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Chapter 260 - Chapter 260: The Power to Control the Draw (Bonus)

Frost and Flame Dragon, summoned!

[Frost and Flame Dragon, ATK 2300]

"Its effect: once per turn, by discarding a card, I can destroy a monster on the field."

Delta discarded a card.

"I destroy your set monster!"

Having wiped out the back row, now the front—Frost and Flame Dragon's fire head opened wide, spewing flames that incinerated Kira's face-down monster.

Kira looked at his empty field. "Hm, you're pretty good."

Frost and Flame Dragon was a high-potential single card with real-life play value when released.

Some might wonder—what's so strong about it? Same stats as Chaos Sorcerer, but its summoning condition is more restrictive, and it destroys instead of banishing (and costs a card).

But people forget the context: this was 2007, when both Chaos Sorcerer and BLS were banned.

Times were different.

"I told you, I'm the best of my brothers... though I'm not proud of it."

Delta paused.

A tall figure flashed through his mind.

The man all the AIs called Father, standing with hands behind his back, face almost indistinguishable under the dazzling sunlight.

But the man's cold voice said: "As expected of my best son."

Delta: "..."

He shook off the memory.

"So, your field is empty now," Delta said. "Frost and Flame Dragon, attack directly!"

The dragon twisted, flames and frost entwining as it blasted toward Kira—only to crash into an invisible barrier.

"What?" Delta frowned.

"The monster you destroyed was 'Winged Kuriboh'."

Kira revealed the monster card from his graveyard.

"When Winged Kuriboh is destroyed, I take no battle damage for the rest of this turn."

"Such a useless card..."

Worthy of a Kaiba-inspired AI—even his trash talk was authentic.

"Then, I set one card and end my turn."

"My turn. Draw." Kira said. "I also play 'Graceful Charity'—draw three, discard two."

He discarded two, but soon a card slid out of the graveyard.

"One was 'Card of Compensation,' whose effect lets me draw two when sent from hand to graveyard." (Anime card)

Kira drew two more, then revealed a monster in his hand.

"'Spell Striker'—by banishing a Spell card from my graveyard, I special summon it!

I banish 'Card of Compensation' to special summon 'Spell Striker'!"

[Spell Striker, ATK 700]

"Then, I tribute 'Spell Striker!'" Kira raised his hand. "Sovereign of the sky, incarnation of the storm—descend!

—Raiza the Storm Monarch, summon!"

Clouds churned in the virtual sky, forming a massive vortex. A green storm swept the data world. The monarch of wind rode the hurricane, churning even the abyss to chaos.

[Raiza the Storm Monarch, ATK 2400]

"A Monarch?" Delta's expression changed.

The Monarchs—legendary, top-tier rare cards built on tribute summoning. Each attribute had a monarch who could instantly change the game upon arrival.

And according to prior intel, Kira had never used a Monarch before.

"Raiza's effect—on tribute summon, return a card on the field to the top of its owner's deck. I put 'Darkstorm Dragon' on top!"

A green cyclone swept up the dark dragon, which vanished, turning into a golden beam returning to Delta's deck top.

"Returned to the top..." Delta's face grew grim. "It's not just removal—it even locks out a good draw.

So this is the terror of Raiza..."

Kira had analyzed this before: compared to the real card, Raiza was even stronger in the anime.

Not only could it bounce any card, it also controlled the opponent's next draw. He could ensure the opponent drew a useless card next turn.

Even in real play, this was a powerful tactic—especially in the anime, where it essentially killed off top-deck miracles.

Except against the rarest destiny hackers—like Yuma Tsukumo in Zexal, who once literally reprinted a new card on top of his deck in front of his opponent.

But that was plot armor, only possible in extreme situations.

Normally, if your next draw is locked, there's no chance for a miracle top-deck.

That's Raiza's most terrifying power.

"I put 'Darkstorm Dragon' on top!" Kira repeated.

This meant Delta's next draw would be "Darkstorm Dragon." With only two cards left in hand, and no way to use a Level 8 monster he'd just drawn, summoning it would be nearly impossible.

"Now, Raiza attacks Frost and Flame Dragon!"

The storm monarch raised both arms, and the tempest dominated the field. Miniature whirlwinds expanded, slashing Frost and Flame Dragon to pieces. The great dragon roared and vanished.

[Delta, LP 4000 → LP 3900]

"Then I set four cards and end my turn."

With a flourish, Kira filled his back row with four set cards, then smiled and gestured for Delta's turn.

Come—draw your card. We both know what it'll be.

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