Yusei's turn ended, and the electronic screen on the D-Wheel displayed the prompt for Youyu's turn to begin.
Youyu quickly reassessed the situation on the field, glanced at the Shooting Star Dragon soaring above Yusei, and couldn't help but feel a bit resigned.
Damn, I know this is a serious match, but I didn't expect him to bring out the Shooting Star Dragon...
But that's okay.
One way or another, Youyu always planned to engage with "Accel Synchro," and experiencing this power firsthand in a non-life-threatening duel isn't a bad thing.
Moreover, it was said beforehand that the initial purpose of the duel was to open the door to the Otherworld for The Supreme King by releasing enough powerful energy.
The energy levels of a card like Shooting Star Dragon, an ace Accel Synchro, are unmatched by regular spirits and can greatly aid in achieving their goal.
So now, Youyu couldn't afford to lag behind.
"My turn, draw." Youyu declared, "I activate the Field Magic 'Charging Gaia' from my hand!"
The green Field Card floated beside him, and the racetrack they were racing on along with the forests on either side of the road transformed instantly. Prison Flame spread out, with the D-Wheel's rear trailing blazing flames, carving a large arc along the road's edge.
If this were the Riding Duel era from the 5DS, Field Magic couldn't be used. But as this is just the prototype of such a duel format, there aren't as many restrictions.
"Next, I activate 'Card of Continuous Fortune,' until both players hold six cards in their hand, draw from the Deck continuously."
Cards popped out from the top of each player's Deck, drawn by each of them and placed into the area on the D-Wheel that was specially designed to hold them.
"From my hand, I activate the Magic Card 'Reinforcement of the Army,' adding a Level 4 or lower Warrior-Type monster to my hand.
I add the Warrior-Type 'Gaia the Fierce Knight Origin' from the Deck to my hand."
A card ejected from the deck, drawn by Youyu into his hand.
"Field Magic 'Charging Gaia,' activate effect!" Youyu waved his hand, "Once per turn, by revealing a 'Gaia' Warrior-Type monster in your hand to the opponent, add a Level 5 Dragon-Type monster from the Deck to your hand."
He revealed the card that he had just obtained.
"I reveal 'Gaia the Fierce Knight Origin' and add the Level 5 Dragon-Type 'Curse of Dragon, the Cursed Dragon' from the Deck to my hand!"
The Cursed Dragon was drawn and inserted into the hand holder. The Deck continued to shuffle automatically in its slot.
"Next, the 'Gaia the Fierce Knight Origin' in my hand can special summon itself from the hand by discarding a Level 5 or higher monster from my hand.
I discard the 'Curse of Dragon, the Cursed Dragon' that I just searched and Special Summon 'Gaia the Fierce Knight Origin'!"
Once again, a horse with a red mane bolted out, though this time the knight riding it wore lighter armor and was not as massive as before.
[Gaia the Fierce Knight Origin, ATK 1600]
"Going through the trouble of searching for 'Curse of Dragon,' only to use it as a cost for discard..." Yusei pondered curiously.
"Then I use 'Gaia the Fierce Knight Origin' as a tribute!" Youyu pointed to the Gaia Knight running alongside the D-Wheel, "When using a Warrior-Type monster for a Tribute Summon, 'Gaia the Fierce Knight Origin' counts as two tributes!"
As he spoke, Gaia the Fierce Knight Origin split into two, transforming into two duplicates. Both duplicates morphed into beams of light that flew up, merging into the chaotic vortex.
"Tribute the two 'Gaia the Fierce Knight Origin' tributes for a Tribute Summon—
——Magical Knight Gaia!"
Vicious energy burst forth from the transformed field, with a steed wrapped in flames emerging like a hellhound, carrying a fiery knight!
[Magical Knight Gaia, ATK 2300]
"This card again..." Yusei was becoming increasingly interested.
He remembered that Magical Knight Gaia could be Normal Summoned without tributes if the opponent controls a monster with 2300 or more attack points.
In other words, with Shooting Star Dragon on Yusei's field, Youyu could've summoned Magical Knight Gaia directly without performing complex summoning steps.
It seemed like an intentional card loss at first glance.
Unless his motives are not as straightforward as they appear.
"When Magical Knight Gaia is successfully summoned, Special Summon a Level 5 Dragon-Type monster in Defense Position from the Graveyard." Youyu said, "I Special Summon the 'Curse of Dragon, the Cursed Dragon' that I discarded to the Graveyard earlier!"
A storm whipped up, and a golden dragon clad in skeletal armor surged from the Netherworld, unfolding its wings as it landed on the field.
[Curse of Dragon, the Cursed Dragon, DEF 1500]
"At this moment, the Curse of Dragon's effect is also triggered!" Youyu continued, "When this card is Summoned or Special Summoned, add a 'Dragon-Knight Gaia' related Magic or Trap Card from the Deck to your hand.
I add the Magic Card 'Spiral Fusion' to my hand!"
Yusei's pupils contracted slightly.
"Right, that card is..."
"Magic Card 'Spiral Fusion'!" The Magic Card beside Youyu turned over, "Fusion Summon a Dragon-Type Fusion monster by sending Fusion Material Monster Cards from your hand or field to the Graveyard!
I fuse 'Magical Knight Gaia' and 'Curse of Dragon, the Cursed Dragon' on the field!
The knight who mastered sorcery to the limit releases the golden dragon from its curse with dark magic! Fusion Summon—
——Gaia the Magical Knight of Dragons!!!"
Once again, the knight and dragon transformed into beams of light, diving into the vortex. The unleashed energy disrupted the entire field, with flames swirling around the Magical Knight like fiery dragons!
Gaia the Magical Knight of Dragons, summon!
[Gaia the Magical Knight of Dragons, ATK 2600]
Yusei: "Another Gaia the Magical Knight of Dragons..."
"'Spiral Fusion's effect!" Youyu exclaimed, "When a 'Dragon-Knight Gaia' is Fusion Summoned using 'Spiral Fusion,' its ATK increases by 2600 and it can attack twice on monsters in one turn!"
Yusei squinted at the new knight on the opposite side riding the golden dragon.
"That monster..."
"Gaia the Magical Knight of Dragons can also be treated as 'Dragon-Knight Gaia!'" Youyu said, "So Gaia's attack increases by 2600!"
[Gaia the Magical Knight of Dragons, ATK 2600 → ATK 5200]
Yusei's gaze hardened a bit.
An attack of 5200, plus the ability for consecutive attacks... no, not just that.
If it were just the high attack, it wouldn't be as terrifying, since his defenses are like a fortress of steel. "Scrap-Iron Scarecrow" in the backfield can block one attack every turn, and Shooting Star Dragon has the ability to negate one attack.
But Gaia has another menacing aspect, thanks to that Field Magic.
Field Magic, Charging Gaia. As long as this field exists and "Dragon-Knight Gaia" is on the field, the opponent cannot activate any Magic, Trap, or Monster Effects during the Battle Phase.
In other words, once we enter the Battle Phase, Gaia will control the entire field! Whether it's the Scrap-Iron Scarecrow or Shooting Star Dragon, or any Hand or Graveyard Pits, none can stop Gaia's lethal attack!
"And the effect of the 'Curse of Dragon, the Cursed Dragon' sent to the Graveyard as Fusion Material has also been triggered!" Youyu announced, "When this card is sent to the Graveyard, target one 'Dragon-Knight Gaia' on the field.
This turn, negate the effects of all monsters with equal or lower ATK that are face-up on the opponent's field!"
He naturally chose the newly summoned Gaia.
"I choose 'Gaia the Magical Knight of Dragons,' whose attack is 5200!" Youyu stated, "Shooting Star Dragon's attack is lower, so its effects are negated!"
"If that's the case..."
Yusei waved his hand.
"At this moment, Shooting Star Dragon's effect activates!" shouted Yusei, "Banish itself from play, and for this turn, once, negate an opponent's monster attack!" (Animated effect)