Kite could only think about his own problems under pressure. He couldn't handle both internal and external the way Hikaru did.
He looked at AA-ZEUS and spoke: "AA-ZEUS, is what you want to see whether we have the courage to challenge your Great Leader?"
AA-ZEUS didn't speak, only calmly looked at Kite.
"Looks like that's it."
He turned back to Prime-Heart, then continued chatting with Hikaru: "Speaking of which, last time, when Yuma dueled together with your people, it seemed to be like this too."
"Uh, referring to specifically?"
"Yuma passed his first turn muddled through. Your people put in their all to clear the field, and by the way handled the next opponent. Almost one carrying one and a half."
"That day was exaggerated. Not nearly like that."
"Indeed. You're clearly much stronger, from within to without. And today, I'm clearly different from that day too!"
Kite continued: "Winning by the cards drawn is certainly part of a strong duelist, but at this very moment, I want to prove to you that even without Shining Draw, just with the cards drawn, is enough to defeat the opponent!"
He looked at Prime-Heart. These words were clearly both a thanks to Hikaru and a self-declaration.
"My turn, draw." He didn't look at the card, directly put it away below his hand.
"Spell Card, Galaxy Trance!"
"Cards with this name can only be activated once per turn. On the turn this card is activated, I cannot Special Summon monsters other than Photon monsters and Galaxy monsters.
Pay 2000 Life Points, target 1 Photon monster in my Graveyard to activate. Special Summon 1 Galaxy monster with the same Level as that monster, and the targeted Graveyard monster, in Defense Position. Monsters Special Summoned by this effect have ATK become 2000 and effects negated!"
Team Amagi, LP: 3700 → 1700.
"Special Summon, Level 8, Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon, Level 8, Galaxy-Eyes Afterglow Dragon!"
"Overlay using two Level 8 monsters!"
Countless particles gathered and transformed into pure Cipher wings soaring through the sky.
"Galaxy shining in the darkness. Take the power of the fiendish gods and become my servant!
Xyz Summon!
Descend! Rank 8! Galaxy-Eyes Cipher Dragon!"
"Using Galaxy-Eyes Cipher Dragon as material, conduct Rank-Up Xyz Change!"
Kite's body began to burn intensely. Distinct red heat waves began to ignite.
This was something achievable only by breaking human limits. This was scenery only the strongest human could see!
"Rank-Up Xyz Change, Galaxy-Eyes Cipher Blade Dragon!"
Galaxy-Eyes Cipher Blade Dragon's two hands, enormous blades composed of light, cut through the cosmic air. Even in this world, Galaxy-Eyes Cipher Dragon was that "Dragon of the Galaxy."
"Galaxy-Eyes Cipher Blade Dragon's effect. Once per turn, detach 1 Xyz Material from this card, target 1 card on the field to activate. Destroy that card. I destroy your Set card."
"Counter Trap, Mannadium Reframing."
"If I control a Synchro Monster, when a monster effect, Spell Card, or Trap Card is activated, activate. Negate that activation. If Visas Starfrost or a monster with 1500 ATK and 2100 DEF exists on my field or in my Graveyard, I can also destroy that negated card."
Prime-Heart gathered force, then kicked out. Furious lightning directly covered Cipher Dragon's light. The next second, Cipher Blade Dragon instantly dispersed.
"Cipher Blade Dragon's effect. When this Xyz Summoned card is destroyed by opponent monster's attack or opponent's effect and sent to the Graveyard, target 1 Galaxy-Eyes Cipher Dragon in my Graveyard to activate. Special Summon that monster."
"Revive, Galaxy-Eyes Cipher Dragon!"
"Hmm?"
"Don't forget, I also searched another card. Continuous Spell Card, Galaxy Hundred. When this card is activated, as its effect resolution, I can send 1 Photon or Galaxy card from my Deck to the Graveyard. I send Photon Jumper to the Graveyard."
"Photon Jumper's effect. When this card is sent to the Graveyard, activate. Add 1 Photon Spell or Trap Card or Galaxy Spell or Trap Card from my Deck to my hand.
I add Hyper Galaxy to my hand!"
"Uh, Hyper Galaxy?" Tierra beside him felt something strange.
"Quick-Play Spell Card, Hyper Galaxy! Tribute 1 monster on my field with 2000 or more ATK other than Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon, target 1 monster on the opponent's field with 2000 or more ATK to activate. Tribute that monster, Special Summon 1 Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon from my hand or Graveyard!
Tribute Chaos Angel on your field and Elemental HERO Escuridao on my field."
Beautifully done.
This way, the monsters on Prime-Heart's field would be affected by monster effects!
Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon returned again.
"Then... ha, Light, now it's time to use that effect you never had a chance to use."
"That's wonderful." Hikaru brightened.
"I heard from Aster that your duels are duels of fusing with each other. In this duel, you originally had a chance to fuse the opponent's monster, but regrettably lost it. However, I don't think this is really a regret.
Only after losing do you cherish. Life is always like this."
He looked at the Galaxy-Eyes in his hand, his gaze growing firmer.
Just like the purest duelist's heart he'd lost!
But at the very least, he wanted to give Galaxy-Eyes the most brilliant world!
"Galaxy Hundred's effect!"
"If Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon has been Special Summoned to my field, activate. Confirm the opponent's Extra Deck. After that, one of its effects can be used: banish 1 monster, or Special Summon 1 Number monster."
Prime-Heart had no objection. He casually pressed his Extra Deck and displayed it. Hikaru looked with him and found nearly all Synchro Monsters, only 2 purple cards, and both were Vicious Astraloud.
"Banish 1 Vicious Astraloud."
"Ha..." Prime-Heart lightly laughed. He flicked his hand. A card flew out of the Extra Deck, then hung suspended in the cosmos.
The surrounding spirits cried out in unison, exclaiming, gasping.
That card hung above Hikaru's field.
"...Thanks, Kite."
"You focus. Now I'll continue the duel!"
This scene left Yuma dumbfounded.
"They're so in sync, Astral."
"Could they actually be parallel-world counterparts?" Even Astral couldn't quite tell.
Kite waved his left hand upward: "Activate monster effect! Despian Quaeritis's effect, activated during my or the opponent's Main Phase. Except for Level 8 or higher Fusion Monsters, all monsters on the field have their ATK become 0 until the end of the turn!"
"Huh?"
"Wow, what a selfish effect."
"Everything hit except Fusion?"
Earlier, because of Chaos Angel, Hikaru hadn't activated this effect. Now instead, on Kite's turn, it was achieved.
"So that's it. Dueling Fusion is this kind of thing." After the shock of Kite and Hikaru's coordinated cooperation, Astral more quickly figured out the hidden logic within. "Not only conducting one's own Fusion, but at the same time thinking comprehensively, understanding the teammate's and enemy's tactical thinking, while using one's own Fusion for attack or support..."
As expected of the strongest Fusion duelist. Just this back-and-forth turn thinking was something ordinary people couldn't realize.
It was actually a coincidence.
If Kite had come here to challenge with Hikaru earlier, before Hikaru had dueled Tierra, he wouldn't necessarily have played this way. Although the approach was always the same, the ideas wouldn't necessarily have been so many. Sometimes it was purely a matter of technique.
Galaxy-Eyes Cipher Dragon, Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon, Mannadium Prime-Heart, Vicious Astraloud, ATK: 0.
"Although Quaeritis's ATK is now higher, how will you win?"
The next turn was AA-ZEUS's turn. They still had a full 8000 Life Points. Without victory, if AA-ZEUS appeared once more and cleared the field, then Hikaru and Kite, with no hand resources, would be genuine lambs for slaughter!
"Very simple. Use this!" Kite threw out a card from his hand. "Rank-Up-Magic Cipher Ascension!"
"During my or the opponent's Main Phase, target 1 Cipher Xyz Monster on my field. Xyz Summon by placing 1 Cipher Xyz Monster 1 Rank higher on top of the targeted monster as material. Monsters Special Summoned by this effect gain the following effect. This card's ATK increases by 500 times the number of Level 4 or higher monsters on my field!"
"I use Rank 8 Galaxy-Eyes Cipher Dragon as Xyz Material for a single-material Xyz!"
"Galaxy shining in the darkness. Release the forever unchanging light and become the beacon that illuminates the future!
Rank-Up Xyz Change!
Descend! Rank 9! Neo Galaxy-Eyes Cipher Dragon!"
Kite's body was now glowing red, red to blackness, red as if to absorb light. Countless watching spirits couldn't help falling silent.
The stars lost color at this moment.
In this cosmos, even the brightest star didn't shine like this dragon here and now.
Within the dazzling blade-like golden light curtain, a giant dragon appeared with a roar.
Neo Galaxy-Eyes Cipher Dragon. Rank 9, LIGHT Attribute, Dragon-Type. ATK 4500 → 5500. Xyz Materials: 1.
"When this card has a Cipher card as material, this card can use its effect. Once per turn, detach up to 3 Xyz Materials from this card to activate. Choose face-up monsters on the opponent's field equal to the number detached. Take control of them until the End Phase. Monsters gained via this effect have their effects negated, their ATK becomes 4500, and their card names are treated as Neo Galaxy-Eyes Cipher Dragon. After this effect's activation, until the end of the turn, monsters on my field other than this card cannot attack directly.
Detach 1 Xyz Material, take control of Vicious Astraloud, treat it as Neo Galaxy-Eyes Cipher Dragon!"
"Cipher Super Projection!"
Galaxy-Eyes Cipher Dragon's light wings behind it emitted terrifying radiance, shining on Vicious Astraloud. Uncontrolled, it came to Kite's field, then under the light's refraction and reflection, transformed into Neo Galaxy-Eyes Cipher Dragon's form.
Neo Galaxy-Eyes Cipher Dragon, ATK: 5500 → 6000.
"ATK 6000!"
"2500 plus 6000, actually..."
The spirits cried out repeatedly.
Even if just an avatar of the Great Leader, that was a strong existence among spirits!
Could these two humans actually really win!?
"But if it's only this, Galaxy-Eyes isn't the most brilliant dragon."
"Oh?" Prime-Heart was quite interested. "So you want a one-hit victory, using one monster attack, winning directly with Neo Galaxy-Eyes Cipher Dragon?"
"Fine, come. Human, you're still far from your limit.
Don't let messy thoughts affect your own performance."
Limit, huh.
Kite looked at Galaxy-Eyes, then looked at Hikaru.
Unity of knowledge and action, a pure person.
He was still lacking!
"Continuous Spell Card, Cipher Interference!"
"So long as this card is on the field, once per turn, when a Cipher monster of mine with same-name monster existing on the field enters battle, during damage calculation, activate. That battling Cipher monster's ATK becomes double until end of Battle Phase!"
"Huh?"
"Double 6000!"
"12000!"
Astral and Yuma also chimed in urgently. This wasn't something Double or Nothing could solve!
"Battle. Galaxy-Eyes, go prove you're the brightest existence in the galaxy!
Neo Galaxy-Eyes Cipher Dragon attacks Mannadium Prime-Heart.
Trembling Cipher Burst!"
Neo Galaxy-Eyes Cipher Dragon's three heads simultaneously began to accumulate photons. Then, the light began to convert. A dreadful torrent cut through the stars, penetrating the entire Star War Dimension!
Spirit team, LP: 8000 → 0!
One-hit victory!
This was when Galaxy-Eyes shone!
...
Author Note: This book defaults to Photon and Cipher both being Kite's. Kite's "Galaxy-Eyes" isn't Photon Dragon or Cipher Dragon, just "Galaxy-Eyes [Something] Dragon." Honestly I really like the Cipher Dragon series. It has its own flair distinct from Photon Dragon. But no idea why silly Konami had to split Photon and Cipher apart. Same senior deck situation, but Blackwing and Raidraptor weren't separated, and only Kite was inexplicably left lying there. All I can do is shake my head.