Meanwhile, at the center of the arena.
Seeing that Sousuke still had not responded with a chain, Yusaku's voice rang out once more, carrying an unquestionable authority.
"Chain resolution begins. First, the effect of The Golden Swordsoul!"
"If a monster is banished face-up, I can banish this card from my field or Graveyard and activate its effect. I Special Summon 1 LIGHT Spellcaster monster from my hand or Graveyard whose ATK equals its DEF!"
"I just activated the effect of Tearlaments Kashtira and banished another Tearlaments Kashtira from my Graveyard. That means I can activate The Golden Swordsoul's effect - banish it, then Special Summon Blazing Cartesia, the Virtuous from my Graveyard!"
As his words fell, a white-haired saintess in a reddish-brown dress slowly appeared, a holy sword in hand. Her figure was elegant and sacred, golden light drifting around her like an angel descending to the mortal world.
[Blazing Cartesia, the Virtuous]
[Level 4 / Spellcaster / Tuner / Effect]
[ATK: 1500]
"Next, the effect of Trivikarma."
Yusaku's voice remained calm.
"If this card is sent to the Graveyard by card effect, I can target 1 Tearlaments Trap in my Graveyard and add it to my hand. I choose to add the Trap Card Tearlaments Sulliek from my Graveyard to my hand!"
"Then, the effect of Shaddoll Hedgehog! If this card is sent to the Graveyard by card effect, I can add 1 'Shaddoll' monster from my Deck to my hand, except Shaddoll Hedgehog itself! I add Shaddoll Beast from my Deck to my hand!"
After pulling the two cards ejected by the Duel Disk and adding them to his hand, he continued in a voice that carried an almost musical momentum.
"Next, I activate the effect of Tearlaments Reinoheart! If this card is sent to the Graveyard by card effect, I can Special Summon it. Then I send 1 Tearlaments card from my hand to the Graveyard!"
Before he even finished speaking, Yusaku raised a card from his hand in one clean motion.
"I Special Summon Tearlaments Reinoheart to the field, then send the Continuous Spell Trivikarma from my hand to the Graveyard!"
[Tearlaments Reinoheart]
[Level 4 / Warrior / Effect]
[ATK: 1500]
"Next is the effect of Tearlaments Cryme!"
Yusaku's voice echoed clearly across the arena, every word reaching the ears of everyone present.
"If this card is sent to the Graveyard by card effect, I can target 1 Tearlaments monster in my Graveyard and add it to my hand! I add Tearlaments Merrli from my Graveyard to my hand!"
After adding the searched card to his hand, he suddenly lifted his head, and his voice rose sharply.
"Finally, the effect of Tearlaments Kashtira! If this card is Normal or Special Summoned, I can send 1 card from either my Deck or my opponent's Deck to the Graveyard! Then with that effect, I send the top 3 cards of my Deck to the Graveyard!"
After sending the cards, Yusaku glanced at his Graveyard. A sharp light flashed through his eyes, and he shouted again.
"I activate the effect of Trivikarma that was just sent to the Graveyard! I chain the effect of Shaddoll Squamata! Then I chain the effect of Tearlaments Reinoheart on the field!"
"Then I chain the effect of Tearlaments Scheiren in my Graveyard! Then I chain the effect of Blazing Cartesia, the Virtuous on the field! And finally, I chain the effect of the Trap Card Transaction Rollback in my Graveyard!"
Chain Link 1: Trivikarma
Chain Link 2: Shaddoll Squamata
Chain Link 3: Tearlaments Reinoheart
Chain Link 4: Tearlaments Scheiren
Chain Link 5: Blazing Cartesia, the Virtuous
Chain Link 6: Transaction Rollback
"First, I resolve the last effect activated: Transaction Rollback!"
Yusaku's voice, full of supreme confidence, rang through the entire stadium.
"I can banish this card from my Graveyard, pay half my Life Points, then target 1 Normal Trap in my Graveyard other than Transaction Rollback. This effect becomes that Trap's activation effect!"
"I banish this card and pay half my LP! I target the Normal Trap Wonder Xyz in my Graveyard, and this card's effect becomes Wonder Xyz's effect!"
[Yusaku LP 8000 → 4000]
"The effect of Wonder Xyz is to Xyz Summon 1 Xyz Monster using monsters I control as material!"
Sousuke froze, then knitted his brows tightly, disbelief flashing across his face.
An Xyz Summon? He was clearly playing a Fusion Deck, so how did he have an Xyz Monster too? And on top of that, a Quick Xyz Summon?
In the instant Sousuke lost focus, Yusaku swept out his hand and shouted with unstoppable force.
"I use my Level 4 Blazing Cartesia, the Virtuous, Tearlaments Reinoheart, and Guiding Quem, the Virtuous to build the Overlay Network!"
"By the star paths as our contract, by protection as our oath, transcend the boundaries of the zodiac and submit to the journey of countless stars!"
"Descend - Tellarknight Ptolemaeus!"
The next second, the entire duel field darkened. Above the dome of the arena, a magnificent zodiac star chart slowly emerged. The symbols of the twelve constellations shone with molten golden light, forming a massive celestial ring around the field.
A tall figure stepped forth from the stars themselves. Silver armor set with blue-white gems like the Big Dipper gleamed brilliantly, while behind him unfurled a translucent cape woven from starlight. Every motion scattered glittering points of light, making him look like a knight born from the cosmos itself, sacred and majestic.
[Tellarknight Ptolemaeus]
[Rank 4 / Warrior / Xyz / Effect]
[Materials: 3]
[ATK: 550]
The moment Ptolemaeus stabilized on the field, Yusaku pressed the attack without pause, his voice brimming with momentum.
"I activate the effect of Blazing Cartesia, the Virtuous! During either player's Main Phase, I can Fusion Summon 1 Level 8 or higher Fusion Monster using monsters from my hand or field as material!"
"I activate that effect, using Tearlaments Kitkallos on my field and Tearlaments Merrli in my hand as Fusion Material!"
"Fusion Summon! Level 8 - Tearlaments Rulkallos!"
"I place it in the Extra Monster Zone!"
As his words fell, a dazzling blue pillar of light erupted above the field. Within it, a graceful figure slowly came into view.
Rulkallos wore silver armor that fit her form perfectly, accented with pale blue pearls that traced her elegant silhouette. In her hand she held a sharp sword with waterlight flowing along its blade. Her eyes were as deep as the abyss of the sea, and the moment she appeared, an overwhelming pressure filled the field, like the queen of the ocean descending in person.
[Tearlaments Rulkallos]
[Level 8 / Aqua / Fusion / Effect]
[ATK: 3000]
"I'm still not done! I activate the effect of Tearlaments Scheiren in my Graveyard! I return it and Grapha, Dragon Lord of Dark World in my Graveyard to the Deck as Fusion Material!"
"Fusion Summon! Level 10 - Grapha, Dragon Overlord of Dark World!"
Enormous black wings unfurled from the Fusion vortex, and a thunderous roar shook the entire arena.
The next moment, a colossal black dragon wrapped in violet lightning burst from the vortex and landed heavily on the field with apocalyptic force, each step sending dust exploding into the air.
[Grapha, Dragon Overlord of Dark World]
[Level 10 / Fiend / Fusion / Effect]
[ATK: 3200]
Grapha?
Staring at the imposing black dragon, Sousuke's brows twisted tightly together, and a trace of gravity entered his eyes.
He remembered that monster's effect. It could alter the effect of the opponent's activated cards.
Then he looked at the newly appeared Rulkallos. A feeling of unease began creeping through his chest, and he finally started realizing something was seriously wrong.
What the hell is going on? It's my turn, so why does his field keep getting bigger and bigger?
I haven't even summoned a single monster yet, and he's still summoning more over there?
"Next, the effect of Tearlaments Reinoheart!"
Yusaku's voice rang out once more, cutting off Sousuke's thoughts.
"If this card is Normal or Special Summoned, I can send 1 Tearlaments monster from my Deck to the Graveyard, except Tearlaments Reinoheart itself! I send Tearlaments Havnis from my Deck to the Graveyard!"
After sending the card, he continued in a calm but irresistible tone.
"Then, the effect of Shaddoll Squamata! If this card is sent to the Graveyard by card effect, I can send 1 'Shaddoll' card from my Deck to the Graveyard, except Shaddoll Squamata itself! I send Naelshaddoll Ariel from my Deck to the Graveyard!"
Once that card hit the Graveyard, Yusaku's voice rose sharply again.
"Finally, the effect of Trivikarma! If this card is sent to the Graveyard by card effect, I can add 1 Tearlaments Trap from my Deck to my hand! I add the Counter Trap Tearlaments Cryme from my Deck to my hand!"
Seeing Yusaku add the last card to his hand, Sousuke finally could not hold back any longer. His voice carried a tension even he himself had not noticed.
"This time, you're finally out of effects to activate, right?"
"Sorry." Yusaku raised his eyes to him, a teasing smile flickering in their depths. "I still have effects I haven't activated yet."
The moment Sousuke heard that, his face sank. He stared at Yusaku's Monster Zones, which were already close to overflowing, and blurted out despite himself:
"Don't tell me you're trying to fill every single Monster Zone on your field?!"
"That's right." Yusaku spoke lightly, complete confidence in his tone. "Exactly what you think. And since there's nothing you can do to stop it, just stand there and watch. Watch yourself walk, step by step, into the abyss."
After that, he gave Sousuke no room to breathe and shouted once more.
"I activate the effect of Tearlaments Kitkallos, which was just sent to the Graveyard as Fusion Material! I chain the effect of Tearlaments Havnis, which was sent to the Graveyard by Tearlaments Reinoheart's effect!"
"I continue the chain with Naelshaddoll Ariel! Then I chain the effects of Mudora the Sword Oracle and Keldo the Sacred Protector!"
Chain Link 1: Tearlaments Kitkallos
Chain Link 2: Tearlaments Havnis
Chain Link 3: Naelshaddoll Ariel
Chain Link 4: Mudora the Sword Oracle
Chain Link 5: Keldo the Sacred Protector
"The effects of Keldo the Sacred Protector and Mudora the Sword Oracle are the same."
Yusaku looked at Sousuke, whose face was growing uglier by the second.
"If Exchange of the Spirit is on my field or in my Graveyard, during either player's turn I can banish this card from my field or Graveyard, then target up to 5 cards in either Graveyard and shuffle them back into the Deck."
"Exchange of the Spirit is in my Graveyard, so I can activate both of their effects and return 10 cards from your Graveyard to your Deck!"
As his words fell, ten cards in Sousuke's Graveyard immediately turned into streaks of light and flew back into his Deck. The Duel Disk emitted a low hum as it automatically reshuffled.
Watching most of his Graveyard vanish in an instant, Sousuke's face turned deathly pale.
"Next, the effect of Naelshaddoll Ariel."
Yusaku's gaze settled on Sousuke's suddenly bloodless face, and a faint smile curved at his mouth.
"If this card is sent to the Graveyard by card effect, I can target up to 3 cards in either Graveyard and banish them!"
Yusaku swept a glance across the four cards left in Sousuke's Graveyard, understanding flashing in his eyes.
"Then by Naelshaddoll Ariel's effect, I banish all 3 copies of Nether Lily - Maliss, Spirit of the Dead Lands from your Graveyard!"
As his words fell, the three ace monster cards in Sousuke's Graveyard immediately turned into streaks of light and were sent to the banished zone, beyond any possibility of being summoned.
Yusaku glanced at the three banished cards and smiled faintly, his tone carrying just the right amount of mockery.
"I have to admit, your luck is incredible. I only milled ten cards for you total, and three of them were the ace monsters you were so proud of. But unfortunately, they've all been banished now."
He paused, his gaze landing on Sousuke's grimly pale face, his smile deepening.
"Sometimes, having luck that's too good isn't such a good thing."
With that, he shifted his attention back to his Graveyard and raised the card that had just been sent there.
"Then I continue with my effects - I activate the effect of Tearlaments Havnis!"
"I return it and Fallen of Albaz in my Graveyard to the Deck as Fusion Material!"
"Fusion Summon! Level 8 - Albion the Branded Dragon!"
At once, blazing flames burst across the field, their searing light staining the sky red. From within the inferno, a red-brown dragon clad in metallic armor slowly emerged, letting out a world-shaking roar. Flames wreathed its body as though it could burn all things in existence to ash.
[Albion the Branded Dragon]
[Level 8 / Dragon / Fusion]
[ATK: 2500]
(End of Chapter)
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