The destroyed Machina Fortress returned to the field as a translucent phantom, then the drifting golden light faded away.
"Therefore, I banish Machina Fortress from the Graveyard and Special Summon 'Machina Megaform'!"
The scattered light of Machina Fortress gathered again into solid form. Heavy armor shifted as massive metal feet struck the floor, treads unfolded to the sides, and a main cannon rose onto its shoulder. The alloy frame slowly transformed into a heavily armored robot.
Machina Megaform, Attack 2600.
"Unbelievable, Yugen Fujiki still had another setup!"
Wataru Komatsu's face was red, his excitement even higher than the duelists on the field.
"That was the discard cost when Machina Fortress was Special Summoned earlier. From that moment, Yugen Fujiki was already planning this far ahead. Are we really about to witness the rise of a new star today?"
Takeshi Sasaki quietly took out a handkerchief and wiped the spit from his face, then shifted his chair a little farther away.
But just as the transformation of Machina Fortress was about to finish, the huge mech suddenly staggered. With a loud crash, it dropped to one knee, its body flickering in and out before turning hazy. In the end, it dispersed like smoke.
Wataru Komatsu stared, speechless.
"Wh-what is going on?" the commentator exclaimed. "Where did Machina Megaform go?"
"Hahahaha!" Rex Raptor laughed loudly. "I already accounted for you hiding a backup in the Graveyard. Maybe you thought two or three steps ahead of others, but my duel goes even further. The moment you activated the effect of 'Machina Megaform', I chained this card!"
All eyes turned to the flipped trap in his back row.
Trap Card - Lost.
"Lost lets me select one card in your Graveyard and banish it from the game. Before your mech could revive, I banished your 'Machina Megaform'!"
Rex Raptor's smile grew wider.
"Well? Can you still say this is my last turn now? Your machine is broken, every move you prepared has been countered, and I still have my invincible Ultimate Tyranno!"
Takeshi Sasaki nodded. "That's true. Yugen Fujiki prepared plenty of backups, but Rex Raptor is not someone easy to deal with. It's unfortunate, but no matter what strategy he planned, he should be out of options now."
Rex Raptor clearly thought the same.
You fell into two traps in a row and still think you can kill me. You think you can push through Ultimate Tyranno and finish me face to face.
"Go on, try to end me right now. If you can do it, do it. I'll wait."
Yugen paused for a moment.
That was a strange request. Since the other side insisted, he would comply.
"Flip my set card."
He pointed to his back row, and a Trap Card card flipped face up.
"Continuous Trap, 'Limited Revival'. I can Special Summon one monster with 1000 or less Attack from my Graveyard in Attack Position. When that monster is changed to Defense Position, both that monster and this card are destroyed."
"Hmm?" Rex Raptor raised an eyebrow.
Only monsters with under 1000 Attack, and they could not switch to Defense. That was all weak stuff.
"This is the card I revive."
Yugen took the card that popped out of the Graveyard.
"Card Trooper!"
Card Trooper, Attack 400.
Card Trooper was one of the monsters commonly used by Judai Yuki later on. By sending the top three cards of the Deck to the Graveyard, it could gain up to 1900 Attack for the turn, and when it was destroyed, its controller could draw a card. It combined milling, attack power, and draw, and was once a staple in top decks before being limited due to overuse.
But Rex Raptor did not see anything special. "Heh, just trash after all."
"Whether it's trash or not, you'll know soon. Next, I activate a Spell Card from my hand."
Yugen waved his arm, and a green Spell Card appeared before him.
"Spell Card, Machine Duplication. I select one Machine monster I control with 500 or less Attack, and Special Summon up to two copies with the same name from my Deck. Of course, I choose the 400 Attack 'Card Trooper'!"
He pulled two more copies from the Deck.
"Special Summon two more 'Card Trooper'!"
Card Trooper, Attack 400 x3.
"Three monsters at once?"
Rex Raptor forced down the unease in his chest.
"But trash is still trash, no matter how many."
"The effect of Card Trooper." Yugen continued calmly. "Once per turn, I send the top three cards of my Deck to the Graveyard. For each card sent, this card gains 500 Attack until the End Phase. I activate the effects of all three 'Card Trooper', sending nine cards from the top of my Deck to the Graveyard!"
A large stack of cards spilled from the Deck and slid into the Graveyard area of the Duel Disk.
"Each Card Trooper gains 1500 Attack."
Card Trooper, Attack 400 to Attack 1900 x3.
"Finally, the last card I play is this."
Yugen played the finishing card of the duel.
"Quick-Play Spell, Limiter Removal. All Machine monsters I control have their Attack doubled until the end of the turn!"
"W-what!?"
Rex Raptor shouted in shock, as did both commentators. The crowd's roar surged like a wave, nearly lifting the arena.
All Machine monsters doubled their Attack, which meant all three Card Trooper.
Card Trooper, Attack 1900 to Attack 3800 x3.
"Three monsters with 3800 Attack each?"
Wataru Komatsu felt completely stunned.
With their limits removed, the three gunners crackled with electricity as their bodies expanded rapidly. In an instant, the small units grew into towering mechs like mobile suits. The once fierce Ultimate Tyranno had to tilt its head just to see them, cold sweat running as it shrank back.
"First Card Trooper, destroy 'Ultimate Tyranno'!"
Cannons fired, and the black dinosaur was pierced through the waist before exploding.
Rex Raptor cried out.
Rex Raptor, LP 2800 to LP 1600.
With his back row exhausted and resources spent, Rex Raptor had no way left to defend.
"Next, the remaining Card Trooper attack Rex Raptor directly!"
Barrels locked on as shells streaked forward, trailing smoke toward Rex Raptor.
In the light of the barrage, his vision blurred. For a moment, Yugen overlapped with a figure from his memories.
The first Duel King, Yugi Muto.
"No matter what kind of card it is, it has value."
"Even the weakest monster has its meaning. Calling cards trash so easily means you don't deserve to be called a Duelist."
After enduring double trap interference, the field was rebuilt into such a formation. This overwhelming pressure was the power he had always pursued. Card Trooper had only 400 Attack and looked worthless, yet it delivered a lethal chain.
For a brief instant, it felt as if Yugi Muto stood across from him again. The illusion vanished just as quickly, replaced by firepower that swallowed him whole.
Rex Raptor, LP 1600 to LP 0.
"Did I lose?"
Rex Raptor dropped to his knees in a pose that looked like a guilty suspect exposed, both hands on the ground and confusion still on his face. He seemed unable to believe it was real. After years of preparation and a long retreat to train, he had finally decided to return in grand fashion, only to fall at what felt like the tutorial stage.
He could not accept it.
Applause rang out around the arena a few seconds late, tearing apart his illusion and dragging him back to reality. It started as scattered claps, as if the crowd was still coming back from the shock of the duel. Then, led by someone, it turned into roaring cheers mixed with shouted names.