Kira thought to himself, "Since I'm already here, and I've come to a dimension overflowing with Planetary Particle, it'd be a real shame not to take this chance to experience Synchro Summoning—an era-limited feature."
Tetsu's pupils contracted, his heart pounding. However, it only lasted a moment before he regained his composure.
The combination of Junk Synchron and Junk Warrior did stir some psychological shadows for him. After all, as a prestigious Security officer, he was once utterly defeated by a "trash" from Satellite Zone. That blow to his pride had long since become a personal grudge.
And Junk Warrior was the signature card that Satellite Zone bastard used in every duel.
But then again, Junk Warrior was one of the more common Synchro monsters, so it wasn't strange for someone else to use it. Tetsu shook his head, pushing aside the crab-headed figure in his mind.
"Tch, so annoying," Tetsu muttered.
There was no particular reason—it just pissed him off to see Junk Warrior.
"The effect of Doppelwarrior, which I just used as Synchro material," Kira said. "When this card is sent to the graveyard as Synchro material, I Special Summon two 'Doppel Tokens' to my field!"
[Doppel Token, ATK 400] x2
"And then, the effect of Junk Warrior: When this card is successfully Synchro Summoned, its ATK increases by the combined ATK of all Level 2 or lower monsters on my field."
Kira smiled. "Both Junk Warrior's summon effect and Doppelwarrior's token summon effect trigger at the same timing—when the Synchro Summon is successful. Therefore, I can freely choose the chain order of these effects."
"So, I choose to activate Junk Warrior's effect first, then Doppelwarrior's effect."
"The effect that was activated later resolves first, so first Doppelwarrior's effect resolves, Special Summoning the tokens to my field."
"Then, Junk Warrior's effect resolves. By now, the two Doppel Tokens are already on the field, so Junk Warrior gains their ATK!"
[Junk Warrior, ATK 2300 → ATK 3100]
Tetsu's pupils shrank slightly.
This guy... such skillful chain sequencing.
For an instant, he truly saw a shadow of that Satellite crab-head in this man.
"Battle," Kira declared. "Junk Warrior, attack 'Assault Dog'! Junk Punch!"
Junk Warrior's jets fired, launching it at full speed. Its fist, wreathed in flame-like energy, smashed Assault Dog into pieces.
Tetsu: "Ugh—!"
[Tetsu, LP 4000 → LP 2100]
He raised an arm to shield himself, staggering back two steps, staring coldly at Kira.
"Not bad… but!"
Two beams of golden light shot out from his deck.
"When Assault Dog is destroyed by battle and sent to the graveyard, I can Special Summon any number of 'Assault Dogs' from my deck."
"I Special Summon two more Assault Dogs!"
[Assault Dog, ATK 1200]
"You've stopped me from using my tokens for further attacks, huh? As expected of the elite of Security, Mr. Tetsu," Kira smiled. "That ends my turn."
Tetsu: "…"
He was completely suppressed, so these words sounded less like praise and more like mockery.
"Tch, and to think he used the same cards as that Satellite scum…"
It only made him angrier.
"My turn, draw!"
Glancing at the card he drew, Tetsu's lips curled.
"You're good at using Synchro monsters for offense, I'll give you that. But when it comes to Synchro, I won't lose."
"Let me show you something special—only us Security officers are permitted to use this power, this card that embodies 'privilege'! First, I Normal Summon 'Jutte Fighter'!"
[Jutte Fighter, ATK 700]
"That Junk trash has high ATK, so let me exploit its weakness! Jutte Fighter's effect—once per turn, I can change one opponent's Attack Position monster to Defense Position. I switch Junk Warrior to Defense Position!"
[Junk Warrior, ATK 3100 → DEF 1300]
"As expected of Boss Tetsu!" a Security lackey cheered from behind. "With only 1300 DEF, it's easy to take him down in Defense Position!"
"Heh, then Level 2 Tuner monster 'Jutte Fighter', plus Level 4 Assault Dog! Tune up!"
[2 + 4 = 6]
"Synchro Summon—Goyo Guardian!"
[Goyo Guardian, ATK 2800]
"Oh? Here it comes," Kira smiled.
This card's effect and easy summoning requirements were so overpowered that it was quickly banned early in the Synchro era. Later, its summon requirement was changed to require an EARTH Tuner to be legal again.
Even in the anime, it seemed to have a usage restriction; from Tetsu and Yusei's conversation, it appeared only Security officers had the privilege to use it. Only six stars, yet 2800 ATK and a powerful effect—it truly deserved its Forbidden status in the Synchro era.
"Goyo Guardian, attack Junk Warrior!"
Junk Warrior braced itself defensively, crossing its fists in front. But with only 1300 DEF, it was no match for Goyo Guardian and was instantly crushed.
But after being destroyed, Junk Warrior didn't explode and leave the field; instead, Goyo Guardian's ropes tightly bound it and dragged it over to Tetsu's field.
Tetsu laughed heartily: "Goyo Guardian's effect! When it destroys an opponent's monster by battle and sends it to the graveyard, I can take control of that monster and Special Summon it to my field in Defense Position!"
The Security lackey chimed in again: "He even took the opponent's Synchro monster! Boss Tetsu is unstoppable!"
"Hahaha!" Tetsu laughed proudly. "Next, Assault Dog attacks a 'Doppel Token'!"
Assault Dog lunged and bit one of Kira's tokens.
[Kira, LP 4000 → LP 3200]
"My turn ends," Tetsu declared, hands on hips. "How's that? Do you feel the power of authority?"
"Next turn, I'll switch your Junk Warrior to Attack Position and launch a full assault. No matter what monster you summon, Goyo Guardian will take it down!"
The Security lackey crowed, "This guy doesn't stand a chance!"
"Looks like a headache…" Kira narrowed his eyes. "My turn, draw."
"Goyo Guardian: simple summoning requirements, high ATK, and can permanently steal monsters. It's definitely strong—the monster is strong, but the controller may not be."
Tetsu frowned. "What did you say?"
A provocation?
"Just stating facts. No matter how strong the monsters, if the duelist is weak, it means nothing. After all, in a duel, the one who stands last isn't the monster—it's the duelist, right?"
Kira smiled mysteriously, slowly drawing a card from his hand.
"I activate the Equip Spell 'Junk Barrage' from my hand."
"When the equipped monster destroys a monster by battle and sends it to the graveyard, it inflicts damage to your Life Points equal to half the destroyed monster's ATK."
Tetsu was stunned.
An Equip Spell? But this guy only has a 400 ATK token left on the field…
He stared at the chibi, big-eyed token holding a toy rifle for a while.
Could it be… you're equipping that thing? Are you hoping it'll OTK me?
"I equip 'Junk Barrage'…" Kira paused, flashing a dangerous smile. "…to your 'Goyo Guardian'."
Tetsu: "?"
Lackey: "?"
Tetsu was baffled. Why give such a powerful Equip to his own monster?
"I activate the Spell Card 'Terraforming'," Kira announced. "I add a Field Spell from my deck to my hand."
"I add the Field Spell 'Sanctuary in the Sky' from my deck to my hand."
"Then I activate 'Sanctuary in the Sky'."
A holy, pristine palace emerged, shrouded in white clouds, solemn and sacred.
"While 'Sanctuary in the Sky' is on the field, any battle damage I take from Fairy monsters becomes 0," Kira explained. "Next, I summon 'Nova Summoner' in Attack Position."
[Nova Summoner, ATK 1400]
"Battle," Kira declared. "Nova Summoner attacks 'Goyo Guardian'!"
Tetsu and lackey: "???"
Suicide? Has he gone mad?!
"Destroy it, Goyo Guardian!" Tetsu shouted.
As expected, Nova Summoner crashed into Goyo Guardian and was destroyed without a ripple.
Kira calmly said, "Sanctuary in the Sky's effect: all battle damage from Fairy monsters to me becomes 0."
"Heh, I don't know what you're up to, but Goyo Guardian's effect!" Tetsu laughed. "I get to Special Summon any monster it destroys by battle!"
"Be my guest, Mr. Tetsu," Kira smiled. "But before the Special Summon, Nova Summoner has already been destroyed by battle and sent to the graveyard, fulfilling its effect's condition."
"When Nova Summoner is destroyed by battle and sent to the graveyard, I can Special Summon another Fairy with 1400 ATK or less from my deck."
Tetsu frowned. "Even so, that's meaningless."
"It's not meaningless," Kira wagged his finger. "You forgot, Mr. Tetsu, about the Equip I gave you—'Junk Barrage'."
Tetsu paused, thinking it over.
Junk Barrage: When the equipped monster destroys a monster by battle, the opponent takes damage equal to half the destroyed monster's ATK.
So… I'll take damage equal to half the destroyed monster's ATK?
"Hmm… not necessarily," Kira grinned.
The next moment, a burst of energy erupted from Goyo Guardian, slamming into Tetsu. Caught off guard, he staggered, staring in disbelief as his Life Points dropped.
[Tetsu, LP 2100 → LP 1400]
Tetsu was dumbfounded. "Why… why me?!"
It was my monster that destroyed yours—why do I lose LP?!
Kira chuckled, finding Tetsu's confusion amusing.
Looks like Boss Tetsu's reading comprehension is lacking.
"I said, when the equipped monster destroys a monster by battle, 'the opponent' takes damage," Kira explained. "But 'opponent' here isn't from the equipped monster's perspective—it's from the perspective of 'Junk Barrage,' the Equip Spell."
"Think about it, Mr. Tetsu. Even though it's equipped to your monster, who owns 'Junk Barrage'?"
Tetsu's mind whirred for several seconds before he stammered, "You do…"
"That's right. 'Junk Barrage' is still my card, even when equipped to your monster. So whenever one of my monsters is destroyed by your Goyo Guardian in battle, 'Junk Barrage' deals half that monster's ATK as damage to 'the opponent'—which is you."
Tetsu's jaw dropped, but no words came out.
Huh? Is that how it works? Is this how a Junk deck is played?
Just a second ago, he thought this guy resembled a certain annoying crab-head, but now that feeling was gone.
Why? Because that crab-head may be nasty, but he'd never pull a move this dirty!
"Nova Summoner's effect: I Special Summon another Nova Summoner from my deck."
[Nova Summoner, ATK 1400]
"Nova Summoner #2, attack 'Goyo Guardian'!"
Nova Summoner #2 crashed into Goyo Guardian and was destroyed.
"Junk Barrage's effect—another 700 damage."
[Tetsu, LP 1400 → LP 700]
Tetsu's face turned pale.
No way… Don't tell me he's just gonna keep ramming weaklings into me until I die?!
"One last time," Kira said, smiling.
"Nova Summoner #3, attack 'Goyo Guardian'!"
"Junk Barrage effect: 700 damage."
Tetsu: "…"
[Tetsu, LP 700 → LP 0]
…