The hall fell silent for three full seconds.
Everyone was stunned by Jaden's fluid, textbook board-breaking play going second.
Yūki looked at his emptied Graveyard slot, rubbed his temples, and let out a long breath.
"I have to say, Jaden... your dueling style really has matured a lot."
Yūki lowered his hand, a sharp gleam flashing in his eyes-the look of a Duelist facing a powerful opponent.
"You knew to strip away protection with the generic Dark Ruler No More, then use Elemental HERO Terra Firma to clear the board precisely."
"After all that 'guidance' I've given you lately, you really have evolved."
Jaden sniffed proudly and beamed with his hands on his hips. "Of course! I'm Jaden Yuki, and I improve every single day!"
"Good. Plenty of spirit."
The corners of Yūki's mouth lifted slightly into the most dangerous smile a Duelist could wear when preparing to overturn the board.
"But Jaden, as the highest tribute to that evolution of yours..."
"I have no intention of giving up my perfect record against you today."
"My turn! Draw!!"
Yūki's fingertips swept across the top of his deck, and a card whistled through the air into his palm.
The instant he saw its face, his fingers paused for half a second.
Then a smile that inexplicably sent a chill down the back of Jaden's neck slowly spread across Yūki's lips.
"Jaden..."
Yūki glanced at the card in his hand and murmured softly.
"Witness it with your own eyes."
"This ultimate power of fusion that devours gods and demons alike."
Jaden instinctively swallowed. "Yūki, what did you draw?!"
"Don't rush. One step at a time."
With a turn of his wrist, Yūki first slid a Spell Card into his Duel Disk's slot.
"I activate the Normal Spell Card, Dark Spirit!"
"Dark Spirit?!"