"Judai, you would use 'System Down' to banish my Cyber Dragons... I anticipated this long ago!" Marufuji Ryo shouted.
"Huh?" Judai blinked.
"I activate 'Future Fusion', discarding all the Machine-Type monsters from my Card Deck to the graveyard. If you have 'System Down', you definitely wouldn't miss this perfect opportunity.
Because in this way, you can remove all my monsters from the game. You wouldn't pass up such a great chance."
Marufuji Ryo smiled and continued, "But! This time, I'm thinking even further ahead than you!"
To put it simply, when he played this 'Future Fusion', Judai thought he was on the first level, while holding a 'System Down' card thinking he's on the third level, little did he know Caesar was actually on the fifth level—this was all a bait to lure out Judai's card.
Even the 'Cyber End Dragon' he summoned, his once proud ace, his old friend, was just bait.
Marufuji Ryo had understood it clearly, that a duel for victory, pursuing victory at any cost, was truly showing one's full respect to the opponent.
For this, any means, any form, was acceptable!
Even his once dearly cherished friend, 'Cyber End Dragon', was not beyond sacrifice!
—From the deep insights of a player who was once KO'd by a System Down.
"Activate Set Card! Quick-Play Magic—
—Cyberload Fusion!!!"
Caesar's Set Card flipped, directly opening a vortex leading to the Other Dimension.
Cyberload Fusion, this card shuffles back the fusion materials in the banished zone into the Card Deck, using those monsters for a Fusion Summon.
We directly fuse the entire banished deck back into the game!
Adding the 'Cyber End Dragon' that just disappeared from the field, and the total of twenty-two banished Machine-Type monsters.
"I shuffle all twenty-two monsters back into the Card Deck!"
"Nani!? x10086"
The watching students were dumbfounded, Professor Chronos was furiously rubbing his eyes in the teacher's seat.
A fusion of twenty-two Cyber Dragons!
This is not a scene you can witness every day. Watching the fierce fusion vortex in mid-air, with more than twenty mechanical monsters swirling, countless parts colliding and metal assembling, even Cyber Dojo's original master, Principal Samejima, was in awe.
He deeply felt that Marufuji Ryo, this student, had surpassed him as the master... No, he had left him far behind.
However, in getting stronger, he had changed a lot from the student he once knew.
He wasn't sure if it was a good or bad thing.
Marufuji Ryo shouted, "A fusion of twenty-two! Watch, Judai, this is my full power, my final struggle!
Chimeratech Overdragon, Summon!!!"
The ultimate fusion, the final combination of twenty-two Machine-Type. The enormous fortress crashed to the ground with mighty force, multiple dragon heads extending from steel fortresses, casting a daunting shadow, like a steel fortress rising to the heavens!
[Chimeratech Overdragon, Attack Power ?]
"The attack power of Chimeratech Overdragon, is Fusion Material Monsters x 800!" Marufuji Ryo shouted, "Since the number of fusion materials is twenty-two, its attack power is..."
[Chimeratech Overdragon, Attack Power ? → Attack Power 17600]
"Attack power seventeen thousand six hundred!?"
"Not only that, 'Chimeratech Overdragon' can attack the opponent's monsters up to the number of Fusion Material Monsters." Marufuji Ryo added.
"The number of Fusion Material Monsters... meaning, twenty-two consecutive attacks!?" Judai was stunned.
An attack power of seventeen thousand, if it really were allowed to attack twenty-two times, everything would be turned into a mosaic, right?
"Take this, Judai, my full strength!" Marufuji Ryo roared, "Chimeratech Overdragon, attack 'Elemental Hero Flame Wingman'!!!"
All the dragon heads opened their mouths simultaneously, with the Energy Core functioning, every mouth charging, as if nothing could withstand it, all obstacles would turn to dust under the power of that destructive blaze.
But Judai's gaze sharpened: "I have indeed felt your resolve and strength, Caesar! But I'm not just going to stand by! Open Set Card, Quick-Play Magic 'Duel Fusion'!
When a Fusion Monster battles an opponent's monster, the opponent's attack power is added to my monster's attack power!"
The audience was shocked again.
Nani? Does this mean...
[Elemental Hero Flame Wingman, Attack Power 2100 → Attack Power 19700]
Didn't expect this, did you, Caesar? Actually, I'm on the ninth level!
"Attack Power... nineteen thousand seven!?" Marufuji Shou's face turned green.
This attack power has already surpassed this dimension, hasn't it?
Isn't this the kind of domain only a Legendary Level duelist can reach?
When did his brother and senior become this strong?
The onlookers were already vaguely aware of what was about to happen, and some had already started chirping about "famous scene," "the grand return."
Indeed, the next scene was a complete classic replication—the exact same development as in the original Duel of Graduation!
"The same purpose, but a different timing!" Marufuji Ryo shouted, "Quick-Play Magic 'Duel Fusion'! Add Flame Wingman's attack power to Chimeratech Overdragon!"
[Chimeratech Overdragon, Attack Power 17600 → Attack Power 37300]
Attack power thirty-seven thousand!
Too weak, Judai, actually I am on the eleventh level!
"Mamma mia!" Professor Chronos daily bites a handkerchief, "Attack power thirty-seven thousand, truly the strongest student in our academy, Norne!"
Principal Samejima stood up with a brush: "Amazing! Both of them are amazing!"
If this battle stands, Judai will suffer seventeen thousand six hundred points of battle damage in one go and be defeated!
The onlookers have already started boldly predicting the result, the forums and live chat screens are all filled with a single name ——
—— Fusion Duel.
Trap Card, Fusion Duel, during a fusion monster battle, both sides take damage equal to the combined attack points of both monsters.
That's how it was in the original animation. Judai first used "Fusion Duel", then Caesar caught up with the same "Fusion Duel", and finally, Judai used the trap "Fusion Duel" to overturn the table, both sides bearing the highest effect damage in the history of Yu-Gi-Oh leading to a draw.
Many people boldly predict that here is where the world line converges ——although history changed, fate still drew the two to the same duel and ended it with the same chain.
It should also naturally be the same conclusion.
The Overdragon spewed ultimate flames, and the Flame Wingman fearlessly charged. The expansion of power released a blinding light, an endless curtain of light that seemed to sweep like a tide, temporarily taking away the venue's visual field.
Everyone stood up straight, straining against the blazing light, trying with all their might to pry open their eyelids to see what happened on the field.
Did Judai lose?
Or is it a draw?
Or could it be...
When the light faded, and they saw the situation on the field clearly, everyone was stunned.
Almost no one immediately understood exactly what had happened in that fleeting moment.
The Chimeratech Overdragon still stood dominantly on Marufuji Ryo's field, looking unscathed. But looking at Judai's side, the Elemental Hero Flame Wingman with nineteen thousand attack points was nowhere to be seen.
No, even The Shining had disappeared.
In their place was a turned-over Set Card...as well as that demon with black wings and feminine features.
[Yubel, Attack Power 0]
"That was really a close call," Judai wiped his sweat, exhaling, "At that moment, I activated the Continuous Trap 'Blood Compensation.' During the opponent's turn Battle Phase, by paying 500 Life Points, I can conduct a Normal Summon.
So I used 'Elemental Hero Flame Wingman' and 'Elemental Hero The Shining' as tributes...
Yubel, Tribute Summon!"
Yubel crossed her arms, looking with great interest at the towering Chimeratech Overdragon before her.
"Ha, relying on my power again, Judai?" Yubel chuckled with her arms crossed.
Judai scratched his head: "Haha, sorry, but this opponent is really strong..."
"No problem, Judai, you can always rely on me~ I'll help with anything."
Yubel smiled and turned to face the massive mechanical monster ahead.
"A monster with thirty-seven thousand three hundred attack points, you've really provoked quite a formidable foe, Judai."
She paused and then licked her lips.
"But I like it."
Yubel expressed she loved high attack power monsters, the higher, the better.
Marufuji Ryo's gaze shifted slightly.
He remembered, this monster seemed to be one of Judai's ace cards — and it was the kind that was not easily used. Until now, he had only seen it once during the entrance examination duel between Judai and Cronos.
He remembered this guy's effect was...
Thinking to this point, Marufuji Ryo realized something was wrong, but it was already too late.
This turn's preparation phase, Judai activated the trap "Battle Mania" — all of Marufuji Ryo's monsters must attack.
The Chimeratech Overdragon opened all its mouths, with supernova-like flames shining inside them. It was the ultimate beam representing destruction and obliteration...only this time, what might be destroyed is he himself.
Thirty-seven thousand attack points, as if it was going to blow the whole venue away in one strike. Yet, Yubel languidly extended her palm, lazily catching the world-shattering blaze.
"Yubel's effect," Judai said, "the battle damage Yubel receives...is borne by the opposing player."
Marufuji Ryo closed his eyes.
He lost, yet again, and with the same wholehearted conviction as before.
This round, Yuki Judai was really in the atmosphere.
He lost thoroughly.
Yubel opened her fingers slightly, making a gesture like "release."
Endless destructive flames backfired along its trajectory, engulfing the Chimeratech Overdragon and the entire half-field where Marufuji Ryo stood.
[Marufuji Ryo, LP 950 → LP 0]