"Now then—overlay the three Hugin the Runick Wings, and the two Fusionist on my field!"
Five pillars of light shot skyward, pouring into an Xyz vortex that churned high above. Black mist rolled outward as a robed spellcaster slowly emerged, clutching a scroll covered in eerie runes. The shadowy fog around it seemed to swallow the very light, radiating an oppressive chill that made the air feel heavier.
"Xyz Summon! Rank 3—Number 75: Bamboozling Gossip Shadow!"
Number 75: Bamboozling Gossip Shadow
[Rank 3 / Spellcaster / Xyz / Effect]
Materials: 5
ATK: 1000
"Still not done!" Yusaku's voice rang out, sharp and relentless. "I activate Magical Scientist's effect two more times!"
[Yusaku LP 4000 → 2000]
"From my Extra Deck, I Special Summon two Level 4 Fusion Monsters—Karbonala Warrior!"
Light flashed. Two warriors in purple armor slammed onto the field, swords and shields in hand, their metal engravings glinting coldly under the stadium lights.
Karbonala Warrior ×2
[Level 4 / Warrior / Fusion]
ATK: 1500
The moment they appeared, Yusaku raised his arm high.
"Now I overlay the two Karbonala Warrior!"
A white cyclone erupted across the arena, swallowing both warriors whole. Golden sparks burst from within, turning into a shower of stardust that spiraled into a gleaming, gold-rimmed vortex in midair.
"Warrior from the silent reaches beyond the galaxy—hope's star that guided humanity five thousand years ago!"
His coat snapped violently in the summoning wind, his voice surging with momentum.
"Show the world your true power! Let the memories sleeping among the constellations awaken—right now!"
He drew a card from his Extra Deck with a crystalline chime.
"Xyz Summon! Rank 4—Number 86: Heroic Champion - Rhongomyniad!!"
A pillar of golden radiance descended like a divine spear. Countless star-fragments detonated and reformed—armor plates, spearpoint, and blazing gems—until a warrior in ornate, jewel-inlaid battle gear stepped through the falling light. Star maps flowed across its pauldrons, a sun-bright gemstone embedded in its chestplate. Behind it, a crimson whirlwind unfurled like a banner of flame.
Two razor-thin beams of gold flashed from beneath its helm.
Number 86: Heroic Champion - Rhongomyniad
[Warrior / Xyz / Effect]
Rank 4
Materials: 2
ATK: 3000
Shota's pupils snapped tight. He'd seen the intel—last time Yusaku faced Gurus, it was this monster that crushed them by locking down their ability to play.
In the stands, the remaining Gurus members' expressions hardened as old fear resurfaced.
Meanwhile, the players were practically vibrating.
"Bro—now I get it. That setup looked cryptic as hell until just now!"
"Eight-material Rhongo. Yeah, good luck to the other guy."
"Rhongo lock + Runick banish. Absolute torture. Maximum torture."
On the field, Yusaku slashed his hand through the air.
"I activate Number 75: Bamboozling Gossip Shadow's effect! Target 1 other 'Number' Xyz Monster I control—attach this card and all materials it has to that monster as material!"
His finger stabbed straight at Rhongomyniad.
"Target: Number 86: Heroic Champion - Rhongomyniad! I attach Number 75—and all five of its materials—under it!"
"You're not doing that!" Shota finally snapped into motion, slamming a card down with a roar. "I activate Effect Veiler from my hand!"
"This card can only be activated during the opponent's Main Phase—target 1 monster you control, negate its effects until the end of the turn! I target—Number 75: Bamboozling Gossip Shadow! Negate it!"
He jammed the card into his Duel Disk, energy circuits flaring bright—
"Too late." Yusaku's lips curled into a thin, contemptuous smile. He flipped another card. "I activate Called by the Grave!"
"Target 1 card in your GY—banish it, and until the end of the next turn, its effects are negated! I target the Effect Veiler you just sent to the GY!"
The floor split open with a violent crack. A green skeletal hand erupted upward, seized Effect Veiler, and dragged it screaming into the banished zone.
With Veiler removed, Number 75's effect surged back to life. Five streaks of light tore from it and sank neatly into Rhongomyniad's core.
Number 86: Heroic Champion - Rhongomyniad
Materials: 2 → 8
The instant the materials stacked, Yusaku's voice cut in again without pause.
"I activate Magical Scientist—pay 1000 LP!"
[Yusaku LP 2000 → 1000]
"From my Extra Deck, I Special Summon a Level 4 Fusion Monster—Geri the Runick Fangs!"
Light flashed. A massive beast with a purple mane materialized on the field, eyes gleaming with wary intelligence.
Geri the Runick Fangs
[Level 4 / Beast / Fusion / Effect]
ATK: 0
"I activate Geri the Runick Fangs' effect!" Yusaku continued, as if he didn't even need to breathe. "If this card is Special Summoned from the Extra Deck: target 1 'Runick' Spell in my GY, except a Quick-Play Spell—add it to my hand! I add Runick Fountain from my GY!"
He took the Field Spell into his hand—and immediately slapped it down.
"I activate Runick Fountain, replacing the one currently on the field!"
The stone basin surged with darker power. The demon statue at its center looked almost more awake, water rippling faster as the air pressure in the arena visibly thickened.
"Now I activate the Quick-Play Spell—Runick Smiting Storm!"
"This card's effect: banish cards from the top of your Deck, up to the number of cards you control!"
Yusaku looked straight at Shota, his tone flat and merciless.
"You control one card—so I banish the top card of your Deck."
Shota's Duel Disk whirred, spitting a card into the banished zone as if it were trash.
"And now!" Yusaku barked. "Because I activated a Runick Quick-Play Spell, I can activate Runick Fountain's effect—shuffle Runick Smiting Storm, Runick Golden Droplet, and Runick Destruction from my GY back into the Deck, then draw three cards!"
Three fresh cards slid into Yusaku's hand. He immediately revealed one.
"I activate the Continuous Spell—Runick Allure!"
A pale blue curtain of light unfolded beside him, etched with ancient glyphs.
"Runick Allure's effect: each time either player activates a Quick-Play Spell, banish the top card of your Deck."
Before Shota could even process it, Yusaku slapped another card down.
"I activate the Quick-Play Spell—Runick Freezing Curses!"
"Target 1 Effect Monster you control; negate its effects until the end of this turn—then banish the top three cards of your Deck!"
He pointed at the mechanical serpent on Shota's field.
"I target your Gizmek Orochi, the Serpentron Sky Slasher!"
A reddish-brown beam lanced out, striking Orochi dead center. The monster's metal sheen dulled instantly, its effect shutting down like a machine forced into standby.
At the same time, three cards launched from the top of Shota's Deck into banishment.
"Now Runick Allure triggers!" Yusaku snapped. "Banish the top card of your Deck."
Another card vanished.
Shota's face finally went cold. He stared at his shrinking Deck, then up at Yusaku.
"I get it now. That's your win condition—you're trying to banish my entire Deck."
"Now you understand," Yusaku said, eyes half-lidded with disdain. "Too late."
"Too late?" Shota jerked his head back like he'd just heard the stupidest thing in the world. His grin turned savage. "I'm running sixty cards! I've still got thirty-eight left! No matter how much you banish, you can't empty my Deck in one turn!"
His gaze slid down to Yusaku's life counter, and his smile widened.
"And you're at 1000 LP. You're basically already dead. Next turn I don't even need to do anything fancy—Orochi attacks once and your 'strategy' ends right there."
Yusaku laughed—quiet, amused, and mean.
"You really think that serpent is still going to be on the field when your turn starts?"
Shota blinked. "Huh?"
"I activate the Quick-Play Spell—Runick Golden Droplet!" Yusaku declared, then immediately chained two more cards in rapid succession. "Chain Runick Flashing Fire! Chain Naturia Blessing!"
CL1: Runick Golden Droplet → CL2: Runick Flashing Fire → CL3: Naturia Blessing
"Now resolve the Chain in reverse! First—Naturia Blessing!"
Yusaku revealed the card cleanly.
"Special Summon 1 'Naturia' monster from my hand or GY! I Special Summon Naturia Camellia from my hand!"
A pulse of red light erupted from the floor. A gorgeous crimson camellia bloomed upward, petals glittering with dew.
Naturia Camellia
[Level 4 / Plant / Tuner / Effect]
ATK: 1400
"Next—Runick Flashing Fire!" Yusaku's voice sharpened. "Target 1 Special Summoned monster you control; destroy it—then banish the top two cards of your Deck!"
He pointed straight at the serpent.
"I destroy your Gizmek Orochi, the Serpentron Sky Slasher! Then banish the top two cards of your Deck!"
The reddish-brown blaze detonated like a blade through Orochi's body. The mechanical serpent shattered into scrap, dissolving into drifting fragments of light.
Two more cards shot into banishment.
"Finally—Runick Golden Droplet resolves!" Yusaku finished, smiling faintly. "You draw 1 card. Then banish the top four cards of your Deck."
Shota's jaw clenched as he drew.
Before he could even lower the card, four more launched away into banishment.
"And now—Chain triggers!" Yusaku's tone rose again. "I activated three Quick-Play Spells, so Runick Allure triggers three times—banish three more cards from the top of your Deck!"
"And I also trigger Naturia Camellia!"
He spoke fast, razor-clean.
"Resolve Naturia Camellia first: when it's Summoned, I can send 1 'Naturia' card from my Deck to the GY. I send Naturia Sacred Tree!"
A card shot from the Deck and hit the GY.
"Now resolve Runick Allure!" Yusaku continued.
Shota's Duel Disk spun again—three more cards vanished into the banished zone. His Deck visibly thinned.
"And now I trigger Naturia Sacred Tree in the GY!" Yusaku pressed. "Add 1 'Naturia' card from my Deck to my hand, except itself. I add Naturia Bamboo Shoot!"
He slid the new card into his hand, then looked down at Camellia with a small, satisfied grin.
"I haven't Normal Summoned this turn."
He raised his arm.
"I tribute Naturia Camellia for a Tribute Summon! Come out—Naturia Bamboo Shoot!"
Camellia dissolved into a stream of red light. The ground trembled—then a round, chubby bamboo shoot burst up from the earth, two tiny leaves on its tip and an adorable little face blinking at the world.
Naturia Bamboo Shoot
[Level 5 / Plant / Effect]
ATK: 2000
Up in the stands, players froze for a beat.
"Does anyone remember what that does?"
"Naturia Bamboo Shoot? If it was Tribute Summoned by Tributing a Naturia monster, then as long as it's face-up, the opponent can't activate Spell/Trap Cards."
"Jesus—Rhongo locks Summons, Bamboo Shoot locks Spells/Traps. He's just going to sit there and watch the Deck get banished one card at a time!"
(End of Chapter)
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