Chapter 857: Powerful Cards Often Come with Great Risks
"Activate the Spell Card Power Bond! I use the Cyber Dragon in my hand and Proto-Cyber Dragon on my field, whose card name is treated as Cyber Dragon, as Fusion Material!"
Zane Truesdale shouted, "With two Cyber Dragons as Fusion Material, I Fusion Summon this monster from my Extra Deck! Watch closely, this is the evolution of Cyber Dragon! Fusion Summon! Cyber Twin Dragon!"
Fusion power manifested, engulfing Zane Truesdale's monsters on the field and in his hand. When the light dissipated, what emerged was a combined form of two Cyber Dragons: Cyber Twin Dragon.
Cyber Twin Dragon [Level 8/LIGHT Attribute]
[Machine/Fusion/Effect Monster]
[2800/2100]
Although named Cyber Twin Dragon, at the split where its two heads branch off, a very prominent empty space remained. This was clearly a reserved spot for the central head of its true, perfect evolution form—Cyber End Dragon. However, even without Cyber End Dragon's formidable piercing battle damage ability, Cyber Twin Dragon also possessed its own unique effect.
"During a single Battle Phase, Cyber Twin Dragon can perform two attacks, destroying two of your monsters on the field. And because of Power Bond's effect, while it can only be used to Fusion Summon Machine-Type monsters, the ATK of the Fusion Monster Summoned will be doubled."
"In other words, Cyber Twin Dragon's ATK is not 2800, but a doubled 5600!"
Cyber Twin Dragon [ATK2800 → 5600]
Hayato heard this, smiled, and said, "But—"
"Powerful cards often come with great risks."
As Hayato's voice rang out, he heard Zane Truesdale say the same thing in unison with him, which made him pause in surprise.
"The downside of Power Bond is that during the End Phase of the turn this card is activated, if the Cyber Twin Dragon Fusion Summoned by this card is still on the field, I will take damage equal to its original ATK, which is 2800."
After first stating Power Bond's "risk," Zane Truesdale paused, then looked at Hayato and said, "Ever since this Duel began, I've had a feeling. You seem to know me very well, not just my Deck, but even my personal convictions in a Duel."
"Even though you've been trying to guide me throughout this Duel, making me think that my initial convictions led to me being constantly limited in subsequent turns, and even using dirty tactics like Last Warrior from Another Planet, it's no use. Your pure Dueling Soul cannot be hidden."
"Your methods are despicable, yet your will is remarkably clear. Who exactly are you? I've been pondering this question, and after you said that, I feel I have an answer." Zane Truesdale said, pointing a hand at Hayato, "That phrase is the catchphrase of Duel King Hayato! I witnessed him defeat our Cyber Style's Former Master while saying those very words, so the impression is quite deep!"
"No matter how faint the possibility, after eliminating all other answers, there can only be one truth!"
Under Hayato's stunned and surprised gaze, Zane Truesdale confidently declared, "You are a fan of Duel King Hayato—!"
"Pfft—! Cough, cough, cough..." Joey, who was watching the Duel from not far away, choked and sprayed out the orange juice in his mouth. He looked at the confident Zane Truesdale and muttered to himself, "How did he even come up with that answer? It feels right, yet completely wrong!"
Looking at Hayato, who was equally perplexed by how his opponent had arrived at that conclusion, Zane Truesdale waved his hand and said, "Is your answer silence, Don Thousand? No matter, I've won this Duel! Be defeated by me before Cyber Twin Dragon!"
"Enter Battle Phase! Then, I use Cyber Twin Dragon to attack your Last Warrior from Another Planet on the field in Attack Position! Evolution Burst!"
Cyber Twin Dragon [ATK5600]
Last Warrior from Another Planet [ATK1175]
While possessing powerful Summon lockdown abilities, Last Warrior from Another Planet naturally didn't have overly powerful stats. After all, its Fusion Materials were just common fodder monsters. Not to mention its ATK had been halved by the Forbidden Droplet Zane Truesdale had previously drawn and activated.
This meant that Hayato would face a staggering 4425 points of battle damage. Even with his current maximum Life Points of 4000, they would be instantly wiped out!
Watching Cyber Twin Dragon's two heads open their mouths, revealing their laser emitters, Hayato also waved his hand and said, "In that case, I have no choice but to bring out my secret weapon. Tremble before my divine talent!"
"Chaining to the attack declaration, I activate my Set card in the back row!"
Hearing Hayato's words, Last Warrior from Another Planet, chosen as the target of the attack, and Zane Truesdale both looked towards Hayato's back row. They wanted to see what kind of card Hayato's "secret weapon" set on his back row actually was. However, upon seeing the Quick-Play Spell Card that was activated, Zane Truesdale and Last Warrior from Another Planet's expressions froze.
"And you say you're not a fan of Duel King Hayato?"
Zane Truesdale felt an urge to point at the activated Mystical Wok and question Don Thousand.
As everyone knows, every Duelist, after becoming famous, typically leaves an impression based on their unique Dueling style. For example, Yugi who excels at using well-matched monsters and suitable Spell Cards, Seto Kaiba, who must always have Blue-Eyes in his Deck even if he doesn't bring anything else, and Joey, who always carries dice and coins, among others.
But when it comes to Duel King Hayato, compared to the invincible Egyptian God Cards he wields and his versatile Deck, people more often remember cards like Psychic Ectoplasm and Mystical Wok when his name is mentioned. And now, this guy named Don Thousand is using Mystical Wok, which is practically Duel King Hayato's signature card!
"Anyway, Last Warrior from Another Planet's effect has already been negated by you, and its ATK has been halved, turning it into a fodder monster with less than 1500 points. Rather than let you uselessly destroy it, I might as well stir-fry it and eat it." Hayato said, waving his hand, "According to Mystical Wok's effect, I Tribute Last Warrior from Another Planet on my field, and gain Life Points equal to its DEF."
"Go rest in the Graveyard, Last Warrior from Another Planet. This is a necessary Tribute!"
'It's not necessary at all! Don't you have Aleister the Invoker in your hand that can boost Fusion Monsters' ATK? Save me! Why are you just watching?!'
If Last Warrior from Another Planet had awakened its Duel Monster Spirit, it might have said something like that, but it hadn't. Therefore, before Cyber Twin Dragon's attack, an iron spoon descended from the sky, scooping up Last Warrior from Another Planet and sending it into a suddenly appearing iron wok to be stir-fried. Subsequently, Hayato's Life Points increased.
"Don Thousand": 4000 → 6300 LP
Although Last Warrior from Another Planet was a monster with higher ATK than DEF, the Life Points gained by Mystical Wok were determined by its stats on the field. After Forbidden Droplet's effect, Last Warrior from Another Planet's ATK became half of its original ATK, falling below its unchanged DEF. Thus, Hayato chose to gain Life Points based on its DEF.
Watching Don Thousand send his own monster to the Graveyard, Zane Truesdale also frowned. "To win, you would actually willingly send your own monster to the Graveyard! Does victory mean more to you than the Duel itself?"
"However, with the target of the attack disappearing, a Battle Replay is triggered. I can re-target Cyber Twin Dragon's attack. I target your Invoked Caligula on the field as the attack target." Zane Truesdale again waved his hand and commanded, "Do it again, Cyber Twin Dragon! Evolution Burst!"
Cyber Twin Dragon, already prepared for an attack, quickly unleashed its attack without much charging this time. Two beams of laser instantly struck Invoked Caligula. However, because it was in Defense Position, even though a considerable gust of wind was stirred up as it was attacked and destroyed, it failed to inflict any damage to Don Thousand.
"It's not over yet! Cyber Twin Dragon's effect allows it to perform two attacks per turn. This effect is not limited to monsters. This means that after Cyber Twin Dragon destroys the last monster on your field, Don Thousand, it can also perform another attack against you, the Duelist."
"Evolution Burst - Duet!"
The glow, erupting for a second time, landed directly on Hayato. However, Cyber Twin Dragon's direct attack, which should have been lethal with 5600 ATK, was successfully withstood because Hayato had previously gained 2300 Life Points using Mystical Wok.
"Dan Kuroto": 6300 → 700 LP
"Wow, well played. My Life Points are like a flickering candle in the wind." Even with his Life Points reduced to a mere three digits, Zane Truesdale still couldn't see a hint of panic on the man's face. Under his playful gaze, Zane Truesdale, having exhausted his options, reluctantly declared, "I end my turn."
"Then, because of Power Bond's effect, my Life Points take 2800 points of damage."
Zane Truesdale: 4000 → 1200 LP, Hand 0
Cyber Twin Dragon [ATK5600]
Four turns had passed in the Duel. Joey noticed that, without realizing it, a few people interested in Duel Monsters had been drawn to watch the Duel nearby. He even saw Yugi and his friends, who seemed to have finished breakfast. Waving, he went over to inform Yugi and the others of the current situation.
"Since coming to Egypt, my brother-in-law has been really busy." Having escaped those who mistook him for a fan of Pegasus, Marik looked at Hayato in the midst of his Duel and said with a smile, "I've watched about half the Duel now. That kid has some talent, but not much, and he has this strange persistence. He definitely won't beat my brother-in-law."
"That's not entirely true, Marik-boy~" Pegasus, meanwhile, scrutinized Zane Truesdale with keen interest. "After all, he's just a child; he still has very great room for growth in the future. Who knows, one day he might become an excellent Duelist too."
He paused, and glanced at Hayato. "But challenging Hayato-boy, that's still too early for him."
When it was Hayato's turn, he calmly drew a card. "It's my turn, I draw."
Without looking down at the card he had drawn, he looked at Zane Truesdale. "Dueling you has truly been a good game, but unfortunately, it's time for this game to be completed. By the name of God, I command you to withdraw!"
"Normal Summon Aleister the Invoker. Its effect searches for Invocation."
Listening to Don Thousand's easygoing, almost joyful combo steps, Zane Truesdale tensed up.
'Here it comes again! Invocation, which can Fusion Summon with monsters in the Graveyard! I remember he previously emphasized that Invoked Caligula's Fusion Material requirements are Aleister the Invoker and a DARK Attribute monster. So, can I infer that different Attributes can Summon different Invoked monsters?'
'My opponent's Graveyard also contains three monsters: Invoked Caligula (DARK Attribute), Last Warrior from Another Planet (EARTH Attribute), and Magical Energy Orb (WATER Attribute). No, I recall Don Thousand just said that the opponent's Graveyard can also be used by Invocation. This means my Cyber Dragon, which is LIGHT Attribute, could very likely also be chosen by the opponent as a Fusion Material monster.'
'DARK, WATER, LIGHT, EARTH — four Attributes, corresponding to four possibilities. What kind of monster will appear this time? However, I have Cyber Twin Dragon on my field with a colossal 5600 ATK. No matter what monster appears, I should be able to withstand it.'
However, after witnessing Don Thousand search Invocation from his Deck to his hand, Zane Truesdale saw that his opponent didn't play that card; instead, he discarded it, sent it to the Graveyard, and activated another card from his hand: "I discard Invocation from my hand as a cost, and I'll show you the entity at the very end of Fusion! I activate this ultimate Fusion Spell Card, Super Polymerization!"
"I send the Fusion Materials required for a Fusion Monster from both fields to the Graveyard, and Fusion Summon that Fusion Monster from the Extra Deck!"
Zane Truesdale heard this and his eyes widened. "Use my monster on the field as Fusion Material? Oh no, Cyber Twin Dragon!"
But his cry was too weak against Super Polymerization's power. Not to mention he had no countermeasures to protect his monsters. Even if he did, it would be useless against the pseudo Spell Speed 4 Super Polymerization, which cannot be chained to.
"The Fusion Materials are Aleister the Invoker and the Fusion Monster Cyber Twin Dragon on the opponent's field! Oh, Mystic Arts user known as the Great Beast, rampage under the forbidden Summon Spell! Fusion Summon! Invoked Mechaba!" Hayato played a card.
"Then, I enter the Battle Phase! I direct attack the opponent Duelist on the empty field!"
Zane Truesdale didn't even have time to discern the exact stats of the monster Hayato Summoned. He only saw his Cyber Twin Dragon being absorbed by Super Polymerization's power into Aleister the Invoker's body. The latter, normally human-sized, immediately mutated, swelling and growing giant, floating into the sky like a god, and launched an attack down towards him.
His Life Points were instantly wiped out by this attack.
Zane Truesdale: 1200 LP → 0
(end of chapter)