Two years later—
"Let's end the grudge between us with this duel, Kaiba!"
"I couldn't ask for anything better, Hoshino!"
Roaring, Kaiba raised the latest crystallization of KaibaCorp's technology—a new Duel Disk.
"My resolve, my anger—they've been forged into a brand-new Duel Disk, harnessing the power of destruction to defeat you!"
This Duel Disk was more than the standard arm-mounted unit. It was also linked to a device worn over the left eye, able to display the player's hand, Graveyard, and banished cards in full 3D right before their eyes.
With one swift motion across the four holographic cards floating before him, Kaiba shouted:
"My Blue-Eyes White Dragons—unite and reveal your evolved form! Tenacious, supreme, invincible! Fusion Summon—Neo Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon!"
The Duel Disk transmitted Kaiba's moves to a satellite supercomputer for high-frame processing, projecting back an image with a realism never before seen.
[Neo Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon ★★★★★★★★★★ (Level 12)] [LIGHT] [Dragon/Fusion/Effect] [ATK 4500 / DEF 3800]
["Blue-Eyes White Dragon" + "Blue-Eyes White Dragon" + "Blue-Eyes White Dragon"]
The ultimate emperor roared into existence in a blaze of light, exuding an overwhelming aura of might.
"Finally, I set 1 card face-down. Your turn, Hoshino!"
"So you really went straight into a Fusion on the first turn, huh?"
Drawing her card, Hoshino wasn't the least bit surprised—neither at Kaiba's blatant refusal to shuffle his deck nor at the suspiciously advanced Duel Disk.
"I activate the special effect of the monster in my hand—Heroic Spirit – Geronimo!"
[①: During your Main Phase: You can discard 1 other "Heroic Spirit" monster from your hand; Special Summon this card from your hand.]
Selecting a monster from her hand and sliding it into the Duel Disk's Graveyard slot with practiced ease, Hoshino's field flared with the light of summoning.
"I discard Heroic Spirit – Artoria Pendragon Lily from my hand! Come forth, Geronimo—Special Summon in Attack Position!"
[Heroic Spirit – Geronimo ★★★★★ (Level 5)] [EARTH] [Warrior/Effect] [ATK 1900 / DEF 1000]
Accompanied by a white wolf, the heroic spirit appeared, standing firm against the towering Neo Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon.
"In the end, it's just a weakling monster—there's no way it can stand against my invincible Neo Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon!"
"Oh? Is that so, Kaiba?"
A teasing smile curved across Hoshino's lips, as from the Graveyard slot where she had just discarded her monster, a light of undying hope began to shine.
"Geronimo's special effect—once per turn, you can Special Summon 1 Level 4 or lower 'Heroic Spirit' monster from your Graveyard, with its effects negated! Return to the field—Saber Lily!"
The white wolf howled, its cry merging with the sacred light of the holy sword to pierce the bonds of the Graveyard. Saber Lily appeared, her slender frame brimming with the power of the Red Dragon.
[Heroic Spirit – Artoria Pendragon Lily ★★★★ (Level 4)] [LIGHT] [Dragon/Tuner/Effect] [ATK 1200 / DEF 800]
Kaiba's eyes twitched. "A Level 5 monster… and a Level 4 Tuner monster… don't tell me?!"
"That's exactly what I'm telling you—prepare yourself!"
Tracing her fingers across the two monsters on her Duel Disk, dazzling starlight linked the independent cards together.
"Summoning resonance—particle diffusion—link activation… particle field overlay complete. Synchro Summon!"
"I tune my Level 5 Geronimo with my Level 4 Tuner, Artoria Pendragon Lily!"
Bathed in a radiant aura, the two heroic spirits combined—the wolf of hope guiding the path to victory.
"Gather the light of a new era—let the dawn of destruction revive legendary myth! Synchro Summon—Dragon-Slayer, Heroic Spirit – Sigurd!"
[Heroic Spirit – Sigurd ★★★★★★★★★ (Level 9)] [LIGHT] [Dragon/Synchro/Effect] [ATK 3000 / DEF 2500]
[Tuner + 1 or more non-Tuner monsters]
Sigurd descended in a blaze, wielding the high-tech solar magic sword "Gram," his dragon-slayer's aura slicing through the Ultimate Dragon's oppressive presence.
"Sigurd, responding to your summon! Give me the order, Master—White Dragon or whatever, I'll take care of it in no time!"
"Take this, Kaiba! Sigurd's Dragon-Slaying Era attack!"
At Hoshino's command, Sigurd hurled the Gram. Flames cascaded from the blade, exploding into blinding crimson light against Neo Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon's pristine body.
"Only those who live by the sword can have such resolve! This is my full-powered strike that burns all things!"
"When Sigurd battles a Dragon-Type monster—his ATK doubles until the End Phase!"
[Heroic Spirit – Sigurd ATK 3000 → 6000]
"Raise a tidal wave of destruction with your blade—Bölverkr Gram!"
Charging forward, Sigurd gripped the sword embedded in the dragon's chest and swung with devastating force—severing all three heads of Neo Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon.
[Neo Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon Destroyed]
"Arghhh!" The hyper-realistic heat forced Kaiba to squeeze his eyes shut.
[Kaiba LP 8000 → 6500]
In the two years since Duel Monsters' rapid expansion, official tournaments now generally used an 8000 LP system, though casual duels among friends could vary.
"You've really done it, Hoshino! A Synchro Summon on the very first turn!"
"And still not as crazy as you fusing three Blue-Eyes White Dragons on turn one, Kaiba!"
Hoshino set two cards face-down and ended her turn.
[Heroic Spirit – Sigurd ATK 6000 → 3000]
"But that alone isn't enough to defeat me!" Kaiba began his turn by activating his set card.
"Quick-Play Spell—Silver's Cry!"
[Silver's Cry – Effect: Target 1 Dragon Normal Monster in your GY; Special Summon that target. You can only activate 1 "Silver's Cry" per turn.]
"Rise again in radiant glory—show them your magnificent form!"
[Blue-Eyes White Dragon ATK 3000]
The Blue-Eyes White Dragon, sent to the Graveyard by Fusion earlier, revived with a proud, piercing gaze fixed on Hoshino.
"And it's not over yet!" Kaiba immediately placed an Equip Spell onto Blue-Eyes.
"Equip Spell—Megamorph!"
[Megamorph – Effect: While your LP is lower than your opponent's, the equipped monster's ATK becomes double its original ATK. While your LP is higher, the equipped monster's ATK becomes half its original ATK.]
"Since my LP is lower than yours, Blue-Eyes' ATK doubles!"
[Blue-Eyes White Dragon ATK 3000 → 6000]
The massive dragon grew even larger, its head nearly smashing the virtual ceiling as it gathered its Ultimate Burst in its maw.
"Go, my Blue-Eyes White Dragon—Burst Stream of Destruction!!"
"At the moment Blue-Eyes enters battle, Sigurd's effect activates—his ATK doubles!"
[Sigurd ATK 3000 → 6000]
"An equal ATK clash, huh? Counterattack without mercy, Sigurd!"
"—Bölverkr Gram!"
Red and white beams of destruction collided, detonating into a violent explosion—both Sigurd and Blue-Eyes White Dragon were annihilated in mutual destruction.