The starlight cascades down as the silver-white dragon, trailing a myriad of stars, bursts forth once more from the vortex of the Netherworld, its brilliance appearing even more radiant than before!
[Stardust Dragon, Attack Power 2500]
"Next, it's my turn, draw!"
A new card is drawn into the hand as the D-Wheel, with the pleasant hum of its perpetual motion machine, speeds through another corner.
They have now completed half a lap around the temporary track.
"I activate the effect of 'Jet Synchron' in the graveyard." Yusei retrieves a card from the graveyard, "While this card is in the graveyard, by sending a card from the hand to the graveyard, 'Jet Synchron' can be Special Summoned from the graveyard.
If this card, Special Summoned by this effect, leaves the field, it is banished instead of being sent to the graveyard.
Come on, Jet Synchron!"
A card is discarded to the graveyard, and immediately a rocket-shaped humanoid little machine bursts out, with a dazzling golden tail flame erupting from its rear.
[Jet Synchron, Attack Power 500]
"Then the card I just discarded to the graveyard is 'Stardust Xiaolong'." Yusei continued, "Stardust Xiaolong can be Special Summoned from the graveyard if 'Stardust Dragon' is present on your field.
Revive from the graveyard, Stardust Xiaolong!"
Starlight shines as a miniature version of Stardust Dragon leaps onto the field, speeding alongside Yusei's D-Wheel.
[Stardust Xiaolong, Attack Power 100]
Youyu looked at the formation on Yusei's field and quickly realized something.
Stardust Dragon, a tuner and a non-tuner...
Is it coming?
Many players also began to realize this, becoming restless and muttering about "Accel Synchro" and "Clear Mind," things others couldn't understand, clamoring incessantly.
"Mr. Youyu!" Yusei's tone sharply rose, "I said, this duel must be done with full force! So please witness the further-evolved form of Synchro Summoning!
In the high-speed of Riding Duels lies the hope and answer of the future!"
As he spoke, he waved his hand grandly.
"Level 1, Tuner Monster 'Jet Synchron,' along with Level 1 'Stardust Xiaolong,' tuning!" Yusei shouted, "The Converging Wishes will lead to a new horizon of speed, becoming a road shining with brilliance! Synchro Summon, the power of hope—
—Synchro Tuner, Formula Synchron!"
[1+1=2]
The two monsters transformed into starlight and vanished, a brand-new Synchro—a small monster with a humanoid racecar design—immediately appeared on the field.
[Formula Synchron, Defense Power 1500]
Even students who haven't fully grasped the novel concept of "Synchro Summon" are completely baffled upon seeing this new Level 2 monster now summoned by Yusei.
But President Haima, who has studied "Synchro Summon" for years, keenly sensed something amiss.
Synchro Tuner?
Normally, the summoning rules for Synchro Monsters involve using a Tuner Monster plus other non-Tuner monsters, tuning to reach the appropriate level for "Synchro Summon."
The simplest example is a Level 3 Tuner Monster "Junk Synchro" plus a Level 2 non-Tuner "Speed Warrior," Level 3 plus Level 2 can "Synchro Summon" a Junk Warrior.
But the monster appearing here simultaneously holds the identities of both "Synchro Monster" and "Tuner Monster"!
In other words, this Synchro Monster is inherently meant to serve as a stepping stone for summoning even stronger monsters?
Watching the match from his office, Kaiba quickly detected an unusual scent. He quickly sat up straight, filled with anticipation for what might unfold next.
What he is about to witness might be the new form after yet another evolution of dueling, heralding a brand-new future for the game of Duel Monsters!
Yet Youyu was, of course, not going to make it easy for him.
"Activate the Set Card!" The Set Card beside Youyu flipped over, "Trap Card 'Spiral Reborn.' Special Summon a Dragon-Type monster from your graveyard with Level 7 or below."
A card is retrieved from the graveyard, promptly drawn by Youyu.
"I Special Summon 'Gaia the Magical Knight of Dragons' from the graveyard!"
A black vortex opened, a golden storm mixed with the Prison Flame as the knight, wielding dual guns, mounted on a golden cursed dragon, emerged from the depths of the Netherworld.
[Gaia the Magical Knight of Dragons, Defense Power 2100]
Yusei quickly recalled something, "The effect of this card is..."
"Activate the effect of 'Gaia the Magical Knight of Dragons'!" Youyu accelerated and caught up to Yusei from behind, "Once per turn, decrease its attack points by 2600, and destroy a card on the field.
This effect can also be activated during the opponent's Main Phase."
He pointed straight at Yusei's field.
"I reduce 'Gaia the Magical Knight of Dragons' attack by 2600 to destroy 'Formula Synchron' as the target!"
[Gaia the Magical Knight of Dragons, Attack Power 2600 → Attack Power 0]
With its attack power reduced, the Prison Flame Dragon opened its mouth, and the surging flames, along with the Dragon Knight's full power, were infused into the red spiral lance in its hand, thrown through the air!
Yusei reacted instantly, "Then activate the effect of 'Stardust Dragon'!
Tribute the Stardust Dragon on the field to negate effects with 'destroy a card on the field,' and destroy that card!
Sacrificial Sanctuary!"
The power of Stardust unleashed, as the noble silver-white dragon once again transformed into starlight. The brilliance dispersed like a gentle rain, immediately causing Gaia's spiral beam to disintegrate.
However, when Stardust Dragon's power rebounded, aiming at the front face, Gaia's arms crossed, with its spiral dual guns interlocking in front to withstand the starlight impact.
"The second effect of the Trap Card 'Spiral Reborn,'" said Youyu, "If the monster revived by 'Spiral Reborn' is 'Gaia the Magical Knight of Dragons,' it will not be the target of the opponent's effects and will not be destroyed by them.
Therefore, the revived Gaia will not be destroyed by 'Sacrificial Sanctuary's' effect."
At this point, classmate Xiang was puzzled, "But if the effect will be negated, why take the trouble to reduce your attack power and still activate Gaia's effect?
Even though 'Stardust Dragon' will return to the field at the end of the turn... "
"I'm not sure..." This time even the exemplary student Mitsuzawa Daichi was a little unsure, "But since it's Principal Youyu, he must have his own considerations..."
Yusei cast a sidelong glance at Youyu rapidly closing in from behind.
As expected of Mr. Youyu, did he intuitively disrupt my 'Accel Synchro' formation?
Accel Synchro, accomplished by tuning the Synchro Tuner Monster 'Formula Synchron' and 'Stardust Dragon' on the field, summons Yusei's new trump card.
But...
"I activate the effect of 'Formula Synchron,'" said Yusei, "Once per turn, draw a card from the deck." (Anime effect)
Yusei paused, "Mr. Youyu, your intuition is indeed sharp. If Stardust Dragon isn't on the field, I can't further summon a new trump card here.
However, I have a countermeasure for this!
Activate the Set Card, Trap Card 'Stardust Flash'! Revive 'Stardust Dragon' from the graveyard, which was sent there by its own effect!
Fly once more, Stardust Dragon!!!"
The dazzling starlight converged into a whirlpool, like a storm rushing into the sky, the silver-white dragon once again bursting with starry brightness!
[Stardust Dragon, Attack Power 2500]
Xiang exclaimed, "Ah, Stardust is back on the field..."
Yusei firmly pressed down on the accelerator, the perpetual motion machine of the D-Wheel roaring as if it couldn't wait.
"Watch closely, Mr. Youyu! Before us on the path of duels lies a miracle called 'Accel Synchro'!"