He overlaid into Neo Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon, and after stacking three Blue-Eyes White Dragons, it returned to its peak Attack of 4500.
Using three Blue-Eyes White Dragons as well, and likewise having an Ultimate Dragon-level 4500 Attack—calling this a pure Blue-Eyes Deck isn't wrong at all.
"Using Blue-Eyes for an Xyz Summon? The Varian Empire's Xyz Summon… so this is the battle style used by Duke Livorden's Deck!"
"Looks like you really don't understand anything." Miles mocked mercilessly.
"Then the god-slaying weapon is something you could never touch, even in your entire lifetime! The truly ignorant one is you, old man!"
At the moment the Xyz Summon completed, the floor within the obelisk tower's inner chamber suddenly trembled faintly.
As though something inside were responding to the Xyz light released at Neo Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon's birth.
"Xyz Summon and a god-slaying weapon?" Little Kaima exclaimed in surprise. "Don't tell me, Miles… you know something? About the records mentioning the god-slaying weapon 'Heaven's Court'!"
"Heh heh, I know a little here and there."
"Damn it, if you already knew, you still kept me in suspense!"
"Anyway, let's get rid of this scrub first!"
"Don't underestimate me!" the High Prelate roared. "When you Xyz Summon, Dramaturge of Despia's effect activates!"
"When a Fusion, Synchro, or Xyz Monster is Special Summoned, you can target 1 Effect Monster on the field. That monster's effects are negated until the end of the turn."
"Using the faith from the Nether Prison, negate Neo Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon's effect!"
"Even if its effect is negated, its 4500 Attack won't change!"
And Neo Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon's effect is an anti-Xyz special assault. Against a Fusion Monster or a normal Effect Monster, being negated makes almost no difference.
"Go—Neo Galaxy's eruption!"
Declaring a second Battle Phase, the roaring Neo Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon gathered its crimson photon energy and locked onto the Despia Fusion Monster.
"Vaporize Despian Quaeritis!—Neo Galaxy Photon Stream of Destruction!"
Shattering the barrier, the bursting galactic light swallowed the darkness of Despia in an instant, evaporating the Fusion Monster placed in Defense Position.
With the battle over, Miles inserted another card face-down into the Duel Disk's Spell/Trap Zone.
"I Set one card. Turn end."
"So in the end, this is all you amount to. Whether Blue-Eyes or Neo Galaxy-Eyes, both will crumble into dust within the Nether Prison! My turn—Draw!"
With turns alternating, the High Prelate, who had been forcefully overpowered by Photon Dragon, drew his card to begin the turn.
Then he immediately flipped the Trap he had Set earlier.
"Unleash the Branded Fusion power here!—Trap Card activate: Branded Banishment!"
"Branded Banishment effect: Target 1 'Despia' monster or 1 Level 8 or higher Fusion Monster in your Graveyard; Special Summon it."
"From my Graveyard, I Special Summon the Fusion Monster destroyed last turn—Despian Quaeritis!"
[Despian Quaeritis ATK: 2500]
The Saintly Tomb Visitor holding a crimson staff was revived for real this time, Special Summoned in Attack Position.
Combined with its effect that can reduce all monsters on the field to 0 Attack, it could indeed directly counterkill Neo Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon's 4500 Attack.
However, the Branded power the High Prelate released this moment didn't seem to end there.
"Then comes the follow-up effect of Branded Banishment!"
"After that, you can apply the following effect: Banish Fusion Materials listed on a Level 8 or higher Fusion Monster from your own or opponent's field, then Fusion Summon that Fusion Monster from the Extra Deck."
"From my field and yours, banish the Fusion Materials!"
The ultimate power of Fusion can use monsters on the opponent's field.
Miles suddenly realized. "So this is what 'Branded' means!"
No wonder Saint Ecclesia, who also possesses Branded power, could always fuse away her opponent's monsters with ease.
During the Synchron Academy Turbo Duel Tournament, after instilling fusion terror in the other two academies, it was now Miles's turn to experience the essence of Fusion firsthand.
"I will use my Dramaturge of Despia and your Neo Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon to conduct a Branded Fusion!"
Under the swirl of twisted crimson fusion light, the dazzling galaxy and the angel from the Nether Prison were both pulled into a spiraling Fusion effect.
"Burn and roar with the Branded power!—Fusion Summon: Masquerade the Blazing Dragon!"
[Masquerade the Blazing Dragon] Level 8│DARK│Fiend│2500 ATK
['Despia' monster + LIGHT or DARK monster]
Though it carries 'Dragon' in its name, the Fusion Monster Masquerade the Blazing Dragon—whose actual Type is Fiend—materialized and soared forth from the blazing heat of Branded Fusion.
"Masquerade the Blazing Dragon's effect is!"
"As long as the Fusion Summoned card stays in the Monster Zone, your opponent cannot activate card effects unless they pay 600 Life Points."
As long as Miles activates a card effect, he must burn 600 LP. The cost seems small, but the activation condition is extremely simple—little by little, it adds up to a number that can't be ignored.
"Next is the effect of Dramaturge of Despia, which was banished as Fusion Material! Special Summon this card back in Attack Position!"
Whether sent to the Graveyard as material or banished as material, it can still return to the field.
[Dramaturge of Despia ATK: 3000]
An Attack equal to Blue-Eyes White Dragon's 3000—unlike its cautious Defense Position last turn, now all three monsters were in Attack Position, with the weakest still at 2500 Attack. Total firepower unleashed.
"What do we do, Miles?" Little Kaima cried out anxiously. "Neo Galaxy-Eyes got fused away!"
"I thought he was just a scrub, but he actually had a pretty strong card hidden there."
After being blown out by Branded Banishment, Miles—who Xyz Summoned using three Blue-Eyes—was now left with an empty field.
"That's one problem solved. No—if I get rid of you, that means I get rid of all of you!"
At this point, Miles and Kaima were essentially bound together by fate, fighting as one.
If Miles lost, Kaima—who lacked the Spirit Eyes and was still stuck in her powerless little-loli state—might face an even worse fate.
"Battle! Dramaturge of Despia, attack directly!—Despia Bloom!"
A direct hit of 3000 Attack—scorching crimson energy surged straight for Miles.
"When your opponent declares a direct attack!—Trap Card activate: Counter Gate!"
[When an opponent's monster declares a direct attack, negate that attack and draw 1 card. If the drawn card is a monster, you can Normal Summon that monster in face-up Attack Position.]
When Miles's card effect activated, Masquerade spread its fiendish wings and launched an explosive fireball straight at him.
[Miles, LP: 4000 → 3400]
He had to pay 600 LP to activate the card. But compared to taking a 3000 direct hit, 600 LP was a bargain.
"Attack negated! I draw from my Deck! If it's a Monster Card, I can Normal Summon it in Attack Position!"
The High Prelate sneered. "You think a weak monster Normal Summoned directly will save you now?"
"Don't underestimate the 'weak' monsters in a Blue-Eyes Deck! Draw—!"
For the second time, Miles drew a card glowing with arc light—guided by the pure wish of the blue-eyed girl.
"That card is…!" Little Kaima gasped. "No wayyy!"
"I Normal Summon in Attack Position—Maiden with Eyes of Blue!"
[Maiden with Eyes of Blue] Level 1│LIGHT│Spellcaster/Tuner│ATK: 0 DEF: 0
A white-haired, blue-eyed maiden appeared, smiling sweetly as her bare, fair feet touched the ground.
"You Summoned a 0-Attack monster in Attack Position!" The High Prelate declared another attack, swinging his arm. "That's no different from a direct hit! Destroy it—Masquerade the Blazing Dragon!"
This man clearly had no concept of a monster with 0 ATK and 0 DEF being anything but worthless.
Masquerade gathered fiendish flames and hurled a 2500-point blast straight at the blue-eyed maiden.
Then, just as the blazing breath touched her, a pure-white holy dragon silhouette manifested in front of her, blocking the fatal strike.
"When attacked—Maiden with Eyes of Blue's effect activates!"
[Miles, LP: 3400 → 2800]
[Once per turn, when this card is targeted for an attack: You can negate that attack, and if you do, change this card's battle position. Then, you can Special Summon 1 Blue-Eyes White Dragon from your hand, Deck, or Graveyard.]
"Negate Masquerade the Blazing Dragon's attack, switch Maiden with Eyes of Blue to Defense Position, and finally—Special Summon Blue-Eyes White Dragon from the Graveyard!"
Not only did she block the attack, she even brought back a Blue-Eyes from the Graveyard.
[Blue-Eyes White Dragon ATK: 3000]
The field was stabilized—for now. At least the High Prelate's remaining attacker, Despian Quaeritis at 2500, couldn't overpower a 3000-ATK Blue-Eyes.
And since Quaeritis's effect must activate in the Main Phase, it couldn't reduce Blue-Eyes's Attack to 0 during the Battle Phase.
"Miles, listen to me!" Little Kaima finally gathered herself—the shock still in her voice.
Not only shocked by Maiden with Eyes of Blue's effect, but by something even stranger.
"Miles… this card isn't in my Deck!"
This card felt as though it had been created out of thin air the instant Miles drew it—appearing with zero prior sign.
"What… what did you just do, Miles?"
"Huh?"
Even Miles was baffled.
He had simply drawn normally.
Yet he drew a card that did not exist in Kaima's Deck.
"Kaima, you're not joking, right?"
"Of course not! I'm a proud Fusion-user! Why would my Deck have a Tuner Monster!?"
Things were clearly far stranger and more mysterious than Miles had imagined… just like how he had forced a Deck swap through sheer will earlier, creating a Duel Disk out of nothing.
The inner space of the obelisk tower—everything happening inside it clearly could not be explained by ordinary logic.
"What a nuisance!"
Having his attack blocked, the High Prelate's tone was filled with irritation. "Then I'll use Despian Quaeritis to continue attacking—destroy Maiden with Eyes of Blue!"
Though it couldn't beat Blue-Eyes White Dragon, Despian Quaeritis could indeed destroy the maiden who had already activated her effect.
The power of Despia swallowed her, and the girl vanished from the space without leaving a trace.
At the same time, Miles and Little Kaima seemed to hear an auditory illusion.
"Miles, Kaima… we'll meet again~"
Maiden with Eyes of Blue destroyed
After the maiden was destroyed, the Blue-Eyes White Dragon on the field let out a furious roar, as if enraged.
With the Battle Phase concluded, the High Prelate flung out another card.
"I Summon Despian Tragedy in Defense Position, then Set one card. Turn end!"
[Despian Tragedy] Level 1│DARK│Fairy│ATK: 400 DEF: 400
Chains and a guillotine symbolized its tragic visage.
Judging from this Deck, every Despia monster was either an actor or a director—it was practically a hellish stage play.
"We can't keep letting this guy stall us. Aisha and the others are still waiting outside!"
Miles began his turn, fingertips sliding across the Duel Disk.
"My turn—Draw!"
The draw inherited the rage of the White Dragon—summoning forth a world-shattering Burst Stream blast.
"Give me something to end this already, Blue-Eyes!—Spell Card activate: Burst Stream of Destruction!"
[Miles, LP: 2800 → 2200]
[Burst Stream of Destruction Effect: This turn, your 'Blue-Eyes White Dragon' cannot attack. You can activate this only if you control 'Blue-Eyes White Dragon'. Destroy all monsters your opponent controls.]
The Blue-Eyes White Dragon roared, unleashing a Burst Stream that overturned the floor of the entire space.
A piercing white light capable of blasting through hell itself annihilated every Despia monster on the High Prelate's field.
When the blinding heat dissipated, only the Blue-Eyes White Dragon remained, white smoke trailing from its jaws.
"So this is the legendary destructive power of the White Dragon."
Stunned by the sudden field wipe, the High Prelate regained composure and triggered effects.
"When Despian Tragedy is destroyed by a card effect, I can add 1 'Despia' monster from my Deck to my hand. And when Despian Quaeritis is destroyed by effect, I can Special Summon 1 'Despia' monster from my Deck! I Special Summon Ad Libitum of Despia!"
[Ad Libitum of Despia DEF: 2000]
Wearing a mask and bladed gauntlets, Ad Libitum of Despia was practically the corrupted version of the Dogmatika disciples.
"Search as many cards as you want—you're not going to use them. Defense 2000… then this turn, I'll end this farce of a hellish stage once and for all!"
Miles inserted another Spell Card into the Duel Disk.
"—Spell Card activate: Dark Factory of Mass Production!"
[Dark Factory of Mass Production Effect: Target 2 Normal Monsters in your Graveyard; add them to your hand.]
"I return both Normal Monsters—my two Blue-Eyes White Dragons—from the Graveyard to my hand!"
Usually, he could only use this card to retrieve Mokey Mokeys, but now it had evolved into retrieving two Blue-Eyes—truly a transcendental upgrade.
"And with this card, I'll bring down the whip of total defeat! Ritual Spell activate!"
A ritual light burst open beneath Miles's feet—but the array reflected on the ground was not Chaos Form, nor High Ritual Art.
More importantly, Miles had no Ritual Monsters in his hand.
Regardless, that didn't matter in the slightest to this eruption of chaotic ritual power.
"He recovered Blue-Eyes, then activated a Ritual Spell!" Kaima said in delight. "Could it be that card? Perfect! Use it to deliver the finishing blow!"
First, a Burst Stream wipe, then seamlessly chaining into a ritual of overwhelming chaos.
Seeing this, even Little Kaima—tsundere to her core—had to admit that Miles's bond with the Blue-Eyes Deck was in no way inferior to her own.
What? You say it's way stronger?
Impossible. Absolutely impossible.
On this point alone, Kaima would never back down.
"—Ritual Spell: High Ritual Art, activate!"
[Tribute Normal Monsters from your hand whose total Levels exactly equal the Ritual Monster you're Ritual Summoning. Ritual Summon 1 Ritual Monster from your Deck. A monster Ritual Summoned by this effect returns to the Deck during your opponent's End Phase.]
The new Ritual Spell Miles slammed into the Duel Disk—High Ritual Art—could directly Ritual Summon a Ritual Monster still sleeping within the Deck.
"I tribute the Level 8 Normal Monster Blue-Eyes White Dragon from my hand as the Ritual material, and Ritual Summon a Level 8 Ritual Monster from my Deck!"
A total of eight Level stars surged forth, embedding themselves one by one into the newly opened gate of chaos.
Thunder of light and darkness intertwined, massive dragon wings unfurled, descending like a god of destruction.
"O dragon of chaos that rends the earth! Roar with destructive might beyond all limits!—Ritual Summon: Blue-Eyes Chaos MAX Dragon!"
...
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