"ROAR!" With an aura completely different from the one seen on the roof of KaibaCorp, the Blue-Eyes White Dragon spread its massive, sky-blotting wings and let out a tremendous roar to the heavens, as if announcing the king's return to the world.
Meanwhile, in a distant castle, Pegasus was engrossed in a comic book, occasionally letting out a hearty laugh. A long dining table was laid out before him, but he was the only one dining.
Just as Pegasus was about to savor a sip of red wine, the butler who had been waiting behind him seemed to have heard something through his earpiece and spoke cautiously, "Mr. Pegasus..."
"World-class red wine paired with Gorgonzola cheese; Morning's clean sunlight paired with the best comic in the world. This should be my happiest time, a point you should be well aware of, yes?" Taking a small sip of wine, Pegasus continued, "So, for Something have you come to disturb me?"
"Our servers have been collecting data on the cards used by duelists on the island, and just moments ago, we collected card data from Blue-Eyes White Dragon." The butler, relieved that Pegasus wasn't chastising him for the interruption, reported nervously, "After checking the surveillance footage, we believe it is Seto Kaiba himself."
"Maximillion Pegasus, should we dispatch someone to capture Seto Kaiba for trespassing in Duelist Kingdom?"
"No, no, no. It's not at all outside my expectations that Kaiba Boy would come to the island. And I believe he will eventually come to my castle; it's just a matter of time." Placing a bookmark in his comic and setting it aside, Pegasus leisurely cut a piece of cheese and savored it.
The unique flavor of the Gorgonzola cheese from Milan, Italy, filled his mouth. Pegasus squinted his eyes, enjoying it for a moment before speaking, "So, have you found Mokuba boy yet?"
"I apologize, we are still searching. That little rascal is far too cunning."
"Sigh, and here I specially invited him to be my guest. It seems he doesn't appreciate our style of hospitality." With a sigh, Pegasus waved a hand behind him, signaling the butler to leave. He wanted to continue enjoying his beautiful morning.
On the other side.
"Behold, Hayato! This is the magnificent form of the strongest dragon in the world of Duel Monsters!" Having Summoned Blue-Eyes White Dragon, Kaiba, who believed himself to be invincible, laughed triumphantly. "Are you struck speechless by the sight of Blue-Eyes? Hmph! It's not nearly enough. Burn the true terror of Blue-Eyes into your mind!"
"Unleash the most powerful Destructive White Light upon that X-Head Cannon!" Kaiba pointed a finger at the X-Head Cannon on Hayato's Field, the one with the lowest Attack. "Vanish! Burst Stream of Destruction!!!"
A torrent of white light, as dazzling as a supernova and filled with a seemingly endless aura of destruction, descended from the mouth of the Blue-Eyes White Dragon. X-Head Cannon fought back, firing its entire arsenal, but neither its powerful cannon nor its sturdy armor could help it survive the Blue-Eyes's Attack.
The torrent of light dissipated. X-Head Cannon was Destroyed and Sent to the Graveyard, and Hayato's Life Points took the excess Damage.
[Hayato: 4000 LP → 2800 LP]
"I Set one Card and End my Turn." Kaiba looked at Hayato and said coldly, "Struggle all you want, Hayato, struggle and resist my Blue-Eyes."
"And then, my Blue-Eyes will crush all of your feeble resistance!"
[Kaiba: 1800 LP, Hand 0]
[Blue-Eyes White Dragon][ATK 3000]
[Set Card]
"Such confident words," Hayato took a deep breath, trying to calm the frantic beating of his heart. It wasn't the first time he'd seen a solid vision of Blue-Eyes White Dragon, but it was his first time facing it head-on. The majestic white dragon didn't even need to do anything else; just by standing before you, the oppressive feeling of a predator at the top of the food chain would constantly torment your nerves.
Not to mention, Hayato had to face its Attack directly. No wonder Grandpa Muto had been scared into having a heart attack.
"My Turn, Draw!" Hayato drew a Card, glanced at it, and immediately Activated it. "The Spell Card Pot of Greed! I Draw two cards from my Deck."
"Next, I'll activate my Set Card from last Turn, Soul Resurrection, to Revive X-Head Cannon from my Graveyard." The blue machine that had been Destroyed by Blue-Eyes returned to Hayato's Field. The three XYZ monsters were once again assembled on the Field.
"Here I come, Seto! I Banish the three monsters on my Field, X-Head Cannon, Y-Dragon Head, and Z-Metal Tank, to Special Summon their Fusion! Descend! XYZ-Dragon Cannon!" The three tri-colored mechanical beings combined and linked together, their energy systems overlaying and sharing power, returning to the Field in an enhanced state.
[XYZ-Dragon Cannon][Level 8/LIGHT]
[Machine-Type/Fusion/Effect]
[2800/2600]
If it were facing any other Duel Monster, XYZ-Dragon Cannon's 2800 ATK would be enough to annihilate anything. But right now, it was facing the strongest Dragon, Blue-Eyes White Dragon. Its 3000 Attack Points were like the Wall of Sighs from Greek mythology's Underworld, an insurmountable barrier.
But it wasn't just their ATK and DEF that were enhanced when the XYZ monsters linked together. As mechanical creations, their greatest pride had never been their powerful bodies, but their Effects—
"I Activate the Effect of XYZ-Dragon Cannon! By Discarding one card from my Hand, I can Destroy one card on your Field!" Hayato sent a card from his Hand to the Graveyard and pointed at Kaiba's Field. "The card I'm choosing to Destroy is, of course, your Blue-Eyes White Dragon! Now Leave the Field, Blue-Eyes!"
"Not good!" Kaiba sensed the impending crisis. If Hayato's Effect went through and Destroyed his Blue-Eyes, his Field would be wide open. "If he Direct Attacks me again!"
"Witness the power of the 'Third-rate Duelist' you look down on! Go, XYZ-Dragon Cannon, Annihilation Mode - Dragon Cannon!"
From the subtle dragon-head part of XYZ-Dragon Cannon, an Electromagnetic Beam shot towards the Blue-Eyes on Kaiba's Field. Just then, Kaiba flipped his face-down card in his Back Row. "Don't even think about it! I Activate my Set Card, Dragon Shield!"
Just before the destructive beam released by XYZ-Dragon Cannon could hit, the Set Card Kaiba opened transformed into a suit of armor that equipped itself to Blue-Eyes White Dragon. The destructive beam collided with Blue-Eyes, but thanks to the armor's protection, Blue-Eyes took no damage.
"Dragon Shield is an armor that only Dragon-Type monsters can wear. As long as Blue-Eyes is equipped with it, it can never be destroyed," Kaiba snorted coldly. "Hmph, I thought you were just another common Fodder Monster, but you actually have what it takes to threaten me."
"To think he had a card like that... how troublesome." Hayato's expression grew serious as he looked at Dragon Shield.
There was something else Kaiba didn't mention. A Blue-Eyes wearing Dragon Shield couldn't even inflict battle damage, and even a monster with infinite ATK couldn't get past Blue-Eyes to damage Kaiba. Unless he could get rid of Dragon Shield, Blue-Eyes was essentially invincible in every way.
Although XYZ-Dragon Cannon could do it, Hayato only had one card left in his Hand. Even if he got rid of Dragon Shield, he still wouldn't be able to deal with Blue-Eyes. Looking at his Hand, Hayato reluctantly Set the card. "I Set one card and End my Turn."
[Hayato: 2800 LP, Hand 0]
[XYZ-Dragon Cannon][2800]
[Set Card][Soul Resurrection][Frontline Base]
(end of chapter)