On the Duel Arena, the massive deep-sea warship roared with its engines.
Bakutaro's movements still didn't slow in the slightest.
"Next, I activate the third effect of Super Quantal Mech Beast Magnaliger!" He pointed toward the red steel lion above. "Once per turn, during my Main Phase, I can take 1 "Super Quantum" monster from my hand or field and attach it to this card as Xyz Material!"
"Green Layer and Red Layer–fight side by side!"
The green mage floating in midair nodded at Bakutaro. Then his body spun sharply, performing a clean front flip before leaping directly into the secondary cockpit that had just opened on the other side of the red lion. The hatch closed, and Green Layer became a streak of light, merging into the lion's armor.
The flames on the lion's armor burned even brighter.
Bakutaro looked at the two massive machines before him and revealed a satisfied smile.
"In that case, I end my turn."
He turned his head, his amber-gold eyes fixed firmly on Niobe across from him, his face filled with anticipation.
"Show me your duel, Niobe!"
"Oh! My turn–draw!"
Niobe sharply pulled a card from the top of her Deck. Her ponytail, tied with a large red floral scrunchie, whipped out a bold arc behind her.
She glanced at the card she drew.
"I've understood your passion! Now take a look at my partners–these are family members who came out of the Satellite area with me!"
"I activate the Field Spell–Scrap Factory!"
The card was slammed into the Duel Disk.
Rumble!
The ground of the Duel Arena shook violently. The pungent smell of engine oil and black smoke holograms instantly filled the entire field. A massive, dilapidated yet oppressive industrial steel factory appeared behind Niobe. Towering smokestacks spewed sparks, and the smelting furnaces embedded in the floor radiated astonishing heat–the scorching sensation rivaled even the red volcanic lion on the opposite side.
"Next, I Normal Summon Scrap Raptor."
Accompanied by the grating sound of metal scraping, a mechanical dinosaur assembled from scrap metal, broken pipes, and rusted gears emerged from the shadows of the factory. [ATK:1400] Each time it opened its jaws, sparks fell from within.
"A dinosaur?! That's awesome!" Bakutaro gave a thumbs-up, completely genuine.
"Thanks for the compliment." Niobe grinned, showing her small fangs. "Now, I activate the first effect of Scrap Raptor: Target 1 monster I control; destroy it. During this turn, in addition to my Normal Summon, I can Normal Summon 1 "Scrap" monster during my Main Phase!"
Niobe pointed forward.
"The target I choose to destroy is–itself!"
"Isn't that… an important family member?"
Phila spoke up.
But the one who responded wasn't Raku, nor Niobe, it was–
"It's not destruction!"
Bakutaro swung his right arm forcefully in front of him. "This must be rebirth! I believe Niobe would never be the kind of Duelist who harms her own family!"
What kind of beast-like intuition was that?
He actually guessed the core of this destruction-and-rebirth self-loop just by instinct? He didn't even know the opponent's card effects! Is this the classic sentai-red instinct type?!
Niobe froze.
She straightened up and looked at the boy across from her who radiated pure foolishness.
"You…" Niobe clicked her tongue, though her electric-blue eyes were full of amusement. "We've only just met, and you trust me that much?"
"Yeah!"
Bakutaro nodded vigorously.
"Meeting once is enough! I'm dueling you, right? The moment the duel started, I could feel it–we're not strangers anymore. We're already friends who can duel together! So I trust you!"
Phila watched everything unfold.
Not strangers… friends who can duel… so that's enough to really trust someone? She stared blankly at the boy on the stage who shone brighter than the sun.
"That's a pretty far-fetched reason!"
Niobe took a deep breath and slammed her hand onto the Duel Disk.
"Then watch closely! Scrap can also gain new life through constant forging!"
The mechanical dinosaur let out a wail and collapsed into a pile of smoking scrap metal in front of the smelting furnace.
"Chain 1: Scrap Raptor, Chain 2: Scrap Factory!"
Niobe pointed toward the massive workshop behind her.
"Scrap Factory's second effect: When a face-up "Scrap" monster on the field is destroyed by a card effect and sent to the Graveyard, I can Special Summon 1 "Scrap" monster from my Deck!"
"No way!"
Bakutaro's shout suddenly rose in volume.
"I chain the second effect of Super Quantal Mech Beast Grampulse: Once per turn, I can detach 1 Xyz Material from this card, then target 1 Spell/Trap on the field and destroy it! If this card has Super Quantum Blue Layer as Xyz Material, this effect can also be activated during my opponent's turn!"
Brilliant blue light burst from one of the cockpits of the deep-sea warship.
"I detach Blue Layer as Xyz Material! Then I destroy your Scrap Factory!"
A thick aqua-blue laser fired from Grampulse's cannon, blasting straight toward the industrial complex behind Niobe.
Boom!
The massive factory projection was sliced cleanly in half by the beam, collapsing into countless fragments of steel and light particles, completely destroyed. With the Field Spell gone, its Special Summon effect could no longer resolve–the factory doors were jammed shut, and no machines could emerge.
Perfect timing.
"After that, Scrap Raptor's effect continues to resolve!"
Niobe showed no sign of panic. Instead, she pulled out her Deck and began searching.
"Second effect: If this card is destroyed by the effect of a "Scrap" card and sent to the Graveyard, I can add 1 "Scrap Factory" or 1 non-Tuner "Scrap" monster from my Deck to my hand."
"I add Scrap Chimera to my hand!"
...
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