolest!"
Paradox looked at this scene without a shred of urgency, but nodded and said: "Not bad, indeed an extremely fine monster. But once I draw into Skill Drain, it will be of no use whatsoever."
Jack gave a cold snort.
That's not necessarily so.
"I activate the Continuous Spell Card, Crimson Gaia.
This card's effect activates only during my Main Phase. Except for Crimson Gaia, I add 1 'Red Dragon Archfiend' or 1 card that mentions that card name from my Deck or Graveyard to my hand.
I add Red Zone from my Deck to my hand!"
Red Zone, while there is Red Dragon Archfiend or a Synchro Monster that mentions that card name on your field, when the opponent activates a card's effect, target 1 card on the field to activate. Destroy that card.
Even if Paradox drew Skill Drain next turn, it wouldn't matter to Jack anymore.
And besides...
"Battle! Red Nova Dragon, attack Malefic Paradigm Dragon!"
"Burning Soul!"
Red Nova Dragon's body erupted with terrifying black flames. Then it raised its right hand and swung a fist at that mechanical dragon, slamming down hard.
Bam!!!
"Paradigm Dragon has been defeated!"
"But with Malefic World, he can search a Malefic monster every turn."
"Not likely. Paradox definitely wants to draw Skill Drain, he won't use that effect."
True enough.
The Malefic deck was a deck that competed in raw ATK, and to defeat a 5500-ATK Red Nova Dragon wasn't such a simple matter.
"It's not over yet, Paradox!" After directing his monster to destroy Paradigm Dragon, Jack raced forward at full speed, shouting toward Paradox, "Don't you go thinking this is over!
Crimson Gaia's effect activates when a monster on the field is destroyed by battle or effect. I Special Summon 1 Red Dragon Archfiend from my Graveyard!"
"Come back, my very soul, Red Dragon Archfiend!"
Flames roared up on the Turbo Duel course, and everyone saw, beneath the curtain of flame, the great shadow of a demon.
"Red Dragon Archfiend, direct attack on the opponent!"
Red Dragon Archfiend flew to Paradox's side and slammed a fist into his D-Wheel, causing his speed to drop sharply. Before long, Jack had pulled well ahead by a considerable distance!
Paradox, LP: 4000 → 1000.
Paradox struggled to keep his vehicle under control. The stall and heavy blow had left the vehicle badly rattled. Yet facing this situation, there wasn't a trace of tension on his face. He quickly adjusted his direction, switched from automatic to manual transmission, and after a series of maneuvers, easily restabilized the vehicle.
"So impressive..." Yugo, watching this scene, couldn't help crying out in awe, while Rin beside him nodded rapidly.
Laymen see the spectacle, experts see the craft. What just happened, because tremendous dueling force had caused the course to shift, and there had even been physical impact and a sudden collapse in speed, all these factors combined meant that anyone who wasn't an extraordinarily professional Turbo Dueling expert simply couldn't have handled it, and would surely have been left far behind!
And by then, if his mental state wavered too, the duel itself would probably have been affected!
To pull off the operation and posture this smoothly, this person absolutely had to be a powerful duelist particularly skilled in Turbo Dueling!
Jack looked back after finishing Paradox's maneuver, his eyes narrowing slightly, quite surprised too.
He hadn't expected there to be such an outstanding duelist outside the City.
In that case, he couldn't afford to underestimate him any further.
"End Battle Phase, enter Main Phase 2." Jack pressed his D-Wheel and raised another card in his hand. "If a Synchro Monster exists on the field, this card can be Special Summoned from the hand.
Special Summon, Level 1, Tuner monster, Synkron Resonator."
"Eh!!"
"Another Tuner. Could it be, he's going to Tune again!?" The MC bellowed at the top of his lungs, screaming his throat raw, working up the atmosphere.
"That's right!" Jack pointed at the sky with one hand. "The King's duel must have the King's oppressive weight! I tune Level 1 Tuner monster Synkron Resonator with Level 8 Red Dragon Archfiend!"
"Transform your form, Red Dragon Archfiend!"
"Synchro Summon, Level 9,
Hot Red Dragon Archfiend Abyss!"
Red Dragon Archfiend roared, its arms spreading wide, two arm-blades tore free from both hands, and it took the stage with a roar.
Hot Red Dragon Archfiend Abyss. Level 9, DARK Attribute, Dragon-Type. ATK 3200.
"Synkron Resonator's effect. When this card is sent from the field to the Graveyard, I target 1 Resonator monster in my Graveyard other than itself to activate. Add that monster to my hand. I add Crimson Resonator to my hand.
I Set 1 card and end my turn!"
"As expected of Jack. While pressing the attack, he's already set up his next round of pressing the attack too! This is the KING! Jack!"
Seeing this, even Dragan couldn't help knitting his brow.
He hadn't expected Jack Atlas to have other powerful support monsters besides Abyss.
If anything, this only made him more dissatisfied.
If he had this kind of strength, then why had he been using his own family's lives as bait to make himself throw matches, keeping himself from dueling at full strength?
"You truly are strong, Jack Atlas." Paradox burst out through the smoke and dust and hung close behind Jack, speaking leisurely. "As expected of my former idol."
Former?
Jack glanced back at him, then said stubbornly: "I never needed anyone's worship. I am simply me, I am I, the only KING! The King has no need of approval!"
"Hahaha... hearing these words now, I feel both nostalgic and full of regret."
?
Jack was puzzled.
Paradox lightly scratched his hair with his right hand, then said: "The color is still quite dazzling, isn't it?"
The same brilliant golden hair...
Was it dyed on purpose? Or was he naturally the same as Jack?
"To be honest, only up until now did I understand what it means when they say the idol and the person themself have never been the same thing.
The few brief strokes in the history books, or the handful of photographs, sketched out for children an infinity of imagination, a worship and admiration for the people of that era. But when I actually stood before this so-called idol, all I felt was...
Well...
Absurdity."
Watching the live broadcast, Yusei looked up at Hikaru. Hikaru raised an eyebrow, thinking of a line that fit the moment: "Worship is the farthest distance from understanding."
Yusei, hearing this, was suddenly enlightened, and even faintly began to understand why their "die-hards" were growing so slowly.
"History? Stories? What are you talking about... wait, could it be!" Jack had heard Yusei tell him about future events.
At this very moment, he finally understood.
This Paradox wasn't one of those fans from his own world who watched him duel, but a person from the future who, after hearing Yusei's story, had developed a feeling of worship for him, his "helper." He was one of the future descendants!
At this very moment, Jack was shocked, delighted, and also embarrassed!
Even with his usual shamelessness, he was mortified beyond measure!
Because he knew that, as someone who had once wronged Yusei, although he could enter the "historical stories and legends" alongside him, he'd probably done so entirely riding on Yusei's coattails. Without Yusei, how many of the future descendants would even know him?
Just so, his few seconds of excitement at having his "name inscribed in history" were washed clean by this embarrassment in an instant.
Even more terrifying:
He had understood.
This Paradox, after seeing the "true Jack," had developed a considerable degree of disappointment!
"I find it a little hard to believe that you could actually stand shoulder to shoulder with that Yusei." Light shone from the eyes of Paradox's mask, as if tears were flowing.
He'd never seen Jack before, but he did know about Yusei's affairs.
In his eyes, Yusei Fudo was even more of a damn saint than the history books wrote.
And what about the other members of Team 5D's?
Under this curiosity, he'd looked into the current Team 5D's Hikaru: a duelist and savior from another dimension, no less than Yusei Fudo, no need to elaborate. Crow Hogan: an ordinary person, but through his own efforts he'd gained the recognition of the ultimate Earthbound Immortal, and was a key figure in reuniting the upper and lower classes of later generations. Truly impressive. Although he wasn't as transcendent as Yusei, what he'd accomplished was already beyond what an ordinary person could do.
What the hell was this Jack Atlas thing!? His dueling wasn't pure, his thinking wasn't pure, and he'd even done things that had let his team down in the past!
How on earth were you fit to stand shoulder to shoulder with Yusei!?
"Jack Atlas, you look very confident." Paradox said in a low voice. "Truly, Team 5D's is quite formidable. Every one of your teammates has abilities beyond ordinary duelists, or even beyond the vast majority of participating contestants.
But team dueling isn't something you can pull off with just one or two sufficiently strong players.
Even Yusei Fudo needed other connections to fulfill his dream.
Is defeating one Earthbound Immortal worth your being so smug!"
Jack looked at him in shock.
He'd actually said this kind of thing openly, in front of everyone in front of a television screen!
But even more than that, what Jack couldn't tolerate was: "Smug? Wrong. I'm just doing what I think should be done! What I'm doing to help Yusei!"
"Then your efforts are utterly meaningless!" Paradox retorted at once. "Sure, you're stronger now than you were before. But this 'strength' only makes you strong enough. It's not the strength to transcend an era!"
?!
"Let me show you my dueling, Paradox's true dueling!"
"My turn, draw!"
Paradox looked at his hand.
"I banish Cyber End Dragon from my Extra Deck to Special Summon Malefic Cyber End Dragon!"
"Yet another monster with 4000 ATK Special Summoned directly!"
"Wait, that was Cyber End Dragon?"
In the noble quarter, a certain man watching the duel had been expressionless. But upon seeing this "Malefic" monster, he shot to his feet in shock.
This is...
This familiar feeling...
Before he could continue reminiscing, the duel proceeded.
"I activate Continuous Spell Card, Different Dimension Gate."
"I banish Malefic Cyber End Dragon on my field and Red Nova Dragon on your field!"
An enormous isolation device floated in the sky above the two great dragons, and then the figures of both dragons began to grow illusory.
"Oh! This way, he can banish that 5500-ATK Red Nova Dragon!"
"Clever, contestant Paradox! This way, relying on Malefic monsters' high ATK advantage, he can easily secure victory."
"Ha, naive. Open Set card, Red Zone! Target 1 of my banished DARK Dragon-Type Synchro Monsters to activate. Special Summon that monster. I Special Summon your banished Red Nova Dragon!"
Whap.
Red Nova Dragon paid no mind at all to the banishment by the isolator. With a single claw slam on the illusory space, it beat its wings and burst free.
"Aiya, what a shame, contestant Paradox's operation was actually within Jack's expectations. As expected of the KING!" The MC cheered.
"Ha..." Paradox chuckled lightly. "Everything is within my expectations, Jack Atlas."
"What did you say?" Jack looked at him in confusion.
"It's about time... Jack, this deck of mine is one built to commemorate the cards created for the legendary heroes who saved the world. Although, in the end, the world was still destroyed, this yearning has always been in my heart.
And now, I'm going to use them to prove my resolve, to prove that you don't have this thing they call the mind of growth at all!"
"Normal Summon, Level 2, Tuner monster, Crystron Tristaros!"
Along with Paradox's summons, a robot that looked just like a small car flew out from his hand.
Wo-choo.
Hikaru's eyes went wide.
"Eh eh eh, isn't that Tristaros!?" In an extremely rare showing, the All-Dissolving Alchemist appeared beside Hikaru, watching the broadcast and yelping. "Oh my god, I thought I was the only one of my kind in this world, so there are kindred spirits from the same dimension after all."
Luna and Yusei looked at it, seeming a bit surprised. After Hikaru introduced the All-Dissolving Alchemist to them, he didn't continue explaining.
Future series cards?
Could it be that the reason the All-Dissolving Alchemist had never been able to find its kindred wasn't that it couldn't find them, but that they didn't yet exist?
But whatever the case, Hikaru knew Jack was going to have a hard time.
Why?
Because he didn't know what Crystron Tristaros's effect was either.
This was a genuine "future card" he'd never seen!
"I discard Crystron Smiger from my hand, Special Summon, Level 5, Crystron Sulfefnir."
Yet another utterly different monster appeared on Paradox's field. Not just the spectators, even Jack was now baffled.
Isn't he Malefic?
"Crystron Sulfefnir, while in the hand or Graveyard, I can discard 1 Crystron card other than Crystron Sulfefnir from my hand to activate. Special Summon it in Defense Position. After that, 1 card on my field is destroyed. I destroy Crystron Sulfefnir itself."
The golden dragon hadn't even stayed on the field for a full second before instantly bursting apart.
"Then Crystron Sulfefnir's effect continues processing. When this card on the field is destroyed by battle or effect, activate. Special Summon 1 Crystron monster from my Deck in Defense Position.
Special Summon in Defense Position, Crystron Sulfador!"
The golden dragon seemed to have shifted form, blazing with silver-white radiance.
"Crystron Sulfador's effect activates when this card is Normal or Special Summoned. Send up to 2 Crystron cards other than Crystron Sulfador from my Deck to the Graveyard!"
What?
Jack's expression grew somewhat grim.
Although he still didn't know what Paradox's goal was, he had already grasped the deck's line of thinking.
Clearly, this was a "graveyard-stacking" deck!
"I activate Hot Red Dragon Archfiend Abyss's effect! During my or my opponent's turn, target 1 face-up card on the opponent's field to activate. That card's effects are negated until the end of the turn."
"Ohhh!! Even at this moment, he can still counterattack. As expected of Jack!"
"Hahaha, Jack, this move is exactly what I've been waiting for! Tristaros's effect activates!" Paradox's words sank Jack's heart another notch. "When the opponent activates an effect, activate. Special Summon 1 Crystron monster other than Tristaros from my Deck. After that, using monsters on my field including that monster as material, I perform the Synchro Summon of 1 Machine-Type Synchro Monster!"
"What!?" Jack's expression changed abruptly.
"How about it? What are you going to do, Jack Atlas!!"
Difficult!
Very difficult!
If this effect went through, then Abyss's effect would have been wasted for nothing. Because before Abyss's effect resolved, Crystron Sulfador would already have left the field, and if he tried to activate Red Zone's effect to destroy Tristaros or Crystron Sulfador, it would be pointless too. Because destroying Tristaros, this guy could still perform the tuning, and destroying Crystron Sulfador, not only could he continue Special Summoning, but because Crystron Sulfador would have been destroyed, Abyss's negate effect wouldn't apply to it either!
Damn.
"Hmph, do as you please."
"Heh... I told you, Jack Atlas, all your movements are within my expectations."
"Tsk..."
"Well then, I won't hold back, Jack Atlas. From my Deck, I Special Summon Crystron Citree, and then..."
He suddenly floored the accelerator, then stood up on his D-Wheel, spread both arms wide, and said: "Using Level 2 Tuner monster Crystron Citree, Level 2 Tuner monster Crystron Tristaros, and Level 5 Crystron Sulfador, I perform Double Tuning!!"
"Ah!?"
"What is that?!"
"Double Tuning!!!"
Yugo and Rin practically wanted to press themselves right up against the screen.
Jack's eyes exposed his shock and confusion in that moment. He looked at Paradox behind him, only startled bewilderment in his gaze: "What did you say? Double Tuning, wasn't that something I just created, ah..."
He realized what Paradox had meant by "idol"!
He saw Crystron Sulfador turn illusory, the two Tuner monsters transforming into a silver-white halo and a golden-yellow halo respectively. The two spirits that looked very much like Leo and Luna shone with light, and then wrapped around Crystron Sulfador.
Its body began to grow violently, and then transformed into a mechanical monster that actually bore a passing resemblance to "Red Nova Dragon"!
"O light that appears from the crevices of history, broadcast the prelude to destruction for the stage that crosses time and space!
Double Tuning!"
"Level 9, Crystron Quariongandrax!!"
Crystron Quariongandrax. Level 9, WATER Attribute, Machine-Type. ATK 3000.
The moment Jack saw this monster, though a bit shocked, he at least breathed a sigh of relief.
"3000 ATK? Hmph, that stat can't defeat my monster!"
But at this moment, Paradox had no interest in continuing to mock Jack. Instead he slowly said: "When Quariongandrax is successfully Synchro Summoned, I target monsters on the opponent's field and Graveyard up to the number of monsters used as Synchro Materials. Those monsters are banished."
Jack's eyes went wide.
I see!
Different Dimension Gate had been a trap, deliberately set to make Jack think Paradox didn't know about "Red Zone"!
"Also, I send Crystron Thystvern and Crystron Prasiortle from my Deck to the Graveyard."
"Then I banish your Red Nova Dragon, Hot Red Dragon Archfiend Abyss, and Red Dragon Archfiend!"
"This is bad!"
Not a few spectators realized this was a rather terrible situation for Jack.
"...I activate Red Zone's effect!" Jack hadn't given up the duel. He looked back at Paradox and made his final counterattack. "While there is a Synchro Monster on my field whose name contains 'Red Dragon Archfiend' or that mentions that name, when the opponent activates a card's effect, target 1 card on the opponent's field to activate. That card is destroyed. I'm destroying Quariongandrax!"
"As expected of Jack, he can turn even this around!"
"This way, both fields are cleared!"
"Beautifully done, Jack still has recovery cards to keep his engine running. If he just attacks next turn, Paradox, with only 1000 Life Points left, loses!"
Hikaru, meanwhile, frowned deeply. He couldn't help telling Yusei that their team was about to suffer its first loss.
"Losing isn't the problem. This duel has actually shed light on a lot of my earlier worries and doubts." Yusei didn't mind. He picked up his helmet and said to his teammates, "I'll go bring Jack back."
As for Jack himself... For a duelist, dueling is the foundation.
Since the duel between Paradox and Jack was turning out this way, then naturally, this duel had its own meaning.
"Exactly as I predicted, Jack Atlas." Paradox now felt no excitement at all, but rather a sense of absurdity and pity.
Relying on future vision, he knew the people of this era better than the vast majority of people in this world. Naturally, he also knew their flaws with greater clarity.
Originally, all of this was normal.
After all, people of the past couldn't foresee the future. Having flaws was only natural.
But when he actually saw with his own eyes these "flawed old relics," the urge to just kick these old relics straight into the dirt began to sprout wildly.
"Quariongandrax's effect!"
"Effect? It can't be..."
Hearing Paradox's voice, Jack instantly broke out in a cold sweat all over.
Wrong!
Crystrons had to destroy their own monsters!
Then, could it be...
"When a Synchro Summoned Crystron Quariongandrax is destroyed by battle or effect, target 1 banished monster other than this card, of your own or your opponent's, to activate. Special Summon that monster to your own field!"
"You bastard!" Jack raged.
"I choose your banished Red Nova Dragon!!!"
Time turned. The red demon took the place where the golden serpent had been, slowly descending.
Red Nova Dragon. Level 12, DARK Attribute, Dragon-Type. ATK 3500 → 4500.
The broadcaster and MC on the scene were all left dumbstruck. Those Jack fans were frozen stiff too. Even Jack himself, drained of color, watched this scene unfold.
Under the flow of time and history, Paradox had once again completed a "dragon seizure."
Taking control of other people's dragons was trivial for him!
"Red Nova Dragon, direct attack on the opponent!"
"Burning Soul!!"
At Paradox's call, Jack's own soul launched an attack on him.
Its wings spread wide, boundless flames erupted from the racetrack, the ground cracked open, and pillars of fire rose like countless stars in the sky. The demon dragon swung its right fist wreathed in blazing flame, slamming it hard onto Jack's body.
"Guaaah!"
The instant the attack landed, Jack was flung away by the vast force. His Wheel of Fortune spun through the air like a coin, tumbling several times on its sides, until with a slam it struck the wall. Then the tremendous rebound force from the impact bounced the Wheel of Fortune back the other way, several times, plop, plop, tumbling and rolling across the ground like a rag.
The tremendous impact almost instantly threw Jack off the D-Wheel. With a crisp thundering crash, under the pull of gravity, he slammed a small crater into the racetrack.
Screeeech.
Paradox, catching up from behind, glanced casually at the battered, bloodied Jack Atlas, then, expressionless, gently pressed the accelerator, turned, and left.
"Jack!!!"
In that instant, countless people cried his name in terror.
...
Supplementary note by Author: Why have Paradox use Crystrons? First, they map cleanly onto the "future" theme. Second, Crystron Quariongandrax and Crystron Rosenix really do line up with Red Nova Dragon and Stardust Dragon, and even the low-level monsters do look a bit alike, it genuinely feels like a homage. So slotting them in as "the future person's homage-to-5D's deck" is a good way in.
The problem with the Malefic deck isn't that it's not strong. Honestly, Malefic plus stickers can torment most players. It's that so many Malefic cards are tied to other people's boss monsters, Malefic Blue-Eyes, Malefic Stardust, Malefic Rainbow Dragon, it just feels unnecessary. So I picked a deck that fit the "future person" setup instead.)
...
New Fic: A Decent Man in the Shinobi World. Give this a try, you people will love it.