Cyber End Dragon? I abandoned it long ago! / No Set Cards and no monster-effect negation-there's nothing but a one-way path ahead!

"I enter the Main Phase and Normal Summon Marincess—Madolche Puddingcess." Hara Shichi ignored the murmurs around him and began making his moves without hesitation.

"Marincess?" Kiritani Aki murmured. Though this was his first time facing this deck, a trace of disdain still flashed through his eyes as he looked at Madolche Puddingcess's cute little-girl appearance.

Those tiny arms and legs—she clearly didn't have much strength.

Compared to his Cyber Dragons, she was far too frail.

"I activate Madolche Puddingcess's effect. I Tribute Madolche Puddingcess on the field and Special Summon—Magicalized Pâtissière - Hotcake Owl from my deck in Defense Position!"

"I activate Hotcake Owl's effect. I banish Madolche Puddingcess from my Graveyard and Special Summon Mewfeuille the Magical Cat from my deck. Then I activate Messenger's effect and add Madolche Festival from my deck to my hand."

"After all that, you only searched a Trap Card?" Kiritani Aki glanced at the Madolche Festival Hara Shichi had added to his hand and revealed a contemptuous smile.

You think a Trap Card can stop me?

Naive!

Unless it was something like Skill Drain or Imperial Order, no other Trap could stop him—not even one on the level of Solemn Strike!

"It's not over yet." Hara Shichi revealed a monster in his hand. "Psychic Wheeled Warrior's effect: if you control a Level 3 monster other than Psychic Wheeled Warrior, you can Special Summon this card from your hand in Defense Position."

"You have Psychic Wheeled Warrior too?!" As a third-year student, Kiritani Aki immediately recognized this somewhat famous Tuner Monster from the Duel World, and his pupils contracted sharply.

This guy had clearly been using Xyz Monsters all along, yet he suddenly Summoned a Tuner Monster?!

Had he already mastered Synchro Summoning and merely been hiding his strength until now?!

Damn it! Did he think such underhanded tricks would work on me?! I was going to make this easy for you, but now... don't blame me for showing no mercy!

Kiritani Aki looked at the cards in his hand, and a one-turn-kill combo quickly formed in his mind.

Hara Shichi slapped Psychic Wheeled Warrior onto his Duel Disk and raised an Extra Deck Monster with silver-white edges. "I tune Messenger and Psychic Wheeled Warrior! Synchro Summon—Formula Synchron!"

Silver Synchro Particles gathered across the Duel Field. As the light faded, a race car crackling with electricity appeared on the field.

"What?! Hara Shichi can not only Xyz Summon, but Synchro Summon too?!"

"Why are you making such a fuss? He never said he couldn't. Honestly, I wouldn't even be surprised if he pulled out a Polymerization card right now."

"Bullshit. What are two Earth Attribute monsters supposed to fuse into? Mudragon of the Swamp?"

"You looking down on Mudragon of the Swamp?! Do you even have one?"

"Formula Synchron... Once per turn, when your opponent activates a Spell or Trap Card effect: this card loses 2 Levels, and that activation is negated and destroyed." Kiritani Aki sneered and clapped his hands. "I see. No wonder you chose to go first. As long as you negate my Fusion Spell Card, no matter how strong Cyber End Dragon is, it won't be able to come out of the Extra Deck."

"Formula Synchron..." Julie's mouth twitched as she watched, as though she had recalled an unpleasant memory.

"I didn't expect you to recognize this monster," Hara Shichi said in surprise. Even that Dark Duelist who called himself a "Hunter" had failed to recognize it, yet this senior had identified it immediately.

"Of course he recognized it. Are people who've studied supposed to be the same as those who haven't?" Ai popped up from nowhere. "Anyone who can graduate from Duelist Academy, no matter how down on their luck, wouldn't become a 'Hunter.'"

"Recognize it all you want. This duel is already mine." Hara Shichi inserted two cards into his Duel Disk. "I Set two cards and end my turn."

"Two Set Cards, one Synchro Monster, and one low-Level monster?" Kiritani Aki said coolly. "That's the defense you intend to use against me?!"

"Ridiculous!"

"I'll show you the mechanical brutality of Cyber Dragons!"

Kiritani Aki placed his fingers on his deck and sharply drew a card. "My turn!"

"I draw!"

"I enter the Main Phase and activate the Spell Card—Emergency Call!"

Kiritani Aki came out firing at full power, using his archetype's search Spell Card without hesitation.

"Negate?" Ai tilted her head and asked from the side.

"Don't negate it. It's not time yet." Hara Shichi shook his head.

"Emergency Call lets me add one 'Cyber Dragon' monster from my deck to my hand. I add Cyber Dragon Core from my deck to my hand."

"I Normal Summon Cyber Dragon Core." Kiritani Aki slapped the monster he had just searched onto his Duel Disk, and a small mechanical dragon immediately appeared on the field.

"I activate Cyber Dragon Core's effect. When this card is Normal Summoned, I can add one 'Cyber' Spell or Trap Card, or one 'Cybernetic' Spell or Trap Card, from my deck to my hand."

"I add Cyberload Fusion from my deck to my hand." Kiritani Aki revealed a monster in his hand to Hara Shichi and continued, "Next, I activate Cyber Dragon Nachster's effect in my hand. I discard one 'Cyber Dragon' to Special Summon it from my hand!"

"Whoosh!"

With a deafening roar, Cyber Dragon Nachster, bathed in a blue glow, made a dazzling entrance.

"I activate Cyber Dragon Nachster's effect. When this card is Normal Summoned or Special Summoned, I can target one Machine monster with 2100 ATK or DEF in my Graveyard and Special Summon it. I choose to Special Summon Cyber Dragon from my Graveyard!"

As he spoke, Kiritani Aki Summoned the Cyber Dragon he had just discarded back onto the field.

In the blink of an eye, Kiritani Aki had assembled three "Cyber Dragons" on his field!

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, he gathered all three that quickly? He's really showing no mercy."

"This is bad. Cyber End Dragon plus Limiter Removal... I can already picture Hara Shichi lying defeated on the ground."

"He might not have Limiter Removal. If he's just using Cyberload Fusion to bring out Cyber End Dragon, there's still a chance in this duel."

On the field, Kiritani Aki closed his eyes and raised Cyberload Fusion high above his head as though carrying out some sacred ritual. Then he suddenly opened his eyes and inserted the card into his Duel Disk with lightning speed.

"Swish!"

"I activate the Quick-Play Spell Card—Cyberload Fusion!"

"I return Fusion Materials listed on a Fusion Monster Card from among my monsters on the field and my banished monsters to their owners' decks, then Fusion Summon one Fusion Monster that lists a 'Cyber Dragon' monster as material from my Extra Deck!"

"Not a chance." Hara Shichi said calmly, "I chain Formula Synchron's effect. It loses 2 Levels to negate and destroy your Cyberload Fusion."

"Vrrrroooom!!!"

Formula Synchron let out a piercing engine roar. Then a white laser shot from its body and struck the activating Cyberload Fusion. The glowing Spell Card immediately dimmed and vanished from the Duel Field.

"Phew, that was close. Senior Kiritani Aki nearly brought out his ace!" Yukikaze patted her chest in lingering fear. As long as the Fusion was negated, no matter how strong Cyber End Dragon was, it could only obediently remain in the Extra Deck.

"You think Kiritani Aki didn't know something that simple?" Julie's lips curled upward. "He deliberately fed that card to Hara Shichi."

"Then why are you smiling so happily?" Sera asked suspiciously. "I haven't forgotten that you used to be part of the Crimson Lotus Society too. Don't tell me..."

"What are you thinking?" Julie smacked Sera on the head. "If I can think of that, do you really think Hara Shichi can't?"

"The reason I'm smiling is because this duel is already 'without suspense.'"

"..."

"Hehehe... So you used Formula Synchron's effect after all." Kiritani Aki let out a cold laugh. As a Fusion Deck player, having his Fusion Spell Cards negated was practically routine. To prevent that, he had included plenty of "Polymerization" Spell Cards in his deck. Losing one Fusion Spell Card was no big deal.

The reason he had put on such a flashy performance was to create the illusion that Cyberload Fusion was important!

In reality, Cyberload Fusion not only returned all his monsters on the field to the deck, preventing him from using Graveyard resources, but also came with the drawback that no monsters other than those Special Summoned by its effect could attack that turn.

If he really used Cyberload Fusion to Summon Cyber End Dragon, he would have no way to achieve an OTK.

"I didn't expect you to fall for it so easily. How immature." Kiritani Aki disdainfully inserted his second Spell Card into his Duel Disk. "You didn't think I only had one Fusion Spell Card, did you? Watch closely. I activate the Spell Card—Overload Fusion!"

"Overload Fusion?!"

Cries of surprise erupted from the crowd as the Spell Card was activated. "I remember that Fusion Spell Card can only Summon DARK Fusion Monsters, right?!"

"But isn't Kiritani Aki's ace, Cyber End Dragon, a LIGHT monster?!"

"Does he not plan on Summoning his ace?!"

Fools!

Why did I have to Summon Cyber End Dragon?!

Kiritani Aki reached into his card case and grinned. "I'm in a good mood today, so I'll show you the new power I recently obtained!"

"I banish Cyber Dragon Nachster and Cyber Dragon Core on my field! Special Summon from my Extra Deck—Chimeratech Rampage Dragon!"

"Boom!"

As a gigantic mechanical dragon wrapped in purple lightning and blazing crimson flames appeared, the crowd erupted like a lake struck by a stone.

"What Cyber Dragon is that... I've never seen it before..."

"Chimeratech Rampage Dragon... Chimeratech Rampage Dragon... I think I've heard that name from Professional Duelists!"

Even Julie, who had been full of confidence in Hara Shichi, immediately darkened. "That must be the secret weapon he prepared for the National Higher Academy Tournament. No wonder the board prohibited them from dueling privately. It seems the other four have gained new power as well."

"Compared to Cyber End Dragon, which only has piercing battle damage, Chimeratech Rampage Dragon has an effect far more suited for finishing off opponents!" Kiritani Aki proudly pointed at Hara Shichi. "I activate Chimeratech Rampage Dragon's effect! When this card is Fusion Summoned, I can target Spell and Trap Cards on the field, up to the number of monsters used as this card's Fusion Materials, and destroy them!"

"I used two Fusion Materials, so... I can destroy both of your Set Cards!"

That's right. As long as he used Chimeratech Rampage Dragon, battle traps like Magic Cylinder and Mirror Force could no longer threaten him!

Facing the aggressive Chimeratech Rampage Dragon, Hara Shichi simply flipped over one of his Set Cards without panic and said calmly:

"I chain the Quick-Play Spell Card—Book of Moon."

"I change Chimeratech Rampage Dragon on your field to face-down Defense Position."

The Chimeratech Rampage Dragon had barely appeared before Book of Moon turned it into a pitch-black Set Card.

"Stunned, aren't you? This is what happens when you oppose a god!" Ai said smugly.

"What are you so proud of? Didn't Yukikaze give me Book of Moon?" Hara Shichi asked in confusion.

"But you were the one who made that chain." Ai matter-of-factly patted Hara Shichi's shoulder. "As partners, your duel is my duel, your moves are my moves, and when you win, I win. Is there a problem with that?"

Hara Shichi gave Ai a strange look. "Even so... I don't think I've ever seen you duel before, have I? I'm actually a little curious about your dueling skill."

"Hohoho, you dare dream of challenging a god?" Ai covered her mouth and chuckled. "Wait until you become the Duel King before we discuss that."

Kiritani Aki looked at the monster that had been Set on his field. He froze slightly at first, seemingly unable to process the drastic turn of events. Then a hoarse voice came from his throat. "Good. Now you've cleared every disruption from your field."

"There are no more obstacles ahead. Next... it's a one-way street!"

Kiritani Aki widened his eyes and inserted the last Spell Card in his hand into his Duel Disk:

"This is my final Fusion Spell Card!"

"I activate the Spell Card—Power Bond!"

"I send the Cyber Dragon on my field and the Cyber Dragon in my hand to the Graveyard! Fusion Summon—Chimeratech Rampage Dragon!"

"What?! He still has another Fusion Spell Card in his hand?!"

"Not only that... he even has a second Fusion Monster on the level of Chimeratech Rampage Dragon?!"

A second Chimeratech Rampage Dragon appeared on the field. Moreover, due to Power Bond's effect, its original 2100 ATK immediately doubled to 4200!

"It's not too late to surrender now." Kiritani Aki grinned. "Otherwise, when my 4200 ATK hits you, that little body of yours might end up in the infirmary. It'd be bad if it delayed your match against us later."

"No, if you lose this duel, you probably won't even have the nerve to bring up a five-on-five match again, right? If I were you, I'd be too ashamed to do anything but pack up and go home."

Yet in the face of his mockery, Hara Shichi merely lowered his head and chuckled. "Confirming remaining cards in hand—zero cards."

"Zero cards in hand." Ai giggled as well.

"Looks like you still don't know Chimeratech Rampage Dragon's effect." Seeing Hara Shichi remain so composed, Kiritani Aki did not get angry. Instead, a thrill rose deep within him. "Even if I have no cards in hand now, Chimeratech Rampage Dragon's effect alone is enough to finish you!"

"I activate Chimeratech Rampage Dragon's effect. Once per turn, I can send up to two LIGHT Machine monsters from my deck to the Graveyard. This turn, this card can attack additional times during the same Battle Phase, up to the number of monsters sent to the Graveyard by this effect, in addition to its normal attack!"

"Wait?! Doesn't that mean Chimeratech Rampage Dragon can attack three times?!"

"Hara Shichi only has two monsters on his field right now. If that third 4200 ATK attack hits directly, Senior Kiritani Aki will win this duel!"

"I thought Hara Shichi could defeat those Crimson Lotus Society guys... So it really isn't possible?"

"Laughable. How could a first-year like Hara Shichi beat a third-year senior? I seriously don't know what you people were expecting... Ugh! Who stepped on me just now?"

"..."

As Ai watched Hara Shichi's fingers reach for a card in his hand, she unconsciously furrowed her cute brows for some reason. "Are you going to use that card?"

"Yeah. Isn't now exactly the right time to activate it?" Hara Shichi glanced at Ai strangely.

"The owl Special Summoned by Madolche Puddingcess can't be destroyed by battle. The moment that guy chose not to Summon Cyber End Dragon, he had already lost." Ai seemed reluctant to let Hara Shichi use that card. "Next turn, you can Special Summon Tiramisu of the Tiara and still win anyway."