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Chapter 103: Xyz of Blue-Eyes and Galaxy
"Oh, isn't that young friend Amano? He's dueling?"
On the second-floor VIP viewing platform, accessible only to the most elite family leaders, Nanki'in Muramasa stood with arms crossed beside Kaiba Chiaki, looking down at the banquet hall stage.
The old man's height approached six feet three when standing, combined with a robust physique completely mismatched to his age, creating an intensely imposing presence.
Just from physical appearance, this patriarch showed no signs of frailty -- only the dignity forged from half a lifetime battling through underworld conflicts.
"What an interesting monster. Going for a Synchro Summon? Then let this old man appreciate young friend Amano's combat style."
This Speed Warrior card wasn't obtained from Rin Seiya, but it was definitely connected to her.
Without Rin Seiya's skill "Aspiring to Become Yusei Fudo," Amano wouldn't have been able to spend thirty thousand points in the shop to exchange for Speed Warrior -- and even if he had exchanged for it, he'd have no monsters to Synchro with.
Because Speed Warrior, as a Level 5 Tuner monster, had a restriction.
[If this card is used as Synchro Material, you cannot use it for the Synchro Summon of a Synchro Monster that does not list a "Synchron" Tuner as material.]
It couldn't Synchro into just anything -- only into monsters in the Extra Deck that specifically required "Synchron" monsters.
These "Junk" monsters that were practically Yusei Fudo's exclusive cards could only be Synchro Summoned through skill unlocks for the current Amano.
"I Normal Summon Unicycle!"
[UNICYCLE] [LV1 EARTH]
[Machine/Normal] [ATK: 100] [DEF: 100]
[Unicycle is the youngest of three brothers: Tricycle and Bicycle.]
What does that even mean?
Meaningless card description, meaningless ATK/DEF stats, meaningless presence.
Every time this Unicycle appeared, it drew gasps from the entire venue.
"Such a weak monster!"
Especially at a gathering packed with wealthy elites, this Unicycle's rarity in this venue was no less than Dark Magician Girl herself.
Having assembled a Tuner and non-Tuner monster, the Speed Warrior on Amano's field suddenly drew the revolver at its waist and shot at a spinning wheel that appeared in midair, hitting the "Junk Synchron" label.
According to the effect, substituting itself for Junk Synchron in the Synchro Summon, Speed Warrior transformed into five star rings that passed through Unicycle's body.
"Level 5 Tuner Speed Warrior, Level 1 Unicycle, tuning!"
"5 + 1 = 6!"
"When the messengers of the wind gather steel's wishes, those wishes transform into an iron wall shield! Open the path of light!"
Synchro light illuminating the entire venue exploded on Amano's field.
"Synchro Summon! Junk Defender!"
[JUNK DEFENDER] [LV6 EARTH]
[Warrior/Synchro/Effect]
[ATK: 1400] [DEF: 2600]
["Junk Synchron" + 1 or more non-Tuner monsters]
A Synchro Monster Yusei Fudo had used in the theatrical movie. Covered entirely in dark green armor, Junk Defender raised its shield in Defense Position and appeared on Amano's field.
Though the Synchro required "Junk Synchron," Speed Warrior's effect could substitute.
"I end my turn by activating the Continuous Spell The Will of the Commoners!"
First-turn Amano had no Set cards, but Junk Defender itself possessed the ability to activate effects during the opponent's turn -- undoubtedly a massive improvement over his previous first-turn weak monster Sets.
"Imitating Rin Seiya's dueling style?" Karl frowned.
As a fellow Duel Academy student, he naturally recognized Rin Seiya, the academy star.
"Poor imitation won't make you as strong as her. My turn, draw!"
Karl, beginning his turn, drew a card and immediately slammed a jar onto his Duel Disk.
"Spell Card -- Pot of Desires!"
Though also a drawing jar, compared to the simple and brutal Pot of Greed, this one had usage conditions. Of course, that came with a cheaper price.
"I choose to banish 6 cards from my Extra Deck face-down, then draw 2 cards from my Deck!"
Seeing this card, Amano suddenly wondered if he could get one too.
He had plenty in his Extra Deck, and most of it was unusable anyway, so he could banish freely.
But Karl's action surprised Amano.
Through all his duels in Eden, Amano's impression was that everyone's Extra Decks were rather sparse.
Being able to Special Summon one or two monsters from the Extra Deck in a single duel was already considered excellent.
Yet Karl had just started the duel and was banishing 6 Extra Deck monsters face-down. His Extra Deck actually had that much stock?
Trading Extra Deck for hand cards, Karl drew two new cards and directly Special Summoned a monster onto his Duel Disk.
"When my opponent controls a monster and I control no monsters, I can Special Summon Heroic Challenger - Assault Halberd!"
[HEROIC CHALLENGER - ASSAULT HALBERD] [LV4 EARTH]
[Warrior/Effect] [ATK: 1800] [DEF: 200]
Before this, Amano had been curious about Karl's deck. Since he couldn't use HERO, what HERO-like monsters would he use?
"So it's Heroic."
Just one character difference, but actually quite distinct.
Compared to HERO's Fusion focus, Heroic was clearly an Xyz deck.
"I Normal Summon Heroic Challenger - Thousand Blades, and activate Thousand Blades' effect to discard Heroic Challenger - Ambush Soldier from my hand and Special Summon another 'Heroic' monster from my Deck! Appear, Heroic Challenger - Morning Star!"
[HEROIC CHALLENGER - THOUSAND BLADES] [LV4 EARTH]
[HEROIC CHALLENGER - MORNING STAR] [LV4 EARTH]
"Next is Heroic Challenger - Morning Star's effect. When this card is Special Summoned, I can add a 'Heroic' Spell Card from my Deck to my hand. I choose Heroic Chance and activate it!"
[HEROIC CHANCE] [Spell Card: Add 1 "Heroic" monster from your Deck to your hand.]
"I add the second Heroic Challenger - Morning Star from my Deck to my hand, and Morning Star's effect allows me to Special Summon it from my hand when I control 2 or more Warrior monsters!"
In an instant, Karl assembled 4 Level 4 monsters on his field, with Overlay beacons gradually spreading around the cards.
"Amano Rei, I know you defeated Chiha in the Synchro Academy entrance exam, but that was only because Chiha couldn't use Xyz at the time. Facing the infinite possibilities of the Overlay, at your current strength, you have zero chance of winning!"
Karl's fingertip swept across the Duel Disk, overlaying the four Monster Zone cards in pairs.
"I overlay two Level 4 monsters, Assault Halberd and Thousand Blades, to construct the Xyz Network!"
"Ten thousand steel souls gather here! A thousand-forged body bears destiny!"
Countless sword and blade fragments gathered on Karl's field into a giant sword, a crown forged into shape amid electric light.
"Xyz Summon, Rank 4! Heroic Champion - Excalibur!"
[HEROIC CHAMPION - EXCALIBUR] [RANK 4 LIGHT]
[Warrior/Xyz/Effect]
[ATK: 2000] [DEF: 2000]
The Xyz-materialized Heroic Champion raised high the legendary "Sword of the King" from Arthurian Britain, black rank stars different from level stars shining on the card face.
However, Karl's Xyz wasn't finished yet.
"I overlay two more Level 4 Heroic Challenger - Morning Star to construct the Xyz Network!"
"This body is 'Excalibur' that severs law! This crown is 'Heroic' that defies fate!"
The giant sword cleaved open the Xyz rift, crown fragments launching together with black stars.
"Xyz Summon, Rank 4! Heroic Champion - Kusanagi!"
[HEROIC CHAMPION - KUSANAGI] [RANK 4 LIGHT]
[Warrior/Xyz/Effect]
[ATK: 2000] [DEF: 2000]
Two monsters identical except for their names -- same ATK/DEF, Rank, and Attribute, even nearly identical appearances.
"Heroic Champion - Excalibur's effect! By detaching this card's two Xyz Materials, this card's ATK becomes double its original ATK until the End Phase!"
The special nature of Xyz Summoning meant that monsters used as Xyz Materials wouldn't enter the Graveyard like with Fusion or Synchro -- instead, they remained beneath the Xyz Monster card. Afterward, they were typically used as costs to activate the Xyz Monster's effects.
Karl detached both Xyz Materials and sent them to the Graveyard. The brilliant giant sword in Excalibur's hands instantly doubled in size again.
[HEROIC CHAMPION - EXCALIBUR] [ATK: 2000 x 2 = 4000]
Just two Level 4 monsters to explosively reach 4000 ATK, easily surpassing Blue-Eyes White Dragon's level.
In this moment, even Amano felt Xyz Summoning's superiority.
Even in the Academy City "Axe King" environment, 4000 ATK with virtually no summoning difficulty qualified as a premium Axe King.
"You've lost now, Amano Rei! Use the holy sword that can sever anything to cleave through Synchro's iron wall! Battle, Excalibur!"
Karl raised his hand to declare, entering the Battle Phase. The holy sword's radiance at 4000 ATK absolutely crushed Amano's 2600 DEF Junk Defender in pure numbers.
Of course, Amano's confidence in setting no cards and relying only on a Synchro Monster to hold the field wasn't empty bravado.
In the original theatrical anime, Paradox's Sin Rainbow Dragon at the same 4000 ATK couldn't break through Junk Defender either.
"The instant you declare your attack, Junk Defender's effect activates! Once per turn, I can change your attacking monster to Defense Position!"
Heavy armored gauntlets slammed the ground, sealing the doubled-radiance holy sword.
Excalibur was forcibly changed from Attack Position to Defense Position. Even with 4000 ATK, it could no longer declare an attack.
"A mere piece of junk is such a troublesome monster." Karl frowned. He'd thought two 4000 ATK sword kings attacking simultaneously could easily secure victory and avenge his friend.
"But your battle position-changing effect can only activate once per turn!" Karl commanded his other monster to continue attacking.
"Then I'll attack with Heroic Champion - Kusanagi, and at damage calculation, I activate its effect! By detaching two Xyz Materials, this card's ATK becomes double during battle!"
[HEROIC CHAMPION - KUSANAGI] [ATK: 4000]
Not only identical in appearance and stats, but even the ATK-doubling effect was remarkably similar.
Just that one doubled original ATK for the whole turn, while the other only doubled ATK during battle.
"Excalibur!!"
Since the prototype was Arthurian legend, Karl using this attack name was appropriate.
The golden giant sword phantom cleaved down, cutting Amano's Junk Defender in two.
[JUNK DEFENDER] destroyed.
If not for Junk Defender's built-in defense-switching effect, Karl's two King's Swords would have achieved an OTK on turn two.
Second turn already brushing past death -- the audience tensed up watching.
Nanki'in Sakuya: "Finesse, your brother is actually this good?"
Finesse shook her head. "I don't know either. I've never even seen second brother duel."
Just minutes ago, the two girls had been at swords drawn over their disaster-zone encounter. After the duel began, they'd unconsciously started worrying about Amano together.
Amano's first-turn Junk Synchro made both girls realize they had a common enemy.
Just like that night when Nanki'in Sakuya tipped off Finesse.
The Synchro Academy's No.1 star goddess was too powerful as an opponent.
Setting aside looks, just in dueling strength, these two combined couldn't match Rin Seiya.
Though neither said it, they'd seemingly reached a silent ceasefire agreement.
"A defensive Junk Synchro strategy -- it does have some of Rin Seiya's flavor." Karl Set cards into his Duel Disk. "I Set two cards and end my turn."
"Finally my turn again." Amano began his turn, preparing to draw.
Most people probably hadn't paid much attention, but before ending his last turn, Amano had activated a Continuous Spell.
[THE WILL OF THE COMMONERS]
"My turn, draw!"
Amano drew the card, eyes scanning the card face, lips curling slightly upward.
"Continuous Spell The Will of the Commoners' effect! When I draw a Normal Monster during the Draw Phase, I can reveal that card and continue drawing!"
Amano flipped his fingertip, showing everyone the card he'd just drawn.
Normal Monster [Maiden Receiving the Chalice]
Eve: "(â•¥ï¹â•¥) I feel like I haven't appeared in so long, my presence is almost gone!"
"Draw!"
Amano drew his second card through The Will of the Commoners.
In this instant, a dragon's roar swept through the entire banquet hall.
Amano's gaze toward the card in his hand grew complex.
Do I... really have to reveal this?
He was participating in a bingo duel with prizes provided by Kaiba Corporation. That Kaiba Chiaki was probably watching this duel from somewhere.
Revealing this card to everyone now definitely carried a provocative flavor.
But no helping it -- drawing it meant it was destiny!
Amano flipped the card. "I reveal the Normal Monster in my hand -- Blue-Eyes White Dragon!"
Sure enough, the instant the card was revealed, the entire banquet hall erupted in commotion.
"Hoh? Hahahahaha!" On the second-floor VIP platform, Nanki'in Muramasa stood beside Kaiba Chiaki and laughed heartily.
"So that's how it is! No wonder President Kaiba specially prepared this duel. This is truly most interesting to this old man!"
Kaiba Chiaki's expression was severe, eyes locked on the battlefield, saying nothing.
"Draw!" Amano's third draw finally wasn't a Normal Monster.
"I activate the Quick-Play Spell Hand Destruction! Both players send 2 cards from their hands to the Graveyard, then draw 2 cards!"
Karl happened to have exactly two remaining hand cards, satisfying the discard-2-draw-2 condition. Amano simultaneously sent the just-drawn Maiden Receiving the Chalice and Blue-Eyes White Dragon to the Graveyard.
After sending Eva to the Graveyard, Amano's Graveyard finally assembled 3 Level 2 or lower Normal Monsters.
"I activate the Spell Card Tri-Wight! I Special Summon Yomi, Unicycle, and Maiden Receiving the Chalice from my Graveyard!"
On Amano's field, Eve appeared hugging Yomi while riding Unicycle.
"Next I activate the Spell Card Swing of Memories! By sending the Normal Monster Maiden Receiving the Chalice from my field to the Graveyard, I draw 2 more cards!"
Without Eve as the central support, Yomi and Unicycle on the field instantly scattered.
"Next is the Spell Card Dark Factory of Mass Production! I return two Normal Monsters from my Graveyard to my hand! I choose Maiden Receiving the Chalice and Blue-Eyes White Dragon!"
Eve: "Why do I feel like I've been bouncing back and forth in the Graveyard these past few seconds?"
Amano's operations this turn were substantial.
But compared to Karl instantly assembling four Level 4 monsters with his Heroic tactics, Amano's flurry of operations resulted in just two Level 1s on the field.
"Time to try a completely new summoning method. Perfect that this is Kaiba Corporation's home field."
Amano looked at the hand cards that had already met requirements.
The summoning method Amano had never used until now -- Xyz Summoning.
"I activate the Spell Card Level Lifter! By sending 1 monster from my hand to the Graveyard, I change the Levels of 2 monsters on my field to match the sent monster's Level!"
Amano sent the monster he'd specifically recovered back to the Graveyard, but this time, the remaining level starlight reached toward the galaxy.
"I change Yomi and Unicycle on my field to the same 8 stars as Blue-Eyes White Dragon!"
"-_-!!"
[YOMI] [LV1 - LV8]
[UNICYCLE] [LV1 - LV8]
Behind the two utterly powerless Level 1 weaklings floated the proud white dragon's shadow, transmitting its stars.
"Though they're Yomi and Unicycle, there are now two Level 8 monsters on my field!"
Since this was Kaiba Corporation's home field, Amano knew Kaiba Chiaki was definitely watching this duel too.
Then watch carefully!
Amano thrust his fist forward, detonating galaxy radiance transcending time and levels at the field's center.
"I overlay Yomi and Unicycle on my field!"
"O galaxy shining in darkness! Reside in the vengeful war god and become the ultimate light that severs holy swords!"
"Xyz Summon! Descend!"
"Rank 8! Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon!"
***
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