How strange.
"I activate the effect of Rush Warrior in my Graveyard. By banishing this card in my Graveyard, I target 1 Synchron in my Graveyard. That Monster is added to my Hand Card."
"I add Junk Synchron to my Hand Card."
"Then, I activate the Spell Card, Angel Baton (Note 1). According to its effect, I draw two cards and discard one card."
He drew two cards, then casually tossed Junk Synchron back into the Graveyard.
As he looked at the cards in his hand, card after card emerged in his mind, linking to each other, and finally pointed toward one possibility—
It'll work!
"I activate the Continuous Trap Card, Fragment of Hope!"
"When a Monster you control inflicts battle damage to your opponent, you draw 1 card from your Deck. If it is a Trap Card, destroy this card and you can activate that card directly."
"Heh—You gotta inflict battle damage first." Kiryu was indifferent to Yusei's move.
"Normal Summon, Top Runner!"
A Monster in sneakers with a gold medal around its neck sprinted across the field at high speed.
Top Runner, LV 4, Wind Attribute, Machine-Type, Attack Power 1100.
"Top Runner—" Kiryu exclaimed in surprise.
"That's right, Top Runner! As long as this card is on the field, all Synchro Monsters you control gain 600 ATK!"
Stardust Spark Dragon, ATK: 2500→3100.
"It's higher than Hundred Eyes Dragon now!"
"Nice going, Yusei!"
"Battle! Stardust Spark attacks Hundred Eyes Dragon! Stardust Impact!"
Kiryu's D-Wheeler shook slightly.
"Tch—"
Kiryu LP: 3100→3000.
"Due to the effect of Infernity Guardian, Hundred Eyes Dragon is not destroyed by battle!"
"Then by the effect of Fragment of Hope, I draw 1 card—" He drew a card, and his eyes widened sharply.
There it is!
"Fragment of Hope is destroyed, and I activate the Trap Card, Miracle Locus! I choose 1 face-up Monster I control. My opponent draws 1 card from their Deck. Until the end of this turn, the Monster I chose gains 1000 ATK and can attack once more!"
Tenjo Hikari vaguely felt a classic scene replay before him—after this card got nerfed in the OCG it could no longer inflict battle damage to the opponent, so Tenjo Hikari basically never used it.
"Tch—" Kiryu drew a card.
"That way, you'll have a Hand Card!"
"Stardust Spark attacks again!"
Just like how Hundred Eyes Dragon attacked Yusei twice in the previous turn, this time, Stardust Spark also launched a second attack at Kiryu!
Stardust Spark rode the wind and stardust, diving down from the sky and piercing through Hundred Eyes Dragon.
Kiryu LP: 3000→1900.
"...The effect of Hundred Eyes Dragon: when this card is destroyed and sent to the Graveyard, I can choose 1 card from my Deck and add it to my Hand Card."
Absurd.
Tenjo Hikari only felt this thing was beyond ridiculous.
"I choose Earthbound Geoglyph."
"Top Runner, attack!" Yusei shouted to Kiryu with all his heart, "Hurry up and remember, Kiryu—our friendship and bonds—"
"...I activate a Trap Card!" Kiryu suddenly opened his eyes wide. "My life is only Duels—I only believe in Duels! I will never believe you, traitor!!
I activate the Trap Card, Sacrifice of Honor!
If your LP is 3000 or less, when your opponent declares an attack, activate this card. Negate that Monster's attack, Special Summon two 'Ceremonial Token' to your field, then add 1 'Earthbound Immortal' card from your Deck to your Hand Card!"
"What?"
"I add Earthbound Immortal Ccapac Apu to my Hand Card."
Earthbound Immortal...
Tenjo Hikari watched the Geo on the ground light up with an eerie blue glow. He glanced at his own left hand—the Hound Dark Sign also began to resonate.
The setup looked as if he and Kiryu shared some kind of bond as well, supporting him in fighting against the Signers.
Wait a second!
Suddenly.
Tenjo Hikari caught the detail he'd overlooked earlier.
The reason he'd always felt something off about Yusei was right here—up to now, Yusei's Dragon Sign still hadn't lit up!
In contrast, Jack's Dragon Sign had started glowing long ago!
"My turn, Draw— I activate the Field Spell Card, Earthbound Geoglyph!"
A gigantic, unbelievable Geoglyph of a Stature rose from the ground and was projected into the sky. Countless people, whether in the Lower City Area or in the Upper City Area, could all see this horrifying, colossal pattern.
"So it begins..." Goodwin clasped his hands behind his back, calmly watching this scene.
A gigantic rocky heart pulsed in the sky over the City.
Thump, thump...
"I release the two Tokens on the field as Sacrifice!
Tribute Summon—
Earthbound Immortal Ccapac Apu!"
Suddenly, countless points of light rose up from all around and flew over. Shinji stared in shock at those lights, and before long, he realized they each seemed to be a person—there were Public Security officers, and some people he even knew.
What is this...?
"Ah—aren't those the people who were using Earthbound Geoglyph!?" Crow saw the scene and shouted in terror.
"What?" Shinji suddenly yelled.
"They're Sacrifice," Tenjo Hikari said from the side. "To summon an Earthbound Immortal, Sacrifice is needed—living souls are needed to awaken them."
Shinji opened his mouth. He saw a resistance member who had just gone out with him today to rescue their comrades, and it felt like a knife had been driven straight into his heart.
"D-damn it, but... it's fine, this is a necessary... sacrifice." He ground his teeth, forcing himself not to look at those people.
"Kiryu, what are you doing—" Yusei shouted at Kiryu.
"Heheheh, hahahaha— I really ought to thank you, Yusei. It's because you made me draw cards, because you destroyed Hundred Eyes Dragon, that I could gather them all!
Now, I'll show you what a true 'God' is!"
Rumble, rumble.
From within the earth, a gigantic stone being rose from the ground. Its body burned with blue flames, its Stature towering so high it blotted out the sky. Even from here it easily exceeded the highest point of the Upper Area, looking down over the entire world!