Victory Declaration

"Alright, moving on to the Main Phase of my turn."

Ryuzaki's fingertip brushed lightly over his refilled hand of cards, and he sneered.

"You were pretty arrogant last turn, kid. But this is where it ends. This duel is over this turn!"

He revealed three cards from his hand at once: "I activate the Spell Card, 'Fusion'!

I fuse 'Swift Velociraptor' and 'Brutal Pterodactyl' from my hand!"

The Spell Card appeared, and the dinosaur figures were released from his hand onto the field, pulled into the dark vortex of Fusion. Dark lightning erupted from within it, striking down onto the field with a flourish, sending up plumes of black smoke.

"Ruler of the abyss and the underworld, awaken from the endless dark depths. Fusion Summon—

—Level 6, Hell Horn Dragon!" (Anime Card)

[Hell Horn Dragon, ATK 2000]

An anime-only card that wasn't released in the TCG/OCG, it was one of Dinosaur Ryuzaki's new ace monsters in DM after Red-Eyes and Evil Knight Dragon were taken from him one after another.

"I'm not done yet!"

Ryuzaki continued.

"Next, I activate the Spell Card, 'Monster Reborn'! With this card, I revive a powerful dinosaur sleeping in my Graveyard!"

Monster Reborn's holy symbol appeared in mid-air, and a card popped out of the Duel Disk's Graveyard zone with a golden light.

"From the Graveyard, I revive this card, the absolute king of dinosaurs—

—Dark Tyranno!"

A black dinosaur roared as it emerged from the vortex of the Underworld, tilting its head back to let out a shriek. Its massive tail slammed against the ground, kicking up a curtain of dust reaching for the sky.

[Dark Tyranno, ATK 2600]

"Huh? Dark Tyranno?" Commentator Xiao Du exclaimed in surprise, "When did this monster…?"

"Probably when he used 'Graceful Charity' at the very start," Commentator Sasaki said. "So he'd planned for this step from the beginning. To be able to mount such a powerful counterattack immediately after his field was broken down like that…

He truly lives up to being a Legendary Duelist."

"I see, that's certainly impressive. But why didn't he revive 'Tri-Horned Dragon'?" Commentator Xiao Du asked curiously, "Tri-Horned Dragon should have higher ATK, right?"

Commentator Sasaki smiled mysteriously: "Heh heh, because it looks like Ryuzaki already has a way to win. You'll see."

With two more large monsters appearing, Ryuzaki laughed triumphantly again: "How about that? The power of my dinosaurs! The ultimate offensive, crushing the opponent with overwhelming strength to achieve victory – this is my duel now!

I'm different from before; I'm stronger now than I used to be!"

However, Kira looked at the dark Dark Tyranno at this moment, with only one thought in his mind.

Ryuzaki, why are you using Judai's subordinate Kenzan's card?

His only impression of this dinosaur was that it was Kenzan's ace monster when he first appeared in the anime, putting Judai in a tough spot for a while. But of course, in the end, the Divine Draw dog turned the tide, and Kenzan was subsequently taken in by Judai as his subordinate.

"Next, I activate the Spell Card 'Attack Seal' from my hand!

This card can force one monster on your field that is in Attack Position to change to Defense Position!"

Ryuzaki gestured towards the Machina Fortress on Kira's field.

"I change 'Machina Fortress' to Defense Position!"

[Machina Fortress, ATK 2500 → DEF 1600]

"I see," Kira realized. "Dark Tyranno can attack the player directly when there are no monsters in Attack Position on the opponent's field. (Anime Effect)

So that's what he's planning."

"Ho, you know quite a bit for a rookie," Ryuzaki chuckled, wiping his nose. "That's right, this is my strategy.

Furthermore, my 'Hell Horn Dragon' on the field can also attack the opponent directly, but only during the turn it is Fusion Summoned!"

The entire audience erupted in a commotion.

"Two direct attacks in a row, one with 2600 ATK and one with 2000 ATK! And they can even ignore the opponent's monsters!" Commentator Xiao Du exclaimed, "Isn't this a direct OTK?!"

"Indeed, this is Ryuzaki's strategy," Sasaki said. "It truly is overwhelming power. This strength is astonishing."

Dragons charging the face, and two in a row – how can you lose?

"Go, first is 'Dark Tyranno'! Based on its monster effect, bypass Machina Fortress and attack the player directly!"

Dark Tyranno roared, charging forward with a rumble, kicking up a thick curtain of dust from its swinging tail. It bypassed Machina Fortress, intending to tear into Kira.

"Then I flip face-down card! I activate the Trap Card - Earthbound Spirit's Temptation!" Kira raised his hand. "Activate when an opponent's monster declares an attack. The attack target can be re-chosen by the controller."

He pointed at the Machina on his field.

"I designate 'Machina Fortress' as the attack target for 'Dark Tyranno'."

"Tch," Ryuzaki clicked his tongue in annoyance. "Trying to avoid the OTK with such a petty trick?

But Dark Tyranno's ATK is still higher! Alright, Dark Tyranno, take out that annoying Machina first!"

[Machina Fortress, DEF 1600]

The Fortress, changed to Defense Position, naturally couldn't withstand the fierce Dark Tyranno. The giant beast charged with a roar, tearing the massive Fortress to pieces in just a few moments. Parts flew everywhere, constantly erupting in black smoke, and in just an instant, it turned into scrap metal with a series of booming explosions.

"Huh?"

Commentator Xiao Du was taken aback.

"Strange, Machina Mech-Frame's effect didn't activate?"

By all accounts, Kira's Machina Fortress was equipped with "Machina Mech-Frame," and the frame should have had the effect of taking one destruction in place of the equipped monster.

Why didn't it activate?

Ryuzaki also vaguely felt a sense of unease, and that premonition immediately came true.

"At this moment, 'Machina Fortress,' another effect activates."

Before sending it to the Graveyard, Kira revealed the Fortress card again.

"When this card is destroyed by battle and sent to the Graveyard, I can choose one card on my opponent's field and destroy it. The card I'm destroying is, of course..."

He pointed at the dragon on Ryuzaki's field that hadn't attacked yet.

"Hell Horn Dragon!"

The Fortress, just before exploding, fired its main cannon one last time, opening fire like a barrel bursting. Its final firepower, the last shot before its demise, hit the Hell Horn Dragon on Ryuzaki's field square in the head. The giant dragon let out a miserable howl and was blasted into fragments by the power of modern artillery.

"Damn it..." Ryuzaki gritted his teeth.

"Amazing! Amazing!"

Commentator Xiao Du stood up from his seat and unconsciously started giving thumbs-up to Kira.

"With just one move of offense and defense, he not only defended against Ryuzaki's two-stage attack but also destroyed his Fusion ace!

Ryuzaki's deadly face-riding double attack was effortlessly diffused by Kira. At this point, Kira's Life Points are still four thousand, an untouched four thousand!

The Legendary Duelist's continuous fierce attacks haven't managed to break through his defense by even an inch!"

"It truly was completely unexpected."

Commentator Sasaki also said.

"Fujiki Kira... truly an incredible newcomer. Even if someone told me now that this was actually a Pro Scene player wearing a human skin mask, I'd believe them..."

Being able to duel the legendary Ryuzaki to this extent, calling him a newcomer is truly unbelievable.

"Then I set two cards on the field, and my turn ends."

The attack was fruitless once again, leaving Ryuzaki a bit depressed. But thankfully, he had now regained the field advantage.

Dark Tyranno has a powerful 2600 ATK, and while the opponent blocked the attack, their field has been cleared. Plus, he has a very strong backrow this turn, so he should be safe.

"Draw!"

After drawing, he narrowed his eyes slightly.

"Hmm... Too bad. It looks like you might not have a next turn."

Ryuzaki: "!"

It wasn't just him; this shocking statement stunned the commentators and audience alike.

What did they just hear?

A Victory Declaration?

"Wha-wha-wha-what an astonishing development!"

Commentator Xiao Du's entire upper body was practically leaning over the table.

"Kira has issued a Victory Declaration against Ryuzaki, the legendary Ryuzaki!"

If he had said this at the very start of the duel, perhaps in addition to being astonished, some people in the audience would have mocked this newcomer for not knowing his place, getting overly arrogant after winning a few matches.

But after witnessing his oppressive presence on the dueling field in the past few turns, very few people felt that way anymore.

There was no sense of arrogance, not even the slightest hint of conceit or triumph when he spoke. And that was the most terrifying part.

When he said that, his emotions barely wavered. It was as if he was genuinely just announcing a fact that was about to happen, without provocation or mockery, simply stating the outcome he already knew was inevitable.

Ryuzaki was equally shaken. He had thought his past experiences had forged an iron will, but he never expected that the moment he heard that sentence, his legs would still tremble uncontrollably, nearly causing him to fall over.

It wasn't just because, in that moment, he thought about how if he lost here, his journey of returning as a king after years of seclusion would be cut short in a mere Secondary Arena, losing to a newcomer with a blank record...

It wasn't just that.

It was also because the moment he heard that sentence, he felt as though he had been convinced by the other party himself.

It was as if a part of him couldn't help but believe that declaration.

Believing that he was finished this turn.

"Wh-what did you say?" Ryuzaki tried hard to shake off those thoughts.

It's impossible.

He had a strong monster on the field and backrow defenses; the opponent couldn't possibly get through.

Right, it's definitely just a bluff.

"The effect of 'Machina Fortress' in the Graveyard."

Kira calmly took the monster card that returned from the Duel Disk's Graveyard.

"This card can be Special Summoned from the Graveyard by discarding Machine monsters from your hand whose total Levels are 8 or higher."

He drew two cards from his hand.

"I send the Level 3 Machine 'Card Blaster' and another Level 7 'Machina Fortress' from my hand to the Graveyard to Special Summon 'Machina Fortress' from the Graveyard."

The two cards were sent to the Graveyard consecutively, and a storm of metal swirled on Kira's field. With a roaring engine, the Fortress rose again, its cannons and guns raised once more.

Machina Fortress, ATK 2500

"A self-revival effect, is that where his confidence comes from?" Ryuzaki narrowed his eyes, quickly pondering in his mind. "So, it seems he has cards in hand that can support the battle."

The Fortress's ATK was only 100 less than his Dark Tyranno's; any Equip Spell would easily let it exceed.

And because of the effect of "Reckless Greed" that Ryuzaki activated, he had to skip his next two Draw Phases. In other words, even if he survived this turn, if he couldn't protect his "Dark Tyranno," he would be finished.

But—

"I activate my set card!"

The Trap on Ryuzaki's back row flipped up.

"The Trap Card - Judgment of Anubis! It can directly destroy a monster the opponent Special Summons!"

A black vortex opened beneath its feet. The Machina Fortress, having just returned to the field, was instantly blown to smithereens with a boom before it could even stand firm.

Ryuzaki laughed loudly: "Hahaha! Using Traps isn't your exclusive right! How about that? Can you still declare you'll defeat me in one turn this turn!?"