"I activate Spell Card—[Operation British]!"
Without hesitation, Yuto revealed the card he had just drawn, preparing to launch his offensive.
"Special Summon 3 [H.L.V.] from the Deck to—"
"Not a chance!"
Before Yuto could finish, Mako Tsunami roared in fury, cutting him off!
He flipped up his Set card: "Trap Card [Torrential Tribute], activate—!"
Rumble—!
In an instant, a towering tidal wave erupted from nowhere, crashing down like a mountain and engulfing the battlefield!
The three H.L.V.s that had just begun to appear, along with Yuto's other monsters, were swallowed and swept away in the raging torrent, leaving nothing except a devastated, empty field.
"Tch!"
Yuto frowned. His attack was halted, yet he did not panic.
"Fine then! I Normal Summon [MS-06-SSP Police Zaku] in Attack Position!"
The blue Police Zaku landed with a heavy thud.
"Next, I activate its effect!"
Yuto gestured sharply.
"When this card is successfully Summoned, I can perform an additional Normal Summon this turn! Come forth—[MS-06 Zaku II]!"
The green Zaku appeared at the Police Zaku's side.
Two steel giants stood shoulder to shoulder, brimming with presence.
Anyhow, Yuto knew full well… here in Duelist Kingdom, where bluffs and high attack power reigned, Zaku II's 1400 Attack was far from enough.
So…
"It's not over yet! I Tribute one [MS] monster on the field!"
Yuto's voice rose sharply.
"Special Summon—[ACE – Char the Red Comet]!"
The green Zaku scattered into points of light and vanished.
A moment later, with a piercing engine roar, the iconic red Zaku descended with unstoppable might!
"By the effect of [ACE – Char the Red Comet]!"
Yuto pointed at the crimson machine.
"Its Attack and Defense increase by the original values of the Tributed monster!"
Zaku II's 1400 Attack, combined with the Red Comet's own 1200 Attack—
The final number blazed above the Red Comet: 2600 Attack!
"Grgh… 2600?!"
Mako Tsunami stared at the demonic crimson machine, sweat instantly breaking out across his forehead. The crushing pressure nearly suffocated him.
"I Set one card!"
Yuto swiftly completed his last move.
"Then, attack! Red Comet, target the underwater shadow! Rocket launcher—fire!"
The Red Comet's bazooka spewed flame!
A rocket shot into the depths and detonated!
With a muffled blast and spray, a monster in Defense Position—[Jellyfish]—was blown apart into a cloud of glowing shards!
Too bad…
Yuto felt a flicker of regret. Under standard rules, with the Red Comet's special effect of "three attacks per turn," he could have ended the duel right now.
But here in Duelist Kingdom, players were forbidden from direct attacks on the first turn…
"Turn end!"
Yuto declared loudly. The Red Comet loomed over the field like a guardian deity, radiating chilling pressure.
It was Mako Tsunami's turn.
Abruptly, his whole body seemed frozen under the oppressive might of that 2600-Attack iron giant.
The vast difference in power loomed before him like an abyssal trench, leaving him gasping for breath.
Sweat rolled down his temples in heavy beads.
"D-damn it…"
His fingers trembled as he drew a card, eyes scanning his hand—yet there was nothing that could overcome the Red Comet.
If only… if only I had held onto [Torrential Tribute] a little longer… Now… it's over…
Despair gnawed at him.
At last, he could only, unwillingly, Set a monster card face-down and mutter hoarsely:
"S-Set one monster… turn end…"
The near-surrender laid bare his crumbling spirit.
"My turn!"
Yuto's voice fell like a judge's hammer.
His fingers brushed the top of his Deck—draw!
The moment his eyes landed on the card, he froze, then smirked sharply.
[Stop Defense]?
Though Yuto had tossed it in as a filler card, right now… it was perfect!
"I activate Spell Card—[Stop Defense]!"
He slammed the card onto the field.
"Force your monster into Attack Position! Flip it up!"
Magical energy swept across Mako's field!
The face-down monster was forcibly flipped by the spell's power!
"W-what?! No—!"
Mako cried out in horror.
The waters surged violently, and a [Giant Red Seasnake] was wrenched up from its lurking place, forced into Attack Position before the Red Comet's sights!
"Attack!"
Yuto's command was cold, absolute.
The crimson Zaku reacted instantly!
It cast aside the heavy bazooka with a clang, right hand darting to its waist—shnk!
A blazing Heat Hawk flared to life in its steel grip!
Without a heartbeat of hesitation, the Red Comet's thrusters roared to full power, streaking forward in a scarlet blur!
The Heat Hawk carved a searing arc through the air, splitting the creature clean in two!
Szzzzt—BOOM!
Metal and flesh collided violently, and the seasnake disintegrated into steam and light!
Yet, the destruction did not stop there!
The overwhelming force of 2600 Attack, after obliterating the seasnake, surged like a runaway tsunami, crashing straight into Mako Tsunami himself!
"Aaaaaghhh—!!"
His Life Point counter blared an ear-splitting alarm as it plummeted to zero in an instant!
[Duel Over]
The arena slowly sank back beneath the waves.
Yuto calmly walked forward, retrieving the Star Chips of victory one by one, embedding them into his Duel Glove.
Eight Star Chips gleamed brightly on the back of his hand, like the medals of a conqueror.
Mako Tsunami staggered, leaning on his harpoon for support, his body soaked and weary.
Sweat, seawater, and the stench of defeat drenched him.
He stared blankly at his empty glove, then at Yuto's eight gleaming Star Chips.
Finally, his gaze locked onto the Red Comet, slowly fading into motes of light.
"…Defeated… so utterly…"
His hoarse voice rasped like sandpaper, all his former bravado gone, leaving only exhaustion and emptiness.
"The warrior of the sea… my proud tactics… so easily crushed before absolute steel and technology…"
Bitter self-mockery twisted his face into a grimace.
He hunched over his harpoon, back bent, trudging step by step toward the sea like a broken, beached fish.
Suddenly, he halted and spun around!
"Yuto Tenshou—!"
Fire rekindled in his eyes, his voice raw but fierce once more.
"Don't get cocky! Next time—next time on this ocean—I'll take my victory back! Just you wait—!!"
Truly unyielding—that was Mako Tsunami, the indomitable man of the sea…
Even now, he could reignite his fighting spirit so quickly.
Yuto watched his stubborn back and smiled faintly.
"I'll be waiting anytime!"
His loud reply carried clear in the sea breeze.
After defeating Mako Tsunami, Yuto and his companions pressed on.
Along the way, Yugi too, with his brilliant tactics and powerful Deck, fought three fierce battles, raising his Star Chip count to five.
As they trekked through the island jungle, searching for their next worthy opponent—
"Aaahhh—! Let me go! Let me go!!! Somebody help—!!"
A scream of terror and despair ripped through the forest silence like a blade!
...
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