"Since my opponent has a Synchro Monster on the field, I can Special Summon this Tuner from my hand: Synchro Clone Resonator!"
(Synchro Clone Resonator – ATK: 100, Level 1)
"Next, I Normal Summon Star-Gathering Jellyfish to my side of the field!"
(Star-Gathering Jellyfish – ATK: 0, Level 1)
"I activate Star-Gathering Jellyfish's special effect! Its Level becomes equal to your Synchro Monster's Level minus one."
"Your Stardust Dragon is Level 8, so my Star-Gathering Jellyfish becomes Level 7!"
(Star-Gathering Jellyfish – ATK: 0, Level 7)
"I tune my Level 7 Star-Gathering Jellyfish with my Level 1 Synchro Clone Resonator!"
7 + 1 = 8!
"The king's pulse, now let it surge here!"
"Witness the power that shakes the heavens and the earth!"
"Synchro Summon! My very soul! Red Dragon Archfiend!!!"
A gargantuan dragon of deep, burning crimson manifested in the arena.
(Red Dragon Archfiend – ATK: 3000, Level 8)
Masuzu set a single facedown card and, without wasting a second, launched her assault.
"I use Red Dragon Archfiend to attack your Stardust Dragon! Absolute Power Force!!!"
Red Dragon Archfiend's fist, wreathed in roaring flames, smashed toward Stardust Dragon. However, Ryunosuke immediately flipped his facedown card.
As the smoke cleared and the dust swept across the track, the 2500 ATK Stardust Dragon remained standing. Instead of shattering, it evolved, entering its Assault Mode.
Masuzu wasn't surprised; she had already tasted how difficult this young man was to take down in the previous round. In Assault Mode, Stardust Dragon's ATK surged to 3000, matching Red Dragon Archfiend, effectively halting the attack.
But a moment later, the Red Dragon Archfiend across from him also entered its Assault Mode, its ATK skyrocketing to a massive 3500! It turned out Masuzu had also flipped a facedown; they had both set the exact same card: Assault Mode Activate.
Masuzu offered a thin smile. "We're surprisingly in sync, aren't we? Are you sure you won't reconsider joining the tag-team tournament with me?"
Ryunosuke shook his head. "Sorry! I still have school here; I can't just leave to enter tournaments. I appreciate the offer, though."
"Is that so... what a shame..."
Masuzu spoke with regret, but her hands showed no mercy. She ordered her 3500 ATK Red Dragon Archfiend/Assault Mode to strike again. This time, the flames around the dragon's claws grew even more intense, slamming directly into Stardust Dragon/Assault Mode.
Due to its special effect, Stardust Dragon/Assault Mode wasn't destroyed on the field, but Ryunosuke still took 500 points of piercing damage to his Life Points.
(Ryunosuke – LP: 4000 – 500 = 3500)
Ryunosuke's red D-Wheel sputtered and slowed from the impact. Masuzu gave a dismissive smirk, spun her D-Wheel back to the front of the pack, and set four facedown cards at once before ending her turn.
Ryunosuke's turn: "Draw!"
As another lap passed, their Speed Counters ticked up by 1, bringing the total to 2.
"I activate Sp-Angel Baton!"
"Since my Counter is at two, I can draw two cards from my deck."
Ryunosuke drew his cards. "I discard Quillbolt Hedgehog to the graveyard and summon the Tuner monster Debris Dragon in defense position."
(Debris Dragon – ATK: 1000, DEF: 2000, Level 4)
"From my hand, I Normal Summon Speed Warrior!"
(Speed Warrior – ATK: 900, Level 2)
"Then I activate the spell card Double Summon! This allows me one more Normal Summon this turn. I bring Junk Synchron to the field!"
(Junk Synchron – ATK: 1300, Level 3)
"I'm not done yet!" Ryunosuke shouted over the roar of the engines. "While there is a Tuner on the field, Quillbolt Hedgehog can be Special Summoned from the graveyard!"
The hedgehog Ryunosuke had just discarded scrambled back onto the field.
(Quillbolt Hedgehog – ATK: 100, Level 2)
Masuzu's brow furrowed. This rhythm... he was about to call out his second ace.
Ryunosuke began his Synchro Summon once more. The yellow-clad Junk Synchron pulled the starter cord on its back, dissolving into rings of light that merged with Speed Warrior and Quillbolt Hedgehog.
3 + 2 + 2 = 7!
"Clustering feelings will awaken a new power! Become the path that shines with light! Synchro Summon! Burn, Nitro Warrior!!!"
A hulking green warrior appeared in the arena with 2800 ATK and a Level of 7.
"Nitro Warrior's special effect: If I've activated a spell card this turn, its ATK increases by 1000 during damage calculation!"
Nitro Warrior – ATK: 3800!!!
Masuzu finally saw the chain of the combo. "So, when you activated Double Summon, you were already planning this?"
The corners of Masuzu's mouth turned up. This man was far too interesting; she truly wanted to keep him for herself and play cards with him every single day!
Ryunosuke felt his preparations were complete and launched the offensive!
"I order the 3800 ATK Nitro Warrior to attack your Red Dragon Archfiend! Nitro Knuckle!"
Nitro Warrior clenched its glowing fist, lunging toward Masuzu's dragon, which only had 3500 ATK.
"Don't count on it! Did you forget my four facedowns?" Masuzu waved her hand. "Activate trap card: Interdimensional Matter Transporter!"
Ryunosuke's pupils contracted. "Wait! Isn't that Seto Kaiba's card?"
He suddenly remembered that in the previous round, Masuzu had "borrowed" Kaiba's deck. It was no wonder she had it. Following the card's effect, Red Dragon Archfiend was banished from the field until the end of the turn to avoid destruction.
Ryunosuke immediately redirected his attack toward the player, but Masuzu flipped her second facedown: a card that forced the opponent to choose between halving their attack or stopping it entirely.
Naturally, Ryunosuke chose to halve the attack and press forward. This blow had to land, even if Masuzu had other cards to block him! With Stardust Dragon/Assault Mode's effect, he would be just fine.
Ryunosuke commanded Stardust Dragon/Assault Mode and the halved-strength Nitro Warrior to strike together!
With their ATK divided, the total damage dealt was 3400 points.
(Masuzu – LP: 4000 – 3400 = 600)
Masuzu's D-Wheel slowed drastically from the sudden drain of LP, allowing Ryunosuke to pull up alongside her. He glanced over and gave her a smile.
"Still have enough in you to keep fighting, Natsukawa-san?"
Masuzu returned the smile, looking just as captivating as ever. "Of course. Who do you think you're talking to?"
"Besides, from now on, just call me Masuzu—and I'll call you Ryunosuke."