"My turn, draw!"
Kira drew, then spoke in a deep voice.
"Watch closely, Kira! This is the secret power I obtained at the North Academy!
Armed Dragon LV3, activate effect! During my Standby Phase, I can send it to the graveyard to special summon its evolved form!
LV Up! Return to the field in a stronger form—
—Armed Dragon LV5, summoned!"
The small dragon disappeared in a whirlwind and quickly transformed into a new, spikier, fiercer dragon, eyeing the opponent's field menacingly.
[Armed Dragon LV5, ATK 2400]
"Go! Armed Dragon LV5!" Chazz shouted. "Attack 'Spell Canceller'!"
The dragon lunged, slashing with its claws, tearing Spell Canceller in half.
[Kira, LP 4000 → 3400]
"I'll set a card to the back row.
Then, at turn end, Armed Dragon LV5's effect activates!"
Chazz raised his arm.
"After destroying a monster in battle, send this card to the graveyard at end phase to special summon 'Armed Dragon LV7' from hand or deck!"
The crowd gasped: "Evolve again?"
"That's right, Armed Dragon never stops evolving!" Chazz declared. "Evolve again and bring me victory! LV Up—
—Armed Dragon LV7, summon!!"
A white whirlwind, the dragon in the storm grew even larger and more imposing, looking down upon Kira.
"Whoa, that's Chazz's new monster!" Jaden watched excitedly from the stands. "Ah, if I'd won the representative match, I could be dueling that monster right now…"
Foster's smile grew even wider: "Ha ha, I knew I picked the right person. Chazz mastered our secret treasure card in such a short time.
I can already see Ms. Dorothy waving at me."
Sheppard's face turned green: "Don't get cocky yet…"
Chazz's brothers also looked pleased.
"He's actually doing a pretty good job," Slade laughed.
Jagger scoffed: "If he goes overboard and crushes the opponent too quickly, I'll be annoyed."
"Huh?" Slade looked at his brother.
Slade grinned: "If he crushes the opponent too fast, the TV slot we booked will be empty, right?"
"Oh, true."
The brothers exchanged glances, then burst out laughing.
"…"
"Impressive—called out LV7 in an instant," Kira smiled. "You sure know how to pressure people. My turn, draw.
Activate 'Pot of Greed,' draw two."
Kira drew, then smiled slyly at his new cards.
For some reason, Chazz felt a chill seeing that smile—a sense of impending doom.
"If it's you, then this guy's power is just right."
Kira banished a trap card from his graveyard.
"I activate the trap 'Ojama Duo' banished by 'Reasoning' last turn. Remove it from play to special summon two different 'Ojama' monsters from my deck."
He pulled out two cards.
"Special summon 'Ojama Yellow' and 'Ojama Green'!"
[Ojama Yellow, DEF 1000]
[Ojama Green, DEF 1000]
"What?!" Chazz's eyelid twitched. "Those loser cards…?"
Immediately, Ojama Yellow's spirit appeared: "Boss! See, others use me in duels! Why can't I go on the field…"
"Shut up!"
Chazz angrily shoved the spirit back, glaring at Kira's Ojamas.
"You're using these losers against me?"
"Are they really losers?" Kira smiled.
Of course, Chazz said that, but in his heart, he didn't dare underestimate Kira's plays. He knew Kira's decks always had something up their sleeve.
He couldn't be careless.
Kira had anticipated Chazz would use Armed Dragons and lean into dragons, so he'd considered using Buster Bladers but decided not to.
Ojamas were much more fun against Chazz.
"And the set monster I played last turn was 'Ojama Black.'"
[Ojama Black, DEF 1000]
"I play 'Polymerization' from my hand!" Kira said. "Fuse 'Ojama Yellow,' 'Ojama Black,' and 'Ojama Green'!
The unity of brothers—transform into the mightiest Ojama—
—Level 6, Ojama King, summoned!"
The three colors fused together in a brilliant light. The huge white head, goofy green cape, and red underpants, Ojama King struck a silly pose and landed with a thud.
[Ojama King, ATK 0]
Ojama Yellow's spirit appeared again: "Boss! It's Ojama King! Brothers united are unbeatable—I think you can't win!"
"Get lost."
Ojama Yellow vanished again.
Damn it, so noisy, I can't even concentrate.
Chazz forced himself to focus.
Ojama King in attack position—ATK 0.
Kira: "Activate the field spell 'Ojama Country!'"
The scenery changed to a cartoonish landscape covering the whole arena.
Ojama Yellow's spirit popped up, teary-eyed: "Ojama Country! That's where I grew up! Boss, see, there's the tree by my house! And that hill—I loved sliding down it as a kid…"
"Shut up already!"
Chazz grew more agitated.
Whose side are you on?
He suddenly suspected Ojama Yellow was a spy Kira had planted.
Otherwise, why did he have to endure both his opponent's pressure and his own spirit's torment?
Kira: "Ojama Country's effect—if there's an Ojama on the field, all monsters swap their original ATK and DEF."
[Ojama King, ATK 0 → 3000]
[Armed Dragon LV7, ATK 2800 → 1000]
Chazz's face darkened.
His high-ATK dragon now had only 1000 points…
"Ojama King, attack 'Armed Dragon LV7'!" Kira ordered.
Ojama King let out a goofy yell, struck a muscle pose, and charged with a superman punch, flattening Armed Dragon LV7.
"I activate the trap 'Defense Draw'," Chazz said sullenly. "The battle damage becomes zero, and I draw a card."
A transparent barrier blocked the blow.
He'd blocked the damage, but Chazz still looked glum.
His invincible dragon had lost to the Ojamas—famous as loser monsters.
He never underestimated Kira's decks, but he knew most people, especially casual viewers, would just see—
—The rich kid from the Princeton Group got stomped by an Ojama deck.
His brothers had pressured him not to lose. If he not only lost but lost to a loser deck, they might go crazy.
The more Chazz thought about it, the worse he felt. And just as he was stressing out, Ojama Yellow's spirit appeared again.
"Ha! See, boss, the power of brotherhood is stronger—your dragon was nothing!"
Chazz: "…"
He was starting to think—
Should I just tear up this stupid Ojama card?