The massive Scrap Fist slammed down with overwhelming force, sending both the Exosister and Korys on her skateboard flying toward the edge of the track.
The Xyz-evolved Mikailis shattered upon battle destruction, and Korys, thrown off balance by the impact, fell from her board.
Compared to a D-Wheel, a simple skateboard couldn't offer much stability.
It looked like a guaranteed wipeout—but just before hitting the ground, Korys landed on one foot, leaped again, and grabbed her board midair. With a swift twist and spin, she landed perfectly back on it.
The level of skill involved was enough to earn a perfect 10 from any panel of judges.
Such athletic prowess reminded Miles of Ren sitting in the prep zone.
No wonder she was the woman who could team up with Ren on their first meeting, executing a double Rider Kick to instantly take down a robber from the "Free Nation."
"That was incredible!"
"So this is what a Turbo Duel in the new Speed World looks like!"
The audience, though small, erupted for the first time.
Whether it was Miles's brutal Scrap Fist reversal or Korys's spectacular acrobatics, both had the crowd thrilled beyond measure.
"Neither side is giving an inch! And this is just the first turn of the Turbo Duel! Truly, what an intense battle brought to us by [Speed World – Novel]!"
Seizing the moment, Takehiko Izumi hyped the crowd further over the mic.
Albeit compared to the two beautiful duelists locked in high-speed pursuit, the poor commentator might as well have been background noise—barely contributing five percent to the show.
"Huff… huff…"
Having recovered from the fall, Korys's breathing quickened—not only from the acrobatic stunt but also from the lingering shock of that Scrap Fist.
That punch… felt exactly the same as before.
It shook her soul, just like the blow she took from Ren during their duel.
Watching Krista's windswept profile as she rode, Korys found her heart pounding faster than ever.
"Could it be… I really am that kind of woman… falling for anyone I meet?"
Regardless, Korys was sure of one thing: of all the people she'd fallen for, Ren was still her favorite.
"I'm not done yet! No—this duel's only just begun!"
Even after that crushing defeat, [Rush Warrior]'s Attack-doubling effect only lasted for a single battle.
Ending the Battle Phase for now, Korys at once slammed two Spell Cards onto the track.
"—I activate the Spell Card [Monster Reborn]! Revive [Exosister Mikailis] from my Graveyard!"
[Exosister Mikailis, ATK: 2500]
Bathed in the holy light of resurrection, the Exosister returned, emerging from a glowing cross.
Though revived Xyz Monsters lose their materials this way, Mikailis's 2500 Attack still outpowered the now-weakened Junk Warrior.
Unless he somehow had another Scrap Fist up his sleeve.
"Even if you do, I won't let it work this time! Then I activate the Continuous Spell [Fountain in the Sky]!"
[When a LIGHT monster is destroyed by battle and sent to your Graveyard, you can banish that monster; gain Life Points equal to its Attack.]
Since all her Exosisters were LIGHT monsters, if Miles destroyed them again, Korys could simply heal back with [Fountain in the Sky].
And since most Exosister Spells and Traps required paying Life Points, having a recovery engine was crucial.
Drawing two more cards, Korys set them firmly onto the board beside her D-Board.
"I Set two cards and end my turn."
Still putting on a brave front, Korys ended her turn after a hard-fought counterattack—and a humiliating Scrap Fist beatdown.
Meanwhile, inside the Millennium Puzzle, Krista was getting a whole new kind of 'gameplay' experience.
"This feeling… it's amazing! Damn, this is addictive!"
All she had to do was stay within the Puzzle and share Miles's senses… and she could experience him using her own Deck to crush the opponent with perfect precision.
It was a soul-based cheat more powerful than any physical one.
"No wonder Carlos relies on you so much, Miles."
Even though it was her own Deck, Krista couldn't help feeling excited—eager to see what Miles would do next.
"The opponent's monster has 2500 Attack… how do we break through, Miles?"
"A 2500-attack beater is just bait. The Exosisters are setting a trap."
Had he not seen Korys's duel with Ren, Miles might've fallen for it.
That said, now he knew: the Trap she'd searched earlier, [Exosister Pax], made her intentions obvious.
He'd have to be careful with anything that touched the Graveyard.
"My draw!"
[Krista, SPC: 1 → 2]
[Korys, SPC: 1 → 2]
Miles's second turn—both duelists now had two Speed Counters, the most pivotal point in a Turbo Duel.
He drew his card and scanned it swiftly.
Ironically, the very card he drew was [Necroid Synchro], a Spell that required banishing Synchro materials from the Graveyard to activate.
Not ideal… it carried the exact risk he was trying to avoid.
"Well, first things first—I activate [Speed Spell – Angel Baton]!"
[You can activate this card if you have 2 or more Speed Counters. Draw 2 cards, then send 1 card from your hand to the Graveyard.]
That was the first-turn player's privilege in a Turbo Duel—to use Angel Baton the moment Speed Counters hit two.
In the new Speed World field, both normal and Speed Spells flowed perfectly together, pushing duels to a new level of velocity.
"I draw two cards from my Deck, then discard one!"
If the small filtering angel blessed him with something better, Miles planned to toss [Necroid Synchro].
"Hmm?" Miles glanced over the cards he drew—and his eyes sharpened instantly. "This is it!"
Plans changed.
Every card on the field, in the Graveyard, in his hand—they all aligned in his mind, linking together like starlight.
Gather all the power of the cards, and it becomes the path of Synchro.
"Let's take the bait, then. I discard the Level 3 [Lady Ninja Yae] with [Angel Baton], and activate the effect of [Rush Warrior] in my Graveyard!"
[By banishing this card from your Graveyard: Target 1 'Synchron' monster in your GY; add it to your hand.]
Purposely manipulating his Graveyard, Miles knew Korys had been waiting for this moment.
Sure enough, racing ahead on her D-Board, Korys swung her arm to flip one of her face-down cards.
"Got you now, Krista!—Trap Card activate! [Exosister Vadis]!"
[Pay 800 Life Points; Special Summon 1 'Exosister' monster from your Deck, then Special Summon 1 other 'Exosister' monster listed on that monster's card name from your Deck.]
Chained to his effect—hers would resolve first. Before Miles could retrieve [Junk Synchron], two new Exosisters burst forth from Korys's Deck.
[Korys, LP: 2700 → 1900]
"Together, let's advance! I Special Summon [Exosister Sophia] and [Exosister Irene]!"
The two girls appeared hand in hand, stepping gracefully onto the field in perfect sync—their presence filling the air with a faint, sweet citrus fragrance.
[Exosister Sophia] Level 4│LIGHT│Spellcaster│100 ATK│800 DEF
[Exosister Irene] Level 4│LIGHT│Spellcaster│400 ATK│800 DEF
Irena in the stands: "I've become an Exosister too, nice! In that case, I'm quitting being a witch!"
As the rest of the effect resolved, Miles successfully returned [Junk Synchron] from his Graveyard to his hand.
However, that act of retrieving a card from the Graveyard triggered an even bigger variable.
Riding her D-Board, Korys smirked. "This is the shared pre-transformation effect of the Exosisters!"
[If a card in either Graveyard is moved out of the Graveyard (by your opponent): You can target this card; Xyz Summon 1 'Exosister' Xyz Monster from your Extra Deck, using this face-up card you control as material (this is treated as an Xyz Summon).]
As long as cards left the Graveyard, the Exosisters could begin their exorcism—any Level 4 Exosister on the field could perform a one-card Xyz into its Rank 4 evolved form.
Light surged as the Exosisters transformed, their exorcist rifle and bow manifesting in the glow of Xyz energy.
"I overlay on [Exosister Sophia]! Exorcist arrows that pierce all evil—Exosister transformation, shine upon justice!—[Exosister Asophiel]!"
[Exosister Asophiel] Rank 4│LIGHT│Warrior│2100 ATK│1800 DEF
"And I overlay on [Exosister Irene]! A guardian light that enforces justice and suppresses darkness, Exosister transformation!—[Exosister Gibrine]!"
[Exosister Gibrine] Rank 4│LIGHT│Warrior│1400 ATK│2800 DEF
A double Xyz transformation—two beautiful girls shining against a night-sky backdrop.
Takehiko Izumi: "All three Exosister Xyz monsters are now on the field at once! The radiance of these justice maidens is blinding! The pressure is finally on Krista!"
The two newly Xyz Summoned Exosisters appeared in Defense Position, their cards turned sideways as they materialized. Korys pointed her exorcist bow toward both Graveyards.
"Effect of [Exosister Asophiel]! During the turn this card was Xyz Summoned, neither player can activate effects of cards in the Graveyard!"
The light-arrow detonated, releasing a sealing force that covered both Graveyards without distinction.
Even though it was still Miles's turn, just by nudging his Graveyard a bit, he had allowed Korys to unleash a flurry of plays—leaving him on the verge of losing his right to play Yu-Gi-Oh at all.
Krista: "Miles, is this what you meant earlier… that she had another goal in mind?"
"Exactly." Miles had taken the bait knowingly, letting the Exosisters transform.
"But now it's our turn! Watch closely, Krista. I'm only demonstrating this once."
"Demonstrating what, exactly?"
"A Quasar one-turn kill."
Racing at top speed, Miles slammed the monster card he'd just retrieved onto the track.
"I Normal Summon the Level 3 Tuner [Junk Synchron] in Defense Position!"
[Junk Synchron, DEF: 500]
The only monster left in his Graveyard was the Level 3 Ninja Lady, which meant the short orange Tuner couldn't revive anything with its effect.
Still, Miles had another way to assemble his Synchro materials.
"Since you control more monsters than I do, I can Special Summon [Toy Knight] from my hand!"
[Toy Knight] Level 4│EARTH│Machine│200 ATK│1200 DEF
"What?"
Seeing [Toy Knight] appear out of nowhere, Korys couldn't help crying out.
[Toy Knight] could only be Special Summoned when the opponent had more monsters on the field. At the start of the turn, when each side had only one monster, there'd been no way to bring it out.
So Miles had deliberately manipulated his Graveyard to lure Korys into Summoning two more Exosisters, just to satisfy Toy Knight's condition.
"Was that just coincidence… or…?"
A horrifying realization crept up on Korys.
She'd thought Miles was the one taking the bait… though what if she was the fish being hooked?
"I tune Level 3 [Junk Synchron] with Level 4 [Toy Knight]—Synchro Summon!"
Using the opponent's crowded field of Exosisters to his advantage, Miles unleashed a crucial burst of synchro light.
A Synchro Monster capable of opening the gate to the ultimate realm.
3★ + 4★ = 7★!
"The gathered shooting stars will lead to a brand-new sky—become the shining road of light! Synchro Summon! Power of hope, Synchro Tuner—[Shooting Riser Dragon]!"
[Shooting Riser Dragon] Level 7│LIGHT│Dragon│2100 ATK│1700 DEF
[Tuner + 1 or more non-Tuner monsters]
"ROOOAR—!"
Spreading its wings as it burst from the radiant Synchro vortex, the new Synchro Tuner monster—Shooting Riser Dragon, embodying fresh hope in place of Formula Synchron—let out a fierce cry as it soared.
"A Level 7 Synchro Tuner!" Everyone gazed up at the hopeful starlight in shock.
Miles still had the Level 5 Synchro [Junk Warrior] on the field. Though their Levels totaled 12, just two Synchro monsters weren't enough to perform Trinity Accel.
Miles raised his arm toward the sky. "Watch this—effect of [Shooting Riser Dragon], activate!"
[If this card is Synchro Summoned: You can send 1 monster from your Deck to the GY whose Level is lower than this card's on the field, and if you do, reduce this card's Level by that monster's Level. (You cannot activate the effects of the monster sent to the GY, or its effects on the field, for the rest of this turn.)]
By sending a monster of any Level from his Deck to the Graveyard, he could freely adjust Shooting Riser Dragon's Level.
"I'll adjust its Level by warping through the stars—Stellar Shift!"
"A Synchro Tuner that can modulate its own Level…?"
In XYZ Academy's prep area, Lloyd sensed danger and shouted a warning.
"If he sends a single Level 2 monster, he can line up a total of 10 stars for an Accel Synchro! Don't let her pull it off, Korys!"
"I got it!" Korys shot back, declaring her own effect. "Effect of [Exosister Gibrine], activate!"
[If this card is Xyz Summoned using an 'Exosister' monster: During your turn (Quick Effect): You can target 1 Effect Monster your opponent controls; negate its effects until the end of this turn.]
The blonde Exosister leveled her exorcist rifle, aiming straight at Shooting Riser Dragon, now wrapped in pulsing starlight.
"I'll negate [Shooting Riser Dragon]'s Level modulation!"
"Useless!" Miles flung out a Quick-Play Spell. "I'll negate your negation! I activate the Quick-Play Spell [Forbidden Chalice]!"
[Target 1 face-up monster on the field; until the end of this turn, that target gains 400 ATK, but its effects are negated.]
Though the target gained 400 Attack, its effects were nullified. Naturally, Miles chose Korys's monster.
"Have a drink, [Exosister Gibrine]!"
A golden chalice brimming with mysterious liquid forced its way into the blonde girl's mouth, prying it open as the dark fluid poured down her throat.
"Ton ton ton ton~!"
Once she finished chugging, Gibrine's face flushed bright red. Her body wobbled unsteadily in midair. Indeed, something was very off.
"With your negation negated, Shooting Riser Dragon's effect resolves!"
Miles selected a monster from his Deck, and a burst of star-cracking light shimmered across Shooting Riser Dragon's wings.
One star, two… three, four, five, six!
Contrary to Lloyd's expectations, Miles didn't go for a modest 2-Level reduction.
Under everyone's stunned gaze, Shooting Riser Dragon dropped its Level by a full six.
"I send the Level 6 [Junk Giant] from my Deck to the Graveyard, and reduce Shooting Riser Dragon's Level to 1!"
[Shooting Riser Dragon, Level 7 → Level 1 Tuner]
A Level 7 monster reduced to Level 1; even combined with the Level 5 [Junk Warrior], that only made Level 6 total.
Nobody understood what Miles was planning—except Krista.
Because Krista knew exactly what his last card in hand was.
The Spell Card [Necroid Synchro].
This turn, every card in Miles's hand and on his field had linked together, all converging toward a single ending.
"Krista, I'm only showing you this once—how to use Quasar in a one-turn kill."
Krista: "Miles, why… why are you more skilled with my deck than I am?!"
It was supposedly his first time using her Synchro deck—yet on the second turn of a first-player Turbo Duel, he was pushing directly into Trinity Accel.
"—I activate the Spell Card [Necroid Synchro]!"
[Banish 1 Tuner and up to 2 non-Tuner monsters from your Graveyard; Special Summon, from your Extra Deck, 1 'Stardust' Synchro Monster whose Level equals the total Levels of the banished monsters, treating the Summon as a Synchro Summon. The monster Special Summoned by this effect has its effects negated.]
Stardust Synchro light burst forth from the Graveyard. Asophiel's seal prevented either player from activating effects in the Graveyard; however, banishing monsters as Synchro materials bypassed that restriction entirely.
"I banish the Level 3 Tuner [Junk Synchron] and Level 3 [Lady Ninja Yae] from my Graveyard—Synchro from beyond!"
3★ + 3★ = 6★!
"The gathered starlight guides a brand-new evolution—become the shining road of light! Synchro Summon—rise, [Stardust Assault Warrior]!"
[Stardust Assault Warrior] Level 6│WIND│Warrior│2100 ATK│1200 DEF
Bathed in Necroid Synchro's light, the final piece of the Trinity Accel puzzle hit the field—Level 6 [Stardust Assault Warrior], its effects sealed.
"Time for the final Synchro, Krista!"
"I can feel it! The burning resonance of the Stardust soul—go, Miles!!"
Golden light began to cloak the speeding D-Wheel, pushing that instant's velocity beyond the very limits of Accel Synchro.
Top Clear Mind!
"Level 1 Synchro Tuner [Shooting Riser Dragon]! Level 5 Synchro [Junk Warrior]! Level 6 Synchro [Stardust Assault Warrior]! Total Level—MAX!"
At max speed, Miles's D-Wheel and the golden Synchro halos bursting from Shooting Riser Dragon tore through the glittering sea of stars.
1★ + 5★ + 6★ = 12★!!
In the next instant, the golden halos shifted to crimson, manifesting the redshift of a true quasar.
"When the gathered stars unite as one, a new bond illuminates the future! Become the shining road of light! Limit Over Accel! Evolutionary light—[Shooting Quasar Dragon]!!"
[Shooting Quasar Dragon] Level 12│LIGHT│Dragon│4000 ATK│4000 DEF
[1 Tuner Synchro Monster + 2 or more non-Tuner Synchro Monsters]
On only the first Battle Phase, he could enter, Miles had already completed the 12-star Limit Over Accel Summon, calling forth Shooting Quasar Dragon with unmatched speed.
"Got it memorized, Krista? This is how you use Quasar!"
...
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