The instant the monster appeared, Teppei shouted at once.
"Not done yet!"
He revealed a card in his GY.
"The effect of Dillingerous Dragon in my GY. While this card is in the GY, if a 'Rokket' monster is Special Summoned to my field, I can activate this effect. Special Summon this card."
"Since I Special Summoned Rokket Tracer, I can use this effect to Special Summon it back to the field again!"
Dillingerous Dragon
ATK: 1600
"Now, I'll show you my real ace monster. Taste what despair feels like!"
Teppei suddenly pulled a faintly glowing card from his Extra Deck and held it high over his head.
"This card's Summoning condition is three or more Effect Monsters!"
He swept his arm down and barked a command.
"I use my Link-2 Dillingerous Dragon, my Link-2 Dragunity Knight - Romulus, and my Link-1 Striker Dragon as Link Material!"
In the instant his words fell, a massive Link Circuit slowly unfolded over the entire battlefield. Five Link Arrows pulsed with a heart-stopping surge of energy, dark-purple lightning snapping and crackling through the circuit. The sheer pressure forced even the onlookers to stumble back a half-step.
"Link Summon, Link-5, Borrelend Dragon!"
The moment he roared the monster's name, the three Link Monsters on the field transformed into brilliant streaks of light and shot into the enormous Link Circuit overhead like meteors chasing the moon.
[11]←[1]→[1×][↘] Five Link Arrows lit up one after another in a dazzling dark-gold blaze.
The next second, a mechanized dragon over twenty meters long crashed down from the Link Circuit, its entire body bristling with dozens of heavy "897"-type particle cannons and wrapped in super-alloy armor plating.
Its massive claws slammed into the ground, the violent shockwave blasting the spectators backward several steps as the solid concrete fractured into deep, web-like cracks.
Borrelend Dragon
Link-5 / Dragon / Link / Effect
ATK: 3500
"Borrelend Dragon?"
Looking at the monster that had appeared, Yusaku raised an eyebrow as a memory flashed through his mind.
"I remember when I dueled Fujiwara, he summoned this monster too. So that means you're the senpai he mentioned, the one who trained him, huh?"
Teppei let out a cold laugh. "That's right. But I didn't expect that after I handed him this monster, he couldn't even last a single turn!"
His tone shifted as he stared at Yusaku with absolute confidence.
"But this time will be completely different. You're about to experience just how terrifying this monster truly is!"
He shouted sharply.
"Then I activate Borrelend Dragon's effect! During either player's turn, I can target 1 Effect Monster on the field and 1 'Rokket' monster in my GY. Negate the effect of that monster on the field, then Special Summon that monster from the GY!"
"And you can't activate card effects in response to this effect's activation!"
He revealed a card in his GY.
"I target Rokket Tracer on the field, completely negate its effect, then Special Summon Rokket Recharger from my GY!"
Rokket Recharger
DEF: 2100
The instant the mechanized dragon reappeared, Teppei didn't hesitate for even a beat.
"Next, I Synchro Summon with the Rokket Recharger I just summoned and my Level 4 Tuner Rokket Tracer!"
"Synchro Summon, Level 8, Borreload Savage Dragon!"
A torrent of Synchro light poured down like a spilled galaxy. Within radiance even more dazzling than before, a dragon covered in dense arrays of gun barrels, its back loaded with massive missile launchers, tore through the glow and appeared on the field.
Borreload Savage Dragon
Level 8 / Dragon / Synchro / Effect
ATK: 3000
The moment Borreload Savage Dragon hit the field, Teppei activated its effect immediately.
"When this card is Synchro Summoned, I can equip 1 Link Monster from my GY to it as an Equip Spell, place Borrel Counters equal to that monster's Link Rating, and this card gains ATK equal to half the equipped monster's ATK!"
"I equip the Dragunity Knight - Romulus in my GY, with 1200 ATK. Equip!"
As his words landed, Romulus in the GY became a silver streak of light, turning into fragments of armor that latched onto Borreload Savage Dragon's body to form a solid dragon cuirass. At the same time, two Borrel Counters appeared on the monster, and its ATK surged instantly.
Borreload Savage Dragon
Counters: 0 → 2
ATK: 3000 → 3600
"Next, since I still haven't Normal Summoned this turn, then…"
Teppei revealed a card from his hand.
"I can Normal Summon Rokket Synchron!"
Rokket Synchron
Level 1 / Dragon / Tuner / Effect
ATK: 0
"I activate Rokket Synchron's Summon effect!"
Teppei's shout rang out again.
"When this card is Summoned, I can target 1 Level 5 or higher Dragon DARK monster in my GY, then Special Summon it in Defense Position!"
"I target Chaos Ruler, the Chaotic Magical Dragon in my GY, and Special Summon it in Defense Position!"
Chaos Ruler, the Chaotic Magical Dragon
DEF: 2500
The moment the monster appeared, four orange shockwaves lashed out in three rapid bursts.
"Next, I Synchro Summon using the Chaos Ruler, the Chaotic Magical Dragon I just summoned and my Level 1 Tuner Rokket Synchron!"
In the instant his words fell, Chaos Ruler and Rokket Synchron became two blinding streams of light, intertwining like a pair of rainbows as they shot into the sky.
Synchro light crashed down like a roaring waterfall, and the entire arena trembled.
With an earthshaking roar, a demonic dragon clad in crimson scales burst from the Synchro radiance, its talons wreathed in raging flames.
As the light dispersed, three demonic dragons—each draped in crimson scales, their claws burning with hellfire, enormous batlike wings beating—surged out together.
Hot Red Dragon Archfiend Abyss
Level 9 / Dragon / Synchro / Effect
ATK: 3200
"Not done yet!"
Teppei barked.
"I activate the effect of Chaos Ruler, the Chaotic Magical Dragon in my GY!"
"I can banish 1 LIGHT monster and 1 DARK monster from my hand or GY, except this card, then Special Summon this card from the GY!"
As he spoke, he revealed the two corresponding cards in his GY, his gaze unwavering.
"I banish the LIGHT White Dragon Wyverburster and the DARK Guardragon Pisty from my GY, then Special Summon Chaos Ruler, the Chaotic Magical Dragon in Defense Position!"
Chaos Ruler, the Chaotic Magical Dragon
DEF: 2500
"Finally!"
Teppei slapped his last two cards onto his Duel Disk.
"I set two cards."
After setting them, Teppei crossed his arms and looked at Yusaku with confidence.
"My turn ends. Your move."
Yusaku pinched the bridge of his nose.
Four monsters on the field: Borrelend, Borreload Savage, Hot Red Dragon Archfiend Abyss, and Chaos Ruler. Two set cards in the back row. Teppei had no cards left in hand.
Studying the opponent's field, Yusaku rubbed his chin.
"Not bad. Your board does have something to it. But it's only 'not bad,' that's all."
Teppei sneered. "Only 'not bad'? Looks like you're underestimating my field. But running your mouth won't help. Get through it first, then talk."
Yusaku smiled faintly and placed his hand on top of his Deck.
"Then it's my turn. Draw."
He'd barely added the card to his hand when a voice came from across the field.
Teppei flicked his hand up. "The moment your Draw Phase ends, I flip my set card and activate the Continuous Trap Mask of Restrict. As long as this card remains in the Spell & Trap Zone, neither player can Tribute cards."
After activating it, he crossed his arms and laughed coldly.
"Back when I lent Borrelend Dragon to my kouhai, it got Tributed by your damn Lava Golem. You really think I wouldn't guard against that? I prepared this card specifically for it."
He wore a smug grin.
"Now let me introduce this field. Two omni-negates, one monster-effect negate, and most importantly, my ace, Borrelend Dragon. It can't be targeted by effects, it can't be destroyed by battle or card effects, it can attack all your monsters, it can negate your monsters, and you can't even chain to it. So tell me, how do you break my board?"
Ichiro nodded. "Your 'Genius Academy' really does have some bite. This board is definitely something."
"Of course it is."
Teppei lifted his chin proudly, his eyes full of superiority.
"Our Genius Academy isn't something trash from the lower district can compare to. Ichiro, I built you an ironclad escort board. Now it's on you. Don't disappoint me. Don't fail to finish him."
"Relax," Ichiro said, glancing at his hand with a confident smile. "I absolutely won't waste the board you built."
"Done talking?"
Yusaku cut them off, the corner of his mouth curling into a scornful arc.
"If you're done, then I'm sending the so-called 'ace' you're so proud of straight to the grave."
Teppei: "???"
Ichiro: "???"
Both of their smiles froze instantly. They were just about to speak when they saw Yusaku raise his right hand high, a card blazing with dazzling golden light appearing in his grip.
In the next instant, an indescribably terrifying power surged from the card and swept across the entire Duel arena.
The golden radiance was so overwhelming it nearly obscured the card's artwork and text completely. Only arcs of golden lightning snapped around it as space itself subtly warped under the pressure, letting out a strained, overburdened wail.
"What card is that!?" someone in the crowd shouted in shock.
A furious gale whipped through the dojo, clothes snapping loudly as Teppei and Ichiro stared wide-eyed at the card in Yusaku's hand, unable to tear their gaze away.
Before they could finish forming the question, Yusaku's deep, thunderous voice exploded across the field.
"Activate Quick-Play Spell, Super Polymerization!"
"I use your Borreload Savage Dragon plus your Borrelend Dragon as Fusion Material, and perform a Fusion Summon!"
"Using my monsters as Fusion Material?"
Teppei froze as if he'd heard the most ridiculous thing imaginable, then laughed.
"Impossible. Borrelend Dragon can't be targeted by effects. Your Super Polymerization can't choose it as a target!"
Yusaku gave him a flat glance. "Super Polymerization doesn't target."
"What!"
Teppei's pupils shrank to pinpoints. The confidence on his face shattered, replaced by raw disbelief as he blurted out.
"Then I activate Borreload Savage Dragon's effect. I remove a Borrel Counter and negate the effect activation of your Super Polymerization!"
He pointed sharply at Borreload Savage Dragon and issued the command, but even after two full seconds, the monster didn't respond at all. It stood there like a statue, the light on its gun barrels not even flickering.
Teppei grit his teeth, fine beads of cold sweat forming on his forehead as he shouted again.
"Activate Borreload Savage Dragon's effect! Remove a counter, negate the activation of Super Polymerization!"
But the command vanished into silence again. Borreload Savage Dragon was as if it had lost all power, unmoving, producing not the slightest ripple of energy.
As Teppei's eyes snapped toward the Hot Red Dragon Archfiend Abyss behind him, ready to try yet another response, Yusaku's calm voice drifted over.
"Don't bother. It won't work."
Yusaku looked at him, expression steady. "The moment I activate Super Polymerization, my opponent can't activate Spell, Trap, or monster effects in response to this card's activation."
Teppei's pupils contracted even further. "What???"
"So, I'm forcing those two monsters on your field to become Fusion Material!"
"Fusion Summon, Level 6, Garura, Wings of Resonant Life!"
In the instant his words hit, Borrelend Dragon and Borreload Savage Dragon seemed bound by an unseen force, dragged together into the massive Fusion vortex that opened at the center of the field.
The next second, a deep-purple, two-headed bird with wings covered in mysterious runes burst out of the Fusion light, its piercing cry cutting through the energy storm as it settled firmly onto Yusaku's field.
Garura, Wings of Resonant Life
Level 6 / Winged Beast / Fusion / Effect
ATK: 1500
The surrounding players froze for a beat, then burst into loud laughter.
"Damn, isn't that the 'miserable lovebirds'? He fused two Borrel dragons into this thing!"
"What do you mean 'miserable lovebirds'? It's Garura, Wings of Resonant Life!"
"Didn't the other guy just say something about a powerful ace? Where'd it go? I don't see it!"
(End of Chapter)
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