The first turn of the Duel began with Zane.
"Draw."
He glanced at his hand, then at his opponent, and smirked.
"I activate the Continuous Spell Card -Cyberdark realm."
As the card materialized, green-black orbs floated above the Duel field, each containing writhing, mechanical dragon-shadows.
"When Cyberdark realm is activated, I can add 1 'Cyberdark' monster from my Deck to my hand, whose name isn't already in my GY."
A faint current of electricity coursed through his body, but he ignored it.
"I add Cyberdark Cannon from my Deck to my hand."
"Next, I activate Cyberdark Cannon's effect. By discarding it from my hand, I can add 1 'Cyberdark' Machine monster from my Deck to my hand."
He spread his Deck open, the cards shimmering before him, then plucked one out and revealed it.
"Cyberdark Keel."
Another sharp jolt of electricity flickered through his body. Zane's expression didn't change. He calmly took Cyberdark Keel into his hand and set it aside for later.
"I Normal Summon Cyber Dragon Core in Defense Position."
The hologram flared to life, a sleek mechanical dragon emerged, crouching in a defensive stance.
[Cyber Dragon Core] — Level 2 | LIGHT | Machine | ATK 400 / DEF 1500
"While on the field or in the GY, this card's name becomes Cyber Dragon. And when it is Normal Summoned, I can add 1 'Cyber' Spell/Trap from my Deck to my hand."
He quickly searched his Deck, selected a card, and revealed it.
"I'll take Cybernetic Revolution."
Finally, he slid two cards face-down onto his Duel Disk.
"I Set two cards… and end my turn."
In his very first turn, after digging through his Deck with several searches, Zane had already secured both defense and offense. He Set two cards facedown to protect himself and prepared his combo for the following turn.
To the spectators, Zane's opening looked nearly flawless.
Among the audience, a few familiar faces were especially focused on this Duel.
His younger brother, Syrus, was watching the broadcast alongside Jaden, worry etched on his face as he followed every move. He looked genuinely anxious about Zane's state of mind.
And at the entrance to the revival match stood Alexis, her teeth clenched as she gazed at the field from afar.
"My turn, draw!" said Atticus firmly, glancing at his hand.
"Among your Set cards, one of them has to be Cybernetic Revolution, right?" Atticus murmured, half to himself. "That Trap lets you Tribute a Cyber Dragon to Special Summon a Fusion Monster that lists it as material. Which would mean Cyber End Dragon, wouldn't it?"
Zane remained silent, simply meeting Atticus's eyes.
"Heh… then watch this! I activate the Spell Card, Red-Eyes Fusion!"
"What!?"
"No way."
"It's the legendary Black Dragon!"
The crowd erupted. Even Duel Spirits craned their necks curiously.
Though Hikaru had always thought of Red-Eyes as weaker than Blue-Eyes White Dragon, its fame was undeniable. Red-Eyes Black Dragon was the dark counterpart to Blue-Eyes, a monster known far and wide across the Spirit World.
"Red-Eyes Fusion…" Zane muttered under his breath.
Atticus had retrained himself by working with his Duel Spirit, reverting to an old Deck style. The audience had no idea he had access to Red-Eyes. They also hadn't expected him to don that mask again and draw upon a higher, darker power.
'Foolish,' Zane thought.
"You must be thinking I'm some fool trying to drag you out of darkness," Atticus said, eyes narrowing. "But this Duel isn't about sentiment. It's about victory!"
Zane's eyes narrowed dangerously.
"For a Duelist, letting your opponent read your heart is a grave mistake. I won't allow it."
Atticus slammed a card onto his Duel Disk. "Don't underestimate me, Zane! I activate Red-Eyes Fusion! This card can only be activated once per turn. The turn it's used, I can't Normal or Special Summon monsters except by this card's effect.
I use monsters from my hand, Deck, or field as Fusion Materials to Fusion Summon a monster that lists a Red-Eyes monster as material. The monster Special Summoned is treated as Red-Eyes Black Dragon!"
"I fuse Red-Eyes Black Dragon and Meteor Dragon from my Deck!"
"Fusion Summon!"
A roar of fire erupted. Molten sparks lashed out toward the stands, forcing spectators back in pain. It was only thanks to the barrier erected by nearby Duel Spirits that the flames didn't spread further.
And yet the agony was real, the flames stung like lava.
A massive draconic silhouette spiraled upward, wrapped in blazing fire.
"Fusion Summon! Meteor Black Comet Dragon!" Atticus declared.
The colossal dragon unfurled its molten wings, its body glowing like volcanic rock.
[Meteor Black Comet Dragon — Level 8 | Dark| Dragon | 3500 ATK / 2000 DEF]
"I activate its effect!" Atticus pointed straight at Zane. "When this card is Fusion Summoned, I can send one Red-Eyes monster from my hand or Deck to the GY, then inflict damage equal to half its ATK!"
He pulled out a card from his Deck. "I send 'Red-Eyes Black Dragon' from my Deck, inflict 1200 damage!"
Syrus gasped. "No! Zane.."
Alexis's eyes widened as well. She knew what was coming next. The attack that followed Meteor Black Dragon's summon was always Inferno Fire Blast. At 3500 damage plus this 1200 effect, Zane wouldn't survive the turn.
"Unbelievable…" Jaden muttered, leaning forward.
A fireball born from the discarded Red-Eyes shot across the field, aimed squarely at Zane. But before it could land, it slammed against a glowing barrier of light, dissipating harmlessly.
"Naïve, Atticus," Zane said coldly. One of his face-downs flipped up with a flash.
"Trap Card, Karonger's Magic Circle! Until the end of this turn, I take no effect damage!"
Syrus let out a sigh of relief.
Atticus only chuckled. "A counter ready just for me, huh? Zane, you're not nearly as calm as you pretend."
Zane's expression darkened. He said nothing, though Atticus's push for a one-turn kill had caught him slightly off guard.
"But don't think it ends here," Atticus said evenly. "I activate the Spell Card, Stomping Destruction!"
"Stomping Destruction can only be activated while you control a face-up Dragon. Destroy one Spell or Trap Card on the field, and inflict 500 damage to its controller!"
"!!" Zane's eyes widened. "Atticus, you weren't aiming just to burn me down, were you!?"
"What?" The crowd rippled with shock at his words.
Even the Duelists in the waiting area exchanged confused looks, not sure what deeper meaning Zane had caught.
Bastion folded his arms, thinking it through. "I see… Atticus anticipated that Zane would protect himself with a card to negate effect damage. That's why he chose a Fusion Monster that deals effect damage, then followed with Stomping Destruction. This way he can destroy the protection card itself, without having to guess which one."
"But what's the point?" someone muttered. "Cybernetic Revolution is a Trap, Zane could just chain it."
Chazz shook his head and glanced at Hikaru. "That's exactly it. He's baiting Zane into activating it now."
From the stands, Hikaru nodded slightly. "Yeah… forcing out Cyber End Dragon early is what he's really after."
Zane's eyes glinted. "Hmph, clever… but I'll meet the challenge! Trap Card, open, Cybernetic Revolution!
I Tribute one Cyber Dragon to Special Summon a Fusion Monster from my Extra Deck that lists Cyber Dragon as material!"
The hologram of a small silver core began to unfold, encased in heavy armor plating. The shell expanded, sprouting mechanical wings and heads until the machine grew into a towering, triple-headed dragon.
"Come forth, Cyber End Dragon!"
[Cyber End Dragon — Level 10 | LIGHT | Machine | 4000 ATK / 2800 DEF]
Atticus narrowed his eyes, smiling faintly. "At last… it appears."
"Whoa...4000 ATK!"
"Stronger than Blue-Eyes White Dragon, and even greater than that Black Dragon on the other side!"
But Atticus was already ready with his next move.
"I activate the Equip Spell, Black Metal Dragon!"
Metal armor clamped down over the flaming claw of his dragon.
"This card can only be equipped to a DARK monster. It gains 600 ATK."
Meteor Black Comet Dragon roared as its strength surged.
[ATK: 3500 → 4100]
"Just 100 points higher than Cyber End Dragon?" gasps rang out through the stands.
"No way… did Atticus plan it that precisely?"
Even students from the Fusion and Combination Departments who knew Atticus's goofy reputation, surfing, and striking poses for fans, were stunned. This wasn't the clown they knew. This was a Duelist pushing Zane into a corner.
"Lord Atticus~~!" shrieked a group of fans, swept away by the spectacle.
But Atticus ignored them. His focus was absolute.
"Battle, Zane! Meteor Black Comet Dragon, attack Cyber End Dragon!"
The lava-dragon shot upward, its crimson body igniting, transforming into a blazing meteor. It plummeted down and smashed into Cyber End Dragon, shattering Zane's trump card into shards of steel and flame.
Fiery rubble scattered across the field, pelting Zane. He let out a sharp cry, staggering to one knee.
Zane LP: 4000 → 3900
So painful… even from just 100 points…
He had heard Hikaru's warnings about the agony of a Dark Duel, but the reality was worse than expected. Even chip damage hurt more than any normal battle.
"I Set one card," Atticus said calmly, sliding it onto his Duel Disk.
Then he looked up at Zane again, smiling darkly. "What's wrong, Zane? Don't you live only for victory?
If you want victory so badly, then defeat me first!"
Black flames coiled around Atticus's body, his silhouette like a demon rising from hell.
"Today… I won't hold back!"