"Summon! (XYZ-Dragon Cannon)!"
Though his words were boastful, flamboyant enough to make one think he was about to Summon a (Number C39: Utopia Ray), what Chumley ultimately Summoned was still (XYZ-Dragon Cannon).
The combination of the red, yellow, and blue Machine monsters that appeared simultaneously on the Field was much simpler than the complex transformation of (VW). With (X-Head Cannon) as the head, (Z-Metal Tank) as the legs, and (Y-Dragon Head) as the crotch ((Y-Dragon Head): ?), the three stacked upon each other, 'Fusing' in a manner comparable to (Gate Guardian).
(XYZ-Dragon Cannon) [Level 8/LIGHT]
[Machine-Type/Fusion/Effect]
[ATK 2800/DEF 2600]
"An Attack of 2800?!" Socrates was stunned. Aside from the two copies of (Graceful Charity) he had used earlier to refresh his hand and mill cards, Chumley had only played a single card from his hand to so easily Summon such a powerful monster. It was truly shocking.
"After (VW), now XYZ? I originally thought this guy's strength would drop if he didn't use Warrior-Type monsters, but to think he's still this strong. What a remarkable young man." Watching Chumley continuously Summoning monsters to his Field, Anacis suddenly had a realization. "Wait, (VW), XYZ? Could it be?!"
"First, I Activate the Effect of (XYZ). By Discarding one card from my Hand, I can Destroy any one card on your Field. And just like (VW), this Effect has no 'Once per turn' restriction."
Sending a card from his Hand to the Graveyard, Chumley commanded, "Energy charge confirmed. (XYZ), lock onto the Back Row. Full salvo!"
The missile pods on the treads opened, the cannon calibrated, and the dragon head opened to reveal a laser emitter. As the Discarded card was absorbed by (XYZ-Dragon Cannon) as the cost to activate its effect, a barrage of cannon fire, lasers, and missiles rapidly assailed a Set Card in Anacis's Back Row.
"It's not that easy! Before you Destroy my card, I'll Activate another one!" Anacis hadn't lost his fighting spirit just because Chumley Summoned the powerful (XYZ); on the contrary, he was growing even more excited. "Activate (Skill Drain)! I Pay 1000 Life Points to negate the effects of all monsters on the Field!"
[Anacis: 1250 LP → 250 LP]
The missiles, lasers, and cannon fire were still in mid-air, but the closer they got to the (Skill Drain) that Anacis had Activated preemptively, the weaker their power became. By the time the missiles reached (Skill Drain), they had become duds. The cannon fire and lasers even dissipated halfway.
The situation became extremely awkward. Chumley had been planning to get rid of Anacis's Back Row as quickly as possible, since for all he knew, the wealthy duelist could have Set something like (Hanoi's Sublime Force). But he was still a step too slow. Moreover, Anacis was actually running the invincible (Skill Drain), and had even actively chosen to pay Life Points for it.
"Since the monster effects have been negated, I'll just have to upgrade my monster." Considering there was still one Set Card yet to be revealed, Chumley glanced at the last card in his hand and decided to continue Summoning. "(VW) and (XYZ), embrace a glorious evolution!"
"Combine and transform! The king of combined warfare, the ultimate mechanical creation! Annihilate everything! (VWXYZ-Dragon Catapult Cannon)!"
The two combined monsters on the Field simultaneously disassembled, reverting to their original five-monster state, and in the next moment, all their parts broke down to begin their Fusion.
The cannon barrels on the back of (X-Head Cannon) extended and shifted to the front, its two arms extending to grasp the two halves of the disassembled (Z-Metal Tank), forming enormous arms. (W-Wing Catapult) disassembled and transformed, connecting with the head of (Y-Dragon Head) to form the lower body. (X-Head Cannon) and (Y-Dragon Head) connected again, incorporating (V-Jet Tiger) as the head, while the remaining wings of (Y-Dragon Head) attached to the massive machine's back.
"Gathering the ultimate power of five machines, Superb! Grand! Breathtaking! Elegant! Super! Ultimate!"
The colossal mechanical combined form stood tall behind the excited Chumley, its frame even more imposing than the massive (Levia-Dragon - Daedalus)!
(VWXYZ-Dragon Catapult Cannon) [Level 8/LIGHT]
[Machine-Type/Fusion/Effect]
[ATK 3000/DEF 2800]
"3000 Attack?!?!" This time, it wasn't just Bakura and Socrates; even Anacis was stunned. "It's a Duel Monster on the same level as (Blue-Eyes White Dragon)!"
"Whether in terms of its Effect or its DEF, (V-to-Z) is superior to (Blue-Eyes White Dragon). It's the strongest Machine-Type monster! Heh heh, haha, hahahahaha!" Chumley was getting into it, even letting out a three-stage laugh. "Even with its effect sealed, (V-to-Z)'s performance is 1000% that of other monsters!"
"Hunt down that Sea Dragon! Calamity Assault!"
Although (VWXYZ-Dragon Catapult Cannon) couldn't use its effect due to (Skill Drain), its own immense power hadn't diminished in the slightest. All the energy within the entire mech gathered towards the lower part of its body, specifically at the curious location of (Y-Dragon Head).
With a rather bizarre hip-thrusting motion, a thick laser beam swept towards (Levia-Dragon - Daedalus), which was still being restrained by (Rainbow Kuriboh).
If this Attack went through, Anacis's Life Points would be reduced to zero!
"I won't let you succeed!" Clearly, Anacis was about to be literally "blasted" by (VWXYZ-Dragon Catapult Cannon)'s bizarre move. "I activate my Set Card, (Absorption Shield)! Transforming setbacks and challenges into personal growth—that's a required course for adults!"
"The Attack of (VWXYZ-Dragon Catapult Cannon) is negated, and then my Life Points are restored by its Attack value!"
[Anacis: 250 LP → 3250 LP]
"Tch, he recovered again." Chumley knew he had missed his best chance to finish Anacis off, which also meant everything he had done earlier to reduce his Life Points had been for naught. "I Set one card and end my turn."
[Chumley: 4000 LP, Hand 0]
(VWXYZ-Dragon Catapult Cannon) [ATK 3000]
[Set Card]
"Whew, I finally weathered that storm. That was a close call, almost comparable to that time I was shipwrecked at sea." Anacis raised a hand to wipe the sweat from his forehead, looking at the fearsome (VWXYZ-Dragon Catapult Cannon) on Chumley's Field. "It seems I'm at my wit's end now, doesn't it?"
"Hahaha, just kidding! Young man, I'm about to unleash my last resort!" Anacis laughed, the beard on his chin trembling.
Chumley returned a confident smile. "Duel Monsters is most interesting when it's a back-and-forth battle. Go ahead, unleash whatever you've been saving!"
"Alright, then I'll offer you one million to buy 1000 LP from you!"
Anacis's words were shocking. It nearly made Chumley, whose fighting spirit had just flared and who was brimming with anticipation, lose his balance and fall off the Duel Arena. "Are you kidding me?!"
"Don't say that! The price is negotiable, and I'm quite serious, you know? How about this: three million for 1000 LP. Miss this opportunity, and there won't be another." Anacis didn't give up, continuing to persuade Chumley.
Chumley actually hesitated for a moment. Three million, huh… for just 1000 LP. With the invincible (V-to-Z) on my Field, how could I possibly lose?
"This is an insult to me!" Chumley wanted to say that, but… the offer was simply too good.
(end of chapter)