Cyber Dragon—summon!
Even though Zane knew Kira should also have Cyber Dragons, he was still surprised.
He'd fought countless decks and opponents, always with Cyber Dragon at his side. Seeing his old friend on the other side for the first time was… strange.
But the current Zane would not be rattled. He calmed instantly.
In this board state, Cyber Dragon couldn't beat any of his monsters—at best it could trade with Rampage Dragon.
Unless that wasn't the plan at all, and—
"Using my Cyber Dragon and your 'Cyberdark Edge' and 'Chimeratech Rampage Dragon' as materials—Fusion Summon!"
Called it!
A vein twitched in Zane's cheek.
I freaking knew it!
The arena erupted in noise.
That move again!
Kira had used this exact trick on Zane before, and the video had long since circulated. Everyone deeply understood how nightmarish this was for Cyber Dragon—or for Machine decks in general.
"Using both our monsters on the field—including 'Cyber Dragon'—as Fusion Material, I Fusion Summon—
—Chimeratech Fortress Dragon!!!"
With the condition "Cyber Dragon" + any number of Machine monsters on the field, this monster's very existence gives Cyber Dragon a way to unconditionally consume any Machine boss!
Cyberdark Edge and Rampage Dragon were pulled apart by electromagnetic force, disassembling into countless parts and snapping onto Cyber Dragon.
The trio of Machines reconfigured—assembling into a writhing fortress-dragon!
[Chimeratech Fortress Dragon, ATK 0]
"Chimeratech Fortress Dragon can use cards from both sides of the field as material," Kira said. "And its original ATK becomes the number of Fusion Materials x 1000."
[Chimeratech Fortress Dragon, ATK 0 → ATK 3000]
"But I still have Five-Headed Dragon," Zane said. "Even Fortress Dragon can't beat that ultimate wall."
That was one reason he chose Cyberdark against Kira.
He'd been burned by Fortress Dragon before—pure Machine decks were too vulnerable to that kind of shamelessness. But Cyberdark blends Machines and Dragons—if his Machine boss gets eaten, the Dragon half can still fight.
Like now.
"I know," Kira said. "Quick-Play Spell—Limiter Removal. Double the ATK of all Machine monsters I control."
[Chimeratech Fortress Dragon, ATK 3000 → ATK 6000]
"It surpassed Five-Headed Dragon's ATK!" commentator Misawa called from the stands.
Zane's expression tightened, but a doubt flickered in his mind.
Why use Limiter Removal now?
He'd studied Kira's habits. Usually, this guy preferred to fire Limiter during the Battle Phase.
Sure enough, Kira slapped down another card.
"Summon 'Armored Cybern.'"
[Armored Cybern, ATK 0]
"Armored Cybern is a Union monster and can equip to 'Chimeratech Fortress Dragon,'" Kira said.
Armored Cybern flared twin plumes, soared, and attached to Fortress Dragon.
"A monster equipped with Armored Cybern can, by dropping its ATK by 1000 at a time, destroy one card on the field per 1000 lost. This effect has no once-per-turn… which no one knows better than you." (Anime effect)
Kira smiled.
Zane's face grew more serious.
"Drop Fortress Dragon's ATK by 2000—destroy 'Five-Headed Dragon' and your set card!"
[Chimeratech Fortress Dragon, ATK 6000 → ATK 4000]
The emitted beam split in two, locking onto Zane's monster and backrow.
If Armored Cybern cleared Zane's board, 4000 ATK would remain—one clean hit could give Kira the win.
A sudden reversal.
"Not done yet—I won't go down so easily!" Zane shouted. "Chain the set card—Trap: Waboku! This turn, my monsters can't be destroyed by battle, and I take no battle damage!"
Three peace envoys appeared and chanted a gentle prayer—activating just before Armored Cybern's shot shattered the trap, shielding Zane's field.
"This way, even if I go empty, you can't deal damage," Zane smiled.
"Big bro's amazing!" Syrus cheered. "Now Limiter Removal's drawback will leave Kira empty next turn—"
"Er, not exactly," Misawa interjected.
Sure enough, Kira nodded.
"I set two and end my turn," Kira said. "End Phase—Limiter Removal's drawback: Machines whose ATK was increased by its effect are destroyed.
But 'Armored Cybern' can be destroyed instead of the equipped monster, so I'll have it be destroyed in place of Chimeratech Fortress Dragon."
Overloaded current flashed; a boom—Fortress Dragon exploded, but when the smoke cleared, it stood unharmed, its equip gone.
"My turn—draw!"
Zane drew.
"Once again, Spell—Graceful Charity. Draw three, then discard two."
He looked up at Kira's Fortress Dragon and the corner of his mouth lifted in a sly smile.
"Since you're borrowing my old friend's power, let me borrow yours, Kira.
If you control a monster and I control none, I Special Summon 'Cyber Dragon' from my hand!"
[Cyber Dragon, ATK 2100]
"Summoned Cyber Dragon… oh?" Kira seemed to catch on and smiled. "You're going to do it too?"
Zane raised his right hand high and shouted:
"Using my Cyber Dragon and your 'Chimeratech Fortress Dragon' as material—Fusion Summon!
Fusion requirement: Cyber Dragon plus any number of Machine monsters on the field!
The Cyber Dragon that symbolizes my farewell to the past—my brand-new evolution—descend now—
—Chimeratech Fortress Dragon, summon!!!"
The arena lost its composure again.
Zane pulled the move too!
"Right—" Misawa, stunned for a beat, remembered to comment. "Chimeratech Fortress Dragon is itself a Machine, so of course it can be eaten by the opponent's Cyber Dragon…"
Using Chimeratech Fortress Dragon to fuse into… Chimeratech Fortress Dragon.
An unexpected development indeed.
[Chimeratech Fortress Dragon, ATK 0]
"Since my Fortress Dragon used only two materials, its original ATK becomes 2000," Zane declared. "But that's more than enough!
This is the perfect monster to write a brand-new ending to our duel!"