"Effect of [Raidraptor - Noir Lanius]!"
Yusaku barked.
"During your Main Phase in the turn this card is Normal or Special Summoned, you can target 1 'Raidraptor' monster you control; add 1 'Raidraptor' monster with a different Level than that monster from your Deck to your hand."
"I target itself, and add the Level 1 [Raidraptor - Pain Lanius] from my Deck to my hand!"
After adding the searched card to his hand, he looked toward Teppei and Ichiro.
"Next, I'll conduct a Link Summon. The materials I need are [2 DARK Winged Beast monsters]!"
Yusaku's voice was sharp as a drawn blade. Before the words even finished, he slashed his hand through the air.
"So I can use the DARK [Garura, Wings of Resonant Life], and [Raidraptor - Arsenal Falcon] that has [Raidraptor - Brave Strix] attached as Xyz Material, as my Link Materials!"
"Link Summon, Link-2—[Raidraptor - Wise Strix]!"
At the instant the command fell, the two monsters turned into streaks of dark-golden light and shot skyward, crashing into the Link Circuit that snapped open above.
On the circuit, the Link Markers [②][①][③] lit up at the same time.
The next second, an owl-shaped monster forged of dark alloy burst out of the circuit with a beat of its wings. As its metal feathers spread, precise gears meshed with a crisp clack-clack, and a ghostly blue energy core flickered inside its eye sockets, faint DARK ripples curling around its frame.
[Raidraptor - Wise Strix]
[Link / Winged Beast / Effect]
[ATK: 1400]
"At this moment!"
Yusaku shouted.
"I activate the effect of [Garura, Wings of Resonant Life], which was sent to the GY as Link Material! Then I chain the effect of [Raidraptor - Arsenal Falcon]! And I chain the effect of [Raidraptor - Wise Strix] on top of that!"
"First—[Raidraptor - Wise Strix]!"
Yusaku looked straight at Teppei.
"If this card is Link Summoned: You can Special Summon 1 Level 4 DARK Winged Beast monster from your Deck in Defense Position."
"I Special Summon [Raidraptor - Mimicry Lanius] from my Deck!"
With the glow of activation, a camouflaged mechanical lanius sprang from the Deck's phantom outline, folding its wings into a defensive posture.
[Raidraptor - Mimicry Lanius]
[Level 4 / Winged Beast / Effect]
[DEF: 1900]
"Next—[Raidraptor - Arsenal Falcon]!"
"If this card is sent to the GY while it has a 'Raidraptor' monster as material: You can Special Summon 1 'Raidraptor' Xyz Monster from your Extra Deck, except [Raidraptor - Arsenal Falcon], and if you do, attach this card to it as material."
"When this card was sent to the GY, it had [Raidraptor - Brave Strix] as material, so it can activate its effect and Special Summon a 'Raidraptor' Xyz Monster from my Extra Deck!"
"My soul's falcon!"
Yusaku raised his arm high, his coat snapping violently in a sudden black gale.
"With unwavering faith as my steel rampart, and a resolute heart as my final bulwark—become the ultimate fortress that binds my foes and descend!"
"Rank-Up Xyz Evolution—Rank 12! [Raidraptor - Final Fortress Falcon]!!!"
In the same heartbeat, a pillar of dark-gold light exploded behind him, roiling with violent energy that blew his coat into a frenzy and sent his hair whipping wildly.
Stormclouds gathered over the duel field as thunder cracked. Purple-black lightning slithered through the clouds like dragons, and a piercing hawk cry tore the sky apart, making everyone's ears ring.
Then, a colossal mechanical falcon—its wingspan wide enough to blanket half the battlefield—emerged from the light. Spiked cannon ports studded its black alloy wings, crimson flames burned inside its eyes, and an oppressive pressure rolled off it like a physical weight.
[Raidraptor - Final Fortress Falcon]
[Rank 12 / Winged Beast / Xyz / Effect]
[Materials: 1]
[ATK: 3800]
Staring at the gigantic monster they had never seen before, Teppei and Ichiro's pupils shrank, as if they had seen a ghost. Their confidence shattered into raw shock.
Cold sweat beaded on Teppei's forehead. He had seen students at the academy play Raidraptors, so he knew [Raidraptor - Arsenal Falcon] could pull a Raidraptor from the Extra Deck.
But usually, it pulled the one called [Raidraptor - Ultimate Falcon].
This Rank 12 [Raidraptor - Final Fortress Falcon] was the first time he had ever seen it, and its ATK was 300 higher than his [Borrelend Dragon]!
The onlookers also froze for a beat. Someone couldn't help blurting out:
"Huh? Why'd he summon the 'big bro'? Shouldn't it be the 'second bro', Ultimate Falcon?"
A bespectacled player laughed.
"You can tell you just copy end boards from video tutorials. Boards aren't one-size-fits-all—you summon based on the real situation. They activated [Messenger of Peace], so it'll be hard to end the duel this turn."
"The 'second bro' is for lockdown, but that's a fast effect and it doesn't mean much against Kazetaro. Compared to him, the 'big bro' is more useful. You didn't forget the big bro can attack multiple times, right?"
As soon as he said it, another player grinned.
"Big bro, second bro—once that monster shows up, those two won't even qualify. No idea if we'll get to see it this duel."
That monster?
Hearing that, the crowd immediately understood. Eyes lit up across the stands as everyone stared at the field, faces full of excitement and anticipation.
On the field.
After bringing out [Raidraptor - Final Fortress Falcon], Yusaku continued.
"Finally, [Garura, Wings of Resonant Life]. If this card is sent to the GY: I can draw 1 card. Since it went to the GY as Link Material, I draw 1."
He drew, then snapped his gaze up.
"Then at this moment, the other effect of [Raidraptor - Wise Strix] activates."
"If a 'Raidraptor' Xyz Monster's effect is activated: Set 1 'Rank-Up-Magic' Spell from your Deck to your field. If you Set a Quick-Play Spell, you can activate it this turn."
"Since I activated [Raidraptor - Arsenal Falcon]'s effect, I can Set [Rank-Up-Magic Soul Shave Force] from my Deck."
After setting the card, Yusaku swept his hand forward again.
"Now I overlay [Raidraptor - Mimicry Lanius] and [Raidraptor - Noir Lanius]!"
"Xyz Summon, Rank 4—[Raidraptor - Force Strix]!"
[Raidraptor - Force Strix]
[Rank 4 / Winged Beast / Xyz / Effect]
[ATK: 100]
"Effect of [Raidraptor - Force Strix]!"
Yusaku said.
"Once per turn: I can detach 1 material from this card; add 1 Level 4 DARK Winged Beast monster from my Deck to my hand."
"I activate it—detaching [Raidraptor - Mimicry Lanius]!"
[Raidraptor - Force Strix]
[Materials: 2 → 1]
"I add the Level 4 [Raidraptor - Singing Lanius] from my Deck to my hand!"
With the search complete, he continued without pause.
"Next, I activate the effect of [Raidraptor - Mimicry Lanius] that was detached and sent to the GY. During your Main Phase in the turn this card is sent to the GY: You can banish this card; add 1 'Raidraptor' card from your Deck to your hand, except [Raidraptor - Mimicry Lanius]."
"I add the Continuous Spell [Raidraptor - Nest]!"
He added it, then immediately played it.
"I activate the Continuous Spell—[Raidraptor - Nest]!"
After placing the card, he revealed another card from his hand.
"Effect of [Raidraptor - Singing Lanius] in my hand. If I control a face-up Xyz Monster, I can Special Summon this card from my hand."
"My field satisfies that condition, so I Special Summon it!"
[Raidraptor - Singing Lanius]
[Level 4 / Winged Beast / Effect]
[ATK: 100]
After the monster hit the field, Yusaku revealed yet another card.
"Next, I activate the effect of [Raidraptor - Pain Lanius] in my hand!"
"If this card is in your hand: You can target 1 'Raidraptor' monster you control; take damage equal to the lower of that monster's ATK or DEF, then Special Summon this card from your hand. If Special Summoned by this effect, this card's Level becomes the same as the targeted monster's Level."
"I target [Raidraptor - Singing Lanius] on my field, and take damage equal to its ATK!"
[Yusaku, Kazetaro, LP 16000 → 15900]
"Then I Special Summon [Raidraptor - Pain Lanius] from my hand. Since I targeted a Level 4 [Raidraptor - Singing Lanius], this card's Level changes from 1 to 4!"
[Raidraptor - Pain Lanius]
[Winged Beast / Effect]
[Level: 1 → 4]
[ATK: 100]
"Next, I conduct another Xyz Summon!"
With a sharp gesture, Yusaku declared:
"I overlay the [Raidraptor - Pain Lanius] and [Raidraptor - Singing Lanius] I just Summoned!"
"Xyz Summon—[Raidraptor - Force Strix]!"
[Raidraptor - Force Strix]
[ATK: 100]
"At this moment, the effect of [Raidraptor - Nest] on my field can activate."
Yusaku said.
"If a 'Raidraptor' monster is Special Summoned from the Extra Deck to your field: You can add 1 'Raidraptor' Spell/Trap from your Deck to your hand, except [Raidraptor - Nest]."
"Since I Special Summoned [Raidraptor - Force Strix], I add [Rise Rank-Up-Magic Raidraptor's Force] from my Deck to my hand."
"Holy—so it's real!? That monster actually exists!?"
The moment they saw the card he searched, the crowd erupted, everyone staring at Yusaku with barely contained anticipation.
Teppei and Ichiro noticed it too. They didn't know why, but the instant Yusaku searched that card, an ominous chill crawled up their spines—like something terrifying was about to happen.
That dread came from the Quick-Play Spell Yusaku had just added: [Rise Rank-Up-Magic Raidraptor's Force].
They were numb by now. It wasn't that they had never seen a Raidraptor Deck—but the cards Yusaku kept producing, the monsters he kept Summoning, half of them were things they didn't even recognize.
The confidence they'd started with had long since evaporated.
Now they could only stand there, unmoving, watching him build his board.
After adding the card to his hand, Yusaku shouted:
"Next, I activate the effect of the [Raidraptor - Force Strix] I just Summoned—detaching 1 material!"
[Raidraptor - Force Strix]
[Materials: 2 → 1]
"I add [Raidraptor - Tribute Lanius] from my Deck to my hand."
"Now I use 1 [Raidraptor - Force Strix] and the Link-2 [Raidraptor - Wise Strix] as Link Materials!"
"Link Summon, Link-2—[Predaplant Verte Anaconda]!!"
At the command, the two monsters became streaks of light and shot into the Link Circuit like arrows loosed from a bow.
In the next instant, two Link Arrows flared—brilliant green light erupted from the circuit, and a thick-bodied serpent-beast covered in emerald scales slithered out, its cold vertical pupils sweeping the field.
[Predaplant Verte Anaconda]
[Link-2 / Plant / Link / Effect]
[ATK: 500]
"Next, I activate the effect of [Raidraptor - Final Fortress Falcon]!"
"I detach [Raidraptor - Arsenal Falcon] as material!"
[Raidraptor - Final Fortress Falcon]
[Materials: 1 → 0]
"I return [Raidraptor - Mimicry Lanius] from my banished zone to the GY!"
After sending it back, Yusaku continued.
"Next, I activate the other effect of [Raidraptor - Nest]. I can target 3 'Raidraptor' monsters in my GY and/or banished zone; place them on the bottom of the Deck in any order, then draw 1 card."
"I put [Raidraptor - Mimicry Lanius], [Raidraptor - Pain Lanius], and [Raidraptor - Noir Lanius] on the bottom of my Deck—then draw 1 card!"
Clutching the fresh card, Yusaku slowly lifted his head. He pinched a card between two fingers—its faint red glow reflecting in his eyes—then stared straight at Teppei and Ichiro.
"I've seen your ace. Now I'll show you mine!"
Boom!
Before the words had fully settled, a thick bolt of purple-black lightning speared down from the sky, striking behind Yusaku and exploding into a colossal pillar of light that connected heaven and earth.
Energy turbulence churned inside it, forming a shockwave that whipped his coat violently and twisted the air around him into subtle distortions.
"What is he summoning!?"
Seeing that kind of summoning spectacle, Teppei and Ichiro both felt a stab of unease and instinctively took two steps back.
Yusaku slammed the card onto his Duel Disk.
"I activate [Rise Rank-Up-Magic Raidraptor's Force]!"
"I overlay my field's [Raidraptor - Force Strix] together with the [Raidraptor - Brave Strix] and [Raider's Knight] in my GY!"
"O falcon born of pitch-black night—turn the boundless wings that overturn heaven and earth, and raise rebellion once more!"
Thunder raged. The wind howled.
More purple-black lightning crashed down, making the pillar shine even brighter. The duel field began to quake violently, cracks splitting open as wisps of black miasma seeped upward.
Yusaku's coat tails snapped wildly in the shockwaves, every strand of hair standing on end, his presence carrying the overwhelming majesty of a king.
"Rise Rank-Up Xyz Evolution! Transcend—Rank 13!"
"[Raidraptor - Rising Rebellion Falcon]!!!"
Within the pillar of light, a vast and imposing silhouette slowly took shape.
It was a mechanical giant eagle that blotted out the sky, its wingspan stretching across the entire duel field. Crimson energy patterns crawled over its black alloy wings, and every beat of those wings triggered explosive bursts in the air. A sun-like blaze burned in its eyes.
It opened its massive beak and released a shriek that pierced the clouds, like ten thousand thunderclaps detonating at once. Transparent shockwaves surged outward like a tsunami, even lifting broken stones from the ground and hurling them into the air.
[Raidraptor - Rising Rebellion Falcon]
[Winged Beast / Xyz / Effect]
[Materials: 5]
[ATK: 4000 → 5300] (Effect granted by [Raidraptor - Brave Strix]: This card gains ATK equal to its Rank × 100.)
(End of Chapter)
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