Duelists Never Surrender!

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

"Madolche?" Kiritani Aki murmured. Although this was his first time encountering this deck, he couldn't help but show a hint of disdain in his eyes at the sight of Puddingcess's cute, little-girl appearance.

Such small arms and legs, they look completely powerless.

Compared to my Cyber Dragons, it's just too weak.

"I activate Puddingcess's effect, Tributing Puddingcess on the field to Special Summon Madolche Pâtissière - Hotcake Owl from my Deck in Defense Position!"

"I activate Hotcake Owl's effect, banishing Puddingcess from my Graveyard to Special Summon Madolche Messenger from my Deck. Then, I activate Messenger's effect to add Madolche Festival from my Deck to my hand."

"After all that, you just wanted to search for a Trap Card?" Kiritani Aki sneered as he saw Hara Shichi add Madolche Festival to his hand.

You think a Trap Card can stop me?

Naive!

Unless it's a Trap Card like Skill Drain or Void Trap Hole, no other Trap Card, not even one as powerful as Solemn Strike, can stop me!

"It's not over yet," Hara Shichi said, revealing a monster card 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 still have Psychic Wheeled Warrior in your hand?!" Kiritani Aki, being a third-year student, immediately recognized this tuner monster, which was quite famous in the dueling world. His pupils constricted sharply.

He's been using Xyz Monsters all this time, and now he suddenly summons a tuner monster?!

Could it be that he's already mastered Synchro Summoning and was just holding back?!

Damn it! Do you think such a despicable tactic will work on me?! I was going to give you a quick defeat, but now… don't blame me for being ruthless!

Kiritani Aki looked at his hand, and a killing combo quickly formed in his mind.

Hara Shichi placed Psychic Wheeled Warrior on his Duel Disk and held up an Extra Deck monster with a silver border. "I tune Messenger with Psychic Wheeled Warrior to Synchro Summon Formula Synchron!"

Silver Synchro Particles gathered on the dueling field. As the light faded, a race car radiating electricity appeared on the field.

"What?! Student Hara Shichi can not only Xyz Summon but also Synchro Summon?!"

"What's the big deal? He never said he couldn't. Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if he pulled out a Fusion right now."

"Nonsense, what two EARTH monsters would he Fuse? Mudragon?"

"You look down on Mudragon?! Do you even have Mudragon?"

"Formula Synchron… Once per turn, when your opponent activates the effect of a Spell or Trap Card: You can lower this card's Level by 2; negate that activation, and if you do, destroy it." 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', my Cyber End Dragon won't be able to break out of the Extra Deck, no matter how strong it is."

"Formula Synchron…" Julie, who was watching, couldn't help but twitch her lips, recalling some unpleasant memories.

"I didn't expect Senior to recognize this monster?" Hara Shichi was a little surprised. Even that Dark Duelist who called himself a 'Hunter' didn't recognize it, yet this Senior recognized it.

"Of course. What do you think, people who read books and those who don't are the same?" Ai suddenly appeared. "Students who graduate from Duelist Academy, no matter how down on their luck, wouldn't become 'Hunters'."

"Whether you recognize it or not, this duel is mine to win," Hara Shichi said, inserting two cards into his Duel Disk. "I'll set two cards, and end my turn."

"Two Set Cards, one Synchro Monster, and one low-level monster?" Kiritani Aki said calmly. "Is this the defense you've prepared to stop me?!"

"Ridiculous!"

"Let me show you the mechanical beauty of 'Cyber Dragon'!"

Kiritani Aki placed his fingers on his Deck and drew sharply. "My turn!"

"Draw!"

Chapter 88: Cyber End Dragon? I Abandoned That Long Ago!

"In my Main Phase, I activate the Spell Card – Emergency Call!"

Kiritani Aki went all out from the start, using his archetype's search Spell Card without hesitation.

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

"No, it's not time yet," Hara Shichi shook his head.

"Emergency Call lets you add 1 'Cyber Dragon' monster from your Deck to your hand. I add Cyber Dragon Core from my Deck to my hand."

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

"I activate Cyber Dragon Core's effect. When this card is successfully Summoned, you can add 1 'Cyber' Spell/Trap Card or 'Cybernetic' Spell/Trap Card from your Deck to your hand."

"I add Cyberload Fusion from my Deck to my hand." Kiritani Aki then showed a monster in his hand to Hara Shichi and continued, "Next, I activate the effect of Cyber Dragon Nachster in my hand, discarding 1 'Cyber Dragon' to Special Summon it from my hand!"

"Whoosh!"

With a deafening roar, Cyber Dragon Nachster, radiating a blue aura, made its dazzling appearance.

"I activate Cyber Dragon Nachster's effect. When this card is Normal or Special Summoned: You can target 1 Machine monster in your Graveyard with 2100 ATK or DEF; Special Summon it. I choose to Special Summon Cyber Dragon from my Graveyard!"

As he spoke, Kiritani Aki summoned Cyber Dragon back to the field from his Graveyard, where it had been sent earlier.

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

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, three already? He's not holding back at all."

"This is bad. Cyber End Dragon plus Power Bond… I can already see Student Hara Shichi being crushed."

"He might not have Power Bond in his hand. If he just uses Cyberload Fusion to summon Cyber End Dragon, there's still a chance for this duel."

Kiritani Aki on the field closed his eyes, held Cyberload Fusion above his head as if performing a sacred ritual, then suddenly opened his eyes and inserted the card into his Duel Disk with lightning speed.

"Flash!"

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

"Return Fusion Material Monsters from my field and banished monsters to the owner's Deck, equal to the Fusion Monster Card's requirements, and Fusion Summon 1 Fusion Monster from the Extra Deck that uses 'Cyber Dragon' monsters as Fusion Material!"

"Not happening." Hara Shichi said calmly. "I chain the effect of Flashy Track Star, lowering its Level by two, and negate and destroy your Cyberload Fusion."

"VROOOOM!!!"

Flashy Track Star let out a piercing engine roar, followed by a white laser beam shot from its body, hitting the activating Cyberload Fusion on the field. The originally glowing Cyberload Fusion instantly dimmed and disappeared from the Duel field.

"Whew, that was close. I almost let Kiritani Aki summon his Ace Monster!" Yukikaze said, patting her chest with lingering fear. As long as the Fusion was negated, even if Cyber End Dragon was powerful, it would have to stay in the Extra Deck.

"Do you think Kiritani Aki doesn't know about something so trivial?" Julie's lips curved into a slight smile. "He deliberately fed that card to Hara Shichi."

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

"What are you thinking?" Julie lightly smacked Sera's head. "If I can figure this out, don't you think Hara Shichi can too?"

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

"..."

"Hehehehe... So you finally used it, Flashy Track Star." Kiritani Aki let out a cold laugh. For a Fusion deck, having a Fusion negated was an everyday occurrence. To prevent such a situation, he had already included quite a few "Fusion" Spell Cards in his Deck. Losing one "Fusion" Spell Card was no big deal.

The reason for all the flashy maneuvers was to create the illusion that his Cyberload Fusion was very important!

In reality, Cyberload Fusion not only returned all monsters on his field to the Deck, preventing him from utilizing graveyard resources, but it also carried the drawback that monsters he controlled, other than the one Special Summoned by this effect this turn, could not attack.

If he were to summon Cyber End Dragon using Cyberload Fusion, he wouldn't be able to achieve an OTK at all.

"I didn't expect to be tricked so easily. How naive." Kiritani Aki disdainfully inserted the second Spell Card in his hand into his Duel Disk. "You don't seriously think I only have one Fusion, do you? Watch this, I'm activating another Spell Card—Overload Fusion!"

"Overload Fusion?!"

As this Spell Card was activated, exclamations erupted from the crowd. "I remember this Fusion Spell Card can only summon DARK attribute Fusion Monsters, right?!"

"But Kiritani Aki's Ace Monster, Cyber End Dragon, isn't LIGHT attribute?!"

"Is he not planning to summon his Ace Monster?!"

Foolish!

Why must I summon Cyber End Dragon?!

Kiritani Aki reached into his Deck box, a grin spreading across his face. "I'm in a good mood today, so I'll let you see the new power I recently acquired!"

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

"THUD!"

As a colossal mechanical dragon, entwined with purple lightning and fiery red flames, appeared, the crowd erupted like a stone thrown into a lake, creating ripples.

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

"Chimera Rampage Dragon... Chimera Rampage Dragon... I think I've heard that name from professional Duelists!"

Even Julie, who had been confident in Hara Shichi, instantly grew serious. "This is probably his secret weapon for the National Higher Academy Tournament. No wonder the council banned private Duels. It seems the other four also have new powers!"

"Compared to Cyber End Dragon, which only has an effect to negate attacks, Chimera Rampage Dragon has an effect more suited for finishing off opponents!" Kiritani Aki proudly pointed at Hara Shichi. "When this card is Fusion Summoned, I can target up to the number of monsters used as Fusion Material for this card on the field; destroy those cards!"

"My Fusion Materials were two monsters, so... I can destroy both Set Cards on your field!"

That's right, with Chimera Rampage Dragon, those "Magic Cylinder" and "Mirror Force" type Trap Cards would no longer be able to threaten him!

Facing the formidable Chimera Rampage Dragon, Hara Shichi calmly opened one of his Set cards and said lightly:

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

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

Chapter Eighty-Nine: No Set Cards and No Monster Effect Negation, the Path Ahead is Now One-Way!

The Chimera Rampage Dragon on the field, which had barely appeared, was turned into a black, face-down card by Book of Moon.

"Shocked, aren't you? This is what happens when you go against a god!" Ai said triumphantly.

"What are you so proud of? Yukikaze gave me Book of Moon, didn't she?" Hara Shichi asked, puzzled.

"But you're the one who chained it," Ai replied matter-of-factly, patting Hara Shichi's shoulder. "As partners, your Duel is my Duel, your moves are my moves. If you win, I win. What's the problem?"

Hara Shichi looked at Ai strangely. "Even though you say that... you've never actually Dueled in front of me, have you? I'm actually curious about your Dueling skills."

"Hohoho, you dare to challenge a god?" Ai chuckled, covering her small mouth. "You can think about that after you become the Duel King."

Kiritani Aki stared at the face-down monster on his field. He was momentarily stunned, seemingly unable to comprehend the drastic turn of events. Then, a hoarse voice emerged from his throat: "Very well. With this, all the interference on your field has been cleared."

"There are no longer any obstacles ahead. Next... is one-way traffic!"

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

"This is my final Fusion!"

"I activate the Spell Card—Power Bond!"

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

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

"Not only that... another Fusion Monster of Chimera Rampage Dragon's caliber?!"

A second Chimera Rampage Dragon appeared on the field. Furthermore, due to Power Bond's effect, the Chimera Rampage Dragon, which originally had 2100 ATK, had its power doubled, reaching 4200!

"You can still surrender now," Kiritani Aki said with a grin. "Otherwise, if my 4200 ATK attack hits you, your small body might end up in the infirmary. It would be bad if that interfered with your matches with us later."

"No, if you lose this duel, you probably won't have the face to mention the Five-on-Five match anymore, right? If it were me, I would have already packed my bags in shame and gone home."

However, in response to his taunts, Hara Shichi simply lowered his head and chuckled, "Confirming remaining hand cards—0 cards in hand."

"Zero cards in hand," Ai also couldn't help but giggle.

"It seems you still don't know Chimera Rampage Dragon's effect, huh?" Seeing Hara Shichi still calm and composed, Kiritani Aki didn't get angry. Instead, a thrill surged from the depths of his heart. "Even if I have no cards in hand right now, Chimera Rampage Dragon's effect alone is enough to finish you off!"

"I activate Chimera Rampage Dragon's effect. Once per turn, during this turn, this card can make a number of attacks on monsters equal to the number of Machine-Type monsters with the LIGHT attribute sent from the Deck to the Graveyard by this effect, in addition to its normal attack!"

"Wait?! If that's the case, doesn't that mean Chimera Rampage Dragon can attack three times!"

"Hara Shichi currently only has two monsters on the field. If it attacks directly for the third time with 4200 ATK, the victory in this duel will belong to Kiritani Aki-senpai!"

"I thought Hara Shichi-kun could defeat those guys from the Crimson Lotus Society... As expected, he can't?"

"LOL, why would Hara Shichi, a first-year student, defeat a third-year senior? I really don't know what you guys are expecting... Ugh! Who just stepped on me?"

"..."

Ai watched as Hara Shichi's finger touched a card in his hand. For some reason, she subconsciously furrowed her cute brow. "Are you going to use this card?"

"Yeah, isn't this the perfect time to activate it?" Hara Shichi glanced at Ai strangely.

"An Owl summoned by Madolche cannot be destroyed by battle. The moment he didn't choose to summon Cyber End Dragon, he had already lost." Ai seemed reluctant for Hara Shichi to use this card. "You can win just the same by Special Summoning Tiramisu of the Tiara next turn."