The chain resolved, and both Phantom Knights Break Sword and Spider Shark exploded one after another.
However, from the fragments of the two monsters, two vortexes—one black and one blue—slowly formed.
"When Number 37: Hope Woven Dragon Spider Shark is destroyed by an effect, I target one monster in the Graveyard and Special Summon it! Revive, Phantom Knights Break Sword!"
"Next, Phantom Knights Break Sword's effect activates when it is destroyed! If this Xyz Summoned card is destroyed, I target two 'Phantom Knights' monsters with the same Level in my Graveyard and Special Summon them. The Levels of the monsters Special Summoned by this effect increase by 1."
"Appear! Phantom Knights Torn Scales, Phantom Knights Dusty Robe!"
Phantom Knights Dusty Robe Level: 3 → 4
Phantom Knights Torn Scales Level: 3 → 4
"The effect of Phantom Knights Torn Scales activates! I discard one card from my hand to send one 'Phantom Knights' monster or one 'Phantom' Spell/Trap Card, other than this card, from my deck to the Graveyard."
"I overlay two Level 4 monsters!" Yuto stretched out his hand and summoned a jet-black vortex, as the two monsters turned into stardust and flew into it.
"O, rebellious fang that resists foolish power from the jet-black darkness! Descend now! Xyz Summon! Appear! Rank 4! Dark Rebellion Xyz Dragon!"
Hoarse, draconic roars echoed from the vortex. A moment later, a jet-black dragon emerged, spreading its wings. It shook its long neck, and the sharp blades on its jaw glinted coldly.
Dark Rebellion Xyz Dragon ATK: 2500
"Dark Rebellion Xyz Dragon?" Ryo Marufuji frowned as he looked at the black dragon before him. Its attack points were a full 1500 points lower than Cyber End Dragon's, yet this dragon seemed ready to launch a deadly charge at him at any moment.
"The effect of Cyber Eternity Dragon activates in the Graveyard! I banish this card from the Graveyard. This turn, Fusion Monsters on my field cannot be targeted or destroyed by my opponent's effects." Although he didn't yet understand the effect of Yuto's dragon, his duelist instincts compelled Ryo Marufuji to activate the effect of Cyber Eternity Dragon from his Graveyard in advance.
In an instant, the phantom of a long, golden mechanical dragon appeared behind Cyber End Dragon, transforming into a golden shield of light that covered the three-headed mechanical dragon.
"What? Protection from targeting effects?" Yuto's brow immediately furrowed. This put him in an awkward position. Although Dark Rebellion Xyz Dragon possessed extremely strong offensive capabilities, its effect could only be activated by targeting an opponent's monster.
And now, with Cyber End Dragon immune to targeting effects and no other monsters on Ryo Marufuji's field, Dark Rebellion Xyz Dragon was effectively a vanilla monster. Most importantly, if the two Xyz Materials circling Dark Rebellion Xyz Dragon couldn't be detached, his subsequent plays would also be hindered.
Seeing Yuto frozen in place, Ryo Marufuji chuckled. "What's the matter? Are you already stumped by a little targeting protection?"
"Of course not." Yuto's presence didn't weaken in the slightest. "Then, I activate the effect of Phantom Knights' Fragile Armor from the Graveyard!"
"I banish this card from the Graveyard and send one 'Phantom Knights' card or one 'Phantom' Spell/Trap from my hand to the Graveyard to draw one card."
"I send Phantom Knights' Silent Boots from my hand to the Graveyard and draw a card!"
Yuto took a deep breath, drew the top card of his deck, and a look of joy spread across his face as he glanced at it.
"I activate the Spell Card, Xyz Gift! Since I control two or more Xyz Monsters, I detach two Xyz Materials from my field to draw two cards."
Yuto activated the card he had just drawn with Fragile Armor's effect. The two purple orbs of light beside Dark Rebellion Xyz Dragon flashed, turning into streams of light that surged toward Yuto's Duel Disk as the draw prompt lit up again.
The Xyz Materials on Dark Rebellion were successfully detached, allowing Yuto's plays to continue.
"The effect of Phantom Knights' Dusty Robe activates in the Graveyard! Once per turn, I can banish this card from the Graveyard to add one 'Phantom Knights' card, other than this one, from my deck to my hand."
"I'll add a second Phantom Knights' Silent Boots from my deck to my hand!"
"At this moment, the effect of Phantom Knights' Torn Scales activates in the Graveyard! Since a 'Phantom Knights' card was just banished from my Graveyard while this card was there, I can Special Summon it."
"Next, since I control a 'Phantom Knights' monster, I can Special Summon this card from my hand."
"Appear! Phantom Knights' Silent Boots!"
"I overlay the Level 3 Phantom Knights' Torn Scales and Phantom Knights' Silent Boots!"
"Guiding dragon of the void, descend! Point the way for companions lost in the void! Xyz Summon! Rank 3! Leviair the Sea Dragon!"
A blue-green sea serpent wreathed in a gentle breeze flew out from the vortex in front of Yuto. After letting out a roar, the space beside it was instantly torn open, and a pitch-black dimensional rift formed.
Leviair the Sea Dragon DEF: 1600
"The effect of Leviair the Sea Dragon activates! Once per turn, I detach one Xyz Material from this card to target one of my or my opponent's banished Level 4 or lower monsters and Special Summon that monster to my field."
"Return from the different dimension! Phantom Knights' Fragile Armor!"
"When a 'Phantom Knights' monster is Special Summoned to my field, the effect of Phantom Knights' Stained Greaves activates from my hand! I Special Summon this card, and then I can increase its level by 1."
Phantom Knights' Stained Greaves Level: 3 → 4
"Next, I overlay two Level 4 monsters!"
The black stardust vortex opened up in front of Yuto once more.
"Noble knight of pearl, descend! Xyz Summon! Rank 4! Gem-Knight Pearl!"
Gem-Knight Pearl DEF: 1900
"Have you already given up on this turn? Is that why you're putting all your monsters in Defense Position?" Ryo Marufuji sneered, looking at the Defense Position monsters appearing one after another on Yuto's field.
"Not necessarily." Yuto smiled confidently. "And just like that, the conditions are met."
"Oh?" Ryo Marufuji looked at Yuto with interest. "Need I remind you? Monsters in Defense Position can't win you the duel."
"That's because I only need one attack this turn!" Yuto declared, waving his hand. "The effect of Phantom Knights' Silent Boots activates from the Graveyard!"
"I banish this card from the Graveyard to add one 'Phantom' Spell/Trap Card from my deck to my hand."
"I add Rank-Up-Magic Phantom Knights' Force to my hand, and then I activate it!"
...
(end of chapter)