Chapter 156. Stardust VS Red Dragon Archfiend—Duel of Super Souls! The Synchro Limit of Fate and Destiny!
The short videos kept playing.
For Duelists across every Duel World, it felt like listening to the story of an old friend.
Or rather, the story of an old friend who had accompanied every Synchro Duelist through countless battles.
Yugi Muto: "Is it over? As expected, even if a card that enables such tutoring is already forbidden, it still couldn't escape the arrest of fate."
Yuma Tsukumo: "Maybe that's what the Forbidden & Limited List is for. It's just a shame for the Duelists who got used to Mecha Phantom Beast Auroradon."
Jaden Yuki: "Damn it! If it were me, I couldn't accept it at all! Even if they forbade my Burstinatrix and Avian, I still couldn't accept it!"
Yusei Fudo: "The salvation of Synchro is also the destruction of Synchro? I think I've gained a new understanding."
In the chat, one Duelist after another quietly voiced their thoughts on Auroradon's ban.
To them, even if they never actually used Auroradon, they could still sense how huge the impact must have been when the ban rumor broke.
And for the entire 5D's world, wasn't that also a painful blow?
Crow Hogan fell silent, conflicted.
Akiza Izinski sighed helplessly.
Yusei Fudo said nothing.
Jack Atlas stared with a tight expression, giving nothing away.
Main World.
Sei Yuki once again felt the pain of losing Auroradon.
If not for watching this video again, Sei Yuki had almost forgotten Auroradon even existed.
Yes.
Unknowingly, Auroradon had been gone for so long.
He vaguely remembered this—when the rumor that Auroradon would be forbidden first spread, it basically topped the B-site trending list.
Back then, some comments said "it's about time," while others said Auroradon's crimes weren't deserving of a ban.
In fact, during the period Auroradon was legal, every time a new F/L List was due, someone hoped Auroradon would finally be banned.
But who could have imagined Auroradon would remain ironclad until the very end?
As for whether Auroradon would ever be released, that answer remains unknown.
"Hah… no, this won't do!"
"I have to watch a 'Synchro soul' video to ease my mood!"
"Let me see… which one to pick?"
"If it's a 'Synchro soul' video…"
"Crystron… forget it!"
"Even though Auroradon was strong, Crystrons were just 'so-so.'"
"In that case, it's gotta be Stardust Dragon and Red Dragon Archfiend, right?"
After a brief search, Sei Yuki quickly locked in the next short video.
The title popped up: "Stardust Dragon VS Red Dragon Archfiend—Duel of Super Souls! The Salvation Limit of Fate and Destiny!"
The two deck keywords appeared as well, helping the Synchro Duelists—who had just been lamenting over Auroradon—force down their pain a little.
Stardust Dragon and Red Dragon Archfiend.
These are also the hottest deck cores in their 5D's world.
One is the ace deck of Yusei Fudo, who walked out of Satellite to save the Synchro world.
One is the ace deck of Jack Atlas, who once dominated the scene and thought women were a nuisance.
Both are fiery stars.
There had been a "soul duel" of Red Dragon Archfiend VS Stardust Dragon before, but this one seemed completely different.
Duelists of the 5D's world watched with curiosity and gathered around the short video.
Duel info appeared.
"Crab Uppercut" Yusei vs. "Crash King" Jack.
Both players start with 8000 LP.
First turn: Crash King Jack.
Second turn: Crab Uppercut Yusei.
And next to the duel info were the words "No Restrictions," which obviously meant Forbidden cards were allowed here.
Crash King Jack: "The Duel of the King begins now!"
Crash King Jack: "I'll take the first move!"
Crash King Jack: "My turn! I activate a Forbidden card legal under the 'No Restrictions' rule—Pot of Greed!"
Crash King Jack: "I draw 2 cards!"
Crash King Jack: "Next, I Normal Summon Red Resonator! When this card is successfully Summoned, I can Special Summon 1 Level 4 or lower monster from my hand. So the monster I'll Special Summon is—Witch of the Black Forest!"
Crab Uppercut Yusei: "I chain Maxx 'C'! You Special Summoned Witch of the Black Forest, so I draw 1 card!"
Crash King Jack: "No problem. I directly Link Summon with 2 monsters—Predaplant Verte Anaconda! Witch of the Black Forest triggers; I add Wandering King Wildwind from my Deck to hand. Verte Anaconda's effect— I pay 2000 LP! I send Fusion Destiny from my Deck to the Graveyard and copy its effect! I send Destiny HERO – Celestial and Destiny HERO – Dasher from my Deck to the Graveyard! Come forth—Destiny HERO – Destroyer Phoenix Enforcer! My turn ends!"
Crab Uppercut Yusei: "My turn! Draw! A lackey of the Fusion Dimension! To think the King would add HERO to his deck! In that case, I activate the effect of Junk Converter in my hand, sending it and Jet Synchron from my hand to the Graveyard! I add Junk Synchron from my Deck to my hand! I Normal Summon Junk Synchron and revive the Converter in my Graveyard! Level 3 plus Level 2 equals Level 5! Synchro Summon—Junk Speeder! Speeder's effect—Special Summon as many 'Synchron' Tuners as possible: Quickdraw Synchron, Stardust Synchron, Jet Synchron, Junk Synchron, Satellite Synchron! I activate Stardust Synchron's effect and add Arrive in Light from my Deck!"
With a burst of extensions, Crab Uppercut Yusei used Junk Speeder to flood the field with Tuners with ease.
Next came the formulaic Stardust lines.
But strangely, Crash King Jack had not used Destroyer Phoenix Enforcer's effect at all.
Yes, Phoenix Enforcer can blow up cards at Quick-Effect speed—yet he did nothing.
Duelists from all worlds were puzzled.
In the High Realms, the chance of sloppy play is very low.
So what was he waiting for?
Back in the 5D's world, Yusei Fudo and Jack Atlas narrowed their eyes at the two on-screen names.
Crab Uppercut? Yusei?
Crash King? Jack?
Seeing those nicknames, Yusei felt nothing in particular.
But Jack Atlas nearly blacked out.
Damn it!
What is this nonsense?
Even in the High Realm, there are haters?
They were deliberately smearing Jack Atlas!
How could Jack be a "Crash King"?
Jack Atlas: "Interesting. You dare call me 'Crash King'? Let's see if that nickname fits me, or you!"
He sneered, pressed down his anger, and refocused on the video.
Crab Uppercut Yusei: "I activate the Continuous Spell Arrive in Light. Per its effect, I place Converging Wills Dragon on top of my Deck! I Synchro Summon—tuning Level 5 Junk Speeder with the Level 2 Tuner Satellite Synchron! Bloom with cold, elegant petals—Black Rose Dragon! I then Synchro with Black Rose Dragon and the Level 1 Tuner Jet Synchron! Level 7 plus Level 1 equals Level 8! Soar—Stardust Dragon! Arrive in Light triggers—I draw 1 card! The drawn card is, without question, Converging Wills Dragon, which then Special Summons itself! Converging Wills triggers—I Special Summon the Level 1 Omni Dragon Brotaur from my Deck! Level 1 Brotaur with Level 4 Stardust Synchron—Synchro! Level 5 Synchro Summon—Garden Rose Maiden! Stardust Synchron in the Graveyard triggers—Tribute Quickdraw Synchron to Special Summon itself! Doppelwarrior in my hand triggers—Special Summon! I tune Level 8 Stardust Dragon + Level 2 Doppelwarrior + Level 1 Converging Wills for a Synchro! 8 + 2 + 1 equals Level 11! Gathering prayers! Call forth a shining miracle! Become the radiant path! Descend—Stardust Sifr Divine Dragon! Doppelwarrior triggers—I Special Summon two Level 1 Tokens!"
Weird—too weird.
Crash King Jack still hadn't activated Phoenix Enforcer, even after Sifr was made.
What now?
Sifr has an effect negate.
Phoenix Enforcer definitely couldn't resolve now.
So what was he waiting for—was he letting the opponent finish the entire combo?
Yugi Muto, Jaden Yuki, Yusaku Fujiki, and even Yusei Fudo all looked baffled.
They didn't understand why Phoenix Enforcer wasn't used for early disruption.
But very soon, shock widened their eyes—because the answer was about to be revealed.
Crash King Jack: "Heh… wondering why my Phoenix Enforcer didn't stop you? Of course I was waiting for this card! I activate Nibiru, the Primal Being from my hand! I will stop the King's victory! Everything shall return to nothing!"
Crab Uppercut Yusei: "Not happening! Chain Link 2—Stardust Sifr Divine Dragon! Negate your big rock!"
Crash King Jack: "Already predicted! Chain Link 3—Phoenix Enforcer! I choose Phoenix Enforcer and your Sifr for destruction! Now your Sifr's effect is gone! All monsters on the field become food for the Primal Being! You receive a Primal Being Token with 5700 DEF!"
Crab Uppercut Yusei: "Heh… I see. You were holding Phoenix Enforcer for this exact moment. I then activate Garden Rose Maiden in the Graveyard! I banish it to Special Summon Stardust Sifr Divine Dragon! I enter the Battle Phase! I destroy your Token! You lose 1000 LP! My turn ends!"
Crash King Jack: "My turn! Draw! In the Standby Phase, Phoenix Enforcer returns from the Graveyard to the field! I activate Phoenix Enforcer's effect again, choosing itself and your Stardust Sifr Divine Dragon for destruction!"
Crab Uppercut Yusei: "Chain Link 2—Sifr!"
Crash King Jack: "Chain Link 3—Quick-Play Spell, Forbidden Chalice! Your Sifr is negated, Phoenix Enforcer's effect resolves successfully!"
After a sequence of plays, Crash King Jack gradually widened his advantage.
That one sequence—Nibiru plus Phoenix Enforcer—left many old-guard Duelists stunned.
So tight.
He was waiting to rock the opponent's full extension, and Phoenix Enforcer staying quiet only deepened the opponent's commitment to the line.
Likewise, the value gained by Nibiru left the old guard looking at each other.
It really is a combo deck.
Taking one Nibiru turned the position into a huge disadvantage on the spot.
There was no chance to keep extending, and resources nosedived after the meteor.
Still, the old guard understood Nibiru's nature.
Unlike Maxx "C" or Ash Blossom, Nibiru is a brick if the opponent isn't on a flood-the-board deck.
Crab Uppercut Yusei: "…"
Crab Uppercut Yusei: "Fine… fine… so you're packing that card too! Proceed."
Crash King Jack: "I Normal Summon Red Sprinter! Sprinter triggers—I revive Red Resonator from my Graveyard! Red Resonator triggers—I target your Primal Being Token and recover 5700 LP! Next, I tune Level 4 and Level 2 for a Synchro Summon! Level 6 relay point—Red Rising Dragon! Then Red Rising Dragon's effect—revive Red Resonator from the Graveyard! Level 2 plus Level 6! It's coming—my TAMASHII! Heroic dragon, turn those ferocious fangs into shells and fire them! Synchro Summon—Borreload Savage Dragon! I activate Borreload Savage Dragon's effect—equip Verte Anaconda from the Graveyard and gain 2 Borrel Counters! My turn ends!"
His "tamashii" turned out to be a VRAINS-world ace—Left-Leader's signature monster.
Good grief, so that's how we're playing it.
One monster and you'd already bewildered the Duelists of both 5D's and VRAINS.
Red Dragon Archfiend splashing this "tamashii" was not what they expected—
But then you think about it: if HERO is okay, then "Borreload" is pretty normal too.
Crab Uppercut Yusei: "My turn! Draw!"
Crash King Jack: "At the start of your Main Phase, Phoenix Enforcer returns to the field from my Graveyard!"
Crab Uppercut Yusei: "First, I switch the Primal Being Token to Attack Position! Then I attack your Borreload with the Token!"
Crash King Jack: "I activate Phoenix Enforcer's effect, destroying itself and your Token!"
Crab Uppercut Yusei: "Main Phase 2. I activate Jet Synchron in the Graveyard!"
Crash King Jack: "I activate Borreload Savage Dragon's effect, remove 1 counter, and negate your Jet!"
Crab Uppercut Yusei: "I activate Pot of Desires—shuffle 5 monsters from my Graveyard into the Deck and draw 2 cards! I activate another Pot of Desires—shuffle another 5 monsters and draw 2! I Normal Summon Junk Synchron to revive Doppelwarrior from the Graveyard!"
Crash King Jack: "I chain Maxx 'C'!"
Crab Uppercut Yusei: "I'll stack the top and extend through Maxx 'C'! Level 3 + Level 2 = Level 5! I make a second Junk Speeder! Doppelwarrior triggers—Special Summon two Level 1 Tokens. Junk Speeder triggers—Special Summon from the Deck: Stardust Synchron, Quickdraw Synchron, Jet Synchron! I tune Level 4 Stardust Synchron with a Level 1 Token—Synchro Summon Scarred Warrior! I tune a Token with the Level 1 Tuner Jet Synchron—Synchro Summon Formula Synchron! Now: Level 5 Speeder + Level 5 Scarred Warrior + Level 2 Formula—5 + 5 + 2 = Level 10! Gathered stars connect the bond between me and him! Race with our wishes toward the future! Become the road of radiance! Synchro Summon—Cosmic Blazar Dragon! My turn ends!"
Using the recycled Junk Speeder, he again built a flood of extensions, then capped it by making Cosmic Blazar Dragon in Main Phase 2.
Seeing this, Duelists across the worlds exhaled in relief.
Junk Speeder—what a fraudulent card.
One card turns into a field of materials—profit to the moon.
Now that Cosmic Blazar Dragon has arrived, the win rate looked about fifty-fifty.
It will all come down to who can seize the details and timing in the duel from here.
Enjoyed the story? Support me and get access to early chapters by joining my Patreon!
Find me at: Patr*eon*.com/Resium
Free members can read 10+ Chapters Ahead of Release
Paid member can read 150+ Chapters Ahead of Release
Stories Available
Honkai? No, This Is Daily Life
Hogwarts Pet Master
Pokémon: Who Let Him Leave Pallet Town!
Scrolling Yu-Gi-Oh! Shorts