Chapter 105: The Resolve to Become a HERO
"He can even use Blue-Eyes' Fusion Summon?" Nanki'in Muramasa gripped the VIP viewing platform railing excitedly.
"A duelist who simultaneously masters three summoning methods -- Fusion, Synchro, and Xyz!"
The younger generation probably didn't understand the specifics, or simply thought this person just knew a lot.
But the older generation of duelists understood the deeper meaning.
Nanki'in Muramasa recalled: "It seems like decades since a duelist capable of commanding all three summoning methods has appeared."
Ever since the main brain Eva began limiting dueling intensity within Eden Tower, Eden duelists' ceiling seemed locked in place.
Just like Link Summoning gradually becoming lost to time, each duelist's possessed gene field and masterable summoning methods were also restricted to single forms as much as possible.
Duelists who could use two summoning methods simultaneously with just their deck's field were already rare as phoenix feathers and qilin horns.
[KAIBA CHIHA] [AFFECTION +10]
Wait, what?
Amano thought he was seeing things.
Accustomed to daily affection deductions that could trigger just from drinking water, this little brat suddenly gaining 10 affection points left Amano somewhat unaccustomed.
What, it's just fusing your monster with your sister's monster.
[BLUE-EYES TYRANT DRAGON] [LV8 LIGHT]
[Dragon/Fusion/Effect]
[ATK: 3400] [DEF: 2900]
["Blue-Eyes White Dragon" + Dragon monster]
The Fusion requirement was Blue-Eyes White Dragon plus a Dragon monster, so naturally Amano using Galaxy-Eyes as material satisfied the Fusion Summon requirements.
Possessing massive light dragon wings bestowed by the legendary dragon, Blue-Eyes Tyrant Dragon soared above the battlefield's apex, blocking the entire venue's light before scattering its own legendary radiance.
Finesse looked up. "What a beautiful monster."
Nanki'in Sakuya: "So this is the white dragon's Fusion?"
This originally ceremonial opening duel activity had Amano Rei and Karl Wein producing a match even more intense than star players.
In the end, even the Blue-Eyes Fusion representing Fusion Academy No.1 Kaiba Chiaki was deployed.
Before this battle, anonymous. After this battle, the major family leaders gathered here were already considering how to recruit Amano Rei to become their family's duelist.
"It's my turn now!"
The reason Amano activated Necro Fusion during Karl's turn was that if he didn't activate it one turn early, monsters Fusion Summoned by Necro Fusion that turn couldn't attack.
But now with the turn shifting, Blue-Eyes Tyrant Dragon could fully demonstrate its capabilities.
Amano slammed the Fusion-born card onto his Duel Disk. "Blue-Eyes Tyrant Dragon is unaffected by Trap effects and can attack all opponent monsters once each!"
"So it has that kind of effect." Karl frowned.
With Trap immunity resistance, his Set Mirror Force couldn't stop Blue-Eyes Tyrant Dragon.
But fortunately, Blue-Eyes Tyrant Dragon's ATK was 3400, while his Kusanagi had 5000 ATK.
However, Karl's field also still had a 2000 ATK Kusanagi.
"My turn, draw!"
Amano drew the turn's opening card.
At this final battle's moment, that The Will of the Commoners activated again.
Amano scanned the card.
"I see. So that's it."
Amano flipped the card in his hand, showing Karl.
Normal Monster -- [ELEMENTAL HERO WINGMAN].
Karl's gray pupils shifted slightly. What Amano held was the HERO monster he'd desperately longed for.
No matter how hard he tried, he could never become a HERO.
Karl Wein had long recognized this fact.
So he chose to walk his own path -- not protecting everything like a HERO, but like an ordinary person, only protecting those he valued.
Even so, seeing Amano flaunt HERO cards right in front of him still annoyed Karl immensely.
"Amano Rei, just having one or two common HERO monsters isn't anything to be proud of!"
"Draw!" Amano continued drawing. The Will of the Commoners activated again.
Normal Monster -- Elemental HERO Burstinatrix.
"Draw!" This time, Amano stopped drawing -- he didn't draw a Normal Monster.
At this point, Amano's hand openly held two HERO monsters.
So his summon this turn--
"I Normal Summon Maiden Receiving the Chalice!"
[MAIDEN RECEIVING THE CHALICE] [LV2 WATER]
[Spellcaster/Normal] [ATK: 0] [DEF: 2100]
"For the final summon, you choose that kind of monster, Amano?"
Given the current situation, even summoning a common HERO wouldn't change anything, let alone summoning true commons.
"What exactly are you trying to do, Amano!"
"I want to say... even ordinary people can become HEROes! Battle!"
Summoning only Eve before immediately declaring entry to the Battle Phase almost caught Karl off guard, forcing him to call a halt.
"Trying to interfere with me using such boring rhetoric? Before you enter the Battle Phase, I'm activating Heroic Champion - Kusanagi's effect!"
[Once per turn, during your Main Phase or your opponent's Main Phase: You can target 1 other face-up monster you control; equip this card from your field to that monster as an Equip Spell that increases its ATK and DEF by 2000.]
Not only during his own Main Phase -- he could activate during the opponent's Main Phase too.
"I equip the 2000 ATK Kusanagi to the 5000 ATK Kusanagi! Increasing its ATK by another 2000!"
Since the 2000 ATK monster would become Blue-Eyes Tyrant Dragon's breakthrough target.
So Karl simply abandoned having multiple monsters and concentrated all ATK into this mightiest single sword.
[HEROIC CHAMPION - KUSANAGI] [ATK: 5000 - 7000]
The current Heroic Champion - Kusanagi equipped with two other Heroic Champion - Kusanagi cards, combined with Spartan's buff. Even without ATK-doubling materials, its ATK had already reached 7000.
"You still insist on battling like this, Amano!"
"Yeah, I'm still entering the Battle Phase directly!"
For the final confrontation, Karl combined three swords into one, gathering the mightiest single blade. Amano showed no hesitation or retreat.
"Are you ready, Eve! Our final trump card!"
"I've been waiting, Amano!"
"Then prepare for transformation, Eve!"
Amano slammed a Quick-Play Spell Card heavily onto his Duel Disk, roaring toward Karl: "Karl Wein, watch carefully! Even ordinary people can become HEROes!"
Amano's finishing Quick-Play Spell Card -- Mask Change II.
[MASK CHANGE II] [Quick-Play Spell: Discard 1 card from your hand, then target 1 face-up monster you control; send it to the GY, then Special Summon from your Extra Deck, 1 "Masked HERO" monster with the same Attribute as that monster you sent to the GY that has a higher Level than that monster, as if you Summoned it with "Mask Change".]
Mask Change II
Karl exclaimed in shock. "This is big sister's card? No, big sister never used this card."
After all, Latir was a proper HERO -- how could she use the Type II Change?
"I discard Elemental HERO Wingman from my hand and target Maiden Receiving the Chalice to activate Mask Change II's effect!"
Quick-Play Spell Mask Change II -- even if the target wasn't a HERO monster, HERO transformation could still occur.
Of course, the prerequisite was having a Masked HERO of the same Attribute in the Extra Deck.
For Amano with his complete "HERO" Extra Deck, this naturally posed zero difficulty.
But was this difficult for Karl Wein?
This world's Extra Deck cards could be printed through duelists' willpower. Even if your Main Deck contained no HEROes.
As long as you had sufficient belief -- you too could become a HERO.
The Spell Card transformed into a belt, fastening around Eve's slender waist.
Eve struck a cool transformation pose, activating the belt and covering her slim-as-a-board body with deep blue armor that appeared from nothing.
"End the duel with the commoner's will! Pierce through the obstacles ahead with conviction!"
"Water Armor Type II! Combination Change!"
"Special Summon! Masked HERO Acid!"
[MASKED HERO ACID] [LV8 WATER]
[Warrior/Fusion/Effect]
[ATK: 2600] [DEF: 2100]
[Must be Special Summoned with "Mask Change".]
Masked HERO Acid
WATER
[Warrior/Fusion/Effect]
[Must be Special Summoned with "Mask Change". When this card is Special Summoned: Destroy all Spell and Trap Cards your opponent controls, then all face-up monsters your opponent currently controls lose 300 ATK.]
ATK/2600 DEF/2100
The WATER Attribute Masked HERO, using WATER Attribute Eva as the transformation vessel, combination-changed onto the battlefield.
Eve: "I actually became a Masked HERO, Amano!"
Surprisingly excited voice came from inside the armor.
Karl's gray pupils widened in shock. "You actually used that kind of monster to summon a HERO... But even becoming a HERO, my side still has higher ATK!"
"No, this is already my victory, Karl!"
Amano threw Acid's card toward his Duel Disk.
"When Special Summoned successfully, Masked HERO Acid's effect activates!"
[When this card is Special Summoned: Destroy all Spell and Trap Cards your opponent controls, then all face-up monsters your opponent currently controls lose 300 ATK.]
Karl's back row currently held Spell/Trap Cards: two Heroic Champion - Kusanagi used as Equip Cards, plus Mirror Force.
"Shatter the holy sword, flip the Set card, Eva!"
"Got it!"
"-- Obstacle Clearance - Zero-Degree Shooting!"
Three shots fired. Eve precisely sniped and destroyed Karl's three back-row cards.
[HEROIC CHAMPION - KUSANAGI (Equip Card)] destroyed
[HEROIC CHAMPION - KUSANAGI (Equip Card)] destroyed
[MIRROR FORCE] destroyed
"With two Equip Cards destroyed, plus Acid's effect reducing ATK by 300, your Heroic Champion - Kusanagi loses 4300 ATK!"
[HEROIC CHAMPION - KUSANAGI] [ATK: 7000 â†' 2700]
Though 2700 ATK was still higher than Masked HERO Acid's ATK.
But on Amano's field also stood Blue-Eyes White Dragon's Fusion form -- Blue-Eyes Tyrant Dragon with 3400 ATK.
"Destroy the final monster, Blue-Eyes Tyrant Dragon!"
Soaring above the battlefield's apex, Blue-Eyes Tyrant Dragon unleashed energy from on high, dropping light cannons that pierced heaven and earth.
"-- Destruction Burst Stream!!"
[HEROIC CHAMPION - KUSANAGI] destroyed
Karl LP: 1800 - 1100
Karl: "Ahhhhhhhhh!"
"Final attack, Eve!"
"Got it, Amano!"
"Masked HERO Acid's direct attack!"
Eve leapt up, kicking out roaring dragon water surrounding her entire armored body in midair.
Karl looked toward Amano across the battlefield.
Just what kind of absurd duelist was this guy?
In the duel's first and second turns, Synchro Summoning Junk Defender -- Karl saw Synchro Academy's strongest, Rin Seiya's shadow in Amano.
But Karl didn't fear, because the Xyz sword was equally sharp.
In the duel's third turn, Xyz Summoning Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon -- Karl saw his close friend Kaiba Chiha's shadow in Amano.
But Karl didn't flee, because this battle was originally a revenge match for his close friend.
In the duel's fourth turn, Fusion Summoning Blue-Eyes Tyrant Dragon -- Karl saw Kaiba Corporation's, Fusion Academy's strongest, Kaiba Chiaki's shadow in Amano.
But Karl didn't retreat, because the Wein family duelist's dignity didn't lose to Kaiba's authority.
In the duel's fifth turn, Karl saw his own past shadow in Amano.
He said ordinary people could also become HEROes.
In this moment, Amano's resolve toward HEROes had surpassed Karl's past self who dreamed of becoming a HERO.
"Can't win."
Facing the flying kick about to land on his face, Karl sincerely recognized it.
Fighting someone like this, there was simply no possibility of winning.
Eve: "Waves Rider Kick!!"
The water dragon HERO's flying kick swallowed Karl's figure on the stage, bringing the duel to a close.
Karl LP: 1100 - 0
[BINGO DUEL COMPLETE]
[VICTOR]
[AMANO REI]
[OVERKILL: 1500]
[BONUS REWARD - DARK MAGICIAN GIRL]
Bad news: The disaster zone still isn't resolved.
Good news: Resolved Karl instead.
--
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